Even if you’re not a fan of Sex and the City, you’ve probably heard that Carrie and Big move into an insanely appointed new apartment in the sequel. Casasugar teased us with a couple sneak previews before the premiere, and without giving too much away for those who haven’t seen it, some other decor highlights include a long awaited in-demand couch and a familiar debate over the placement of a TV in the bedroom. One thing you don’t see much of? Lighting hardware, mainly because it’s invisible. Made of beveled transparent acrylic, Forbes and Lomax “Invisible Lightswitches” are placed throughout the set to enhance interiors by leaving them uninterrupted. After 20 years in Europe the brand is finally available in the US and won an ASID Imagine Top Picks award at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show in March. The fixtures appear to be innovative alternatives to generic switch plates, but what do you think, readers? Do you like Carrie’s ‘switch style? — Sarah C.

Sometimes when I search for something utilitarian I find not only the perfect solution, but also a perfect collectible. After googling “twine dispenser” to take care of my perennially tangled gardening twine, I found everything from R2D2 to a celluloid doll head. My favorites? The Cozy Kitten from the ’50s, a silver plated ball and new dispensers from Garden Trading and Terrain. — Sarah L.

I highly recommend that you make this ice cream soon. If you don’t have the equipment, buy an ice cream maker now. After an entire year of experimenting with different ice cream recipes and techniques (thanks, guys), I think I’ve finally found my favorite recipe: a Greek yogurt ice cream from the June 2010 issue of Bon Appetit. What sets this stuff apart from the rest? First, it’s only got four ingredients: equal parts Greek yogurt and heavy cream with powdered sugar and lemon juice. That’s it. No stirring custards, tempering eggs, and straining; no cooling overnight. A batch will be ready from start to finish in about 20 minutes (though the recipe recommends an hour in the freezer to “cure”). The result is a smooth, silky, and delightfully tart ice cream that seems to scream out for tiny ripe strawberries. I have a sneaking suspicion that a hearty dollop melting on a grilled peach or a warm mound of blackberry cobbler might be pretty amazing, too. I’d have to say this might just be official ice cream for summer! — Megan B. Click for Greek yogurt ice cream! (more…)

I was pretty stoked back in March when I was asked to take part in a cookbook project, and now that it has come to fruition, I’m thrilled to be able to share it all with you. The ThinkFood Cookbook is sponsored and published by Posit Science. In an effort to raise awareness about brain health and eating foods that are rich in ingredients beneficial for your brain, Posit Science asked 50 bloggers from around the globe to contribute a brain-healthy recipe to the book. Starting today, you can join the recipe-of-the-week campaign (Sign up here — www.thinkfoodcookbook.com — it’s free!) and receive one recipe from the ThinkFood cookbook in your email inbox every Wednesday. The recipes are a fun mix of snacks, appetizers, sides and salads, main courses, and desserts. I hope some of you will check it out and sign up to receive the recipes. I can’t share my recipe with you just yet, but when it’s my week, I’ll be sure to let you all know right here on Shelterrific. — Erica P.

I’m not sure how my mom did it all those years — my little sister and I have got to be the two pickiest eaters on earth. No mushrooms and no onions for me; no peppers, spinach, or sausage for her. This lasagna pan would have made my mom’s life a lot easier. Made by the Spoon Sisters, the Trio Lasagna Pan, $32, comes with a custom-fit spatula to serve your masterpiece easily. Next time your carnivore-filled dinner party includes a vegetarian, you’ll all be covered! — Katie D.

You know how hard it can be to find an area rug that captures your style. And how much harder it can be if you have an oddly shaped space that you need to fit it in. Well, now anyone can have the perfect rug at The Perfect Rug, a site where you can custom order a rug in your choice of material, color, trim, and size! This will make the deal even more perfect: our pals at The Perfect Rug are giving one Shelterrific reader a certificate worth $350 to spend on your own custom rug from The Perfect Rug!

Here’s how to enter: Leave a comment on this post telling us why you need The Perfect Rug by Monday, June 21, 5 p.m. EST. When comments close, the Shelterrific staff will vote on our favorite comment. If you want to include links to online photos of a space that’s just crying out for a Perfect Rug, feel free! Okay, get creative and get commenting. Thanks, Perfect Rug!

P.S. You can follow The Perfect Rug on Facebook and Twitter. (You can find Shelterrific on Facebook and Twitter, too!)

Note: If you’re new to the site or include a link, your comment may not show up immediately.

I love the look of modern-ish metal planters, and you can get large ones for low prices at IKEA. I recently decided that the ’50s-era expanse of concrete in our backyard needed a makeover, so I decided that I’d move beyond my usual annuals — cool as they may be! — and get some evergreens suitable for containers. (I ended up buying a compact boxwood.) The area where they’ll reside gets full morning sunlight which lasts far into the afternoon, so the consultant at the nursery gave me a tip that was new to me: because metal pots can heat up, it’s a good idea to insulate them to protect plant roots. She suggested lining the pots with bubble wrap, so that’s just what I did. I have tons of it saved from packages that I never seem to use but don’t want to throw away. I simply formed the sheets of bubble wrap in a circle inside the pots, filled in with dirt, and planted as usual. Great tip! — Mary T.

When Mary did a post off asking what cool chair you dreamed of owning, the response was overwhelmingly for Eames. (Okay, except me — I’m the dork that wants a long Windsor bench.) Seems you’re not alone in your modern chair love — or regrets over lofty price tags. Now, however, you can get Eames chair for just $15-30. The only catch? They’re 1:12 scale. The New York Times recently featured several blogs from miniature modern enthusiasts including Christine Ferrarra‘s Call of the Small. In her clever hands, dollhouses are anything but child’s play. — Sarah L.

The random number generator has spoken! Congratulations to our three winners:

Janelle, who says: “I mostly used candles and diffusers but the cat has the tendency to knock over the diffusers and set himself on fire with the candles. So I’ve been searching for something that would work better.”

Jaymie, who says: “I love Hawaiian type smells all year, but love cinnamon-y smells during the holidays as well. Though I have found it to be hard to find the perfect one.”

And Anita, who says: “I use scented candles, too, and tend toward ‘clean’ scents rather than florals or heavy, spicy scents. I’ve always avoided oil diffusers because of the possibility of spillage — plus the reeds you have to stick in the bottles just scream ‘TOY!’ to my cat. I’d love to try any of the new Febreze scents, particularly Green Tea Citrus.”

Congrats — each of you has won a Febreze No Spill Diffuser! Here’s what to do next: email your full name and contact info to mary (at) shelterrific (dot) com, and your diffuser will be on its way. Thanks again to Febreze for making this giveaway possible! — Mary T.

Reader Dorian just launched a basement re-do, and she’s looking for inspiration. She writes:

“Any sites you can reco RE: basement re-dos or before-and-afters? I poked around on Apartment Therapy, Shelterrific, and a lot of the links, but you just don’t see a lot of basement remodels. We are trying to get the adhesive up from the cement floors to stain them. (We are back and forth on the floor; we might just paint.) And then I guess just paint the rest of the room down there. We are also tearing the bathroom out — it doesn’t make any sense where it is, but we can’t afford to move it, so we are just going to rebuild it smaller in the same place, keep the shower, and replace the toilet and sink. I’m just looking for design ideas.”

One of my favorite simple re-dos, shown above, is this bright white sewing room that was created from a formerly dark and dank basement — amazing what just a little color and organization can do. I also pointed Dorian to Young House Love, where there’s a nice re-do of a den that fits with a lot of basement looks. (And also a utilitarian but pleasant basement space — where do the Youngsters find all their time to do these things?) But beyond that, I confess, I’m not sure where to look. So who has some links to basement inspiration — links to your own photos are welcome, too — to share? — Mary T.