Last week, I was fortunate enough to score an exclusive (albeit whirlwind) tour of famed Seattle glass artist Dale Chihuly’s Boathouse on Lake Union. Say what you may about his work, but I was blown away by the space — the colors, the glass, and the collections (oh, the collections), as well as the design aesthetic. I’ve got so much to show from such a quick run-through I’ve decided this *has* to be broken up into appropriate parts. We’ll start our journey the way I did: through the hot shop, the studio portion of Chihuly’s live/work space.

Seen above: samples of Chihuly’s forms and his custom molds. Click for more photos of Chihuly’s Hot Shop! (more…)

Yes, it is ridiculously unnecessary and, yes, it is expensive ($140) but Think Geek’s Gardenwatch Cam is a cool present for the green-thumb-who-has-everything in your life. The all-weather camera snaps time lapse photos of your garden as it grows so you’ll have a gorgeous record of your blooming flower beds. When the growing season is over, the camera can also be used to film all those freak blizzards, as seen in their website’s demo video, so you’ll have a record of your backyard as the snow piles up as well. — Katie D.

Trader Joe, if you were a man, and not simply the cartoon pirate representing the life-renewing grocery store chain that is single-handedly resurrecting the Hawaiian shirt, I’d marry you. To be clear, I love you, and I am in love with you. You are the North Star on my urban grocery map. Economically, you are a yes in world of no. I am committed, and I promise to never stop loving your dark chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds or eating them after the sister who bought them goes to sleep. I know I’m not alone in my love for you. If I was, someone wouldn’t have written this: The I Love Trader Joe’s Cookbook, $12.21 at Amazon.com. Joining other volumes of fan non-fiction including Cooking with All Things Trader Joe’s, The Trader Joe’s Companion, and sister spin-off The I Love Trader Joe’s Party Cookbook, the volume includes more than 150 recipes that can be made using only ingredients from the store. Conveniently, my birthday and Christmas are both in December. Just sayin’. – Sarah C.

It’s a fact: bookshelf arrangement is an art form. We’ve shared our strategies, and last month T Magazine’s Rita Konig explained the value of adding objects to spruce up the shelf. It all sounds so wonderful, but from where I sit in my 9’x6’ bedroom, is but a dream winking in the distance. But, have no fear, fellow bookshelf-less lit lovers: respite is here in the form of Bookshelf Porn, a blog dedicated solely to capturing the essence of beautiful bookshelves. Part design resource, part shelter for the shelf-less, it’s an eye vacation for a lazy afternoon. — Sarah C.

image from Bookshelf Porn, (via prettybooks and nothingsacred)

Part utilitarian sack, part prom dress, Urban Outfitters has designed the prettiest laundry bag ever! The Ruffle Laundry Bag is a frilly find to make washing even the dirtiest load of laundry a little more glamorous. Made of cotton, the bag is machine washable and can be tossed into the load to get clean alongside your delicates. –Katie D.

1) The mac-n-cheese debate rages on. Many of you love Alton Brown’s recipe, but when it comes to this dish, you’re not shy to voice your favorites. Shoppingsmycardio says, “ooh, yummy, gooey, carb-y goodness! this recipe is delish (i’ve made it), but i’ll see your alton brown, and raise you the single best mac i’ve ever tasted: Martha Stewart’s.” Commenter Ellobie reps P. Diddy’s Mack’n Cheez, which Laura has reproduced in comments in this post.

2) Stargazer lilies are a fragrant option, but keep them away from cats! Like our peppermint oil quick fix, these lilies freshen up a room, but are not feline-friendly. Heidi says, “I love lilies and this is a great idea! However, pet owners (especially cat owners) beware. Lilies are highly toxic to animals, so make sure they’re out of reach of your pets.” Click here for more information.

3) Painting upholstery brings back bad makeover show memories. Mary’s adventures in cushion restoration may have been a bust, but if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that cheap makeovers aren’t always worth it. Suswhit says, “There used to be a decorating show on tv, Trading Spaces or something, and the “designers” used to spray paint upholstery on a regular basis. The premise was that you redecorated your neighbor’s house and they redecorated yours. I can not imagine the horror of coming home and finding that they had spray painted your couch.” Eek! Back to Ikea it is!

4) Flowers and food rank highly as your favorite “just because” gifts. Jennifer says, “My family always makes sure mom has fresh flowers in the house, and every time we come home with some she seems as excited and touched as if we haven’t been doing it for years.” What is your favorite thing to give or get “just because?”

5) We’re enamored with Iris Conrad’s refurbished Ikea credenza. Meags says, “It looks excellent! I’ve always wanted to paint Ikea furniture but have been scared because I have read that the coating is difficult to both remove and paint over. Do you have any tips on how to paint successfully?” In fact, she does! See the makeover here and find her how-to tips at her flickr page.

image by flickr member Théo La Photo

BLDGBLOG shows off the Palletenpavillion, a house made entirely of shipping pallets, ground anchors, and tie rods. It’s designed to be assembled and disassembled with ease, a great choice for fugitives and urban nomads alike.

If you, like us, are absolutely FREAKED about the egg recall, then raise your own chickens! Urban agriculture is becoming easier and easier, and cities like Seattle have recently changed the laws for city farms, allowing up to 8 chickens on a single family lot, more than enough to supply your egg needs, as well as those of your neighbors!

The most clever bathtub ever– the Stowaway Tub, at AT Chicago.

A Readymade blogger had 40 people in a 550-square-foot apartment, and lived to tell the tale.

This galley kitchen renovation at CasaSugar has us starry eyed over all that open counter space. Drool….

More bedbug horrors: America’s 10 most bedbug-infested cities. Ohio leads with 3 out of ten. And the vintage furniture hiatus begins… now!

David Lebovitz talks about how hard it is to find a local fresh tomato in Paris. Quel dommage!

We’ve featured the fabulosity that is flowing from my lovely friend Iris Conrad before. So it’s no surprise that the hits just keep coming from her. Iris wanted a new credenza to complete her dining room, but was unable to find anything she liked at all to match her modest budget. What’s a creative gal to do? Armed with plywood, paint and modern Knoll-esque hardware, she transformed her dated Ikea credenza from college into something truly breathtaking. See more here, at her flickr page, where she’s also got some really amazing photos of Mid-century architecture and design. –Megan B.

I really should call this “natural house scent.” Our home isn’t very large (about 800 square feet on the first floor, if that) and two big, hairy dogs in summer can give it that not-so-fresh feeling. I’ve definitely done the scented candles and oils thing, but it was a birthday present from my husband that made me realize there was a much prettier alternative. I’ve always adored stargazer lilies, so much so that they were our wedding flowers. Part of their appeal is their strong scent — I’m sure there are those who don’t love it, but I do. Last week, every time I opened the front door, instead of wafting dog I caught the scent of lilies! So when my birthday flowers wilted, I bought the ones you see here for just $5. (We’re blessed with some of the most abundant and inexpensive floral stands around.) I think this could be my new semi-weekly boost. — Mary T.

What does it mean that I am now digging the decor of the Real Housewives of Bravo? Is this what a couple months in the ‘burbs is doing to me? Alright, perhaps it’s not all of the RHW’s, just Mary Schmidt Amon’s DC home. Clicking through this gallery at the new iVillage Home & Garden site, I was amazed how much I loved Amon’s personal style. Animal print rugs. A collection of antique tea cups. An attic bedroom for her teenage daughter. This place is sweet! Okay, the Fort Knox style biometric fingerprint closet lock may be a bit extravagant, but I could imagine being very comfortable in this wife’s real house. What about you? Do you watch Real Housewives and dig their home style? Should we be paying more Shelterrific attention to them? — Angela M.