Have you ever had your eye on an item for your home that you’ve lusted after for a while, but have resisted buying because of one or two nagging reservations? I have. For me, that item is West Elm’s organic pin-tuck duvet cover and sham set. I love everything about it: the texture, the simplicity of it, the details, the crisp, clean, cuddled-up vibe it gives off, the swish sound it makes when you move it, I mean, really, this is me granting full disclosure into my bedding fantasy. It reminds me of everything good about Saturday morning and I want it to be mine. But, and there is always a but, I have reservations, and for once, they have nothing to do with price. First, I’ve heard from multiple friends to avoid pin-tuck duvets because the stitching eventually pulls, betraying the signature shape. Woe! Second, in my dream bedroom, I have this set in white, and if that’s not completely unrealistic, I don’t know what is. I also don’t know what my second choice color would be. The set has been wooing me for a while and is still available, but I’m still torn on multiple points. What do you think, readers? Are white duvets absurd? Is pin-tuck a problem? Do you have a similar story about something for the home? Share in comments! – Sarah C.

If you haven’t found a convenient place for that bike yet, designer Chris Brigham may have a solution in the form of his bike shelf. Made of solid wood and mounted on a steel square rod, the shelf is designed to accommodate most bicycle frames, but can be customized as well, and also provides a small surface for storage. In the right space, it could be just the thing to help incorporate your bike into your decor. $300 for the walnut finish, $270 for ash at Knife and Saw. — Sarah C.

I have a thing about painting finished wood and natural brick. Fortunately, after I fixed the split in this 1930s Art Deco chair, it was apparent even to me that the finish wasn’t going to come back. Although I’d love to paint it a glossy black some day, right now it’s for my daughter’s desk so pink it is. In the end, the lighter color brought out the shape of the back and the curve of the legs better than the dark wood ever did. Total cost of the project? $22,  including the spray paint. — Sarah L.

Here’s a quick and inexpensive Halloween costume for little ones. All you need is an empty milk jug, a can of silver spray paint, a Sharpie and 10 squares of felt. Total cost? $6.50. To make the knight’s helmet, simply cut the jug, making sure the handle is on the front to form the nose piece. (I placed my finish helmet on top of another empty jug for reference). After you’ve cut the shape, sand edges lightly, spray paint and use a Sharpie to draw a design. For the knight’s tunic, sew four pieces of felt together for each side, then lay a kids t-shirt on top to form the basis of the pattern, cutting it at least one-inch larger. Bonus: Since felt doesn’t ravel, you can cut to size without added seaming. Next pick a design for the crest (I drew an outline of a T-rex) and machine or hand stitch it to the tunic. Add simple side ties for easy on and off and you’re done! The milk jug helmet should fit kids up to about age six. With a little modification, it would also make a great robot head or, if sprayed green and black, the perfect topping for a pint-sized Frankenstein. — Sarah L.

My back is killing me. It’s not because I’m getting older or have chronic problems or spent the weekend helping Liberace move, it’s because I don’t have a desk. Yes, that’s right: I pen all my insightful home decor and lifestyle musings from my squishy couch hunched over my laptop like a goblin. My ideal desk would be something fun, engaging, and have a pretty hearty sense of humor (after all, who wants to work on at a serious, no-personality-required desk? Isn’t that why we all hate cubicles?). That’s why I love Hive Modern’s Globus desk . The nifty little pod snaps open to reveal a full corner office within. The only down side is the price tag. At $10,240 I’ll have to pen quite a few posts on my couch before I can afford the Globus (and the better posture I’m certain will come with it). Until then, I did find this desk on wheels from Target for a very reasonable $55. It will solve my back pain problems and then tuck away into a spare room when we’re entertaining guests in the living room. –Katie D.

1) The debate on storm and screen doors leaves us dissatisfied. Mary T. is looking for a stylish storm door or an efficient screen door, and many of you are right there with her. Pencils says: “I love wooden screen doors–and we need to replace the ugly storm door that came with the house on our front door. We actually have two very attractive wooden screen doors on our screened porch, I adore them. My husband really wants something energy efficient though, while I want something attractive. Are there energy efficient wood doors out there??” Well, are there?

2) Many of you love the look of barley twist tables. Sarah L. shared her new obsession and you agree. Ellie says: “That picture is fantastic, the colors, the patterns mix, the twisty legs. Love. How dare you teach me a new word (barley) and instill so many new wants at once, grrr…” See Sarah’s findings here.

3) Our readers are crafty costume designers! Katie D. asked about DIY costume creation and you were not short on ideas. Marcy says: “Last year I went as Fay Wray (King Kong) and made a giant gorilla hand out of paper mache, balloons, cardboard and spray painted it black. Then I attached faux fur for the wrist and made it look like the hand was picking me up. I was very pleased with myself, but most people thought I was Naomi Watts.” What was your best homemade Halloween costume?

4) The bathroom is the perfect place for comic relief. And the Goldfish Heaven Bath Plug may be just the thing. Jennifer says: “I literally laughed out loud. Cute!”

5) When it comes to staying in a vintage trailer, we’ve got options. Friday’s blogwatch took us to Casasugar and the El Cosmico Hotel, where you can rent trailers or even teepees for your stay. And there’s more where that came from. Sherri S. says: “If you want to stay in your choice of vintage trailers, I highly recommend the Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona. So fun! Bisbee itself is fun, too…art cars, hiking, and the Copper Queen mine tour. Check it out: http://www.theshadydell.com/ (And no, I don’t work for the Bisbee tourism board…just a tourist who likes to find offbeat adventures!).” Angela M. has also reported on Santa Fe’s Ten Thousand Waves, where you can rent an Airstream for the night.

We want to go to there: the only-in-Texas offbeat El Cosmico Hotel, where you can spend a night in a restored vintage trailer for a song. Or in a tee-pee! Via Casa Sugar.

We’ve caught a serious case of table envy over Greta’s super-cool new dining table, complete with vintage booth seating, at Picnics in the Park.

Design*Sponge’s recent portable fire pit tutorialmay be the indoor-appropriate, affordable, and modern solution for the fireplaceless.

This “reader redesign” house tour at Young House Loveoffers boatloads of stealable and thrifty ideas, like using painter’s drop cloths as curtains, (they look better than you might think).

How to make your own candy blood slides a la “Dexter”, from Forkable. Eww… and somehow still, mmmm…

High Fidelity meets high style in this DIY mid-century styled wireless audio system, from the ever-lovely Whorange.

Apparently, eating bugs is all the rage, according to this article at Planet Green. And we’re not talking escargot, either. Wasps and rice. Really.

When actual penny tiles are just too popular (or too affordable), it’s time to make a change to nickel tile floors, over at Craft. Is the four-fold increase in cost worth the look?

Shop Terrain’s Garden Sale this weekend for 25-75% off all outdoor furniture and deep discounts on outdoor containers, garden structures and more. October 1-3 only!

Save 15% at the Knoll Space Annual Sale, taking place now through October 3 at hundreds of Knoll Space retailers nationwide. Click here to find a location near you.

Toast the season and the meals that come with it at Sur la Table’s Stock Up Sale. Save 20-40% on select cookware, bakeware and ceramics, and take 20% off roasting essentials for Thanksgiving.

Organize while you can: The Container Store’s Annual Shelving Sale ends October 17. Shop now for 25% off the entire shelving collection and save 25% on the elfa installation service.

Shop the final days of Crate & Barrel’s Annual Upholstery Sale and save 15% on all Stock and Stock Plus orders and 25% on custom items, but hurry, the sale ends October 11.

Ernie may have dubbed his rubber ducky “the one”, but I think I’d enjoy this little fishy even more than his feathered friend. The Goldfish Heaven Bath Plug from ModCloth (who knew they made home goods?) is the definition of cheeky. The cartoon-ready goldfish tail is enough to make every bubble bath and little less rom-com-cliché and a little more fun. –Katie D.