want it now: a modern fire pit
As the weather gets more and more pleasant, my thoughts tend to stray outside the four walls and into the great outdoors — especially as the owner of a yard for the first time. I’d love to make s’mores and hobo pies with my loved ones around this fabulous modern iron Font O’ Fire pit, hand forged by artist John T. Unger. It starts at $500 with shipping for the smallest model — fair for a piece of art that is beautifully functional.
Another option that is more within my budget is this Fire Sense HotSpot Square Fire Pit for $179 at Sears. I like its boxy simplicity — different than most fire pits you’ll find out there in this price range for sure!
Another drool-inducing option is the stainless steel Terra Fire Basket by Blomus, but it’s almost too pretty to leave outside. Does anyone else have any suggestions? –Megan B.
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contest! win a lead-free, eco-friendly garden hose
Update: I managed to confuse myself with this contest, so we are going to go ahead and take entries until midnight EST on Tuesday, May 5. Thanks, everyone! –Mary T.
Lots of us have a pleasant summer memory of getting a refreshing drink from the garden hose. So it was a bit shocking to learn that plenty of garden hoses contain dangerous levels of lead. Teknor Apex to the rescue! The company, the second-largest manufacturer of garden hoses in the U.S., just came out with two new hoses: AquaPure Neverkink and Healthy Habitat, both of which are lead-free, making them safe to drink from. As an added bonus, they help reduce water usage by as much as 20 percent!
Teknor Apex has graciously given us one of their new, safe hoses to give away to you! The AquaPure Neverkink hose is lead-free, drinking water safe (made with F.D.A. sanctioned materials), and conserves water with a reduced flow rate. And as an added bonus, it’s made of “no kink, no twist, no tangle” material — guaranteed.
Here’s how to enter: show us your small garden!
Is it a corner of the yard? A planting arrangement on your balcony? We want to see the part of your garden that makes you proud, and adds a little green to your day. All you have to do is send a JPG and a brief description to letters (at) shelterrific dot com. Once our team of contributors chooses our favorite, a new, safe hose will be on its way to you. Contest closes Friday, May 2 at 5 pm Tuesday, May 5 at midnight EST. Thanks, Teknor Apex!
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re-energized by design: the laundry room challenge
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Even though our team is no longer in the running, it’s still fun to keep up with what’s going on in the Re-Energized By Design competition. This week, the remaining three teams made over their laundry rooms.
In addition to $500 and energy efficient lighting from GE, the homeowners each received an brand new set of Frigidaire Affinity laundry equipment. These are not your average high-efficiency washers & dryers — this is serious technology in action here. The Affinity dryer will dry a full load in less than 30 minutes, and the washer features allergen reduction and sanitizing features along with having the highest energy star rating. And aesthetically they please, too (though I have to wonder why no one picked the red option).
Love what those scrappy Sayers did in their space with that upcycled laundry drum light fixture. Their creative approach is always surprising, and will be tough to beat in the final round. In the end, the Mendes family’s pastel laundry room didn’t make the cut — that leaves the Sayers and the Reillys to duke it out in the kitchen challenge! who do you think will win?!
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get re-energized by design!
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What is Re-Energized by Design, you ask? Well, it is an awesome web series that Shelterrific is excited to be participating in — produced by Puget Sound Energy, it’s all about incorporating energy efficiency into home design. The challenge is this: six teams of homeowners are paired with design coaches and together they compete to re-design 5 rooms with a focus on saving energy with a small budget. Cameras are documenting each leg of the challenge, and with every room one team gets the boot! The prizes are great: a home full of new LED and CFL lightbulbs from GE, a full suite of kitchen and laundry appliances from Frigidaire, and $5000.
I was fortunate to be paired with the Bedford family, who are just delightful. Kristen and her husband Slade have a great contemporary house, fun design aesthetic, and are really willing to completely put themselves into every challenge. This experience for me has literally been re-energizing to me as well, ending a year-long creative rut and getting me back into blogging and crafting and having fun again. I can’t wait to share what we’ve created together.
But as of today, I won’t have to wait much longer, as the first webisode is available at 6am PST at the Re-Energized By Design site — this week’s is an introduction to all the contestants. And stay tuned each week as we reveal another webisode. Also be sure to go to the Re-Energized page on Facebook, where you can enter to win a new Frigidaire appliance like those featured in the challenge!
want it now: laptop shade
I love taking my laptop outside to work, but it’s difficult to do so when the sun is so bright I can’t see my screen. (Yes, I know — it sounds like a terrible problem to have!) I heard about laptop shades when I first started working from home, and yet here I am, two years later, and I still haven’t gotten around to purchasing one. This one from CompuShade is about $30. Here’s another from Your Mobile Desk that has a slightly different shape. Here’s yet another, but no word on where it can be purchased. Have you used a laptop shade? Any reviews on how they work? –Mary T.
an eco toybox with enviable style
When I was ten, I was obsessed with finding a toy box worthy of my stuffed animal collection. But everything my mother suggested was princess pink or yucky white, with flimsy plywood doors and lids. Even back then, I knew they were tacky. The Owyn Toy Box would have been just the thing. Beyond its organic style, it has two leaf-shaped lids kids can lift and place back like a puzzle. It’s separated into two compartments under the lids. And it’s made with non-toxic paints and non-toxic, low-VOC water-based polyurethene. I would totally go back in time to be a kid again to own it — heck, I’d even play dodgeball in one of those weird one-piece gym suits. But is $495 too much money for a toy box, even one this cool? –Bay A.
cloud shelf has organizing looking up
Maybe it’s the fact that my all-time favorite childhood book is in the picture, but I love this Cloud Shelf spotted over at Better Living Through Design. The 6-inch-deep shelf is cut from heavy gauge metal and comes with a hook on one end. No doubt it would be great in a kids room, but I also think it would work well as a “landing strip” in an entryway. Order one for $54 at Modern Dose. –Erica P.
