Sometimes a small change can make a big impact, and this utility room makeover spotted on Flickr is a good example. Member Queen Conch made some cosmetic upgrades to the room, to be sure, but I was struck by how simply adding some fabric to the utility tub made the room look so much less…utilitarian. Find directions online at HGTV and The Fabric of Our Lives. Learn more about Flickr before-and-afters here. –Mary T.

Ever feel like something is missing in your home office? That a certain item, just beyond the grasp of your imagination, is waiting out in the world for you to bring it home so it can miraculously organize your life in some wonderfully hip, design-savvy way? Organization fiends, the time is upon us! I’ve just discovered, and naturally developed a huge crush on, the Mio Grid, a system of recycled felt wall pockets that create snug little homes for all of your office whatsits, mags, and writing paraphernalia. I love the geometric calm of it all, and that chic color combo of steel gray and hot pink has such modern, punchy charm. Want one of your own? The Mio Grid is available here for $60. — Meg D.

Read more of Meg’s tips for stylish, green living at her blog, Style Saves the World.

DWR is now promoting Kithaus K3, a very fine-looking, eco-friendly modern shed. Well, I would love one. But for $44,900 (or $29,500 for a base model not including decks, canopies and louvers) I think we’ll stick to our ReadyMade plans. $1600 is a little more our speed. — Mary T.

Bright ideas we gathered from your comments.

1. Your love for food and literature started young. We asked which non-cookbook made you hungry, and boy did you respond! Books you read in your youth (such as the book that inspired the question) outweighed other submissions by far, including Heidi, Farmer Boy, Bread and Jam for Frances, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (a natural, if it didn’t give you nightmares). “For me it is Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder,” says Lyz. “All that delicious food they make…the cider, the donuts…oh, man. It’s too much.” Want more anyway? Read the post and add your thoughts here.

2. There are great organic shampoo alternatives for baby. “An everyday eco-baby must is anything from Nature’s Baby Organic,” says Sarah. “The shampoos and body washes work and smell great. Plus with everything in the news about phthalates, it’s nice not to have to worry.” See the Blogwatch that got Sarah commenting here.

3. You seem to be leaning toward “getting old” as far as “new-old” furniture is concerned. Says Ellie, “Every time I get a new Brocade catalogue I worry for its sustainability.” While Jana says, “I think all the new stuff is funny, lovely, and so referential that once you get the ref, it’s kind of over, like a design one-liner.” So what’s your take? Weigh in here.

4. Those who live in DWR Warehouse Sale territory remain very lucky. Mary T. longs for a FL/Y Suspension Lamp, and Cherlyn responds, “I did see a few at the DWR sale last fall. The sale is the first weekend in March. Just in case you’re in the neighborhood.” Those of you in the Cincinnati/Northern KY, Florida, San Francisco and New Jersey areas, take note. (Sale or no sale, we love DWR. Just check out our archives.)

5. Brooklyn’s a great place for vintage furniture finds. “I’ve had great luck finding dressers for myself and for my design clients in Brooklyn!!” says Mackenzie. “I love that antiques strip on Atlantic avenue — The Horseman is the BEST — and don’t miss Time Galleries in Park Slope (on 5th). Both have amazing vintage (all eras) at reasonable prices and offer delivery, too.” Erica P. is still on the lookout for storage ideas for her apartment, so help a girl out!

I’m preparing to convert my single-occupancy lifestyle to the world of roommate living — or at least I’m trying to. My boyfriend moves in near the beginning of May, and I have a lot to do to get ready (read: make space) for his arrival. I’m not worried about the kitchen or living room, but the office and bedroom need work. A few months ago, I mentioned needing a new nightstand/dresser. Luckily, I just won the above awesome, Eames-era piece on eBay! My next project is finding another, larger dresser. I think my space is large enough for a low 6+drawer double dresser (around 60” long) but all the ones I’ve found are either painfully expensive or absolutely hideous. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to buy a stylish dresser in the New York area? (I’ve got more questions looming in the weeks to come so all you storage-savvy readers, start brainstorming!) — Erica P.

We saw this in Jillian’s Photos on Flickr and had to share. if you have a weakness for pins, what a fun, ingenius way to display them. We’re always looking for new ways to organize jewelry.

This week’s House & Home section in the New York Times was dedicated to the concept of home offices. This article — Home Office Life and Its Discontents — covers the pitfalls such as loneliness (colleagues can help the day go by quicker), lack of motivation (your tv/dirty bathroom/fridge is so close!) and distractions (kids, spouses). But we know that many of you work from home and love it. How do you do it? What are the key ingredients to make it work? Do you miss “the office?” or do you think working from home is the only way to go?

When we moved from Cincinnati to Seattle, we traded the Ohio River for Puget Sound and countless lakes, mountains, streams and trees. About the only thing we’re missing out on is housing square footage — prices are so much higher here, we’re going from a 2,500-square foot house to what’s likely to be around 1,000 including a basement, if we’re lucky. But, hey — we figure it will finally give us a reason to build the Readymade MD100 shed that we’ve had the plans for since 2005. (Great studio for my husband’s resin work? Amazing guest room? So many possibilities!) Have any of you built an MD100 or any shed of which you’re particularly proud? Tell us about it! Meanwhile, these fabulous shed posts from Materialicious, MoCo Loco and Land+Living might inspire you. — Mary T.

I spotted this ingenious invention yesterday at Not Martha and keep thinking of all the uses I could put it to. Tub Trugs are flexible, rubber tubs that hold everything from sand to water with ease. They come in five different sizes and colors that are bright and way more fun that ol’ galvanized metal. I think they’d perfect to help tote the recyclables to the trash, or for those of you with kids, great for toy storage (like in the bathroom). Tub Trugs are also perfect for cooling a six pack and lugging it down to the beach. They’re also inexpensive (about $16 for a nine gallon one). Click here to them at Stacks and Stacks — Angela M.

P.S. I just noticed Tub Trugs are for sale over at Apartment Therapy’s store!

We spotted this spiffy new Ecopod Recycling System in the latest Williams-Sonoma catalog and it has us looking at the bags full of plastic bottles in our kitchens with disgust. This thing doesn’t just hold your recyclables, it also crushes them… making room for up to 50 plastic bottles or aluminum cans. There’s also a place for for holding newspapers (and magazines, which in our homes always pile up faster than anything else), glass bottles, plastic bags and more. The hitch of course is the price, $328 which seems like a lot to spend on any kind of trash can. For now, our assorted bins and bags will have to do… unless one of you have some clever suggestions? Let us know how you organize your recycing!