Home & Garden Blog » 2008 » April

Funny story, ready? Well not so much funny “haha” but funny “sad slash ghetto”. My brother has a house in San Fernando Valley and he recently purchased those solar lights that line your lawn and some garden thief promptly stole them!

Well okay I know that not everyone may see the humor in that situation but if you knew my brother you would. This is the same fellow who had his car stolen twice (recovered and stripped in Riverside) and who has an uncanny ability to get into hi jinx wherever he goes. So really the event didn’t surprise anyone, just brought additional chuckles.

The whole event made me wonder if there were other solar outdoor lighting options available that could not be so easily swiped.

Voila! I introduce you to the Driveway Solar Lights from Frontgate.com!

Place along the driveway or along the steps of your porch or front walkway and let the solar lights be a beacon for your way home. The lights will guide you on your path safely as you bring in your groceries at night, sleepily pull out your trash early in the morning, or slowly guiding your car threw rainfall or drizzle.

Powered by solar memory circuitry for 18 hours of run-time on a full charge (even when the skies are overcast), they provide reliable outdoor lighting all night long. Housed in rust free aluminum, 6 super strong LEDs provide bright and brilliant light, completely cordless so no wiring required to install. Also mounts vertically so you can add the Solar Lights wherever some luminance is required. 

Price - $59.50 (for a set of 2)

To shop for the Driveway Solar Lights from Frontgate, click here.

To browse a wide selection of Discount Outdoor Lighting Options, click here.

What would you say? Write us your caption and post them in our comments!

Save money on a box spring & splurge on a high quality platform bed!  I love platform beds because they are unique, you don’t have to hear the annoying springs when you get out of bed & feng shui experts highly recommend them.  Here are some of my favorites found at OneWayFurniture.com:

Modloft Monroe Platform Bed with Side Lights: $2,779.00

I love the fact that this bed set will save space as the end tables are built into the bed frame.  The built in lights are pretty awesome too.

Kyoto Wooden Platform Bed: $929.00

I love Japanese style…anything so this simple platform bed is right up my alley.  The headboard has a unique design that sort of looks like a Japanese screen.

Hawthorn Bed - Leather Platform Bed: $1,059.00

I love this sleek black leather platform bed.  The black color allows you to be free to change your bedroom decor as often as your mood changes.

Inc. 500 ranked OneWayFurniture.com one of the fastest growing furniture companies in the US so you know you are buying from very reputable company.  They carry just about every type of furniture you need for every room from bar stools to bedding.  What’s also great is that they offer a “120 Day Low Price Guarantee” on all furniture & they have a reward points program too!  Plus, you will get an instant coupon with every purchase.  Pretty cool.

Ahhh, but this is simply purrrrfect! Ha! Check out this weeks funny photo of the week…

Check out Aviation inspired home decor that reeks of 1950’s glamor and is oh so chic!

Happy Earth Day! Read about all the global attempts at being more Eco-friendly and what can be created with a touch of imagination and a little ingenuity…

Bamboo is both beautiful, is a 100% natural resource and incredible resilient! See all the different way you can decorate your home with Bamboo!

Let the kids cool off in the Sun Shade Inflatable Pool! Nothing says summer fun like splashing around in hose water and soaking up the sun!

Clean Deal of the Week! If your hankering to re-vamp your trash can look no further than the Suncast Outdoor Trash Receptacle, looks great and will make taking out the trash just remotely funner!

Searching for a stylish and sturdy outdoor trash receptacle, well look no further! The Suncast Outdoor Trash Receptacle will look great on your patio, deck or driveway.

Long lasting resin construction ensures that it will put up with whatever manner of garbage you stuff it with! Best of all we offer you a variety of merchants who sell the Suncast Trash Receptacle, but the cheapest one seems to be offered by Target at a price of $39.99!

Sold for as much as $62.99 at some venues. To shop for or purchase the Suncast Outdoor Trash Hideaway, click here.

Oh I thought this was super cute and fun for the kiddies. Tell you the truth I thought of it because my little nephew recently wanted to take a dip in the backyard, thing is we don’t own a pool anymore so we got him one of these inflatable pools.

Super fun and cute! Ours didn’t have one of these handy dandy shade covers so your in luck and you can buy the better version.

The Sun Shade Inflatable Pool retails for $24.99 (you save $5.00 off the original price) the shade part is removable in the event you would like to expose your kids to some good old vitamin D, but if they are the color of snow like me and my family then I suggest leaving the shade up.

To purchase or shop for the Sun Shade Inflatable Pool, click here.  

Bamboo is a beautiful and notoriously strong building material that I have noticed is becoming more and more popular in home decor. Check out the following examples of bamboo in all its wonderful forms!

Kennedy Bamboo Curtains

These natural bamboo grommet-top panels will add a modern look to your window. They also add enough light without compromising your privacy. Hang on decorative rod or pole. These curtains are made of 100% bamboo which also happens to be a natural and completely renewable resource.

I love modern design but even I agree that it can seem cold at times, implementing touches of nature goes a long way in adding warmth and humanity to your otherwise icy decor.

Currently sold at JCPenney.com: WAS $85.00 NOW $34.99

To shop or purchase the Kennedy Bamboo Curtains, click here.

Bamboo Bathtub Caddy with Bookstand and Wine Glass Holder

This beautifully designed caddy also has a place to hang your razor and your loofah, as well as a built-in draining soap dish. It adjusts to fit most tubs, and the bamboo is water resistant, which means this will remain as beautiful as if it were brand new.

I like how they chose to implement this product with a good book and a glass of red wine! Ahhh, makes me want to take a long sudsy bath…

Sold at Delight Networks for $46.50

To shop or purchase the Bamboo Bathtub Caddy, click here.

Last but not least check out the adorable Square Bamboo Bathroom accessories from West Elm.

short container - $8.00
tall container - $10.00
tissue box cover - $16.00
tooth brush holder - $5.00
tank tray - $12.00
waste bin - $29.00

This collection offered by West Elm displays an fresh and clean design of functional items for the bathroom. Made of natural bamboo with a polished white finish, the collection is attractive and reasonably priced.

To shop or browse the Square Bamboo Bathroom Accessories Collection at West Elm, click here.

Happy Earth Day! Since Earth Day is supposed to be about finding a global perspective on the state of our environment, I decided to dedicate this post to interesting advancements in “green living” on a global front.

In Milan…

Droog Design displays a “Touch of Green” to their design work. I don’t know if this is sellable or is just proving a point, Above is “One day paper waste,” a table that shows one days’ paper waste in a more static form. They note, “Does it help the environment to recycle a one day gathering of paper waste from the office into a resin treated piece of furniture? Maybe not literally, but the intention to limit waste is at least one step in the right direction.”

Regardless the message to me is loud and clear, amazing what can be created by just one day of waste! We should definitely start supporting architects and designers who choose to utilize this by product into sustainable furnishings.

(Source: Treehugger.com)

In Australia …

Big things are happening in Sydney. First Earth Hour, which began in Sydney, went global last month. Then, the city unveiled its brand new 2030 vision, which outlines the steps that the city will take to reduce its emissions by 60%. And now, a new project planned for the outskirts of the city will become the most sustainable development in Australia.

Finish reading at Inhabitat, Australia’s Greenest Development.

In Scotland …

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond is offering $20-million for any individual or company that can harness the power of the ocean to create renewable energy in an environmentally friendly fashion. This is the largest dollar amount offered by any nation to spur advances in energy technology and is hopefully a sign of things to come.

(Source: science.propeller.com)

We are making awesome progress folks, it warms my heart to read about all the global attempts to tap into new sources of energy, creative uses of by products, and innovative architectural designs that will literally re-shape the way we see the world.

It’s sad that we must get this bad before everyone starts caring and making bold strides to change, but hey I guess it’s better late than never, right?

Happy Earth Day Everyone! 

I really enjoyed the movie “Aviator” by Marin Scorsese with Leonardo DiCaprio and Gwen Stefani and a host of other top celebrities! Not only was it well cast and beautifully performed but it is quite an inspirational film in respect to inspiring home decor and fashion. It made me want to hunt for vintage pieces that sparkle with an old fashioned flair and 1950’s glamor.

Consequently when I came across this Howard Miller Propeller Alarm Clock I immediately loved it! I appreciate the antique silver finish and how it features an old fashioned parchment dial with black hands and glass crystal. When you are inspired by a certain theme or era, its just little touches that make all the difference, to overwhelm your home with a particular theme causes the whole feeling to appear costumey and staged.

Whether you choose to hang this propeller clock on the wall or on your night stand it is an eye-catching handsome piece for any home. Plus this little gem does not cost a fortune.

Retails for $29.99 at Overton’s!

To shop or purchase the Howard Miller Propeller Alarm Clock, click here.

What would you say? Write us your caption and post them in our comments!