Home & Garden Blog

(Source Image: YankoDesign.com)

If carpets, hardwood, and concrete floors are too passe for you, how about one that generates floral patterns underneath every squishy step? The Blooming Step flooring system is a vinyl carpet containing nontransparent gel that appears clear when undisturbed. When you step on it flowers seemingly bloom from the surface tension and just as quickly disappear - creating a visual conversation as people walk across the room and interact with furniture.

Designer: Tae-Jin Sim

(Source: YankoDesign.com)

While in Smarter Home & Garden Blogging:

Childrens Furniture - Monte Carlo Balloon Ceiling Fans
My Neck Hurts - Shop for Neck Pillow Support
Discount Salt and Pepper Shakers - Unique and Nifty
Unique Furniture - Coffee Drum Table

I admit it, I never could figure out those 80’s Rubik’s cubes. I would get baffled and just masterfully peel the sticker squares of the sides I could not get to match up, some people call it cheating - I call it clever.

Well these Rubik Salt & Pepper shakers do not require any thought, just twist the top half and out comes the seasonings. Plus for you arty folks, adds a bit of whimsy and kitsch to your decor.

I also like these Peacock Salt and Pepper shakers!

Right now Gift Collector is featuring a sale on all fiesta kitchenware and this nifty set is marked down from $22.00 to $14.99! 

For more discount Kitchen Gadgets & Tools, click here.

Read - Easy French Furniture Design written by Smarter Guest Blogger Maureen

Find Beautiful Discount Kitchenware & Shop for a Copper Pot Rack Kitchen Grid

Shop for Discount Home Decor & Magical Mirrors

Spring is Here! Time for a Lovely Picnic in the Great Outdoors - Shop for this Manhatten Picnic Case 

I have always wanted a kitchen that has one of these beautifully varnished pot racks that hang over the kitchen island. I think that I somehow have this dream of preparing dinner with friends while drinking wine and having good conversation, Ha!

Unfortunately for me my kitchen is the size of a closet, but for you lucky enough to turn this daydream into a reality check out the Copper Oval Pot Rack with Grid from Mercantila.

The Rogar Copper Oval Pot Rack with Grid brings old world character to any home kitchen. The professional quality pot rack allows you to decoratively display your pots and pans while providing functionality by making all your kitchenware readily available.

Price $600.00

Also available in  copper, brass and chrome.

If you would like to shop for the Rogar Copper Oval Pot Rack with Grid - Click here.

I went to visit my parents house and I was standing in the kitchen watching her prepare dinner. There she was chopping chicken into smaller bits on a “wood” chopping board, THEN she rinsed off the board gave it a quick rundown with some sudsy water and started chopping vegetables on the thing!!

Umm, HI! Can we say SALMONELLA. Where do I begin?

First off, I thought it was common knowledge that you should have two separate cutting boards. One for meats and one for vegetables and everything else. Also that the one for meat should be PLASTIC, not wood as wood locks in blood and germs in it’s fibers. Plus plastic can be thrown into the dishwasher for some heavy duty cleaning and disinfecting. Or you can take a solution of bleach and water and hose that plastic meat cutting board down. Makes sense right?

To be clear here are my “TIPS”:

1. Two separate cutting boards

BUY PLASTIC CUTTING BOARDS - for MEATS!

BUY WOOD or PLASTIC - for VEGETABLES and all assorted kitchen prepping!

Also here is a short video on how to maintain your wooden cutting board…

YouTube - Watch Cutting Board Tips

Good grief, no wonder I have a stomach like an iron tank and rarely get sick from questionable food. All these years if this is how my Mom has been prepping food I have developed an iron constituition to edible germs.

I’d rather not test that theory any further though. Just some friendly advice from me to you. Hope it helps!

I think this is lovely. Too often I sit at my desk and wish and pray I could see the sky! Even if it is jut photographic images, check out The Sky Factory Luminous Sky Ceilings.

(Source: Outblush.com)

In Smarter Home and Gardening:

Children’s Furniture - Discount Fireman Step Stool and Storage

Cool off with a nice pitcher of Iced Tea, check out the great deal on Mr. Coffee’s Iced Tea Maker!

Could be floaty, could be patio chair - You decide! Discount Outdoor Furniture on Sale!

Crate & Barrel Summer Sale!

Fourth of July Sale at Home Depot - Maytag Centennial Washer only costs $359.10!

Well I came across this deal and I could not resist. It’s a great bargain! Simply said it contains 31 pieces of quality bakeware:

Retail Price: $89.95 Now: $40.06 (You Save: $49.89 - 55% OFF)

To purchase this 31 piece King Collection Bakeware Set, click here.

Amidst the gloom and chill of winter, I have been daydreaming a lot of warm seasons and tropical paradises! Plus regardless of seasonality, saving money is an all-year-round event!

So here we are dreaming; the bright sun lightly kissing our skin, ahhhh! What is missing? A frosty tropical beverage of course, a salty Margarita! Top off your frozen concoction the right way with this Margaritaville salt rimmer and lime set from HomeWetBar.com!

It includes an translucent salt tray for rimming cocktails and shot glasses, a durable white polypropylene cutting board for slicing limes and other garnishes, one Margaritaville shot glass, and a serving tray for lemon and lime wedges. This four piece set cleans easily by hand or in the dishwasher and fits compactly together for easy storage in a kitchen drawer, shelf, or in the side pocket of your frozen concoction maker bag.

Was: $19.99 Now: $9.95

Logically you can use all these items for preparing hors d’oeuvres for your guests or fixing dinner for your family. So it really is a great deal not just for spring and summer but for any occassion!

To purchase the Margaritaville Salt Rimmer and Lime Set for only $9.95, CLICK HERE.

To shop for more deep discounts and bargains at HomeWetBar.com, CLICK HERE.

Unfortunately, a lot of the new design from South Africa does not have a web presence, and so those of us not fortunate enough to live close by will have to do without. Not so with the Willowlamp … find out more at 2Modern Design Talk.

The interesting thing about this bed is that unlike it’s competitors from Blu Dot, DWR and IKEA, the West Elm platform bed is available in all five standard sizes from Twin to California King…read more at Apartment Therapy.

See the Penguin Teaboy brew the perfect cup of tea at Productdose.com. The tuxedoed bird will make you feel like you’re an English lord enjoying a biscuit with some darjheeling.

This week in Smarter Home & Garden we covered:

• We remind all WOMEN not to nag their men too much about putting the toilet seat down, lest this happen to YOU!
• The Glow of Solas lighting both fills us and inspires us…
• The snozzberries taste like snozzberries…..check out Scratch n’ Sniff Wallpaper that is both beautiful and great smelling!
• We research why leaves fall off trees….it’s called Leaf Senescence!
• Finally check out our delcious Cookie Cutter Sets for $2.95 at our Deal of the Day

Since I recently posted about tea and the benefits of tea drinking, I decided to reach out to my coffee drinkers this time around. I read about this wonderful coffee time set from Plastica on Outblush this morning.

When you are hankering for your morning cup of java or evening ritual of a good cup of coffee, the Coffee Time Set by Plastica ($49) makes a perfect companion. The six cups and saucers is a great set to have handy for the home or office when a little caffeine is calling your name.

I figure it would make an ideal housewarming gift, wedding gift or office gift. You can use it for tea or coffee technically or serve with a nice dessert. The possibilities are endless folks.

Here are the stats:
Set of 6 cups, 6 saucers, and 1 tray and comes with 6 elegant stainless steel stirrers.
Design by Tous Les Trois
7″ x 5″ x 2 1/2″
$49.00

To purchase the set at Plastica, click here.

For more coffee cups & saucer sets, click here.