There’s something idyllic about climbing up a treehouse where you can get away from the world. For your kids and your inner child, the German company baumraum designs and builds custom wooden treehouses that take the surroundings into consideration, from the size of your property to the trees that are there. Two levels or different heights? No problem. No trees in your yard? Self-supporting projects take you to the height of outdoor observation. Not keen on wood? They’re happy to explore other materials. You can count on safety and durability with baumraum’s expertise in treehouses you can live in. Contact them for an obligation-free query.

Should you or should you not buy it just because they have it? A certain status is expected to be upheld wherever you live. In every neighborhood, there is a certain lifestyle to live up to; certain cars are preferred. But this green-eyed way of life should give way to greener living–a hybrid instead of an SUV. Times like these, frugality becomes more chic than consumerism. Brand names are becoming less important as overconsumption leads to credit worries. It is trendy to budget and prioritize. The only talk that overspending will get you is bankruptcy gossip. And that is not something to brag about.

Seen on the Kohler website: floorplans, photos and videos of remarkable homes all over the country built in 2006 and 2007. Featured are the Bay Area High-Tech Home, Chicago Green and Fit Home, New Orleans Shotgun Cottage, Harlem Renaissance, and Door County Retreat. What is great about this is that you can view the interior and exterior of these homes to see how they blend into their environment. Aside from these tours, the Design and Create section of the website lets you dream, plan and choose–what else?–bathrooms and kitchens, using trends, designer inspiration, virtual planners, tips and selection guides.

It’s not very hard to be up-to-date with the weather–everything you need to know is always online. But wouldn’t it be better to have always-on, at-a-glance weather information, especially when your kids are off to school or you’re commuting to work? La Crosse Technology, Bushnell, Thw Weather Channel and Oregon Scientific have a number of options for you. From 7-day forecasts to temperature, pressure and humidity sensors, from UV and heat indexes to sunset and sunrise times, these wireless gadgets with LCD displays can also function as alarm clocks. Where it matters, Spectrum has a Thunderbolt Storm Detector to alert you of coming stormy weather.

Sprucing up your garden is a way of accessorizing your home. Whether you live in an urban or rural neighborhood, it pays to make your green space friendly and appealing. Compact city gardens can still be successful with good design and thoughtful layout. Roof gardens in particular can be useful for saving energy. Villas with wider open spaces can serve as the playground of the imagination. Country homes reflect a more rustic spirit true to tradition. Details such as arbors, decks, hardscapes and fountains bring out the character of the space. If the landscape architects are clear about your requirements, gardens do not have to be time-consuming to maintain.

Image by Michael Jonker

It’s time to give your porch a good touch-up of paint to turn a tired patio into a bright new welcoming area that looks great in the sunshine. The Glidden website has animation enhanced  Exterior Paint Preparation, Painting Exterior Trim and Exterior Painting modules to help you with your biggest DIY project this season.

Two products you’ll be needing are Glidden Porch & Floor Polyurethane Oil Gloss and Glidden Porch & Floor Latex Satin, in two durable scuff-resistant finishes to withstand wear and tear for years. Whether your surfaces are wood, metal or concrete, these paints resist abrasion, oils and washing.

If your car is starting to feel out of place in the garage and you don’t know where the garage stops and the house begins, there is probably more clutter at that entrance of the house than it should have. The Container Store presents elfa, storage solutions you’ll find indispensable for the naturally cluttered areas of your house. Your utility area could use elfa shelving for bags, umbrellas and shoes, just the place to collect your things before your family leaves for the school or the office. There’s storage for seasonal objects and household items. Durable ventilated shelves are adjustable and installs fast. Mesh drawers make it easy to see your things and ensures that your things are contained and will not fall through.Drawers have integrated handles for portability.

Image from The Container Store

There are more types of bird feeders more suitable for certain types of birds. Tube feeders are usually long transparent plastic cylinders with feeding ports. Nectar feeders are for hummingbirds and the like, which like sweet sugar water, especially when they’re red in color. Bee guards are essential. Suet feeders can be simple mesh sacks, often in logs.

It is important to keep your feeder clean, as feeders can be a breeding grown for diseases. Make sure your seeds stay dry. If possible, just put the amount birds can consume in a day and refill the feeder in the morning.

Image from www.cleanairgardening.com

Bring in birds into your garden with a backyard bird feeder. You can start with an open tray feeder to attract birds. Tray or platform feeders are large, easy to fill and accommodate most seeds. You can also leave other treats like bread and fruit. Hopper feeders are enclosed with glass and plastic and only give seeds a few at a time, lessening wastage. Some models are said to be squirrel-proof and cause squirrels and heavy birds to fall. Wire-mesh feeders are good for larger seeds and dispense them one at a time. If you have nowhere to hang a feeder, then window feeders of shallow tray on or below the sill should work just fine.

Image from duncraft.com

Verterra dinnerware is made of 100% renewable, organic and biodegrable plant material, the green alternative to disposable paper and plastic disposable wares. It can be used multiple times and biodegrades in two to six months, depending on the kinds of food products it is used with. It is fully compostable. Oven and microwave-safe, it does not contain bleach, plastic, wax or any chemicals. Verterra is not only a green innovation company, it is also dedicated to giving its crafters in South Asia fair wages. Fallen leaves as main raw material and a socially responsible thrust—elements that make a company like this worth supporting.

Image from inhabitat.com