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How-To: House Backyard Chickens in Style
My friend Beth, who I've known since high school, recently started a blog to update her friends and family on her latest domestic adventure — raising backyard chickens. Since Beth never does anything halfway, she and her husband Craig built a chicken coop that is super cute and matches their 1922 Craftsman home.
She writes, "I paid my way through college 10 years ago raising and killing chickens and also had laying hens.
Garden Therapy: Preventing Creatures From Eating Fall Bulbs
Ann Whitman, the green goods supervisor at Gardener's Supply, recently offered some advice for preventing squirrels, deer, and other critters from digging up and destroying your Fall bulbs. Check out her tips below.
- Squirrels love to dig in newly disturbed soil, so prevent them from exploring by disguising your newly planted bulbs.
Desire/Acquire: Ceramic White Animal Napkin Rings
Jonathan Adler's new Animal Napkin Rings ($18 each) are irresistibly adorable. But, a whole set of four will cost you $72 smackers! I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to spend those dollars on a good bottle of wine or an indulgent menu.
Love It or Hate It? Leather Rhinoceros
Growing up, a few of my parents' British ex-pat friends had leather animal footstools in their living rooms, so I have a nostalgic attachment to this Leather Rhinoceros (inquire for price). The stools were first sold at Liberty's in London in 1927 and have been popular in England ever since. Some of us with eclectic tastes applaud their quirky British style, but I understand that they're a little wacky for most.
Etsy Find: Sharon Montrose Photographs
I just came across these Animal Prints ($25) by photographer Sharon Montrose, and I'm totally smitten. The LA-based shutterbug snapped these real live animals, who mostly "live happily at a small California Zoo," perched in front of a white backdrop on hardwood floors. The details are truly amazing, and I applaud her for getting these zoo dwellers to stand so still!
How-To: Keeping Deer Out of Your Garden
Growing up in the country, deer and other creatures were daily visitors to my garden, nibbling and trampling upon everything in sight, and they often caused car accidents in the area. Needless to say, they're not my favorite forest creature. But that doesn't necessarily mean you have to wait for deer season to keep them away from your casa; there are plenty of ways to keep them out of your garden without increasing your daily venison intake.
Trend Alert: Wild Things
Metropolitan Home has spotted a trend of animal-inspired home designs, evidenced by everything from a kangaroo-footed silver bowl to bird-feet candlesticks. While I don't think finding inspiration in wildlife is anything new — Hello, antlers! — I have been noticing a lot of furniture shaped like animals and creatures themselves.
Steal of the Day: Organic Leopard Print Duvet Cover
Add some animal magnetism to your bedroom with this West Elm organic cotton snow leopard duvet cover (full/queen on sale for $69.99, originally $99 ). This duvet cover is in a 250-thread-count organic cotton, and comes with matching shams (sold separately). I love the brown color scheme, which helps to tone down a potentially over-the-top pattern.
Love It or Hate It? Cipola Pewter Crocodile Lamp
This Cipola Pewter Crocodile Lamp ($2500) hovers somewhere between refined and ridiculous. Even if I did have money to burn, I can't see myself buying this. But that doesn't mean I don't like it.
Steal of the Day: Creature Comforts Print by Keith Greiman
For today's Steal of the Day, I have another item that fits right into October's Dress Your Walls theme.
I love the cartoony, child-like fantasy of this gigantic two-headed cat creature jumping over a home in Keith Greiman's print "Creature Comforts." The print is 6" x 4.45" (plus border for framing), and only $20, but hurry: There are only 15 prints left at Tiny Showcase, so grab one before they're gone!
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