What are Nyokki Pets? Well, they’re kind of a 21st Century take on the Chia Pet. The 2-inch-high, ceramic planters come with a bag of rye grass seeds and ceramic beads. You plant the seeds in the planter, add water, and in a few weeks, the rye grass should grow, at which point you can style it as the Nyokki’s “hair.” $20 will get you a set of two matching planters, and you can choose from Monkey, Froggie, Chickee, Panda, and Piglet.
If your outdoor furniture looks like everyone else’s on the block (read: purchased at Walmart, Target, or Home Depot), then you might to change it up with something a little more vibrant this summer. Archie’s Island is a store that offers brightly painted outdoor tables, chairs, and benches. This round-back chair is made from a Malaysian hardwood called Merpaugh, then finished in a marine industrial paint, which means it can be left outside in all climates year round. You can choose from a variety of bright colors such as grape, frosty lime, and tangerine. The chair will cost you $450.
1 %RATINGS_VOTEWORD%You might be surprised what a difference updated cabinet and drawer pulls can make in a kitchen or bathroom. If a full remodel with new cabinets and countertops isn’t in the budget right now, try changing out the hardware for a couple hundred bucks. Though solid metals with stately patterns and safe bets, you can have fun with some color too. Sure to make guests smile, these whimsical metal and glass knobs from GetaGrip certainly have a lot of personality. They’d be particularly fun in a children’s bathroom. The pulls come in numerous colors and shapes (leaves, lighting bolts, and these modest little squares). Prices start at $26.
Tired of steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs, and the usual backyard grill fare? It can get a little old after a while. As an alternative, check out the appropriately named Pizza Grill, a baking stone designed to work with your gas grill. The slab lets you get the crisp texture and rich taste of a brick-oven pizza at home. Its stainless steel frame distributes the heat evenly, while an integrated backsplash keeps pizza and toppings from slipping over the edge. A heat thermometer helps you keep track of the temperature, so you can get your pizza done just right. Available from Sur La Table, the pizza grill costs $100.
Even though square and rectangular sinks are more common in the kitchen, there’s no rule that says you can’t experiment with other shapes. This round sink from Blanco America is perfect as a secondary sink or if you just like the idea of softening the kitchen by eliminating a few sharp corners here and there. The compact size would also make it a nice choice for wet bars. The sink comes in two sizes, 17 11/16″ or 15 1/4″ diameters, with a depth of 6 5/8″ for each. The Silgranti material it’s made from is composed of 80% solid granite, which gives it the look and feel of solid stone. It’s also non-porous, so it resists bacteria and stains. The sink comes in biscuit, white, metallic gray, or anthracite (pictured here).
Usually you think of decorative tiles as being big and prominent, or at least noticeable from across the bathroom or wherever they’ve been installed. The Dana’s Glass line of glass tiles over at Ann Sacks is a little different. The small 2″ x 2″ tiles can be tucked right into a field of similar-sized tiles, so that only a close inspection reveals their contents. They feature textured images such as the grapes shown here. Also available are leaves, buds, birds, and geometric shapes.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to spruce up a bland and boring entry door, visit the folks at Ultra Glass. They do all sorts of interesting things with glass (textured countertops, squiggly tiles, etched glass water features, etc.), which includes custom-designed graphics for glass doors, cabinet doors, and windows. In this picture, a sunburst design turns an otherwise plain glass door into a focal point. This door is from a nightclub, but the company has pictures of numerous residential installations they’ve done too.
1 %RATINGS_VOTEWORD%These hand-blown glass “NightOrbs” are individually crafted outdoor lighting fixtures (though they can be used indoors too). They can be perched around your garden, deck, and backyard in order to light up the evening in an interesting way. Like standard outdoor lamps, they connect to a low-voltage system and come with instructions for set up. The orbs are available in nine handcrafted color combinations, with each lamp measuring eight inches in diameter and one-quarter inch thick. The company promises they are sturdy enough to withstand a range of weather conditions (though if you’ve got a hurricane or tornado coming, you may want to store them–and yourself–somewhere safe). Prices start at just under $400 for the standard eight inch orb, and you can get all sorts of extensions, including underwater cables, so you can put the lamps anywhere in your yard, pool, or water garden. You can also get larger custom orbs, though prices for those start at $1,300.
Although vinyl or aluminum siding is easier to maintain, it’s hard to beat the sheer beauty of natural wood siding. This reclaimed redwood siding started out lining olive tanks, which gives it its deep varied patina. California’s old-growth redwoods are famously resistant to decay and weathering, and while those forests are protected today, you can occasionally find salvageable wood appropriate for siding, decking, or any place in your home where you want the warm look of wood. Keep in mind that wood siding comes with maintenance requirements though. It should be stained every 3 to 5 years, kept away from sprinkler systems, and inspected (especially the joints and nails) regularly.
These personalized doormats from Smith & Hawken might not be as colorful as the recycled flip-flop doormats we’ve looked at in the past, but they could be appropriate addition to a more stately home (somehow fluorescent flip-flop material just doesn’t look right with Corinthian columns and custom landscaping). A personalized doormat could even make a Father’s Day gift, if you’re looking for ideas. Cast from an original wood carving, the pattern on the recycled aluminum mat is designed to trap muck while greeting visitors. The center panel contains your family name (or any message of your choosing, up to 16 characters in length). The entire mat is copper-toned with a weather-resistant finish, so it shouldn’t rust. Dimensions are 36″ x 18″ and the price will run you $149.
