As a cook, it is important to have my reserve of fresh herbs. Nothing beats the taste of freshly cut herbs. I am currently looking at a simple way to keep fresh herbs indoors without using space on my floor or the counter. An extra small Sky Planter could be it.

The Sky Planters remind me of hanging fixtures. Patrick Morris came up with this design. You hang the plants upside down. Upside-down gardening is not a new concept. It is often used for tomatoes and cucumbers to save space. Some people are successful with that technique while many seem to fail to produce good vegetables.

Going back to the design, a locking disk holds the plant and soil in place. A reservoir gradually feeds water to the roots. You normally need to fill the reservoir once or twice a month. In theory, it seems quite simple to use. Since I am not tall and that I need to hang the pots high (due to the space planning of the room), I feel that the herbs would be easier to reach for cutting if I plant them upside down.

How it Works?

The pictures show the plants as they were freshly put in the planters. Since I care about the taste and not what the herbs will look like in the long run, I would like to try with my cooking herbs. Plus, we cut the herbs at a regular basis. Keep in mind that cooking herbs need lot of sunshine to flourish before selecting where to put them.

The Sky Planter comes in three formats. Like I said, the extra small is ideal for fresh herbs. Getting 2 or 3 extra small planters would make a wonderful gift for someone who loves to cook. When you buy a Sky Planter, you receive a stoneware ceramic, a stainless steel wire, a ceiling hook and a plastic plug. They are available in black or white.

SOURCING:
+ Sky Planter by Patrick Morris for Boskke extra-small $25 USD, small $35, classic $75

You might also like these posts

Having a few Polaroid flower vases floating around at different heights is a stunning sight. I read on Yanko design that the line holding the frame is a wire, the wire bone’s connected to the light bone, and the light shines on the plant.

I wish I could recycle the idea for my Christmas ornaments. The difficulty in making your own is how to install the light. Any ideas?

+ prototype of the Polaroid Flower Vase by Jung Hwajin
+ via The Unreliable Girl

You might also like these posts

Every season, I check what is new at Habitat. I still hope for the first North American store. Fun everyday items caught my eye. They are coming later this fall. This post is about laundry, a good cup of coffee and cute serving trays.

It is not everyday that a laundry bin made it to At Home with Kim Vallee. Especially, I do not enjoy the laundry duties. I imagine this laundry bin in a kids bathroom. Spinit is a collapsible laundry bin with washing machine print on the front.

When I tell you that I do not like do the laundry it is not exactly true. What I do not like is the folding part. It is always easier with a good cup of coffee. Each of these 3 mug series is available in three complementing patterns.

Habitat is also home decor. They usually carry superb modern vases. Fall proved to be a good crop. I am inspired by the combination of the ORIGAMI collection with large yellow BALTA. POMPEII set of lacquered trays is available in two color schemes.

GET THE LOOK:
+ Small black ORIGAMI £31.20
+ Large white ORIGAMI £100
+ BALTA vase £49
+ Spinit £34
+ POMPEII Blue Trays £29.60
+ ADA Candle in a Cup £6
+ Red HERBERT Mug £6
+ Yellow floral YUTO Mug £6
+ DANI Mug Square pattern £6
+ DANI Mug Circle pattern £6

You might also like these posts

One cool space saving garden accessory featured on the August 2009 issue of Living etc is Etcetera Hanging Garden designed by Vincent Vandenbrouck for Edition Compagnie. It holds vertically 3 rows of 3 terracotta pots. Perfect for plants or fresh herbs.

This design is a few years old. I like the concept behind Etcetera. It is also available as a pot holder set of 3 pots. The innovation resides in the opening that allows the pots to be hanged on sticks.

SOURCING:
+ Etcetera Hanging Garden £199 at Lifestyle Bazaar

You might also like these posts

This post explores how you can repurpose things to get your home better organized. The wonderful Fiona of Cafe Cartolina made my story easy when she discovered a wonderful site filled with practical and cute DIY projects. There are ideas from the Do It Yourself magazine. There were so many great ideas that I did not need to look elsewhere. In fact, I could not present them all.

An inexpensive way to get better organizer and decorate your home is to add a personal touch to everyday items. Paint in a bright hue small metal buckets with exterior enamel paint. Then, fill them with potting mix and plant small plants, cooking herbs or green leaves.

The most adorable idea is to reclaim a birdcage as a mail sorter. Who can resist the vintage small suitcase, which provides enough space to neatly store your gift-wrapping supplies?

Plus do not miss the Storage Zone Solutions. It will help you keep your desk tidy in a compact space.

CREDITS:
+ Do It Yourself
+ Via Cafe Cartolina

You might also like these posts

Following the concept of yesterday’s post about vintage style glass milk bottles, I scoured on Etsy these cute porcelain vases from the talented Alyssa Ettinger.

Alyssa likes to fashion her vases with everyday object textures. I showcased her knitwear ceramic vases for Christmas 2007.

Her Milk bottle collection is available as a set or individual vases. She produces them in different bottle sizes. They are dishwasher proof.

She sells them as flower vases but I wish to use them for milk. Alyssa confirmed me be email that all her products are food safe. I am glad that we can use her bottles for drinking liquids. The bottles are dishwasher safe and will show any imperfections, if any, of the antique bottles she used as a mold. I think this fact adds desirable character to her pieces.

These milk bottle vases are only available on etsy. My birthday is in a few months; I will put her Milk bottles on my wish list.

Feb. 26, 2009: I updated my text to reflect the fact that they are food safe.

SOURCING:
+ Alissa Ettinger’s Milk Bottle Vases $30 to $100 USD

You might also like these posts

+ Paige Russell designed cool ceramic vases. She is known for her Bad Beaver vase. The Vehicle Vases nicely decorate boy bedroom and unisex home office. The RV and Camper vases are more versatile as a theme. They are sold at Curiosity Shoppe. Vehicle vases are $95 each. Bad Beaver is $90. Via inredningsbloggen

+ The Kitchen provided two great cooking tips last week. First add steam for the first 5 to 10 minutes that you are cooking bread. Then, use tea balls to flavor soup.

+ Sorry to my Twitter followers for the duplicate but I am including something I talked earlier today. Real Simple tested 14 brands of corn chips to find the best scoop with salsa and guacamole. The winner is the Tostitos Natural Yellow Corn chips. Via Real Simple

You might also like these posts

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me where he can find reasonably affordable outdoor furniture with great style. He did not want the stuff we see in garden centers in North America.

It is true that the style choices are quite repetitive when it comes to outdoor furniture. I decided to check what is happen elsewhere. UK sounds like a hip design place to start my dig.

The Urban Garden

My first stop is The Urban Garden, an on-line store that sells all you need to transform your garden into somewhere that you can relax, eat and entertain. Based in London, the store carries pieces that would fit into a condo terrace and small backyards.

Modern Garden Furniture Sets

My favorites are the teak contemporary Jocelyn furniture set and the Tomas terrazzo set. Both sets feature unusual benches. The 90-degree teak bench is an attention-grabbing space saver.

The curved benches followed the curve of the oval terrazzo table. The furniture is frost and weather resistant and can be used indoors or out throughout the year.

I read that terrazzo is immune to extreme cold. If you live in a place with harsh winter, the savvy consumer should inquire further before purchase. Since a stone set is heavy, you do not wish to put it on storage every fall.

Recycled and Eco-friendly Garden Pots

The paper potter is an essential for the avid gardeners. Quickly transform your old newspapers on your own seedling pots. You simply have to wrap the newspapers around the solid wooden pot shaper.

Who would have thought that old tires can look so stylish? Since they are made from recycled materials, every rubber planter has a unique look. These planters almost look like vintage leather pots. Their elegance emerges from the contrasting stitches and the decorative metal button that secure the rubber sheet. Available in several sizes and shapes.

Take into account that rubber does not let the water out when you do your planting.

Stay tuned all summer long. I will bring you more sources to design a modish outdoor space fit to entertain, to play and to relax.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Jocelyn furniture set – price: £999
Buy online: Tomas terrazzo set at The Urban Garden – starts at £2,199
Buy online: paper potter at The Urban Garden – on sale at £8.40
Buy online: recycled tyre planter at The Urban Garden – starts at £17
Buy online: rubber stitched planter – starts at £14
Buy online: rubber weeding bucket – price: £30

You might also like these posts

This UK glass and porcelain maker proposes a line of products that fits well into the casual modern entertaining lifestyle. By combining several pieces, you can easily reproduce the hip restaurant look at home.

What is great with LSA tableware is that you can serve cuisines from the World in their dishes. The key when buying an all white dinnerware is to put the emphasis on shapes. You need several interesting forms to add interests to your table.

I selected three collections: the Luna tableware, the Opal tableware and the Malo vases.

Luna incorporates bowls, serving platters and four sizes of plate. I really like the starter/dessert dish. Some suggest to harmonize Luna with the handmade Iona glassware series.

Opal is a 13-piece porcelain collection of bowls, teapot and cup. Opal’s design is characterized by a generous curve. There is also a Drinkware Opal collection that includes drinking glasses, jugs, tea light holder and vases.

>>> Sourcing:
Learn more: Tableware by LSA International
Buy online: Luna dinnerware by LSA at Ideal Forever – starts at £4.23
Buy online: Opal and Luna Tableware at dotmaison.com – starts at £4

You might also like these posts

More and more men cook at home and organize parties. Obviously, they are looking for a different aesthetics. If your dad is one of those men, read this.

After the fact, the housewares list I gathered would also make perfect wedding gifts. Tell me what your think?

Flower Vases for Centerpieces

The first product is the Lichen’s new eweTUBE Felt vase made from 100% merino wool felt. This kit comes flat-packed, with two glass tubes. The eweTUBE vase looks great with easy to get flowers like spider mums and gerberas.

Grab a few vases. Be creative on how you display them on your table. Spread the bases sitting upright with one vase on each felt base; stack a few to create a long line. When the base rests on the side, the two tubes fit into a base.

Graphic Design Plates

I came to enjoy more and more patterned dining plates. I am getting bored with the all white dinnerware set. I can understand professional chefs who make elaborate food presentation for using them.

At home, most of us serve our food in a simpler manner. Patterned or illustrated plates look warmer and more charming. Two qualities naturally associated with at home entertaining. I encourage brides and brooms-to-be to think about that fact before making completing your wedding registry.

The Buds pattern designed by APM Design, shown here in honeydew, is available in 6 colors. This set would not be ready for Father’s Day since it is made for order. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery.

Wine Tasting

The Gemini wine decanter features a unique dispenser which individuals use for pouring their glass of wine.It holds a whole 750 ml bottle of wine. I select it because it is a conversation piece.

Gemini acts as a wine aerator and decanter. Aeration enhances the taste of most young wines. Trust me, anyone can taste the difference, not just wine connoisseurs. If you do not like that model or want something less expensive, several types of wine aerators exist on the market.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: eweTUBE Felt vase at UMA – price: $38 USD
Buy online: Buds dinnerware by APM Design at Supermarket – price: $300 USD for 8 dining plates
Buy online: Gemini Wine Decanter at Wine Enthusiast – price: $179.95 USD

You might also like these posts

I already told you about purple and blue being the color of the moment earlier this year. The trend continues this winter. For Koziol, passionate purple and mysterious midnight blue are setting the tone.

I am happy to get a scoop and introduce Koziol’s Winter 2008-2009 True Blue collection. My preference goes to the five items I am showing you.

Multi-duty

Forged in a single piece, CAMILLA can be a watering can, a vase or a bag. It depends on how you feel and what you need.

Serving ware

LEAF-IT enables you to serve hors d’oeuvres, sushi, antipasti or tapas in style. It is available in a transparent violet and blue material.

ANEMONE looks like a one-of-a-kind piece but in fact the unique shape can be manufactured due to cutting-edge technology. If you are looking for a conversation piece to store your fruits, the Anemone bowl fits the bill.

Drinkware

COCOON is a trendy cup for hot and cold drinks. It is normal since it was designed for the club scene. This cup was created to fit the décor of the Cocoon Club in Frankfurt by the design atelier 3deluxe.

The PURE series will be available in midnight blue. I showed you the PURE carafe, cups, bottle cooler and tray in a summer shade of green last month.

Purple and blue are the hottest colors in Europe. Looking at these pictures, I understand the appeal. What are your thoughts about the True Blue collection?

>>> Sourcing:
Learn more: Koziol

RELATED POSTS:
+ Purple, Khaki Green and Yellow Green | More Color Trends of 2008
+ Guest Blogging about Color Trends for HGTV.ca

You might also like these posts

Dressing up Tartlets and Sandwiches

The honor goes to La Tartine Gourmande with her post about a Celeriac and Long Pepper Tartlet and a picnic with the man of her life on this Memorial Day. Her pictures and writing inspire me to try making adorable tartlets like hers.

And look at how fantastic is her sandwich presentation. If you are a good cook or if you are or pressed by time, you should not be afraid to serve sandwiches to your guests. Simply invite your guests for lunch instead of dinner. Put attention to details and you will be able to impress your guests with any food.

Summer Drink Recipes

Limoncello and Tequila symbolizes summer in my mind. The Kitchn unites both to create a refreshing drink called Limonada. The recipe is on their site.

When I am in a hurry, I pour half a bottle of Limoncello over ice cubes in a pitcher. Then, I fill the pitcher up with light Cranberry juice.  Stir a few times. It is that simple to concoct a tasty festive drink for a crowd in a few seconds.

This cute pink rubber vase designed by Henriette Melchiorsen for Menu completes the picnic design.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Pink Menu Rubber Vase at Conran Shop – price: $39 USD
Buy online: Pink Menu Rubber Vase at Bodie and Fou – price: £14.95 small, £19.95 regular
Via: A picnic, to start – Un pique-nique, pour commencer [La tartine Gourmande]
Via: Limoncello! Limonada with Limoncello and Tequila [The Kitchn]

You might also like these posts