If you are curious about what 5 talented home and garden bloggers can create in their own home with a $500 outdoor weekend project, check the 48-hour Challenge organized on Better Homes and Gardens and sponsored by Home Depot. I am showing you my top 3. I let you chose which one you feel is the best.

You can vote for your favorite. The recipient will get a $5,000 bonus! The talented Nicole of Making It Lovely! is one of the contestants. I like her green and white divider. She explained on her blog how to paint this lovely green leaf rug.

I am sure that many of you will get inspire by the grill cart designed by Marc Spagnuolo of  The Wood Whisperer. Easily to build, the cart features a removable porcelain tile work surface, a raised shelf for storing condiments, a light for evening grilling, a paper towel holder, and hooks for cooking utensils. Charcoal, a chimney starter, and a small refrigerator sit on the bottom shelf.

Each year building a gardening working station like this multi-task potting bench. We never seem to find the time. Jen Kershner from The Cottage Nest did a great job on hers.

Good luck to each contestant! Go encourage our bloggers and vote at the BHG 48-hour Blogger challenge right away.

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I gathered a few items to make you dream before the weekend. I finished with a steal at Pottery Barn.

Neoteric produces upscale outdoor furniture with a remarkable design. Sampan and Iraya are two stunning daybeds. From the 2007 collection of B&B Italia, a huge women pattern built the structure of the Canasta circular sofa designed by Patricia Urquiola. It is a nice alternative to the Dedon Orbit without canapy.

Melon from Neoteric is a big chair that gives you privacy. Colorful cushions would seem more appropriate for Melon. Especially that summer 2009 is pretty vibrant in terms of colors. A steal is the Palmetto all-weathered wicker chair currently on sale at Pottery Barn.

SOURCING:
+ Sampan Outdoor Wicker Day Bed $8,995 USD
+ Iraya Outdoor Wicker Daybed $7,495 USD
+ Canasta circular sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia
+ Melon Outdoor Wicker Chair $7,995 USD
+ Palmetto All-Weather Wicker Egg Chair – reg. $1299 on sale $1,039 USD

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For outdoor furniture, my heart swings between wood furniture and colorful modern furniture. If you wish for no maintenance furniture, synthetic fiber outdoor furniture is the way to go.

A brand that produces amazing design at a relatively affordable price is Lebello. The stainless steel sledge base Chair 6 is new for summer 2009. You can opt for the cut lower back design called Chair 6 Open. I like both shapes so it comes back to which chair feels more comfortable to you. Chair 6 comes in 11 colors of fibers.

The Marshmellow design expresses a cheerful sense of stylish. Besides the 14 bold and tasteful colors, a feature that stands Marshmellow apart is its cool Neoprene cushion. I am a fan of Neoprene. I own a pair of rain boots mainly made of Neoprene that I absolutely love. The cushions are also available in 100% solution dyed acrylic fiber.

About the Lebello Fibers

The Lebello furniture is made from superior polyethylene-based synthetic fibers. I knew that this material was easy maintenance and resistant to sea salt and pool water. What I learned is that it is a 100% recyclable material. Plus their products are 70% manufactured by hand, with minimal machine equipment. The Lebello fibers can withstand temperatures from -20°C to +55°C, which means that your outdoor furniture can stay outside all-year long in most areas.

SOURCING:
+ Chair 6 $356 USD at Lebello
+ Marshmellow M2 $165 USD at Lebello

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If you recalled the tipi by Gandia Blasco, you know that their design is unique and trendy. This Spanish family-run company mastered the art of creating atmosphere for upscale and sensual party on a beach, by the pool or in a big backyard.

Have a look at their latest lighting addition. It is spectacular! The Lampara Piramide is a portable outdoor lamp, made of polyethylene.  It delivers a sensual glow, especially next to the tipi. Sadly, it is not sometimes that most of us can afford. At $1550 a piece, we will admire them from far.

Sahara Plant Pots

The Sahara planters all share a beautiful organic shape. They come in five formats with inner compact florescent lamp lighting and a drainage system. To add color to the white planters, simply use a colored compact fluorescent lamp. I am not sure if the colored Sahara pots can be illuminated. I have not find a store yet with the sand, terracotta, lime and black pots.

The planter can be used as an ice bucket when you have a party. The Sahara Planters are a creation of Pablo Gironés.

SOURCING:
+ Gandia Blasco
+ Lampara Piramide $1550 USD at YLighting
+ Sahara planters $520 USD at YLighting

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This is not a new product but these pictures are stunning. It feels very old LA. I love the mood.

I am not certain.  The Ensombra may have been introduced in 2006 by Gandia Blasco.  This folding parasol has the base and the pole made of thermolacquered iron.  while phenolic plates are used for the slats. It sounds complicated. The important thing for me is that these parasols add fun and style to any backyard. They come in two sizes and 6 colors.

SOURCING:
+ Gandia Blasco
+ Gandia Blasco Modern Ensombra Parasol designed by Odosdesign $2500 USD

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Even though the April issue are still fresh on the stands here, the May 2009 of Living etc is available in United Kingdom and I guess, Europe. But I can have a peek of what to expect. In fact, I can not resist every month to flip through the current issue preview. The May 2009 issue will not disappoint me.

Can you believe that the charming ROXO garden furniture are from IKEA? Looking at the styled picture, I imagined sitting under the sun, playing a game on my DS with a glass of ice tea. I did not find it on the EWeb site, but the top of the ROXO table is removable to become a tray. I praise double-function furniture.

Learn more about Danish furniture, 14 upholstered beds plus a buyer’s guide of large folding doors and glass walls. I will be waiting impatiently in exploring further my April 2009 issue. What a view!

MORE:

+ ROXÖ Easy chair green $139 USD, $199 CAD – Also available in red

+ Photos from May 2009 Living etc

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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

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I love clean line spaces so well-done modern houses are my favorites. Architects designed great spaces for living and entertaining. I found via design to inspire blog this dream house in Brisbane.

Some Easy Entertaining Tips

Having your lounge beside the patio is great. If the sunny is too hot, you can sit inside before dinner to enjoy your cocktails.

With the lounge located like that, your guests can sit comfortably and talk to you while you are putting the finishing touches to your meal. At the end of the evening, you can go back to the lounge to sip the last drinks.

The best party usually takes place in more than on space. It creates the impressions that you did more that evening. This type of plan floor works well for living and entertaining. That is why they are so popular lately.

On the entertaining front, a square patio table is ideal because everyone can talk to each other. To sit on the patio and be surrounded by large trees must be relaxing. Just assume there are no mosquitoes where you live to imagine the perfect space.

I am off to two parties today. So I got to run. Enjoy the views.

Via: Modern in BrisVegas published on design to inspire blog – I took the liberty to use my best three photos from their post.

RELATED POSTS:
+ Modern Australian House Showcase – part 1
+ Noye house by Stuart Tanner Architects

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I am not keen on the look that we see commonly in magazines and TV shows. My passion is for modern, European style architecture. It starts at a young age and it keeps growing and growing. With the advent of boutique hotel and the materialization of innovative design, fantastic modern projects emerged all over Canada.

This week episode of Designer Guys was a spectacular example of the crème of the crop in backyard entertaining spaces. A definite boutique hotel feeling and the love of grown up entertain was the center of attention. This project was for two successful bar owners. Knowing that, I expect something extraordinary. And the Designer Guys deliver it.

The owners have already plan a fabulous infinity pool with three waterfalls. The Designer Guys surrounded the large pool with distinctive entertaining areas and top notch contemporary outdoor furniture. And it was expected; the principals of the Toronto-based design firm Precipice Studios has accustomed us to great work in their TV series.

The furniture is by the German manufacturer DEDON. I feel in love with DEDON furniture at first sight. Innovation, unique shapes and quality craftsmanship come to my mind when I think about DEDON furniture. At the last SIDIM show in 2006, a friend took my picture while I was lounging on the LEAF sunbathing chair shown on this episode. Enjoy the view.

The OBELISK project is a good representation of the innovative furniture by DEDON. The Obelisk is two things in one. It is a sculpture formed with 4 lounge chairs and a cocktail table. You stack the chairs on top of the table to form an obelisk when you do not use the furniture. Ingenious!

I guest they selected the DEDON Barcelona collection to furnish the outdoor living room and the dinning rooms. But this is an educated guess. Your ideas are welcome. Watch the rerun on Saturday March 17th at 16:30 on HGTV Canada and tell me if I you agree with my views.

SOURCING:
+ episode Pool and Patio Party Zones – Designer Guys on HGTV.ca
+ The DEDON Furniture collection – Obelisk photos from DEDON
+ Designer Guys Web site – project photos come from their Web site

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