outdoor living

"Nogg" Makes Keeping Chickens Stylish

Filed under: Pets, Green, Architecture & Design

Thanks to the local food movement and that whopper salmonella scare earlier this year keeping chickens has become an increasingly popular alternative for people seeking healthy and safe ways to feed their family. But although backyard chicken coops are popping up in all kinds of traditionally non-farming neighborhoods it's been a tough and slow transition getting them into upscale areas. Traditional chicken coops just don't go with the decor.

Enter the "nogg," a giant egg-shaped designer chicken coop that makes domestic farming possible without ruining your beautiful backyard landscape. Designed to house a small group of just 2-4 chickens, the nogg is made of naturally bacteria-resistant cedar wood and features secure locks to keep the foxes out and a flap door for easy access to fresh eggs every morning. It's the brainchild of furniture designer and engineer Matthew Hayward and Creative Director Nadia Turan and sprung up out of frustration at what an eyesore traditional chicken coops are. Get more info or order a nogg for your backyard here.

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Tags: backyard, chickens, farming, outdoor living, urban farm, urban farmer, urban farmers, urban farming, urban farms, yard

Lifestyle Expert Mar Jennings' Best Gardening Tips

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Gardening and lifestyle expert Mar Jennings.

Few understand gardening better than Luxist Awards Panelist Mar Jennings. Mar is the in-house lifestyle expert and correspondent for Better TV and is the home expert for the Fine Living Network. Mar also appears on the Today Show, ABC, Fox, CNN, and many other national and local networks across the country. He is also the author of Life on Mar's: A Four Season Garden (S&J Publishing, $39.95).

In an exclusive interview with Luxist, Mar shares some of his best gardening tips. According to Mar, it is not too late to roll up your sleeves and get to work in your garden.

Luxist: It is already late June. What can someone plant now?

MAR: You might be surprised---and I meet many gardeners who think they're too late.

I recommend focusing on accent pieces where the garden seems bare. Ground cover plants and plants that come in small containers are the best options for getting you in and out of the garden quickly when it's so hot out. Any plant that blooms early in the Spring and has spent flowers is perfect for planting in summer because they will be focusing their energy on growing and not on flowering-plus most will be on sale. Another great bet is succulents.

What can be planted now for full sun and what do you recommend for partial sun? How about no sun?

MAR: Your local garden center can further advise you of things that are particularly good for your area, but here are some sure-fie items that I make use of:

Full sun: Decorative vines such as wisteria or trumpet vines, anchors for your garden such as dwarf boxwoods, and ornamental grasses.

Partial sun: Hydrangeas, hydrangeas and more hydrangeas are ideal. (Not that I'm biased or anything.)

No sun: When God gives you lemons, make lemonade. A full-shade garden can be as wonderful as a full-sun garden. Discover the endless varieties of ferns and hostas, intertwined in any shady area. These create height, texture and interest in an otherwise overlooked place. Introduce moss onto garden structures and stone walkways as an added feature that will increase in charm over the years.

Is it too late to plant vegetable plants?

MAR: For some things, yes. But don't give up! Lettuces, tomatoes, peppers and herbs can be started now---but not from seeds, but by planting the small plants already started. Another reason I love to encourage people to plant vegetables in the summer is because children are out of school and can be involved in the process---a learning experience for them and a family activity for you.

Tags: awards-main, decor-pedia, flowers, gardening, gardening-tips, luxist-awards, main-pedia, Mar Jennings, outdoor living, outdoor-entertaining, outdoor-entertainment, outdoor-entertainment-pedia, outdoors

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Fire Stone Sonoma Cedar Pergola

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Garden

Outdoor living spaces have come a long way from folding lawn chairs and picnic tables. Those looking to bring the indoors out now have many options to choose from, including this beautiful outdoor great room by Fire Stone. The Sonoma Cedar Pergola is like adding a room to your home. With a lattice ceiling and solid wall panels, it creates a warm and cozy living space right in your backyard. Add a custom fireplace, comfy weatherproof seating, some mood lighting and a state of the art grill, and you need never go inside again. About $23,000, depending on options.

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Tags: fire stone, FireStone, luxury outdoors, LuxuryOutdoors, outdoor furniture, outdoor great room, outdoor living, OutdoorFurniture, OutdoorGreatRoom, OutdoorLiving, sonoma cedar pergola, SonomaCedarPergola

Montecito Chaise

by Dakota Smith (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Most furniture companies are now releasing their lines of outdoor furniture for spring/summer, and this chaise lounge from Room & Board is one of the more original pieces I've seen. Wicker makes the chaise (called the Montecito) classic-looking, while the teak wheels and aluminum base lend a modern feel. According to the company's web site, there's also a storage compartment beneath the backrest. Price: $1,599.