yard

If you like dogs and lawn art, this Giant Dog Sculpture is a better way to accessorize your yard than a pink flamingo. If you don't care for either, it's probably not for you. The hollow steel sculpture, designed by Dale Rogers, measures 4'7" x 6'2" and is handmade in Massachusetts. Because it is made from steel, over time the metal with rust and darken, giving the piece a much more attractive - not to mention less retina-searing - than the aforementioned flamingos. Price: $2,400.

Sun Bricks are solar powered outdoor light fixtures that can be built into a brick or stone walkway. Unlike traditional outdoor lights, sun bricks are designed to be flush with the ground, giving the effect of an illuminated pathway, rather than a path that is simply flanked by lights. The bricks also do not require the use of any cables or electricity, since all their power is generated by the sun. Their solar panels can hold enough energy to provide an 8-hour charge to the bricks' amber LED lights. While bricks do look their best in brick pathways where they can blend into the stone pattern, they can be set into the ground anywhere where they will be exposed to sunlight. Price: $60 each.

[via Boing Boing]

A good grill is really a must-have for the 4th of July, which is one of the biggest days of the year for outdoor cooking. There are endless debates over the merits of charcoal vs. gas, but the look and quality of the grill are important, too. After all, you're not going to end up with a quality steak if you're grill can't handle the heat.

Significantly less complex than some of our previously featured outdoor grills, the Eva Solo Barrel Grill is a sleek beauty that could be mistaken for a sculpture in the yard. The grill is a classic barrel, where the charcoal (or wood chips, if you prefer) is put down into the base where a removable coal bucket sits. It is made entirely of stainless steel, including a stainless, heavy-duty grill top. You can also use it as a sort of firepit/outdoor heater after grilling. The grill itself is $560, but you can get a domed lid for an additional $120 or a jacket-like zippered cover for $51 as optional accessories.

I never had a tree that was suitable for a tree house where I grew up and I suspect that even if I had had one, I wouldn't have had a tree house anyway. All things considered, I'm sure that it turned out for the best, since I survived childhood without serious injury and without having fallen from a tree. But tree houses are undeniably fun and Daniel's Woodland makes some of the most outstanding tree houses imaginable. They also include a tree. There are tons of extra options that can be added to the houses, like slides, stairs and monkey bars, too. Prices start at $7,550 for the basic Ultimate Tree House and go up from there. Custom-built constructions are available and pricing varies by design.

Click past the jump for even more great tree houses! 

It's too bad that the Mercury News didn't run a whole set of photos on this spectacular deck, but since it was featured on the show Designing Spaces, perhaps they didn't feel that it was necessary. The deck was an addition to a San Francisco Bay Area Home that the homeowners, Jeffrey and Toneh Thompson, added to make better use of their wooded, hillside lot. They liked the natural beauty of the property, but wanted some space for playing and dining out. The multi-level, 1,300-sq. foot  deck certainly fulfills their needs and its price of about $150,000 meant that they added the size of another house to their existing home, without shelling out for a big move.

It is made out of a Brazilian hardwood called ipe, which has one of the highest durability ratings of any wood and the same fire rating of materials like steel and concrete. Ipe is the perfect decking material because not only is it strong and long lasting, requiring minimal upkeep, but it is resistant to warping, decay and termites. The highest level of the deck is 25-feet above the ground, designed to provide views along with a dining area and a spa.

The final cost did include landscaping and work on the retaining wall, but the bulk of it went into the deck itself.

 [Image Mercury News]

When it comes to outdoor gaming, most things have to be kept indoors and taken outside only when you want to use them. This is fine when the game you want to play is darts or involves some other small, easily moved piece of equipment, but more exciting games risk being ruined when exposed to sun or rain. This All-Weather Foosball Table solves the problems of backyard gaming because it can be kept outside all year round. The sleek table is made by the Spanish company RS-Barcelona of stainless steel with aluminum players. It will not corrode and is suitable for any climate conditions. Each corner has a drink holder, to maximize player comfort during long tournaments, and the legs have slip-resistant rubber bases to ensure the table's stability. Of course, the table can also be used indoors and its modern design would enhance any game room, as well as any patio. Price: $3,998.

Outdoor beds are the hot home feature this summer. It's hard to say whether this can simply be attributed to the fact that you could claim to have an extra "bedroom" on your property or to the fact that it's fun, even as a grown-up, to have a camp-out. Of course, a camp-out is going to be a lot more fun when it's done with high style. This luxurious Canopy Daybed, for example, will have you feeling as though you are lounging at an exclusive, tropical day spa rather than in your yard. It is built on a strong metal frame, wrapped in a smooth water hyacinth weave, and has a thick foam mattress with four comfortable pillows. The canopy, supported by removable rattan poles, and the linens are made of machine-washable white cotton. Delivery and unpacking service is included in the price of $1,295.

The only other thing you could want is a large, tropical drink with a pineapple garnish.

And possibly a masseuse.