New Comic of the Week

As always, Bamboo and Tikis brings you a new comic with just regular jokes about current issues, personal, political or even controversial!! Whether you agree with what it says or not, they sure are fun to look at! Click here and check it out!

Check out the NEW Bamboo and Tikis Comic!

Come and visit www.bambooandtikis.com and take a look at the new Bamboo and Tikis comic of the week! Click here

Bamboo is used for many purposes

Throughout history, Bamboo has been used by many cultures for different purposes. You can use bamboo as a material, as a source of food, in the garden, or even in medicine. Click here to read more about this multipurpose plant.

Tiki Bar Products Continue to Be a Hit

With Bamboo and Tikis, decorate your home with a theme in mind and transform your backyard into your own paradise.

This week, Bamboo and Tikis products were featured for decor ideas. Learn more about the Tiki history, culture and traditions by reading the article by Pink Lemonade of Life, a blog site dedicated to home decor, living, lifestyles, and more.

Click here to read the complete article.

Stay Fresh in Hot Summer Days

Bamboo and Tikis is concerned about your health. Click here to find ways to stay hydrated and fresh in these hot summer days.

Bamboo and Tikis' Bamboo Rugs

Bamboo and Tikis' bamboo rugs are a hit for many indoor and outdoor decorating needs.

Green your Decor, a website dedicated to provide information on green living and green products, reviewed our bamboo rugs.

Read the complete review by clicking here

Join the Green Movement

Bamboo and Tikis concerns about the environment. Check out a few articles on how to join the green movement by clicking here

How to Save Green by Going Green!

“Green” seems to be the going trend and one of the most popular buzzword these days. Hybrid cars, solar power systems and other high-tech advances are at the forefront of today’s news. Often times the individual thought can be “one person can’t make a difference”, but there are simple everyday actions that can contribute to the preservation of our environment. Things like changing the kind of light bulbs you use are not only easy to do and good for the environment, but also help you save money. Here is a compiled list of ways you can “stimulate your wallet, and save green by going green.

1. Save energy
   1. When you’re old incandescent light bulbs burn out, install new compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs. These bulbs use less electricity and will lower your utility bill.
   2. Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. You can even purchase “smart” power strips that automatically sense when devices are not being used and cut off energy to them.
   3. Whenever possible, wash clothes in cold water.
   4. With warmer weather upon us, use a drying rack or a clothesline to dry clothes instead of the machine dryer.
   5. In winter, set your thermostat a few degrees lower, and in summer a few degrees higher.
2. Save water
   1. Take shorter showers or turn off the water while brushing your teeth. It will reduce water use as well as your water and heating bills.
   2. Invest in a low-flow showerhead. They’re inexpensive and will save you enough on water and energy costs to pay for themselves.
   3. Install a faucet aerator on all your faucets. Faucet Aerators control water flow, and can help reduce your home water consumption as much as by 50%
   4. Plant drought-tolerant plants in your garden. Find out what native plants in your area require minimal watering.
3. Use less gas

   

   1. Walk or bike to work or school as much as possible. This saves you money on gas and reduces carbon emissions, not to mention the fact that it keeps you fit and healthy.
   2. Move closer to work, or consider telecommuting or carpooling.
   3. Lobby for increased spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. One of the biggest reasons why people don’t bike or walk more in suburban areas is because the city infrastructure simply doesn’t accommodate them.
   4. Look into public transportation, subways, busses, and trolleys save you money.
4. Eat healthier

   

   1. If you’re a meat-eater, take meat off your diet at least once a week and incorporate more grains and veggies. Meat costs more and its farming production is intensive on the environment. The American Heart Association has found that incorporating more vegetables, whole grains and less meat can help your health.
   2. Buy locally grown produce, you’re supporting your community and knowing where your food comes from. Locally grown/raised produce and foods tend to be grown with better quality.
   3. Eat low on the food chain, especially when it comes to sea food. It is not only cheaper but helps conserve endangered marine wildlife by lower the demand for it.
5. Think before buying
   1. Before you spend on brand new furniture or house products, go on craigslist.com or other similar sites and see if you can find a good second-hand deal. Often time’s people give perfectly good furniture away for free. This helps reduce on the immense amount of packaging being used. Check out garage sales and thrift stores for clothing and other small items.
   2. Review new products to make sure they are of good quality and will last.
   3. Reuse and recycle packaging materials.
6. Forego bottled water
   1. Use a water filter so that you can drink straight out of the tap instead of using bottled water. According the The New York Times Americans buy about 215 billion beverage containers every year. Bottled water is more expensive and generates plastic waste.
   2. Carry a reusable water bottle with you when traveling or going to work or school.
7. Borrow whenever possible
   1. Instead of buying DVDs and books, borrow them from the local library whenever possible.
   2. Share power tools and other appliances. This will help you get to know your neighbors and keep the clutter on your garage to a minimum.
8. Buy smarter
   1. Buying food from bulk bins saves money and reduces packaging costs.
   2. Wear clothes that don’t require dry-cleaning. This reduces dry-cleaning costs for you as well as toxic chemical waste.
   3. Invest in products that will last. A good quality jacket might be more expensive, but it will last longer and save you money in the long run.
9. Don’t throw electronics in the trash
   
   
   1. Get the most use out of your electronics as you can, as these are the hardest to recycle.
   2. When the time comes to get rid of them, donate or recycle them responsibly.
   3. If there is no electronics recycling center in your area, lobby for your local government to set one up.
10. Make your own cleaning products
    1. You can go online and easily find out how to make your own, highly effective cleaning products using simple ingredients like soap, baking soda, lemon and vinegar.
    2. Doing this will save you money, time, and will help reduce packaging waste.

How to Build an Indoor Bamboo Privacy Screen

We wanted to create a smaller version of an outdoor bamboo fence that was suitable for use indoors. The goal was to produce something with a bit more finish that could cover up some unsightly wires in our front office lobby. We started with a roll of mahogany stained bamboo fencing. We chose the mahogany bamboo finish because it had a darker color that we felt complimented our interior better. Natural or black bamboo could have easily been used by choosing a different stain color for the wood framing. One interesting thing to note is the mahogany bamboo fencing is actually darker than the black bamboo fence rolls.

The first step was to determine the approximate finished dimensions of our bamboo divider. After some measurements we settled on a finished size of 39 by 90 inches. This would allow maximum screening for the back of the desk we were trying to conceal while still maintaining line of sight between people on either side of the divider.

Once we had our target dimensions we determined the sizes for all the materials we were going to use to complete this project. First was the rolled bamboo fencing. For our purposes the 1 inch by 4 by 8 foot bamboo roll was best. The one inch bamboo size refers to the average diameter of the bamboo canes. Bamboo is a naturally created product, so the canes vary slightly in diameter. The good thing about the way we built this bamboo screen is that we only had to account for the largest of the cane diameters. More on that in a bit.

With the rolled bamboo fencing selected we set about determining the best material to create a frame for our screen. For the two side posts we found some 2 x 2 inch pine. For the top and bottom we used two pieces of 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch pine. Finally we needed four pieces of 1 5/8 x 1/2 inch pine for our upper and lower retainers. We bought each piece of wood about 10% bigger than we planned on using it just in case we made some calculation errors. We also picked up some 4d 1 1/2 inch and 16d 3 1/2 inch fasteners to hold it all together.

With our bamboo and framing materials selected, we set about cutting everything to size. First up was the bamboo fencing. We carefully bent out the two wires that held the roll together on one side. Then we removed individual canes of bamboo until we got the proper length of 84 inches. We had to reorder some of the individual canes to get the best fit.

We then needed to cut the fencing down to 38 inches tall. We marked our cut line using a 2 x 4 and a sharpie and then cut the bamboo using a skill saw with a 2 x 4 underneath to make room for the blade. Looking at the bamboo fencing carefully, it was apparent which side to cut from. On one side, the bamboo canes were cut right at a joint creating a nice closed end. On the other end some of the canes were open and some were closed. This is the end that we cut from. Next time around we are going to try a different blade because the Skill saw definitely left chipped edges on the bamboo. This was not a huge problem because we were able to cover the chipping using our retaining pieces of framing wood.

With the bamboo fencing cut to size, we turned our attention to the framing materials. First we cut the end pieces. This was easy they needed to be exactly the same height as the bamboo, 38 inches. Next we cut the four pieces of retaining wood. These needed to be long enough to go across our bamboo roll and the side posts which came out to be 88 1/4 inches. Once the pieces were cut to the proper length we used a chop saw to cut the ends at a 45 degree angle. This created a more finished look for our screen.

The final bit of framing was the top and bottom pieces. Our design called for the top and bottom pieces to extend an inch on each side making these a total of 90 inches. We also notched the corners at a 45 degree angle.
Bamboo screen materials laid out before assembly.

With all the pieces cut, we laid everything out to see if it would fit. It looked good so we were ready to stain our framing pieces. We wanted a dark, antiqued color for the frame of the wood. We really didn’t like any of the stain colors on their own so we mixed equal parts of Minwax #209 Natural and #2716 Dark Walnut. This gave us a color that was dark with golden highlights. Using our custom mixture we stained our wood using a one inch brush and an old rag.

Once all the framing pieces were dry we were ready for final assembly! Our first task was to create a bottom trough with side posts to put our bamboo in. First we attached our two end posts to the bottom of the screen frame using our 16d 3 1/2 inch nails. Then we started two rows of 1 1/2 fasteners by hammering them about half way into our bottom piece of wood. Then we lined up our bottom retaining piece and carefully drove the nails the rest of the way in. Then we used some more of the small nails to attach the retaining pieces to the end posts.

With the frame bottom built we turned our attention to the top. Repeating the same process we created our top trough with the top of the frame and the two top retaining pieces. Now we were left with three pieces, the bottom of our frame, the roll of bamboo and the top of our frame. First we put the bamboo into the bottom of the frame then we simply slid the top piece of the frame from one end of the screen to the other. With everything lined up, we attached the top of the frame to the end posts with our large nails and the top retaining pieces to the end posts with our small nails.

After carefully checking to make sure the screen was constructed exactly the way we wanted, we countersunk each of the nails and applied wood putty to cover the holes. After a little touch up stain to cover the wood putty our bamboo privacy screen was ready to move into location into our office lobby. We could have opted to fasten the screen to the wall but instead we chose to attach it to the front of a desk using black hemp twine and some wood screws in the desk.

Next time we might try to use some liquid nails to attach the top and bottom frame pieces to the bamboo roll. It might give it a little more rigidity but honestly we did not have a problem as there is not going to be much of a load applied on the screen.

Click here for our selection of bamboo products.

Bamboo and Tikis gets recognized for supporting the “Green” Movement

Now more than ever, with threats to the environment looming ever closer, and Earth Day being a recent holiday, concerns for the environment are being analyzed all around the world. Green living, bio-friendly construction, eco-friendly cleaning products are helpful, but what about all the other concerns, political and otherwise, that the average citizen has no real way of observing or finding credible information for? Relax, there is finally a source of information online where everyone find exactly what they’re looking for as far as the environment, energy crisis, and other related topics are concerned. Actually, the Cenvironment Blog has been around a while, –took us a while to find it, –but that’s okay, because that means it is packed with information for the serious environmentalist.

The Cenvironment Blog contains sections on each of its staff members; from its major staff, to its volunteer crew, and each of the main staff members have their own profile which outlines a list of their personal info, and their list of blogs. Continuing down the Cenvironment Blog’s left sidebar, we see a list of sites for center’s all over the country, and even the globe. Further down the left column is a list of each of the centers’ current projects, each containing important news and updates of their development; a valuable tool for anyone following serious environmental advancements. After that on the left there’s a list of current presidential projects for energy changes, and recent energy and environmental laws passed, “special items”, –like featured articles, and then onto the blog’s extensive archive of past posts.

One of these posts is especially pertinent to our cause; –basically, raising awareness in the ecological and economic importance of bamboo’s uses in home and garden products. The post, entitled “Bamboo Can Be Used To Make ‘Green’ Products“, gives a quick outline of the environmental importance of bamboo as a consistently renewable resource for the world’s timber needs. Then they’re kind enough to reference our site, as being a major provider of green products, with our vast collection of bamboo homewares and garden furniture. The main point of this entry is to outline in detail how well bamboo fits our planet’s needs.

Bamboo is described as an alternative; however, there’s nothing further from the truth. Bamboo shouldn’t be just an alternative to traditional, oak, maple, or teak woods. Other trees take years to grow. Bamboo grows at exponential rates in just months, and some varieties can grow up to three feet in a day! It is known around the planet to be the world’s fastest growing plant. Plus, it can be grown without the use of fertilizers, insecticides, or other chemicals. The article goes on to describe even further benefits, such as bamboo’s natural biological ability to consume carbon dioxide; every acre significantly increases oxygen and reduces CO2 emissions.

This in depth article goes on to describe our bamboo products, starting with our bamboo fencing, made in southeast China, from Tonkin cane which is just as strong as cedar fencing, –and even stronger than some steel alloys. They go on to describe our Moso bamboo rugs, both strong and attractive, for use on any surface. Another one of our best selling housewares is bamboo Tambor paneling; it can be used for ceilings, walls, even countertops and tables when resin is applied to the surface to create a flat, even top. Cloth backing is applied in order make it easier for designers to use the necessary adhesive. The article goes on to describe our thatch roofing panels, in different designs inspired by tropical locations such as Mexico, Fiji, and Africa. By then, the praise gets pretty out of control. But we’re proud to be exonerated by the Cenvironment Blog, and hope that we live up to their high standards, as well as the standards of our esteemed customers, every day we’re in business.

Planning the Best Backyard BBQ Bash or Event

Backyard barbecuing is one the most distinctly cherished American activities around, and it is a fun and great way to spend a beautiful day with friends and family. Planning a backyard gathering can be a challenging task, especially if you are expecting a large number of guests. Big events, like Fourth of July celebrations and Super Bowl parties can prove to be epic challenges for their hosts.

If you are thinking of holding a backyard BBQ or gathering, keep in mind that good planning is the key to making the whole experience enjoyable and as hassle free as possible. Being prepared is the number one priority when hosting these large events.

Invitations

Invitations are a great way to extend a warm and personal welcome, and to also have individuals rsvp to get a head count for supplies. If you’ve created invitations, send them off as early as possible. A week in advanced is a good rule of thumb. This way you allow ample time for responses and for attendees to make plans. Make sure that you include clear directions to your place, and a map if possible. An effective and free way to send out invitations is through e-vites, which emails all your guests and allows them to respond instantly. Also, provide any special instructions, like what they should wear or bring, for example attire/items for themed parties. It also customary if required to notify guests whether or not they should b.y.o.b (bring your own beverage/beer etc).

Always Plan for Rain

No one wants to create fancy invitations and make elaborate plans for a backyard party only to have it ruined by unexpected rain. Invest in a few pop-up canopies. They can be pricey, but they’ll save you a lot of pain and can save your event in the long run. Check the weather forecasts a couple of days ahead of time, so that you have a clear idea of how weather-proof the party will be, and announce that the party will be held “rain or shine” on your invitations.

A good back-up party space in the event of rain is the garage. So prior to the party, clean out the garage and maybe setup some decorations and chairs in there. Even if it doesn’t rain, it will provide guests with a nice extra space in which to mingle.

Get the Headcount Right

Or as accurate as you can. Once you’ve sent out your invitations, follow up with phone calls or emails to find out approximately how many guests you should expect at the gathering. It’s never fun when you spend large sums of money expecting a large number of guests and then have only a quarter of these supposed guests show up.

Since most of the time, the headcount will be up in the air, it’s good to plan for both outcomes. For part of the menu, buy food and beverages that could be saved for later use if not consumed during the party. Serve fresh food and also have back-up frozen food. If more people show up than expected, you’ll be covered. This way if not as many people show up as expected, you won’t have wasted anything.

Getting Drunk at Your Own Party

Never do this, it’s bad practice, and leaves a bad impression on your guests. Getting completely wasted at your own backyard party is one of the best ways to ensure wasted food, unhappy and/or confused guests, damaged equipment and difficulty performing basic party hosting tasks.

Buying Food

To estimate how much food to buy, think of the largest meal you can eat in one sitting, which is about 1.5 lbs, and multiply it by the approximate head count you came up with after following up on your invitations. That’ll tell you how many pounds of food to buy for one meal. Adjust for the number of meals you expect to serve. Also, adjust for the number of expected kids, who usually eat about half as much. One tip is if you are not anticipating a sit down mean, then to have a variety of snacks, appetizers, and inexpensive BBQ items such as wings, hot dogs or grilled veggies.

Beer

If grilled meat is the bread of a classic backyard BBQ, beer is definitely the butter. Make sure to have plenty of back-up packs of beer so that no one has to leave on a run to buy more. As a host, you could be liable for any drunk-related accidents that might occur during mid-night beer runs. Also, have some extra fridge space or coolers with plenty of ice so that people who bring warm/room-temperature beer can have a place to store it. It’s also customary to take into account non alcoholic drinkers by providing alternative beverages.

And at the end of the party, don’t let anyone drive home drunk. Set up couches, pillows and blankets for people to crash if they need to, arrange for someone (possibly you) to give drunk guests rides home, or set some money aside for complimentary cabs.

Label Things

Label coolers and other food containers with tags telling people what’s inside, i.e. “Beer”, “water,” “burger meat patties”, “soda” etc. Such a simple task can help save a lot of time and trouble. It’ll help keep things organized and your event much more enjoyable.

Make the House Kid-Proof

If you plan on having guests with children over, it’s a good idea to plan and prepare your place.

Remove any breakable objects from the coffee tables, fence off areas that you don’t want kids to go on, and otherwise set up the house so that it is as kid-friendly/kid-proof as possible. If you care about your rugs and carpets, cover them up or store them in the closet for the time being. Kids, and even adults, running from the yard into the house can track in a lot of dirt and debris that could be a hassle cleaning up after. Don’t hesitate to ask guests to remove their shoes before entering, and providing slippers can help reduce the clean up afterwards.

Bathrooms

If you are expecting a really large number of people at your backyard gathering, it might be a good idea to rent a couple of port-o-johns. These will be used mostly by the men, and thus leave the indoor bathrooms available for the women. Even if you are only entertaining a few guests, prepare your bathroom with extra hand towels, soap and toilet paper.

Things to do Ahead of Time

1. Clean the house. Make it as presentable as you want it to be, and if possible, empty out the garage to provide extra party space.
2. Buy extra rolls of toilet paper, set up fresh towels and soap.
3. Restock paper towels, napkins and tissues.
4. Empty trash containers and replace garbage liners. Set up a few extra trash cans out in the yard.
5. Mow the lawn and clean up the walk ways, patio furniture, and decks.
6. Make sure the stereo system works and is ready to go.
7. Set up chairs, tables and patio furniture before hand, and have some extra furniture readily available.
8. Replace broken light bulbs with new working ones.
9. Have ashtrays set up on every table.
10. Make sure the grill works. Test it out and make any repairs at least a day in advanced. Test it before guests arrive also, to make sure everything is running smooth.

Remember to Relax

Finally, keep in mind that everything isn’t always going to go perfect or to plan, and that that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Don’t let the small things rain on your parade, like a sauce stain on a table cloth or a burnt hot dog. Keep your cool and enjoy yourself. If you made all of the above suggested preparations, this last bit of advice shouldn’t be very hard to follow.

What is "Where is Jamie"?

With the launch of the new BambooandTikis.com, we’re ecstatic to share with you all of our new features, articles, current events, and personal blogs/bios to get to know us on a personal level. So if you have found yourself clicking on “Where’s Jamie” and are wondering what this link could be about, let’s first start with “Who’s Jamie”.

Jamie Kocher, born in Los Angeles but grew up almost everywhere else in the world, since youth has excelled in athletics and academics. By the time that college came around, Jamie found himself wanting to live out his passion, which was surfing waves all around the world. He took the next nine years finishing college but the extended academic time left him with no regrets, and fulfilled with friendships, lessons, and grand experiences. Jamie’s business career has spanned from selling cigars, being a pilot, selling hardware tools, and now owning a retail/e-commerce business selling decorative arts for the home and garden.

All of these details in a nutshell do not even begin to describe Jamie’s adventures and amazing life stories.

The purpose of “Where’s Jamie” is to bring to you the personal side of BambooandTikis.com, let you get to know our owner, and share or relate in his experiences. Although we may be an internet retail company, we want to show that we’re a company backed by real people, with real lives, and real stories. All of which we want to relate and share with you.

Visit back often for updates from us, Jamie himself and frequent contests that could win you BambooandTikis.com dollars.

Periodically we’ll be posting pictures of Jamie in a secret location somewhere in the world, and the first to email us with his location (town and country) will win a Bamboo and Tikis gift certificate that could be used on anything from a beautiful Tiki Statue, to bamboo fencing, or tropical décor for your home and garden.

We’ll also be updating our About Us page very soon, with bios and pictures of the rest of us behind the scenes. Don’t forget to visit our contact us page, and share with us your experiences, thoughts and questions as well. We want to get to know you, share in your projects and hear your crazy stories too.

So welcome! We hope you enjoy your visit here at

www.bambooandtikis.com, find useful information and also gain a couple laughs along the way.

As Jamie says “I came to realize that life is way too short; you should enjoy it, and not get buried in the process of what is expected of you.”

See you real soon.

How to Feng Shui Your Home

“Home is the place where it feels right to walk around without shoes” ~ Anonymous

Your home is not just a structure of walls, but also a place of relaxation and reprieve from everyday life. It is believed that the elements of your home greatly affect your daily life and Feng Shui can help direct this.

What is Feng Shui? Feng Shui is a Chinese art and science that is about the balancing of energy to promote health and fortune for the people inhabiting an area. The practice of Feng Shui dates back to over three thousand years and was developed based on the idea that land and nature is filled with Chi or energy and how this energy occupies a space is what brings in a good harvest. Feng (pronounced Fung) represents wind, where Shui (pronounced Shway) stands for the element of water. The belief is that the harmonious balance between gentle winds and clear water, leads to health and fortune. The main method used in analyzing the Feng Shui of an area is through Ba–Gua (literal translation “8 areas”). Ba-Gua, incorporates properties like a compass and assigns the interacting elements such as wood, fire, earth, water, and metal.

Feng Shui is more of a functional decorative aspect that focuses on harmonizing the energy in your home, rather than just planning around aesthetics.

To begin establishing a positive Feng Shui in your home, here are some simple starter tips.

The front entrance to your home. The main entrance into your home is considered the mouth of the Chi, because this is mainly where the Chi enters and spreads through the rest of your home. Walkways leading up to your front door should be clear of debris, and vegetation should be trimmed and not blocking the path. Your front door and walkway should be open and clear of clutter, as you do not want to inhibit the path of good energy flow.

Less is more. It is important in your home to establish clarity by removing clutter. Everything from debris, to excess items you do not need should be removed. By simplifying your space, you help remove excess baggage that could also be weighing your life down.

Get to fixing. Entry ways such as doors, serve as a path for Chi to circulate and come through spaces, so fix any broken hinges, paint cracked edges, and oil squeaky parts. Windows also serve as the eyes of your home’s Chi, so keep your glass clean, and replace if broken. Elements of your home’s internals such as plumbing, electrical units, and ventilation represent your own internal health so make sure drains are cleared, electrical elements are in working order, and your vents are cleaned out.

Your Stove and Oven. It is believed that the Chi that surrounds the cook is translated to the food that is prepared, which engenders much attention to the stove and oven area. While you are cooking, if your back is to the door or entrance of the kitchen, you should have a mirror placed right behind the stove on the wall. This aids in establishing balance around the cooking area. Another tip in bringing in prosperity is to utilize all of your burners, by rotating between the uses of each one.

Visibility and Light. One of the most important elements to establishing clarity and positive Chi is through the lighting of your home. Natural and artificial lighting can help light the path for good energy flow between objects in your home, through halls, and into rooms. It is also good to use an array of colors from the light spectrum for variety, and each color represents and different element brought into your home, similarly to how colors affect your chi when selecting paint and furniture.

Being one with your space. How you feel, act and experience elements in your life affect the energy of your space. Have you ever experienced trauma or a positive experience in a particular location? Going back to that particular place has the power to bring back feelings and memories. Making efforts to fill your space with love, happiness, and light, will aid in how the energy of a space interacts back with you. Candles, flowers, positive imagery, or even just singing a song or dancing, can eliminated lingering negative energy and fill it with new and positive ones.

Although Feng Shui addresses the energy elements of your house, you can use the same principles to your aesthetic design. Certain elements brought into your home can add positive energy while creating a beautiful addition to your home décor. Bamboo, in Feng Shui, classifies as a wood element, which also acts as a Feng Shui cure. This means that even though certain areas may have a disruptive Chi, having a Bamboo plant or elements are considered lucky. Bamboo, adds a beautiful exotic aesthetic to your décor, and can help balance the energy to your home or backyard garden. The other design element you can include is water. The element of water is the source of all growth and life, in health and more. By introducing a water fountain into an area, you are attracting a constant flow of positive elements and energy into your life. Water fountains, along with bamboo add a natural and exotic look to your home décor, while also providing a relaxing dynamic.

Embrace and give positive energy to your environment through love and joy, and it will reflect the same energy back to you. Remember that Feng Shui is about balance and harmony.

15 Unique Outdoor Accessories to Liven up your Backyard

Unique furniture and accent pieces can liven up your backyard and make it feel like a fresh new space, without any expensive remodeling or drastic permanent changes. Choosing an extraordinary piece can help not only set the tone and create a visual focal point for your backyard, but also give your landscape a new face lift. Here are 15 outdoor furnishings that exhibit both function and contemporary art.


The ILLU
Designed by the French company Bleu Nature, this eco-friendly outdoor shelter is made completely out of organic materials and uses no glues or environmentally harmful varnishes. The wood comes from natural French forest oak trees. Because there is no finish applied to the wood, it naturally reacts to the environment it’s in and weathers over time to acquire a unique color.


Basalt Slab Benches
These basalt slab benches are some of the most unique pieces of outdoor furniture available. Each bench is hand carved from the original slabs of basalt, which is a volcanic rock that takes over a million years to oxidize. The sides of the benches retain their original rough texture, while the top is polished to a mirrored perfection.


The Tree Swing
An intricately designed tree swing, such as this one found in the Fuori Salone website, can be the perfect way to add a touch of playfulness to your backyard. The elegant leaf design for the seat of this particular swing is perfect to complement a nature themed back yard, or bring a touch of nature to any modern décor.


The Hammock
If you want to give an air of tranquility to your backyard, consider adding a simple and inviting hammock, like this one from Unique Simplicities Inc. It gives people in the house a reason to go out to the yard in the springtime and soak in the warm sun while reading a good book or sipping a cool drink.


Outdoor Wicker Furniture
Nothing says “laid back” like outdoor wicker furniture. These pieces by Merane come with Subrella cushions that provide even more comfort and relaxation. The addition of wicker furniture to your backyard is a great way to add texture to your landscape while also giving it a breezy and lively look.




Traditional Japanese Stone Basin
Stone Forest produces a variety of Japanese stone basins like the ones below. They are beautifully crafted and the sound of water flowing against the hard stone, combined with the basins’ serene aesthetic can create a soothing backyard atmosphere.


Granite Fire Pit
Stone Foresthas a granite fire pit which is made completely out of natural stone and compliments any backyard with its medieval aesthetic. The combination of rough surface textures and a polish edge is what makes this granite fire pit eye catching and decoratively sound.


Modern Outdoor Chairs
The Disk Armchair, made by Karim Rashid, looks especially perfect when placed poolside, but with its stylish modern look and feel, it can liven and streamline the look of any backyard. The Disk Chair’s strong fiberglass material keeps its shape, and also makes it possible for the chair to be manufactured in a wide variety of vibrant colors.


Rustic Fireplace
This rustic, outdoor fireplace created by Sly Designers is a modernist accessory that can complement the backyard of a country log home or any contemporary styled house. The design creates the illusion of a tree trunk, but the portable fireplace is actually made out of steel. This piece is perfect for outdoor camping, or providing a central location for guests to gather around and relax.


Granite Fountain
This granite fountain from Stone Forest is a perfect touch to polish or add the finishing touch to the look of your backyard or garden. Like their fire pits, their granite fountains are made of natural stone, and they are carved from a single block of granite. Placed as the centerpiece of a backyard, this fountain design is impressively elegant.


Patio Lamps
A unique patio lamp can make a backyard feel cozy and stylish at night. With the right lighting, a backyard can make for the perfect place to host an evening cocktail party or any other kind of celebration. Well placed lighting can also aid in highlighting your landscapes best features. Look for water resistant properties when selecting a lighting system and a design that fits your desired theme.


Suspended Fire Pit
A suspended fire pit provides a new variation on the traditional backyard fire pit. This design from Stone Forest combines natural stone with iron, to give the fire pit a very modern look and feel. To create the pit, the stone block was cleaved in half to provide a base from which the iron vessel could be suspended. This accessory works with both wood and gas.


Contemporary Stone Bench
Benches, especially ones with gaudy or baroque designs, can sometimes make a smaller backyard feel cluttered. A sleek, minimalistic stone bench can provide an elegant solution to visually adding space. Stone Forest’s benches are cut from large travertine slabs, and built in a unique minimalist style design.


Slate Planter
These slate stone planters, from Stone Forest, are not your standard backyard flower pots. Each one is carved by hand, ensuring a unique product every time. Depending on the composition of each stone block, they obtain various effects over time such as color variations, veining and other aesthetic irregularities that set these slate planters apart from any others you could find.


The Spring Free Trampoline
Like the swing, the trampoline can add an immediate air of playfulness and fun to any backyard space. This Safe Trampoline from Springfree uses patented special technologies to make it the safest possible trampoline on the market. The risk to jumpers is virtually none. Great if you have young kids, or are entertaining guests.



Check out http://www.trendir.com for additional outdoor furniture ideas and unique architectual designs.