apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

When it's too hot to go outside and an easy day indoors seems like just the ticket, it is the perfect time for cranking out the best "How To" projects with your children. And who better who share great crafts with you than Craftzine?

Reader Jamie sent us an e-mail, "I thought you might like this little project I just completed for my 16 month daughter. It doesn't really fit into the recent Great Outdoors theme but it still says summer to me."

From the same company who brought you the Tiramolla's loft bedrooms, come a few more pieces. Tumidei's items are a perfect mix of modern pieces with old-fashioned sensibilities: a place for everything and everything in its place.

"The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses." - Hanna Rion. Nothing's as relaxing some time spent in the garden. Help children help you care for your greens with the lovely Alessi Kiwi Watering Pot.

You may remember the little gnome table we first spied in Nasai's big city room. A reader asked where the tables were from and we found out they were designed by Philippe Stark. We love how quirky these little suckers are!

Sometimes even the smallest break can make a difference. Just the other day on a trip to Ikea, the husband and I had the luxury of quietly shopping while our son gleefully enjoyed his one-hour stop at Smaland. A recent New York Times article discusses how many parents are discovering the thrill of an Ikea "date" and taking advantage of the opportunity presented.

Weave magical stories of elves and their secret worlds into your garden with these adorable elfin doors. Great for open-ended, imaginative play, these hinged tiny doors can attach to the base of any tree and are sure to add a bit of magic to your outdoor area.

"Did you know there’s an outdoor world of math and reading fun that awaits you and all you need is sidewalk chalk, dice, and your imagination? Anything we can do inside on paper can be done outside on the driveway or sidewalk, as long as we don’t care if it eventually gets 'erased' by rain or sprinklers. Not only do the kids and I get to exercise our brains but we also get to exercise our bodies." Peg Baron gives us plenty of learning games that can be done with sidewalk chalk on Natural Parenting.

While there are some people that believe knitting is mainly a winter project, we say pish posh to that! We're year-round knitters and are always on the lookout for great little patterns that don't include winter wear. We love Barbara Prime's collection of Fuzzy Mitten pattern books.

We love the clean elegant look of the Componibili storage bins, by Anna Castelli Ferrieri, and we thought, "Well, why not have these in the nursery?" Who says they only have to stay in adult rooms? They seem like a perfect fit for the nursery -- simple, straightforward and completely lovely.