Cocoon Hammock with Terrace Base

The ultimate in luxury and relaxation has finally arrived – Batyline Cocoon Hammock with terrace base. Imagine an afternoon with a warm breeze washing over you as you read a chapter of your favorite book, or have a restful nap. The Teak wood frame and electropolished stainless steel components add a rich, clean and luxurious feel to this already fabulous retreat. Now you can create your own restful retreat right in your own backyard.

Solar Mate - portable solar lighting kit for garden or shed

Solar Mate is a great portable, cordless lighting solution for a garden or shed. It can be placed wherever you want and will provide light for up to seven hours per 24 hour period. It’s got an energy-saving 12-volt bulb, which will illuminate an area of 16 sq. meters. No special tools are needed to assemble the lighting kit, all you need to buy (or find) is any standard car or caravan battery, new or old. The kit includes mountings for a roof or wall, 5 meters of cabling and connectors, 1 bulb holder and one wall switch. Solar Mate comes with a 10-year warranty. Next time you’re digging around the shed looking for a tool, or looking for a pool noodle in the dark pool house, think about Solar Mate, and how simple it could be to get ‘shed some light’ in an eco-friendly sort of way. Available at Ecotopia for £79.99 (US $148).

Outdoor Benches by Pure Modern

If you’re looking to add a little pizzazz to your backyard, why not do it with outdoor benches by Pure Modern: the Coral bench / table and the Hive bench / coffee table from Arktura. These bright and elegant (and sturdy) benches are made from powder coated steel and designed to “wow” all eyes that see it. It makes a wonderful piece of outdoor decor while adding functionality to your backyard space too. What a cute coffee table it would make – or a great option to display potted plants on. Because of the cut-out design, they aren’t an overwhelming presence, you could put a couple of them together in a backyard and create a whimsical element to your surroundings. The benches comes in green, white, purple and orange, or you can custom color it as well. Available at Pure Modern, the Coral bench is $1990 and the Hive bench is $1790.

Cedar Barrel Sauna - outdoor sauna from Northern Lights

The Cedar Barrel Sauna from Northern Lights has raised the bar in outdoor saunas and created a much cooler looking outdoor spa retreat. Sitting at seven feet tall and seven feet wide, the two benches fit up to six adults comfortably, or allow two to lie down and stretch their legs. No need to worry about head room either – comfort is key with the barrel sauna. Because of it’s circular shape, it offers the same usable space you’d find with a box-shaped sauna, but cuts out the 23 per cent of wasted space in a box shape, allowing for better circulation and a more interesting piece of decor for your backyard. Northern Lights uses only grade A Western Red Cedar to construct their saunas. The planks are 1.5 inches thick offering spectacular insulation and bettering the heat retention. These spacious outdoor saunas are precut to exact measures making assembly easy and with no specialty tools required, it’ll be a breeze to put together.

Recycled Houses - Repurposed Steel and Concrete from the I-93

Big Dig House in Lexington, Massachusetts, designed by SsD Architects, is a lesson in sustainable building practices with stunning results! This recycled house comes from steel and concrete salvaged from Boston’s Big Dig, using over 600,000 lbs of materials repurposed from elevated portions of the dismantled I-93 highway. Because of the materials’ high load-bearing potential, the architects incorporated elaborate rooftop gardens. Designed and built in pre-fab fashion, this wood, glass and steel home features an industrial-chic interior design, with warm natural woods contrasting cool steel and concrete details. The house is laid out in a series of layers with lofts, providing each separate living area some privacy while keeping them all connected in the grand scheme of the design.

Moon Jar - Solar Powered Lamp

If you’ve ever wanted a piece of the moon, the Moon Jar, a solar powered lamp, is the closest thing you can find without traveling into outer space. Tobias Wong created this elegant and brilliant design – a mason jar with a solar panel inside. When placed on a windowsill, it soaks up the rays from the sun, and will provide a calming blue-toned light for the evening. It’s an interesting piece of decor for your patio – it’s eco-smart and is cordless – ideal for large and small spaces, lining up a garden or path, or simply as a centerpiece on an outdoor table. Because the jar is frosted, it disguises the three LED lights that are inside, thus making the jar during the day, just as nice of a decor piece and not an eyesore. Available at PerpetualKid and Target for $39.99

Sustainable Architectural Design by German Architects

“Modular,” “sustainable” and “transportable” – these are three words used to describe this sustainable architectural design from Germany’s Studio Aisslinger. The Fincube is a low-energy house characterized by its horizontal slats of locally grown timber enclosing a transparent, glass wall structure. Packing a great punch in 47m2 of living space, these eco homes boast a clean, contemporary style to match the clean method of design and construction in these small CO2-footprint homes. Interiors are minimalist in look and maximalist in feel and function, with every modern convenience at your fingertips, wherever that may be (these modular homes are easily dismantled and reassembled). This compact home design is small but sweet – the way of the eco-friendly future!

Recycled Wood Pallets Home

Schnetzer Andreas Claus and Pils Gregor, two University of Vienna students, are the brains behind Pallet House, a recycled wood pallets home design that is no frills, all function. This sustainable, recycled house uses pallets to form a modular structure design that’s as efficient environmentally as it is economically. At just 11 USD per sq. ft., this home takes a simple cube shape, complete with an outdoor entertaining area and sliding glass walls opening onto the open-concept interior. From the outside, the recycled enclosure glows by the light from within. The eco sustainable wood home was originally conceived as part of a 2008 competition (which it took first place in) and has since been displayed at several major European cities, now appearing in South Africa. Schnetzer Andreas Claus and Pils Gregor

Uber-Cool German Treehouse

If you thought you’ve outgrown your treehouse, guess again. Those who appreciate modern architecture with an unconventional twist will want to plan their next trip to North-West Germany, where you’ll find this contemporary treehouse perched between an alder and an oak in Osnabruck. Designed by architectural firm Baumraum, a company specializing in tree-top dwellings, the treehouse stands out with its curved roof and many windows. Although this modern home carries a totally sophisticated design, it still boasts those traditionally playful elements that make it a true treehouse – a rope ladder, plenty of outdoor deck space, and of course, nature-inspired interiors.

Modern Eco Friendly Tree House

L.A.-based architecture firm Standard is setting a new standard for modern residential design; one that blends creature comforts with a contemporary, urban edge. Set among the trees on a sloped lot in Los Angeles, Tree House is a modern home with luxury features and eco-friendly elements that make it a one-of-a-kind residence. This 167m2 house of concrete, wood and glass boasts a southern exposure with amazing natural vistas and the Los Angeles basin beyond. A massive ash tree at the front of the house sets the tone for this nature-loving design, complete with passive solar technology for climate control. On the main level, floor-to-ceiling glass opens onto a deck that cantilevers over the hillside. The home’s second level overhangs the concrete deck below. In its entirety, the house boasts a strong horizontal presence with its roof, deck and two storeys, balancing out the tall vertical trees that surround the house.

Stilt House by Treehouse Architects

This stilt house, the Froschkonig Treehouse by treehouse architects Baumraum, sits among the treetops of this private garden in Munster, Germany. Steps lead residents and guests through the lily pad-covered pool to the base of this stilt house, where a wood and steel staircase leads up to a tatajuba-wood terrace. This contemporary wood clad house in the sky features a modern, curved shape. A large picture window on each end of the home and a skylight brighten interiors while lending a transparency and a connection to the outdoors. Inside this compact home design, minimalist interiors boast walls, floors and furniture of white-glazed ash. The curved ceilings follow with the interesting home’s overall shape.