In the historic Texas neighborhood of Old West Austin, clients asked architect Tim Cuppett to add sleeping quarters to a one-bedroom house (circa 1908). To avoid disfiguring the vintage facade with an attic dormer (or worse), Cuppett came up with a charming solution: the back alley guest house.

Photography via Tim Cuppett Architects except where noted.

Above: Cuppett knew the house well; he had remodeled the house for the previous owners. After the 1,747-square-foot house house sold in 2012, the new owners asked Cuppett to add bedroom space (for when their grown children visit). 

Remodeling the attic was the first step (and added a second bedroom). But going further would have required a dormer or other disfigurement. Instead, Cuppett designed a freestanding guesthouse (visible through the kitchen window) alongside an alley that borders the back of the property. 

Above: The guest house functions as a two-car garage (with entry from the alley) and has a one-bedroom apartment on the upper floor.

“We definitely did not want a Disneyland replica of the original house,” Cuppett told Austin Home. “That historic structure is representative of a particular place in time. While we want the new to complement the old, we should also be building something current to this time and place.”

Above: The guest house has a painted board and batten facade. Planks of cedar fencing mimic the pattern of the siding, creating screens and a railing for a roof deck.

Above: Photograph via AIA Homes Tour.

In the guest house kitchen, cabinets are painted Chelsea Gray by Benjamin Moore. Behind cabinet doors are refrigerator drawers and a mini dishwasher.

Above: The guest house has a bedroom alcove with a dormer window (above the bed) which mimics and size and shape of a kitchen window in the main house (see below).

Above: From the kitchen in the main house, the guest house's bedroom dormer is a prominent feature.

Above: The staircase has a framework of steel stair stringers to support ipe treads.

Above: The roof deck offers a view of the Austin skyline.

Above: The guest house replaced an old carport. From the alley, the view is distinctly modern.

Above: Clever sight lines allow a glimpse of the house in the distance.

Above: From the street, there is no hint of the modern guest house sited behind the main house.

For more of our favorite backyard guest houses, see:

• Amsterdam Story: A 323-Square-Foot Backyard Guest House.
• The One-Month Remodel: A Catskills Guest House on Remodelista.
• The 186-Square-Foot Guest Cottage.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Garden Visit: At Home with Designer Julie Weiss in Manhattan
• Garden Visit: At Home with Rosie Bose of Glendon Hall
• 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Belgium

Tulips require planning. I missed last year's bulb planting, but this fall I'm willing and ready. Here are ten favorites I'm planting this October. Which is your favorite?

Above: The 'Black Parrot' is famous for its rich purple color and frilled bloom; $11.95 for 10 bulbs at Eden Brothers. Photograph by Coanri/Rita via Flickr.

Above: The 'Persian Pearl' features a deep magenta rose petals with a yellow throat; $6.80 for ten from Brent and Becky's Bulbs. Photograph from Wild Ginger Farm.

Above: The 'Zurel' tulip features large white blooms striped with purple tones. A pack of 10 bulbs costs $6.95 at Tulips. Photograph via BHG.

Above: The 'Angelique' Tulip has soft pink petals and resembles a peony bloom; £2 for 10 bulbs at Crocus. Photograph by Mimmi Elg, via Flickr. For more, see DIY: A Modern Tulip Garden.

Above: An early spring bloomer, 'Turkestanica' has white petals with an orange center; fragrant, and a great repeat bloomer; $4.35 for 10 bulbs from Dutch Grown. Photograph by Thomas Knox via Flickr.

Above: British gardening writer Sarah Raven grows 'Menton' tulip in her cutting garden; she uses it in spring bouquets; the garden designer sells it as well; £6.50 for 15 bulbs. Photograph by Kendra Wilson.

For more, DIY: A Spring Bouquet With Sarah Raven.

Above: The 'Pink Impression' petals are pink with a light pink edge. It can be purchased from White Flower Farm; $11.95 for 12 bulbs. Photograph by Katrin Feldbauer via Flickr.

Above: 'Prinses Irene' is a fragrant tulip in orange with purple flames; $11.95 for a dozen bulbs from White Flower Farm. Photograph by Neal1960 via Flickr.

Above: The 'Tarda' has a yellow center and white tips; $5.95 for a pack of ten bulbs from Easy to Grow Bulbs. Photograph via BHG.

Above: 'Purissima' is a long lived, creamy white tulip; $3.50 for five bulbs from Brent and Becky's Bulbs. Photograph by Katrin Feldbauer via Flickr.

N.B.: Looking for tulip planting advice? See our post on How To Create a Modern Tulip Garden.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Best Bulbs: New Releases for 2016
• Coastal Treasure: Shelldance Orchid Gardens in Pacifica, California
• True Colors: 9 Best Shrubs for Fall Foliage

Whose afraid of a little color? Not Julie, it turns out. See her suggestions for incorporating a dash of vampire red into your life. Green, blue, yellow and pink are also top of the list on Remodelista this week:

 Red

Above: A few touches of red are a bright accent in designer Ryan Roche's upstate NY house. See more in Vampire Weekend: Rooms with Red Accents.

Green

Above: Margot sources Colorful Clay Cookware from Italy.

Blue

Above: Alexa shops for Colorful Freestanding Ranges. We'll take that in blue. 

Pink

Above: Pretty in pink, Margot goes beyond tea towels to sleuth Brightly Colored Kitchen Accessories.

Yellow

Above: Alexa tries out 8 Side Tables in Confident Colors.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Current Obsessions: Holidays Ahead
• Table of Contents: Spring Forward 2016
• Top 5 in Garden News: Keep Composting, Stress on Sugar Maples, and the World's First Underground Park

Read on to see what we loved this week: 

• Above: We have our eye on a Boxwood Garland from West Elm. 
• Here's a combination we haven't seen: apple and geranium arrangement. 

• Above: 'Tis the season for butternut squash soup. Photograph by Jessica Comingore.
• Norm Architects created a series of simple wire pots inspired by Japanese garden style. 

• Above: Water less, plus more tips for taking care of houseplants during fall.  
• Call for entires: The Association of Professional Landscape Designers is looking for the best of landscape design for their 2016 Design Awards Program. The deadline to submit projects is November 30. 

Instagram and Pinterest Pick of the Week

• Above: A cobblestone street lined with potted plants in London captured by travel blogger Jesson Thames (@jessonthames).

• Above: A DIY wreath bar? Genius. For more festive inspiration, follow Modern Farmette's Holiday board. 

To read the latest from Gardenista, see our Spring Forward 2016 issue. Curious about the week on Remodelista? Read the Color Stories issue. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Trending on Remodelista: Color Stories
• Table of Contents: Spring Forward 2016
• Top 5 in Garden News: Keep Composting, Stress on Sugar Maples, and the World's First Underground Park

This week in the world of gardening, the UK celebrates heritage apples, the Royal Horticultural Society will create a fifth garden, and the world's driest desert has turned pink.

World's Driest Place Covered in Blooms

Above: Photo by Mario Ruiz via Smithsonian. 

The Atacama Desert in Northern Chile is known as the driest place in the world; some parts have never received rain in recorded history. But heavy storms of rain and snow in March—which caused catastrophic flooding in the region—have brought unusual fall carpets of pink mallow blooms. Read it at the Smithsonian. 

RHS to Create Fifth Garden 

Above: RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex. Photo via Flickr. 

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced that it will create a fifth flagship garden on the grounds of Worsley New Hall in Salford, near Manchester. The RHS will hire a prominent landscape architect to oversee the project, which will be called "RHS Garden Bridgewater" and is slated to open in 2019. Highlights will include a 10-acre kitchen garden and a learning center for schoolchildren. Read it at the Express. 

Wisteria Thefts in London

Above: Wisteria in bloom at Sissinghurst. Photo by Jonathan Buckley via the Telegraph. 

Over the past two weeks, several wisteria plants have been stolen from residential gardens in North London's Hampstead neighborhood. Mature plants have been taken, as well as potted and hanging plants and small trees. Officials fear that the plants are being stolen to order; mature wisteria plants sell for several hundred pounds each. Read more at Daily Mail. 

UK Heritage Apple Revival

Above: Photo via The Ingham Swan. 

The "basic three" apples found in UK supermarkets are McIntosh Red from Canada, Granny Smith from Australia, and Golden Delicious from France. The nonprofit Common Ground aims to diversify the offerings via Apple Day, a national UK festival held annually on October 21. Founded in 1990, the occasion promotes apple markets and orchard tours across the country in hope of reviving the more than 2,000 estimated UK heritage apple varieties. Read it in the Independent. 

Joshua Trees Threatened by Climate Change

Above: Photo via the Joshua Tree Community. 

Environmental groups are petitioning the US government to declare the iconic Joshua tree—which exists mainly in the Mohave and Sonoran deserts of the US Southwest—as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. According to researchers at the University of California, Riverside, climate models suggest that the Joshua tree range could be reduced by up to 90 percent by the end of this century. Says Kierán Suckling of the Center for Biological Diversity in Tucson, Arizona, "The Desert Southwest and the Arctic are being ripped apart by climate change faster than anywhere else, because they are North America's most extreme ecosystems.” Read it at National Geographic. 

For more from this week, see: 

• Gardenista Obsessions: Holidays Ahead
• Trending on Remodelista: Color Stories
• Remodelista Obsessions: Mid-Season Stride
• Trending on Gardenista: Bulb Mania

More Stories from Gardenista

• Current Obsessions: Holidays Ahead
• Trending on Remodelista: Color Stories
• Table of Contents: Spring Forward 2016

What's ahead for next year? We're looking at the new landscape, and we like what we see. Join us this week:

Monday

Above: A new kind of kitchen garden: elegant and unruly at the same time. Join us for this week's Landscape Architect Visit.

Tuesday

Above: How can you add Curb Appeal for under $100? Let us count the ways.

Wednesday

Above: Erin makes a dried fruit garland for the holidays in this week's DIY post.

Thursday

Above: Inspired by the transformation of a dark, gloomy garden in central London's Islington neighborhood, we take notes in this week's Garden Visit.

Friday

Above: We collect ideas for surprising new ways to use decomposed granite in a garden in this week's Roundup post.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Top 5 in Garden News: RHS Will Plant a Fifth Garden and the World's Driest Place is Covered in Blooms
• Current Obsessions: Holidays Ahead
• Trending on Remodelista: Color Stories

I'm fond of kitchen gardens because they delight both sides of my brain. Wild and unruly and just a little bit scraggly, they also tend to be places where rambling plants get wrangled into order.

When RADD member Richard Miers designed this kitchen garden outside a large classical residence in Surrey, England, he created just the right blend of order and abundance. The lines of the house demanded a certain application of structure with "clean classical contemporary lines," while the lush plantings lend a softer side to the space.

Photography courtesy of Richard Miers.

Above: With a directive to build a garden with year-round interest, Miers planted four raised beds of evergreen herbs—rosemary, lavender, and thyme—for use in the kitchen. The owners of the house live in Sardinia for the majority of the year (Miers is currently designing a garden there), but return to England in the winter.

The stone of the paths and terrace is English sandstone from Yorkshire, called Yorkstone. Miers interlaid the terrace and path with Belgium Bluestone details to contrast with the buff color of the sandstone.

Above: The raised beds in the garden were built with marine ply wrapped in a zinc covering that complements the blue elements of the terrace.

Above: Pleached Carpinus betulus—or Hornbeam—trees help shade a large dining terrace and, Miers explains, "give a sense of seclusion whilst allowing views out to the wider garden." The stone terrace was built around the trees after they were planted. Miers surrounded each tree with a small bed of gravel to allow the trunks room to grow and set a light by each tree for dramatic nightime effect. The trees get pruned twice a year: once in June and again in September so they maintain their clean straight lines.

Above: The oversized dining table on the sandstone terrace was a special commission from a furniture and cabin designer friend of Miers, Jeremy Pitts. It was made from teak harvested in the 1960s. The chairs are classic Luxembourg Chairs by Fermob; $335 apiece from Ambietne Direct. In the background, wisteria and Trachelospermum jasminoides, or Star Jasmine, wind their way up the downspout.

Above: The dark earth-colored pots placed around the terrace are made of stone resin, which Miers explains is "good for roof terraces as well as they aren't too heavy to move before they are planted up." A similar Stone Resin Planter is available from the same company, Bright Green, for £102.

Curious about sandstone used indoors? See it put to work in A Midcentury Cabin in Amagansett on Remodelista.

For more from Richard Miers, see Bloom Time with UK Garden Designer Richard Miers.

Suffering Fermob-induced sticker shock? See: High/Low: Fermob for Less?

More Stories from Gardenista

• Outbuilding of the Week: Back Alley House by Tim Cuppett Architects
• Garden Visit: At Home with Designer Julie Weiss in Manhattan
• Garden Visit: At Home with Rosie Bose of Glendon Hall

In floral design, I love the challenge of working with new and unexpected materials. So when I spotted some cotton branches at my local Whole Foods, I was immediately intrigued. Their fluffy, white plumes set in brittle, golden pods seemed the perfect launching point for a late autumn arrangement.

See below for step-by-step instructions for making a winter white bough with branches of cotton:

Photography by Justine Hand for Gardenista. 

Above: Cotton branches with raw cotton bolls from Whole Foods Market. You can find similar Cotton Branches at Save on Crafts; $5 for two stems.

I have to admit that my cotton sat around for a few days while I contemplated how to exhibit the branches to best effect. A rounded bouquet or wreath seemed too obvious. I wanted a contrast to the cute, fluffy bolls—something with structure and dramatic flair. 

Above: Some millet, also found at Whole Foods, seemed the perfect complement—spiky and dark. Similar Dried Purple Majesty Millet is $7.99 per bunch at Dried Decor.

Above: And then I found this pear branch at Winston Flowers, and the form began to emerge. Playing off the natural forms of the branch, I would create a sweeping autumnal bough. Though I bought mine, a similar branch could easily be foraged.

Above: Now all I needed was some foraged material to would complete my homage to the waning days of fall—something that would reflect autumn, but not immediately wilt after I got it indoors. A spray of bridal wreath and some oak leaves seemed perfect. I also gathered a few sprigs of yellowing privet with aubergine berries.

Above: Other than my plant specimens, all I needed were flexible floral wire, clippers, and a lovely velvet ribbon. I used 16 MM Mustard French Velvet Ribbon from The Ribbon Jar; $3.55 per yard.

Step 1: Consider your structure and create a base.

Think about the basic shape of you arrangement. Do you want a single- or double-sided bough? If the latter, do you want it equal in length or lopsided? You also have to consider where you want to display it. Is it going to lie flat on a table (in which case you need to build it up on all sides), or flat against a wall (one side). Is it going to hang or drape off a mantel?

When I started, I wasn't really sure, so I simply started by building one side of the bough. Channeling my inner-ikebana I grabbed a branch, which I knew would be the base of my arrangement, and examined how best to trim it down. This I coupled with the more linear millet to create a structural counterpoint.

Step 2: Begin layering the arrangement.

Taking each branch of cotton in hand, I began to experiment until I had the right piece.

Above: With each new specimen, you most likely will need to trim.

Above: Don't forget to add height to the arrangement. 

Step 3: Secure your first few branches with floral wire.

You will notice that I didn't immediately start tacking down the branches. That's because I wanted give myself the flexibility to change things until the basic structure emerged. Once satisfied that I was on the right track, I began to wrap the branches together with wire. Don't worry at this point if you have bare branches showing. You can cover those later when you build up the middle.

Step 4: After you have one side loosely constructed, begin building up the other side and the middle. 

I lifted my arrangement onto a mantel (which is awaiting a new coat of soft gray paint, BTW), so I could also begin to build up the understory. You will notice from this less than inspiring image that my arrangement looks a little hopeless at point. I admit I was worried, and you may be too. But hang in there. Just keep adding materials and securing with wire until you get the effect you want.

Step 5: After the bouquet is mostly assembled, tie a ribbon around each side.

Step 6: Hang or place in situ and continue to add last minute touches until you have the arrangement you want. Here is my finished piece.

Above: I left my structure a bit loose and wild, so the forms of individual plants would show.

Above: I didn't use anything other than the pear branches for structural support, allowing for more flexibility in the arrangement. After it was hung, it took on a nice gentle arch. 

Above: Among the auburn and yellowing foliage, the scattered cotton balls remind me of winter's first dusting of snow.

Above and below: You will note that I did not create a mirror image on both sides of the arrangement. It's more extemporaneous and natural that way.

Above: I did not preserve my leaves because I wanted them to continue to yellow just as they would outside. If you want your arrangement to appear fresh indefinitely, you can preserve the leaves beforehand by drying them or dipping them in wax. Or you can build your structure around a bit of floral foam or moss that has been soaked in water. Finally, you can prolong the arrangement by refreshing it with new material.

N.B. Want to experience some other wild arrangements? See 10 Tips for Floral Arrangements With Native Flowers, from Brooklyn Florist Emily Thompson. Also: Alexa created 12 Autumnal Centerpieces for $200.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Expert Advice: 10 Tips for Baking on the Wild Side with Claire Ptak of Violet Bakery
• Fioraio Bianchi Caffè: Food and Flowers from Milan's Poet Florist
• Short on Floral Inspiration? Start with the Vessel, Says David Stark

Too many people ignore curb appeal until it's time to move. Then they spruce up the place for the next residents. How does this make sense? Every time you come home, the sight of your front door should give you the sort of euphoric endorphin rush that long-distance runners feel when they stop.

Adding curb appeal doesn't have to be expensive. Take it one step at a time: here are 11 ways to add instant curb appeal for $100 or less:

New House Numbers

Above: When architect Mark Reilly gave an Edwardian home in San Francisco a full remodel, the facade also got a facelift. Photograph by Bruce Damonte via Mark Reilly Architecture.

House numbers are one of the first things to catch the eye—first-time visitors are looking for them to confirm they're at the right address—and should set a tone for what to expect indoors as well as out. The spare, slim lines of Hillman Group 5-In Satin House Numbers (above) hint at the modern interior that lies beyond the traditional facade; $5.98 per number at Lowe's.

Uniform Color

Above: Photograph by Meredith Swinehart.

Architect Mark Reilly also updated the facade by changing the entry stairs and porch from brick to Brazilian black slate and by painting the building's trim and body the same color. The paint is Gray by Benjamin Moore (color 2120-10). For more of our favorite gray exterior paints, see Shades of Gray: Architects' 10 Top Paint Picks.

Well-Kept Gutters

Above: Photograph via Gutter Supply.

Nothing says "Boo Radley lives here" like clogged gutters full of soggy leaves and the odd bit of twigs. Don't be shy about attempting this housecleaning chore yourself. All you need is a sturdy Stepladder ($74.99 from Cornell's), your oldest pair of waterproof garden gloves to protect your hands, and a bucket to fill with water to flush out the downspout. 

For more tips on installing and caring for gutters, see Hardscaping 101: Rain Gutters.

Coat Hooks

Above: A New Zealand beach cottage has a covered front entryway. Photograph via Homebunch.

 If you have a covered entryway, you can turn it a welcoming extension of your home with hooks for coats, jackets, and dog leashes. Hanging fabric instantly softens the look of a space (think: curtains). We've rounded up our favorite hooks in our recent 10 Easy Pieces: Mudroom Hooks.

A New Porch Light

Above: It's hard to go wrong with a black matte ceiling light, a versatile style that complements both modern and traditional facades. We recently rounded up our favorites, including several under $100, in 10 Easy Pieces: Black Porch Ceiling Lights. Check out more of our favorites in 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Ceiling Porch Lights.

A New Doormat

Above: Getting a new doormat is the exterior equivalent of getting new carpet. But far, far less expensive. You need an upgrade if yours is stained, scuffed, worn down, or faded. If you're looking for a new doormat, see 10 Easy Pieces: Durable Doormats.

Matching Planters

Above: Flank your entryway with matching potted plants (as above) to create symmetry.

A Colorful Door

Above: Photograph by Eve Ashcraft.

Think of your front door as jewelry for your house. It can be a little flashier than the rest of the outfit the facade is wearing. A strong color that complements wall and trim paint colors can be pleasing. (To get the look of the bright blue door above, paint color consultant Eve Ashcraft recommends Benjamin Moore's #2067-20 Starry Night Blue paint in Advance Satin Finish.)

For more color ideas, see 5 Favorites: British Front Doors with Style.

A New Mailbox

Above: For more, see LA Confidential: A Private Courtyard Goes Luxe on a Budget. Photograph via Naomi Sanders Landscape Design.

If your mailbox is rusty or dented, consider replacing it with a long-lasting aluminum or steel model. See our favorites in 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Sturdy Mailboxes. 

A Well-Behaved Hedge

Above: Architect Barbara Chambers keeps a rosemary hedge pruned to a height that frames her windows instead of covering them. For more, see Architect Visit: Barbara Chambers at Home in Mill Valley. Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

Overgrown bushes that block your front windows are not a good look. Ever. Period. Shrubs should frame your windows but never hide them (unless you're on the run from the law).

Do you live in a climate where rosemary is a perennial? You too can have an herb hedge. For more on growing and caring for rosemary, see our recent Field Guide: Rosemary.

Sparkling Windows

Photograph by Liesa Johannssen for Gardenista.

Washing the windows will improve the view from within as well as from the curb. Are you wondering if you can wait until spring? If your windows have cobwebs, a visible layer of dust, or dirt on the sills, you can't. Get out there and get the job done on the next sunny autumn day. Use our all-natural cleaner with The Secret Ingredient to Make Windows Shine Bright Like a Diamond.

Window Boxes

Above: Zinc window boxes outside the Paris home of architect Nicolas Soulier and ceramicist Cécile Daladier.  For more, see A Ceramicist and an Architect in Paris.

 A window box is the fastest way to add color to your facade. Update the plantings year round and you can change the look every season. Wondering where to start? For more about choosing, installing, and maintaining a window box, see Hardscaping 101: Window Boxes.

If you are inspired to spruce things up a bit, see our archives for more Curb Appeal posts. And on Remodelista, see Outdoors: House Numbers from A Short Walk in Cornwall.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Steal This Look: A Grand Mudroom in Virginia
• 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding Wood Stoves
• Steal This Look: A Rooftop Outdoor Kitchen in São Paulo

A new generation of wood stoves offers fuel efficiency, high combustion temperatures, and lower emissions to be environmentally responsible, powerful heaters for your home.

You can eschew burn bans, and avoid soaring gas and oil prices, with a wood stove that combines the best of the old (baking/warming shelves, wood storage) with new technologies that greatly reduce ash, carbon emissions, and lost heat. Best of all, when there is a burn ban, EPA Certified Stoves can keep on burning.

N.B.: Different stoves generate varying levels heat output. Be sure to consider stoves with heat output appropriate to the size of room where they will be located.

Above: The black steel Wittus Shaker Wood Stove, designed by Antonio Citterio, is made in Germany of black steel. Offering the look of a fireplace with the efficiency of a wood stove, it is available with a short bench under the door (as shown) or with a long bench, so you can sit comfortably close to the fire; $4,860 and $5,430 respectively.

Above: From Denmark-based Rais, the Rondo Wood Stove is a modern classic. With the latest in air flow and combustion control technology, it offers the most heat output of the moderately sized Rais stoves. The Rondo has a convenient wood storage space at the bottom (with a door) and a baking shelf with a soapstone slab as standard equipment; $4,610. The Rais Rondo Wood Stove is available with a rotating base as an optional extra.

Above: The Rais Gabo Wood Stove has flat sides and a curved front with a totally sealed firebox that ensures optimal combustion control. It has a convection grate above the combustion chamber and wood storage space underneath. Available in black or gray steel; $3,890. Contact Rais to locate a dealer near you.

Above: Made of black steel with a top vent, the Rais X-Basic Wood Stove offers a large surface area, creating efficient and effective heating for oversized rooms. This powerful heater carries an equally powerful price of $10,900. Contact Rais to locate a dealer near you.

Above: We like the simplicity of the Stuv 16-H Wood Stove. This high-efficiency stove from Belgian-based Stuv is designed so combustion gases provide the room with as much heat as possible. Unfortunately, this model is only available in Europe (not approved for US sale). Contact Stuv for retail locations in Europe.

Above: Another model by Belgian company Stuv is available in the US. The Stuv 30 Wood Stove has a unique multi-function glass and steel door that can operate in three positions: open glass, closed glass or closed steel to slow the burn; $5,495 through dealers in the US, including AJ Fireplaces.

Above: Danish architect Anders Nørgaard the highly efficient Wittus Cubic Wood Stoves. All the models have the same highly efficient fire box and are EPA certified. They feature a thermal “air wash” system that constantly self-cleans the clear glass fire door to keep it free of soot. The “cool” door handle is nearly invisible, and has fingertip control. The freestanding models are available in three sizes and range in price from $4,740 to $5,820.

Above: A slim pedestal option is the Norwegian designed Jotul F-370 Modern Wood Burning Stove with cast-iron construction, and three panel glass design; $3,800. Contact Jotul to locate retailers.

Above: Our UK-based readers can consider the Dovre Astroline 350CB, a clean burning, high-efficiency cast iron wood stove with a small footprint. Available with an anthracite finish; £1,125. Contact Dovre for retail locations.

Above: Here's a traditional Scandinavian-inspired look: the tiny Classic Forest Stove from Morso, based on a design from the 1930s, incorporates the very latest in combustion technology for greatly reduced smoke emissions. At 28 inches high, 13 inches wide, and 28 inches deep, this stove is a good small-space choice; $1,700. Contact Morso to locate a dealer.

Above: An affordable option is the Englander 17-vl Wood Stove. Crafted of black steel, this freestanding top-vented stove will heat rooms up to 1,200 square feet. This high-efficiency stove meets EPA standards and is $649 at Home Depot.

N.B. This is an update of a post originally published on December 19, 2012.

Want to warm your hands by an outdoor fire? Take a look at our earlier post Playing with Fire: Favorite Fire Pits and Bowls. Wondering if the environmentally correct thing to do is to give up wood fires? See Domestic Dispatches: Goodbye to the Romance of the Hearth.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Steal This Look: A Grand Mudroom in Virginia
• 11 Ways to Add Curb Appeal for Under $100
• Steal This Look: A Rooftop Outdoor Kitchen in São Paulo

When we recently toured this Virginia farmhouse (see Architect Visit: A New Farmhouse for a 100-Year-Old Barn), we were entranced by its gracious proportions and views, and came upon the happy discovery that the mudroom was our favorite room in the five-bedroom, 13,300-square-foot home.

Most mudrooms are utilitarian to a fault. But this one, designed by architect Donald Lococo, plays up its charm. How, we wondered? Modern conveniences mingle with distressed, excavated pieces. After one afternoon spent antiquing, we're glad to report you can get the look, even if you don't have French doors that open to barn and pool views.

Above: Exterior elements (rugged slate tiles, side porch window, and entryway containers) announce the mudroom as the go-between that links the house to the garden. French doors are not compulsory to getting this look, when there are so many other elegant fixtures to create this space. Photograph via Donald Lococo Architects.

Above: The commercial-grade restaurant faucet, with its coiled sprayer, when paired with a rustic workbench, looks like a garden hose from the future. Lococo sourced it from Mirabelle. The Presidio Pull-Out Spray Kitchen Faucet is $543.92 in polished chrome. 

Above: Lococo found the sink from Whitehaus. The 36-Inch Quatro Alcove Fireclay Sink with Integral Drain Board is $719 on Amazon.

Above: The ultra-modern sink and faucet are put into relief by an industrial workbench. The hand-cranked vice, in the original, brings home the point. A similar Carpenters Workbench from the 1800s is $1,800 on 1stdibs. On a budget? Seek out affordable versions at your local flea market.  

Above: Clean cuts make floral arrangements last longer, making these hand-forged Japanese Pruners, $109 from Kaufmann Mercantile, a worthwhile investment. For more tools, see Alexa's 10 Easy Pieces: Garden Pruners. 

Above: The plank-turned-bookshelf was excavated from the property, says Lococo. We suggest looking on Etsy, where a 34-Inch Reclaimed Wall Shelf is $50 from Barnwood4u. 

Above: Colonial forged brackets are often on eBay for the picking. For something less embellished, there is Rejuvenation's Simple Shelf Bracket, $49 for the pair.

Above: The slate is 16-by-16-inch tile in Black Rust, sourced from Jud Tile, a local Virginia tile shop, cut in half and laid in a brick pattern. If you're outside Virginia, consider similar similar California Gold Natural Slate Tile; $5.99 per square foot from Home Depot.

Above: A Fibreclay Chelsea Cylinder is £25 at Roundwood Trading.   

Above: A Non-Skid Stainless Steel Dog Bowl for Fido is $9.99 at Petco.

Inspired to install French doors? See Remodeling 101: The Ins and Outs of French Doors.

And, for more farmhouse style, see:

• DIY: A Winter White Holiday Bough.
• Architect Roundup: 10 Contemporary Farmhouse Gardens.
• Hardscaping 101: The Ins and Outs of Dutch Doors.

More Stories from Gardenista

• 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding Wood Stoves
• 11 Ways to Add Curb Appeal for Under $100
• Steal This Look: A Rooftop Outdoor Kitchen in São Paulo

Gravel doesn't sound like a glamorous hardscaping material. It's cheap, ubiquitous, and really, well, gravelly.

But take a closer look, and you'll realize that the seemingly mundane material is a superhero. It's a maintenance-free ground cover. It allows water to drain back into the soil. And it acts as a natural French drain (because properly laid gravel doesn't puddle water). Not to mention, it has an elegant formalism when landscaped along the perimeter of a house.

Here are ten gardens with gravel to envy (with ideas you can steal for your own garden): 

Above: Narrow gravel drains run through this Australian garden. Photograph by Jason Busch, via Greige. 

Above: The eco-friendly South African home of architect Gillian Holl uses fresh rainwater to fill a koi pond and swimming pool; excess water can drain through surrounding gravel. Photograph by Elske Kritzinger via Visi. 

Above: Gravel drainage around the reinforced concrete home of architect Philip Scroback in São Paulo, Brazil. Read more in Design Sleuth: Pavers and Gravel. Photograph by Evelyn Muller. 

Above: A gravel drain lies beneath the sloping metal roof of a project by Austin-based Alterstudio Architecture (a member of the Remodelista + Gardenista Architect/Designer Directory). The project was a finalist for Best Office Space in the 2014 Remodelista Considered Design Awards.

Above: On all sides, gravel perimeter drains catch water from the gabled metal roof of a Virginia countryside house by D.C.-based Robert Gurney Architect. Photograph by Maxwell Mackenzie.

Above: Gravel surrounds garden pavilions in a Bangkok condominium landscape by Trop Landscapes + Open Space. Photograph via Land8. 

Above: No tidy perimeter required: Gravel surrounds a home in South Africa from the European Light + Design Center portfolio of Delta Light.

Above: Also by Alterstudio Architecture, an Austin home sports gravel drainage along all exterior walls. Read more about the project in Steal This Look: A Silvery Blue Palette in Austin, TX.

Above: Gravel winds through the garden of this ultra-modern Bahrain house by Moriq, a design studio based in Hyderabad, India. Photograph via HomeDSGN.

Above: This house by Feldman Architecture, a member of the Remodelista + Gardenista Architect/Designer Directory, is sited on a steep slope in an oak forest in California. The structure was designed with environmental sensitivity in mind, and surrounding gravel allows water to drain back into the soil.

For more landscape roundups, see 10 Perfect Party Spaces in the City;Intimate Gardens for Two, and Gardenista Roundup: For Love of Boxwood. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• 10 Easy Pieces: Black Wharf Lights
• Steal This Look: A Grand Mudroom in Virginia
• 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding Wood Stoves

If you want a bit of insight into how I turned out the way I did, consider the year that my mother declared that we'd have an "18th century Christmas." While our friends asked Santa for American Girl dolls, Adidas Samba sneakers, and fluorescent-haired trolls, my sisters and I were left to scratch out lists that included wishes for wool mittens and scarves. The guideline was that all the gifts needed to be homemade, or at the least, something that children in the 18th century might have received. It took some convincing to get us onboard.

On Christmas morning, our stockings hung heavy with oranges and walnuts and beeswax candles. We all did our best to look amused. 

Photography by Erin Boyle. 

Above: Despite my lack of enthusiasm for my mom's scheme at the time, to this day I have a soft spot for anything that smacks of, well, an 18th century Christmas. This year, I made a dried fruit garland to deck my halls. Make yours this week to hang for Thanksgiving, and add a piney garland in December.

N.B. In case there's a historian in the crowd, it should be noted that the history of decorating wreaths and garlands with dried fruit dates from the early 20th century and the height of Colonial Revival, and not from the Colonial period itself. The thought of sacrificing an orange for décor would have been unthinkable to the colonists. ...Details.

Here's what you'll need:

• Assorted apples, pears, and oranges
• Walnuts
• Upholstery needles
• Twine
• Cookie rack
• Cookie sheet

Step 1: Choose a variety of brightly colored apples, pears, and oranges for slicing. 

Step 2: Slice fruit into 1/4 inch slices, through the center of the fruit. Prepare to sacrifice your first few fruits (make fruit salad from the duds!) because it takes a bit of practice to get a clean cut.

Step 3:  Place sliced fruit on a cookie rack on top of a cookie sheet.

Step 4: Bake at 150 degrees for from five to six hours. Yes, you read that right. This is a project for a lazy (and chilly) afternoon at home. The next time I make a garland, I might try air drying the fruit (See Justine's Dried Vegetables to see how).

Step 5: When the fruit is visibly dried, remove from the oven. 

Step 6: Use an upholstery needle to thread the dried fruit onto thin twine.

Step 7: If you decide to include walnuts or cinnamon sticks, use a hammer to gently tap the top of the needle through the top of the harder surfaces of your nuts and spices.

Step 8: Hang your finished garland in a sunny spot and enjoy all season.

For more garland projects, see Dried Hydrangea Garlands for Fall and DIY Video: Easy Holiday Garland.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Shisito Cocktail: October in a Glass
• Gardening 101: How to Plant a Bulb
• DIY Decor: Justine's Spooky-Elegant Halloween Table Setting

You don't have to live in a lighthouse or regularly battle stormy weather on dark nights to appreciate wharf-inspired outdoor fixtures. Here are 10 dock lights in our favorite pitch-dark color—black—that are rated for wet locations: 

Above: This 15-inch Wall-Mounted Fishing Light is available in two colors, including charcoal; £75 from Garden Trading.

Above: From Davey Lighting, a Weatherproof Ship's Well Glass Light in a weathered brass finish with a clear glass shade is £239 from Lighting Matters.

Above: The steel and aluminum Harbor Sconce by Restoration Hardware is 12¼ inches high and includes one 60-watt incandescent Edison frost bulb, $139.

Above: A Marine Wall Light by designer E. F. Chapman comes in five finishes (including bronze, shown above) and is $378 from Circa Lighting.

Above: The 12-inch-high Nantucket Wall Light is available in three finishes; $99 at Shades of Light.

Above: A Streamline Industrial Guard Sconce comes in 18 finishes (including black, shown here) and has a heavy-duty industrial wall mount; $165 from Barnlight Electric.

Above: An Upplid Wall Lantern in an Outdoor Black finish is $39.99 from Ikea.

Above: Designed by Ralph Lauren, a Fulton Large Sconce with an industrial steel base and black shade is $770 from Circa Lighting.

Above: The Belfast Outdoor Wall Light by Garden Trading is finished in cast zinc; £80 from John Lewis.

Above: Kichler’s 12-inch One Light Outdoor Wall Mount, part of its Seaside Collection, houses a 100-watt bulb and is Dark Skies compliant. Available at 1StopLighting.com, $35. 

For more outdoor fixtures, see 10 Easy Pieces: Barnhouse-Style Outdoor Lights. For romance rather than illumination, check out 10 Easy Pieces: Cafe-Style Outdoor String Lights.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Garden Envy: 10 Dramatic Drainage Ideas to Steal
• Steal This Look: A Grand Mudroom in Virginia
• 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding Wood Stoves

Every abandoned building fascinates Berlin gallerist Juerg Judin. Today online magazine Freunde von Freunden publishes an exclusive interview (and garden visit) with Judin, who rescued a dilapidated Shell gas station and turned it into an oasis in a crowded city. Chickens included:

Photography by Ailine Liefeld courtesy of Freunde von Freunden.

Above: Judin first saw the 1950s-era gas station in 1992 (and a For Sale sign appeared in the window a few years later). After he bought the wreck in 2005, he remodeled and transformed the space into his own home and garden. For the full interview and story by Anna Schunck, see Freunde von Freunden.

Above: "It’s a true luxury to have a house with a garden in the middle of the city," says Judin. "That surely played a part in pushing for the conversion of the gas station into a home."

See Freunde von Freunden's video version of the story here.

Above: "Building a garden with 50-year-old pines in the middle of the city is of course a kind of statement; especially since the wall keeps this haven hidden from the outside world," says Judin. "You can’t experience the oasis-like quality of the garden until the door closes behind you."

Above: Judin worked with landscape architect Guido Hager to create the garden.

Above: Judin has three Ayam Cemani chickens, a breed from Indonesia.

Above: Stands of bamboo flank a small pond in the garden.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Landscape Architect Visit: A Refined Kitchen Garden by Richard Miers
• Outbuilding of the Week: Back Alley House by Tim Cuppett Architects
• Garden Visit: At Home with Designer Julie Weiss in Manhattan

Dipped in colorful wax, an amaryllis bulb from Holland needs no further attention. Set one gently on a table and prepare to be delighted; it will send up a firecracker display of flowers to last through the winter holiday season.

Imported from Holland, waxed amaryllis bulbs are still somewhat of a novelty here. In fact, last winter when Terrain offered them for sale, the bulbs sold out so fast we couldn't get our hands on any. So this year we asked Terrain to please set some waxed amaryllis bulbs aside specially for our readers—and we're thrilled to kick off the holiday season early with a giveaway contest.

Terrain will be giving away a set of six waxed amaryllis bulbs (one each in red, white, blue, silver, burgundy, and green) and six small silver footed plant stools to display them, a value of $270. The contest runs through Nov. 20, when one winner will be chosen randomly. Enter the contest here:

Above: Waxed Amaryllis Bulbs ($35 apiece) arrived this week at Terrain and will be for sale through the holiday season while supplies last.

Above: In the giveaway contest, Terrain will also be giving the winner a set of six Small Footed Plant Stands ($10 apiece) to display the amaryllis bulbs.

Above: The amaryllis needs no additional water or soil to bloom; all the nutrition is in the bulb. The long-blooming flowers will last for up to six weeks.

Enter the contest here.

More Stories from Gardenista

• DIY: Root Succulents from Leaves
• 10 Favorite Tulips to Plant This Fall
• Best Bulbs: New Releases for 2016

The summer months have slid away and with them the ability to ignore spotty pathway lighting. Getting around the garden, and even to the front door, can be challenging when days get shorter and darkness sets in before dinner.

This is the season to enhance safety, convenience, and curb appeal with effective path and walkway illumination. Here's what you need to know to create a well-lit path to (and around) your home. 

Above: Placing lights on alternating sides of a path creates a sense of balance and visual interest. Photograph via Delta Light.  

What defines a pathway light?

Pathway lights do what they advertise: offer illumination to guide you along an outdoor path or walkway.

Above: Generally speaking, lights that are best for this job shine a gentle glow downward toward your feet, providing direction without distracting glare. 

Above: Bollard lights lead to the entry, while also illuminating the garden, of a Rye, New York project by Gunn Landscape Architecture, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Design Directory. 

What are the benefits of pathway lights?

In addition to leading the way in the dark, pathway lights offer other benefits, including:

• Home security.
• Protection of path border plants from heavy-footed walkers. 
• Marking path boundaries.
• Highlighting low level prized garden plants.
• Added curb appeal.
• Ambient lighting for garden entertaining.

Above: Strategically placed pathway lights lead up outdoor stairs. Photograph via Delta Light.

What are the different styles of pathway lights?

There are several varieties of fixtures effective for lining and lighting walkways. The most common types put to work on pathways are garden lights, downlights, bollard lights, and flush lights.

Garden Lights

Above: Traditional garden lights in a Marin County entry by Pedersen Associates Landscape Architecture.

Topped with a canopy that reflects light down onto adjacent paths and garden beds, garden lights typically stand between 18 and 24 inches tall. 

Downlights

Above: Directionally focused downlights affixed to a pole (such as the low-voltage LED Volt Innovator Top Dog Pathway Light; $49.97 at Volt), wall, or adjacent tree offer effective pathway lighting. The spot design provides a targeted light source with little side glare. The farther away from a path, the larger the area of illumination. 

Bollard Lights

Above: A bollard garden light from Belgian lighting company Nyche.

Bollard (or pillar) lights have a 360-degree light spread and can illuminate garden beds and walkways simultaneously. Because they are a brighter light source, they are often placed at the start or end of a path as a focal point and to draw walkers in the right direction. Be careful of glare. Consider low-wattage bulbs or bollards with a solid top, to prevent the light from shining upwards. 

Flush Lights

Above: Flush lights set in a path integrate soft but practical lighting in an urban Chicago garden by Coen + Partners, members of the Remodelista Architect/Design Directory.

Installed in the surface of a path, flush lights softly illuminate up and outwards, without the intensity of a spot light. 

Any tips for pathway lighting placement and selection?

• Space fixtures from 10 to 15 feet apart to create pools of light to guide from one point to the next, rather than a constant stream of light. 
• Stagger lights on both sides of a path to create a sense of balance and avoid the runway look.
• Consider setting lights slightly back from a walkway. They will light the way, and also highlight adjacent plantings rather than your pathway material. 
• Pay attention to the height of the lights to scale with the surrounding terrain. If they are set in foliage, lights need to be slightly taller than plantings.
• Be careful not to overlight. Use low wattage bulbs for subtlety (it is easy to overdo it). 
• Select fixtures that direct light toward the feet, not the eyes. 

Above: Garden pathway lights with canopies in a courtyard by Botanica Design in Vancouver, BC,  provide an ample glow for walking, highlighting the garden, and lighting the seating area. 

Above: The Belgian-made Q-Bic Outdoor Path Light is attached to a small stainless steel and wood pillar and swivels so it can be adjusted to meet the lighting needs of the terrain; $555 at Lightology.

Above: Sinuous garden path lights tucked in with grasses and perennials alongside concrete entry stairs of a hillside garden by Shades of Green Landscape Architecture. Photograph by Lauren Hall Knight. 

How do I power my pathway lights?

Unless they are solar-powered, outdoor lights need to be connected to an electric power source. That can be achieved by plugging into an outdoor power socket, hard wiring to a full 120V electric source, or installing a low-voltage transformer. From a safety, cost, and easy installation, low voltage is the way to go. Low-voltage transformers change the electric current from 120V to 12V, ideal for outdoor garden use because of the wet conditions. Electricity and water are typically a bad combination.

Using regular electrical power requires the wiring to be buried at least 18 inches deep or to be encased in a conduit, while low-voltage systems can plug into an outdoor socket. Then the wires can be easily buried under soil or gravel. We recommend consulting with an electrician or outdoor lighting professional for guidance or installation.

Above: As much of an architectural detail as a source of illumination, modern path lights mingle with grasses in a garden on Shelburne Farms in Vermont by Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture. 

Where can I buy outdoor pathway lighting? 

Above: Designed with a natural feel but with a conscious manmade geometry and technology, the Oluce Ela 308 Outdoor Path Lamp is $750 at Surrounding Modern Lighting and Interiors.

See our earlier features:

• 10 Easy Pieces: Landscape Uplights.
• 10 Easy Pieces: Pathway Lighting.
• 10 Easy Pieces: Black Wharf Lights.
• 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Nautical Bulkhead Lights.

Read our Landscape Uplighting Primer. And, for more views of gardens after the sun has gone down, see Let Twilight Linger.

More Stories from Gardenista

• 10 Easy Pieces: Black Wharf Lights
• Garden Envy: 10 Dramatic Drainage Ideas to Steal
• Steal This Look: A Grand Mudroom in Virginia

If they don't get enough sun, succulents sulk. That's why indoor succulents get leggy. The fix? Snip off a stem, strip the leaves from your houseplant, and root each leaf in soil. We spotted this clever DIY project for propagating succulents via Needles and Leaves:

Photography via Needles and Leaves.

Above: Leggy is good on supermodels. bare-legs look is less attractive on a houseplant. The good news is you can snip off a stem and root it directly in soil. 

Above: Or you can snip off a leggy stem, strip the leaves, and root each leaf separately. For step-by-step instructions, see Needles and Leaves.

Above: Place prepared leaves on top of soil in indirect sunlight and wait (a few weeks) for them to develop roots and new shoots. 

Above: After the parent leaves dry and wither, remove them and plant seedlings in soil. For step-by-step instructions, see Needles and Leaves.

Above: For more succulents from Needles and Leaves, see her Instagram feed @tawwni.

Experimenting with succulents indoors? For more growing tips, see:

• 9 Secrets to Growing Succulents Indoors.
• DIY: Succulents Table.
• Growing Tips and Tricks: Succulents.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Gardenista Giveaway: Waxed Amaryllis Bulbs for the Holidays
• 10 Favorite Tulips to Plant This Fall
• Best Bulbs: New Releases for 2016

Dubbed America's first "Notable Pedestrian" in the 19th century, Edward Payson Weston popularized the activity of walking—and declared after 50 years of criss-crossing the country that the surface that feels finest underfoot is humble decomposed granite. "The best that I have walked upon," he wrote in a travel journal. He should know.

What Weston didn't mention was that decomposed granite also is one of the best-looking surfaces. Here are nine ways to add style—and low-cost luxury—to a landscape with decomposed granite:

Dress Up a Driveway

Above: A ribbon driveway in Belgium has stone-paved parking strips bordered by decomposed granite. Photograph via Vlassak Verhulst. For more, see Hardscaping 101: Ribbon Driveways.

Decomposed granite (or DG, as it's nicknamed) is a fine gravel formed from the weathering of igneous rocks such as feldspar, quartz, and mica. To earn the DG label, gravel has to have small particles (typically no bigger than 3/8 inch). 

Decomposed granite is a low-cost alternative to stone, brick, or tile. For a large hardscape project such as a driveway, decomposed granite is also a low-profile material that blends well with other materials. It's a natural-looking surface that quietly recedes into the background, ceding attention to more dramatic landscape elements such as stone or turf.

Widen a Walkway

Above: Designer Jenni Kayne frames a garden path with decomposed granite. Photograph via C Magazine.

Decomposed granite is a low-cost material—from $40 to $50 per cubic yard is the typical price range—and can be used as a border for a more expensive paving material. Its soft, natural coloring visually widens a space without competing with other hardscape elements.

Replace a Lawn

Above: In Malibu, CA a decomposed granite "lawn" replaces turf grass, complementing the colors of the cedar entry gate and the stucco privacy wall. Photograph via Fiore Landscape Design.

Decomposed granite is a permeable surface that will prevent rainwater runoff and (unlike grass) requires no water, making it an eco-friendly choice.

Choose a Complementary Color

Above: A few different colors and sizes of decomposed granite. For more, see Hardscaping 101: Decomposed Granite.

Decomposed granite is a local product and its color range typically mimics that of nearby landscape rocks. The range of colors varies from buff to brown, and also includes shades of gray, black, red, and green.

The variety makes decomposed a versatile hardscape material; choose a color to match or complement other stone or brick hardscape materials.

Pave a Patio

Above: Landscape architect Christine Ten Eyck designed a decomposed granite surface for The Thunderbird hotel in Marfa, TX.

Notable pedestrian Edward Payson Watson was by no means the last person to notice how soft and forgiving decomposed granite feels underfoot. It's an inviting surface underfoot.

Define a Dining Spot

Above: Photograph via A+B Kasha.

Use decomposed granite as you would an area rug, to define the perimeter of an outdoor room or seating area. 

Control Weeds

Above: LA-based garden designer Lauri Kranz creates a weed-free perimeter of decomposed granite in the vegetable garden. Photograph via C Magazine.

Like mulch, decomposed granite deters weed. It last longer than mulch (which breaks down in a season or two) and is a stable surface that won't wear away.

Flameproof a Fire Pit 

Above: SF-based Arterra Landscape Architects created a spark-resistant setting for a backyard fire pit in Woodside, CA. 

Create a safety perimeter free of combustible materials with a surface of decomposed granite.

Blur Boundaries

Above: Photograph via June Scott.

Decomposed granite is a soft material that will blend in with the borders of planting beds. Because the gravel particles are small, edging material can be flush to the ground.

For more on paths and garden design, see:

• Hardscaping 101: Decomposed Granite.
• Design Guide for Paths and Pavers.
• Hardscaping 101: Pea Gravel.

More Stories from Gardenista

• A Gas Station Transformed: Gallerist Juerg Judin at Home in Berlin
• Landscape Architect Visit: A Refined Kitchen Garden by Richard Miers
• Outbuilding of the Week: Back Alley House by Tim Cuppett Architects

An attractive and hard-wearing mailbox is weirdly hard to find. We admire this appealing streamlined mailbox with address plaque from Austin-based Bold Manufacturing.

Bold Manufacturing focuses on stairwells, railings, and other steel fabrication for residential and commercial projects (like the blackened steel walls in Austin's W Hotel). Lucky for us, this architectural fabrication shop has also been creating smaller scale items:

Above: The MB1 Modern Mailbox with Address Numbers is hand crafted from heavy-gauge steel and features a flip top opening. The face of the mailbox is composed of 1/4-inch-thick steel plate. The box is made from bare steel and will develop a deep brown rust patina over time if left untreated. It's $275, which includes the cutting of up to four numbers in a choice of one of five fonts.

Above: If you already have house numbers you love, consider the MB1 Modern Mailbox with the word "POST" cut in the face; it's $245 through Steel House Manufacturing's Etsy Shop.

Above: Steel House Manufacturing also offers a variety of custom address number plates, including the Offset Modern House Numbers. They're made from 1/4-inch-thick bare steel that will develop a deep brown rust patina over time (the plaques are clean steel when shipped and can be easily painted if desired). Available with two mounting options: 1-inch standoffs, allowing the plaque to be mounted off the wall to create a shadow; or, mounting screws and four countersunk drilling holes to mount the plaque directly onto the wall. It's $130for up to four numbers in a choice of several fonts.

Above: The Allandale House Numbers in bare steel (as shown), which will eventually rust to a rich warm brown. Also available with the two mounting options listed above; a set of from three to five numbers is $285.

Looking for more Inspiration? See 10 Easy Pieces: House Numbers, and 10 Easy Pieces: Design-Worthy Mailboxes.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Hardscaping 101: Pathway Lighting
• 10 Easy Pieces: Black Wharf Lights
• Garden Envy: 10 Dramatic Drainage Ideas to Steal