The song goes ' what a difference a day makes' but in our case it is what a difference a recession makes!
I can see the change in interest from readers and can see that DIY is gaining new status.

The DIY guides are a great source for new DIY fans. I love this article:

Building an Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen is a great addition to your home and provides you with an alternative space in your home to entertain your guests. It invokes a casual and relaxed atmosphere that is such as welcome retreat after a hassling week at work on a Friday evening with friends and family.

Getting a Permit

Before you begin buying and building your outdoor kitchen though, you need to plan, budget and find out if you will require a permit to construct your outdoor kitchen. This holds especially true when you are planning for an elaborate kitchen with electrical/plumbing fixture and everything else. Everything must be thoroughly documented and you will need to provide the plans that include wiring and plumbing to the construction specifics of structures (such as patios). If it's declined, don't give up. Do modifications that are suggested by the building department and re-submit.

Area Preparation

Once you've got your materials and tools at hand, it is time to get started on building your outdoor kitchen. The first thing you should acquire when planning your kitchen is your grill. Shopping in advance will allow you to have the grill delivered before the project is started. Depending on the type of grill you've acquired, you will need to include gas and/or electric hookups in the project.

Measure the footing of the foundation at the site. Remove any sods in the room space and level the soil by raking and grading it. You want to make sure that it is level.

Use 2×10 boards for the forms which will be removed after the concrete sets. Lay out the foundation with gravel, the plumbing pipings for drains, fixtures etc. then ensure that you moisture-proof the foundation from moisture coming out from the ground by placing a vapor barrier. Make sure that the whole foundation is sealed well to make sure that moisture does not seep up from the ground.

Lay rebar reinforcement so that the foundation will be able to bear the weight above. Pour concrete over the prepared area, then use mechanical vibration to consolidate the concrete and get rid of air pockets or voids that can weaken the integrity of the concrete.

Allow the foundation to set.

Setting up the Kitchen

Your foundation should include any plans for custom built fireplace or furnace. If you're using pre-fabricated grill, all you have to do is to prep the space with the appropriate flooring before you bring it in for installation. You may also need to consider building a shade over the grill for a pre-fab to protect it from the elements.

Start building the counter tops and any other structure that will bear all the fixtures (cabinets, sink, faucets, space for the grill etc).

Apply the flooring and the tiling where applicable.

Install the grill, making sure that you place the grill where there is ventilation that will allow the smoke to ebb away, and where it will not go into the house or irritate your neighbors. It should also be accessible and close to the house but off to the side.

Installing an outdoor kitchen increases the value of your home in many ways. It also provides you with an alternative space to spend more time with family and friends in the comfort of the outdoors.

'The revolutionary patio heater: this top model includes atmospheric LED lighting, a concealed speaker system and an MP3 connection. The gas heating is installed in the black pipe section and the electrical components are all equipped with a rechargeable power supply, so that the heater can be transported easily

Gas bottle is stored in the lower compartment, music and light are battery operated.

• Size (W x H x D): 54 x 184 x 37/62 cm
• Colour: black/stainless steel
• Material: powder-coated steel/stainless steel

Find a dealer near you at http://www.grandhall.com/

When I started blogging I had this secret objective: be recognised by blogs I love...
Well today I am super happy :
I got a great review by the fabulous 'Apartment Therapy Unplggd' blog
http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/outdoor-tech/urban-garden-deco-a-great-way-to-make-your-garden-look-awesome-090922
I discovered this evening that I am picked up by the great Treehugger site too.
 
They were both on my wish list at  the very start...and now that list has expanded as I 'meet' fellow bloggers .
 
Alex Johnson's fab site dedicated to amazing sheds to work from [ from cool, funky to incredibly modern]... Totally great to read  and I appreciate our sporadic exchanges...www.Shedworking.co.uk

Rochelle Greayer who runs a design studio as well as a blog and kindly wrote about My urban garden deco guide in a really interesting magazine.
[ http://studiog.greayer.com]

Florence, the very witty French interior designer with a fabulous eye : http://reflexdeco.fr/


A bientot to all the others!

Thx
Anne Robert

As always Born Rich found the high-end glam product and this time it is a grill/barbecue.




'Porsche fans can now bring the thrill on wheels into meals with the powerful X-Series grill designed by Porsche Design Studio in collaboration with Grand Hall, who earlier impressed grilling fans with their vertical T-Grill. The X-Series grill is available in two versions: with and without island. The luxurious grill is a result of four years of research which reflects in its list of specs. The X-Series features an impressive design with matching specs: built-in rotisserie, counter balanced hood, sliding lid, Smooth-start ignition, LCD panel display with built-in countdown timer and electronic instruments and gauges with a rechargeable battery. The X-Series also incorporates the all new Crossray(R) burner technology which uses up to 50% less gas and emits up to 80% less smoke besides ensuring complete safety - no flare-ups, no choking smoke! "The collaboration with Porsche Design Studio has been an incredible process to be a part of," said Jeffery Sears, CEO for Barbeques Galore. "Porsche Design Studio brought their impeccable sense of detail, beauty and best-in-class engineering to create a superior outdoor grilling system. We incorporated Crossray(R), which is the most advanced gas grilling system available to consumers. The result is a winning combination of functionality and style found in the X-Series." The grill features 1,120 square inches of cooking space with four ceramic infrared burners that deliver up to 52,000 BTU of highly controllable heat. The stainless steel island version comes for $7,999 while the standalone version sells for $5,999 through Frontgate.

Clever dual function design by http://www.barbecook.com.
The TamTam is compact and light/great to carry around.
The TamTam can be used for a quick bite for two, but also for parties at the camping or on the beach. Its built-in speakers produce a nice full sound.
The unique combination of barbecuing and music makes the TamTam a must-have for this summer.

Specifications
-	Fuel: universal gascartridges
-	Dimensions: Ø 44 x H 63 cm
-	Weight: 8,2 kg
-	Number of persons: 4
-	Cooking surface: Ø 34 cm
-	Portability: 2 handles
-	Burners: 1 stainless steel burner - 3,42 kW
-	Lid: enamelled steel
-	Lighting system: piezo-ignition
-	Maintenance: fat drip bowl
-	Included: 2 loudspeakers and connection for MP3/Ipod - functions with adapter (included) or on batteries (4 x AA not included)

BareNecessities.com ¿ Bras, Panties, Shapewear and more!

Totally adore this design by LA architects http://rchstudios.com/

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Fabulous design by  Aquilus.fr
All you need is 10 square meters and this pool works like an exercice spa.
The removable top works as decking when it is closed.It takes only 3 days to set up

Quick vacation post about a statement outdoor lighting set : http://www.archiexpo.fr/prod/celda/lampe-suspension-contemporaine-11707-111176.html