1. Christmas at Biltmore

Photo: ashvillencnews.com

In fitting fashion, it was Christmas Eve of 1895 when George W. Vanderbilt officially welcomed his family and friends to Biltmore, his 250-room country retreat overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains. Today, this National Historic Landmark (and America’s largest home) still welcomes guests for the holidays for daytime and candlelight evening visits through December 31. On the self-guided tours, check out the stunning 35-foot-high tree, miles and miles of festive lights and garlands, and Antler Hill Village—where Santa holds court on weekends to decide who’s been naughty or nice. Want to learn how to make a wreath? Holiday craft classes are also held daily. Pricing varies; visit biltmore.com to learn more.

2.  Holiday Evening at Vizcaya

Photo: viscayamuseum.org

December 19, from 6 to 9:30 pm, experience Vizcaya—the Italian Renaissance-style winter villa of American industrialist James Deering (of tractor fame)—as it would have looked at Christmas time in the early 20th century. The main house, which overlooks Biscayne Bay, will be dressed to the nines in twinkling lights and holiday decoration (much like Deering, who moved in on Christmas Day in 1916, would have liked it). There will be holiday tunes played on the home’s custom-built pipe organ as well as holiday treats and libations available for purchase. Tickets will be available on-site beginning at 5:30 pm for $25; visit vizcayamuseum.org to learn more.

3. A Christmas City Stroll

Photo: historicbethlehem.org

Every Thursday to Sunday until December 23, explore Christmas City USA on 45-minute walking tours through beautiful downtown Historic Bethlehem. You’ll learn about the town’s Colonial and Victorian architecture, as guides in period dress explain the famous candle-in-every-window tradition and shed new light on the well-known Bethlehem Star. If you go, book a horse-drawn carriage ride and remember to swing by the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem on Church Street to see some of the oldest holiday decorations in the country. The town’s famous sugar cookies and Moravian stars also make perfect stocking stuffers! Admission costs $12 for adults; $6 for youths six to 12; carriage rides are $50 for four people. Visit historicbethlehem.org to find out more.

4. Christmas at the Newport Mansions

Photo: newportmansions.org

Through January 1, The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House—three icons of the Gilded Age—will be decked out in spectacular Yuletide finery and open for tours. Thousands of poinsettias, fresh flowers, evergreens and wreaths can be expected, while each window in the three homes will be lit with a white candle. Dining tables will also be set for Christmas dinner with period silver and china. Admission to all three houses is $28 for adults and $9 for children six to 17. Visit newportmansions.org to learn more. 

5. Christmas at the Castle

Photo: Judy Watkins

In 1919, publishing baron William Randolph Hearst sent a simple note to San Francisco architect Julia Morgan: “Miss Morgan we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch at San Simeon and I would like to build a little something.” The resulting estate, with its 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens and walkways, will be decorated for Christmas in appropriately festive Gilded-era style. Expect glittery lights, garlands, wreaths and twin 18′ Christmas trees in the Assembly Room. Plus, docents will be suited up in 1930 period clothing. To find out more about tour options, visit hearstcastle.org.

For more on historic homes, consider:

Tour of Olana (VIDEO)
10 Ways to Bring Historic Style Home
Hasbrouck House: Reclaiming the Past at Washington’s Headquarters

5 Historic Homes Open for Christmastime Tours Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Bosco Verticale building in Milan by architect Stefano Boeri.

After years of planning, Italian architect Stefano Boeri of Stefano Boeri Architetti has taken the idea of the vertical garden one ambitious step further with his Bosco Verticale, the world’s first “vertical forest”.

Now under construction in Milan’s Isola neighborhood, the urban reforestation project includes two residential towers (one is 27 stories tall, the other 20), both of which incorporate a network of plants, shrubs, and trees on cantilevered balconies. Each building will be planted with 900 trees that range in height from 10 to 30 feet, emulating the mix of species at different maturity levels to be found in a true forest.

Bosco Verticale, Milan

According to Boeri, “Bosco Verticale is a project for metropolitan reforestation that contributes to the regeneration of the environment and urban biodiversity without the implication of expanding the city.” Indeed, if the units in his vertical forest apartment buildings were laid out on level terrain, they’d cover roughly 12 acres of land, with the trees occupying yet another 2.5 acres of open space.

In terms of green building, Bosco Verticale is much more than a lavish beautification stunt. The trees, which include deciduous oaks and amelanchier among others, provide dramatic energy savings year-round (shade in summer; sunshine in winter), plus they improve air quality by releasing humidity and converting CO₂ into oxygen.

Tree foliage also provides a windscreen, captures dust particles circulating in the air, and helps filter noise pollution from the street—significant quality-of-life benefits for residents of one of Europe’s busiest and most polluted cities.

In addition to rainwater, Bosco Verticale’s stunning array of greenery will be irrigated by the building’s gray water recycling system.

Trees being lifted for planting at Bosco Verticale. Photo: Marco Garofalo

If all goes as planned, Bosco Vertical will be the first step in Boeri’s grand sustainability plan, BioMilano, in which he envisions a sheltering green belt of trees around the city and some 60 abandoned farms restored for community use.

When completed, Bosco Verticale will be a “model of vertical densification of nature” within Milan, according to architect Stefano Boeri.

For more on sustainability, consider:

Home Sweet Container
House Tour: Hudson Passive Project
2020 Alton Road: Anatomy of a LEED Home

Architect Stefano Boeri’s Vertical Forest in Milan Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Man’s best friend gets the royal treatment at Barkitecture Houston. 

Being in the doghouse isn’t such a bad thing when you’re from Houston! On October 27, some of the city’s best architects, designers, builders and artists unveiled their super-stylish takes on the doghouse at the fourth-annual Barkitecture Houston.

Open to the public (and their pets), the free event included “yappy hour” as well as a silent designer doghouse auction benefiting Pup Squad, an animal rescue group dedicated to finding adoptive homes for stray and abandoned dogs and cats. Following are this year’s top Barkitecture winners.

 

Best in Show

RdLR Architects

The 2012 Best in Show award went to RdLR Architecture for its chic “Le Dog Hausss”, a luxury suite inspired by the elegance of Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye. Form follows function in the colorful structure, which features a covered eating area and an oval interior that mimics the shape of a dog in the resting position.

2^nd Place

Philo Wilke

Architecture firm Philo Wilke grabbed second place for its “simply complex” design, whose contemporary slant-roof design and ventilated wood details ensures the lucky canine resident stays cool and comfortable even on the muggiest summer days.

3rd Place

John Ruelas

Third place went to designers John Ruelas and Jeff Erlich, who incorporated a graphic sign and a row of columns into their charming “Good Dog” pavilion.

People’s Choice

Leslie Elkins Architecture

This versatile wooden structure from Leslie Elkins Architecture (winner of the coveted People’s Choice award) does double duty as a doghouse and an outdoor table. The tabletop shades Fido, while the slotted sides allow him to enjoy the breeze.

Kid’s Choice Award

John Gay

Created to honor all those who rescue—from the Coast Guard to Houston’s Pup Squad—engineer (and very accomplished woodworker) John Gay’s cedar rescue helicopter was the clear favorite with younger attendees.

To learn more of download information on how to build your own doghouse, visit Barkitecture Houston.

For more on doghouses, consider:

Fab Doghouses
“Best in Show” Doghouse Contest Winners
The Doghouse Frank Lloyd Wright Built

Bark If You Love Architecture! Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

John Russell Pope won the competition to design the American Museum of Natural History’s Central Park West facade. Photo: AMNH

This past Saturday, the American Museum of Natural History unveiled its newly restored Theodore Roosevelt Memorial and Hall of North American Mammals. The $40 million project included the restoration of the museum’s main entrance and grand main hall, as well as of its world-famous dioramas of animals in their natural settings.

Unlike Presidents such as Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln, whose monuments dot the National Mall in Washington, D.C., it was decided in 1924 that New York State would honor its most famous native son with a memorial at the American Museum of Natural History. The museum, which Roosevelt’s father helped found in 1920, has long had an association with the 26th President, an avid naturalist who was born and raised in New York City.

“Most Americans are familiar with Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy as President of the United States, but few fully appreciate his lifelong passion for conservation and the American wilderness,” says David Hurst Thomas, curator in the museum’s Division of Anthropology.

Roosevelt poses on a 1903 trip to Yosemite with naturalist John Muir.

Nicknamed the ‘Conservation President’, Teddy Roosevelt frequently turned to the museum’s scientists for guidance on environmental policies during his two terms in office. Thanks in part to their concerns and recommendations, Roosevelt placed some 230 million acres under federal protection during his tenure, including Muir Woods, Mesa Verde, the Grand Canyon and Florida’s Pelican Island, the nation’s first bird sanctuary.

Roosevelt also passed the Antiquities Act of 1906, progressive legislation that has safeguarded countless priceless artifacts. Following are a few of the improvements made to this venerable New York City landmark during the restoration:

Photo: AMNH/D. Finnin

Energy-efficient lighting was installed along the American Museum of Natural History’s Central Park West entrance (above), which includes a newly cleaned and restored pink granite triumphal arch and an expansive terrace, the center of which is a 1936 bronze equestrian statue of Roosevelt by Earle Fraser. The statues at the top of the façade depict great American naturalists and explorers Daniel Boone, John James Audubon, William Clark and Meriwether Lewis.

Photo: AMNH/D Finnin

In the museum’s imposing main entrance hall, with its 100-foot-tall vaulted ceiling, conservation firm EverGreene Architectural Arts restored the three monumental murals painted in-situ by William Andrew MacKay in 1935. The paintings depict milestones in Roosevelt’s life, including the building of the Panama Canal and his African expeditions. Because the plaster under two of the murals was compromised, the canvases were removed, cleaned, and restored, then carefully reapplied to the newly fortified walls.

Photo: AMNH/D Finnin

In addition to updating interpretive text and installing energy-efficient lighting, the c. 1930 Hall of American Mammals dioramas were given a complete overhaul by artists, conservators, taxidermist and designers. Above, a museum artist applies a dye mixture to the fur of an Alaska brown bear. Besides re-coloring faded fur on the animals, the team dusted, and in some cases replaced, plants and foliage, restoring the hand-painted backdrops, many of which re-create scenes from national parks Theodore Roosevelt’s forward-thinking conservation policies helped to save for future generations.

To learn more about what went into refreshing the 80-plus-year-old dioramas, watch the video below:

To learn more about the museum’s programs, log onto amnh.org.

For more on historic preservation and restoration, consider:

A Farm Grows in Brooklyn
House Tour: Stone Farmhouse Addition
Restoring the Brooklyn Academy of Music (VIDEO)

Visiting the Newly Renovated Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

1. THE GREAT JACK O’ LANTERN BLAZE
Where: Croton-on-Hudson, NY
When: Through November 11

The Great Jack-o-Lantern Blaze in Croton-on-Hudson, NY

Van Cortland Manor is a historic 18th-century riverside estate in the bucolic Hudson River Valley. On select evenings through November 11, visitors are welcome for the Great Jack o’ Lantern Blaze, a breathtaking display of more than 5,000 hand-carved, illuminated jack o’ lanterns. During the event, the Manor’s sloping brick paths and heritage gardens are transformed into a Halloween wonderland, complete with synchronized lighting and suitably creepy sound effects. There’s the Tunnel O’ Pumpkin Love, plus flying ghosts, slithering snakes, a giant spider web, and super-sized dinosaurs, all made of fiery carved gourds. Advance tickets required. For details, visit Historic Hudson Valley.

Historic buildings eerily lit are highlights of The Great Jack 'o Lantern Blaze.

2. THE 22^nd ANNUAL PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
Where: Keene, NH
When: October 20

This year marks the 22nd annual Pumpkin Festival in Keene, NH.

On Saturday, October 20th, make your way to downtown Keene, NH, for the city’s annual celebration of all things pumpkin. The festivities include the Great Pumpkin Mile road race, live music, a giant Ferris wheel on Main Street, a children’s costume parade and pumpkin bowling. The food court offers everything from pulled-pork sandwiches and fried pickles to pumpkin whoopie pies, cheesecake, donuts and even pumpkin ale made by regional breweries. Perhaps the main attraction, however, is the enormous pumpkin tower on the central square, made up of jack o’ lanterns artistically carved by residents and visitors to the festival. Last year, the festival broke its own world record by displaying a whopping 16,186 glowing jack o’ lanterns at the event! To learn more, visit Pumpkin Festival 2012.

Keene, NH. Photo: newenglandphotos.blogspot

3. Green Bluff Growers’ Harvest Festival
Where: Spokane, WA
When: Through October 28

The 'Punkin 'Chunkin event at the Green Bluff Growers' Harvest Festival in Spokane, WA

Every weekend through October 28, families from eastern Washington State and neighboring Idaho head to the annual Harvest Festival. Situated 15 miles north of Spokane, the event is put on by the Green Bluff Growers, an association of 30 or so small family farms and businesses in the area. If you go, swing by Knapp’s Farm to play in the straw maze, wander the expansive pumpkin patch, and watch the Punkin’ Chunkin’—an amazing contraption that catapults pumpkins hundreds of feet into sky. Later pick pumpkins and apples at one of the many orchards, navigate the corn labyrinth at Siemers Farm, and sample the irresistible cinnamon-dusted pumpkin doughnuts at Harvest House. For more  information, log onto Green Bluff Growers.

Pumplin Patch at Green Bluff. Photo: Flickr / eli

4. CIRCLEVILLE PUMPKIN SHOW
Where: Circleville, OH
When: October 17 to 20

Enormous prize pumpkins on display at the Circleville Pumpkin Show, OH

Nicknamed the “Greatest Free Show on Earth”,  the Circleville Pumpkin Show has been going strong since 1903. A celebration of local agriculture, the four-day extravaganza gets underway on October 17 with the giant pumpkin weigh-in—last year’s champion tipped the scales at 1,436.5 pounds!—and the charming Little Miss Pumpkin parade. The jam-packed schedule also includes six more parades with floats and marching bands; bluegrass, gospel, country and classic-rock concerts; a pumpkin-pie eating contest; quilting and wood carving demos; a hog-calling competition; midway rides and games; and much, much more. Feelin’ hungry? Dig into pumpkin-inspired specialties like waffles, chili, pizza, cream puffs, brownies, taffy and elephant ears. And don’t miss the world’s largest pumpkin pie. Six feet in diameter and weighing over 400 pounds, it’s made each year by Lindsey’s Bakery, a local landmark on Main Street. To find out more about the festivities, visit Circleville Pumpkin Show.

The World's Largest Pumpkin Pie at Lindsey's Bakery in Circleville, OH

5. STATESVILLE PUMPKIN FEST
Where: Statesville, NC
When: November 3

Pumpkin smashing event at the Statesville Pumpkin Fest, NC

The first Saturday in November, head 40 miles north of Charlotte to historic downtown Statesville for the 10th annual Pumpkin Festival. The family-centric event features 60-plus vendors selling arts and crafts, a Classic Car Cruise-In (all vehicles predate 1972), 5K race/walk, skateboard competition, and everything from pumpkin bowling to pumpkin painting to pumpkin smashing, where contestants young and old use wooden mallets to pound the orange gourds to mush. For details, visit Statesville Pumpkin Fest.

6. THE GREAT PUMPKIN FESTIVAL
Where: Phoenix, AZ
When: October 25 to 28

The Great Pumpkin Festival at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ

This kid-friendly event sponsored by the Desert Botanical Garden lets youngsters growing up in the desert experience an old-fashioned fall festival. Catch a ride on the hay wagon leading out to the pumpkin patch (kids 12 and under can pick a free pumpkin), then check out the farm animals at the petting zoo, wander the Amazing Hay Bale Maze, or enjoy live country-western music. Crafts and games are also scheduled. Entrance to the Great Pumpkin Festival is included with paid garden admission. To learn more, log onto The Great Pumpkin Festival.

For more on pumpkins and festive Halloween decor, consider:

13 Easy No-Carve DIY Pumpkins
Bob Vila’s First Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest
52 Unexpected and Amazing Ways to Decorate Pumpkins

6 Pumpkin Festivals Not to Miss Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

This summer, Sherwin-Williams broadened its eco-friendly offerings with the introduction of its high-end Emerald interior and exterior paints.

The company, which received the EPA’s prestigious Presidential Green Chemistry Award in 2011, plays up the “beauty, washability, and sustainability” of the new zero-VOC line. The finishes emit few odors during or after application and have built-in antimicrobial properties that inhibit the growth of mold and mildew on the paint.

The interior paints also received Indoor Air Quality Certification from GreenGuard, a third-party nonprofit certifying products that meet strict chemical emission limits, and which contribute to healthier indoor air.

Great for weekend DIY projects, Emerald interior and exterior paints are self-priming, offering smooth and even coverage in one to two coats depending on the surface. The paints dry quickly and clean up easily with soap and warm water. Best of all, the company backs the brand with a lifetime warranty.

“Sherwin-Williams has always been at the forefront of innovation,” says Steve Revnew, the company’s vice president of product innovation. “People are looking for paints that are high-hiding, washable, long-lasting and eco-friendly—and Emerald delivers on all fronts.”

In addition to the Emerald products now in stores, Sherwin-Williams also rolled out its new ColorCast Eco Toners, a line of tints available to color all Sherwin-Williams latex and water-based coatings. Unlike most traditional colorants (which frequently add VOCs to the finished product), ColorCast Eco Toners contain zero VOCs and maintain the paint’s thickness after tinting, producing rich coats in a full line of vibrant colors, according to the company.

Sherwin-Williams ColorCast Eco Toner

“Green technology is a hallmark of Sherwin-Williams products, and we are committed to driving advancements that provide consumers with a better painting product for their home—inside and out,” says Karl Schmitt, vice president of marketing research and design.

For more on eco-friendly home improvement, consider:

Bob Vila Radio: Low-VOC Paints
10 Reasons to Love Architectural Salvage
From Construction Site to Runway: The Loop Jacket

“Green” Paint: Sherwin-Williams Emerald Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: Flickr mtsofan

On July 1st, the ban on plastic bags adopted by Seattle’s City Council in December of last year officially kicks into gear. Seattle—which passed the legislation at the urging of environmental groups working to protect marine life in Puget Sound—joins a growing number of progressive cities that prohibit retail stores from offering single-use plastic bags at the checkout counter.

According to Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle recycles just 13% of the whopping 292 million plastic bags it uses each year. By encouraging citizens to switch to reusable canvas, string, or fabric bags, the city hopes to reduce waste at the source and curb plastic debris that ends up in local waterways.

Plastic bags first appeared in America’s supermarkets in 1977. Today, according to the National Resource Defense Council, the average American family brings close to 1,500 of the flimsy grocery bags home each year. And nationwide roughly 100 billion of the bags end up in landfills annually.

While plastic bags are now banned in Seattle, stores can continue to offer recyclable paper grocery sacks (with a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled fiber) as long as they charge a minimum of a nickel per bag—a fee that officials hope will encourage consumers to carry reusable bags, not just switch from plastic to paper. Currently, clear plastic bags used to protect produce, flowers, and deli meats—as well as dry cleaner and newspaper bags and household garbage bags sold in boxes—will be exempt from the ban.

Three other cities in Washington State, including Bellingham and Edmonton, have already banned plastic bags, as have Seattle’s West Coast neighbors San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city, joined the ranks on May 23, 2012, when the City Council voted 13 to 1 to phase out single-use plastic bags citywide by spring 2013. Other plastic bag bans currently in place include Westport, Connecticut; Brownsville, Texas; the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Kauai; and North Carolina’s Outer Banks, among others.

“From our conversations with local retailers, and from what we have seen in other Washington cities that have adopted bans on throw-away plastic bags, we are expecting a smooth transition when the new law takes effect, said Seattle Public Utilities program manager Dick Lilly.

“Most major stores, particularly grocery and drug stores where about 70% of plastic bags originate, are already selling moderately-priced reusable bags to help their customers,” Lilly said. “And some stores are planning to give customers free bags during the first couple days of the plastic bag ban.”

Want to kick your plastic-bag habit? Click here to see a slideshow of some of our editors’ favorite reusable shopping bags, from classic string totes to sturdy canvas carry-alls designed to last for years.

For more on ‘green’ living and sustainability, consider:

Learning to Love Recycling
20 Ways to Go Green Today
7 DIY Recycling Centers for Small Spaces

Seattle Bans Plastic Bags at the Checkout Counter Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

DuPont Building Innovations' Drive-to-Zero

Some companies don’t fool around. Back in 2009, DuPont Building Innovations— manufacturer of Corian and Zodiaq solid surfaces and Tyvek building products—decided to alter its eco-footprint in a very big way.

The company announced its Drive to Zero landfill initiative and set as its goal the elimination of all 81 million pounds of waste it sent to landfills each year. No small order, considering that the company’s 15 production facilities span the globe from Buffalo, New York, to South Korea to Guangzhou, China.

For the past three years, “we’ve been on a sustainability mission,” said company president Timothy P. McCann, who notes that collaboration with supply-chain partners was key to tackling the company’s zero landfill goal.

DuPont's bins for recycled Corian

As part of the initiative, everything at DuPont Building Innovation’s global manufacturing sites—from unusable raw materials and product scraps to construction debris, manufacturing byproducts, and even food waste from the company’s cafeterias—has become fair game for reuse or recycling.

Sanding waste from the shaping of Corian and Zodiaq now gets new life as a filler replacement in concrete, while crushed scrap Corian is used in landscaping stones and as a sub-base material for roadways. Once viewed as disposable, shipping pallets are now routinely repaired and reused. And Corian that doesn’t meet the company’s manufacturing standards gets ground up and incorporated into new sheets of solid surfacing.

DuPont Corian® Terra Collection

Indeed, the company’s Corian Terra Collection has also benefited from the zero landfill initiative. Five of the 33 colors in the line (white jasmine, rice paper, raffia, silver birch, and dove) contain at least 20% pre-consumer recycled resin content, a boon for renovators and builders looking to earn LEED points for material and resources with recycled content.

This spring, McDonald’s (which uses Corian solid surface materials in its North American fast food franchises) presented DuPont Building Innovations with its first-ever Supplier Sustainability Award.

“When we launched our three-year Drive to Zero landfill initiative, we knew that being environmentally responsible was the right thing to do for DuPont and something our customers would value,” said McCann. “This award is evidence that one of our most important customers does, indeed, appreciate our work to become a more earth-friendly business. I’m proud of the fact that through our efforts to completely eliminate landfill—not just reduce it—DuPont Building Innovations has created a new standard for our industry.”

For more on sustainability and green building, consider:

Learning to Love Recycling
7 DIY Small-Space Recycling Centers
The Meaning Behind “Green”: Guide to Certification Labels

DuPont’s Drive to Zero Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Thanks to a new crop of thoughtfully designed Rubbermaid recycling products, corralling kitchen recyclables has never been easier.

Fact: According to the EPA, Americans are recycling more than ever. In 2010 alone, homeowners helped keep 85.1 million tons of glass, plastic, paper, and yard waste out of the country’s bulging landfills.

Confession: I’d like to say that I get great joy from recycling, but the reality is I hate all the clutter. Don’t get me wrong: I’m happy to do my small part. It’s just that I’ve never had a very good system for keeping everything organized. In my hometown of New York City, recycling has been mandatory since 1989. Like my neighbors, I dutifully stockpile soup cans, aluminum foil, wire hangers, soda pop bottles, and towering stacks of newspapers and catalogs, then haul everything to my building’s basement recycling bins every day or so.

I reside in a relatively small apartment with my husband, two kids, and dog, so the ever-present bags of bottles and cans and stacks of newspapers and magazines drive me crazy. I like neat. I like clean. But I don’t have room for the spiffy built-in recycling bins or the oversized plastic storage containers my lucky friends with garages and garden sheds recruit for sorting aluminum, glass, and paper.

Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler

Solution: Enter Rubbermaid’s clever new Hidden Recycler and 2-in-1 Recycler, both of which are bound to thrill space-challenged recyclers everywhere. My personal favorite is the Hidden Recycler, a five-gallon, soft-sided fabric bag with a lid and sturdy plastic handle, which attaches to the inside of most cabinet doors. Made from recycled materials, the durable waterproof bag keeps up to 36 cans tidy and out of sight, plus the bags can be detached from the frame and machine-washed when dirty. Best of all, the whole contraption costs just $15.99.

Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler

The 2-in-1 Recycler is pretty sleek, too. The receptacle, which takes up 25 percent less floor space than most double recycling units, is divided into two containers. There’s a top bin with a lid as well as a second tilt-out bin on the bottom that makes it easy to separate recyclables from regular trash or to simply keep recyclables organized. Reasonably priced at $39.99, the trash bin also features Rubbermaid’s trademarked Liner Lock system, which guarantees that garbage bags “stay put no matter what.”

If you’re one of the fortunate homeowners with space to spare, Rubbermaid is also debuting its new Stackable Recycler in 20.5-, 24.5-, and 36.5-gallon sizes for both indoor and outdoor use. The heavy-duty units can be interchanged for various sorting jobs and feature hinged front doors that snap shut for secure transport. Prices range from $16.99 to $24.99.

Rubbermaid Stackable Recycler

Where to Buy: The new Rubbermaid recycling products can now be purchased online at rubbermaid.com and amazon.com. Look for them in stores nationwide starting March 15.

Learning to Love Recycling Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

"Loaded Dice" by Gensler and WSP-Flack+Kurtz. Photo: Annabel Willis

Last Thursday night, 25 teams of volunteer architects, designers, and engineers gathered at the World Financial Center to kick off Canstruction, an annual building competition and food drive sponsored by the Society of Design Administration and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Instead of bricks and mortar, the design wizards worked into the wee hours of the night creating giant, self-supporting structures using canned goods ranging from green beans and Spam to pineapple rings and black olives.

By dawn, everything from super-sized footwear (“Giving Hunger the Boot”) to a clock tower (“Time to End Hunger”) to a marvelous rendition of the Brooklyn Bridge, aptly titled “Suspending Hunger,” had taken shape. There was a curvaceous sea horse made of alternating layers of blue and gold tins of tuna, and gigantic dice that required five tons of canned goods to complete—enough food to provide a “square” meal for more than 5,000 people.

To exemplify the need to stomp out hunger, one group took Alexander McQueen’s iconic lobster claw shoe—famously worn by Lady Gaga—as their inspiration, cheekily reconstructing the high-heeled bootie out of 1,200 cans of Le Sueur peas and carrots. Other standouts included an enormous rendition of the popular Angry Bird game character, a CANtainer ship, and the TiCANic. And for the first time in the New York City event’s history, a group of 19 students from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Manhattan competed under the mentorship of architect Sandra Forman. Their entry, “Strike Out Hunger,” included jumbo bowling pins and a bowling ball, and included 4,041 cans. “The kids started working on the project in August, and they did a lot of fundraising, including selling a t-shirt they designed themselves, to raise the money to buy the canned goods,” said music teacher Yeou-Jey Hsu, the students’ advisor on the project.

A nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1993, Canstruction currently sponsors competitions in more than 100 cities across America and abroad. Since its inception, the group has donated more than 10 million cans of food to organizations working to fight hunger. At the conclusion of the New York City event, all canned goods will be given to City Harvest, making it the largest one-time donation the hunger-relief nonprofit receives annually.

Located at the World Financial Center at 200 Vesey Street in Battery Park City, the Canstruction Design/Build Competition is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until November 21. Admission is free, but attendees are asked to bring a can of food to contribute. To learn more, visit the canstruction site.

For highlights from the New York City Canstruction Competition, check out this CANstruction: A Can-do Design Competition slideshow.

Fighting Hunger—Can by Can Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com