True aquarium aficionados know a beautifully designed fish tank can be like a work of living art. You might find yourself staring at the unique design as much as you do at the exotic fish you put inside. Like a self-contained maze, this modern labyrinth aquarium features a series of smaller interconnected round ‘bubbles’ of glass – joined by glass tubes that run between these more open spaces.

Source: Dornob

For some, raising chickens can be part of a integrated approach for self-sufficiency. In growing your own food, chickens can provide a regular supply of eggs, fertilizer through their manure, pest management (they eat lots of bugs), plus their ingrained, ground-scratching behaviour prepares the soil for crops. Chickens need shelter of course, and we’ve seen plenty of nifty designs for chicken coops, with this interesting specimen from Italian collaborative laboratory DettoFatto (a.k.a. “said done”) being one of the latest.

Source: Treehugger

Wanmokku is a minimal design created by Japan-based Torafu Architects. The initial inspiration for the design came from an informal encounter with a Jack Russell Terrier. Torafu created a furniture piece which would use the owner’s old clothes as a foundation for where a dog could play and rest. The elastic nature of the clothes forms a hammock like surface when attached to the frame. Depending on the season, the user can also adjust the material of the clothing according to the temperature!

Source: Design Milk

Designer Eduardo Alessi’s new Eco DIY Collection involves two of our very favorite things: healthy-for-the-earth materials and getting to make things with our hands. Because of the material these are really lightweight products, and easy to ship because they are flat-packed. Those items that are electric products are totally energy efficient. And once you’ve folded your product you get a cool modern design — each of the five designs are modeled after an endangered species of animals.

Source: 2modern

Hip dogs strut their stuff on the runway during this fall fashion show for canines at Muttropolis La Jolla on September 15 from 6 to 9 pm. There will be light refreshments, appetizers for humans, and treats for pooches. The Fall Fashion Show is part of Haute La Jolla Nights, a series of festive, evening events that bring together La Jolla’s world-class arts community with live music and unique shopping experiences.

For “Model” registration, call 858-459-9663.

The Escondido Humane Society kicks off the ASPCA $100K Challenge at their first-ever “Furry Friendzy” Adopt-a-Thon on Wednesday, August 1st! Festivities begin at 8 a.m. with free Starbucks coffee, goodie bags for the first 25 adopters, activities for children, food & refreshments from 4 to 8 p.m. and live music by Hot Pursuit Music Entertainment at 7 p.m.

Adoption fees for dogs and cats will be waived, but even if you aren’t ready to adopt, feel free to come out to support the Escondido Humane Society in the 2012 ASPCA $100K Challenge! The Escondido Humane Society is the only shelter in San Diego County participating in the challenge, and one of only 50 shelters in the nation who have qualified for this opportunity to help more animals find loving homes!

For more information visit www.escondidohumanesociety.org.

San Francisco is a big city, with lots of concrete. But one group is looking to add some foliage to the pavement with a new project called “Pavement to Parks.” According to the groups website, 25% of the city is made up of streets and public walkways. “Pavement to Parks” adds some green to the sea of gray. The idea is to be able to set up barriers and create small parks within the streets of the city, using removable furnishings and making it all a little more pedestrian friendly.

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It is summer time which means people and animals are out and about all the time. So while you are enjoying your well-designed backyard or patio space, why not let your feathered friends enjoy some modern hangouts too in this Bird Cafe from Umbra. The Hold It Contemporary Home back offices already enjoy the similarly designed Fish Hotel and this new additional to the collection by Teddy Luong and Dennis Cheng is sure to be a big hit, especially among the birds.

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Our team of Design Consultants often gets the question- “what items are cat friendly?” After all, cats tend to claw, dig and leave “gifts” all over the home- including on or in your furnishings. This table by Emily Wettstein offers a beautiful dark reclaimed walnut and has a removable planter. The planter hides the soil beneath the surface so cats cannot paw at the dirt- but of course, felines are smart and clever cats might figure out a way to get in if you don’t keep an eye on them.

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Chilewich is known for their playful bone-shaped pet mats made for your pup, but now Chilewich is expanding the line to include cat lovers too. The fun fish design is perfect for your feline friend’s food and water bowls and will look great within your home design. The mats come in eight colors: chestnut, lemon, mango, lime, platinum, carbon, glacier and wheat.