"Chicago is an October sort of city.. even in spring."
Nelson Algren

When the drapes are down on the Cocoon Hammock, designed by Henry Hall, it becomes an outdoor room providing a luxurious retreat for anyone looking to escape for a few hours. The hammock is not meant to be moved once it is assembled, as it is roughly 12-sq. ft. and weighs over 400 pounds. It has a sturdy Taukkyan wood frame reinforced at the joints with stainless steel and the hammock covering is made of batyline, a synthetic material that is recyclable, resistant to rot, mildew and UV radiation. It stretches only minimally, so there will be very little, if any, noticeable sag to your sling..OOPS!...Hammock... even after many years of use. It is priced around $20,000

My rain gauge looks vaguely like a piece of lab equipment, shaped like a large test tube and designed to be mounted on fence or other post. This rain gauge designed by EVA SOLO is far more elegant than the commonly found industrial designs, with a flaring glass cup atop a tall spike that can easily be slide into the ground in a garden. It would look great with a climbing vine wrapped around the base, or simply amongst tall plants, acting as a functional accent piece. It measures in bothmilliliters and inches. milliliters and inches.

A fire pit is one of the best outdoor accessories you can have on a cool spring night, whether you want to cozy up with a loved one or gather around it with friends. Pits that use real wood have an authentic feel to them, but the smell and smoke often keep people away, rather than inviting them in. The River Stone Gas Fire Pit has the look of a real wood-burning fire pit, but is powered by gas and turns on a roaring blaze (40,000 BTUs of heat) with the touch of a button. The aluminum frame and fiberglass body require no maintenance and make the fire pit safe for all types of yards, patios and decks. Price: $800.