A group of Woolly Pocket planters can be put up in an afternoon. Each planter's hook requires one screw to hang.

Julia: How to Make a Concrete Camera Are you looking for a creative project for the weekend? Well look no further! Why not make a pinhole camera out of concrete? I came across this DIY tutorial and was surprised that this unlikely material was being used to make a camera. How wonderful!

Hidden Storage The Murphy bed in the guest bedroom sits behind Montague’s desk, allowing the compact room to function comfortably for working and sleeping at different times. It’s made with customized millwork, Häfele bed hardware, and an Ikea mattress. When it’s open, it reveals hidden shelving. hafele.com ikea.com

A diagram of the chair's structure.

Dlandstudio’s Sponge Park would bring greenery and people to a contaminated area while simultaneously contributing to its recovery. Image provided by dlandstudio.

To maximize the limited square footage, there are few swinging doors in the house; instead, each bedroom has a pocket door that slides into the wall.

Most tiles come in boxes or sheets enough to cover one square foot. Simply measure the length and width of area in feet and multiply to calculate the number of tiles to buy.

While technology keeps evolving, little has changed in the way the ELO is made since it was introduced in 1956. To ensure continuity of craftsmanship, new workers are paired with experienced mentors who pass down tips and techniques. The average maker has been working with the product for 10 years.

Use these drawings to create the dotted lines on the side of the chair.

Unobtrusive and easily mounted, the Leaning Wall Pocket, a simple but sturdy storage pouch, is made in Belgium from plywood and comes in 12 different colors of felt.

Choosing not to make a big to-do of itself, this cottage blends in with its surroundings. A wall of glass on one end allows a merger of the outdoors with the interiors, while white trim leaves the appearance of a snow-kissed façade year-round. Berlin, Germany. By Atelier st Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH from the book Rock the Shack, Copyright Gestalten 2013.

Transformer or beach hut? Positioned in a coastal erosion zone, this holiday retreat for a family of five is completely capable of being relocated. An oversized shutter allows for protection from the elements when not in use and opens to allow sun in during the winter or provide shade on hot summer days. Waikato, New Zealand. By Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects, from the book Rock the Shack, Copyright Gestalten 2013.

This diagram shows the many agencies with jurisdiction over the proposed Sponge Park area. Image provided by dlandstudio.

The veranda looks out onto the harbor.

Stuth and Shelton's bedroom.

The office looks out on the spacious deck.

Seattle-based studio Ample's Hip Pocket table is a side table with a bonus: an elegantly integrated sling that gobbles up your magazines, tablet, e-reader, or whatever else is cluttering up your living room.

Founded in 2005 by Susannah C. Drake, dlandstudio architecture + landscape is an inderdisciplinary design studio based in Brooklyn. Its design for a "Sponge Park" along the Gowanus Canal, a federal Superfund site, envisions a "working landscape" that will improve the environmental conditions along the park over time. Image courtesy of dlandstudio architecture + landscape.

"The first run of height charts is hot off the CNC. We’re turning scrap material into something special for the kids of Hufft Projects."

Wine Pocket: Money Tree, $18 (Item no longer available)

The architects added a small circular skylight to serve as a vertical focal point in the center of the fifth floor. The quarter-sawn white oak risers produce a beautiful rippled grain highlighted by the abundant natural light.

Johan Bouwmeester built a library out of oak.

Ando, a Shiba Inu, was in the first Puppy Cam litter.

An aluminum-framed door leading to the terrace provides an added sense of depth, integrating outside with inside. Here, the metal contrasts sharply with the natural birch flooring.

A Woolly Pocket wall installed by a professional designer groups together a variety of plantings.

Design*Sponge managing editor Amy Azzarito.

The new Living Wall Planter 2 can be watered once in as long as two weeks' time, during which it "self waters" via a vessel in the back.

Once hung, the planter can "self water" by pulling from the reservoir at bottom, and aerates the plants through the holes in the BPA-free plastic shell.

A thoughtful gift for someone who packs their lunch for work or school, the Marlowe Lunch Bag from Peg and Awl has a charming, retro look. The bag also includes a small pocket for sharing a note, which makes a great place to include a holiday message.

Beth Davis' Transia system is a transportable divider that can be carried between workspaces by a simple shoulder sling.

Manual Coffee Maker The first entry in his new Manual houseware lines, the MCM exemplifies Berman’s approach, slowly crafting products at the intersection of design and food.

the reflectivity of the brass kitchen island makes it seem to dematerialize.

Updating the A-frame of yore, this home’s liberal use of windows makes the most of panoramic views spanning two valleys. Catalonia, Spain. Cadaval & Sola-Morales from the book Rock the Shack, Copyright Gestalten 2013.

The Food Zone Fine-tuning your cooking and dining areas pays off in more ways than just saving resources. As in other functional zones, their success starts with awareness: Where exactly does your food come from? Where exactly does your trash go after you haul it to the curb? Playing an active role in your family’s food cycle can be eye-opening, and it often helps spark an interest in improving other house zones.

A wooden home nestled amongst a cluster of Japanese larch trees offers a perfect sanctuary from nearby Tokyo. Chubu, Japan. By Koji Tsutsui & Associates from the book Rock the Shack, Copyright Gestalten 2013.