For our August Bath issue, we asked local design professionals their opinion on shower body sprays. Are homeowners still opting for the luxury bath experience? Or is all the extra water just washing down the drain?

Adorable animal accessories add a touch of whimsical cheer to any room in your home. Dogs, birds, horses and more become part of the family when mixed in with your furnishings and accents, and you can find a chic creature to fit with any design style.

one: Figurative animal planters, available at West Elm.

two: Ceramic cow creamer, available at Three French Hens.

three: Mouse cheese knives, available at The Rusted Chandelier.

One of the oldest methods of making furniture is hotter than ever this season. Wicker furniture gives your outdoor space a casual, airy feel. With elegant options in a variety of styles and colors, an outdoor wicker seating set finishes off your patio with style.

one: Laurent wedge, available at Amini’s.

two: Blue olive serving bar base, by Tommy Bahama for Lexington Home Brands, available at KDR Designer Showrooms.

The sculptures in Lisa Hilton’s sun-washed studio are classically designed pieces, interwoven with unexpected additions of fantasy. On one side, an elegant clay woman poses on a litter made from a copper leaf, carried by a giant ant. Along the wall, another female figure cradles a metal nest, her limbs resembling the lichen-covered bark of a tree. And then there are the porcelain animals in the center of Hilton’s studio and at the heart of her current sculpture series.

If you go to Pùblico expecting Chef Mike Randolph to play it straight, check your expectations at the door. While the University City Latin food diner stays faithful to the spirit of Central American cuisine, it leans heavily enough on fresh, regional ingredients to keep diehard locavores happy and clean of conscience—and always pleasantly surprised.

SLHL: Does decorative outdoor lighting require special voltage?

Carla: Most decorative outdoor lighting such as portable lamps, chandeliers, pendants and fans with light kits are all line-voltage products. Line-voltage lighting can be hardwired to a junction box or can plug right into your outdoor receptacle. 

SLHL:  Are certain finishes best suited for the outdoors?