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Luke Shepard It's hard to imagine that Europe's famous landmarks could look any more stunning than they normally do. But filmmaker Luke Shepard is offering up the opportunity to experience them in a brand new way... and it doesn't even require a passport. Shepard spent three months traveling the continent (aka living out our dreams) working on his short film "NIGHTVISION." The film explores "the brilliance and diversity of architecture" in Europe, according to Shepard, and, when cut down into a series of GIFs, makes you feel like you're traveling through Europe right alongside him. Take a look at some of the breathtaking moments Shepard captured below. [h/t: Arch Daily Brandenburg Gate; Berlin, Germany Luke Shepard Arc de Triomphe; Paris, France Luke Shepard Victory Column; Berlin, Germany Luke Shepard Brunelleschi's Dome; Florence, Italy Luke Shepard Old Town Square; Prague, Czech Republic Luke Shepard St. Peter's Basilica; Vatican City,

Here's a tour through an apartment that you can never, ever stay at. Developer blessod built the entire thing in the Unreal Engine (software that creates simulations), so it's about as "real" as all those ideas on your Pinterest board. It's frankly pretty staggering — though as Fast Company points out, the IKEA catalog basically does the same thing, which might be why it feels like you could never actually recreate their kitchens. Take a look around (just don't get attached): And while you're at it, check out a similarly built virtual apartment in Paris. Source: Fast Company From: Popular Mechanics By John Wenz

Who needs to sit elbow-to-elbow with other couples at a restaurant when you can enjoy a beautiful atmosphere at home? TREVOR TONDRO Bright Beauty Tabletop expert Kim Seybert loves bold color — and lots of it. "I want my guests to walk in, see the table, and know that the night is going to be special," she says. JAMES CARRIERE Casual Chic Consider a low centerpiece — it's so much easier to chat when you can actually see each other. JESSICA ANTOLA Champagne Wishes Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, the founders of fashion house Marchesa, bring their red-carpet flair to this glamorous table. . DITTE ISAGER Luxe Layered Setting Layering antique white place mats and a tablecloth adds "texture rather than warring colors or patterns," Padma Lakshmi says. . LUCY SCHAEFFER Pretty in Purple Who knew pastels could be so bold? Liz O'Brien sets a romantic table on a field of soft purple. JOHN GRANEN Big Bouquet Heather Christos added a lush centerpiece and shad

We polled garden experts for their hardy and inexpensive annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Gap Photos/Carole Drake Smarter Shopping What makes a plant a good buy? It's not purchase price alone. Value is best measured by how a plant performs once it's in the ground. "A bargain doesn't need lots of attention, isn't prone to disease or insect problems, and spreads on its own," says Lexington, Kentucky-based landscape designer Jon Carloftis. And while there's no question that annuals deliver the most bang for the buck in a single season, perennials, shrubs, and trees provide long-lasting structure and color to the landscape. We polled garden experts for their hardy and inexpensive favorites in all four categories. Perrenials: Lavender Genus : Lavandula spp. Zones: 5 to 9 Cost: $ to $$ Expert Says: "Lavender's practically indestructible, genuinely deer-resistant, and comes in beautiful hues." —Robert Kourik, garden designer, Sebastopol,