My girlfriend and I have just started the process of buying a house. We've never done this before, so there's lots of odd, new and slightly scary things to consider -- namely, what am I going to do with a yard?

I'm no green thumb. In fact, I can barely mow a lawn without causing permanent damage to something. My plan is to make up for these shortcomings by picking out some awesome garden furniture -- like this bench + planter from 5.5 Designers.

So much of the outdoor furniture I see is either cheap-looking, covered in flower patters, or "rustic," so it's nice to see something sturdy, sleek and elegant. Plus, it serves a dual-purpose, which I love!

Now I'll just have to find somebody to keep the plants alive.