A beautiful way to upgrade your downspouts

Turn simply serviceable into beautiful by replacing your home’s downspouts with interlocking copper rain chains. It’s a super-quick upgrade that will bring the gentle sounds of rushing water into your landscape. Canoga Park, California-based RainChains.com sells 27 artisan designs in standard lengths or by the foot. We’re huge fans of this chain of hand-hammered copper cups, which direct the water down into a matching basin.

$159 for 8½-foot chain, from $89 for basin; www.rainchains.com or 818/347-6455.