Meet London's latest spot in Soho for a quick bite and a G & T: Damson and Co, a modern delicatessen offering British cheeses and charcuterie, as well as a broad-ranging bar with a strict English-only policy when it comes to wine.

The restaurant was designed by Ian Haigh of London interior design company Central Design Studio. Haigh and team focused on a utilitarian aesthetic with the goal of what he describes as "a practical and unfussy atmosphere." For more information, read on and drop by Damson and Co.

Photographs by James Balson for Central Design Studio, first seen on Studio Annetta.

Above: The restaurant's sign is displayed prominently on a white awning against a windowed exterior painted charcoal gray.

Above: The bar serves everything from cocktails to fresh juice and Ozone coffee.

Above: Central Design Studio came up with creative ways to hang signage and squeeze in seating at the bar.

Above: An eye-opening fresh juice served at the bar. Photograph via Tiki Chris.

Above: Industrial lights with Edison bulbs line up along the bar.

Above: Short backed benches and small tables are nestled against painted paneled walls lit by metal sconces that match the bar lights.

Above: The menu is simply clipped together and hung from an S-hook on rope.

Above: Hound's tooth upholstery and vintage ceramics for a homey touch.

Above: The restaurant specializes in British charcuterie served with local cheeses, produce, and wine, and strives to use organic whenever possible.

Looking for more places to dine in and around London? Look through our London City Guide for a list of our favorites. And while we're on the subject of damson, take a look at Sarah's DIY: Damson Vodka and her report Cocktail on Wheels: The Traveling Gin Company.

Location of Damson & Co. in London:

One of the easiest ways to set an enticing table is to get creative with napkins. Here are some favorite ideas. No starch required.

Above: Linen napkins are knotted in the middle at an outdoor dinner hosted by Le Marché St. George in Vancouver, B.C.

Above: Tricia Rose of Rough Linen groups two layers of linen together and ties them with brown twine. The Orkney Linen and Smooth White Linen Napkins are $20-$24 each from Rough Linen.

Above: Spotted at Bar Agricole in San Francisco, the rolled napkin secured with leather. Here's how to DIY your own leather napkin ties.

Above: Last week on Gardenista, Erin grouped seeded eucalyptus, rosemary, and hypericum together for a Botanical Napkin Ring.

Above: Traditional in shape but unconventional in material: Live Wire Farm's Wooden Napkin Rings, made from Vermont hardwood; $20 each.

For a table setting filled with ideas to steal, see our post on Schoolhouse Electric's Fall Dinner With Friends. 

Deceptively simple pottery from Another Country, founded by Wallpaper alum Paul de Zwart. De Zwart's intention is to create “well-made, well-priced design with a modern craft heritage,” he says. The company launched with a line of contemporary craft furniture made from sustainable woods, and then expanded into pottery, candlesticks, and cushions.

Above: The individual pieces of the Another Pottery Series create a painterly still life. A full set (pitcher, platter, creamer, four dinner and side plates, cups and bowls) is £440 through Another Country.

Above: The Pinch Pot is made from black stoneware with a matte exterior and glossy glazed interior for £16 at FAO Shop; also available at Twenty One Twenty One.

Above: Designed by Ian McIntyre, the Another Pottery Jug is made of slip-cast terracotta fired to an unconventionally high temperature, which vitrifies the body of the clay and gives it the strength of stoneware (while also achieving a scorched color); £58 from David Mellor Design or from Makers & Brothers.

Above: Two standard-sized White Stoneware Bowls; £16 each from David Mellor Design.

Above: The full set is also available through David Mellor Design.

For more inspiration, browse our vast gallery of Tabletop posts. Need a quick tabletop collection for the holidays? See 5 Quick Fixes: Holiday Entertaining Prep, 10 Easy Pieces: Basic White Dinnerware, and 10 Easy Pieces: Everyday Wine Glasses.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on December 13, 2011 as part of our White Christmas issue.

Every October, our friends at Vancouver's Le Marché St. George café and grocery celebrate Le Jour de l'Action de Grâce, the French-Canadian Thanksgiving, with verve. And, in anticipation of our own Thanksgiving, we take inspiration. Last year, they feasted in their Vancouver shop—see Thanksgiving Dinner at Le Marché St. George. This year, owners Pascal Roy and Janaki Larsen, and her sister Klee Larsen, set up camp on the Larsens' land in Eastern Washington State and spent three days in the wild, building fires, gathering foliage for the table, making things (including the dining table), and celebrating with friends and family.

Photography by Janaki & Klee Larsen for Le Marché St. George. 

Above: The table was set with plates and tumblers by Janaki Larsen (she's also a ceramic artist), along with wild posies gathered on the spot and burned paper booklets created by the Le Marché crew as Thanksgiving offerings. The knotted napkins are muslin painter's rags bought at the local hardware store.

Above: Positioned to provide wide open views, the Thanksgiving table was built from construction lumber wrapped in a giant painter's canvas drop cloth and paired with Ikea folding chairs. The hurricane lanterns came from a local thrift shop.

Above: Autumn flowers in a posy. The hand-drawn leaf place markers are the work of Le Marché staff member Mark Hall-Patch.

Above: On the menu: mashed potatoes with dill, campfire roasted vegetables (including artichokes), grilled asparagus, and barbecued chicken.

Above: Fresh cranberries for a sauce made with plums. 

Above: Bread baked by Nelson the Seagull in Vancouver paired with raw sheep cheese from Clare Paris's Larkhaven Farmstead in Washington, a favorite of the Le Marché party.

Above: Campfire-roasted apples, along with yogurt, granola, and salted caramel sauce, were served for breakfast. 

Above: Janaki and Klee's mother, painter Patricia Larsen prepares Thanksgiving dinner: roasted parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, peppers, asparagus, accompanied by barbecued chicken. 

Above: A bouquet of sage grass on a striped wool Djellaba, a Moroccan robe, was brought back from Morocco as a gift to Janaki by her friends Richelle and Shawn Greibel. In this setting, hurricane lamps are essential.

Above: "The sun is so strong on the property that it's perfect for bleaching woods," says Janaki. "Every time we visit, I bring something that I want to gray out—this is an old wooden bowl I've been graying for a while." The bowl is filled with artichokes and eucalyptus. 

Above: Along with wild greenery, the key accompaniment to the feast: unpasteurized Oktoberfest beer made by Alpine Brewing in Oroville, WA; owner and brewmaster Bart Traubeck has become a friend of the Larsens.

Above: Patricia heads out on a hunt for natural art supplies. The canvas prospector tent in the  background served as guest quarters for friends who made the trek from Canada to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Above: A 1969 Airstream Land Yacht stays parked on the property and provides family lodging. 

Above: Le Marché staff member Mandy creates a burnt booklet (from old paper and campfire embers) at a table set up for art activities.           

Above: A ceramic plate made by Janaki Larsen.

Heading to Vancouver, BC? Don't miss Le Marché St. George.

Looking for more tabletop inspiration using things you have on hand? See Seasonal Potager Centerpiece and Ben Pentreath's Cabinet of Curiosities.

Located in Hudson, NY, on Warren Street (the town's main thoroughfare, known for its antiques shops and restaurants), The Hudson Milliner is a recently opened bed & breakfast from Shannon Greer (a photographer) and Charlotta Janssen (a painter and restaurateur). The building formerly housed the town's millinery shop, and Greer and Janssen have turned it into a guesthouse that looks to us like a perfect Thanksgiving retreat. Our favorite spaces? The two kitchens, which feature reconditioned vintage ranges, plumbing pipe shelving, butcher block counters, and simple schoolhouse furniture. Get the look with the following elements:

Photos via I Love Hudson and The Hudson Milliner

Above: Greer and Janssen created DIY shelving from plumbing pipes and reclaimed wood. Home Depot has a good tutorial on Plumbing Pipe Shelving by Ethan Hagan of One Project Closer. Reclaimed Goods on Etsy sells made-to-order custom black pipe shelving units; prices start at $99 for an Industrial Pipe Curio Shelf.

Above: For a similar sink, consider Ikea's double-bowl Domsjo Sink for $312.98. For the faucet, we'd recommend Chicago faucets (see Faucets & Fixtures: Chicago Commercial Kitchen Faucets). Countertops? Try Ikea's affordable edge grain, oiled-beech Numerar Wood Countertop, which comes in precut lengths.

Above: A side view of the kitchen.

Above: Reconditioned vintage ranges can be sourced from Savon Appliance in LA, which specializes in Wedgwood and O'Keefe & Merrit (I once lived with a vintage O'Keefe & Merrit and loved it). The Antique Appliance Company, also in LA, is another good source. For a list of 26 vintage range dealers across the country, go to Retro Renovation.

Above: On another floor of the Hudson Millinery, an eat-in kitchen with simple wall-mounted Ikea Adel glass-door cabinets.

Above: A detail of the tiled flooring. To recreate the look, consider the Hexagon Patterns from American Restoration Tile. For a similar chair design, see the Prairie Schoolhouse Chair from K. Petersen made of solid American oak.

Steal This Look runs every Tuesday on Remodelista. Did you see A Shaker-Inspired Kitchen in London and Susie Tompkins Buell's San Francisco Kitchen?

Ever since we spotted artichokes, carrot greens, and whole beets used as tabletop flowers (see Babel Restaurant in Cape Town), we've been seeing vegetables in a new light. With their dark, leafy greens, winter veg in particular are perfect for decorating a long Thanksgiving table: they're cost efficient (totaling under $10 for as many as ten arrangements—and you can add the leftovers to the soup stock.

The Arrangements

Above: All of the leafy produce in your vegetable bin are fair game: just pick a vase to roughly match the shape of your veg. Original photography shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III digital SLR. The filmmaker's camera. Here's how to recreate the look for your holiday table:

Materials

• 2 fennel bulbs with stems attached
• 1 bunch green chard
• 1 bunch heirloom carrots, tops included
• 3 leeks of varying sizes
• 1 bunch white radishes
• 6 to 10 clear-glass vessels of any sort: I used a Chemex Coffee Maker, a Bedside Water Carafe, the carafe's cup, a vintage glass vase, and four Weck Glass Storage Jars in different sizes.

Instructions

Step One: Wash and clean the vegetables and dry excess water from the leaves.

Step Two: Fill vases with water about halfway full; be prepared to pour out water when adding weighty items such as fennel bulbs.

Step Three: Add the vegetables in groups to the vases. For each vase, decide if you want the stems and roots to be fully or halfway submerged, or sitting on top of the lip (this works well for radishes and other round vegetables).

Above: Two carrots criss-cross in a Chemex Coffee Maker put to use as a vase.

Above: The finished set looks hearty in a group; it can also be paraded down the length of a table, mantel, or kitchen shelf.

Looking for more floral decor ideas? Sift through Gardenista's archive of Flora posts.

We discovered Canadian designer Geoffrey Lilge and his company OnOurTable via the cutting boards he created for Luce restaurant in Portland. Recently, we were happy to learn that OnOurTable has branched out: it now specializes in knife storage of the highest order. All pieces are made to order in Alberta and typically ship within two weeks.

Above: The solid walnut Knife Shelf, a dual-purpose knife rack and wall shelf; $125 CAD. It measures 24 inches by 4 inches by 1.75 inches. 

Above: The walnut Knife Block measures 12 inches by 10 inches by 3.75 inches; $200 CAD. 

Above: The walnut wall-mounted Knife Rack in XL measures 24 inches by 2 inches by 1.75 inches; $85 CAD. A smaller version, the Knife Rack, is also available for $75 CAD.

Above: The Cutlery Box, handmade of walnut with a lift-off lid—12 inches by 12 inches by 3.25 inches—is intended for storage of any sort, from knives to jewelry; $200 CAD. 

Warm and accommodating, butcher block is an affordable countertop material with a lot going for it. Maintain it regularly and your butcher block will reward you by aging gracefully. But without proper upkeep, it can dull and crack. Is it the right material for you and your kitchen? Read our butcher block counter primer to find out.

Above: A butcher block countertop in a British Standard Cupboard Kitchen by Plain English. 

What is butcher block?

Butcher block is made from straight cuts of wood glued together into thick slabs that provide a particularly sturdy and stable work surface in a kitchen, whether as a cutting board, tabletop, or counter.

Above: John Boos Blended North American Hard Rock Maple Butcher Block with edge grain construction and finger jointed random length boards. 

Are there different types of butcher block?

There are three basic construction styles of butcher block: edge grain, flat grain, and end grain: 

Edge grain is the one most commonly used for counters because it's strong, stable, and less expensive than the others. It's made by placing long boards on their sides and joining them so that their long narrow edges form the surface. The boards can be continuous lengths of wood with no joints, or random length boards that are finger-jointed (as shown above). 

Flat grain butcher block is constructed from boards that are laid flat, their full widths forming a surface with a streamlined look. Susceptible to marks when used for chopping and cutting, flat grain is less suitable for working kitchen counters than the others.

End grain construction is made from small rectangular blocks arranged so that the ends (with growth rings showing) are visible on the surface. The strongest and most expensive type of butcher block, it's great for surfaces dedicated to cutting, because it camouflages knife marks and is gentle on blade edges (they slide into the grain rather than against it). 

Above: San Francisco- based architect Mark Reilly used end-grain butcher block counters in a kitchen in a turn of the century house in Palo Alto. "The countertop was originally Formica, but the client wanted a material that didn't clink when glass or serving wares were placed on it," Reilly says. "After exploring several options, we decided on end grain butcher block because of its warmth, soft feel, and vintage-inspired look." Photograph by Mark Reilly. N.B. See how the architect created an open kitchen in a Victorian house in Remodelista Best Design Professional Space Winner: Mark Reilly.

Above: End grain butcher block (L) and flat grain butcher block (R). Images via Devos Wordworking.

What types of wood are used for butcher block?

Butcher block can be made from nearly any wood. Maple is one of the best and most popular for butcher block counters because it's hard and has a clear grain. Cherry and red oak offer rich color. Butcher block can also be crafted from bamboo (it works best with end-grain construction) and sustainably-farmed exotics like wenge and zebrawood.

Above: Flat grain butcher block tops an island in a Seattle kitchen designed by Roy McMakin.

Does butcher block need to be sealed?

For kitchen counter applications, it's important to use unsealed, oil-finished wood. Sealed countertops are not meant to be used as food-prep work surfaces—they're not food or knife friendly. Mark Squire of Quality Kitchen Cabinets in San Francisco explains: "Using sealed wood defeats the purpose of butcher block, because it covers up the natural warm surface with plastic." Sealed butcher block does offer shine and can work well as a work desk or bar top in a kitchen that doesn't involve food. (And when needed for food prep, pair it with a cutting board.) Note that unsealed butcher block is not recommended immediately around a sink: over time, it will likely discolor and rot.

Above: A long butcher block countertop and shelves warm up a kitchen by Los Angeles-based Aqua Vitae.

How do you best maintain butcher block?

At a minimum, butcher block countertops require oiling every six months to keep the wood protected. Different woods come with different finishing oil recommendations and it's best to follow the instructions of your installer. Depending on level of use, butcher block may also require more frequent oiling and conditioning to prevent the wood from cracking and looking dull. N.B.: Avoid using cooking oil to treat butcher block; it can damage the wood.  Note that because butcher block is soft, it mars more than other materials—leading some people to use it for certain surfaces only, such as work islands. Just before oiling, you can lightly remove scratches, burns, and other surface damages with fine sandpaper, and your countertop will look like new. 

Above: Christine wanted a warm material for her open kitchen, so she selected edge grain countertops of solid oak treated with several coats of Danish oil for a hard-wearing finish. For the full story, see Rehab Diary: Sleuthing for Space in My Kitchen. Photography by Kristin Perers for Remodelista.

Can butcher block be used as a cutting surface? 

Yes, unsealed butcher blocks works well as a large stationary work surface, and has been used this way for centuries (after all, it comes by its name honestly). That said, it's not as easy to clean a butcher block counter as it is a moveable cutting board, which explains why many owners use cutting boards on top of butcher block. And, as mentioned, cutting on butcher block over time leaves marks and scratches—character defining to some, best avoided to others.

Above: In this kitchen by New York designer Robert Stilin, an edge grain butcher block is used as the countertop on the island while white Carrara marble is used for the work surfaces by the sink.

What does butcher block cost?

Prices vary depending on the type of wood, the grain construction, and the thickness. In general, custom-made quality butcher block countertops range from $75 to $150 per square foot. In other words, good butcher block is more expensive than mid-range granite, but less expensive than top-of-the-line natural stone. 

The good news is that several manufacturers offer off-the-shelf butcher block work tops in standard counter-depth sizes with variable lengths. If your setup allows, this is the affordable way to go. And the DIY-inclined can cut butcher block slabs to fit around appliances, corners, and other obstacles—not something you can pull off on your own with stone.

Above: In her cabin kitchen, Sarah Samuel of Smitten Studio installed Ikea's affordable edge grain, oiled-beech Numerar Wood Countertop, which comes in precut lengths.

Butcher Block Recap 

Pros: 

• Butcher Block counters add warmth and natural coloring. 
• It's a soft material that's easy on glassware and dishes: no clatter when you put down a stack of plates.
• Wood mixes well with many other countertop materials, especially marble.
• If maintained properly, it's a long lasting and durable choice.
• Unlike laminate or solid surface counters, wood countertops are repairable: nicks and burns can be lightly sanded and the surface re-oiled.
• It develops a lovely patina over time.
• Wood has natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

Cons:

• Wood counters are not heat or stain resistant. Hot pans can't be set down on the counter without a pad or trivet.
• Wood can swell and shrink in conditions of extreme dryness or humidity, which may cause cracking.
• Excessive wetness makes the wood susceptible to rot and discoloration.
• It develops a patina over time (a detail that also falls in the pro category; it's a matter of taste).
• Butcher block requires some maintenance.

Above: Italian kitchen designers Schiffini use end grain butcher block at the end of a kitchen island.

Just starting to consider new countertops? Read Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Kitchen Countertops. And for more specifics on the subject, see our Remodeling 101 posts:

• The Intel on Black Marble Countertops. 
• 10 Easy Pieces: Remodelista Kitchen Countertop Picks.
• A Marble Countertop Lookalike, Minus the Maintenance.

Whenever we have dinner parties, we find ourselves resorting to last-minute plate-warming techniques (running dishes under hot water or heating them in the microwave, for instance). Lately we've been longing for our own built-in warming drawers, which can also be used to keep food warm, as well as for bread-proofing and even slow cooking. All of which makes us think: Perhaps the warming drawer could become an indispensable appliance for the serious cook and entertainer.

N.B.: Warming drawers are available in a choice of 24-, 27-, and 30-inch widths to match the standard widths of wall ovens and kitchen cabinetry. Most large appliance makers offer warming drawers; so if you have one suite of appliances, you can likely find a warming drawer to match.

Above: With conveniently low sides for sliding big stacks of dishes on and off, Gaggenau's WS 282 30-Inch Convection Warming Drawer has a stainless steel interior and can heat things to a temperature range of 85 to 175 degrees. It has enough capacity to hold 12 place settings; $1,889 on special order at AJ Madison.

Above: The KitchenAid Architect II Series Warming Drawer heats from 90 to 250 degrees, allowing it to serve as a slow cooker as well as to warm plates and food; $1,079 for the 30-inch size at AJ Madison.

Above: Miele's Europa Clean-Touch Steel 30-Inch Convection Warming Drawer (ESW 4816) is engineered to hold up to 30 pounds fully extended. It also has a removable anti-slip silicone pad to keep plates from sliding around and heats from 104 to 185 degrees; $1,295 at AJ Madison. 

Do you have a warming drawer—and do you put it to use? Share your finds in the comments section below.

Interested in our other appliance posts? Check out The Great Vacuum Debate: Dyson vs. Miele and Little Giants: Compact Washers and Dryers.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on November 23, 2011 as part of our Thanksgiving Entertaining issue.

Tucked inside of Palihotel on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles is a new restaurant from Brian Dunsmoor and Kris Tominaga, who first made their mark with pop-up canteen A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. The two entrepreneurial chefs clearly share an affinity for Aesop's fables: their latest venture gets its name from "The Hart and the Hunter". In the tale, the hart spends his time admiring his antlers and loathing his too-slim legs. When the hunter's arrow causes the hart to snag his antlers on a branch, the hart says, "Alas! alas! We often despise what is most useful to us." The significance of the fable has a secret meaning to the owners, but our guess is it's a reminder to stay humble in the midst of increasing acclaim, and to cook what they know best: California fare tinged with more than a hint of the south. Have a look around. 

Photography by Dylan James Ho from Eat, Drink + Be Merry (unless otherwise noted).

Above: With its green and white octagonal floor tiles and family-style table, the restaurant has the vibe of a small southern kitchen smack in the middle of LA. Photograph courtesy of Palihotel. To see more of the hotel, visit our post Where the Brits Are: Palihotel in LA

Above: Seen throughout the restaurant are a collection of vintage portraits, ranging from dapper gentlemen to forest fauna.

Above L: Palihotel aprons hang against the restaurant's glazed tiled wall (for something similar, consider Waterworks' Grove Brickworks Tiles in Hull). Above R: Lemon squares and iced cookies on the bar. Both photographs courtesy of Palihotel.

Above: Visitors from another era—the gentleman's eyes match the blue on the wall.

Above: Cool blue is a theme throughout. The bar is the hub for the restaurant's coffee program, headed up by Christopher Abel Alameda, a barista from Handsome Coffee Roasters and Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea (LA's two main drip coffee haunts). Photograph courtesy of Palihotel.

Above: A portrait of a hart, an homage to the restaurant's namesake. 

Above: White-painted Tolix metal chairs are fitted with custom wooden seats, and the Hart and Hunter staff aren't afraid to add a folding chair to the mix. Photograph courtesy of Palihotel.

Above L: Smoked trout toast. Above R: A warm steak bowl with roasted cauliflower and green accompaniments. For more on the food, visit Eat, Drink + Be Merry.

Above: An equine portrait hangs over the dining room's old-fashioned sideboard and window into the kitchen. Book a reservation at The Hart and the Hunter 

Check out our recent post on the Palihotel's sister property, Palihouse in Santa Monica. For more of the city's standout restaurants, hotels, and shops, visit our Los Angeles Area City Guide. 

Location of The Hart and the Hunter in Los Angeles:

With the holiday season suddenly upon us, it's time to think about stocking up on entertaining essentials. In the long run, it's more economical to buy than rent if you entertain frequently. We've sourced tabletop items that are versatile, durable, and readily available (in case you need overnight shipping).

Glassware

Above: The All-Purpose Wine Glasses from Sur La Table can be used for both red and white wines; currently on sale for $23.96 for a set of 6.

Above: A set of 12 Party Goblets are $24.95 from Crate & Barrel.

Above: For large parties, Ikea's Svalka White Wine Glasses are good to have on hand in multiples; $4.79 for a set of six. N.B.: They are not the most durable, but for the price they can't be beat.

Above: If you prefer the stemless variety, consider Ikea's 365+ Ivrig Wine Glasses for $2.99 each. For more ideas on affordable glassware, see 10 Easy Pieces: Everyday Wine Glasses and 10 Easy Pieces: Basic Drinking Glasses.

Dishware

Above: A set of four Coupe Porcelain Dinner Plates is $12.95 at Crate & Barrel.

Above: The Caterer's 12-Piece Dinnerware Set includes a dozen dinner plates; $50 for a box set of 12 plates from Pottery Barn. A Caterer's Set of 12 Salad Plates and Caterer's Set of 12 Bowls are also available for $41.50 each.

Above: West Elm's Brook Dinnerware Set is made from white-glazed stoneware; $19.99 for a set of four plates. See 10 Easy Pieces: Basic White Dinnerware for more ideas.

Flatware

Above: Fishs Eddy sells Open Stock Flatware by the piece, starting at $1.99 for a salad fork.

Above: Source silverplate flatware in mismatched sets from flea markets, or consider Bygones Flatware Bundles (includes 10 pieces; choose from fork, knife, or spoon sets); currently on sale for $24 at Bhldn.

Above: CB2 offers stainless steel Party Forks ($9.95), Party Knives ($12.95), and Party Spoons ($9.95) in sets of six. See more of our flatware favorites: 10 Easy Pieces: Everyday Stainless Steel Flatware.

Table Linens

Above: A set of 12 cotton Hotel Dinner Napkins is $42.95 at Williams-Sonoma.

Above: Williams-Sonoma's Hotel Cocktail Napkins are $32.99 for a set of 6.

Above: Ikea's Elly Dish Towels make affordable (and charmingly rustic) napkins; $3.99 for a set of four.

Above: Stock up on basic Chilewich 100-Percent Linen Napkins, $8.50 each at Sur La Table.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on November 23, 2011 as part of our Thanksgiving Entertaining issue.

Need a cutting board? See 10 Easy Pieces: Display-Worthy Wooden Cutting Boards.

British interiors phenom Faye Toogood likes to play with scale in her furniture and room designs; case in point, her serene London kitchen, which features unexpectedly oversized oak cabinet pulls.

Above: Toogood's modest London kitchen features inexpensive Ikea cabinets customized with oversized oak cabinet pulls. Photo by Henry Bourne for T Magazine.

Above: Designed by Tveit & Tornnoe, Muuto's Oak Dots are available individually from the Finnish Design Shop; they come in three sizes: 3.5 inches ($25.70), 5.1 inches ($33), and 6.7 inches ($38) in diameter.

Pinching your pennies? See High/Low: Dot Wall Hooks.

Whether formal or casual, single focused or multipurpose, a well-used dining area is all about sharing and merriment. As these rooms are readied for the holidays, we turned to the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory and winners of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards 2013 for inspiration. Here, a roundup of their standout designs. Actual dining room not required.

Above: MNA (Michael Neumann Architecture) created this atelier-style open living/dining/kitchen area by mixing warm and rustic textures. Winner of the Remodelista Considered Design Award 2013, Best Professionally Designed Dining Space, it features a round table surrounded by French Tolix chairs and a monumental arrangement of pussy willow branches.

Above: A mix of rustic (stone walls and floors) and modern (Saarinen office chairs) defines a dining room in a house in Croatia designed by Rees Roberts + Partners of New York. Francesca also swears by Saarinen office chairs in her dining room; she says they're the reason her family lingers at their dining table for hours every night. Photo by Scott Frances.

Above: Located in a former printing house in lower Manhattan, this loft designed by Specht Harpman belongs to a young family. The metal chairs are classic Emeco Navy Chairs, originally made in 1944 for use on US Navy submarines. Photo by Michael Moran.

Above: Anabelle Seldorff of Selldorf Architects anchors the dining space in this loft with a pair of George Nelson Ball Pendant Lamps. Photo via Selldorf Architects.

Above: The UFO that came to dinner: this oversized black hanging pendant in a dining room by Kriste Michelini Interiors has a sculptural quality that unites the space—and makes it interesting. Photo via Kriste Michelini Interiors.

Above: Buttrick Wong Architects integrated a built-in side board into a wall of storage cupboards in this Berkeley dining room with an updated Mission-style table and chairs. Photo by J. D. Peterson.

Above: Brooklyn-based Workstead created an intimate dining area in this Prospect Park project; the geometric cabinetry and the mismatched Wishbone chairs add visual interest to the space.

Above: In their Renovation of a Mid-Century Modern House in San Francisco, Klopf Architecture use a reflective gray wall to mark the dining area while enhancing the feeling of space. Photograph by Mariko Reed. 

Above: This West Chelsea dining room by Deborah Berke & Partners Architects features an antique ensemble set off by black walls, white paneling, and a collection of shimmery mercury glass pendants.

Above: Own Entity of New York created this cozy dining nook; banquette seating that ensures there's always room to squeeze in one more guest.

For more dining spaces, visit the Dining Room Gallery on the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory.

Getting ready for the holidays? See our catalogue of Napkins, Glasses, and Plates for all your entertaining needs. Alexa's post 5 Quick Fixes: Elevating the Napkin, Thanksgiving Edition has easy ideas for setting the table with panache. 

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on November 20, 2011.

The truth is: we can't say enough good things about Los Angeles-based lighting designers Atelier de Troupe. And friends of mine feel the same way—they swear by Atelier's Potence Jib Lamp as, "an instant upgrade to any drab city apartment." Now, it's one of the workshop's latest designs, the Torche Sconce, that's on our wish list.

Above: The Torche Sconce is made from darkened steel with a brass jib and an adjustable dark steel arm and shade. Handmade in California, it's 14 inches tall, and has a 6-inch shade and a 5-by-6-inch square backplate; $575 from Atelier de Troupe.

Above: The jib arm pivots 180 degrees and the shade swivels 360 degrees, offering a full expanse of illumination. The Torche is UL listed for safety and comes hardwired or with 8 feet of twisted cloth cord (in cream or black).

For more designs by Atelier, see our previous post on their Navire Collection, and the Potence lamp that my friends swear by is part of our 5 Favorites: Prouvé-Inspired Swing Arm Lights.

We tend to be an informal bunch at Remodelista (have you seen Sarah's video for setting an outdoor table?), but we do like a well-set table for special occasions. So we checked in with Amanda and Merrill at Food52 for a tutorial on the art and science of setting a table. Here's what they have to say:

Weeknight Dinner

Above: For weeknight dinners, the basic table setting includes a dinner plate, a fork, a knife, a spoon, a napkin (we're currently coveting Provisions' Heirloomed Linen Napkins; $34 for a set of four), a drinking glass and a wine glass).

RM: What's the rule for utensil placement?

F52: Place utensils from the outside in, according to what you'll be using first. The fork sits to the left of the plate, and knives to the right (blades facing in, toward the plate). Spoons always go to the right of knives.

Informal Place Setting

RM: What about for a dinner soirée or a lunch party?

F52: An informal place setting a la Emily Post includes a salad fork, a soup spoon (if you're serving soup), a dessert spoon (or fork), and a dinner plate. The salad plate sits to the left of the forks. A bread plate and knife is placed above the forks. And above the knife and spoons, a water glass, a wine glass, and a tea or coffee cup.

Formal Place Setting

Above: A formal table setting for a mutli-course (imaginary) dinner party.

RM: And if you're going all-out?

F52: Let's say you're serving oysters, soup, a salad, a fish course, and an entree. Emily Post says you need a charger, also called a service plate (while it does feel very formal, etiquette dictates that it's a proper part of the formal table setting), plus a dinner plate. To the left of the plate, you'll need a salad fork, a fish fork, and a dinner fork. To the right of the plate, you'll need an oyster fork (it's the only fork that sits on the right of the plate), a soup spoon, a fish knife, and a dinner knife.

Going Rogue

For big group gatherings, no need to set the table at all. Stacks of plates, bunches of silverware, piles of napkins; let your guests help themselves.

Above: Dare to mismatch; if you're having a crowd, you'll probably need to marshal all your plates.

Above: Ditto for flatware; we know people who entertain frequently who keep an extra drawer of mismatched yard sale finds for this purpose.

RM: What are five things from Provisions you always have on your daily table setting?

F52: The Modern Grain Salt Cellar, a Copper and Brass Pepper Mill, a French Ceramic Butter Keeper, Beeswax Candles, and Heirloomed Linen Napkins.

On a recent visit to the Michelin-starred Commis Restaurant in Oakland, we admired the wooden ice buckets, which add a rustic note to the strict minimalist decor. Replicate the look with flat wooden-staved buckets lined with a simple metal or plastic bucket to accommodate ice—we found a low and a (very) high option.

Above: A wooden ice bucket at Commis; photograph via the Wall Street Journal online.

Above: The Oak Water Bucket with Wire Bands (shown) and the Large Premium Wooden Bucket are both made in the style of colonial-era water buckets; $79.95 for the large oak and $39.45 for the premium bucket from R & P Trading. N.B.: The design is also available with red oak hoops or copper hoops in place of the wire bands.

Above: Japanese woodworker Shuji Nakagawa hand makes each Champagne Cooler Shizuku from Japanese cypress with copper bands; $1,900 from Atelier Courbet.

For more ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: Champagne Buckets. And if you love the look of the Japanese cooler, check out our post How to Bath Japanese Style.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on October 19, 2010 as part of our Oenophile Style issue.

I love the period details in my Victorian apartment, but I don't need a discolored, chipped bathtub to remind me of the history of the place. (I have sloping floors and drafty windows for that.)

A few weeks ago, I was batting around some small remodeling projects with a friend who was staying with me. I wondered aloud about refinishing my bathtub, and she quickly chimed in: "Yes, that would be good!" Hint taken—and in anticipation of more guests soon arriving for the holidays—I got to work.

Here's a look at my project, followed by instructions, should you, too, be feeling ambitious. Word of warning: This project is not for the faint of heart. It takes a full day of work, plus three days to dry. The refinishing fumes are toxic, and you'll need to wear a respirator mask. And though the tub looks 95 percent better after my labor, it still isn't perfect. 

I would only recommend refinishing your bathtub yourself if at least two of the following three apply to you: You're at least a little bit handy—let's say you have a strong painting resume. You're extremely patient, or at least refuse to give up. You're someone like me who hates not knowing how to do things and won't be satisfied until you've tried. Does this describe you? Then let's proceed. 

Photography by Liesa Johannssen.  

Finished Results

Above: The fruit of my labor: A refinished tub with new caulk and accoutrements for houseguests.

Materials

• A home bathtub refinishing kit. I used the Homax Tough as Tile Tub & Sink Refinishing Kit Epoxy Aerosol Spray; $46.57 at The Home Depot. 
• If you have chips and cracks in your tub, you'll need small brushes and Porcelain Chip Fix; $4.97 at The Home Depot. 
• Latex Chemical Gloves; $4.97 at The Home Depot. 
• Chemical safety goggles, like the 3M Tekk Protection Chemical Splash Safety Goggles; $2.97 at The Home Depot. 
• A respirator mask; I used the 3M Tekk Protection Professional Multi-Purpose Respirator; $39.97 at The Home Depot. 
• Heavy-duty paper towels or Shop Towels; $2.28 for a roll at The Home Depot. 
• Large sponge, such as a Grouting Sponge, to dab epoxy drips; $1.97 at The Home Depot. 
• Abrasive sponges. Though the refinishing kit came with steel wool for roughing up the surface of the tub, I preferred to use a more abrasive tool like the Scotch-Brite Industrial Strength Scour Pad; $3.47 for three at The Home Depot.
• A Plastic Drop Cloth you can discard when you're done; $1.98 at The Home Depot.  
• All-Purpose Masking Paper to cover the tub surround and anything else you don't want spattered with epoxy; $2.97 at The Home Depot. 
• Painter's Tape for Delicate Surfaces; $5.87 at The Home Depot. 
• A utility fan if your bathroom is not well ventilated. I used the Lasko 20-inch 3-Speed Box Fan; $16.96 at The Home Depot. 
• N.B.: If you plan to re-caulk in addition to refinishing, you'll need some additional tools and materials (see Steps Two and Eight).

Instructions

Step Four: Clean the tub. Mine not only had heavy evidence of the showers of tenants past, but was full of paint splatters and stray globs of caulk from sloppy maintenance jobs. I scraped everything off with a plastic putty knife, then followed the bathtub refinishing kit's directions to wash, dry, sand, repeat. It's critical to do a good job or the epoxy won't adhere. This is where the bulk of your time will go today. 

Step Five: Prepare the bathroom for Armageddon. Mask off anything you don't want covered in tiny white flecks. (In reviews, some commenters were surprised by how far the epoxy traveled, so I heeded their warnings and covered everything. Turns out it was overkill; if you've spray painted something before, expect the same amount of overspray.)

Step Six: Lock up the men, kids, and pets, open the windows, and turn on the fan. Make sure your space is well-ventilated. The refinishing fumes are strong and you're going to need a respirator. I can't sing the praises of mine enough; I truly didn't know what the epoxy smelled like until I left the bathroom and took the mask off, it worked that well. Don't forget chemical goggles and gloves. 

Step Seven: Follow the directions that come with the kit and spray paint the bathtub. Rest assured, once you've prepped, this is the easy part. If you get any epoxy drips from spraying too heavily, dab them away with a sponge. 

I was glad to discover that the toxic smell didn't linger for long. I don't have any direct ventilation in my bathroom, but with a standing fan blowing air out three open windows in the next room, all chemical odor was gone within 90 minutes. 

Step Eight: Use Lacquer Thinner to clean up any errant epoxy, and wait 72 hours for the finish to cure. Once it's dry, re-caulk the tub if you removed your old caulk. Thoroughly wash the surface so the silicone will adhere and pass over it with rubbing alcohol. I used GE White Kitchen and Bath Caulk, which is shower-ready in three hours; $6.24 at The Home Depot.

Above: The "before" bath was scratched, discolored, and surrounded by moldy caulk. Here, I'm midway through the process of removing the old grout. 

Above: It's a delight to bathe in a tub with bright white walls and mold-free trim; I'm sure my holiday guests will agree. 

-Meredith Swinehart

This week we've been helping you get a head start on your holiday shopping. Today's the last day of our Remodelista Market in New York—come join us at the Park Avenue Garage Sale, 10 West 56th Street (4th floor); we're open until 6 pm.

Also don't miss Gilt.com's Remodelista Picks: Design Essentials, a sale of 100 of our favorite everyday objects, available now through noon on Monday.

Meanwhile, back on the home front, we've been presenting holiday table possibilities, from great dining rooms to table-setting etiquette to inventive napkin presentations (and even a DIY beautiful extension cord). All next week we'll be giving thanks by spotlighting designers, architects, and companies who are improving the world through their work. Meanwhile, here's a look at what's inspiring us right now.

Above: Some of us are wishing we could spend Thanksgiving in Auckland, New Zealand, meeting Tokuhiko Kise and Hiromi Karatsu of Truck Furniture who will be at Everyday Needs from 5:30-7:30 this Thursday.

A trick to making small kitchens seem larger: counter-to-ceiling tiles via Cultivate.

Above: Stacey was thrilled to see her friend, stylist Kate Dougherty, on Garance Doré this week. Check out Kate's work at African Bohemian, New York Cool: A Visit to the Suno Offices.

We've been enjoying Melissa Clark's relaxed approach to roasting a turkey, and Julie is planning to try Mark Bittman's recipe for Chinese Spicy Big Tray Chicken—both from the New York Times.

Above: Today in Vancouver, Le Marché St. George is celebrating its third anniversary by unveiling a winter pop-up shop: mulled wine and 20 percent off on all merchandise today only (the shop is open until Dec. 31) . Did you catch Le Marché's outdoor feast this week? See Into the Wild: A Canadian Thanksgiving.

Pinterest contest alert: Create a holiday decor pinboard for a chance to win a $500 gift card from Domino Magazine.

Above: A Kickstarter worth noting: Australian company Proper Audio's PA1 Mountable Bluetooth Speaker, a circular design with a minimalist body made out of lightweight aluminum.

Above: Enter to win! We teamed up with Kaufmann Mercantile and Dwell to bring you the "Rooms We Love" giveaway. See what you'll win, above, and get involved here.

Four years ago, Laura Silverman, a writer and creative consultant (we're followers of her blog, Glutton for Life), and her husband, George Billard, a filmmaker, left their long-time home in New York City to live upstate in a 1935 cedar-shingle cottage. Although the house is actually smaller than their city loft, it doubles in size during the summer months thanks to a large screened-in porch the couple added on.

Photos by Michael Mundy for An Afternoon With.

Above: A French market basket always hangs at the ready near the door. The wire storage caddy is from the Sundance catalog.

Above: Floors and beams stained almost black give the room a touch of drama. The original Warren Platner chair survived a fire and was recovered in Indonesian ikat. The silk burlap couch is from ABC Carpet & Home. The vintage safe in the corner serves as a liquor cabinet.

Above: The brick fireplace, whose design was taken from a mid-century book on Swedish fireplaces, replaced a wood-burning stove. The vintage Tyrolean dining chairs are from Paula Rubenstein in NYC.

Above: Brightly hued books add dashes of color here and there (a dried pumpkin stem from the garden rests on the stack of books at right).

Above: Atop an old wooden shoe rack, ceramics include vintage German pieces and others by L.A. potter Mirena Kim. The tree photo by Dietmar Busse, showing two trunks grown together, was a wedding gift. The little copper pipe sculpture echoes the form.

Above: An antique cabinet from India that sits at one end of the breakfast nook holds Laura’s collections of cookbooks and copper cookware.

Above: A pair of mercury bottles adds a glimmer to a naturalistic tableau.

Above: A small hallway glows with Farrow & Ball’s Calke Green, a color based directly on a cleaned version of the breakfast room at Calke Abbey. The reclaimed teak mirror frames a bronze mask brought back from a trip to Java.

Above: A view of the space-doubling screened porch.

Above: The weathered zinc top table in the porch is from ABC Carpet & Home. The bronze hurricane lamps are from Aero.

Above: Laura's study, with rustic shelves and desk; the linen shades are from The Shade Store.

Above: A decoupage from John Derian with an inspirational message.

Above: A naturalist who blogs about gardening, foraging, and cooking at Glutton for Life, Laura brings many organic elements into the house. This vignette includes Elsa Peretti’s terra cotta bone candlesticks, a collection of turkey feathers and a vintage box made of solid tiger’s eye.

Above: A collection of feathers Laura gathers on her walks serves as wall decor in the bedroom.

To the initiated (and obsessed, like us), designer Christina Kim's Los Angles-based fashion company Dosa is an eternal source of inspiration. Her tiny, under-the-radar home line, produced by hand the world over, has set new standards for the use of natural and recycled materials (many of them fashion off cuts—not a Dosa scrap goes to waste). Dosa has also led the current movement in celebrating age-old crafts and honoring the maker by woking in close collaboration and paying fair wages—which are reflected in the prices (Dosa's wares are made for the person who lives with a choice few things.)

"All of my home designs come from my own needs and reflect the way I live," explains Christina. "The first pieces were poufs stuffed with Polartec scraps because I didn't have any furniture and only wanted pieces that are easy to move. I grew up in Korea, and my work is influenced by my heritage. We didn't have a lot of space so rooms had to have many functions. We always folded up our bedding and put it away. We shifted things around, and the table we ate at was also my desk. I feel comfortable living with very little."

Just back from creating a window installation for Hermès in Ginza, Tokyo, and hosting Dosa Mercantile at Arts ReStore LA at LA's Hammer Museum, the nomadic designer showed us a sampling of what she's been up to.

N.B.: All pieces shown here are available through Dosa, which has an LA store and showroom in its factory, open by appointment, and a New York boutique. To place an order, email DosaLA@Dosainc.com or DosaNYC@Dosainc.com. To visit the LA showroom, call 213-627-3672 ext. 114.

Above: Dosa's handblown glasses are made in Oaxaca, Mexico, at a studio started by an American glassblower who has created an energy efficient setup that uses recycled glass bottles and is powered by biodiesel (from household cooking grease). The studio is staffed by young locals who are trained in the art of glass blowing. The glasses are made in three sizes, approximately 4, 6, and 8 ounces, and sell for $265 for a set of six (two in each size). Two sets are shown here, photographed against Dosa's pattern paper.

Above: Modeled after jellyfish, these sand-formed glass paper weights, $90 each, are made at the same Oaxaca studio as the glasses. "They're a beautiful smoky color and have air bubbles," says Christina. "I love the structure and translucency of jellyfish, and I keep all my windows open, so I need paper weights."

Above: Inspired by the hearts sold outside the Basilica de la Soledad in Oaxaca City, the Dosa Corazon Milagro project was founded as a way to offer employment to women in the nearby town of Ejutla de Crespo, and to make use of the smallest scraps from the company's fashion production. Each heart is hand stitched and hand decorated with beads. A six foot garland (shown here wrapped around handmade paper) is $70 each. Christina reports they look great hung in rows on a wall en masse—stay tuned for an exhibit at the Dosa New York store. She says they've been especially popular as baby, wedding, and housewarming presents, and gifts for people in the hospital. To date, over 66,000 hearts have been individually made using more than 350 pounds of Dosa remnants.

Above: The slightly larger version of the Corazon Milagros are presented individually in boxes handmade of cochineal-dyed paper by paper workshop Taller Arte Papel Oaxaca. "I liked the idea of creating a house for the heart to live in. They can be kept as relics," says Christina. A set of 12 is $70. 

Above: The Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, India, makes these notebooks for Dosa using shredded cotton as well as Dosa fabric scraps. The handmade paper is dyed with tea and hibiscus flowers (some of the interior pages are a pale lilac) and the heavier cover stock is embedded with bits of mica and sequins leftover from Dosa production. The orange tassel is a book mark. A set of six notebooks is $75, and contains an assortment of subtle colors and decorations.

Above: When cookbook writer and anthropoligist Niloufer King gave Christina a favorite old towel of hers, the Niloufer Towel was created—modeled after the textured weave of the original, but detailed with hand-knotted fringe inspired by a Bosnian textile. The khadi cotton is woven on hand looms in villages near Kolkata, India: Dosa reports that hand weaving is the second largest source of livelihood in India's remote and semi-urban populations, and supports 7 million families. "The textured weave of the towel makes it very absorbent, but it's also quick drying," says Christina. She's used organic cotton for the design, but has found that it has a natural waxy finish that takes nearly a dozen washings to remove. The hand size (24 inches by 50 inches), shown here, is $180 for a set of three. 

Above: The Niloufer Bath Sheet (42 inches by 94 inches), $100, is available from Tiina the Store, one of the few online sources for Dosa home and clothing designs. Word of advice from Christina: "A towel doesn't have to be just a towel—it can also become a sarong, a tablecloth, a bedcover, a window shade, or a room divider. I'm all for being creative with what you have."

Christina's Kim's Los Angeles live/work loft is featured in our new book Remodelista, A Manual for the Considered Home. And don't miss her novel solution for hiding her kitchen washing machine and dryer on page 290. Also don't miss our past post Shopper's Diary: Dosa 818 in Los Angeles.