Architects love stairs: it's a chance to create sculpture in a domestic environment. Here are some of our recent favorites.

Above: A staircase in Sander Architects' Canal House features treads that were made by folding half-inch steel plate.

Above: In a renovation of a pre-war New York townhouse by Julian King Architects, a minimalist steel handrail negotiates the transition between a floor of reclaimed brick pavers and ipe treads that float up the wall.

Above: Cast-iron treads and railing of black-oxidized cold-rolled steel form a sculptural stair in an Upper East Side townhouse by Deborah Berke & Partners Architects. Photography by Jason Schmidt.

Above: A glass-and-steel staircase with open rises allows light to filter through a renovated 1906 Victorian in San Francisco by Feldman Architecture. Photograph by Paul Dyer.

Above: Leather stitching along a staircase in Casa do Conto, a Portuguese hotel renovated by Pedra Liquida (see: The Story of Casa do Conto). Photography by FG+SG.

Above: Architect Owen Kennerly designed a railing with hemp twine and storage niches for a San Francisco house (see: Owen Kennerly Renovation in San Francisco). Photograph by Matthew Millman.

Above: For a Bay Area home, CCS Architecture designed with open risers made of white oak and railings cables of stainless steel. Photography by César Rubio (L) and Eric Laignel (R).

If one day you find yourself in the Česká Lípa district of the Czech Republic, look for a pine forest. And a calm, dark lake shaped like an "S." On its grassy shore sits the Black Teahouse.

Built for a family that wanted a peaceful, contemplative spot on the southern edge of a garden, the teahouse, completed last year, is actually the third variation of an unostentatious style that architects David Maštálka and Lenka Křemenová developed after they traveled together to Japan while still students at Prague's Academy of Art, Architecture and Design. In Japan, they drank tea in traditional chashitsu and were intrigued by the challenge of how to update the rustic vernacular to create what Křemenová describes as a modern "micro-space, beautiful and cozy and comfortable to stay in for hours."

Photography via A1Architects.

Above: A terrace enlarges the space visually. "This is something we learned from our original teahouse, which is even more tiny, and which David built in our own garden while we were still at university," Křemenová said.

Above: Large sliding doors, reminiscent of traditional Japanese paper shoji, can be adjusted to frame a personalized view of the distant pines.

Above: The larch cladding has been charred, a traditional Japanese method of preserving timber without the use of chemicals.

Above: In Japan, an ascetic might seek refuge in a simple grass hut; here, the grassy roof is a reminder of the Black Teahouse's intent to blend in with the natural landscape.

Above: A woven dome of sisal covers the ceiling; a teapot is suspended from knotted rope.

Above: As in the architects' Hat Teahouse, a central skylight invites in light. "In Japanese architecture, there are almost no circular spaces," Křemenová said. "But we found that adding rounded spaces really makes a small space feel endless."

Above: "When you don't see a person in the picture, it confuses the scale and you would assume it's a big room," Křemenová said. Actually, you can seat four people.

Above: Three bamboo vases are an homage to tokonoma, a niche to display calligraphy or flowers.

Above: High grasses along the lake's bank buffer the Black Teahouse from less meditative elements of the outside world.

Arts & Science owner Sonya Park believes all good fashion is based on vintage workwear.

When Park, a Korean-born stylist, opened her first Arts & Science shop in Aoyoma Tokyo in 2003 (she now owns four stores in the Aoyoma neighborhood), she mingled vintage cotton and linen clothing with newer clothes; after noticing her customers gravitating toward the utilitarian vintage pieces, she introduced her own line based on those humble silhouettes (boxy jackets, workers tunics, and workers shirts) made from natural fabrics sourced in Japan. “When you have really beautiful fabrics, you do not have to do much. It’s like cooking. If you have really beautiful ingredients, half of the work is done," Park told Vogue last year.

Select pieces of the A&S collection are available at Creatures of Comfort in Los Angeles and New York; in Paris at Astier de Villatte, in Milan at 10 Corso Como, in London at the Dover Street Market, as well as directly at Arts & Science in Japan.

Above: The Mesh Bag by Dragon is made of goat leather in natural (shown), tan, dark brown and black.

Above: The silk Square Bottom Dress pulls tight at the waist in khaki (shown) and black.

Above: The Brush and Dustpan by Turner and Harper are made of walnut, hog bristle, and stainless steel. The Arts & Sciences Bloom Hook is available in white. The Brush and Dustpan are also available through Turner and Harper in the UK for £65.

Above: The linen and nylon Loose Rib Socks in bright orange (shown), off white, beige, and black.

Above: The natural linen Black Ribbon Tunic.

Above: The Mad Et Len scented soy wax candle is available in sacred incense, black pepper, tobacco, and Russian leather. The candles are also available online at Flair in New York for $128.

Above: The A&S Bandana in natural (shown) and off white.

Above: The Marche Bag is made of cow leather and linen in natural (shown) and ink black.

Above: The unisex Three Eyelets Blucher shoe is made of burgundy cow leather.

Above: Glass Bottle and Flask by Peter Ivy. Glassware by Peter Ivy is also available at Tortoise in Los Angeles.

Above: The No Collar Fake Shirt is made of cotton in blue (shown) and pale saxe blue.

In Japan they take their bread very seriously—at Panscape in Kyoto, baking is elevated to an art form.

Bread is a relatively new addition to the Japanese diet (new, as in the 19th century), and bakeries typically tend to be designed after the style of breads made (think French and German). That said, we like this refreshingly new and modern look that Osaka architects Ninkipen created for Panscape.

This is the second branch for Panscape that Ninkipen has designed: The first had a retro, industrial feel, while this second outpost has a clean, minimal look with an all-white backdrop created to place emphasis on the warm colors of the bread as it comes out of the oven. The client wished to highlight the homemade qualities of the bread, so the architect strategically placed the brick oven opposite the entrance. In full view, it greets shoppers as they enter, while a glass display case in the window showcases the daily batches of loaves.

Above: A concrete step greets shoppers. Pan is Japanese for bread (taken from the Portuguese who introduced it into Japan).

Above: The white walls and concrete surfaces throw into contrast the gold leaf panel on the wall and the bread on display.

Above: A large piece of bubinga (a type of rosewood) serves as the counter for a glass display case.

Above: The charm of Panscape lies in details such as the sloping wall to the right of the entrance, highlighted by a tiny floral arrangement.

Above: A whimsical touch: a backlit custom-made "mouse hole."

Above: The bakery has two branches in Kyoto.

Above: Bread is treated as a precious object.

We are, admittedly, obsessed with storage hooks; a recent post over at Martha Stewart reminded us of one very useful type: swing hooks.

Stewart's new utility room features Sugatsune swing hooks, which can fold flat when not in use. Founded in Japan in the 1930s, Sugatsune produces hard-wearing classic hooks in polished stainless steel. Here is a range of good options.

Above: Martha Stewart uses swing hooks to store housekeeping tools that have holes or rings. When not in use, the hooks can be folded flat. Image via Martha Stewart.

Above: Martha used the Sugatsune Butterfly Hook TZ-360; $5.53 at Alema Hardware. They are flat when screwed into the wall; the center moves forward to make room for the swivel.

Above: Sugatsune UC-048 Swing Hook moves up-and-down, rather than side-to-side; $5.53 at Alema Hardware.

Above: For tools that have their own hooks, closed hooks are a sleek option. The Sugatsune DZ-270 Butterfly Hook is $6.60 at Home Click.

Above: Sugatsune Swing Hook; $1.95 at Home Click.

Above: For heavy items like a vacuum cleaner, consider the substantial Sugatsune JF-T45 Friction Swing Hook (L). It is nearly 3 inches tall; $49.30 at Alema Hardware. The Sugatsune JF-T70 Friction Swing Hook (R) is an even larger option at 4.3 inches tall; $76.50 at Alema Hardware.

Spotted at the New York International Gift Fair in January: Kontex's take on the classic waffle-weave towel.

Produced in the coastal town of Imabari, the Kontex Lattice Towel, like others from the company (see Fabrics & Linens: Kontex Towels from Japan), is made from hand-picked cotton and is luxuriously soft. The lightweight waffle texture is voluminous and highly absorbent.

Above: The Kontex Lattice Towel is available in brown (shown here) and gray this March at Rikumo.com; prices range from $18 to $118, depending on the size.

Above: The Kontex Lattice Towel in gray.

Will the Washlet catch on where the bidet has failed in the US? We prefer the former for its innovative approach to personal hygiene.

When it comes to toilets, the Japanese company Toto gets the nod from architects and homeowners in the know. The Washlet, an innovative toilet seat, makes it possible to retrofit an existing toilet with the latest in Toto technology; as the name suggests, it includes the functionality of a bidet—and more. With an "integrated water cleansing system," the Washlet comes in no less than five models, with a range of options that include air drying, an integrated air freshener, heated seat, and automated lid closure—all activated by convenient remote controls. The Washlet seat is is available in round or elongated sizes and fits most standard toilets.

Above: Toto toilets consistently get top marks for performance, quality, and technological innovation. The entry-level Washlet C110, shown atop a Toto wall-mounted toilet, offers warm-water washing and heated seat options. It is available as a round or elongated seat; $409.86 at Amazon.

Above: The newest addition to the Washlet series is the Toto Washlet B100, with similar features to the C110, but with a new hidden cord design; $440.43 at Home Click.

Above: The Toto Washlet S300, pictured here, includes warm air-drying, an air purifier, and a wireless remote control; $657.69 at Amazon. For the ne plus ultra of toilet seats, the Toto Washlet S400 (which only works with select Toto toilets) has auto-flush sensors and a lid that automatically opens and closes; $992.50 at Home Click.

Founded by creative genius Hiroshi Baba, Starnet is a compound of sorts, showcasing the work of artists across several mediums, including music, ceramics, clothing, and woodwork.

Located in Mashiko, a town long noted for its earthy pottery and rustic glazes (and an easy hour's train ride from Tokyo), Starnet encompasses a shop, cafe, gallery, and studio housed in renovated farm buildings. Baba was one of the first in Japan to embrace organic gardening; much of the produce used for the cafe is grown on the premises. Their reach has expanded to include a line of Starnet Foods and a custom line of ceramics available in their new Tokyo and Osaka Starnet outposts.

Above: Image via Kitchen Label

Above: The Starnet store in Mashiko features locally made goods and other handcrafted pieces.

Above: A handmade leather bag with a display of berries.

Above: A collection of subtly colored scarves.

Above: Cherry wood cutting boards made by a woodworker in a neighboring town.

Above: A collection of pastel-colored ceramic vases by Mamiko Wada (whose work is also available at Tortoise in Los Angeles).

Above: Handpainted vintage pendant lights.

Above: The gallery space features a display counter for a row of ceramic bowls.

N.B. This post is an update, the original version ran on September 12, 2007.

When a Connecticut couple asked their architect friend Naomi Darling to design a gazebo on their property, she gently insisted they build a teahouse instead.

The couple—photographer and writer Sean Kernan and his wife Karen Kernan, also a writer—envisioned a structure perched on the high point of their property on Connecticut's coastline. According to Darling, "I wanted to focus on the idea of creating a pavilion based on simplicity and natural materials."

Darling spent her childhood in Japan with her art historian parents; studied pottery in Hagi, Kyushu; and worked at Olson Kundig Architects in Seattle before settling in Connecticut (she teaches at Yale, where she also earned her masters in architecture). In addition to teaching, she practices architecture at Darling Loeffler-Puurunen and collaborates with her husband, sculptor Darrell Petit.

Photography by Sean Kernan.

Above: The open structure is built from untreated, unfinished cedar, which is rot-resistant. Steel plates connect the structure to four concrete posts: "I didn't want to anchor the building, I wanted it to hover," Darling says. "Theoretically, you could unbolt it and move it somewhere else."

Above: The hanging hitching-post ball belonged to Sean's father; it acts as a counterweight to the wooden sliding panel.

Above: The teahouse sits beside a bamboo grove planted two decades ago by Sean, using a seedling given to him by his Chinese calligraphy teacher.

Above: Darling and Petit sourced the granite threshold from a local quarry. "I wanted it to function as a demarcation to the entry," Darling says. "The stone is an anchor to this place and to the earth. It sits in opposition to the roof, which slants upward to the heavens."

Above: The walls are stained plaster and the rice-paper-like screens are made of a fiberglass paper.

Above: Sunlight filters through the structure in "irregular patterns that mark the transition of time," according to Darling.

Above: A view of the notched cedar decking and the hitching post ball.

Above: During the warmer months, Sean and Karen use the teahouse as a place to read and meditate.

LA-born, NYC-based Zak Profera has just introduced his first line of textiles, called Zak+Fox, featuring patterns based on antique Japanese textiles, Matahari trade cloth, and Moroccan carpets.

"I was a dreamy child," Profera says. "I was always traveling to imaginary places in my mind; I think that's where these designs originated." The fabrics, which are printed in the US with water-based inks on Libeco linen from Belgium, are available directly from Zak+Fox.

Photographed on location at Temple Court by Zach Hankins; art direction by The Apiary.

Above: Profera's Shibu Inu, Shinji, sits atop a cushion covered in Volubilis (available in umber and alabaster), inspired by Roman ruins.

Above: A detail of Volubilis.

Above: A flag made from Zak + Fox's Karun fabric, inspired by Matahari trade cloth.

Above: A detail of Karun.

Above: Takigawa translates to "waterfall" and is a bold antidote to the traditional stripe; it's available in plum, ink, and snow/rust.

Above: A detail of Takigawa.

The last thing you'd expect on a quiet residential street in a posh Tokyo neighborhood is a subversive shop. But behind Sinajina's mossy, manicured sign, bonsai artist Kenji Kobayashi is selling a radical idea along with his tiny trees.

Breaking with traditionalists who prefer their carefully cultivated dwarves to be hundreds of years old, Kobayashi is happy to tease young, tender plants into Seussian contortions. His whimsical creations include miniature landscapes, hedgehogs that grow moss on their backs (see them on Ginkgo Telegraph), and pine seedlings that literally tie themselves into knots to please him. With prices that range on average from $40 to $600, Sinajina's inventory is designed to convince a younger generation that bonsai, Kobayashi says, can no longer be dismissed as "a dull hobby for old men."

Above: Kobayashi opened his shop 10 years ago, after a stint living abroad in Portland, Oregon, where he studied with bonsai master Kawamoto Toshio, founder of the saikei style of clustering trees to create miniature landscapes. Image via Tokyo Greenspace.

Above: Inside the shop, maple seedlings and moss bushes are trained without the use of traditional bonsai wires. Image via Metropolis.

Above: A pine seedling has been convinced to curl up over itself; image via Tokyotoshi.

Above: if it looks more like a pet than a plant, it's no accident. Kobayashi hopes customers will treat his trees like members of their families. Image via Tokyotoshi.

Above: At classes for both beginners and advanced students, Kobayashi explains how to use deciduous plants—such as astilbes and ferns—to make “little landscapes of our lives.” Image via Tokyo Greenspace.

Above: Mounded moss, pebbles, and small stone paths can create a scenic illusion—or keshiki—in the bonsai style Kobayashi pioneered. Image via Tokyo Greenspace.

Above: The plants need to be repotted every three years, at which time their roots are pruned; image via The Doll Flowers.

Above: Sinajina blends effortlessly into the suburban surroundings of Tokyo's Jiyugaoka neighborhood; image via Kush.

As an homage to George Nakashima (aka "the Japanese Shaker"), we're creating our own version of his classic 1940s grass-seat chair.

I have several thrift-shop chairs in my apartment in desperate need of proper restoration. In the meantime, I'm planning to try this DIY idea (spotted on Notes from Apart) and revive my chairs with woven cotton rope and jute. If you're not quite ready to invest in a set of Nakashima chairs, try this alternative with our instructions and sources for materials.

Above: A residence on NYC's Prospect Park West features Nakashima's Grass-Seated Chairs and a large walnut plank table fastened with his famous butterfly joints.

Above: An original grass-seat chair by George Nakashima, circa 1950. A pair of original chairs from the 60s and other vintage Nakashima furniture can be sourced via 1st Dibs.

Above: A rehabbed chair spotted by Apiece Apart outside of Frankies 457, a restaurant in Brooklyn. For a similar look, measure enough cotton cord to wrap around your chair about 30 times. After you're done wrapping, tie off the rope on the underside of the chair. Then weave through a length of natural jute at the top and bottom of the chair to keep the rope in place. Weave in the ends of the jute to create a seamless look.

Above: Wellington Cordage 1/2-Inch Cotton Rope (L); $106.16 for 300 feet from Amazon. A less expensive option is the Ace Cotton Clothesline Rope; 200 feet for $11.09 from Amazon. Wellington Cordage 4-ply Jute Twine (R) is $4.51 from Amazon.

Located in Tokyo's fashionable Omotesando District, Farmer's Table is a cafe with an upstairs shop specializing in everyday objects for the home.

The brainchild of Hiroko and Minato Ishikawa (she's a stylist and he's a graphic designer), a couple that appreciates the beauty of everyday objects in the home, the shop features a mix of local Japanese crafts and pieces from overseas—as well as the most beautiful S-hooks we've ever seen. The products, alas, are currently only available in Japan; contact the store directly to order.

N.B.: This post is an update, the original post ran on May 7, 2009.

We have our eye on these demure space heaters by famed Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa for Plus Minus Zero.

Infrared electric heaters send out heat waves to be absorbed by nearby objects (as opposed to convection heaters, which have a fan in order to circulate hot air throughout a room). If you are at your desk all day and get chilly from sitting still for too long, an infrared heater is your friend.

Above: The Infrared Electric Heater has gently rounded corners; ¥3,990 at the Plus Minus Zero Store in Japan. Unfortunately, the company has yet to sign up a US retailer for this product; the sole Northern American retailer is Studio Brilliantine in Toronto. There is a different model, also by Fukasawa, which is a fan heater and available in red and blue colors; the Plus Minus Zero Fukasawa Heater is $320 at Japan Trend Shop.

Above: The newest product in the group is the Infrared Heater with Steam, which offers heat and humidity in one device; ¥5,985 at the Plus Minus Zero Store in Japan.

The New York Times calls Leonard Koren "a maker of deceptively modest books about deceptively modest subjects"; his topics include gravel and sand gardens, tea ceremonies, and flower shops.

His book, Wabi-Sabi, first published in 1994, is considered required reading for the thinking designer; his more recent book, Which Aesthetics? is another must-read. Koren, who studied architecture at UCLA, writes: "Aesthetics is pervasive in our lives and behavior. It's basic, it's primal. The way we dress, style our hair, decorate our homes, prepare our food, give names to things—these are all aesthetic activities. Then there's the novels we read, the music we listen to, the movies we view, the video games we play, the art we make and collect."

Above: Koren's house in Point Reyes, in Marin County, Northern California; see the whole house at the New York Times. Photograph by Paul Dyer.

Above: Koren not only writes, he also designs his own books, down to the typeface. Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers (L) is $10.88 at Amazon. Which 'Aesthetics" Do You Mean? Ten Definitions (R) is $10.93 at Amazon.

San Francisco-based designer and creative director Matt Dick is known around town as Indigo Matt—possibly because his hands are perpetually stained blue, or maybe it's because he's frequently attired in an inky-hued kurta.

Matt, who designs uniforms and workwear for happening San Francisco coffee shops and restaurants, is a born creative. During his student years, he spent a summer working at the Nakajima Konya dye works in Saitama just outside Tokyo under the instruction of Nakajima Sensei—a National Living Treasure in Japan. There he learned the secrets of the craft; how to cut traditional stencils and work with mulberry and persimmon resins and natural indigo dyes, which are stored in sunken earthenware vats. We swung by his studio recently to talk fabrics and check out his space; to see more of Matt's work, visit Small Trade Company.

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Remodelista.

RM: What are you working on now?
MD: I've just finished some denim bags and denim crocheted rugs for the Levi's Made and Crafted line, which Jay Carroll put together. The line is all about the story behind the goods and how they are made. We've also just finished a mechanics jumpsuit, which is part of our collection inspired by the way people go to work around the world: shepherds, farmers, fishermen, and the like.

Above: A quilted indigo tote bag made of cotton from the highland area of China that's dyed with indigo mixed with wild pigs' blood and coated with a lacquer solution made from herbs and egg, which gives it a distinctive sheen.

RM: Where do you source your fabric?
MD: I get all my denim from Cone Mills in North Carolina (my friends at Levi's turned me on to them). I like to source fabrics that are hand-woven, are limited editions, or have a good story behind them. Most come from India, Japan, and Italy, and I also get some from a couple who travels a lot to China and the area between Burma and Laos.

RM: What are your favorite tools?
MD: Clearly I have a scissor problem. I have a collection of different shears; the ones with gold handles are from Kapitol. The large black ones with the brass fitting (third from the top) are from a knife shop in Tsukiji. The other large black scissors are from Sheffield. I also like my Thread Clips from Merchant and Mills.

Above: Denim fabric and bundles of uniforms wrapped in cotton (L). Matt commissioned custom hangers (R) for the Shop at Bardessono (see Shopper's Diary: The Shop at Bardessono).

Above: Matt makes aprons for Sightglass Coffee using waxed military canvas sourced from Martin, the oldest working mill in the United States ("it's been around since 1838"). He's added a leather panel where the apron brushes up against the counter to make it more durable.

Above: A wall layered with inspiration: invitations, gallery openings, museum shops, and pages torn from magazines.

RM: Where did you find the mercury glass light?
MD: It's from an old theater; I took it to Dogfork, and they made it functional again.

Above: The Five-Year Datebook from APC, with pens from Kinokuniya (Matt added the indigo tassels).

RM: Color-coded books?
MD: I color-code my fabric swatches, my wardrobe, and my bookshelves. It's much easier to find things that way.

Our current design obsession is indigo in all its forms. You too? Share your inspirations with us on Pinterest for a chance to win a Remodelista Gift Box.

Here's how to triumph:

• Follow Remodelista on Pinterest and create a pinboard named "Remodelista Indigo Board."
• Pin 10 images of indigo home inspiration (indigo-colored walls, textiles and fabrics, home accessories).
• Search Remodelista for an indigo image (not from this post) and add to your pinboard.
• Get inspired by checking out our own Indigo Board on Pinterest. And have fun.

The entry deadline is Thursday, March 2, at 3pm, when we'll start reviewing your boards and picking a favorite, to be announced our winner on Friday, March 3.

Above: Victoria Smith's San Francisco bedroom, via SF Girl by Bay.

Above: A wall painted in dark-blue chalkboard paint; image via Bemz.

Above: Dark indigo walls in a white kitchen; image via French by Design.

Above: Benjamin Moore Dark Harbor walls; image via Design Crisis.

Above: Dark walls in a dining room; image via Lonny Magazine.

Wouldn't these light-hearted origami paper lights be lovely in a children's room?

Cachette is a brand-new online shop started by an Anglo-French couple, Stephen Rogan and Delphine de Chabalier, who have embarked on their own version of A Year in Provence: After a decade of life in London, they pulled up stakes and moved to the South of France to start a new business. "We have put our common passion for a certain lifestyle, great design, and great food into this shop," they say.

Above: Produced in Holland, Paper Lights are folded from a single piece of paper; €89 (around $120, shipping to the US available) at Cachette.

Above: The lights are suspended from cloth-wrapped cords.

Above: The lights are available in seven colors, including white and pink, which would float overhead like giant meringues.

Furniture maker Yosuke Kimura is a devotee of the belief that "form follows function," and his modular pieces are a perfect expression of the modernist creed.

Last year, Kimura opened Building Fundamental Furniture, offering classic midcentury pieces as well as his own line of seven streamlined designs. We are particularly drawn to Fundamental Furniture's flexible seating system that adapts to a family's ever-changing needs. Kimura omits all extraneous decoration in his designs, which are fabricated in a woodworking shop in the suburbs of Tokyo by young craftsmen. See the full line at Building Fundamental Furniture.

Above: The frames of Kimura's flexible seating system comes in a choice of ash, oak, black cherry, or ash; fabrics are available in in 39 colors. The system is available in Japan only and pieces start at ¥71,400 (approximately $900). See Building Fundamental Furniture for more information.

Above: A corner seat; ¥99,750.

Above: While the armless seat can work on its own, it can also be used as a module to create a sofa; ¥92,400.

Above: The ottoman; ¥71,400.

Above: A configuration that features all of the possible components.

We asked celebrated "paint whisperer" Eve Ashcraft (see Required Reading: The Right Color by Eve Ashcraft) to analyze our favorite indigo room.

"Indigo was once a guarded pigment, used as a dye by members of secretive and powerful textile guilds, and the color still evokes mystery. The bar at the Saint Cecilia Hotel in Austin, Texas, demonstrates how the color indigo can create mood and command space; in this room, the deep color is alluring, the perfect invitation to linger over a drink. A chevron-patterned floor in bold black and white ties it all together, turning what could be a sedate space into a dynamic environment. And finally, upholstery in lipstick red is the switch that turns the room on."

Above: "Cloaking the walls with indigo provides a dramatic backdrop, while extending the color across the ceiling makes the lounge a more intimate space. Handsome black trim adds a modern aspect to the room," says Ashcraft. Photograph by Michael A. Muller.

Above: "White elements like the marble tabletops and the fireplace wall (not to mention the albino peacock) bounce light around and also balance the dark elements," she says. Photograph by Michael A. Muller.

Above: Eve Ashcraft's paint palette shows how indigo can work with other colors (clockwise from top L): Eddie Bauer/Valspar Basin Blue EB41-1, National Trust for Historic Preservation Hotel St. Francis Spirit Blue 5010-10, Pratt & Lambert Spanish Blue 25-16, Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue HC-156, Farrow & Ball Railings No. 31, Benjamin Moore Winter White 2140-70, Ralph Lauren Studio White UL53, Ralph Lauren Amalfi Red IB60, Benjamin Moore Neon Red 2087-10, Fine Paints of Europe Select Collection #9340, Benjamin Moore Black Satin 2131-10, Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue HC-155, Benjamin Moore Marine Blue 2059-10.