It takes a bit of daring to paint a ceiling black; if we lived in a space with lofty ceilings and intricate mouldings, we'd be tempted.

Color experts say a dark ceiling helps make a cavernous space feel more intimate; if you're not ready for a full-on noirish effect, charcoal gray is another moody shade to consider.

Above: Black floors and ceilings from 47 Park Avenue.

Above: A wood ceiling stained black in the loft of Dutch designer Paula Leen.

Above: Details are painted black on the ceiling of the Sankt Oberholz Hotel in Berlin.

Above: Anna of Door Sixteen was a trailblazer when she painted her bath ceiling black a few years ago (she used Olympic Knights Armor eggshell); "By painting the upper portion of the walls and ceiling black, I was able to give the room a greater feeling of width and space," she says.

Above: A black ceiling the bathroom of Maliin Stoor via Emma's Design Blogg.

Above: A black painted ceiling and medallion from 47 Park Avenue.

Above: An otherwise white, bright kitchen with a contrasting black ceiling in a Madrid loft; photo via Kikette.

Above: A warehouse transformed into a living space, via OWI.

Above: An antler chandelier topped with red lampshades makes a dramatic counterpoint to the black ceiling; photo via OWI.

Above: A Noguchi Akari lantern and a pitch-dark ceiling add a modern note to this dining room by the McGill Design Group.

N.B.: This post is an udpate; the original story ran on October 13, 2011.

Inspired by Shakespeare's political intrigues and passions, Dutch-born, Sausalito-based artist Hanneke Steenmetz of Studio H created a line of tiles featuring iconic images on limestone.

Steenmetz calls this group of designs the Shakespeare Collection; she's individually silkscreened five iconic images onto tumbled stone tile. The line is part of a group of work for Clé, a newly launched online gallery for artisan tile founded by Deborah Osburn, whose Hearst Castle Collection we featured last year. Each tile is $90. For more, go to Clé.

Above: A skull and crow. Each image is approximately 4 1/2 inches high or wide and is centered on a 12-inch square stone tile.

Above: The cross tile and the Venetian crest tile. The printed tile is sealed with a proprietary finish to protect the image from the elements.

Above: A crown and cross. The images can be printed in four different colors: black, white, gold, or platinum.

Explore More: Tile

Jamie Kidson's grand hacienda-style home in Oakland is possessed by a spirit. But it's not what you think.

The house was built in 1935 by a woman named Grace Bush, who was inspired by the 1917 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego (she had always longed for a Mission Revival-style home, a style popularized in Southern California in the 1930s). The Oakland house she built was a labor of love: she brought in artisans, woodworkers, and ironworkers to design details throughout the interiors. In the garden, Bush's name is spelled out in stones set in the concrete courtyard.

Jamie Kidson, co-owner of Oakland store Atomic Garden, is only the second owner of the home. When she moved in with her family, she was careful to maintain the original fixtures; everything from the dog head door handles to the celestial-themed light fixtures to the details referencing marine navigation. Kidson never met Grace Bush, but after inhabiting her home, she feels a strong connection.

For a look at Jamie's garden, see our post on Gardenista: A Simple Garden in Oakland, Chickens and Bees Included.

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Remodelista.

Above: Kidson in the formal dining room.

Above: "I love portraits," says Kidson, who has been collecting large and small format painting for years.

Above: A portrait above an antique telephone in the living room.

Above: The living room features rich red velvet sofas and dark-stained wood furniture.

Above: An original fixture (Kidson kept all the original lighting throughout the house) hangs above a leather and velvet sofa.

Above: An 18th century painting from the school of Van Dyck that fell out of the high-end auctions: "I picked it up at the second tier collections," Kidson says, "she's the grand dame of the house."

Above: The second part of the kitchen is the working kitchen, where the cooking and large refrigerator live. Former owner Bush had a live-in cook and would take her meals in the breakfast room in the morning, and dinners in the dining room.

Above: The part of the kitchen that traditionally served as the breakfast room was renovated by Kidson. The original room had a large butler pantry sep decided to open it up in order to make the kitchen functional for a family.

Above: A Shaw's Original apron sink and a traditional kitchen faucet.

Above: The breakfast room is where Kidson and her family gather for everyday meals.

Above: Family photos and drawings above the original dining nook.

Above: A clever DIY solution: long leather ties function as curtain pulls in the kitchen.

Above: A telephone nook connects the working kitchen to the hallway.

Above: Original stained glass windows filter light into the stairwell.

Above: A large antique mirror and original torch-inspired lighting in the foyer.

Above: Above the entryway is custom woodwork on the underside of the staircase. Shown here is one of two shepherd sculptures that sit next to their flock of sheep.

Above: A sock monkey sits on an antique chair along the stairwell.

Above: A half-painted chalkboard wall in Kidson's youngest daughter's room.

Above: A basement-level room that maintains its original function as an art room for Kidson's daughters. Former owner Bush designed the room like a cabin; it was where she tumbled rocks and precious stones. The house was built with lightwells on the side to bring natural light into the basement.

Above: A simple sunroom sits just off the master bedroom upstairs.

Above: An Anatolian woven rug hangs from a bed frame that is flanked by antiques: "I have a few things that are my favorite objects – you don't need a lot of furniture—it's the simple things that make me happy."

Above: Layers of textures come from Kidson's collection of antique rugs from local flea markets and eBay.

Above: Kidson preferred to maintain the original bathrooms by rechroming the mercury glass fixtures and hiring skilled plumbers to update the older pipes.

Above: A Mexican blanket covers an outdoor bench in the courtyard, just off the breakfast room.

N.B.: Like Jamie's hacienda-style home? See 70 Spanish-Inspired Homes in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

First and foremost, thinking about the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and about the looming election:

• Here are two ways to donate to victims of Sandy, courtesy of Brownstoner.

• Sarah and Julie got a preview of these quilts, on view at MARCH SF though January 7th.

Above: Admiring the house visit of Dutch knitwear designer Nanna van Blaaderen from Freunde von Freunden; photographed by Mathieu Garnier.

• We're thinking ahead: Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas.

• Christine has been contemplating Old Is New Again.

Above: The change in weather has us thinking about knitting; photograph by Rosa Pomar on Flickr.

• Checking out photos of Reese Witherspoon's Ojai home, currently for sale.

• Alexa has been mixing Triple Crown Blackberry Jam by Inna Jam into yogurt almost daily this week.

• Inspired by Christine's post, our friend Adam sent us these images of cats' paws in the bricks of his 1890s Arts and Crafts house. Ancestors of Mr. Finch's cat Sydney?

• For those in Austin, Texas, Synonym Journal and Domy Books is holding an event on Saturday, November 10.

Meanwhile, on Gardenista:

Above: Janet's obsessed with potting benches—guess what "10 Easy Pieces" we're going to feature next week?

Above: Michelle went to painter Duncan Hannah's new show, The Infatuationist, at Modernism in San Francisco, and admired the artist's work up close. Lost Moorings (L) is one of Hannah's series of imagined book covers. Chabrol (R) offers a compellingly intimate glimpse into strangers' lives. The exhibit runs through Dec. 21. For more, see A Painter at Home: Duncan Hannah in Manhattan.

Above: We're getting a jump on the holiday season with our Winter Gardens Pinboard. Follow us, and we'll repin one or more of your images.

Since we launched our Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory a couple of years ago, our listings have grown to include more than 150 members, including these five new architects and designers:

Above: London firm Stiff + Trevillion renovated Sam Roddick's darkly glamorous house set on the side of Hampstead Heath; see more at Architect Visit: Stiff + Trevillion in Hampstead.

Above: NYC-based Kimberly Peck Architect is a one-woman show with a diverse portfolio. She had the especially tough challenge of turning this 19th-century Catskills barn into an energy-efficient home. For Peck's own insights on the project, see The Architect is In: A Rural Barn Transformed for Modern Living.

Above: San Francisco-based Boor Bridges Architecture designed the new Dropbox office (Lauren Geremia oversaw the interior design). See more Boor Bridges work in Architect Visit: Sightglass by Boor Bridges Architecture.

Above: Rundell Associates was tasked with turning this 10,000 square foot classical building into a contemporary family home. The kitchen is an especially good example of how the thoroughly modern update still capitalizes on the home's original features. Based in London, Rundell is currently opening a second office in St. Petersburg, Russia. For another Rundell update to a period building, see Back to the Future: An Art Deco House in London.

Above: Principal Nils Finne of Seattle-based FINNE Architects was raised in Norway and the United States, and his designs reflect his Scandinavian heritage and Pacific Northwest locale. FINNE renovated this 1950s contemporary house in Seattle to capitalize on the forest views. See more of FINNE Architects' work in our image gallery.

For more inspiration from our roster of architects and designers, visit the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory.

In my starving architecture student days, I worked out that dressing in black was the best way to stretch my hard-earned summer dollars. Cheap clothes invariably looked not so cheap, everything matched, and the added bonus? I managed to pull off a nonchalant elegance (or at least I thought I did). Architecture firm Estudio BaBO shows us it’s no different when it comes to choosing a palette for a house in Patagonia.

Hired by town planners to design high-density housing without an urban feel, Estudio BaBO architects worked within a strict set of planning guidelines that dictated materials, use of color in exterior, and the angles of the roof. By staggering the three individual houses, the architects ensured that each unit enjoys the same level of natural light and garden privacy. The coup de grâce was to clad the wooden houses in black-stained cypress, giving the houses an imposing unified presence. Row housing never looked so good.

Images via Dezeen.

Above: The architects aimed to replicate the effect of the traditional houses in the area, which are painted black.

Above: From window frames to walls, the houses are all built out of wood, except the roof, which is metal.

Above: The architects, who spent time working and living in Norway, are familiar with all-wood construction.

Above: A natural finish cypress is used on the interior trims and stairs.

Above: The angles of the roof required by the planners allow equal access to light.

Above: Upstairs, bedrooms and bathroom sit beneath the slanted ceilings required by the planners. They are lined with with particle board.

Above: Each house has a private garden.

Above: The black-painted cypress wraps around the three houses uniting them into one structure.

Above: An axonometric drawing illustrates the staggered massing of the three houses.

N.B. It's no secret that we're obsessed with black houses. Want to see more? See 10 Modern Houses Gone to the Dark Side.

I've been weaving fabric for some time, but it wasn't until I took a course in basketry from a professional weaver from the Klamath River region that I understood how to weave with wood and reeds. Basketry is one of those skills that is best learned visually, so today, we're offering a video guide to weaving your own basket (in time for the holidays).

If you happen to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, the best resource for basketry materials is The Caning Shop in Berkeley, where you'll find ash wood of varying qualities, plus skilled artists who will recane your wicker chairs and more. You can weave this piece with ash strips (see measurements below) or a less-expensive Reed Splint as well. I chose to paint my basket black (inspired by Jonathan Kline's blackash basket for March in SF) , but you can certainly stain it or paint it a different shade.

Want to give the project a try? See my DIY video for step-by-step instructions (you'll need to source the materials outlined below).

Above: The finished basket painted in a black, high-gloss finish.

Above: The weaving process.

Above: A sharp pair of scissors is a necessity.

Here's what you need:

• 28 strips of ash wood, measuring 24 inches long and a 1/2-inch wide.
• Four longer strips of ash, measuring 60 inches (or alternatively, eight 30-inch pieces).
• Ikebana Scissors ($31.95 from Amazon), or standard gardening shears.
• High Gloss Black Paint.
• Paint Brushes; $1.15 each at Home Depot.
• A Galvanized Tub for soaking the ash wood; $17.32 from Amazon.

Additional Instructions:

• Soak the strips of ash in a tub of water for about 10 minutes prior to weaving (note: soaking time may vary, depending on the quality of the wood).
• To start, line up five strips of ash wood in one direction, and weave over-under, one at a time, with another five strips (see the video above).
• Continue weaving in an even fashion until you have 14 strips lengthwise woven with 14 strips crosswise. My basket measured 14 inches before I began to turn up the sides; this should leave you with five inches of additional length on all four sides.
• Dip your basket in the water to keep it flexible as you continue weaving; you'll need to keep the wood well-soaked (but not over-soaked) in order to turn up the sides.
• When you are ready to weave the edges, began to shape the wood by very gently folding it upwards. Take one of your four 60-inch strips and weave over-under around the edges. This is where you'll want to tightly weave the ash together (as opposed to the open weave of the basket's base).
• Keep turning and strongly manipulating your basket: this is the point when the project requires patience and perseverance.
• To finish the basket (this is my approach, but there are many different methods), tuck each excess strip under and trim with your scissors.

For more instructions and information on basketry, I recommend Willow Basketry for the Very Beginner ($19.65) and The Ultimate Basket Book ($19.95); both available through The Caning Shop and also through Amazon.

N.B.: Looking for more projects? See all of our DIY videos.

Four female designers with similar design DNA (all 2009 Design Academy Eindhoven graduates) decide to share a studio and work together under the name De Intuïtifabriek. Their first project, launched at DMY Berlin, was to combine their individual already existing works into a "Metropolis" of tableware where “vases become buildings, flowers become bridges, bowls become valleys, and spoons become ladders.”

N.B. De Intuïtifabriek recently launched their first collection of slipcast porcelain cups, bowl, and plates at the 2012 Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven; go to De Intuïtifabriek for more information.

Photography by Ine van den Elsen.

Above: The members of De Intuïtiefabriek (L to R); Amba Molly, Carolina Wilcke, Eefiene Bolhuis, and Eva Gevaert.

Above: "We create a pure, precise, and almost fragile feeling, taking the observer into a beautiful new world," the designers say.

Above: "Materials and techniques are a great source of inspiration to us. Designing is all about craftsmanship, the touch of material, and the actual act of making things."

Above: "Our aim is to create perfectly crafted products, from which you can feel the love with which they were made," the designers say.

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Above: Metropolis, a brave new world spread across a landscape of concrete pavement.

N.B. For more tableware ideas, see 267 backposts of Ceramics.

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What's the key to throwing a party with ease? We believe it's having all the essentials stocked and ready. With the holidays approaching, we partnered with our friends at Dyson to bring you these five simple ways to get prepared for the uncoming entertaining season, from cleaning tools to DIY decor.

Above: Add some festive glimmer to your party space by wrapping a large object with holiday string lights. Above L: As seen on Annaleena's Hem, a silvery branch is instantly illuminated. Above R: A gold mirror is glows, as seen on Olof Jakobina. To recreate the look, consider the Starry String Lights; $15 at Restoration Hardware.

Above: Make drinks easily available by setting up a designated bar area with the necessary acoutrements and ice. This Stainless Steel Shiny Ice Bucket will add a glamorous note to any party space; $34.95 at CB2.

Above: If you entertain frequently, consider investing in an extra supply of simple dishes. It's more economical than renting and will ensure you'll have an ample supply in case unexpected guests arrive. The white Caterer's 12-Piece Dinnerware Set includes a dozen dinner plates; $49 from Pottery Barn. For stemware, consider the All-Purpose Wine Glasses from Sur La Table, which can be used for both red and white wines; $39.99 for a set of 12.

Above: It's likely that you'll need some additional seating to accommodate all of your guests. For a quick fix, opt for neutral foldaway chairs that can be taken out and stored according to your needs. The Italian-made Alston Buiani Folding Chair comes in a natural finish; $99 for a set of four from Chairs Fun Store. Another option is the Beechwood Folding Chair, which comes with a festive green half linen seat and back; €98 from Manufactum.

Above: With any party comes the cleanup; keep a few cotton towels handy to wipe up spills and crumbs. The Provencal style Classic Dishtowel is made of natural material sourced in the US; $14 at Raw Materials Design. To avoid stains when serving dishes, consider the classic French Waiter's Apron; $38 at Raw Materials Design.

N.B.: For more ideas on entertaining, see 5 Favorites: Industrial Bar Carts and 10 Easy Pieces: Entertaining Essentials.

Copenhagen restaurant Noma gets a subtle makeover (or maybe we should say makeunder); Danish designers Space Copenhagen have given the interiors a moodier look, with a palette that edges toward black and white.

The renovation took place while the Noma team was in London for the Olympics, so the designers had exactly three weeks to rework the interiors. By introducing new pieces from J.L Molller and a new custom-designed Ren chair and sofa (part of a new collection for Stellarworks), Space moved the look of the interiors "1,000 kilometers north," as owner Rene Redzepi says.

N.B. Go to Restaurant Visit: Noma in Copenhagen to see the restaurant's previous incarnation.

Above: Space introduced new chairs and tables of their own design.

Above: The designers aimed to "protect the honest, earthy feel of the restaurant."

Above: Rough-hewn beams contrast with the new sleek counters and surfaces.

Above: A new pale oak floor runs throughout the restaurant.

Above: Fur pelts and dark fabric drapes provide a softening element.

Above: The understated decor in the dining room allows the food to take center stage.

Above: Reservations must be booked months in advance; flaming torches signify that this will be no ordinary dining experience.

Drawing on the heritage of the surrounding Hudson Valley, Rhinebeck-based Sawkille Co. creates a line of handmade furniture they describe as Rural American Design.

We just got word of the latest additions to their line of enduring modern classics. For information on ordering, contact Sawkille Co. directly.

Above: The Rabbit Bench, Sawkille Co's first backed bench, is made from oxidized cherry with a hand-rubbed oil finish; $3,200.

Above: The Senate Chair boasts a generous and comfortable seat. The seat is 18 inches high and can be used as a dining chair or at a desk; $1,800.

Above: The Senate Chair is Sawkille Co's first arm chair.

Above: The Spindle Table is made from oxidized cherry with a hand-rubbed oil finish. The design is an expansion of Sawkille Co's popular three leg stools; it comes in two heights: the High Spindle Table is $3,100 and the Low Spindle Table is $2,400.

Above: The Low Back Rabbit Chair is a new rendition of what has become a signature Sawkille piece. Here it's shown in solid maple with a blue dye treatment for $1,300.

View more Furniture.

We felt it was appropriate to start off our gift guides by focusing on the caffeinated individual, as holiday preparations require full vigilance.

We have something for the drip coffee devotees, espresso lovers, and siphon coffee fanatics on your list this year.

N.B.: To make sure we've got everyone on your list covered, we're running a new gift guide every weekday from now until Christmas. You can see all of our gift guides to date in our House Gifts section.

Above: Spotted at Bar Jules in San Francisco, the Frieling Polished Stainless Steel French Press has a double-wall construction to keep coffee and hot drinks warm after brewing; $79.95 for the 23-ounce and $94.95 for the 42-ounce from Amazon.

Above: The Hoganas Keramik Coffee Mug with Wooden Saucer is made of stoneware and available in five different colors for £12.95 from The Lollipop Shoppe.

Above: Popularized in the US in the 1960s, the siphon brewing method has made a recent comeback. The Hario Siphon Set is sized for two servings (about 14 ounces of coffee) and includes the stand, filter, bamboo paddle, and Yama bunson burner; $161.99 from Amazon and also available at Blue Bottle Coffee. For more siphon coffee, see our recent post on 5 Favorites: Siphon Coffee Brewers for the Cogniscenti.

Above: The Espresso Maker, at Manufactum in Germany, is made with a stainless steel filter and water holder and porcelain pot. The design boasts thermal and hygienic advantages and the espresso stays hot for longer due to the porcelain's insulation; £72.

There’s an elegant insouciance that we admire in this kitchen in the Netherlands by Dutch textile designer Hellen van Berke, especially in the nonchalant way the colors come together.

After graduating with a degree in graphic design from the Design Academy in Eindhoven, Hellen van Berkel began her career in the fashion industry designing scarves; eventually, she launched her own label Studio Hellen van Berkel specializing in the creative use of textiles. Her offbeat color concepts are in high demand, and it’s easy to see why. For a similar look, we source some of the key colors and materials of her kitchen (spotted on Bloesem).

Photography by Marjon Hoogervorst.

Above: Van Berkel's uses an array of atypical greens to set the tone in her kitchen.

Above: Red accents complement the atypical greens.

Above: Cross-Colors porcelain tile collection comes in Primavera and Oceana.

Above: The backsplash is comprised of 1-by-1-inch mint green mosaic tile; $20.03 per square foot.

Above: Industrial Facility's Knife Rack is made of a simple block of hard-wearing bamboo and sits flush on a wall; £45.

Above: Paddle-handled cutting boards like these Man boards from Canvas add character to any kitchen; $70.

Above: The Lewis Pendant with porcelain socket from Schoolhouse Electric is available with two red cord choices; chevron (as shown) or red; $125.

Above: Red accent colors in a kitchen can be worked in with tea towels. Red Chef's Tea Towels (above L) are $12.84 each, and Morroccan-Inspired Patterned Tea Towel (above R); £9 for two.

Above: Van Berkel's kitchen counters are made of a black hard-wearing composite material; for something similar, consider Nocturne from Corian.

Above: A majestic Elk Antler Mount rides high on van Berkel's kitchen wall.

Above: Colorful still-lifes like the ones van Berkel hangs on her kitchen walls can be found on Etsy; $150.

N.B. Inspired by the colored tiles in Hellen van Berkel's kitchen? See 510 images of Colored Tiles in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

We've been having a bit of a brass moment recently, and we're guess that we aren't the only ones. Here are five of our favorite brass faucets for the kitchen.

Above: The brass Deck-Mounted Faucet with Gooseneck Spout by family-owned UK company Barber Wilson is $716 at Quality Bath. From Trade Secrets: Notting Hill by Charles Mellersh.

Above: For the adventurous, or small-space dweller, Arne Jacobsen's Vola HV1 Mixer, though meant for the lavatory, is available in a brass finish for $1,275; custom order from Danish Design Store.

Above: Newport Brass' East Linear Widespread Faucet in Forever Brass has a solid brass construction as well for $809; contact Newport Brass for a local dealer and also available at Facuet.com.

Above: The Henry Gooseneck Two Hole Kitchen Mixer with Metal Lever Handles is available in unlaquered brass and antique brass for $2,071 from Waterworks.

Above: Rocky Mountain Hardware Deck Mount Faucet in silicone bronze is available with a kitchen side spray option and is $1,890; contact a dealer at Rocky Mountain Hardware.

N.B.: Looking for more brass inspiration? See 51 images of Bronze & Brass Rooms in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

It's always news when London-based Ilse Crawford designs a new project; we've been admiring her quietly luxurious hotel in Stockholm, Ett Hem, since it opened not long ago.

Located in a 1910 manor house designed by architect Fredrik Dahlber, the intimate hotel features "robust, paneled spaces that offer shelter from the harsh winters" on the downstairs level. Upstairs, "the house evokes the summery whiteness and lightness of Carl Larsson's Scandinavian interiors." Go to Ett Hem for more information; to see more of the designer's work, go to Studio Ilse.

Above: A lounge area featuring Crawford's distinctive mix of classics and midcentury pieces, including lighting by Michael Anastassiades. Photo via AD Espana.

Above L: A pair of Wegner Papa Bear chairs. Above R: A shearling-covered Pelikan lounge chair by Finn Juhl. Photo via AD Espana.

Above: The downstairs consists of several distinct reception areas for guests. Image via Studio Ilse.

Above: A brass chandelier and brass cabinet hardware add a note of warmth.

Above: An oval dining table where breakfast is served. Image via Studio Ilse.

Above: A guest suite featuring pieces from Crawford's collection for De Les Espada. Image via Studio Ilse.

Above: One of the 12 guest suites available for rent. Photo via AD Espana.

Above: Throughout the interiors, Crawford uses brass fixtures and fittings for warmth. Photo via AD Espana.

Above: A soaking tub carved out of a single piece of marble.

Above: A daybed for quiet moments. Image via Ett Hem.

Above: A moody bedroom featuring a mix of contemporary and vintage materials such as cane, wood, leather and velvet. Image via Ett Hem.

Above: A glassed-in atrium overlooks a private garden. Photo via AD Espana.

Above: The garden offers a retreat from urban life for guests.

Founded in 1898 by the same family that runs the company today, Denmark-based Dinesen custom makes wood floors featuring unusually wide and long planks. Dinesen sources raw wood—Douglas fir and oak—from "the best forests in Europe, which have been nurtured for generations; the trees we select are between 80 and 120 years old. We make precise, uncompromising demands regarding grains, knots, and structure."

The boards are treated with lye and white floor soap for a pale finish. Not surprisingly, the company counts relentless perfectionists such as John Pawson, Michaelis Boyd Associates, and Anouska Hempel among its adherents. Go to Dinesen for more information.

Above: John Pawson's dining room in London features Dinesen Douglas fir floors.

Above: A Dinesen Douglas fir floor in an apartment by Anouska Hempel.

Above: A private residence in Denmark with Dinesen Douglas fir floors by Anouska Hempel.

Above: A project featuring Dinesen Douglas fir floors by Architekturburo Hellwig Hofmann.

Above: Owners Heidi and Thomas Dinesen at the Dinesen facility in Denmark.

Above: For more inspiring wood flooring materials, see 5,089 images of Wood Floors in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on July 21, 2010.

We recently featured Arborica, the West Marin lumber yard of arborist Evan Shively (see The Ultimate Arborist). Today, we visit his workspace, which features an appropriately rustic, woodsy vibe.

The road leading to Shively's mill is piled sky high with salvaged tree trunks, and his showroom is stacked with slabs of wood. Amid all this sits Shively's small office, a haven away from the din of sawing and chopping outdoors. The simple space is anchored by a desk of Shively's own design, as well as seating made from rough-hewn eucalyptus trunks. For more information, go to Arborica.

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Remodelista.

Above: Shively's desk is made from three pieces of wood; a slab of redwood sourced from a salvaged wine tank, propped on top of two pieces of eucalyptus. The desk legs that serve as the base are eucalyptus. Two halves of a eucalyptus tree (complete with bark) mounted on casters serve as seats (remarkably comfy, may I note).

Above: A steel cabinet and an Eames desk chair add a note of modernism to the space.

Above: The ceiling is made from the same salvaged redwood from a reclaimed wine tank as the desk top. In the summer, when the wood heats up, a gentle smell of wine permeates the air.

Above: A reclaimed chair.

Above: The small wood clad office sits amidst reclaimed wood.

See our previous post on Shively, The World's Best Play Structure.

Check out our Gallery of houses featuring wood or explore more Sustainable Design

Not all white paints are created equal. A number of factors come into play when deciding on the perfect white: the region (Northwest? East Coast? Los Angeles?), the quality of the natural light, the window placement, the size of the room and the height of the ceiling. We consulted a selection of architects from the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory for their go-to white paint picks.

Above: The top choice for an all-purpose white is Benjamin Moore's White Dove (OC-17). San Francisco-based Cary Bernstein calls low-VOC White Dove a "foolproof, livable shade of white." According to John DeForest of DeForest Architects in Seattle, "White Dove is clean and calm, a great backdrop for art." Celeste Robbins of Robbins Architecture in Winnetka, Illinois, is another proponent of Benjamin Moore's White Dove.

Above: The go-to white for Brooklyn-based architect Clay Miller of Bergen Street Studio is Farrow & Ball's White Tie (No. 2002)—a warm. neutral white ("the white of old, pre-brightened, starched cotton," as the company says). Sample pots are available for $7 at Farrow & Ball.

Above: Jim Poteet of Poteet Architects in San Antonio, Texas, says, "Our favorite is Pittsburgh 520-1 Gypsum. It has a tiny amount of gray and a warmth to it that moves it away from pure white. We primarily use eggshell finish on walls and prefer that they be sprayed for a smooth, hard finish."

Above: Malibu-based architect Bruce Bolander uses Dunn Edwards White (DEW 380). "It hits the gallery white pretty well, not too warm or too cool," he says (the paint is available in Dunn Edwards' low-VOC paint line, Enso).

Above: Brooklyn-based Delson or Sherman Architects favor Benjamin Moore's low- and no-VOC paints in either Super White (L) or Decorators White (R, photo via House Beautiful). "Because color is so dependent on context, we always select colors based on the material palette and lighting in each room; the relative amount of gray or yellow is critical. We avoid pink-tinted whites."

Above: Hope Dana of Platt Dana Architects in New York favors a mix of half Benjamin Moore Linen White (above top) and half Benjamin Moore Decorator White for walls, which creates a "warm and consistent color whether it is in shade or sun."

Above: For woodwork, molding, and cabinetry, Dana likes Farrow & Ball's All White (in an enamel oil-base high gloss). Sample pots are available for $7 at Farrow & Ball.

Above: Bay Area architect Ken Linsteadt's"patented favorite" is Benjamin Moore's White Chocolate (2149-70).

Above: A favorite white for Michielli+Wyetzner Architects in New York is Benjamin Moore Atrium White. "We like it because it has a warm, almost reddish tone, as opposed to most whites, which we find either too blue, too icy, or too yellow," Michael Wyetzner says.

Above: Pulltab A+D prefers Fine Paints of Europe in Pantone Bright White (Fine Paints of Europe can specify any Pantone shade); the firm also likes Benjamin Moore's Snowfall White.

Above: For a warm white, Jennifer Weiss of J. Weiss Design in the Bay Area favors LC 43.2 Ivoire from the Polychromie Le Corbusier line from Swiss company kt.Color. "The fan deck itself is brilliant, not just the beauty of the colors, but also the concept (and reality) that they all work together," she says. The paints are available from Aronson's in New York.

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

Working the old-fashioned way, a potter from the Isle of Wight creates fundamental pieces that echo the chalky cliffs and elemental beauty of her native land.

Watching Sue Paraskeva work on her traditional momentum wheel is a bit hypnotic. From the moment the initial lump of clay is cast on the wheel, to the point where the final shaving hit the floor, you can feel the artist's connection to her work as well as to the process by which it is formed. The results are graceful and balanced but also, tactile and dynamic, as satisfying to hold and they are to behold.

Above: Stacked high the porcelain plates and bowls from Paraskeva's Tableware Collection are art in-and-of-themselves; £28 to £50 each.

Above: A serene creamer stands alone. Available by direct order from Sue or at Fen and Ned; £25.

Above: Porcelains beakers and bowls by also Paraskeva are available through Fen and Ned; £20 - £24.

Above: Paraskeva's tablewares, pictured here with a spackled glaze, are also available at Contemporary Ceramics Centre and Contemporary Applied Arts, both in London.

Above: An excerpt from the video of Paraskeva at work by Jamie Isbell.

Above: A piece from a recent art installation. Paraskeva's next show, 'Make, Believe, Make' opens at Portsmouth City Museum December 1. You can see Paraskeva's full exhibit calendar here.

We've admired the humble plumbing pipe reimagined as storage rails ever since we spotted designers Roman and Williams using the industrial piping in the bathrooms of the Ace Hotels. Indestructible plumbing pipe is perfect for hanging towels, curtains, kitchen pots, or the coats and bags that can overwhelm an entry.

Above: The bathrooms at the Ace Hotels in Portland, New York and Palm Springs incorporate bath hooks, towel bars, and toilet roll holders made by Roman and Williams from powder-coated plumbing pipe.

Above: The 18-Inch Plumbing Pipe Storage Bar can be used as a towel bar with or without hooks (the set of Vintage French Butcher Hooks is $60). Made with recycled 1/2-inch diameter steel plumbing pipe and fittings that are hand finished with an ebonized rust patina with a moisture-resistant protective satin clear-coat finish; $135 from Flea Market Rx.

Above: Flea Market Rx offers the vintage plumbing pipe bars in a variety of lengths, including the 24-Inch Plumbing Pipe Storage Bar shown here working as an entry coat rack; $140.

Above: West Elm's Industrial Pipe Curtain Rods are available in rubbed iron or brushed nickel finishes. Offered in two adjustable sizes: 22 to 48 inches and 44 to 108 inches; $69 and $99 respectively.

Above: Wire & Twine sells an Industrial Toilet Roll Holder for $45. For more ideas on creating an industrial bath space, see Steal This Look: Ace Hotel Bath.

Explore more images of Industrial Spaces in our Gallery.