We've been exploring the Life Aquatic all week, and Gardenista has, too: oyster-shell driveways, backyard water features, and DIY seaweed prints. We're on board.

Above: This beach cabana is one of 10 rental cottage designed by Kust Architects and planted on the North Sea, 34 miles southwest of Amsterdam. While we all plot a way to get there, Dalilah sleuthed the elements to Steal This Look.

Above: The perfect botanicals for a summer house? Justine's DIY: Pressed Seaweed Prints are our kind of project. Step 1: Head to the beach. 

Above: "You don't have to live in a lighthouse or regularly battle stormy weather on dark nights to appreciate wharf-inspired outdoor fixtures," says Sarah. Her 10 Easy Pieces: Black Wharf Lights includes this matte design from John Lewis.

Above: Hardscaping 101 is devoted to Seashell Paths and Driveways, a natural ground cover that crunches underfoot (and provides an excuse to eat a lot of oysters and clams). Photograph via Kathryn Aalto Landscapes.

Above: Your yard could look like this—Dublin plantswoman Helen Dillon's canal and pond, which she introduced in place of lawn. It's one of 10 Gardens with Reflecting Pools gathered from the Gardenista Photo Gallery.

Go more of this week's Gardenista, go to Life Aquatic.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Bathing en Plein Air: 29 Outdoor Summer Showers
• The Best Summer Beach Towels
• Object Lessons: The Nautical Hammock

One sure sign of summer in my family: Aunt Sheila coming in from the flats carrying a bag full of razor clam shells. These she employs to add texture throughout her house, most famously on a living-room shelf (seen here and in the Remodelista book. 

I suppose it was inevitable, then, that the rest of the family would get into the game. Recently, I decided to try my hand at making a pendant lamp with a razor clam shade inspired by the porcelain sculptures I spotted at Parma Lilac. The next time Sheila headed to the beach, I tagged along.

Read on for a list of materials and step-by-step instructions:

Photography by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

Above: First, go to the beach and collect many razor clams. Here, Uncle Mon holds a day's haul. This is about as many as you'll need.

To avoid confusion, let me clarify: On the East Coast, what we call razor clams (because their elongated shape resembles that of an old-fashioned razor) are actually Atlantic jackknife clams, Ensis directus. These are to be distinguished from Pacific razor clams, which are more oval in form. Atlantic jackknife clams are found all along the East Coast. Or you can buy the clams fresh, cook a nice meal and save the shells.

Materials

• Clean razor clam shells
• Small rotary drill (I used the Master Mechanic Rotary Tool Kit from True Value; $12.97)
• Scrap board on which you can drill
• A pendant fixture, such as a Matte Black Bare Bulb Pendant Light; $99 from Etsy
• Light wire
• Clippers 

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the shells. If your finds are already bleached by the sun, great. More than likely, though, they'll need some help. Luckily, all this requires is time. I laid out mine for a couple weeks on my sunny deck until the brown bits had dried up enough to be easily scraped off, leaving pristine white shells. If you don't want to wait, use bleach and a scrub brush.

Above: Supplies: drill, scrap board, wire, clams.

Step 2: You'll need a diamond-point bit to drill through the thick shells without shattering them. I bought a Dremel 7134 Diamond Wheel Point ($5.03 at Ace Hardware). Get two, in case one wears out.

I set my drill at Level 3, then placed the bit about 1/4 inch from the end of the shell. I didn't bother to measure because I wanted a random look.

Above: Be sure your shells are all facing the same way when you make the holes so that the finished lamp will lie right. Drilling all the holes took no more than 10 minutes.

Step 3: Cut a 2-foot section of wire and thread it through the holes one shell at a time, making sure they're all facing in the same direction.

Above: A few shells done; many more to go.

Above: I strung two sets to make a double-layered pendant. You can also make a single layer.

Step 4: Though any fixture will do, I chose a vintage-style Matte Black Bare Bulb Pendant Light with a cloth cord from Etsy seller Hammers & Heels. You could also choose a cage pendant for this project. 

Step 5: Spread the shells along the wires so they're evenly spaced. Wrap the first layer around the light and twist the ends of the wire to secure them. Fasten the second layer so it sits slightly higher than the first. Trim the wire ends and hang near an outlet.

The Finished Look

Above: My lamp emits a soft glow.

Above: Fittingly, I gave my first razor clam lamp to Aunt Sheila. Here it perfectly complements the shiplap siding in her guest room.

Above: A detail of the textured clam shells.

Looking for more projects from beach finds? See my Gardenista DIYs on How to Turn Flotsam and Jetsam Into Wall Art and Pressed Seaweed Prints. Also have a look at Julie's favorite ways to use Beach Stones as Decor.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Nautical Hardware: 7 Cleats for Home Use
• Trend Alert: 8 Yellow-Painted Floors
• A Finnish Design Fete: Tiina's Midsummer Table

Is there any greater luxury than bathing outdoors? Little more is needed than a shower head and a modest enclosure (ideally one that offers a glimpse of the sea).  We combed through the many outdoor showers we've come across over the years and selected the most memorable. Here's our top 29: 

Above: LA interior designer Alexandra Angle's Fire Island Beach House project includes an outdoor shower on the back deck.

Above: A minimalist outdoor shower in Montauk designed by New York firm Murdock Young. For more, see our Steal This Look on the shower.

Above: A shower in the back of Summerhouse Skåne designed by LASC Studio from our post Shocking Color in a Swedish Summer House.

Above: A concrete-and-wood guest house by Rockefeller Partners Architects has an outdoor shower tucked into the nook of a staircase.

Above: An outdoor shower in the back of a black-wood house in Dacha, Russia, designed by Bureau Bernaskoni Architects. Photograph via Arch Daily.

Above: An outdoor shower and bathroom at a pool house in Charleston, South Carolina, designed by architect Heather Wilson. See more at Steal This Look: An Outdoor Pool Pavilion, Shower Included.

Above: A minimal outdoor shower on the side of Tom Givone's farmhouse from our post A Floating Farmhouse in Upstate New York.

Above: A poolside outdoor shower and changing room from blog Scandinavian Retreat.

Above: A rustic setup at the Hotel Azúcar in Veracruz, Mexico.

Above: An outdoor shower in the Melbourne home of documentary film producer Romy Sormann featured in Inside Out Magazine via Desire to Inspire.

Above: An outdoor shower in the Western Australia home of interior designer and founder of Share Design, Shareen Joel. Photograph via Share Design.

Above: A simple outdoor shower in a house on Seattle's Salmon Bay featured on Dwell.

Above: A tumbleweed-clad outdoor shower at the Atlantic Byron Bay resort in Australia.

Above: A rustic outdoor shower and bathtub photographed by Seth Smoot.

Above: A long favorite feature of ours from Elle Decor: Sarah Jessica Parker's outdoor shower made from plumbing pipe and marine-grade blue fabric. See our Steal This Look from 2010 for sources.

Above: A bamboo fence creates an enclosed outdoor shower at a beach house in the Bahamas. See more in our recent post, Island Life: At Home with Tom Scheerer.

Above: An outdoor shower is tucked between a bathhouse and camper trailer from our Gardenista Outbuilding of the Week: A Retro '60s Camper, Outdoor Bathhouse Included.

Above: An outdoor shower in Los Angeles designed by Michaela Scherrer. For a tour of her own home, pick up a copy of our book, Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.

Above: An outdoor shower hidden on the side of a house in Reykjavik, Iceland, designed by Minarc Architects. Photograph via Arch Daily.

Above: An outdoor shower on the back porch of the Ecca Lodge at private game reserve Kwandwe in South Africa.

Above: A shower overlooking the coast in a Shelter Island house designed by Suzanne Shaker and Tamarkin Co. featured on Dwell.

Above: A shower in the back of a Swedish summerhouse built by Kontur Architkter. 

Above: The lone shower in a house on Salt Island in British Columbia designed by Olson Kundig Architects. See more in our post A Master Architect Builds a Tiny Cabin in the Pacific Northwest.

Above: A tiny concrete shower enclosure at Mankas Inverness Lodge in West Marin, California.

Above: A partially-enclosed outdoor shower and bath in the back of a house in Denmark from Bo Bedre magazine.

Above: An outdoor shower and pool house at the home of Wojtek and Frances Orzechowski, two surfers who live in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Photograph via House and Leisure.

Above: An outdoor shower designed by Bosworth Hoedemaker Architects.

Above: An outdoor shower at a forest retreat featured in Pure Green Magazine.

Above: An outdoor shower in the back of a black beach house in Merricks, Australia. Photograph via Share Design.

Prefer a bath to a shower? Have a look at our post on Gardenista, 5 Favorites: Outdoor Bathtubs. Geared up for summer? Sift through our curated feed of Summery Rooms in our Gallery of images and spaces.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trending on Gardenista: Water, Water (But Not Everywhere)
• The Best Summer Beach Towels
• Object Lessons: The Nautical Hammock

It's finally time to get to summer reading. Here's a look at the books—plus reading paraphernalia—on our list.

• Above: Edited by Joanne Dugan, Summertime is a "photography book about the essence of summer" with images by 46 photographers from around the world. Cover photograph by Cig Harvey.
• A balancing bookshelf that allows you to measure how many books you've finished versus how many are wait to be read.
• One of Meredith's favorite magazines right now is Frame, a design periodical from Amsterdam.

• Our favorite book bag? The Ballast Bookbag from Erik Heywood of Oakland, CA's Book/Shop is made from 1930s Belgian canvas and Japanese vegetable-tanned leather.
• Weekend project: DIY bookshelf.
• We're only halfway through 2014, but so far here are the best graphic design books of the year.
• A British magazine about makers and doers.

• Above: Margot and Alexa are both looking forward to the new collaborative work, Women in Clothes, by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits, and Leanne Shapton.
• Attention print and pattern enthusiasts: you must read The Print Revolution.
• We're still pouring over 300 pages of DIYs and design ideas from our friends at Young House Love.

• Above: The perfect beach chair? The Tra an Doilin Deck Chair from Gallant & Jones.
• Dalilah just picked up Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell. (The insomniacs among us are reading Russell's new novella, Sleep Donation.)
• ABCDCS: David Collins is a new coffee table book from the portfolio of the late Irish architect and designer.
• What's better—the book or the movie? Here's a roundup of good reads slated for the big screen.

For more from this week on Remodelista, take a look at The Life Aquatic, and don't miss Gardenista's week of water in the garden.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Sneak Preview: Entries to the Remodelista Considered Design Awards
• 10 Summer Essentials Made from Recycled Sails
• Tie One On: Dutch Ceramic Lights from Folklore

Architects Lisa Chadbourne and Daren Doss of Seattle firm Chadbourne + Doss—members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory—were searching for coastal property on which to build when they fell for Alderbrook Station, a century-old abandoned fish packing plant. A relic of Astoria, Oregon's salmon industry, the compound is a registered historic marine complex consisting of three primary structures built on piles along the Columbia River. The couple use the 15,000 square-foot three-story warehouse, the Netshed, as an event space for parties and exhibitions; they rent out the Bunkhouse, a 450-square-foot cabin; and they transformed the 2,500 square-foot Boathouse into their own vacation getaway. Join us for a house tour and learn how the architects kept the original river spirit of the building intact.

Photography by Don Frank Photography, unless otherwise noted.

Above: The exterior of the historic building had to remain intact, but additions were allowed. The architects introduced new siding, windows, doors, skylights, a deck and ramp, and a standing seam metal roof. Go to Hardscaping 101: Standing Seam Metal Roofs to learn about the favored roofing material of Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory members. 

Above: The boathouse has a long kitchen with soaring ceilings. Cheerful yellow chairs surround a table topped with an artist's rendition of the Columbia River protected by glass. 

Above: The floors and walls are stained plywood; the highlighted graining references the patterns of a flowing river. "On the interior we were concerned with using materials and finishes that are suitable to the industrial context, but that also serve to evoke the mood of the place," Chadbourne says. Douglas Fir planks from old docks on the property were put to use as window and door trims and built-in benches with shelves for firewood.

Above: Tarred seine rope (commonly used for seine fishing nets) has been laced through the blackened-steel stair railing to create a guardrail. 

Above: The existing post-and-beam structure of the boathouse is exposed at the entry to the bedrooms.

Above: A deck extends off the living/dining area and a wood walkway connects the Boat House to the Netshed.

Above: Alderbrook Station was built in the early 1900’s as part of the Union Fisherman's Co-operative Packing Company, a group of Scandinavian fishermen, that organized one of the country's earliest cooperatives. "We heard that the fishermen originally stored their sailboats in the Netshed, but when the boats became motorized, they kept starting fires, so the fisherman built the Boat House," says Chadbourne.

Above: The Netshed, once used to repair and store fishing nets, now hosts events, including an award-winning art installation by Sarah Biemiller and Robert Hutchinson.

Above: Alderbrook Station is in a protected lagoon, making it the perfect spot for kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, and boating. Photograph by Daren Doss.

Above: A plan of the first floor of the Boat House. 

Above: The lagoon was originally filled with docks and net racks that extended out beyond the train trestle and into the river.

Above: The Boat House was built in 1910; this image was most likely taken during its construction.

Share our enthusiasm for boathouses? See A Boathouse with Royal Connections and 5 Favorites: Summer Boathouse Roundup. And Gardenista's Outbuilding of the Week is A Norwegian Love Shack, a one-room cabin at the edge of a fjord. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• On the Waterfront: A Boathouse in Texas
• Summer Escape: A Seaside Rental in Cornwall
• Rehab Diary: The Ultimate Houseboat in NYC

If you haven't prepared your entry to the 2014 Remodelista Considered Design Awards, there's still time to grab your camera and get snapping. But you only have 10 more days to submit your project.

Insider Tip: The categories with the fewest submissions so far are Best Bedroom Space and Best Office Space in both the amateur and professional contests. So if you submit to one of these categories, you up your chances of winning. 

Here's a sneak preview of some of the entries we've received so far, followed by the full list of Remodelista categories. (You can see all contest entries as soon as they're submitted on the Remodelista Awards page.)

Remodelista Awards Categories

Open to Professionals

• Best Kitchen Space
• Best Living/Dining Space
• Best Bedroom Space
• Best Office Space
• Best Bath Space

Open to Amateurs

• Best Kitchen Space
• Best Living/Dining Space
• Best Bedroom Space
• Best Office Space
• Best Bath Space

Click here for rules, prizes, and FAQ; see our roster of guest judges; and enter the contest by July 7.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Current Obsessions: Summer Reading List
• 10 Summer Essentials Made from Recycled Sails
• Tie One On: Dutch Ceramic Lights from Folklore

To celebrate the start of July, we've rounded up the ingredients for easy summer gatherings: screened porches, string lights, parade stools, and cocktails dispensed from roving bicycles and Citroën vans. Embarking on a remodel? Stay tuned for a DIY ranch house makeover and a primer on solar paneling.

Above: Grab a seat in a greenhouse. Photograph of Beetlebung Farm by Lizzie Garrett from A Starlit Greenhouse Dinner, Martha's Vineyard Edition.

Monday

Above: Izabella rounds up 10 essentials for a summer block party (or barbecue or picnic or backyard gathering).

Tuesday

Above: There's no nicer place to be right now than a screened porch. One of our favorites belongs to architects Calvin Tsao and Zack Mckown of Tsao & Mckown—it's Tuesday's Steal This Look.

Wednesday

Above: Of all the countless ways to shoo away flies, this curious contraption wins the beauty prize. All will be revealed in Wednesday's Accessories post.

Thursday

Above: In Thursday's Remodeling 101, Christine presents the latest word on solar paneling, including how much sunshine is required. This Maine house has solar panels and a standing seam metal roof.

Friday

Above: Where to source well-made US flags, new and vintage? Watch for our July 4 roundup.

Have a look at Gardenista—they're also throwing a Block Party this week.

Behind in your Remodelista reading? Peruse all of our Back Issues, and see what we're up to on Pinterest.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 9 Folding Camp Stools for Parade Watching
• Object Lessons: The Adirondack Chair
• 10 Favorites: Festive Bunting for the Fourth of July

Entertaining in the summer is all about being relaxed and outdoors. It's a realistic strategy in predictable climes, but in some parts of the world (such as the UK), changeable weather and entertaining outdoors don't always translate into easy and relaxed. That's when architecture can save the day. This Victorian in Beckenham, on the outskirts of London, has been artfully remodeled with materials that bring in the sun by interior designer Jamie Blake of Blakes London. And the heart of the house is a kitchen/dining area with a new conservatory that makes every meal feel like a garden party.

Images via Light Locations.

Above: The kitchen's glass conservatory extension marries indoors and out. Custom shades diffuse the light evenly across the dining area, and when clouds come in, the shades can be rolled up. 

Above: An herb planter is cleverly inset in the marble-topped kitchen island.

Above: The white brick kitchen is completely open to the dining area; the two areas are gracefully linked by a spindle-back wooden bench.

Above: The kitchen's palette is sophisticated and summery: whitewashed floors are paired with reclaimed wood cabinets and Carrara marble countertops and backsplash. Charcoal gray upper cabinets anchor the composition.

Above: A pair of adjustable vintage industrial lights provides task lighting.

Above: A detail we haven't seen before: glass fronted cabinets with tiled interiors.

Above: A trio of vintage factory lights illuminates the dining table.

Above: Dinnerware in white and gray.

Above L: Texture plays a great part in keeping the neutral palette warm. In the library, charcoal-gray walls gain depth via a square lattice. Above R: The same charcoal gray is used in the kitchen's overhead cabinets, which are glazed to keep a transparent and airy feel; their interior white tiles introduce another layer of texture.

Above: Contrasting with the charcoal gray, the library's books bring color into the room. LIke the look? See Black Magic: Architects' Top 8 Paint Picks. And for an instant library, see 10 Easy Pieces: Bookshelf-Printed Wallpaper.

Above: In the living room, light-colored neutral furnishings and walls are grounded by dark wood floors.

Above: The square lattice detail in the living room has a more traditional look than on the walls of the library.

Above: The master bedroom is designed in the soothing tones of driftwood. The upholstered headboard rests against a wall paneled with whitewashed reclaimed wood; the wood floor, too, has been been lightened. To get started on your own whitewashed floors, see our recent Remodeling 101: Easy Whitewashed Scandi Floors.

Above: A detail of the paneled wall.

Above: Lattice work reappears, this time in an outsized pattern, in the master bathroom across the hall.

Above: The sink is set in a vintage wood basin stand. 

Above: The pale green/gray lattice wall serves as a textured backdrop for a claw-footed tub. (If you're looking for an old-fashioned tub, see 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Freestanding Bathtubs.)

Above L: A partition provides storage while creating separate bathing and shower areas. Above R: The white-tiled shower has a dramatic black shower head. In High/Low Black Kitchen Faucet, we take a look at more black plumbing fixtures.

If you like the look of this house, we have more to show you: UK interiors stylist Twig Hutchinson uses a similar palette in Designer Visit: Rough, Rustic and Refined, and another of our favorite London remodels relies on The Power of Pastels.  Over on Gardenista, Texas architects Clayton & Little (members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory) create a modern version of a Victorian landmark in Outbuilding of the Week: Travis Heights Art Studio.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Weekend Spotlight: Columbia River Boathouse Revival
• On the Waterfront: A Boathouse in Texas
• Summer Escape: A Seaside Rental in Cornwall

From Antwerp design company Xala, Goldilocks-style household essentials: watering cans that are extra large and extra-small, and a bucket that's just right. They're made of non-toxic HDPE, high-density polyethylene plastic. True, we generally avoid plastic, but in this context, it's undeniably practical: lightweight, well detailed, and designed to last, cottage in the woods not required.

Above: Xala specializes in basics for the house and garden that are manufactured in Belgium and the Netherlands. Designer Sylvain Willenz conceived the "archetypal bucket—elegant and well proportioned." The Lungo Watering Can, designed by Davy Groseman, takes its shape from old-fashioned coffee pots. 

Above: The Lungo Watering Can holds 12 liters and comes in five colors: navy, pale green, pink, yellow, and white. It's available from Neo-Utility for $35.

Above: The Drop Bucket is available in navy, yellow, pale green, and red, and has contrasting metal handles; $25 each from Neo-Utility.

Above: The Drop Bucket has a 13-liter capacity. A subtle exterior "evaporating bubble" pattern makes it easier to grip.

Above: Sized for small plants, the Bowli Watering Can holds 2.5 liters of water.

For household basics, peruse our Domestic Science posts, including 10 Best Old-World Household Essentials. More Watering Cans? Gardenista has you covered.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 9 Folding Camp Stools for Parade Watching
• Object Lessons: The Adirondack Chair
• 10 Favorites: Festive Bunting for the Fourth of July

We've rounded up the essentials that will help you get ready for the Fourth of July and all the summer festivities to come.  

Above: We love burlap tablecloths indoors and out in summer.  A Rectangular Burlap Tablecloth, 72 inches by 40 inches, is $23.99 via Burlap Fabric. You can also make your own by buying burlap yardage, hemming not essential. Photo via Afloral.

Above: A winning alternative to paper and plastic: Compostable Wooden High-Edge Plates; $20 for 20 from Food 52's online store, Provisions.

Above: A set of Classic Compostable Wooden Assorted 24-Piece Birchware consists of eight forks, eight knives, and eight spoons; $5.25 from Birchware. Photo via the Knot. 

Above: Mydrap cotton napkins are sold by the roll and come in different sizes, colors, and patterns. They're biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable—and can be washed and reused. The Blue Vichy luncheon napkin in a blue gingham pattern is $30 for a roll of 20 from Mydrap. 

Above: Eight-ounce Ball Mason Jars are $12.60 for a dozen from Uline. Pair them with reusable Stainless Steel Straws: $7.70 for a four-pack via Amazon. Looking for wine glasses for a crowd? See 10 Easy Pieces: Entertaining Essentials.

Above: The Cork-Lid Beverage Dispenser is made of hand-blown glass and has a stainless steel spout; $79.95 from Williams-Sonoma. See 10 Easy Pieces: 10 Summer Drink Dispensers for more options.

Above: Prehaps the ultimate cooler? The 3.5 gallon Galvanized Oval Tub by Dover Parkersburg is $10.99 from Main St. Supply. The tub is featured in the Remodelista 100, our collection of essential everyday objects presented in the Remodelista book.

Above: Looking for versatile table legs? Hide-A-Horse Folding Sawhorses are easy to fold and transport, and are made in the US; $89.95 for a two-pack from Amazon. For a tabletop, consider asking your local hardware store to cut a sheet of plywood in the size you need.

Above: The Terje Foldable Chair is made from solid beech; $17.99 from Ikea. 

Above: Add twinkly, golden lights, and let the party begin.  Party Globe Light Strings come with small globes (21 feet long with 20 lights) and large globes (11 feet long with 10 lights); they're currently on sale for $35 each from Restoration Hardware. Go to 10 Easy Pieces: Cafe-Style Outdoor String Lights for more ideas. 

Looking for more tabletop essentials? Have a look at our posts on Stainless Steel Flatware and Basic White Dinnerware.  And for creative party planning advice, see Gardenista's How to Crowd Source a Garden: Throw a Party.  

More Stories from Remodelista

• Steal This Look: The Perfect Screened Porch
• Bathing en Plein Air: 29 Outdoor Summer Showers
• Trending on Gardenista: Water, Water (But Not Everywhere)

Aside from Pimm's, what drink could be more Brit than a gin and tonic? While spending a few weeks working in London, I got wind of gin being dispensed from a bike. With a little investigation, I discovered The Travelling Gin Company (TGC).

Ed Godden and Joe Lewis describe their venture as "a pop-up drinks project." The idea came about as a lark: On a cycling trip to Amsterdam, Lewis and his college friends suited up in what Lewis calls "old English gents' attire." Lewis, who was pedaling an old butcher's delivery bicycle, attached a spirit optic to the front of the bike frame and stacked the front basket with—what else?—that most English of tipples, gin. When they stopped for the evenings at various sites, he offered G & T's to his mates from his bicycle bar, and the business accelerated from there.

And accelerated it has. The Travelling Gin Company has been spotted at fashionable venues throughout the city and beyond: it has dispensed drinks at festivals, markets, parties, and weddings all over London, and at the happening Michelberger Hotel in Berlin. Read on for a recipe for their G & T alternative, The Foghorn.

Above: Joe and Ed, each sporting aprons from Labour and Wait. Joe wears the Waist Apron with Pocket; £32 and Ed, the Bib Apron; £42.

Above: A butcher's bike with basket and a fruit crate on the back for carrying supplies. An enamel utility pail serves as an ice bucket.

Above: Gin shots dispensed from a bottle attached to the handlebars. Ed tells us, "We try to mix up our service and use of products as much as possible to keep the concept fresh and interesting; we don't just use Gordon's and Schweppes for our mixers" (the original G & T combo). Their tipple of choice? "Sipsmith is really great, a very popular choice. We've really been getting into the Bathtub Gin from Master Of Malt, which we served at the London Festival of Architecture—it's made in limited edition batches so we try and get well stocked up." The VL92 is also on their radar.

Above L:  Tonic on ice in a metal bucket. Above R: Slices of lemon and lime are kept in jars.

Above: According to Ed and Joe, "The tonic water is as important as the gin in our view. A 50:50 mix can often be just right when using the right ingredients. Fentimans make an excellent tonic water."

Above: The Travelling Gin Company has lately been concocting drinks in honor of the World Cup. They also make a great Foghorn, a gingery alternative to a G & T: "It's a very simple cocktail, but we can't recommend it enough."

The TGC Foghorn

On ice:
Strong 40 ml shot of gin
10 ml fresh lime juice
Top with ginger ale (ginger beer works nicely, too)
Throw in a lime wedge to finish

Bottoms up!

More summer refreshment? Have a look at our 10 Easy Pieces: Summer Drinks Dispensers.

N.B.: This is the first in a series: every day this week we'll be spotlighting an inspired food or drinks business on wheels.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on July 23, 2012.

More Stories from Remodelista

• A Seattle Oyster Bar on Wheels
• A Design-Minded Guide to Las Vegas
• Westward Ho in Seattle

A screened porch sets the stage for the perfect summer evening: lazy, breezy, and ideally accompanied by a glass of wine and a group of fellow lollers. The best part? No insects allowed.

Architects Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown's screened porch at their weekend place in Rhinebeck, New York, stands out as a model of the form. When the two renovated their house, a farmer's cottage, they introduced a pleasing blend of green walls (so dark they border on Gothic) and midcentury Danish antiques. We studied the ingredients that make Tsao & McKown's porch so appealing and sourced the key elements. Whether or not you happen to have a porch, here's how to create a similar indoor/outdoor look.

N.B.: For our Steal This Look on the interior of the house, see Danish Modern in Upstate New York.

Above: From a distance, the exterior wash of forest green paint reads as almost black. Photograph by Richard Powers for Tsao & McKown Architects.

Above: A welcoming collection of mismatched antiques. Photograph by Richard Powers for Tsao & McKown Architects.

Above: Sculptural wood bowls and other pieces work well with the wooden furniture. Photograph by Richard Powers for Tsao & McKown Architects.

The Essentials

Above: The screened porched is a mix of dark green paint colors. Recreate the palette with Benjamin Moore's Cedar Path 454 on the walls and ceiling, and Farrow & Ball's Studio Green, an almost black green, as an accent color. For more options, have a look at our Gardenista post Seeing Green: Architects Pick the Best Exterior Green Paints.

Above: A favorite freestanding stove, the Rais Gabo Wood Stove, has a curved front and a well-sealed firebox that ensures optimal combustion control. It incorporates a convection grate above the combustion chamber and wood storage space underneath. Available in black or gray steel; $3,890. Contact Rais to locate a dealer near you. For other options see 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding Wood Stoves.

Above: A series of six porcelain ceiling mount fixtures illuminate the screened porch at night. We like Schoolhouse Electric's Alabax Small Surface Mount Fixture, handmade in Portland, Oregon; $85 each.

The Furniture

Above: The Mc & Co Daybed, designed by Corinne Gilbert & Dan McCarthy, is made of 1-inch-thick unfinished cedar; it can also be custom ordered in ash, oak, walnut, and pine. It's 40 inches deep, 27 inches tall, and 76 inches wide, and fits a twin-size futon. Pricing starts at $3,900 without a futon, and $4,200 with a premium futon. For more options, see High/Low: The Modern Wooden Daybed.

Above: A handmade rawhide snowshoe rocking chair can we sourced from a variety of sites; this vintage Vermont Tubbs Snowshoe Chair is available on 1st Dibs. Two other sources are Snow Source, and Iverson Seek Wilderness (which also offers upright snowshoe chairs).

Above: DWR's Skagen Nesting Tables, inspired by midcentury designs by Arne Hovmand-Olsen, are made of solid walnut; $578 for the set.

The Accessories

Above: West Elm's Solid Silk Hand-Loomed Pillow Covers in an array of muted neutrals are currently on sale for $44 each.

Above: From LA design firm Commune, Kilim Pillows are made from reclaimed kilim rugs; contact Commune for pricing and availability.

Above: This natural Linen Bolster Pillow comes in 16 colors; $75 from Lovely Home Idea on Etsy.

Above: From Signature Hardware, the Brilliant Stainless Steel Watering Can with Brass Accents is $49.95.

Above: Blackcreek Mercantile's hand-turned Sugar Maple Salad Bowl is 14.5 inches in diameter; $315 from March in San Francisco.

Above: The BDDW Firewood Holder is made of steel and canvas, and comes with a bundle of scrap wood from the furniture company's studio; contact BDDW for more information and pricing.

Above: Tsao and McKown sourced a vintage iron doorstop. An alternate is the Tetu Iron River Stone Door Stopper in cast iron, designed by Japanese architect Makoto Koisumi; $69 CAD from Mjölk in Toronto. The doorstop is also at Anaïse in California for $70.

For more screened porches, see Gardenista's Summer Screened Porch Roundup. And how about a porch for the night? See 5 Screened Sleeping Porches. Tsao and McKown head up the firm Tsao & McKown Architects. Have a look at the multi-generational gathering place they designed for Tsao's family in our post Common Ground: A Chinese-Style Family Compound in California.

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Throwing a party or looking for some simple summer wall decor? In Britain, bunting signifies bacchanalia, and we're taking a page out of their book. Here are 10 good options for the Fourth of July enthusiast.

Above: Recycled Sailcloth Great British Bunting by the Reefer Sail Company; $54.46 from Not on the High Street.

Above: For purists, Terrain's Linen Banner Garland is fashioned from simple, undyed fabric with jute ties; $14 for a set of six.

Above: Handmade in Europe, Lovely Home Idea's Linen Fabric Banner Bunting is designed to be tied together in the order of your choice; $5 each.

Above: This Blue and White Fabric Bunting Banner is $24.18 from Piggy and Squirrel on Etsy.

Above: Emma Lamb's crocheted Flower and Polka Dot Garlands can be used anywhere; $65.

Above: A 5-foot-long Patriotic Bunting Garland is $20 from Elizabeth Nicole on Etsy.

Above: You don't have to wait for a party to unfurl your bunting. Maisy and Alice's Paper Garland in Black in White is $23 for 15 feet.

Above: Terracotta Red Country Cotton Bunting from UK crafter Sophie Made is 3 meters long; £15.95.

Above: The By Sea Garland is $12 (down from $22) at Bhldn.

Above: Dutch designer Ingrid Jansen crochets a number of vibrant bunting banners for her company, Wood & Wool Stools. Available on Etsy, each Wood and Wool Garland includes 10 flags connected by jute rope; $49.

N.B. Garlands are among out favorite DIY projects. Learn how to make a Wire Garland from Found Objects, a Dried Flower Garland with Shane Powers, and 5 Easy Paper Holiday Decorations.

Complete the party setup with string lights—see Gardenista's 10 Easy Pieces: Cafe-Style Outdoor Lighting.

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• Object Lessons: The Adirondack Chair
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A mountainous region in northern New York State, the Adirondacks were the final frontier for American explorers and vacationers. It wasn't until a popular guidebook called Adventures in the Wilderness; or, Camp-Life in the Adirondacks was published in 1869 that people decided to go and have a look en masse. And though the book was intended for fishermen and deer hunters (who were advised to bring "stout pantaloons, vest, and coat"), the area soon became popular with the extremely wealthy. Their rustic Great Camps, with bowling alleys and cable lines to the New York Stock Exchange, made fanciful use of the local spruce, stone, and birch—and created an architectural style that was the unlikely offspring of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris, and the Swiss chalet.

The Adirondack chair came next, and went on to have surprising staying power. In 1903, Thomas Lee, who had a summer house in Westport, New York, in the Lake Champlain area of the Adirondacks, was in want of a comfortable perch that, when positioned on the side of a mountain, would keep the body somewhat upright. He fancied a chair that would allow him to enjoy the view while balancing a drink or a book on the armrest. After some trial and error, he came up with a design made from 11 planks of hemlock and detailed with a sloping back, an upward tilting seat, and enormously wide armrests. Anticipating Bauhaus in its simplicity, the Adirondack chair went on to be modified over the years, including by Lee's ersatz friend Harry Bunnell, who borrowed the original, added his own touch, and obtained a patent on the sly, calling the design the Westport Plank Chair. The chairs now come in a multitude of styles, all recognized as Adirondack. Here are some examples:

Above: Various styles of Adirondack chairs on Cream Hill Lake in Connecticut. Photo by Megan Wilson for Remodelista.

Above: When Middlebury College was looking for sturdy, accommodating perches for readers, artists, and writers attending their summer Bread Loaf program, they commissioned a special edition Westport Adirondack Chair from Jardinique.

Above: Mill Valley-based Guideboat Co. owner Stephen Williamson (the founder of Restoration Hardware) is a fan of the Westport Adirondack chair; see more at Shopper's Diary: Merchant Marine (he tells us he is going to offer the chairs in the near future; fingers crossed).

Five to Buy

Above: The Spruce Point Inn in Maine offers the hotel's cypress Westport Adirondack Chairs in a ready-to-assemble kit for $495. A child-sized version is available for $349.

Above: Loll Design's modification of the original Adirondack Chair is made of 100 percent recycled plastic. It's available in a variety of colors for $550 at Design Within Reach.

Above: We like the streamlined look of the gray wood Adirondack Chair; $129.99 at World Market.

Above: What we now consider the classic Adirondack Chair is constructed with many slats and a rounded top. This version, $199 at L.L. Bean, is foldable for off-season storage.

Above: Adirondack Chairs cope admirably on sloping land at the Driftwood Hotel in Cornwall, England; £285 at Adirondack Outdoors. Photograph by Crick & Co.

For more options, browse our Outdoor Furniture gallery, and see Gardenista's roundup of Modern Adirondack Chairs.

Object Lessons columnist Megan Wilson is the owner of Ancient Industries and curator of the Remodelista 100 presented in the Remodelista book. Watch for her column every Tuesday, and have a look at her past lessons on the Butterfly Chair,  Eames Lounge, and Nautical Hammock.

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A while back we posted on The Whale Wins, a restaurant from Seattle culinary star Renee Erickson. Today we're taking a look at Narwhal, Erickson's oyster bar on wheels.

N.B.: It's our Block Party issue, and every day this week, we'll be spotlighting an inspired food or drinks business on wheels.

Above: Narwhal operates out of a 1960 Divco dairy van turned food truck, which appears at the Queen Anne Farmers Market and other locales around the city.

Above: The menu includes fried oysters, smoked trout salad, and celery soda.

Above: Making the rounds, cafe seating included.

Above: Seattle artist Curtis Steiner came up with the swirly scripted logo.

Other favorite mobile cafes? Check out Pizza del Popolo in SF. And, in London, catch up with the Travelling Gin Co. and the Good & Proper Tea Co.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on January 9, 2014 as part of our New Beginnings issue.

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The perfect perch for watching the parade: here are nine collapsible options, ranging from high to low.

Above: Vintage Camp Stool with Pendleton Cover; $78 from Robin Cottage on Etsy (several are available with different Pendleton covers).

Above: The Wood & Faulk Tripod Camp Stool is made in the US of ash and English bridal leather and weighs 2.5 pounds; $165 from Sanborn Canoe Company.

Above: The Tri-Lite Folding Stool from Byer of Maine is made from aircraft aluminum with a canvas seat; $23.84 from Amazon.

Above: The Gallant & Jones Jericho Stool has an oiled white oak frame and a Sunbrella sling; $140. 

Above: The Take Bamboo Chair from Japanese camping company Snowpeak is $160 from Wood & Metal (it's backordered but will be in stock soon).

Above: Best Made Co's Waxed Canvas Camp Stool has a rust-proof steel frame and folds down to 10 inches by 9 inches: $36.

Above: The Tripod Field Stool is a collaboration between UK companies Lissom & Muster and Cherchbi. It's made of English ash and leather with brass detailing; £210 from Lissom & Muster.

Above: The lightweight ash Chelan Stool from Filson is $62.

Above: The aluminum and canvas Folding Camp Stool is $15.50 from Waldron's Outdoor Sports.

For more outdoor gear (that we use indoors and out), see 10 Easy Pieces: Folding Camp-Style Chairs and 7 Classic Canvas Cots for Summer Slumber. And Gardenista, knows all about Outdoor Folding Chairs.

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Earlier this year, I was zipping home on my bike when I took a last-minute detour (I had just spotted a house for sale, and I never like to miss an opportunity to scope out new real estate). The house in question wasn’t much to look at, but amid the innocuous ranches that lined the street in St. Helena, in Napa County, CA, I spotted a lovely wood-clad house. I jumped off my bike and, like a stalker, cased out the property. It was only when I came to the stucco side of the house that I realized the facade had simply been clad in reclaimed wood. Genius.

Not wishing to pass up a story, I promptly knocked on the door for more information. No one was home, but several months later, when I finally caught up with the owners, Jessica and Kevin Hague, they had just finished covering the side walls (still have to tackle the rear).

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Remodelista.

Above: The house as seen from the street. Jessica explains that when they bought their 1959 ranch, “it felt very boxy and nondescript. I was looking to differentiate the shape, and I really like the wabi-sabi aesthetic—I wanted something with a little life. My sister-in-law is a designer and she gave me some trade publications. I was flipping through them when I hit upon the barn wood look."

Above: Jessica sourced the wood online from Centennial Woods in Wyoming. The idea, she tells us, “was an absolute gamble—I  bought the material sight unseen". 

Above: The couple went with board-on-board cladding in which the joints of each vertical plank are concealed by another plank nailed on top. The wood isn't attached directly to the stucco; it's fixed to horizontal boards that are screwed into the stucco. 

Above: On the side of the house, wood planks and unsheathed stucco are visible. 

Above: The original stucco rear of the house with a window encased in wood. The couple plan to finish the exterior this summer. 

Above: The remaining barn wood ready to cover the rest of the house. The weather-worn wood was originally used as A-frame fencing.

Above: A detail showing the wood-clad entry to the garage.

Above: The garage clad in wood. The outdoor lights were sourced from Visual Comfort Lighting.

Before

Above: The house as it looked when the Hagues bought it.

For more exterior cladding ideas, see our post on Shou Sugi Ban Wood Siding. For ways to use repurposed materials, check out Architect Daniel Hale's Saint Helena Home and, on Gardenista, designer Joseph Sandy's Garden Shed Made from Reclaimed Redwood. 

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Expecting more company than usual? We can relate. Every summer (and during the winter holidays, too), we find ourselves in need of folding tables. Here are the top 12 designs on our wish list. Keep a few of these on standby and let the impromptu celebrations begin.

Above: Chay Wilke, owner of Chay in Los Angeles, collaborated with architect Lindon Schultz on a version of a folding table that was first designed for Dosa 818. The Live/Work Table is made from coffee- and tea-stained sugar pine and finished with a food-safe wax. It's available in two sizes—72 inches long and 92 inches long; for pricing, contact Chay directly.

Above: The Elefant Rectangular Beer Garden is made of galvanized steel and Robinia wood; €398 from Manufactum.

Above: Made of powder-coated steel, birch plywood, and white laminate, Ikea's PS 2014 White Folding Table is designed for both indoor and outdoor use; $129.

Above: The long and narrow Biergarten Folding Wood Table has black metal legs and comes with benches; $429 at Beer Garden Furniture.

Above: Scout Regalia's SR Folding Table has removable folding legs and hangs on the wall (it can also function as a magnetic dry erase board). It's 36-inch-long table—consider grouping several together for a party—and is made of powder-coated steel. Available in Fern Green, Salmon Pink (shown here), as well as Mint Green, and Charcoal; $250. 

Above: The Kartell Spoon Table by Antonio Citterio has a thin top made of honeycomb aluminum and thermoplastic legs. It's shown in orange and white, and also comes in all black and all white; $2,200 at Hive Modern.

Above: The sturdy Robinia Wood Beer Garden Table seats six and is held together by galvanized steel clasps that enable it to fold flat; €348 from Manufactum.

Above: The Eames Rectangular Case Study Folding Table has chrome legs and a tabletop made of maple (shown), walnut, or laminate; $795 at Y Living.

Above: Ikea's folding Mälarö Table is powder-coated steel with a white-painted acacia wood top. It's only 31 1/2 inches by 24 3/8 inches, but two or more can be used in tandem; $59.99.

Above: From Snow Peak, the Single Action Large Table is made of aluminum and bamboo, and fits up to six people; $385.95.

Above: Small but functional for two, the Arc en Ciel Folding Table is $195 at Design Within Reach.

Above: Crate & Barrel's Span White Gateleg Dining Table opens to 65 1/2 inches wide and folds down for storage to 9 1/2 inches; $299.

Chairs to pair with your table? See 10 Easy Pieces: Folding Dining Chairs and Gardenista's 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Folding Chairs. Then source your favorite Tablecloth from the selection in our Shop section.

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An old-fashioned summer staple in the Napa Valley where I live is a plastic bag filled with water and hung from farmhouse back doors. It took me a while to realize that this not-so-glamorous device is an effective way to keep flies and other summer insects at bay (alas, mosquitoes are not deterred).

Leave it to the chaps at Kaufmann Mercantile to source a good-looking equivalent: the Anti-Fly Glass Sphere by Mexico City-based designer José de la O of Studio José de la O. No excuse now not to give it a go.   

Above: It is the refraction of light against the water that confuses insects, especially flies, and keeps them away. The Anti-Fly Glass Sphere hangs from a leather rope and is $79. 

Above: De la O worked with a family-run glass blowing business in Mexico City to create these mouth-blown vessels. Just fill with water and suspend near food.

Looking to add to your insect arsenal? See Gardenista's Five Favorite Fly Swatters and consider making e a batch of Alexa's DIY: Bug Repellent Balm. And if the bugs still bite, have a look at Erin's Natural Mosquito Bite Remedies (used tea bags are one of the seven answers).

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Rope chairs are staples in our summer entertaining arsenal. Lightweight and comfortable, they're easy to move around, and they allow in a breeze. Here are five favorites for use indoors and out.

Above: The soft cotton cords of the Acapulco-inspired Ellipse Chair are hand dyed resulting in subtle tonal variations; $319 from Roost.

Above: Thanks to its teak and wicker-rope construction, the Palmer Rope Armchair withstands the elements; it's $179, marked down from $229, at Pottery Barn.

Above: The classic midcentury Hoop Chair, with a powder-coated steel frame and and vinyl cording, is available in a range of colors; $325 from Potted. 

Above: Walter Lamb's original 1940s Lounge Chair made use of bronze and copper tubing salvaged from ships in Pearl Harbor. These days, the design is made of brass (which develops a patina over time) and marine-grade, UV-stable cording; $845 from Design Within Reach.

Above: We first featured Ikea's Brommö Chaise Lounge in 2010, and right afterwards, I bought two for my London garden. Four years later, they've aged gracefully despite being left outside during long, wet winters. And when not in use, they fold up neatly and hang on the exterior wall of the shed; not bad for $59.99.

Love the look of rope? See our posts on Rope Decor.

For more versions of the Acapulco chair, consider Léon Léon's Lounge Chair Inspired by a Cocktail and Greenpoint Works' Acapulco Chair in Leather.

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