Here's a look at what's on our radar this week.

• Above: Join more than 250 makers and artists from around the country at the American Craft Council Show, August 8-10, at Fort Mason, in San Francisco. Use code Remodelista for a $5 discount. Photograph by Mariko Reed. 
• Textile designer Zak Profera of Zak & Fox talks about his work and atelier on Design Milk. 

• Above: The Citizenry, a new home design company, launches its first collection of small-batch goods from Peru and Argentina on August 14. 
• We're ready to hit the road in one of these Airstream trailers. 

Above: Design Sponge takes us on a tour of a stylish and sustainable Brooklyn seafood restaurant. Photograph by Maxwell Tielman. 

• Above: This roundup of sun-filled small spaces is a must for any light junkie. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
• Highlight of the week? Prizes! We're giving away five Staub cast-iron cookware sets and Dana Miller of House Tweaking is giving away two signed copies of the Remodelista book. Check out Dana's kitchen in Rehab Diary: An Ikea Kitchen by House Tweaking.

Above: Lindsey Adelman's Knotty Bubbles Chandelier and other new designs are on view 5-7 p.m. today, Saturday, August 2, at Turpan, 55 Main St., in East Hampton.

Above: Last weekend, Instagram put out a challenge for photos of interiors as part of the Weekend Hashtag Project. Take a look at some of the best shots.

• Above: Alexa is looking forward to seeing the new collaboration between designers Ace & Jig and Claire Lampert of B Sides: pillows and quilts that mix Ace & Jig's colorful fabric scraps with repurposed vintage denim from B Sides. They're available at Beautiful Dreamers, in Brooklyn. 
• Most importantly: Before we announce the winners of Remodelista's Considered Design Awards next Saturday, we need your help. Vote for your favorite spaces once a day through August 8. 

For more from this week on Remodelista, see Summery Kitchens—and Gardenista's Summer Kitchen issue, too.

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• 11 Kitchen Storage Tricks to Steal from the Bathroom
• Current Obsessions: International Intrigue
• Table of Contents: Urban Escape

Summer's riot of color is inspiring us to look beyond black and white. Join us for a weeklong dip into the world of ornament.

Above: Looking to add some color and pattern in your life? Tiles are a good place to start. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Monday

Above: Patchwork in the home needn't be confined to quilts. In today's DIY & Remodeling roundup, Sarah presents the eye-opening possibilities of mixing tiles.

Tuesday

Above: Looking for a low-commitment way to inject some life into a room? In Tuesday's Accessories post, Margot presents a design duo's reinvented classic games.

Wednesday

Above: Woven in Colombia, a new line of carpeting made from a surprise trio: hardwearing jute, leather, and horsehair. They're the creation of one of our favorite global workshops; watch for Wednesday's Rugs post.

Thursday

Above: Louis XVI would approve: In Remodeling 101, Janet presents a wooden floor pattern primer that goes beyond the basics.

Friday

Above: Overhauled by an American designer who divides his time between New York City and Marrakech, this courtyard house in the Medina is Friday's Designer Visit. Good news: It's available for rent. 

Saturday

Vote on: There are six more days to make your selections for the 2014 Remodelista and Gardenista Considered Design Awards. You can vote for the finalists every day until August 8. Winners will be announced Saturday, August 9. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: Classic Mattress Ticking
• Current Obsessions: Dog Days of Summer
• 11 Kitchen Storage Tricks to Steal from the Bathroom

If clothes make the man, do textiles make the manse? Krista Nye Schwartz of the interior design firm and blog Cloth & Kind thinks so. For Krista, every project begins with a favorite pile of fabrics, her family's own Ann Arbor, Michigan, house included. The daughter of a University of Chicago Southeast Asian studies bibliographer, she says that a year spent living in India when she was eight started her on a life path paved in "intense color and texture and pattern."

Her passions translate well on Pinterest where, with her design partner, Tami Ramsay, Krista has developed the Textile & Pattern Resource, an archive of Cloth & Kind–selected fabrics that designers the world over turn to as an ideas database. A believer in spreading the word about "the artisans and the hands that make the cloth," Krista shows us around the Ann Arbor house that she rescued from squirrels and shares her finds. 

Photography by Rinne Allen.

Above: The stucco house dates back to 1905 and was "thick with cobwebs, critters, and mold," Krista says. "I was ready to work on a house; I just hadn't expected to fall in love with the haunted house on the block."

Above: "Introducing copper downspouts added so much to the exterior," Krista tells us. For clients, she and Tami have since discovered a way to get the look for less: They paint aluminum downspouts with Sydney Harbour copper paint. For an intriguing downspout alternative, go to Gardenista's 10 Easy Pieces post on Rain Chains.

Above: Krista says, "The house had me as soon as I stepped into the front stairwell and saw the nine-foot ceilings and crown plaster moldings." Though she classifies the project as "a complete gut rehab," she kept the hardwood floors throughout—"refinished with an updated darker stain"—and largely preserved the original floor plan. The foyer walls are covered in Schumacher grasscloth wallpaper hung with a Juju Hat, a Cameroonian feather headdress, from L'Aviva Home. The living room's antique hexagonal table holds a half-dome brass lamp from Three Chairs, one of Krista's favorite Ann Arbor sources.

Above: A custom chaise longue in the living room is upholstered in a faded orange linen. The framed textile, an embroidered and mirrored vintage Indian relic, is one of the starting-point pieces that inspired the house's palette of persimmon, pomegranate, and other fiery hues.

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Above: Krista describes her approach to design as "textile centric." This chaise cushion with antique Indian embroidery comes from John Robshaw's one-of-a-kind Souk Pillows collection. 

Above: A Thonet Era Armchair from Design Within Reach stands next to a limestone mantle that Krista designed and had fabricated by local stonework company Pascucci Marble & Granite: "The size and scale of it are impressive, yet it's intentionally understated." 

Above: The living room's bird lampshade and cachepots are from Jayson Home, in Chicago. "We moved to Ann Arbor from Chicago, and Jayson was my go-to resource for home furnishings when I needed to find something quick. Jayson's collection is really well curated; they scour the world for vintage finds."

Above: Capitalizing on the bank of windows in the dining room, Krista built a long window seat, and paired it with a table from Dovetail Furniture and Eames Molded Plastic Dowel Leg Armchairs. The seat cushion is in Bailey, a Sunbrella fabric from Lulu DK that Krista classifies as "the best line of indoor/outdoor fabrics that look anything but indoor/outdoor. They are super durable and stain-resistant—perfect for a dining room bench seat." The parade of pillows includes designs by John Robshaw and Chanee Vijay. The chandelier is the Gothic Neo-Geo from O'Lampia.

Above: Partially open to the dining and living rooms via archways, the kitchen features an island of Calacatta Gold marble, designed so that the stone appears to cascade over the edge. "It was incredibly complex to achieve; the slab of marble was butterflied, then perfectly mitered in the corners to achieve a seamless waterfall effect." (Learn more about marble counters in our Remodeling 101 post.) The hanging lights are Thomas O'Brien Hicks Pendants in bronze with antique brass accents from Visual Comfort. 

Above: The house's original kitchen was divided into a high-style laundry room, mudroom, and powder room. In the laundry, the counters are honed Absolute Black granite—"the finish gives them that sophisticated matte look"—and the room is lit by a Lindsey Adelman Clamp Light of blown glass that incorporates a brass-plated industrial clamp. 

Above: The sink is made from a zinc washtub that Krista found at the Ann Arbor Antiques Market. She had Metal, her local metal shop, drill a hole in the tub and mount it atop a metal stool base—and from there, her plumber took over. It's sized perfectly for bathing the family's Shiba Inu pups, and also for "cleaning the messiest of kid messes and hand-washing delicates." 

Above: The mudroom has custom shelves equipped with baskets similar to the Samantha Seagrass Baskets from Pottery Barn. The cupboard catches and polished nickel knobs are from Merit Metal: "When you compare their latches to what's widely available, the difference is astounding," Krista says. "Merit's are significantly more substantial and hefty, and are designed to last." The rug is the Song Cotton Carpet by Madeline Weinrib, one of Krista's design heroes, whom she and Tami interviewed for Cloth & Kind's Proust on Design blog column.

As for the window shade, Krista tells us: "The design of the mudroom came together around Lee Jofa's Nympheus fabric in aubergine. The Nympheus hand-block pattern dates back to 1915 and was inspired by the silk panels of a 15th-century Ming dynasty screen. Designer Thomas O'Brien reimagined this archival print for Lee Jofa. It's not an inexpensive fabric, so the mudroom was a perfect place to use it. It's a small window, but it's visible from the kitchen, and I get to admire the pattern every day."

Above: Krista designed the Quiet Room as a place for her kids, Alex, 7, and Tahlia, 4, to read. It's furnished with a Indian Woven Daybed available at Calypso St. Barth, and a Dwell Studio Draper Stripe Rug.

Above: A perfect perch: a window seat surrounded by built-in bookshelves. The storage cubes are Serena & Lily's woven Pandan Bins in silver. The shade is John Robshaw's Lanka print, and the cushion is John Robshaw's Kota in linen.

Above: A Limited Edition Vintage Hmong Cross-Stitch Pillow from Non-Perishable Goods. Read about the Portland, Oregon, workshop in our post A Second LIfe for Textile Castoffs.

Above: "Alex is into whales and fish and water," says Krista, by way of explaining her inventively nautical approach to his room. The bed is cantilevered out from the wall—"during the remodel, we added extra wall studs"—and also supported from underneath and by ropes. The room's other main attraction, the ceiling light, is Australian designer Henry Pilcher's Block Light: "I found it online and got obsessed. It's designed to sit on the floor, but I had it converted into a ceiling fixture." 

Above: Alex's diamond-patterned duvet is a discontinued item from the Land of Nod. The custom window shades are Katie Ridder's Beetlecat fabric.

Above: Fiesta Garlands from Non-Perishable Goods complete the shiver-me-timbers look.

Above: A desk was inserted in Alex's room in a niche that once held a sink. The wall art is a framed Whales Tea Towel by Enormous Champion.

Above: Dynasty Slate Prima, a wallpaper by Eskayel, patterns the third-floor bathroom in a Rorschach-like watercolor print.

Above: The guest room's wicker bed is from Zak & Fox; Krista snapped it up on One King's Lane. The bedside light is a Design Your Own Mottega Lamp from Arteriors—"you get to pick all the details: the shape, glaze color, base, and shade," says Krista. It sits on her great great grandfather's trunk that made the voyage with him from Sweden to the United States. The pillows are from D. Bryant Archie's One of a Kind collection.

Above: The master dressing room has custom built-ins painted in Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue in high gloss. The area rug is a Vintage Moroccan Wedding Blanket from Maryam Montague's Red Thread Souk.

Above: Order at the top: In her attic office, Krista built shelves into the eaves. The bins are similar to the Whitewash Rattan Baskets from the Container Store. Krista organizes her magazines and books, like her Pinterest boards, by hue. Watch for Cloth & Kind's redesigned website launching any day now.

Have a look at more of our House Call posts, including New Paris Style: A Mother and Daughter Houseboat and Endless Summer in a London Victorian. More textiles? Peruse our Fabrics & Linens posts.

And don't forget: Voting is now under way for the 2014 Remodelista and Gardenista Considered Design Awards. You can vote for the finalists every day until this Saturday, August 8. The winners will be announced August 9. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• London Hangout: Middle Eastern Dining at Honey and Co.
• Rehab Diary: An Ikea Kitchen by House Tweaking
• Rehab Diary: LA Living, Venice Style

When was the last time you thought about vinyl floor tiles? If you're like us, it's been, well, forever. That's why we took note when we saw UK designer Neisha Crosland's line of attractive and affordable vinyl floor tiles. Perhaps it's time to reconsider. 

Above: Crosland's Parquet Vinyl Flooring for Harvey Maria was inspired by Celtic crosses; £42.95 for a pack of 12 (each pack covers 1.115 square meters) at John Lewis. Available in four colors, including charcoal, shown here.

Above: Crosland's Parquet Vinyl Flooring in turquoise, stone, and sage.

Above: Crosland's Parquet Vinyl Flooring in charcoal.

See more of Crosland's designs at Paris in London: Neisha Crosland's Garden Garden Oasis and Artful Tiles from an English Textile Designer.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on September 19, 2013, as part of our London Design 2013 issue.

Don't forget: You can vote once a day for the finalists in the 2014 Considered Design Awards. Click below to cast your votes on Remodelista and Gardenista. The polls close August 8; winners will be announced August 9. Vote now!

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• Patchwork Tiles: 11 Mix-and-Match Ideas
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Our judges have chosen the finalists, now you choose the winners. Vote for the finalists in each of 17 Considered Design Awards categories, on both Remodelista and Gardenista. You can vote once a day in each category, now through August 8.

In the Best Kitchen/Professional category, our five finalists are Medium Plenty, Mandy Graham Interior Design, Elizabeth Roberts Design/Ensemble Architecture, Space Exploration, and Emerick Architects. 

Project 1

Medium Plenty | San Francisco, CA | Cow Hollow Kitchen 

Design Statement: "A remodel of a 1906 Edwardian for an art collector. The project focuses on introducing a modern aesthetic to a traditional palette." 

Chosen by: Guest judge Diana Darling, founder of the Architect's Newspaper: "For a sophisticated kitchen with view of San Francisco Bay, I like the mix of wood and gray tones in the countertops. And the combination of organic lighting fixtures and casual open shelving enhances the creativity of the design."

Above: "The kitchen seen from the dining room, with a working butcher block at the end of the island."

Above: "A view from the dining room through the kitchen to the bay."

Above: "A backsplash behind the range; a concealed hood is installed above."

Project 2

Design Statement: "This kitchen was created to enhance the experience of timeless modernism that runs throughout the house."

Chosen by: Remodelista editor in chief Julie Carlson, who says: "It's interesting to see a small, European-style house in Manhattan Beach—unlikely, but it works. I like the fact that the designer focused on storage (a place for everything) and created a single, open living space encompassing kitchen, living, and dining. Not to mention the pale Dinesen wide-plank floors."

Above: "The cabinetry was built to emulate pieces of furniture. The gray aluminum lower cabinets ground the space while light is captured by a 14-foot-high skylight positioned directly above the single floating shelf."

Above: "The floors are from Dinesen and the walls are Benjamin Moore Paperwhite."

Above: "Cabinets are made by German company Bulthaup."

Above: "The refrigerator and all small appliances are integrated into the tall built-ins."

Project 3

Elizabeth Roberts Design/Ensemble Architecture | New York, NY | Crosby Loft

Design Statement: "The Crosby Loft kitchen features a unique pink marble counter, backsplash, and integral sink. The island and the open shelf above the sink are built from the same wide-plank boards as the floors of the loft."

Chosen by: Remodelista editor in chief Julie Carlson, who says, "I love the way this small-scale kitchen maximizes the glamour quotient with the veined marble sink backsplash, stainless steel surfaces, and cool Corian countertop. Proof that size doesn't matter: You don't have to have a giant space to live large."

Above: "View from the bar. The island has a large Corian counter."

Above: "An overview of the design, with a glimpse of the hall beyond."

Above: "The marble sink, counter, and backsplash."

Above: "A look at the wide-plank custom-built island." 

Project 4

Space Exploration | Brooklyn, NY | Schoolhouse Loft

Design Statement: "This loft for a young family was formerly two classrooms in a school building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Space Exploration employed a language of light and simplicity to make the most of the apartment’s dramatic 20-foot ceiling height and existing period detailing. Classical architectural elements are distilled to their essence, highlighting the patina of the rich materials employed in both finish work and furnishings."

Chosen by: Diana Darling, who says: "It's a challenge to create an intimate, warm, and inviting space in a large, open room with very tall ceilings. With an extended light fixture and use of vintage furniture, this design utilizes the space well. And the black cabinetry with the gray countertops incorporates well with the classical detailing of the existing space."

Above: "A look at the open shelving."

Above: "An overview of the Schoolhouse Loft kitchen."

Above: "The kitchen viewed from the living area."

Project 5

Emerick Architects | Seaside, OR | Old Salty

Design Statement: "This 1910 beach cabin was priced as a scraper house and valued only for its land. We bought it to showcase how, with a little love, some well-sourced eBay finds, and an edited palette of classic materials, we could not only save the cabin on a wafer-thin budget but also let this little gem shine again."

Chosen by: Diana Darling, who said: "Upgraded with the eBay finds and garage sale pieces, this old beach house plays right into my sense of design. The playful use of color combined with the casual outdoor space makes the kitchen the perfect setting for after-beach barbecues."

Above: "The back of the brick fireplace was left exposed and used to highlight one of our best garage sale finds: a 1927 fully functional gas stove. Not only is it beautiful but also it pulled off a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner for eight with ease."

Above: "We were striving for a cabin kitchen that would be efficient but not overwhelming. It needed to also be sunny, welcoming, and easy to organize—who wants to open dozens of cabinet doors just to find a colander?"

Above: "Once again for a fraction of the price of a new retro fridge, we found this beaut. We bought it from its original owner who was in her eighties—it was the very first purchase she and her husband had made as newlyweds. All it needed was a new electroplating coating."

Above: "Unable to find a budget-friendly, unlacquered brass faucet (who wants to spend $1,500 for a cabin?), we instead found a trusty Chicago faucet design in chrome and then we had the plating removed. The whole thing cost a tenth of the alternative." 

Above: "The new eating nook, situated in the southeast corner of the house, came to life with large fir casement windows that wrap around. An Etsy vintage light, coupled with more garage sale furniture and creamy beadboard walls complete the coziness." 

Above: "The kitchen and nook from the outside. The same paint colors were used inside and out to keep the feeling warm and simple." 

Vote daily now through August 8, on both Remodelista and Gardenista. Winners will be announced on August 9.

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If the idea of white subway tile seems a tad predictable, patchwork tiles take the material to a whole new level with mix-and-match patterns and colors. Europeans have long mixed tile patterns, and now the ability to use inkjet technology on porcelain tiles allows for more detailed patterns and designs. Read on for ideas and sourcing.

Above: A backsplash made of handmade cement mosaic tile from Purpura.

Above: A kitchen backsplash of Made a Mano tiles from Copenhagen; shown here, their Novecento line of lava stone tiles.

Above: A backsplash created from Made a Mano tiles in a blue palette.

Above: A colorful floor configuration in a kitchen; you can source similar tiles from Exquisite Surfaces. Photograph via Indulgy.

Above: Colorful patchwork tiles in a Dutch kitchen. Photograph via Eenig Wonen. 

Above: Black-and-white mix-and-match tiles provides contrast in an otherwise all-white kitchen. Clé offer a collection of Moroccan Handmade Encaustic TIles in black, white, and gray patterns. Photograph via Mechant Design.

Above: Mix-and-match kept simple: Horizontal tiles from Made a Mano form a striped backsplash.

Above: A blue and white backsplash from Odyssey's Blue Tapestry Collection.

Above: The blue-tiled floor of the restaurant Maritim Barcelona features a mix of patterns. Granada Tile, in Los Angeles, offers a selection of graphic blue-and-white cement designs in their Echo Tile collection.

Above: A villa in Umbria designed by Paola Navone features a mix of her own Moroccan tiles for Carocim. Photograph by Wichmann & Bendtsen for Dwell.

Above: Milan-based Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola mixes patterns, forms, and shapes in her Azulej Tiles collection for Mutina. Photograph via Azure Magazine.

Thinking of ways to introduce tile at home? Have a look at all of our Tile posts, including 10 Unexpected Uses for Tile. Love the look of patchwork? Check out DIY: 10 Patchwork Curtains Made from Vintage Linens.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on May 22, 2013, as part of our Color Therapy week.

And don't forget: Voting ends Saturday, August 8, for the 2014 Considered Design Awards! You can vote once a day for the finalists on Gardenista and Remodelista. We're announcing the winners on August 9. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• The Return of the Vinyl Floor Tile?
• The Only Two Ingredients You Need to Make a Refrigerator Smell Fresh
• Remodeling 101: Corian Countertops (and the New Corian Look-alikes)

Designed by Marianne Luning of VT Wonen, this dining room features an unexpected palette of pale grays and grass greens—we especially like the mismatched dining furniture painted a unifying shade of green. Re-create the look with the following elements.

Above: A heavy dose of kelly green is a nice contrast to an otherwise neutral dining room and kitchen.

The Basics

Above: Benjamin Moore Ben Interior Graytint paint is $36.99 a gallon.

Above: Benjamin Moore Ben Interior Grassy Fields paint; $36.99 a gallon.

Furniture & Lighting

Above: Barn Light Electric's Wesco Deep Bowl Chain Pendant in dark green (shown) or emerald green is a close fit to the oversize pendant lights hanging above the green table. The light is available in a range of sizes and prices from $194 for the 10-inch size to $244 for the 16 inch.

Above: Ikea's Ingo Dining Table is made of unlacquered pine, perfectly primed for painting; $69.

Above: Ikea's Stockholm Chair is made of beech and painted in a bright green acrylic; $119 each.

Above: An 8-Foot Wooden Stepladder made of southern yellow pine and metal is $98 at Dallas Midwest. Painted white (see photo at top), the ladder blends into the pale gray wall that it leans against.

Accessories

Above: The Henry Dean Alentejo Extra Large Vase is made in Belgium of thick glass; it's 12 inches tall and 16.75 inches in diameter at the top; $210 at March, in San Francisco.

Above: Made in Australia, the Large Mud Pebble Bowl in Milk is $125 at Design Within Reach.

Above: The porcelain Mud Noodle Bowl in Milk is $42 at Design Within Reach.

Above: Ferm Living's wooden Studio wall shelves are made of smoked oak veneer with a painted back. Available in three sizes and different colorways, starting at $125.25 for the smallest, which measures 12 inches by 12 inches.

Above: Luning's design decisions are evident in the details: A pair of Hunter Huntress Wider Calf Rain Boots in green is $148 at Hunter.

Feeling favorable toward green? See our DIY: Painted Canvas Tissue Box Cover and a group of inspirational Green Rooms in our Gallery of Rooms and Spaces.

N.B. This post is an update; the original story ran November 8, 2011.

And don't forget: It's the last week of voting for the 2014 Considered Design Awards. You can vote for the finalists on Remodelista and Gardenista once a day through this Saturday, August 8. The winners will be announced August 9. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: Kaj Franck's Teema Dinnerware

Ticking, which derives from the Greek word theka, meaning case or covering, has been synonymous with mattresses since fabric was first paired with straw. For a decent night's sleep, it was imperative that the straw—or feathers if you were lucky—be kept within the confines of a thick, tightly woven fabric to prevent quills and bits of straw from poking through and scratching. Thus a denim-like twill was woven and then coated in starch, wax, or soap to seal the weave even more tightly. The stripes were uniformly indigo or black, and, like a petticoat, the stiff fabric was meant to do its work beneath softer and more decorative outer layers, never to be exposed to the respectable eye. It wasn't until quite recently in ticking's 1,000-year history that it has seen the light of day at all. The influential American interior decorator Sister Parish is credited with this act of liberation when she mixed chintz with ticking fabric in upscale 1940s sitting rooms. After raised eyebrows settled, ticking soon gained popularity in more general society. 

Five to Buy

Above: Organic Ticking, 60 percent cotton and 40 percent linen, is 137 centimeters wide and available in a variety of colors from UK ticking king, Ian Mankin; £29.50 per meter.  

Above: The black stripe and herringbone weave identify this fabric as true ticking twill. It's part of a collection of ticking available at Howe in London and Los Angeles. Narrow Stripe Black Cotton Ticking is 106 centimeters wide and £20.00 per meter. 

Above: Pottery Barn sells ticking by the yard. Shown here Ticking Stripe in brown; blue and red are also available; $25 a yard (marked down from $30).

Above: Navy Eastpoint Ticking, 100-percent, double-thick cotton from Ralph Lauren, is 54 inches wide. It's also available in Barn (a red), Chambray (pale gray), and Desert (light brown); $66 per yard.

Above: Vintage ticking can be found on Etsy, at flea markets, such as Brimfield in Massachusetts, and at antiques and design shops, including Marston House in Wiscasset, Maine, and Howe in London and Los Angeles. Photograph via Howe London.

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, including The Hudson's Bay Point Blanket and The Classic Canvas Tote Bag. We featured her new shop in our recent post Purveyor of the Practical and the Timeless.

If you haven't voted today for the 2014 Considered Design Awards, click below. You can vote for the finalists once a day, on Remodelista and Gardenista. Voting ends this Saturday, August 8, and the winners will be announced on August 9.

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• Table of Contents: Patterns and Prints
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When the Genoa architecture firm Grooppo took on the task of renovating a flat in an 1870s building in Savona, Italy, it was looking to update the traditional space with modern fixtures and an energy-efficient heating system.

But the designers at Grooppo never lost sight of the historic features of the classic Italian home: "We aimed to bring out the peculiarities of the original building," they say. To that end, they gave each of the eight rooms a different floor of unglazed porcelain hexagonal tiles. The theme carries from one space to the next, creating a continuously shifting but harmonious pathway. 

Photography by Anna Positano for Grooppo.

Above: A small study has a floor of charcoal and white tiles. Throughout, the designers incorporated antique furniture and objects that came from the original owners and are characteristic of the region. 

Above: Hexagonal tiles appear in different colors and configurations in almost every space, including the clustered pattern shown here. In the dining room, a collection of plates hangs above a simple farmhouse table.

Above: Visible through the black-painted door frame, a massed collection of antique mirrors.

Above: A look at another tile progression.

Above: A table with a mint-green laminate top adds a dash of color to the kitchen, where the tiles are classic black-and-white checks.

Above: A modern bath with a vintage look.

Above: Grooppo installed a heating system powdered by a condensed boiler below the newly tiled floors.

Above: See more of the firm's work at Grooppo.

Planning a trip to Italy? Check our City Guides for the most design-worthy places to stay, eat, and shop. And have a look at a Villa Lena: A New Creative Hub (and Hotel) in Tuscany and A Medieval Hotel in L'Aquila Restored for the 21st Century.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on January 18, 2013, as part of our Roman Holiday issue.

And have you voted yet today for the Considered Design Awards? You can vote once a day for the finalists in each category on Remodelista and Gardenista. Polls close this Saturday, August 8, and we'll announce the winners August 9.

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When ceramicists Shino Takeda and Romy Northover teamed up in New York City to form their online shop, Katakana, the two were looking to present work that combines "a Japanese and European sensitivity with a New York beat." Each brings her own blend of East and West influences to the project: Shino is from Kyushu island in southern Japan and describes her work as a mix of "all the freshness of New York City today." Romy was born in London and trained in European ceramics, but today works in the traditional Japanese pottery styles kinuneri, tebineri, and rokuro. Her own studio is called No, and she describes her style as "ancient future."

Katakana, they explain, is named for "the Japanese character set used in transcribing foreign and Western language," and the shop is an even mix of both their work. It also features their collaborative dinnerware sets and includes a section devoted to the Supper Club that they host four times a year in Brooklyn: Shino and Romy serve sushi dinners on their own ceramics, and guests get a piece to take home. In addition to being available directly from Katakana, the pottery is sold at the General Store, in San Francisco; Steven Alan nationwide; Nightwood; Mociun; The Primary Essentials, in Brooklyn; and Mr. Kitly, in Melbourne.

Above: A custom striped dish, hand-formed by Shino; view her portfolio at Shino Takeda Ceramic.

Above: The Seasoning Set is a collaboration between the artists: the medium-size brown and green dish is by Romy, and the small, brightly-colored dish is by Shino; $45 for the two at Katakana.

Above: The Hest Dala Horse is hand-carved by Romy's father-in-law in Sweden and hand-painted by Shino in Brooklyn; $30. The horse is also available in Blue and Yellow, decorated by a painter named Jee, and in a Multicolor Wash by artist Jared Deery.

Above: Romy's Elevate Bowl, $50, has a black glaze with brush strokes in white; each varying in opacity for a ghost-like effect. 

Above: Romy's Water Flight plates are layered in white, blue, and black; $35.

Above: Shino's Polka Dots Tapas Plate is patterned with a ring in a faint neon green; $20.

Above: A series of serving bowls in colorful geometric patterns, designed by Shino. Photograph via Shino Takeda Ceramic.

For more ceramics—and a look into the lives of ceramic artists—see our posts Kelly Lamb's Glamorous LA Art Studio, A French Potter at the Wheel in New York, and A City of Ceramics by Four Dutch Designers.

Have you voted yet today for the Considered Design Awards? You can vote once a day for the finalists in all the categories, on Remodelista and Gardenista. Polls close Saturday, August 8, and we'll announce the winners on August 9.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Good Sport: Summer Games by Fredericks & Mae
• Object Lessons: Classic Mattress Ticking
• Table of Contents: Patterns and Prints

Gabriel Fredericks Cohen and Jolie Mae Signorile, the duo behind Brooklyn design studio Fredericks & Mae, know how to have a good time. We recently featured the Rockaway Beach houseboat that they escape to, via subway, on weekends. Today we look at the collection of old-fashioned games that the two have been redesigning "for home, garden, and sky"—and houseboat.

Photographs by Douglas Lyle Thompson for Remodelista.

Above: A Fredericks & Mae handmade nylon Windsock, $130, flies from the rail of the 1986 houseboat that Jolie and Gabe share with six friends. The two designers met as students at Oberlin College and collaborated for their senior art project. Of their company mission, they write: "Tools, games, and rituals trace arcs through history and across the earth; we trace those arcs, nose to the ground and mouths agape." Take a full tour of the houseboat in Rehab Diary: Ultimate Houseboat in NYC.

Above: One of Fredericks & Mae's first designs was a set of handmade Arrows "for decorative or ceremonial use" that inspired a cult following. They've since introduced a Fredericks & Mae Dartboard made of Baltic birch and silkscreened cork; $140.

Above: Jolie and Gabe play backgammon in their houseboat. During a trip to Greece and Turkey, they learned that a version of backgammon dates to antiquity and decided to try their hand at reinventing age-old games.

Above: Jolie and Gabe make all of Fredericks & Mae's designs in their Brooklyn studio—Jolie is in charge of wood production and Gabe is the finish man. They currently offer a Baltic birch Travel Backgammon set (a smaller, lighter version of the board shown here) for $160. A Travel Checkers set is also available.

Above: Fredericks & Mae darts, like their arrows, are hand wound with thread and fletched with real feathers. The dart bodies are made by Apex, one of the last American dart manufacturers. A variety of color combinations are available; Large Darts are $60 each, and Small Darts are $44 each. A set of dip-dyed, raw ceramic Marbles is $14 for 14 and comes in a cotton pouch.

Above: The Fredericks & Mae Skimboard of waterproof, silkscreened Baltic birch is for riding the shallows at the shore—and for après-beach display; $320.

Above: Flag Dominos are made of Baltic birch and adorned with silkscreened nautical flags in place of the classic dots (each flag signifies a number between 0 and 6); $100, wood storage box and instruction booklet included. Jolie and Gabe explain that the game's name comes from "the piece's resemblance to Venetian Carnival masks known as domino."

Above: Fredericks & Mae Darts and a Beach Tennis Racquet; a set of two paddles with a cork ball and a drawstring carrying bag is $140.

Above: A Bocce set of eight painted wood balls with a jack, instruction booklet, and carrying bag is $320. 

Above: Another version of the Fredericks & Mae Windsock, $130. Three banded patterns are available; each is 34 inches long and has a brass hanging ring.

Above: For more of the duo's work, see our posts Back to the Future: Nostalgia from Fredericks & Mae and A Modern Take on Worry Beads. And if you're intrigued by their houseboat, go to Steal This Look: The Summer Clubhouse.

It's the last week to vote for your favorite finalists in the Considered Design Awards. You can vote once a day on Remodelista and Gardenista through August 8. Stay tuned: We're announcing the winners August 9.

More Stories from Remodelista

• All the Freshness of New York: Katakana Ceramics
• Object Lessons: Classic Mattress Ticking
• Table of Contents: Patterns and Prints

Are you brave enough to strike out and use fabrics with patterns, or do you need a little extra hand-holding? Falling in the latter category, we asked 10 designers for their go-to prints. This is their advice.

Above: With many island projects in his portfolio, including his own two Harbour Island cottages in the Bahamas, Manhattan interior designer (and trained architect) Tom Scheerer favors the "scale and lively loose line that animates the atmosphere" of Katsugi by Schumacher. "It mixes well with other small-scale 'ethnic' prints but can also make a statement on its own as a wall covering. I think of it as tropical, or at least very summery, and use it often in sunrooms and in the Caribbean," he says.

Above: New York City designer John Derian opts for prints from Tissus Tartares because "the collection has a nice range and all of the prints are beautiful." He recently covered a pair of Eero Saarinen Tulip Chairs in Jar Ptista, "a floral that's modern and masculine at the same time." In the US, Jar Ptista is available to order by the yard through Derian's own John Derian Furniture.

Above: London designer Harriet Anstruther is obsessed with old Toile de Nantes, and her favorite source is French antique textile specialist Katharine Pole. "The 18th-century fabrics that you can find are often small pieces for framing or occasional use as they are very fragile. But the impact they have, especially in a modern interior, is priceless. Katharine has an exceptional eye and is a trusted source." See Anstruther's own kitchen in Steal This Look: A Glamorous London Kitchen from a Designer with 'Shitloads of Talent'.

Above: Daniel Sachs of New York City firm Sachs Lindores favors Piedmont Embroidery in Tomato from the Guy Goodfellow Collection. "The texture has a very handmade, handwoven feel. It looks great as a drapery border or on a pillow."

Above: Rita Konig, European editor of T Magazine and tastemaker on both sides of the Atlantic, singles out Pommes des Pin by Le Menach, a pattern that evokes memories of her childhood drawing room designed by her mother, famed interior designer Nina Campbell. "I found an old, very faded piece of it the other day and had cushions made for our little house in Wales. I love how the fabric can work in a humble shepherd's cottage and also be used in much grander surroundings." Pommes des Pin is available through Pierre Frey. 

Above: Wallpaper interiors editor turned London designer Charles Mellersh advocates "Marthe Armitage's crisp and graphic botanical inspired designs because they are beautifully handcrafted and yet modern in feel." Her wallpapers, printed in fanciful patterns featuring flora and fauna and bucolic country scenes, are available from Hamilton Weston, as are several fabrics on request. See an example of Mellersh's work in The Designer Is In: An Optimist at Home in Notting Hill.

Above: Sisters Jayne and Joan Michaels of the New York firm 2Michaels often find themselves turning to Classic Cloth Limoges by Dessin Fournir. "The fabric is hand woven and embroidered, while the pattern is subtle and softly exotic." Tour a 2Michaels project in The Designer is In: A Midcentury Dream on the Upper West Side.

Above: New York designer Rebecca Robertson's choice of the moment is Domesticate's Mudcloth, printed on linen-cotton canvas from design-your-own fabric company Spoonflower. "This would look fantastic on a traditional piece of furniture like a bergère chair. It is dramatic and timeless, and accompanied by the agreeable price of $27 a yard." See an example of Robertson's work in A Whimsical Family Loft in Brooklyn: Whale Wallpaper Included.

Above: Based in San Mateo, California, and New York City, designer Katie Leede's favorite is Isis in Bluebyrd Plum from her own line of fabrics at Katie Leede and Company. "The design is strong and bold, yet the color palette is soft and feminine—perfect for master bedroom curtains or upholstery."

Above: From his own Zak + Fox collection, New York textile designer Zak Profera recommends Khotan. "I'm constantly tinkering with so many patterns for my own collection that it's sometimes hard to separate what I love in the moment vs. what I think will become a classic. Khotan uses ten colors to achieve its signature antiqued look, and it's definitely sticking around for awhile."

See Pattern Language: A Textiles Enthusiast at Home in Ann Arbor for tips on designing rooms around fabrics. In Remodeling 101: White Tile Pattern Glossary, we explore ways of making patterns with white tiles only. And in Steal This Look: Reclaimed Style for a Dining Patio in Toronto, pattern mixing goes outside.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Apartment Upgrade: A Tiled Floor in Every Room
• Pattern Language: A Textiles Enthusiast at Home in Ann Arbor
• London Hangout: Middle Eastern Dining at Honey and Co.

The judges have selected the finalists; it's now up to you to choose the winners. Vote for the five finalists in each of the 17 Considered Design Awards categories, on both Remodelista and Gardenista. You can vote once a day in each category, now through August 8.

In the Best Bath/Amateur category, our five finalists are Eight Inch Rule, Deborah Bowman, Thayer + Todd, Anne-Sophie C.,  and Pia Mechler. 

Project 1

Eight Inch Rule | Victoria, BC, Canada | Cabinet of Curiosities

Design Statement: "This design was modeled on the Old-World cabinet of curiosities and Wunderkammer. All of the contents are vintage and selected from my scientific and natural history collections. They include: European beveled glass mirrors, medical cabinetry from the 1920s, embossed aqua glass 'quack' medicinal bottles (1880-1910), anatomical models, surgical implements, and authentic Victorian-era medical specimens (human brain, skull, etc). Color was matched from a found robin's egg. All fixtures are original to a heritage mansion built in 1896 and first remodeled in 1926."

Chosen by: Guest judge and furniture designer Gesa Hansen, who said, "The wall color is picked perfectly, and echoes in the tiles on the wall and floor. You can imagine this room being in one of those cure hotels in the twenties and thirties—I could imagine this one being the bathroom of the hotel in Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain. The ceramic faucets in the shower and on the wash basin are amazing. There are so many nice details—for example, the toilet paper integrated in the wall. It's a project that could simply be cheesey but everything is so well made that it seems authentic."

Above: "Anatomical model by Denoyer-Geppert (1947), vintage subway tiles with a green inlay, wall color matched from a robin's egg. The beveled mirrors are from Europe. Also on view: medical cabinetry, Victorian-era medical specimen of a human skull, and teaching map of Tasmania."

Above: "A look at the anatomical model and old medicine bottles."

Above: "The Medicine Cabinet of Curiosities includes: vintage chemistry glassware, surgical implements, a flask of mercury and Arsenic tablets, a Victorian-era preserved section of a human brain from an anatomy lab, zinc stencil, and USS Iowa ship recognition model from 1942."

Above: "A closer look at the Medicine Cabinet of Curiosities."

Above: "Another look at the vintage subway tiles with green inlay and robin's egg blue walls. The beveled mirrors are set in nickel frames."

Above: "Assorted distressed antique mirrors, a glove form and 1880's silver railroad watch, scientific instruments,  and an Argon gas flask."

Project 2

Deborah Bowman | Calistoga, CA | Master Bath

Design Statement: "Two years ago, my husband and I completed a total remodel of our 1960s weekend house outside of Calistoga, California. This included a 500-square-foot master suite addition. Having a background in graphic design, I drew the preliminary plans for the house in Adobe Illustrator, and although an architect drew the final plans, I specified and ordered all finishes, materials, cabinetry, and fixtures. I wanted a generously sized bathroom, and that’s what I got. It’s almost too big in relation to the master bedroom. The ceilings are very high and one whole side of the room opens to the outdoors. It's my favorite room in the house! In the morning, it's flooded with light from the southeast-facing windows. And at night, I can pull down the hidden window screens and feel like I’m bathing outside. I chose natural materials that are classic and practical: fumed white oak floors, a honed Carrera marble tub deck, a carved basalt stone surround that mimics corrugated metal, and ceramic shower wall tiles that look like stone and don’t show any rust stains from our well water. I also played with pattern and texture: the hexagon tiles on the shower floor, the veins in the marble, the carved basalt, the striped rug, and the Turkish towels all help to create visual interest."

Chosen by: Gesa Hanssen, who said: "It's a real masculine design without being cold. I love the bathtub's mix of materials. The gray linen curtain also adds so much cosiness, and I love the tile pattern on the shower floor. Good choice of wall lamps next to the mirror—that is something so hard to find!"

Above: "Sink with midcentury mirror, and a reflection of the police target that hangs above the bathtub."

Above: "Shower with classic hexagonal tile floor and modern 'stone' tile walls."

Above: "The semi-private toilet area."

Above: "A closeup of a midcentury side table with the basalt tub surround behind." 

Above: "The bathtub with the police target hanging above it."

 Above: "Awning windows with pull-down screens and a door that opens to a private garden area."

Project 3

Thayer + Todd | Centerport, NY | Beach Bath

Design Statement: "We decided to convert a small bedroom into a guest bathroom. The plan was to keep things simple by paying homage to the bungalow's original character. We used salvaged window from the bungalow, white classic penny tiles, and white subway tiles."

Chosen by: Remodelista editor in chief Julie Carlson, who said, "The owners did a nice job keeping this space simple and serene. I like the contrast between the slate-colored walls and the glossy, white subway tiles, the white bulkhead sconces, and the oval mirror."

Above: "A look at the bathroom's refurbished square window, subway and penny tiles, and walls painted in a slate gray by Benjamin Moore."

Above: "Nautical inspired bulkhead sconces and an oval mirror from West Elm."

Above: "Simple white towels collected from travels."

Above: "An aloe plant adds a touch of green."

Project 4

Anne-Sophie C | Stamford, CT | White Bathroom on a Budget

Design Statement: "This is a completely new bathroom built in a small space in a hallway on a tight budget. We were going for a minimalist, Moroccan-inspired look. It has a corner shower, suspended toilets, and an Ikea hack vanity. We bought an inexpensive white vanity base from Ikea and put one of their kitchen butcher blocks on top. The vessel sink from Decolav was only about $150, so we splurged on nice tiles from Porcelanosa during their Thanksgiving sale. I tormented my contractor by insisting he build a tiled box inside the shower, and every morning I'm very happy to have a space for my shampoo bottles. We put gray cork tiles on the floor because cork doesn't feel cold underfoot in the winter and is not slippery for our toddler. I keep a rotating display of jewelry from my brand, The Bijou Factory, under a globe and my husband likes to pick a different scent everyday from his shelf. As for the dog, he loves napping on the sheepskin bath mat when the sun hits the bathroom in the morning."

Chosen by Remodelista editor in chief Julie Carlson, who said, "It's always fascinating to see what can be achieved on a tight budget. This is a nice example of judicious financial planning (spend less on some items, splurge on others)." 

Above: "Ikea hack vanity. We had the Ikea butcher block counter sealed before installing it."

Above: "The shower's tiled soap niche."

Above: "A close-up of bath accessories."

Above: "The cork floor with sheepskin bath mat and Vitra cork stool."

Project 5

Pia Mechler | Brooklyn, NY | Remodeling of Small Bathroom

Design Statement: "During the renovations of our Brooklyn apartment, the redesign of the very small master bathroom became crucial. We wanted clean lines to make the space look bigger, but a rich and warm ambience. Satin gold finishes, white subway tiles, black hex tiles, and an Ikea hack for the vanity were the result."

Chosen by Guest judge Gesa Hansen, who said: "I love the hexagonal tiles on the floor and the rise around the bathtub. Details like the wall lamp above the mirror give the design a hotel-room ambiance. I have to say, I love wall-mounted faucets; sinks always looks so much nicer when you don't see a lot of tubes."

Above: "Antique bird studies are the only decoration."

Above: "A view of the bath tub/shower combo. We chose to also use the hex matte black floor tiles to cover the tub."

Above: "A view of the Ikea hack kitchen vanity with a customized mirror, square countertop sink, and wall-mounted Newport Brass faucet in satin gold."

Above: "The white subway wall tiles are only used where necessary."

Above: "Another view of the Ikea hack kitchen vanity."

NOTE: The polls close August 8th, but until then you can vote once a day for your favorite bath space, and all the categories on Remodelista and Gardenista. Vote daily now through Saturday, August 8. Winners will be announced on August 9.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Vote for the Best Bath Space in the Remodelista Considered Design Awards: Professional Category
• 7 Essentials for the Bath, Landlady Edition
• DIY: How To Refinish Household Teak

Cinder blocks may bring to mind grad-student shelving, but we like them as ad hoc table bases. (If it's good enough for Axel Vervoodt, it's good enough for us.) Here are a dozen good examples of low-cost, industrial-chic tables made from nothing more than hardware-store wood planks and simple cinder or concrete blocks.

Above: A cinder block shelf in the San Francisco studio of Emma Dime.

Above: A DIY shelf via Liden Skapelse.

Above: A night table made from salvaged cinder blocks in a 400-square-foot Upper East Side apartment. Photograph by Alan Gastelum for Dwell.

Above: Cinder blocks made colorful in a table at the artist-designed Playland Motel, in Rockaway Beach, New York.

Above: A DIY plant stand in the New York City apartment of The Sill founder Eliza Blank, photographed by Laura Dart for Kinfolk. Read The Sill's 10 Tips for Office Plants on Gardenista.

Above: A narrow DIY desk with a cinder block base, via The Merry Thought.

Above: A simple cinder block table in the Brooklyn loft of Hannah Metz, via The Selby.

Above: A cinder block bedside table, via Inside Inside.

Above: A simple outdoor table by midcentury modern architect Marcel Breuer made from a rectangular slab of stone propped on a base of mortared concrete blocks. Photograph via The Improvised LIfe.

Above: My own coffee table in Mill Valley, California, made from a walnut drafting-table top and four concrete blocks.

Above: A coffee table made from eight stacked concrete blocks. Photograph via Kikette.

Above: Legendary designer and antiques dealer Axel Vervoordt created an informal coffee table with concrete blocks and a slab of wood in this Belgian interior.

For more cinder block ideas and inspiration, see DIY: Concrete Block Planters and A Low-Cost Concrete-Block Kitchen for Serious Cooks.

Alert: It's the last week to vote for your favorite finalists in the Considered Design Awards. You can vote once a day on Remodelista and Gardenista through August 8. Stay tuned: We're announcing the winners August 9.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Rebel Walls of Sweden: Wallpaper for Everyone
• Good Sport: Summer Games by Fredericks & Mae
• All the Freshness of New York: Katakana Ceramics

Adventure is built into Laura Aviva's self-created job description: At L'Aviva Home, she tracks down and collaborates with skilled artisans the world over. A favorite resource of the design world, her collection includes top-of-the-line Andean alpaca throws, Moroccan pom-pom blankets, indigo bedcovers from western Africa, and more. Her recent fascination with all things Colombian? "It was spurred by a new Colombian beau," she reveals. For the past year, she's been working with a group of weavers outside Bogotá. The results are her new (and noticeably heartfelt) Crin rugs.

Above: "The collection plays homage to Colombian equestrian culture," Aviva says. "Strands of horsehair (crin de caballo) are interwoven with a local jute." The Colombian Crin rugs shown here are detailed with leather in Avocado, Coffee, and Ocean. 

Above: The particular jute in the designs is a natural fiber made from the fique plant. Aviva notes that "fiber gives the rugs texture; horsehair, durability; and leather, a patina over time."

Above: Developed for use in hotels and other public spaces, the rugs are extremely durable. As Aviva notes: "Horsehair is hugely hearty and long-wearing—and also luxe-feeling and soulful." The rugs are woven on 15-foot-wide looms and are all made to order.

Above: A jute and horsehair Crin rug detailed with green leather. 

Above: The collection includes three additional horsehair and jute patterns: Festival (left), Natural (center), and PreColombian (right). The leather-detailed rugs are $56 per square foot, and the horsehair and jute rugs are $54 per square foot. A 2.6-by-8-foot horsehair and jute runner is $1,080; a 6-by-9-foot horsehair and jute rug is $2,915; custom sizes are also available.

Above: The Crin Festival pattern.

Above: The Crin PreColombian pattern. Stay tuned: Aviva has also been developing a line of poufs made from cana flecha, a cane fiber used to weave vueltiaos, the Colombian national sombrero.

See more of L'Aviva Home's designs in our posts:

• Safari-Style Camping in Colorado, Glam Bedding Included
• Outdoors: Bolivian Hammocks from L'Aviva Home
• Mexican-Iraqi Exchange: Temoayan Blankets

Have you voted today? Voting is now under way for the 2014 Remodelista and Gardenista Considered Design Awards. You can vote for the finalists every day until this Saturday, August 8. The winners will be announced August 9. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Vote for the Best Living/Dining Space in the Remodelista Considered Design Awards: Amateur Category
• Pretty in Porcelain: Alix D. Reynis in Paris
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Is there something in the air? Spotted lately: 1950s-inspired abstract patterns. For a small dose, consider these six throw pillows.

Above: In Ilse Crawford's design for the VitraHaus showroom in Weil am Rhein Germany, an of-the-moment abstract work adorns the walls; photo via Dezeen. 

Above: The Steven Alan Abstract Crewel Pillow Cover; $35 (marked down from $44) at West Elm.

Above: Laura Slater Assemble Mint and Navy Cushion for Heal's; £60.

Above: Hooked Stripe Pillow; $69 at Urban Outfitters.

Above: The Tamasyn Gambell Abstract Pillow in Yellow is $200 for the square shape, and $175 for the rectangular at Design Within Reach.

Above: The Light Multi Hairy Pillow is $253 from A Detacher.

Above: A Minds Eye Refracture Linen Cushion; £75 at Heal's.

Ready for more of our favorite pillow options? Go to our Pillows & Cushions posts, and don't miss Gardenista's Bring A Plant to Work and Sit on It.

It's the last week to vote for your favorite finalists in the Considered Design Awards. You can vote once a day on Remodelista and Gardenista through August 8. Stay tuned: We're announcing the winners August 9.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Vote for the Best Bath Space in the Remodelista Considered Design Awards: Amateur Category
• Vote for the Best Bath Space in the Remodelista Considered Design Awards: Professional Category
• 7 Essentials for the Bath, Landlady Edition

Like father characters in 1950s television shows, wood floors are often depicted as practical, solid, and traditional. And while the straight-and-narrow stereotype holds true, wood floors have far more potential for variety than you might think. Broken into smaller pieces, they're every bit as intricate as tile (and far kinder underfoot). Even in their longboard form, variations that are worth noting exist. Here, a primer on the possibilities: straight, diagonal, parquet, and more. 

Note: The more intricate the pattern, the more it will cost. Why? Because it requires more material, more cuts and measurements, and more time to install. And with intricate floors, craftsmanship counts—the more complex the puzzle, the more precise the pieces need to be.

Above: A light wood floor offers subtle texture with a herringbone design. Photograph via Fired Earth.

Straight Variations 

Even when wood planks are installed in a straight format, the look isn't always straightforward. Options to consider include:

Plank Orientation

Above: Whether boards are positioned parallel or perpendicular to a wall helps define the look and feel of the room. In this Dublin galley kitchen, architect Peter Legge set the wood flooring planks perpendicular to the cabinetry to visually widen the space. See the rest of the project in A Victorian Transformation, Dublin Style. Photograph by Sean Breithaupt and Yvette Monohan.

Plank Length

Above: Luxuriously long Douglas fir planks from Dinesen Flooring stretch across a London kitchen by Macdonald Wright Architects. Read about Denmark company Dinesen in World's Most Beautiful Wood Floors. Photograph via Dinesen Floors. 

Random vs. Patterned Joint Staggering

Different looks can be achieved by playing with board lengths. Do you want flooring with boards of the same length laid in an offset manner? Or flooring with different length boards laid randomly? Or room-length planks that offer a modern continuous look (but at a higher cost)?

When a straight wood floor is installed, the joints of the boards are staggered for reasons that are structural (the ends are the weakest point) as well as aesthetic (to avoid having a continuous perpendicular joint line running across the floor). Most installations have a random staggering of joints to keep the linear focus of the boards as the primary design feature. The staggering can also be patterned so that the joints are spaced in even increments—a stairway pattern—or with alternating joint alignment—the so-called H pattern. 

Random Width

Above: Random-width flooring patterns were born of necessity because early floor planks were milled from the entire log, resulting in several different widths. These days random-width flooring designs are intentional and most commonly use planks of three different widths in a repeating pattern. Photograph via Corona Hardwood.

Single Width

Above: Single-width wood plank floors are favored for clean, linear, modern spaces. While the standard is 2.25 to 3 inches wide, boards are available in a range of widths. That said, when you start looking at very wide boards—10 inches and above—the choice of wood is limited and the prices rise. Reclaimed wood is something to look at for a greater selection of wide boards. Image via Fame Hardwood. 

Diagonal 

To create a diagonal pattern, the boards are installed parallel to each other at a 45-degree (or similar) angle to the walls. 

Above: A good choice for small rooms, a diagonal floor pattern can make a room look bigger because the eye is drawn to the corners of the room rather than to the walls. Photograph via Fired Earth. 

Parquet

Parquet is any design that involves a geometric mosaic of angular wood pieces. These designs blossomed during the Renaissance and range from the simple to the dazzlingly complex.

Above: Intricate parquet patterns carry the names of the 17th-century palaces where they were developed, such as the Versailles Parquet, shown here. Photograph via Fame Hardwood, in Los Angeles.

Our Favorite Wood Flooring Patterns:

Chevron

Above: In the chevron pattern, the wood blocks meet point to point creating a continuous zigzag, as seen here in Joseph Dirand's Paris kitchen. Photograph by Simon Watson for T Magazine.

Herringbone

Above: With Herringbone, the wood blocks finish perpendicular to each other, resulting in a broken zigzag. To learn more, see Spot the Difference Between Chevron and Herringbone. Photograph via Old Dutch Wood. 

Basket Weave

The name tells the story: This style creates the illusion that the boards are woven over and under. There are a range of basket-weave options. For example, you can use single or groups of alternating boards, or you can insert square tiles in between the "woven" planks. 

Above: Three-by-three-inch boards make up this basket-weave design. Photograph via Cheville Parquet.

Above: A complex hexagonal basket-weave pattern made from bleached solid oak crosspieces and end-grain hexagons. Floor by Atelier des Granges; see Geometric Flooring (Chateau Style) for more designs by the French company.

Dutch Pattern

Above: Dutch pattern is made by placing three strips in the width and one strip across at alternating intervals. Photograph via Amtico Flooring. 

Other Variations to Consider:

Wicket

Above: Straight runs can be broken up with the addition of a perpendicular board, sometimes referred to as a wicket layout. Photograph via Amtico Flooring. 

Picture Frame

Above: True to its name, picture-frame wood flooring features a border around the main floor. This edging is often created using the same wood as the main floor but placing it parallel to the walls and adding a strip of wood (or a different finish color) to define the frame. It adds a more formal or traditional feel to a room. Above: Photograph via Amtico Flooring.

Above: The floorboards in the storage hall of a Remodeled Victorian House by Dublin architects Peter Legge Associates are sized to continue the pattern of lines from the cabinetry. Photography by Sean Breithaupt and Yvette Monohan.

For more on wood flooring see our features: Ask the Expert: The Ins and Outs of Wood Floors. And if you're installing a new wood floor, consider adding radiant heating—but first read Five Things to Know about Radiant Heating. Want to consider a wood-like alternative? Christine reveals The Mystery of Bamboo Floors.

Looking for outdoor flooring? See Gardenista's Hardscaping 101 Features. 

Don't forget: You can vote once a day for the finalists in the 2014 Considered Design Awards. Click below to cast your votes on Remodelista and Gardenista. The polls close August 8; winners will be announced August 9. Vote now.

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Rebel Walls is a wallpaper company with its own design studio and printing shop in Borås, in western Sweden. It companion online store offers an extensive collection of the company's own wallpaper and wall mural patterns, made using digital print technology, as well as the opportunity to create your own designs using digital photos. Rebel Walls' husband-and-wife founders, Irene and Christofer Gimmersta, are the third-generation of Gimmerstas to be in the wallpaper business—it all started in 1924, when Grandfather Folke got a job as an errand boy at a wallpaper store. "We have wallpaper in our blood and love to dress walls with personality," says Christofer. "Rebel Walls gives people a tool to change their environments." Here are a few of our favorite Rebel Walls designs.

N.B.: All of the wallpaper is $59 per square meter.

Above: The ABC for the Spelling Bee features a botanical alphabet hand drawn in ink and watercolors. It's available as wallpaper, and as an ABC  for the Spelling Bee Poster, 50-centimeters-by-70-centimeters; $95, including two metal clips for hanging.

Above: The Oxalis mural is inspired by vintage botanical school posters; like Rebel Walls' wallpaper, it's $59 per square meter.

Above: Bellewood is a modern toile wallpaper depicting a mysterious forest.

Above: Vintage Books Inside is patterned with open books.

Above: Architect features vintage drawings of Paris façades found in a Barcelona bookshop: "They were drawn by a architectural firm in Paris. How they ended up in Barcelona we don't know, but now they can find a new home," explain the Gimmerstas. "If you take a stroll down Rue Drouot or Rue Roissini in Paris, you will pass at least one of the buildings." 

Above: An alternative to tile: Marrakech Black wallpaper (which the Gimmerstas say can even be used on floors). Like many of Rebel Walls' designs, this one can be turned into a customized pattern by the buyer using the company's  digital tools.

Above: The Quadrangle Blue is a watercolor design of geometrics on wrinkled paper. 

Above: Quadrangle in a pale palette. To learn more, visit Rebel Walls. 

For more wallpaper options, have a look at Handmade Wallpaper Inspired by Nature and Escape to the Tropics: Leafy Handmade Wallpaper. And check out Justine's DIY Economical Wallpaper Alternative. On Gardenista, read about Michelle's Pale Blue Bathroom Wallpaper adventures.

And don't forget: Voting is now under way for the 2014 Remodelista and Gardenista Considered Design Awards. You can vote for the finalists every day until this Saturday, August 8. Winners will be announced on August 9. 

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If you've perused Pinterest lately in search of kitchen storage ideas, you know there are thousands of space-saving tricks floating around. Here's a roundup of our current favorites (we're filing them away for any future kitchen remodels).

Above: A wall-mounted dish rack frees up countertop space; image via Fab. See 5 Favorites: Space-Saving Dish Racks.

Above: Wall-mounted soap holder as brush holder, a genius idea from Martha Stewart.

Above: No need to stow away a collection of pots—create an artful tableau using simple wall hooks; image of Adrienne Antonson's house via Design Sponge.

Above: A folding step ladder stowed in a below-cabinet drawer, another Martha Stewart innovation.

Above: Kitchen design company Viola Park integrates a knife block into a stainless steel backsplash. The wood knife block holds 12 knives and is available in walnut, rift-cut white oak, and bamboo; $125. Also see 5 Quick Fixes: Knife Storage.

Above L: A tiny Swedish kitchen via Bolaget features a pull-out cutting board. Above R: Fully extended with legs, the board functions as a two-seater table, via Bolaget.

Above: An attractive dustpan displayed in easy reach encourages clean up; see Domestic Science: Vipp Dustpan and Brush.

Above: A drawer outfitted for upright flatware storage; see more at Drawer Divider Roundup.

Above: A pull-out knife block, via Shelterness.

Above: For space-challenged kitchens, Rev-A-Shelf's Door Mount Cutting Boards are worth considering.

Above: A kitchen drawer slot used as a paper towel holder, via Southern Living Magazine.

Above: Natural Rubberwood Expandable Utensil Tray; $34.99 at Chefs Catalog.

Above: Tension rods as cabinet dividers, via Martha Stewart.

Above: I once lived in a rental with a similar pull-out cutting board (why didn't I integrate it into my own kitchen remodel?); photo via DIY Network.

Above: Dog bowl drawer, via BHG.

For more inspiration, have a look at all of the Kitchen posts in our archive, including Design Lessons from Julianne Moore.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on May 6, 2013 as part of our issue The Modern Kitchen.

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The secret to sleep? In 10 Secrets for a Better Night's Sleep our resident wellness guru, Jackie Ashton, has this advice has this advice: "Consider creating a sanctuary for slumber, a place that looks beautiful, yes, but also cultivates a state of serenity." We aim to follow her words. Using a supremely restful bedroom as our model, we've sleuthed all of the essentials for creating your own sleep sanctuary.

Above: A simple, no-fuss bed is the foundation of this serene bedroom in the UK. A length of floral fabric on the back wall replaces a headboard and adds just the right amount of visual interest in an otherwise muted space. Photograph by Paul Raeside.

The Basics

Above: Keep walls pure and neutral. A popular all-purpose white is Benjamin Moore's White Dove (OC-17).

Above: The Beautyrest Black Mattress is available through a wide range of retailers located online.

Above: For bedside table simplicity, the glazed earthenware ceramic Eden Lamp, made in the US by Haeger Potteries, is $129 from Land of Nod.  

Fabrics & Accessories

Above: These Primaloft Deluxe Pillows offer the same loft as goose down without any of the allergens; $40 for standard size at the Company Store. 

Above: Clean, crisp, classic—you can never go wrong with white bedding. This Italian Vintage-Washed Percale Sheet Set is on sale for $279, marked down from $349, at Restoration Hardware.

Above: For an added layer of warmth and comfort, consider a lightweight quilt. Matteo's Ida Quilt is 100 percent linen; $324 for the queen size.

Above: A textured coverlet in pure white lends quiet interest to the room. These wool and cotton Temoayan Blankets are hand-knotted and woven in Mexico; $345 for the queen/king size from L'Aviva Home.

Above: A Linen Bolster Pillow by Etsy vender Lovely Home Idea adds support and texture; $75.

Above: Indigo and Cream Throw Pillows introduces a subtle pattern to the white bedding, plus extra cushioning for pre-sleep lounging and reading; $185 at Tonic Home.

Above: A wall hanging brings a bit of English garden into the room. The Tree of Life, screen-printed on cotton canvas in India, is $300 at Les Indiennes.

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