If you've ever eyed the houses on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, in Venice, California, and fancied moving in, now is your chance. The just-finished Casa Shelter Half, a two-bedroom bungalow, stands ready to rent—surfboards on hand.

The project is a collaboration between Shelter Half, a lifestyle retailer owned by Davide Berruto and LA designer Heather Heron in conjunction with Safehouse Collective, a Southern California real estate and hospitality group. The trio wanted to create a space based on the Shelter Half brand that, as Heron explains, “touched on its core elements of commerce, community, and collaboration” and “was both personal and public at the same time." With its repurposed materials and easy-living vibe, Casa Shelter Half succeeds in the mission: It's both intimate and accessible. Better still, you can book it on Airbnb.

Photography by Carlos Quinteros Jr., except where noted.

Above: The black-and-white kitchen is detailed with subway-tiled counters and backsplash, leather drawer pulls, and an over-the-windows plant shelf. The floor tiles were repurposed from a previous project. (To make your own leather pulls, watch our DIY video.)

Above: The vintage stove was a Rosebowl Flea Market find. 

Above: The low-key living room has a handmade Almond surfboard on the wall. The Drift Chair is from Environment, where Berruto serves as creative director.  

Above: A well-stocked bar made from a trunk stands ready for guests. Photograph by Sinuhe Xavier.

Above: Driftwood as art in the bedroom. Many of the house's materials, including textiles, wood, and tile, are reclaimed. 

Above: The two-bedroom bungalow houses four people. 

Above: Casa Shelter Half occupies the second story of the house. Downstairs neighbor Fiore supplied the plants for the terrace.

Above: Straw roofing with the Casa Shelter logo provides shade and adds a beachside feel to the bungalow.

Above: Herron and Berruto used oversize curtains on the terrace overlooking Abbot Kinney to provide shade and privacy. Photograph by Sinuhe Xavier.

Above: Low furniture and a hammock for lounging. The big curtains were sewn together from different types of Shelter Half tents, including a rare 1940s one with a camouflage pattern. For more information, go to Casa Shelter Half and Airbnb.

For another recent Venice Beach find, check out The Rose Hotel. If you're looking to dine nearby, see our posts on Axe and Gjelina, two of our favorite neighborhood haunts. And on Gardenista, have a look Inside the Secret Gardens of Venice, CA.

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• Calm and Collected: At Home with the Duo Behind Aesthetic Movement
• A Glamorous Bachelor Pad in Australia, Small-Space Edition

Michelle and her team offer their favorite low-budget tips and tricks for kitting out your outdoor space, including 10 garden hacks that feature concrete blocks, recycled bedsprings as modernist garden sculptures, and a garden made almost entirely of salvaged wood.

Above: Michelle dropped in on the wind-swept General Store SF garden, with outdoor furniture and planters made from reclaimed wood. Photograph by Tom Kubik for Gardenista.

Above: Meredith spent last weekend cooking recipes from Bitter: A Taste of the World's Most Dangerous Flavor, a cookbook by Australian-born, Toronto-based author Jennifer McLagan, with photographs by Remodelista favorite Aya Brackett.

Above: Christine Chitnis takes us on a tour of Robin Hollow Farm, in Saunderstown, RI, where owners Polly and Mike Hutchinson grow dahlias, sunflowers, and more.

Above: Michelle uncovers 10 Genius Garden Hacks with Concrete Blocks.

Above: Year-round plein air bathing in Los Angeles; see Outbuilding of the Week.

Above: In Hardscaping 101: Window Boxes, Jeanne explores the ins and outs of these versatile planters.

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I'm afraid that of late I've become a crushing bore on the topic of water (just ask my family). I’m on a mission to reduce consumption, at least in my own household. We recently downsized to a smaller cottage in Northern California (a temporary move, but one that I'm liking). Our close quarters have meant that I'm suddenly much more aware of everything that goes on, including idle faucet running and the showering habits of primping teens. The monthly water bill is one gauge of usage, and paying attention to everyday domestic activities is also extremely helpful. Droughts may come and go in California, but it's the rapid depletion of the country’s groundwater that finally moved me to action. While there are plenty of obvious things that can be done to conserve water, from installing a low-flow showerhead to using low-flush toilets, there are also a number of small, no-cost, daily ways in which, if we alter our habits, we can make a difference.

In this era of environmental doom and gloom, I did point out to my children the news that the ozone layer is thickening for the first time since the 1970s—a positive thing and proof that effort eventually effects change. To that end, here are a 21 water-saving tips that I've implemented in our household. 

Above: The Soma Water Filter's well-designed—and good looking—glass carafe can go from faucet and fridge to table, no decanting needed. 

1. Use a carafe for serving water at meals, and only pour what you know you'll drink. 

2. Decline water in restaurants if you're not thirsty, and refuse unwanted refills. (Earlier this year, SHED in Healdsburg, CA, adopted the policy of asking diners whether they want water before pouring.)

Above: For keeping chilled water on hand, the Holmegard Carafe comes in three sizes and fits inside the fridge door.

3. Prefer your water cold? Instead of letting the water run cold, fill a bottle and keep it in the fridge.

4. Plant a large jug by the sink. At the end of a meal, if there's leftover water in glasses, pour it in the jug, then use this "gray water" for watering plants. 

5. Assign a different drinking glass to each person in the house (and refill as desired) throughout the day. This not only saves on water but also means there's less nightly dishwashing to be done—a win-win.

Above: Add leftover ice cubes to gray water. (Check out Gardenista's DIY on Making Rose Petal ice Cubes.) 

6. Don't dump unused ice cubes in the sink. Somehow we (make that, I) forget that they're water, too. Ice should go in the jug by the sink, or in a bowl, and, once melted, be used as gray water (some people put the cubes directly on hearty plants). 

7. Use less water for cooking. Vegetables retain more nutrients when prepared in a small amount of water. 

8. Save the leftover water from cooking vegetables and use it to make stock. (This is a favorite M.F.K. Fisher practice that she wrote about in How to Cook a Wolf.)

9. Use other cooking water to soak pans (or water plants).

Above: All sorts of water is worth saving, including what's used to wash vegetables and produce. Photograph by Kristin Perers via Gardenista.

10. Collect gray water from the kitchen sink in a tub beneath the faucet. I have a double sink and keep a washing bowl on one side. We all use that side to rinse hands and produce, so the water fills the bowl—and then it gets reused as gray water at the end of the day. 

11. Invest in a low-flow showerhead, or create your own by not turning the taps on fully.

Above: Keep buckets on hand for collecting and hauling water. We're fans of these dark galvanized metal Redecker Wash Buckets. (Note that they're from Father Rabbit in New Zealand, so a shipment to the US or UK carries a large carbon footprint. Basic metal buckets from your local hardware store work just as well.)

12. While you're waiting for the water in the shower to heat up, collect the running water in a bucket under the showerhead—a tip from Bea Johnson of Zero Waste Home. (We have yet to implement this one, but it's on my list). Read more advice from Bea in the Zero-Waste Challenge, an account of my family's attempt to live waste free (spoiler: it was an epic fail).

Above: Consider opting for a smaller bathtub, like this one in a paneled London bathroom. Photograph via Light Locations.

13. Take fewer baths. I love a bath at the end of the day, but they consume considerably more water than a shower: as a general estimate, think twice as much. Knowing this, I've significantly reduced the amount of water I use in my baths, and since the tub in our new place isn't full size, it requires less water. I did once valiantly try using my dirty bath water for plants, but lugging a bucket through the house was a major pain. Solution? More showers. 

14. Don't linger in the shower. Note to teens: Try to get in and out in five minutes (actually, 10 minutes would even help). 

15. Be old-fashioned at the bathroom sink: Plug the basin and and fill it—and then use that water to wash your face, shave, etc.

16. Don’t leave water running while you brush your teeth. 

Above: The Geberit In-Wall Tank and Carrier conserves water thanks to its dual-flush feature.

17. Invest in low-flow toilets (preferably WaterSense-certified). Toilets are estimated to be responsible for upwards of 30 percent of household water consumption. You can also create your own low flow by adding a large rock or brick to the water tank. And watch for leaks, the silent consumers. To test your toilet, add a little dye to the tank and if it seeps into the toilet bowl, get the leak fixed.

18. Only flush what you must. Cotton, tissues, and the like should go in a trash can. (Bea of Zero Waste Home— forever ahead of the curve—uses the water collected from the shower to flush the loo.)

19. Wash only clothes that are dirty. My children have a habit of dumping clean clothes in the laundry basket because it’s preferable to hanging them up. Sound familiar?

20. Don’t put more water than you need in the wash cycle. 

21. Finally, my personal favorite: Don’t wash your hair every day. Daily shampooing strips hair of its natural oils (ask your hairdresser)—and it wastes water, too.

For more ways to save water, see our posts on The Best Water-Conserving Toilets and Compact Washers and Dryers. And read Gardenista's 7 Ways to Save Water in the Garden from a Gray Water Expert.

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

• Above: Ceramic artist Brit McDaniel of Paper & Clay shows photographer Alice Gao around her Memphis, Tennessee, studio. Photograph by Alice Gao. 
• This weekend is Open House London, a chance to take a tour of some of the city's architecturally significant buildings. 
• We’re checking out the latest offerings from Artisan Connect, a social commerce venture that sells global goods for the home and aims to help craftspeople from Guatemala to Swaziland make a living.

• Above: California-born beauty expert Josie Maran takes Lonny through her Pennsylvania farmhouse. Photograph by Melanie Acevedo. 
• The moral of this home tour? The fewer electrical outlets the better. 
• We're losing count of all the artful Ikea hacks we've seen, but this DIY basement bar is a new favorite. 

• Above: With the cold months ahead, Dalilah is warming up next to a German-made glass tea pot. 
• Add a touch of nature (plus more secrets for a happier home). 
• Ikea Malaysia challenged shoppers to dress up like their favorite Ikea products—the resemblances are uncanny. 
• A bright new collaboration between a small lighting company and Pigeon Toe ceramics. 

• Above: E-commerce site Fab is launching Hem, a new online retailer specializing in high-end, affordable home decor. 
• Are you following your kids to boarding school? These parents are. 
• A shot of the Flatiron Building in New York City going up in 1902. 

• Instagram and Pinterest favorites: This week we're admiring Minneapolis fashion and textile designer Martha McQuade's Instagram feed and her Black and White Interiors board on Pinterest. 
• Meet the most expensive houses currently for sale in America, including a $139 million palace in South Florida spread across 60,000 square feet. 
• Actress Kirsten Dunst is renting her one-bedroom SoHo loft for $12,500 a month. 

Take a look at this week's Style on a Budget issue, and don't miss Gardenista's week of Cost-Conscious Gardening. 

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• 11 Zero-Cost Room-Changing Ideas
• High/Low: Wooden Bookcase with Cabinets

How to draw natural light into the center of an apartment? Long, narrow spaces with limited windows pose a perennial problem for New York’s urban dwellers. When Melissa Baker and Jon Handley, founding principals of New York's Pulltab Design and members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, were asked to transform a duplex in Tribeca for a couple with two young children, they took full advantage of the fact that it occupies the fifth and top floor of the building. In addition to providing their clients with a new roof penthouse and garden, they also designed a giant circular skylight that hovers like a benevolent moon over the kitchen and dining area at the center of the apartment. More light, more air, and a sculpture overhead—problem solved.

Photography by Mikiko Kikuyama.

Above: The skylight brings much needed additional light into the open dining room and kitchen. Hired to perform a complete renovation, from architecture to interior design, Pulltab worked closely with their clients, one of whom is a former art director at Martha Stewart. Naturally, color palette was thoughtfully considered: "Adept at color, our clients wanted to avoid a white-box feeling," Handley says. The final choices were influenced by the muted and subtle historical colors of the HBO series John Adams. The kitchen walls are painted with Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball, and the kitchen cabinets are spray-lacquered to match Hardwick White by Farrow & Ball. The room beyond is both an office and a guest room.

Above: "We established early on that the floor was to be a clear-grade, solid walnut—American black walnut," says Handley. "This was an important starting point." The long view to the front of the building shows three windows that draw in crucial natural light.

Above: In the kitchen area, additional lighting is provided by recessed spotlights and Flos Glo Ball ceiling-mounted fixtures by Jasper Morrison. "The lighting design gives the client many options," Baker says. "They can have only the Glo balls on for a softer feeling, or all the lights at their brightest for working. All the lighting is on dimmers, that's a standard for all of our projects."

Above: With many collections to display, the client requested a combination of open shelving and closed storage cabinets. She gathered her white Ironstone china collection over time at flea markets, antique shows, and from Red Chair Antiques of Hudson, New York. The white Calacatta Extra marble countertops and mosaic-tiled backsplash offer a subtle contrast to the Hardwick White cabinets.

Above: Black-and-white photographs by Bernd and Hilla Becher form a gallery wall overlooking the dining table. The door on the left leads to the laundry room and, on the right, to the children's room and stairs to the penthouse.

Above: White Artek Bar Stools by Alvar Aalto fit neatly under the kitchen island, where the Calacatta Extra marble countertop has been detailed to cascade down each side.

Above: Beyond the dining area, full-height cabinets become architecture as they form a reading nook in the children's bedroom and playroom area.

Above: "The millwork is very much part of the architecture," Handley says. "The cabinets add a clean line and edge to the spaces while also creating continuity from one room to the next. A bonus is lots of storage, of course."

Above: A custom chandelier by Lindsey Adelman hangs beneath the moon-like skylight. "What you see from the other end of the apartment is a light-filled kitchen," Handley says. "It's not until you're standing under it and that you really sense the scale and drama—you look up and see a beautiful cylinder of light terminating in the ever-changing sky." A circa 1900 portrait of a cowboy and two official state portraits of Vladimir Lenin, purchased from Steven Sclaroff, preside over every meal. 

Above: The glass-fronted shelving was inspired by a century-old wood lawyer's cabinet that the architects own.

Above: Baker and Handley worked closely with a cabinetmaker to devise hardware that would allow the cabinet fronts to lift up and slide back like garage doors using a simple track-and-peg system. Handley explains: "We liked the idea of small, horizontal doors delineating the rows of shelving, rather than a large door where you see the shelves behind the glass." 

Above: The office/guest room features a Murphy bed built as part of the extensive cabinetry, parts of which are accessible from the living room, hallway, and kitchen. A skylight brings natural light into the room and a recessed light with a cover runs up and over the desk, eliminating the need for a lamp. "We liked the idea of subtle, diffused light," Baker says. "It keeps the desktop clear for working and the wall behind free to be used as a tacking surface."

Above: The ceramic centerpiece on the dining table is by Karen Karnes and the series of number prints on the far wall (discovered by the client at a thrift shop) is by Robert Indiana. 

Above: The stairwell walls and treads are made of the same American black walnut as the floor. "We wanted the stair and floor to feel like they were folding up, drawing your eye to the penthouse," Baker says.

Above: The architects developed a recessed handrail detail with their contractor. For practicality, the rail and the panels below it are Corian, which makes it easy to clean—a perfect detail for an apartment with kids.

Above: A view of the rooftop garden and the city beyond from the penthouse. The concrete pavers were custom made in Pennsylvania to Pulltab's specs. All the skylights, including the large circular one, are operable and motorized. Although the "benevolent moon" appears as a circle, it's actually elliptical in shape because its opening is cut on a bias facing north. 

Above: The floor plans of the renovation show the fifth floor (bottom) and penthouse (top). 

Above: And axonometric drawing illustrates the relationship of the new penthouse addition to the large drum skylight. 

Above: A cross-section drawing details the way natural light comes into the space below.

Before

Above: The beginnings of the renovation.

Interested in seeing how other New York architects solve natural light challenges in the city? See Architect Is In: Seeking Sunlight in Chelsea. And if you're looking for intel on marble countertops, go to Remodeling 101: Marble Countertops.

For another eye-opening remodel, go to Gardenista's Outbuilding of the Week: A Study in Black by Designer Alexandra Angle. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Venice Beach: Surf and Sleep in Style at Casa Shelter Half
• Calm and Collected: At Home with the Duo Behind Aesthetic Movement
• A Glamorous Bachelor Pad in Australia, Small-Space Edition

Our kitchens, like our favorite meals, tend to be a mix of subtle influences borrowed from places near and far. This week, we're focusing on a different country or region each day (first up, Scandinavia), and presenting standout kitchen designs and accessories.

Above: Stucco meets steel in architect Theodore Zouboulakis's Holiday House on the Greek Island of Hydra. Photograph courtesy of Zouboulakis Architects.

Monday

Above: Not all of us can have the Scandi kitchen of our dreams, but well-made Nordic tools and accessories are easily attainable—and life enhancing. In today's Kitchen Accessories post, Julie presents 11 examples that we swear by.

Tuesday

Above: The English kitchen is the standard bearer of timelessness and warmth. In Tuesday's Kitchen Design post, we show you 10 favorites, from the classic to the game changing. 

Wednesday

Above: This California mother and daughter achieved the dream: they moved to France and opened their own cooking school and kitchen emporium. Discover it in Shopper's Diary.

Thursday

Above: Attention fans of the Jersey Ice Cream Co. and Local Milk blog: This Thursday we'll be unveiling Beth Kirby's new kitchen in North Chattanooga, Tennessee (watch for our Rehab Diary). And see Justine's Dream Kitchen for Under $3,000 by the Jersey Ice Cream Co. Photograph by Beth Kirby.

Friday

Above: We're ending the week with a salute to the Italian kitchen, from ranges designed like race cars to an easy DIY pasta drying rack. To get inspired, read about Meredith's adventures making Colorful Fresh Linguine on Gardenista, where they're celebrating the Harvest Moon.

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Lagom, a Swedish term meaning "just the right amount, not too much or too little," is testimony to the Scandinavian desire to keep things simple, moderate, and effortless. We've rounded up 10 of our favorite Scandinavian kitchens that embody this ideal.

Above: The eat-in kitchen of Scandinavian stylist and writer Emma Persson Lagerberg features mint green cabinets, a row of porcelain wall socket lights, and a marble countertop that seamlessly blends into a backsplash. (For ideas on re-creating this, see Steal This Look: A Mint Green Kitchen from a Scandinavian Stylist.)

Above: This Stockholm apartment designed by Fantastic Frank features an eat-in-kitchen with a mix of gray (lower) and white (upper) cabinets. For more on two-toned cabinets, see A Kitchen for the People Courtesy of Prince Charles. Fantastic Frank seems to have its hands in everything (see an Artful Hotel in Gotland, Sweden).

Above: A Swedish kitchen with a palette of navy blue and minty green with leather cabinet pulls, via Entrance Fastighetsmäkleri.

Above: This white minimalist Scandi kitchen in a 1940s summer cottage belongs to Mette and Martin Wienberg. Photography by Mikkel Mortensen with styling by Gitte Kjaer, via Yatzer and Dezeen.  

Above: Pastels prevail in the kitchen of Swedish blogger Catarina Skoglund; see more at Steal This Look: A Relaxed Kitchen in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Above: Norm Architect of Copenhagen designed Humlebaek House to function as a home as well as an art studio. The kitchen has a raw appearance, featuring minimalist white drawers, a black wooden veneer countertop, and concrete flooring. More photos of the recently updated home can be seen in The Updated Danish Farmhouse, Window Edition. And in case you're interested in the wall lamps, I made an attempt to build a similar looking Industrial DIY Lamp for $15.

Above: Artist Mats Gustafson's Stockholm kitchen, designed by Fernlund + Logan, features a mix of modern and antique elements. See our Steal This Look on the space. Photograph by Magnus Marding for T Magazine.

Above: Wall-mounted storage in a Swedish kitchen via Hetta Hem; see more at Trend Alert: 11 Kitchens with Wall-Mounted Box Shelving.

Above: Swedish architect Tommy Carlsson designed an all-gray kitchen with pale leather pulls and a plywood ceiling (see Stained Plywood Swedish Seaside House by Architect Tommy Carlsson for photos of the entire house). If you like the look of leather hardware; explore these 10 Easy Pieces: Leather Cabinet Pulls. Photograph by Andy Liffner and interior styling by Sofie Ganeva, via Fantastic Frank.

Above: An L-shaped kitchen by Danish kitchen designer Kviks is placed in the middle of a large ornate Danish apartment. For more, check out our posts 10 Favorites: Modern Kitchens in Ornate Spaces and Remodeling 101: The U-Shaped Kitchen.

See the Remodelista Gallery for more kitchen inspiration. Do you prefer an Eat-in Kitchen or dining at a Kitchen Island? And here are some Bathroom Ideas to Steal for Your Kitchen. Gardenista presents 10 Ultimate Outdoor Kitchens; count us in. 

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Scandinavians in New York City have their own underground circuit of home-away-from-home hangouts. There's Scandinavia House, a multistory cultural center with a birch-tree-decorated modernist cafeteria (and much better Swedish meatballs than the ones at Ikea). It's hidden on an overlooked stretch of Park Avenue at 38th Street. There's the Mirjam Bayoumi Salon on East 78th Street in Yorkville, which, according to devotees, is the only place in town that knows how to properly highlight blond hair—those of you who are obsessed with creating Scandinavian-style pale wood floors will immediately understand the complexities and pitfalls of the task. And tucked out of sight at 5 East 48th Street, there's Svenska kyrkan, a Swedish church with an all-white chapel and a homey cafe serving kaffe and Swedish newspapers; it's a secret haven just inches from the madness of Fifth Avenue. 

Photography by Marta S. McAdams.

Above: With its painted exterior advertising sild (herring), snaps (schnapps), rugbrød (brown rye bread), postej (pâté), and aeg (egg), the restaurant feels like it was teleported straight from Denmark. It's located in the Tribeca Film Building on Laight Street, a quiet, cobblestoned stretch just below the west side of Canal Street.

Above: The Copenhagen, originally called Aamanns-Copenhagen, was opened in 2013 by Sanne Ytting, a native of Denmark who felt the flavors of her country were underrepresented in Manhattan. She collaborated on the initial menu with celebrated Copenhagen restaurateur Adam Aamann, the man who made open-faced sandwiches chic again. All the pickling, smoking, curing, and bread baking is done in-house, and the offerings change every three weeks. Nordic dinners and Sunday brunch are also on the lineup. 

Above: The restaurant seats 50 on classic Arne Jacobsen Ant Chairs from Fritz Hansen. The space was designed by Anders Busk Faarborg of Fobsi Studio in Copenhagen as a white-on-white showcase of modern and contemporary Danish style.

Above: The aquavit is house-made and served in Holmegaard glasses. It's infused with flavors such as beet and apple-walnut, leading The New Yorker's reviewer to comment: "It remains to be seen what kind of foot traffic dill aquavit will attract." For some of our favorite Holmegaard designs, see The Timeless Table: Glassware with Heart and Soul.

Above: The revolving art display comes from Galleri Oxholm, in Copenhagen. Shown here, Circuit by Peter Max-Jakobsen.

Above: The microbrews on tap are from Brooklyn's Evil Twin Brewing, owned by Danish transplant Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso.

Above: Plates and bowls are by Danish designer Anne Black. Water bottles are from Sort of Coal, in Copenhagen; each comes with a stick of Japanese-style binchotan, a high-grade charcoal that acts as a natural purifier and turns tap water into mineral water. (Read more about Japanese charcoal and the many products made with it, in Black Magic.)

The Copenhagen is at 13 Laight Street, on the border of TriBeCa and SoHo. It's open for lunch and dinner, Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Ready for the real thing? See our Denmark City Guide for our favorite Copenhagen finds, including the new Hotel SP34, Ilse Crawford's Temporary Headquarters (Restaurant Included), and, according to Gardenista, The World's Most Charming Flower Shop.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 20, 2013, as part of our issue The Summer Kitchen.

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Outfit your kitchen like a Scandi with well-made, useful, low-key essentials. Here are 11 that we swear by.

Above: Designed by Bent Georg Jensen, the cotton and flax Abild Tea Towel is a Danish icon; €15 (US$19.25).

Above: If you've been eyeing the Sarpaneva Cast Iron Three-Quart Stock Pot but holding off, it's currently on sale at West Elm for $199 (down from $299). 

Above: Sarah gave me a set of Toss Around Salad Servers from Muuto a while back and they've become a kitchen favorite; $31 from Scandinavian Design Center.

Above: The well-priced, perennially available Burken storage containers from Ikea come in a range of sizes; the nine-inch-tall Burken Jar with Lid, shown above, is $4.99.

Above: The Skeppshult Cast-Iron Spice Grinder is $39.95 at Crate & Barrel.

Above: The classic Ankarsrum Original Stand Mixer is $799.95 from Metro Kitchen and comes in a range of colors.

Above: Hand-knit cotton and linen Iris Hantverk Pot Holders are $27 each from Fjorn Scandinavian.

Above: Finnish Scrubbing Whisks are £5 (US$8.17) each at Objects of Use in the UK.

Above: The Vaxbo Linen Dishcloth is $16 from Manos. We featured it in the Remodelista book roundup of our favorite everyday things—the Remodelista 100.

Above: The white enameled metal Knodd Bin from Ikea is $24.99.

Above: The Iris Hantverk Dust Pan & Brush Set is $168 at Anthropologie.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Greatest Hits: 12 Favorite Kitchens in the UK
• Steal This Look: A Retro English Kitchen in Hampshire, England
• DIY: Easy Herb Drying Rack for the Kitchen

We like to dry our own culinary herbs and have long admired a particular herb drying rack made using S hooks and a halo of steel. So when we noticed a DIY version with a similar appeal, we thought we'd share the find.

The project comes from Caitlin of The Merrythought, who created a hanging herb rack using just a few affordable materials: cotton string, a metal hoop, and S hooks.

Above: The finished herb drying rack, with thyme, mint, and sage from the garden.

Above: Other than the metal hoop, all materials required can be sourced from the kitchen and tool shed.

Above: For full, step-by-step instructions, visit Caitlin's DIY Herb Drying Rack.

For another favorite kitchen garden idea, see DIY: Hanging Kitchen Herb Garden, and on Gardenista, learn more from DIY: Instant Indoor Herb Garden and DIY: Shade-Tolerant Herbs to Grow in Your Apartment.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Greatest Hits: 12 Favorite Kitchens in the UK
• Steal This Look: A Retro English Kitchen in Hampshire, England
• 11 Scandi Kitchen Essentials, High to Low

Has kitchen company Plain English got a lock on the ultimate British kitchen design? It certainly seems that way. Here in the US, our friends are constantly asking, "How do I get the Plain English look?" and "When are they opening a store stateside?" Until that happens, here are some ideas for re-creating the look. 

Above: The Hampshire Hop Kiln Kitchen from Plain English.

Above: Industrial pendant lamps and unlacquered brass hardware contrast with the kitchen island's modern profile and crisp detailing.

Above: On either end of the island are shelves for storing items of odd shapes and sizes.

The Basics

Above: For a color similar to the one used on the kitchen cabinets and lower half of the island, consider Fine Paints of Europe's Eurolux Flat Base Paint in factory color 7034 Winter Sky. The color is a pale gray with just a hint of blue.

Above: For an alternating color, as used on wooden cupboards along the side wall of the kitchen, Farrow & Ball's Mole's Breath is a basic dark gray with a great deal of depth; $95 per gallon of Modern Emulsion finish.

Above: Countertops are a mix of wood on the kitchen island and concrete on the back counter. Shown here is Ikea's affordable oiled-beech Numerär Wood Countertop, which comes in precut lengths. Kitchen counters measuring 49 5/8 by 25 5/8 by 1 1/2 inches are $89. For more on countertops, see 10 Easy Pieces: Remodelista Kitchen Countertop Picks.

Faucets & Fixtures

Above: The brass Deck-Mounted Faucet with Gooseneck Spout by family-owned UK company Barber Wilson is $1,760 at Quality Bath. From Trade Secrets: Notting Hill House by Charles Mellersh.

Above: The Alfi Concrete Farm Sink is $1,160.71 at Plumber's Stock.

Lighting & Appliances

Above: Schoolhouse Electric's Factory Light No. 5 Cable has a white interior and clear-coated steel shade; $299.

Above: From French company La Cornu, the CornuFé 110 Range in gloss black with a satin chrome trim is available directly through La Cornu.

Accessories

Above: Plain English uses a clever mix of bin pulls, knobs, and latches for cabinet hardware. Shown here is Whitechapel's Half Round Bin Pull (left) for $19.05 and One-Inch Plain Knob for $8.54 (right), both in antiqued brass.

Above: The Marseilles Chalkboard from Restoration Hardware has a weathered oak frame; $349 for the small size.

Above: At Food 52's Provisions, the Large Replica Apple Crate in a gray wash is $35. Alternatively, source a vintage Wooden Fruit Crate for from Washington-based Etsy seller the Front House for $40 or from other Etsy sellers.

Above: Set on the wood-topped kitchen island is a slab of white marble for food preparation. Sur La Table's White Marble Pastry Board is $44.95. For more, see 5 Favorites: Marble Boards in the Kitchen.

Above: Fog Linen Work's Kitchen Cloth in navy and white checkerboard (also available in reddish pink, purple, brown, and yellow) is $15 from Fog Linen Work. The cloth is also available for £9.95 at Atelier Home & Garden in the UK.

Above: Brendan Ravenhill's Red Dustbin is on sale for $55.99 (down from $74.99) at West Elm.

Above: A set of six small glass Weck Jars is $27 at Heath Ceramics. The jars are also available from Schoolhouse Electric starting at $4 per jar.

For more ideas, see our post with founder Katie Fontana, Kitchen Confidential: 10 Ways to Achieve the Plain English Look.

Can't get enough of Brit kitchen style? See:

11 Design Details to Steal from High-End Bespoke Kitchens

A Kitchen for the People, Courtesy of Prince Charles

Rehab Diary: A British Standard Kitchen in a Shepherd's Hut

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• Greatest Hits: 12 Favorite Kitchens in the UK
• DIY: Easy Herb Drying Rack for the Kitchen
• 11 Scandi Kitchen Essentials, High to Low

Over the years we've posted hundreds of admirable English kitchens and learned a lot about kitchen design in the process. Here's a roundup of 12 of our favorites—kitchens that have influenced the way we think about cooking and dining.

Above: Architect Jonathan Tuckey designed this kitchen in a converted chapel. See Divine Intervention: The Providence Chapel in Wiltshire.

Above: Chef Alastair Hendy's London kitchen was designed over a decade ago but still feels modern; see more at Revolution Road: A Groundbreaking Kitchen in London.

Above: A favorite recent discovery: Designer Jamie Blake of Blakes London orchestrated the kitchen in this London Victorian house; see more at Steal This Look: The Endless Summer Kitchen.

Above: Remodelista UK editor Christine Chang Hanway takes us through the process of overhauling her London kitchen in Rehab Diary: Sleuthing for Space in My Kitchen.

Above: Ever since we spotted furniture designer Faye Toogood's kitchen in the New York Times, we've been obsessed (Izabella so much so that she was inspired to install similar Muuto-Style Cabinet Pulls in her kitchen).

Above: Architect David Kohn converted a ruined 19th-century stable into a contemporary pavilion; we especially like the kitchen (see more at A Stable Reborn in Rural Norfolk).

Above: A classic yet subtly glamorous kitchen; for more, go to Steal This Look: Minimalist English Kitchen.

Above: A perennial favorite, the British Standard kitchen (the budget-conscious offering from Plain English); see more at Kitchen Confidential: 10 Ways to Achieve the Plain English Look

Above: Another Jamie Blake kitchen we're enamored of; for full details, go to The Designer Is In: A Scandi Kitchen in a London Victorian.

Above: Louisa Grey figured out how to create a light-filled kitchen in her London basement; see Reader Rehab: A London Stylist at Home.

Above: A modern take on Shaker design, this London kitchen by Devol includes a suspended laundry rack for hanging tea towels and colanders (see more at A Shaker-Inspired Kitchen in London).

Above: London interior designer Charles Mellersch wanted to telegraph a "robust sensibility" in this Notting Hill kitchen, and so he chose honed marble, matte tiles, and brass. See the full project in The Designer Is In: An Optimist in London. And for more brass, go to Trend Alert: 12 Kitchens with Brass Accents.

British kitchen design crops up all over. See Steal This Look: An Anglo-Inspired Indoor-Outdoor Kitchen in Sweden and A British Standard Kitchen in a Shepherd's Hut. On Gardenista read about an Under-the-Radar Food Market Beneath London's Railway Arches.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Steal This Look: A Retro English Kitchen in Hampshire, England
• DIY: Easy Herb Drying Rack for the Kitchen
• 11 Scandi Kitchen Essentials, High to Low

The other day I found myself in a Twitter conversation with UK industrial designer Sebastian Conran (yes, of that Conran family; he's the son of Sir Terence Conran and older brother of fashion designer Jasper Conran and interior designer Sophie Conran). Sebastian has been hosting a Twitter debate on the subject of #beautility, the merging of functionality and style, a concept he is championing.

He got his start stocking shelves at Habitat and currently runs his own firm, Sebastian Conran Associates, which specializes in "user-centric" design, from products to packaging. Last year the company launched Universal Expert, Sebastian's line of cookware, storage accessories, and other housewares (available in the US through West Elm, and now through the London West Elm as well).

The upshot of our Twitter conversation? I asked Sebastian to sit down and answer some questions about designing a small kitchen based on the principles of beautility. Here's his take.

Above: A tiny kitchen by Oakland architect Christi Azevedo (see more at A California Carriage House Transformed).

How Do We Achieve Beautility in a Small Kitchen?

In most small houses, the kitchen is the central focus for activity. It has to work as a place to entertain friends and catch up on the Sunday news while also being set up for serious cooking. Small kitchens are particularly challenging not only to design but also to work in—designing galleys in boats and aircraft is something I have done in the past, so I know this all too well. Thankfully, with a home you don’t have to worry about rolling seas or air turbulence. To operate efficiently in a small kitchen, you have to consider a lot of functional demands; here are some pointers on each.

• Layout: A logical layout helps maximize the use of space. And it should make cleaning and maintenance easier, especially in heavy-use areas. From my days designing boats and airplanes, I learned that the galley kitchen with prep/cook/wash and serve counters on either side of a narrow walkway is a very space-efficient layout.

Above: See Remodeling 101: The Urban Galley Kitchen for ideas on laying out a galley kitchen. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

• Storage: A well-considered storage strategy is also a must for an efficiently run kitchen. Make sure that everything has its place and that no space is wasted.  

• Accessibility: Easy access to equipment, storage, and waste disposal/recycling helps to encourage good habits.

• Equipment: The quality of equipment you use makes a difference over time as well. Choosing multifunctional products and fixtures that save space can reduce the amount of tools needed—a chopping board that folds over the sink is a good example.

• Materials and finishes: The quality of your materials and finishes are a fundamental consideration to the concept of “beautility.” By using honest materials that age gracefully, such as wood, stone, ceramic, glass, and stainless, your environment can gain character over time. I tend to steer clear of plastics and laminates as they might unpleasantly degrade with time and can harbor bacteria. 

Above: A soapstone countertop in a kitchen in Maine; photograph by Justine Hand. See more at Remodeling 101: Soapstone Countertops. 

Beautility Kitchen Must-Haves?

• Open shelves: Personally, I prefer to keep regular-use items in open shelves rather than cabinets because in small spaces doors can get in the way; this not only means that it’s easier to get at stuff with one hand but also it forces you to keep only the really loved products that you actually use and to edit out all the junk. A well-organized system of cabinets is the preserve of more occasional items and foods. 

• Walls with hooks: It is good to utilize wall space as much as possible; I like utensils and pans hanging on the walls and use cooking equipment almost as decoration. 

Above: Open shelves and hooks on walls. Steal This Look: Toronto Kitchen by Jennifer Hannotte.

• Deep and wide drawers with dividers: These store more efficiently and offer easier accessibility. An added bonus is that their handles can be used as tea towel and oven-glove hooks.

• Built-in units: These provide a clean, uncluttered aesthetic for appliances and recycling bins.

Above: Built-in units can hide a lot of clutter and unify appliances and equipment. Image via Alvhem. 

Beautility on a Budget?

• Go for quality rather than quantity: The quality is long remembered after the price is forgotten. Investing in time-proved materials and methods that suit their purpose, rather than opting for fashionable alternatives. It’s very much about choosing the right tools for the job. Funnily enough, cooking itself is actually all about form follows fabrication—the quality of the materials (produce) and the expertise of the maker (cook) totally affect the outcome—probably more so than any other process.

• Consider multifunctionality: Try to buy equipment that can be used for lots of jobs. You can cook and serve from a beautiful pan, and wooden spoons make wonderful salad servers. Flea markets are a good source for previously loved good quality cookware (the cheap stuff doesn’t last long enough to make it to the rummage sale).

Above: Designers Jersey Ice Cream Co. transformed Justine Hand's New England kitchen within a strict budget. See Rehab Diary: Dream Kitchen for Under $3,000.

Interested in seeing more small-space kitchens? See 10 Ingenious Space-Efficient Kitchens. More Small-Space Living tips can be found in 10 Easy Pieces: Desks for Small Spaces.

And on Gardenista, we explore the world of small with Hardscaping 101: Garden Sheds. 

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• Current Obsessions: In the Studio
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Slightly moody and never obvious, the best paint colors in the UK look as if they were created against the soft gray light of the British Isles. In addition to longtime favorite Farrow & Ball, here are five English paint lines that are on our radar right now. 

Above: Little Greene is a paint manufacturer founded in 1773 as the Little Greene Dye Works of Collyhurst Wood, on the outskirts of Manchester. Known for depth of color, Little Greene paints have a complex pigmentation that provides character and definition. The company's water-based paints have a low VOC rating, and its oil-based paints are made with sustainable vegetable oil. US dealers can be found here. 

Above: Founded in 1960, by Robert Baty and currently owned by his son, Patrick, Paper and Paints of London specializes in color palettes for historic buildings, including Kensington Palace. Mixing paints from Little Greene (see above), they create colors to match traditional settings. In the US, they've worked with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in and the Colonial Williamsburg foundation. 

Above: Ecos Organic Paints are water-based and free of all solvents, VOCs, and toxins. When the Louvre had some touching up to do on walls near the Mona Lisa, Ecos was selected. Odor and fume free, the brand has also been singled out as ideal for allergy sufferers. Ecos Organic Paints are available online in the UK and in the US. Go to Remodeling 101, to learn All You Need to Know About VOCs in Paint. Photograph by Joanna Henderson. 

Above: Another eco-friendly, small paint company, Earthborn, has developed Claypaint, a special clay-based formular with an ultra-matt finish that absorbs and softens the light in the room. Earthborn paint is available only in the UK and in Europe.

Above: UK kitchen outfitters Plain English (see today's Steal This Look) teamed up with interior designer Adam Bray to develop a collection of 12 colors that are bolder than what is typically associated with the company's understated, Georgian-inspired designs. With names like "Dripping Tap", "Draughty Passage", and "Scullery Latch", the palette is inherently English. Available in eggshell, gloss, or matte, the collection is exclusive to Plain English clients. See more in Bespoke Color From an Accidental Decorator.

Above: The best known of the English paint lines, and the one most available in the US, Farrow & Ball was founded by John Farrow and Richard Maurice Ball in Wimborne Minster, Dorset in the 1930s. Several years ago, Farrow & Ball developed a new, water-based formula for its paints, reducing the solvents in its products to low and zero VOC. Colors are derived from natural pigments as well as other natural ingredients, such as china clay, lime putty, and linseed oil. And the company doesn't use harmful ingredients like ammonia or formaldehyde.

See 10 Easy Pieces: Eco-Friendly Paints for US companies that offer low-VOC and toxin-free options. And have a look at 5 Boutique Paint Lines from Down Under.

Choosing paint colors can be daunting; browse the designer-vetted colors in our Palette & Paints series, which includes:

     • Happiness-Inducing Colors

     • Moody Paints Picks

     • Metallic Wall Paints

     • 10 Best Pink Paints

     • Celadon Greens

Go to Gardenista for advice on Exterior Paints.

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The classic English kitchen manages to be warm and cozy—a perfect antidote to the variable weather—and also resolutely practical. From one hour to the next, whatever it's doing outside, there's always tea and toast. Here are 16 essentials to introduce British reliability and charm to your kitchen. 

Above: The familiar blue and white stripes of Cornishware, around since 1926, create a very English display. It's shown here at one of our favorite housewares emporiums, the A. G. Hendy Homestore in Hastings, England. Photograph via The Women's Room.

Above: The Aga Hard Anodized Two-Liter Kettle heats water quickly and efficiently; available for $625 at March, in San Francisco. 

Above: The Wooden Towel Holder from Ancient Industries, $45, is equally at home in an English kitchen or bathroom. In the UK, a similar Wooden Towel Holder can be found for £24.95 at Pedlars.

Above: Made in the UK since 1862, the Weylux Queen Scale is £85 from Objects of Use.

Above: In production since the 1860s, White Pudding Basins from British potter Mason Cash come in seven graduated sizes, from 4.5 to 8 inches. Several sizes are available in the US through Kitchen Kapers.

Above: Hampson Woods cutting boards are handmade in the UK from trees with a known provenance. Prices range from £35 (US $57.25) to £55 (US $90). See more in British Roots: Hampson Woods' Curvy Handled Serving Boards. 

Above: Brewing tea since the Victorian era, Brown Betty Teapots come in a variety of sizes and have been handmade in Stoke-on-Trent for over 200 years; they're available in the US through Ancient Industries for $35.

Above: Technically not in the UK but closely related, our friends at Makers & Brothers grew up outside of Dublin using Wooden Plates for everything from chopping vegetables to serving crab. These examples are turned by Tony Farrell. An eight-inch plate is €22 (US $36) and a 10-inch plate is €25 (US $41). The plates get a great deal of use in my house; see Sleuthing for Space in My Kitchen. 

Above: Hunslet tableware was inspired by the utilitarian crockery produced in the 18th century for below the stairs, where a Hunslet Footed Mug was more fitting than a dainty tea cup and saucer; £16.50 (US $27) at Pentreath & Hall.

Above: Handmade by Turner and Harper, a Soft Hog Bristle Broom, £115 (US $188), provides weight and heft for sweeping tile and wood floors. 

Above: Felicity Irons, founder of UK company Rush Matters, makes Rush Mats in a variety of sizes using centuries-old methods; prices start at £12 (US $19.63). See more at Walls, Windows, and Floors: Rush Matters in Bedfordshire.

Above: Built by hand for commercial use in the UK, a Dualit Toaster is a classic piece of equipment in the British kitchen. The Dualit New Generation Two-Slice Toaster is $239.95 at Williams-Sonoma.

Above: Worth hauling back from your next trip to London: The Labour & Wait Bread Bin (exclusively available from Labour & Wait) for £65 (US $106.34). Its red-oxide-brown is based on a 1920s shade and the lettering is in a crisp, white Gill Sans. Air holes allow the bread to stay fresh.

Above: Another piece of Hunslet pottery, the Large Jug is perfect for serving water at the table £42 (US $68.70) at Pentreath & Hall.

Above: Spotlighted in the Remodelista book as one of our favorite kitchen tools, Milton Brook Mortar & Pestle is made of nonabsorbent vitrified porcelain and has a beechwood handle. It's $34.99 on Amazon, and it's available on Amazon UK for £33.

Above: Linen tea towels are a stalwart staple. A Morgan Tea Cloth made of Irish Linen is €16 (US $26) from 31 Chapel Lane. 

Above: A Kitchen Serving Set from Alessi by Jasper Morrison pares down the overgrown collection of kitchen spoons to three essentials: a multitasking spoon, a risotto spoon, and a spatula. The set is $20.25 from All Modern, and, in the UK, it's £11 from Innes. 

Each day this week, we'll be presenting standout kitchen tools and accessories from a different country. Have a look at 11 Scandi Kitchen Essentials. And for more, browse all our Kitchen Accessories posts.

On Gardenista, see At Home with Judy Green in London's Leafiest Suburb.

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Think of a classic British kitchen and an Aga range cooker is likely part of that picture. The cast-iron construction, with its shiny enamel surface and Dig-for-Victory utilitarian appeal, is a sign of an efficient and well-run home, not to mention a cozy one. Before the Aga, cooking on a range, with open flame and red-hot surfaces, was unpredictable, dirty, and somewhat dangerous. In 1922 Nobel prize-winning Swedish physicist Gustaf Dalén decided to improve his wife's quality of life by inventing a stove that would depend on a single burner to supply radiant heat to different temperature-controlled ovens within. This meant that the potatoes could be kept warm in one oven, while the Sunday roast was finished in another. The resulting range has two hot plates (instead of burners), one for simmering and one for boiling, and these are covered with an insulated chrome lid that prevents the heat from escaping when not in use. 

The Aga was brought to Britain in 1929. During World War II, the exterior was updated by industrial designer Douglas William Scott, who several years later designed that other beloved comfort giver, the British double-decker bus. The competing Rayburn range, which offers a central heating option, came along just after the war, and the cast-iron Everhot was introduced in 1995. Despite a multitude of 21st-century stove options, the traditional range cooker has never diminished in popularity. Here are some notable examples.

Above: The classic: An Aga from 1942 reconditioned by UK appliance specialist Twyford Cookers. The Aga has begun to gain popularity in the US; see below for sourcing. Here's a primer on how Agas operate. Photograph via The Foodie Bugle. 

Five to Buy

Above: The Esse Ironheart, introduced in 2004 to celebrate Esse's 150th birthday, takes its inspiration from the earliest Esse range cookers, which were wood burning. The glass-fronted firebox provides heat as well as visual interest, but the stove makes the most of modern technology with its oven temperature control and domed hotplate covers. Go to Esse US for North American stockists. To explore this kitchen, see A Kitchen for the People, Courtesy of Prince Charles.

Above: The classic Aga Four-Oven Cooker offers, in addition to four ovens, two hot plates and a warming plate. It's available for $21,000 through authorized Aga dealers, including March, in San Francisco. See Design Sleuth: Classic Aga Cookers for more.

Above: The Everhot 150i features three independently controllable ovens, two cast-iron plates, and a three-zone induction hub. Go to Cast-Iron Range Cookers for sourcing in the UK. And if you like the look of this kitchen, see Steal This Look.

Above: A Rayburn Cooker 300K in a kitchen in Galway, Ireland, designed by Guard Tillman Pollack. In the World War II make-do-and-mend spirit, the Rayburn is made of 70 percent recycled materials, which includes lamp posts, drain covers, and old cast-iron cookers. See Rayburn for UK stockists.

Above: The compact AGA Companion is just 24 inches wide and has four sealed burners, a slow-cook oven, and a roasting oven; $5,699 at A. J. Madison.

Object Lessons columnist Megan Wilson is the owner of Ancient Industries and curator of the Remodelista 100, a collection of essential everyday objects presented in the Remodelista book. Watch for her column every Tuesday, and have a look at her past lessons, including two English kitchen favorites, the Pastel Enamel Cooking Pot and the Ercol Stacking Chair.

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Pepper mills first appeared in European kitchens in the 14th century. Today the concept of pepper grinding remains much the same, but the look of the mill and the inner workings have evolved. Here are our favorite salt and pepper grinders from around the world, the US included.

Europe

Above: The classic Peugeot "Paris" U'Select Pepper Mill—made in France before the company got into the race car and bicycle business—allows users to grind the pepper from fine to coarse thanks to its U'Select twist feature. It comes in chocolate and natural; $42 from Provisions. We're spotlighting French kitchen design today; stay tuned for more Gallic cooking essentials.

Above: The Atlas Copper and Brass Pepper Mill was invented as a portable coffee grinder for soldiers in the Greek army a century ago; $95 from Provisions. To learn more, see our post Object Lessons: The Atlas Pepper Mill from Greece. 

England and Ireland

Above: Makers and Brothers worked with Irish woodworker (and friend) Matt Jones to create their own Pepper Mill. The size of the grind is adjusted by an internal Danish ceramic mechanism; €90 (US $147) from Makers and Brothers.

Above: David Mellor's Salt or Pepper Mill comes in natural or black hand-turned European beech. The design has an adjustable ceramic grind mechanism; $60 at Canoe.

Scandinavia

Above: Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen and Kasper Rønn of Norm Architects created the Bottle Grinder for fellow Danish company Menu. It has a high-performance ceramic mechanism, and the mill is located at the top of the bottle, an unusual detail that assures no leftover spices on your table. The small grinders come in pairs and are offered in several color combinations; $59.95 from Menu.

Above: The made-in-Sweden Cast-Iron Spice Grinder is $39.95 at Crate and Barrel, and is featured in the Malle W. Trousseau Ultimate Kitchen Set.

Above: The Avva Salt and Pepper Mills set is made by Oslo designer Thea Mehl. A pair of mills with ceramic grinders is $82 from Teroforma.

Above: Made of stainless steel, rubber, and aluminum, the black and white Vipp Salt and Pepper Mill Set is $189 from Vipp.

United States

Above: Handmade by De Jong & Co., in LA, these elegant White Oak Salt and Pepper Grinders are available in a variety of shapes and sizes; $200 each from Nickey Kehoe.

Above: From Fletcher's Mill in New Vineyard, Maine, the Columbia Salt Mill and Pepper Mill are made of raw maple and black-painted maple; $46 each from The Commons.

Above: Designed by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio of Seattle and made in the US, Cylinder Shakers are available in brass (shown), copper, and aluminum (with a protective coating to prevent tarnish); $70 a pair.

Above: Inspired by Moroccan lanterns, Crate and Barrel's Kiki Beechwood Grinders are made from single blocks of sustainably sourced wood from Eastern Europe. Available in tall and short, they're sold individually; each one has an adjustable grinder feature that allows for different coarseness settings. The tall is $34.97, marked down from $49.95, and the short is $29.97, marked down from $44.95.

Above: The Large and Small Salt and Pepper Mill by Lostine is made in Philadelphia and has a noncorrosive grinding mechanism that can be adjusted for a fine or coarse serving. To fill the mill, simply pull it apart and add a spice; $225 for the small size, and $248 for the large.

Prefer to use a Mortar and Pestle instead of a grinder? We've rounded up five of our favorites. How do you store your pepper and salt? Perhaps these 5 Quick Fixes For Your Spices will help you stay organized. Over at Gardenista, they're stirring up Sweet and Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, and no, you don't have to wait until Halloween to test the recipe.

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Paris has E. Dehillerin, France's oldest kitchenware store, established in 1820. Its longstanding competition in Marseille? Maison Empereur, a family-run institution established in 1827 by François Empereur that lays claim to being the oldest hardware and cookware shop in France. The store is overseen by the decidedly discerning Laurence Guez, who took the helm in 2000, the sixth generation to carry on her family business. 

All the staples once offered by France's traditional (and now shuttered) neighborhood kitchen emporiums can still be found at Maison Empereur—along with hardware items, bathroom goods, toys, and a slew of classic French staples for the home, from wicker chairs and enamel sinks to espadrilles. Think of Maison Empereur as the local hardware store meets Merci. Well worth a detour should you be in the South of France. 

Photographs courtesy of Maison Empereur, unless otherwise noted.

Above: The shop is located in the heart of Marseille in a trio of buildings that are close to each other. Photograph via Citadineries. 

Above: Locally made Savon de Marseille (another area institution) and a display of woven striped towels. 

Above: Maison Empereur sells classic French toys, including music boxes, playing cards, and string fishing nets.

Above: A display of pots and pans by French favorites such as Le Creuset and de Buyer. 

Above: More pans for every occasion (blinis, crêpes, chestnuts, and an oval Poele à Poisson for fish).

Above: A small sampling of the baking tools on offer in the kitchen section. (For those suffering from Opinel ennui, check out Maison Empereur's extensive selection of knives.)

Above: Part of Maison Empereur's appeal is the traditional Old World setup, with leather bags hanging from the ceiling, straw hats piled on tables, and linen sold by the meter.

Above: Traditional enamel sinks and porcelain fixtures on display in the bathroom section. Note the hammocks strung from the ceiling in the distance. 

Below: Maison Empereur is located in three buildings that are close to each other in the center of Marseille. The Quincaillerie Generale is at 3 Rue d’Aubagne, shown below. The Arts Culinaires is at 4 Rue des Récolettes, and the Coutellerie is at 6 Rue des Récolette.

Check out our posts on E. Dehilleren, the go-to source for kitchenware in Paris, and La Trésorerie, Paris's new housewares shop. If you're looking for somewhere to stay near Saint-Tropez (about a 30-minute drive from Marseille), consider La Suite Cassis, and for a worthwhile outing, see our post on a Provençal Winery. 

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The French cook with effortless panache, and, by extension, their kitchens have an appealing nonchalance. Here’s a roundup of 10 of our favorites.

Above: French architect Joseph Dirand's own kitchen in Paris bears his signature minimalist glamour.

Above: A two-toned kitchen with a wood counter by Paris designer and architect Philippe Harden (see more at Architect Visit: Philippe Harden in Paris).

Above: At home in the 20th Arrondissement, French designer Roxane Beïs blends urban chic and rustic charm. Tour the rest of the apartment in Designer Visit: Paris Meets Provence.

Above: French architecture firm Ciguë's Nonconformist Kitchen in Paris presents a mix of reused cabinets

Above: Unified by white paint, mismatched chairs surround a long farm table at Chez Mr. and Mrs. Clynk, in Nantes.

Above: A Best Kitchen Finalist in the Remodelista 2013 Considered Design Awards, this modern kitchen in a renovated farmhouse in southwest France was designed by David Rose Interior Architecture and Design. 

Above L: Stylist and designer Clarisse Demory's small, traditional Paris kitchen has a cement floor patterned with broken tiles. Above R: An easy Ikea hack: Demory removed the doors of her Ikea cupboards and replaced them with tea towels. See more in Done/Undone with Clarisse Demory in Paris.

Above: Designers Gilles and Boissier use the textures of different woods to provide a modern-rustic feel to the kitchen; for more, go to Love Story: At Home with a Pair of Parisians.

Above: In her pied-à-terre in Paris, Ochre designer Solenne de la Fouchardière dresses up her kitchen with marble counters and backsplash, and Ochre's Light Drizzle Chandelier. See the rest in A Flat in Montmartre, Echoes of Chanel.

Above: Niche storage in a tiled wall by Marianne Evennou, one of our favorite French designers. Go to A Modern Atelier in France, Books Included.

This week we're visiting Kitchens Around the World: We started with 10 Stellar Scandinavian Kitchens, then worked our way to 12 Favorite Kitchens in the UK, and tomorrow we'll stick closer to home with favorite American kitchens. 

On Gardenista, extend French style into your garden with 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from France.

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French kitchens are filled with ideas worth stealing. Equip your own as the French would with a batterie de cuisine, all the essentials from the right cookware to vinegar fermentation pots and string market bags. Here are a dozen of our favorite accessories.

Above: A staple of French cafes and restaurants, Duralex Petit Picardie Glasses, shown here in a Paris kitchen designed by Marianne Evennou, have a shape inspired by 18th-century French crystal. A set of six Petite Picardie Glasses, 5.4 oz each, is $20 at Quitokeeto. Learn more about the glassware in Object Lessons: Iconic Cafe Ware from Duralex. 

Above: A classic Cast-Iron Crêpe Pan, 12 inches in diameter, is €54.30 (US $69.80) at Paris's best cookware shop, E. Dehillerin. 

Above: The ultimate of its kind, the Peugeot Chocolate Paris Peppermill stands 18 inches tall and has been made in France since 1855; $185 at March, in San Francisco. See more Peugeot mills in today's 10 Easy Pieces post.

Above: For formal weekend grocery shopping, there is, of course, the woven market basket—the panier. Its casual counterpart, the cotton net bag, is small enough to tote around and whip out during impromptu trips to the grocery store. For a list of our favorites, see 10 Parisian-Style Net Bags. Photograph by Aurélie Lécuyer of Le Dans La.

Above: The secret to French sauces? The Chinois, a household standard, is a conical sieve used with a wooden pestle. At Williams-Sonoma, a Chinois Strainer, Pestle & Stand is $119.95.

Above: Our favorite iteration of fine French china is Astier de Villatte's black terracotta with a glossy whitewash of glaze. Available at Sue Fisher King, John Derian, and ABC Home in the US, and directly at Astier de Villatte in France. Photograph by Alexa Hotz from Posh Japanese Workwear, by Way of France.

Above: Founded in 1890 by an enterprising 18-year-old in the Savoie region, Opinel has been synonymous with French knives ever since. The Opinel Utility Kitchen Set 1300 is $38.11 at Amazon.

Above: From Objects of Use, in London, the French Vinegar Pot of salt-glazed stoneware is made for fermenting and dispensing wine vinegars. It's handmade in Argent sur Sauldre, near Orléans in central France; £70 (US $114.75).

Above: Ingredients for a good poached egg? Water, loads of salt, white vinegar, and a Tin Egg Poacher like this one from Merci, in Paris, with a dark gray chrome finish; €7 (US $8.99). Sur la Table also sells a French Tin Egg Poacher for $8.

Above: Top-of-the-line cookware can be sourced from at least three longstanding French companies: Staub, founded in Alsace in the 1970s by Frances Staub (its 5.5-Quart Round Cocotte, shown here, is $284.99 at Zwilling J. A. Henckels); Le Creuset, which began as a collaboration between two craftsmen in Fresnoy-le-Grand, France in 1925; and De Buyer, which has been manufacturing steel cookware in France since 1830.

Above: Two great all-purpose beechwood spoons made in France: Soil-Dipped Wooden Spoons, shown here, are $29 for a set of three at Provisions, and natural wood Large-Handle Beechwood Spoons are $6.95 each at Sur la Table.

Above: A collection of go-to tart pans in various shapes and sizes is essential. This Rectangular Tart Pan is made of heavy-gauge tinned steel by a French bakeware company in production since 1887; $18 at Williams-Sonoma.

Above: In the French kitchen, linen tea towels are dual purpose: They're used for drying hands and spills, and for wrapping day-old bread for freshness. Striped Tea Towels from Merci in Paris are €18.50 (US $23.77) each.

Heading to Paris? Check out our Travels with an Editor series, and see pastry chef David Lebowitz's website for the definitive list of Cookware Shops in Paris. For more French kitchens, visit our Gallery of Rooms with French Style. On Gardenista, discover a Parisian Florist Where Flowers Are Arranged by Scent. 

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