Long gone are the personal valets of the Downton Abbey variety. And, for most of us, the old-school wooden valet stand takes up too much space. But having an extra hand to hold up that jacket while you match it with the perfect shirt is achievable, even in a tiny urban closet—if, that is, you install one of these discreet, affordable valet rods or hooks.

Above: The impeccably organized closet of Martha Stewart Living editor Kevin Sharkey has a slide-out valet hook. (Have a look at his Closet Makeover.) Knape and Vogt's Fixed-Mount Extension Hanging Rod extends up to 8.25 inches; $17.14 at Cornerstone Hardware. 

Above: The Reval Side-Mount Valet Rod attaches to the side of a closet shelf or wall. It's 12 inches long and chrome-plated; $20.93 at Cornerstone Hardware.

Above: The stainless steel Sugatsune's Swinging Hanger is 9.75 inches long and comes with stainless screws; $21.25 at the Hardware Hut.

Above: Ikea's Bjärnum Folding Hook tucks flat when not in use. Made of nickel-plated aluminum, it is 3.25 inches tall and costs $9.99 for a three-pack. 

Above: From Germany, the Maplewood Foldable Wardrobe is maple with anodized aluminum hooks and a leather extension strap; €264 ($335.75 USD) at Manufactum.

Dreaming of overhauling your closets? Take a look at our favorite Modular Closet Systems, High to Low.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on October 15, 2013, as part of our Handyman Special issue.

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When it comes to electric power, home offices are demanding: Computers, printers, phones, and other cord-dependent work tools require carefully placed outlets. Here are some key questions and tips to help power up your work and storage areas. Bottom line? Sweat the small stuff.

Have an ingenious outlet solution in your home office? Fill us in in the Comments section below.

N.B.: This is the fifth in our series of electrical outlet primers; scroll to the end for links to our posts on kitchen, bath, and living room outlets, as well as the latest flush-mounted wall outlets.

Above: In her studio in Sweden, glass designer Ingegerd Råman's desk sits front and center with a strategically placed floor outlet underneath. Råman's house was designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune. See 10 Easy Pieces: Floor Outlets for a range of options. 

Know electrical code restrictions and rules

Educate yourself about the requirements and restrictions defined by the International Residential Code, National Electrical Code (NEC), and any local codes. The good news is that the rules focus on the minimum requirements for outlet placement (by number of feet between outlets and from corners, etc.). Those minimums may be exceeded, so you may generally add outlets when necessary.

Above: For computer equipment and other electronics in the home office, surge protectors (such as the Belkin Seven-Outlet Surge Protector; $12 at Amazon) are a must. Electrical surges—caused by power outages, lightning storms, or large, power-hungry appliances elsewhere in the house—can affect and even destroy the performance of electronic equipment, including computers, phones, faxes, TVs, and stereos. Surge protectors absorb excess voltage, preventing most of it from reaching sensitive equipment, but be warned: These devices wear out. Use models with indicator lights that show they're working. And bear in mind that there's a difference between a power strip and a surge protector. Pay attention when shopping.

Assess your workspace's electrical power needs

Where is your desk positioned?

Don't let bad outlet placement anchor your desk or worktop to an undesirable spot. Choose your desk location and style in advance of your outlet plan. Do you want to anchor the room with a centrally placed desk? Consider strategically placed floor plugs. Are you installing a built-in worktop? Outlets and openings need to be carefully considered—you don't want cords hanging over the front of your desk because you forgot to provide a path for them to reach an outlet underneath. Also take your other office furniture into consideration: You don't want bookshelves and storage cabinets to block essential outlets. 

Above: An all-white home office (with space behind the desk for cords to run to outlets) in a New York City loft by Deborah Berke & Partners Architects, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Design Directory. 

Above: A clean, uncluttered workspace is kept clear of visible wires and outlets thanks to a grommet at the back of the table that leads cords to a power strip attached underneath. Photograph by Alex Lukey.

Where do you use (and store) your home computer(s)?

If, like me, your one must-have desktop item is your computer, consider its power source. On which side of the computer does the power cord connect? Do you want the cord to run behind or to the side of the computer? 

Above: Remodelista's London editor Christine created a custom workspace designed as a place for her family to plug in. Outlets are cleverly covered by movable panels under the small shelf. Photograph by Jonathan Gooch. 

Above: USB power adapter plugs can be big and unsightly—their weight alone can cause them to topple out of the outlet. A new generation of USB-equipped outlets, such as the Power2U AC/USB Outlet shown here, can reduce the need for the bulky boxes. 

Beyond computer equipment, what electric-powered appliances do you use?

The word "appliance" may signal kitchen, but home offices are filled with small appliances also, from printers to shredders. And many are heavy and hard to move. Plan where your equipment will reside and place outlets accordingly. Follow the simple rule of thumb that applies to any room: Position outlets near the point of use to reduce the need for unsightly and hazardous extension cords. That may be up on a shelf or even in a cabinet. If you have cordless phones, remember that most phone bases require an outlet and should be located adjacent to a phone jack.

Above: In their San Francisco living room, Dagmar Daly and Zak Conway created a compact workspace set in a sliding bookcase; desk outlets are placed under the worktop where small shelves hold a printer and other equipment. See the whole design in The Disappearing Home Office. Daly and Conway's kitchen and bath are featured in the Remodelista Book. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Do you have task lighting?

Desk lamps are easily forgotten during the planning phase, but shouldn't be: Remember to provide a power source that minimizes cord exposure (both for safety and aesthetics). 

Above: A tiny workspace in a Stockholm apartment includes an outlet perfectly poised for a task lamp to migrate between the shelf and the worktop. Photograph via My Scandinavian Home.

Do you need a dedicated charging zone?

Home offices often serve as charging stations for all the household electronics, but many are under-equipped for the task. Be sure to add enough outlets to handle the number of devices.

Above: Christine's home workspace (shown above) is well powered. "We were tired of hunting all over the house for charging cords that had 'walked,' so we added eight outlets to the counter. Unfortunately, the cords still vanish," she says. To see her whole office setup, go to Storage in Unexpected Places. Photograph by Kristin Perers. 

Does your workspace do double duty? 

Home offices often double as entertainment centers, guest rooms, or adjunct kitchen counters. Give thought to the competing uses of the space and plan power accordingly to minimize the impact of cords and outlet clutter.

Above: A breakfast bar doubles as a home office in a project by New York City's Pulltab Design, members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Director. Wires connecting the monitor and the CPU run behind removable baseboards. See more of the small space in A Hard-Working House in the City. Photograph by Mikiko Kikuyama.

Consider Storage Spaces

In the office and elsewhere, factor storage spaces into your outlet planning. Powered-up closet shelves are perfect for charging personal electronics out of sight. And outlets in storage closets, pantries, and cupboards come in very handy for rechargeable appliances that get stored for periodic use, such as small vacuums, flashlights, and cameras. 

Above: A shredder is stowed in an office cupboard equipped with interior outlets. Photograph via Alexandra Design Finds.

Above: An electronics charging station incorporated into a Henrybuilt closet system. See more of the Seattle company's designs in High-Style Storage from Henrybuilt.

Plan with utility and aesthetics in mind

When placing outlets in workspaces, utility and convenience come first. That said, aesthetics aren't to be ignored, especially if the space is part of a larger room in the home. Here are some ideas to consider.

Take a cue from professional offices.

Offices are designed with efficiency in mind, and that includes power sources. Standard solutions include grommets in desks or worktables, outlets attached to the underside of desks, and floor outlets. 

Above: A minimal work area in a remodel by Czech firm Oooox includes a built-in desk with grommets in the back, which allows cords to drop through to the outlets below, leaving the top clutter free. Mockett offers a wide range of grommets.

Above: Many under-desk outlet options are available through companies such as Closet Masters.

Consider a desk with cable control.

Integrating power and furniture is another solution to outlet and cord management. Industrial-design site Core77 offers a roundup of ingenious Desks with Built-In Power Solutions.

Above, top and bottom: The Bluelounge Studio Desk hides all outlets and excess cables under a sliding desktop surface. An elongated slot across the width of the desktop allows cords to enter/exit at any point. 

Take extra measures.

How much do you hate cords and outlets? As shown above, there are ways to fully conceal your power sources, such as by placing outlets in closets and cupboards and on the underside of desks. If you're remodeling, you can build all the camouflage you desire.

Above: Gardenista editor in chief Michelle Slatalla is so cord averse that she installed a false wall behind the two desks in her home office. Cords drop behind the two-paneled wall and are plugged into power strips hidden on the floor behind. See more of her solution in 5 Ways to Banish Computer Cords from Your Home Office. 

Not remodeling? There are ways to reduce outlet blight. See 10 Easy Pieces: Switch Plate Covers and Switch Up Your Switch Plates for ideas.

Read all our electrical outlet primers.

Remodeling 101: Where to Locate Electrical Outlets, Kitchen Edition

Remodeling 101: Where to Locate Electrical Outlets, Living Room Edition

Remodeling 101: Flush Electrical Outlets

Remodeling 101: Where to Locate Electrical Outlets, Bath Edition

And for more inspiration, see some of our favorite office spaces: Totokaelo's Fashion-Forward Office in Seattle; A Multitasking Room in Southeast London, and 10 Favorites: The Niche Workspace. 

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This custom-designed artist's workspace in Tel Aviv is likely to induce envy in anyone who works from home—or, really, anyone who has more than a few papers lying around.

The studio is situated in the artist's apartment in a 60-year-old concrete building. Presented with a long list of storage requirements—she wanted to keep her daily tools within easy reach, display some of her work, and archive the rest—and unable to expand the 190-square-foot space, Israeli architects Studio Raanan Stern created an inventive system of drawers and shelves.

To figure out what went where, they measured each print, book, and tool, and divided them into categories based on frequency of use and assigned a color to each category. They then color-coded the drawers on their sides (so that the colors are only revealed when the drawers are open). The setup might baffle an interloper, but it makes perfect sense to the artist in residence. There's a place for everything.

Photography by Gidon Levin via Dezeen.

Above: The architects built the custom storage system in floor-to-ceiling white birch. One advantage of a tiny work space? Everything is within easy reach. 

Above: A sliding birch panel reveals a teal well for a foldout bed.

Above: The bed enables the studio to double as a guest room (and a place for the artist to nap).

Above: The white birch storage units and floor were given a clear protective finish that allows the wood grain to show through. The color coding is revealed when the drawers are open

Above: The dimension of every drawer and cell was customized for the artist's tools and art collection. 

Above: Each drawer can be removed from the unit and placed on the desk during work. 

Above: The sliding panel that hides the foldaway bed can also display artwork or serve as an easel. 

Above: All told, the studio has 36 drawers. 

Above: In such a small space, opening some drawers means cutting off access to others. The architects gave the artist easiest access to the things she needs most often. 

Above: The designers hung gauzy blinds to provide some privacy and plenty of light.

For more storage solutions, see Storage: Well-Curated Wall Shelving; Mint Green from Ontwerpduo in Holland; and on Gardenista, A Writing Shed in the Garden. Looking for small-space ideas? See A Shape-Shifting Studio Apartment in London and Erin's 10 Tips for Living in 240 Square Feet.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on April 18, 2014, as part of our Shades of Pastel issue.

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Even in these paperless times, the empty desk is unrealistic—and, let's face it, too soulless. Fortunately, we've entered a new Golden Age (literally and figuratively) of desk accessories. "Where do I put the odd piece of mail that requires attention, such as those annoying $11 medical copay bills?" Michelle asked in an editorial meeting the other day. Here are 11 answers, shredder included.

Above: Danish design company Ferm Living recently unveiled a new collection of desk accessories that includes, from left: a house-shaped Magazine Holder veneered in smoked oak, $59 from Clever Spaces; a Brass Hexagon Pot, $54 for small (other shapes and sizes available), from Clever Spaces; and nesting cardboard Boxes with leather tabs, set of four €144 ($182.82 USD) from Ferm Living.

Above: The Another Country Paper Tray, made of oak and brass by one of our favorite UK furniture companies, is now available in the US from Nannie Inez, $117. Go to Another Country in Marylebone, London to see more.

Above: Ikea's Kvissle desk storage collection in steel and cork includes a Desk Organizer, $5.99; Letter Tray, $19.99; Set of Four Boxes with Lids, $14.99; Wall Magazine Rack, $14.99; and more.

Above: A new take on the tiered paper tray, Archive Hill by Danish design company Hay is made of oak; 799 DKK ($137.79 USD). 

Above: The Mail Organizer Desk Tray, shown above, second from left, from Shinola has shaped metal dividers and is designed for propping up letters, business cards, iPhones, and iPads; $80 (not currently in stock but arriving soon). It's designed by Seattle's Ladies and Gentleman Studio in collaboration with Pat Kim of Brooklyn, who together offer a similar set of desk accessories (see below).

Above: The .Org Deskscape System by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio and Pat Kim consists of a series of wood, cork, and metal modules, all made in the US and designed to be "tiled together to create a tidy desk landscape." The group—a zigzag tray, double-bowl container, mail organizer, and cork block—is $250 from L&G Studio.

Above: The wood and ceramic  W&W Stationery and Tech Organizer, $50 at A&R, consists of a grooved tray—which serves as a memo pad holder and smartphone stand (with a place for a charger)—and a container for pens, paper clips, and other small items.

Above: The Alessi Fierzo Desk Organizer has a beechwood base for holding desk supplies and a mirror-polished, stainless-steel frame that holds sheets of paper—to keep important material on view or create a changeable screen; $59 for the small (shown here) and $135 for the large, from Alessi.

Above: The Handy Paper Shredder is 7.2 inches wide and operates manually; $11.95 from Muji.

Above: The Teak Trash Basket by Saito Wood of Japan is $75 for the 12-inch-tall small size, shown here, and $130 for the large from Tortoise General Store in Los Angeles. It's also available from OK.

Above: Replace a plastic recycling bin with Roost's leather-handled wire baskets (Julie did). Go to Bliss Home for ordering information. 

Are you as addicted to stationery and desk accessories as we are? See our posts on Present & Correct in London and McNally Jackson Goods for the Study in New York. For desk ideas, browse our Photo Gallery, and go to 10 Easy Pieces: Compact Worktables.

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A Détacher, a small shop on Mott Street in Nolita, is two parts fashion, one part housewares, and it's so current you'd think it opened yesterday. But it was back in 1998 that owner Mona Kowalska, who is originally from Poland, gutted the storefront space and launched her first collection.

Mona's approach to fashion is entirely her own, and often comes from unexpected sources of inspiration (the way a shirt tucks into a skirt when the weather is warm can inspire the cut of next season's dress). Her unique slant toward all things style-related extends to the housewares she designs and stocks in-store: "I'll buy something for myself to use at home, or like this for my hair [she points to a French Wire Hair Pin], and then we'll realize we want it for the store and I have to track it down," she says.

The spare industrial space functions as a backdrop for a seasonally rotating collection of clothing and accessories: "Some collections need more air, so we work on making it look more empty and creating more space around things; I'll shift the density in the store," says Mona. "Even those tiny shifts make all the difference."

Photograph by Michael A. Muller for Remodelista.

Above: A Détacher is located at 262 Mott Street in New York City.

Above: A vintage wooden bench marks the exterior of the shop.

Above: The tiny sign in the corner of the front window.

Above: Mona adjusts a piece of jewelry on display.

Above: The large front windows are covered with simple matchstick blinds. "For me, they are the perfect window shade. I like that the function is clear: You know what it is, what it's doing there."

Above: "We did a complete gut of the space: We had the old floor taken out, put in a new floor. There was a dropped ceiling, which we removed to make the space feel loftier."

Above: Mona installed a series of vintage ceiling lights in a random arrangement.

Above: The back wall of the shop was veneered in teak and clad in mirrored tiles for a silvery effect.

Above: The handwoven Giant Basket is 41 inches tall and costs $375. (Note: It's currently sold out, but inquire with A Détacher directly for restocking information.) "I like these things that straddle utility and sculpture," says Mona of the baskets.

Above: A low display table with an array of home objects: "Vintage, Japanese bowls, traditional Indian towels," says Mona. "I like when I find those perfect anonymous things because there tends to be a modesty and restraint about them that designers often don't have."

Above: Rope Incense bundles sourced from Nepal are available in cedar or sandalwood; 20 pieces for $12.

Above: The Tornillo Wooden Dish Rack is something that Mona originally designed for herself to use at home. After guests continued to ask about it, she decided to produce them for the store; $125.

Above: Dried foliage in a vintage vase.

Above: An iron and leather basket holds cotton Portuguese Bath Mats (40 by 19.5 inches); $75 each.

Above: Stacks of oversize Woven Reed Boxes (each measures 23 by 15 by 7.5 inches); $250. For the past 10 years, Mona has traveled to Peru twice a year to design baskets with well-known artists and knitwear with a local factory.

Above: Two pairs of wood-soled Eleanor Pumps are displayed back-to-back in the window.

Above: A two-seater chair in the middle of the store is layered with a brown sheepskin, vintage beaded 1970s car seat covers, and a Hot Pink Hairy Pillow ($253).

Above: Custom-made iron clothing racks display seasonal A Détacher collections.

Above: A Détacher always includes a knee sock or two in every seasonal collection. The Cotton Over-the-Knee Socks in black are $50 for a pair.

Above: On a small rustic wood chair sits a stack of design books, topped off with one of A Détacher's Black Felt Balls. The ball is made of solid felt and measures about 11 inches in diameter; $505.

Above: Electric pink masking tape is a signature on all A Détacher packaging.

Above: Mona standing in front of the World Map by Future Mapping Company; the map is a cylindrical equal area projection that represents countries according to their true size; $175.

For a quick look at a room in Mona's own home, see our post Design Sleuth: The Must-Have Vase of the Design Cognoscenti. For a list of other places to visit nearby, see our New York City Metro guide.

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The word "armoire" elicits thoughts of estate sales, musty wood, and ornately carved detailing. It's easy to source a traditional armoire if that's your game. Finding a streamlined, modern version is much trickier, especially if you want one that's made to last. Allow us to do the legwork for you: Here are 11 well-designed and solidly built standouts, perfect for the bedroom and wherever else you lack closet space.

Above: From Pinch Design, the Frey Armoire has paneled doors and an all-wood interior. It's available in cherry, oak, and black American walnut in a variety of finishes; £3,250 ($5,217 USD) for the single and £5,990 ($9,619 USD) for the double.

Above: Neri & Hu's Trunk Tall Cabinet has a lacquered body and a three-drawer interior in oak with brushed brass hardware; $13,495 at The Future Perfect.

Above: Room & Board's Grove Anywhere Armoire comes in walnut (shown) or cherry; $3,199.

Above: Crate & Barrel's Margate Armoire is made of teak and has a variety of storage compartments; $2,699.

Above: The Paneled Armoire in a dark-finished wood sits on a powder-coated metal base; $1,099 from West Elm.

Above: Made in Belgium, the Oak Nordic Wardrobe 2 Doors is detailed with a stainless steel hanging bar and an adjustable bottom shelf; $4,000 at Lekker Home.

Above: BDDW's Bronze Armoire has a blackened bronze and leather front (shown in dark mulled leather) with a black walnut interior. The design is available in various dimensions and customizable options; for pricing and availability contact BDDW.

Above: The Arte Armoire is made to order of weathered larch and polished steel; price available on request from Dering Hall.

Above: The Matera Armoire by Sean Yoo was inspired by Isamu Noguchi's work. Made of solid walnut or oak, it has side panels that rest off the floor, three drawers, and a mirror inside one of the doors; $4,100 to $5,100 at Design Within Reach.

Above: The Calvin Armoire is made of gray-stained Pacific Coast maple with stainless or natural steel hardware; $1,999 from Room & Board.

Above: Ikea's Hurdal Wardrobe is solid pine; $499.

On the hunt for more bedroom storage? Visit 10 Easy Pieces: Modern Wood Bedside Tables; 10 Easy Pieces: Wall-Mounted Shelving Systems; and Sleep and Stow: Bed Frames with Built-In Storage.

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Short on space and funds, but long on design ingenuity, Sydney architect Anthony Gill shows us how he made a 410-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment work for his family of three—one growing daughter included. Take a look at his space-enhancing tricks.

Photography by Peter Bennetts via ArchDaily. 

Above: The key to Gill's success: a 23-foot-long, floor-to-ceiling shelving unit forms a dividing line down the core of the apartment. The kitchen, bathroom, and his daughter's room are on one side of the modular cabinet and the living area is on the other. 

Above: The shelves are made of Formply, an inexpensive, pre-finished, structural plywood that's used for concrete formwork. Note that Gill kept a section of shelving at the front open, so that the kitchen is revealed behind the dining area.

Above: The compact black-and-white kitchen has a stainless steel counter that extends as a fridge frame. An Indian Stainless Steel Dish Rack on the tiled wall keeps surfaces clear.

Above: The black Formply shelves wrap around into the kitchen and become a counter with cabinets beneath. 

Above: At one end of the shelves, Gill devised a plywood built-in cabinet to take care of the remaining essentials: his daughter's sleeping area, a pullout master bed, and storage. 

Above: The daughter's sleeping area includes a small bed and shelving; it's stepped up to allow the pullout master bed (which is accessed from the living area) to slide under when not in use.

Above: During the day, the master bed is hidden in the the plywood storage unit, giving the living area more usable space. 

Above: The master bed pulls out from its niche.

Above: The shelves act like the apartment's spine, providing a structured backdrop for living. 

Above: "We wanted a space that enabled all our things to surround us, but not in a contrived way; it's not meant to be about display," Gill told ArchDaily.

Above: The floor plan of the apartment before the insertion of the bookshelf and cabinet. 

Above: The floor plan with Gill's additions detailed.

Architects love the efficiency of built-in storage: See 12 Architectural Built-ins in the Bedroom and 10 Favorites: Under-the-Bench Kitchen Storage. On Gardenista, see a Garage Transformed into a Tiny Cottage on a Budget.

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Where to stow skillets, strainers, and wooden spoons when you're short on cabinet space? A Beautiful Mess contributor Mandi Johnson came up with this simple, elegant answer for her own kitchen. Here at Remodelista, we all plan to make our own wire racks.

Photography by Mandi Johnson via A Beautiful Mess.

Above: A black grid lends order and interest to a tidy white setting. The rack is made from hardware store parts and can be created in an afternoon.

Above L and R: The materials list includes several items you probably already own, including ceiling hooks, S hooks, bare metal primer (to prevent rusting), appliance epoxy, rust-removing cleaner, and epoxy paint (not shown). Above R: The key ingredient is steel mesh rebar ("found in the concrete section of hardware stores," says Mandi). She used a metal grinder, shown here, to cut her wire mesh to fit her space, but notes that industrial wire cutters also work. See her full list and step-by-step details in A Beautiful Mess.

Above: Mandi marks the corners where the support hooks will go. She notes: "If you don't have horizontal lines to use as a guide, as I did (thanks to my paneling), you may need someone to hold up a level to make sure it's straight."

Above: The installed wire rack awaits pots and utensils. "As far as the load capacity goes, that depends on the drywall anchors you use and the strength of the wire mesh, which can only be determined by testing it," Mandi says. 

Above: To keep a clean look, Mandi still stores the majority of her utensils in a drawer, but says she loves having the most used items on hand. See more photos of the project in A Beautiful Mess.

Looking for more DIY kitchen projects? Consider making a Wall-Mounted Leather Knife Rack and Herb-Drying Rack. On Gardenista, learn how to make a Small-Space Countertop Herb Garden.

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When our decade-old dishwasher conked out recently, I took the opportunity to replace it with a state-of-the-art Miele and also spruce up the kitchen sink area in our 1860 Victorian house on Cape Cod. Last updated more than 10 years ago, the sink area had slowly turned into an eyesore without my noticing. Unattractive plastic paper towel holder? Check. Rusty dish drainer? Check. Leaky faucet? Check. We didn't want to undertake a full-on renovation, since we use the house mostly in the summer, but something had to be done.

Our mini makeover strategy? We replaced the faucet with a commercial-grade workhouse, recaulked the back of the sink, installed hooks and a wall-mounted soap dish to help keep the sink area clutter-free, and invested in some attractive French tea towels. Oh, and we banished the plastic dish-soap bottle in favor of an Italian glass soap dispenser. Here are the details.

After

Above: The upgraded sink area with newly installed Miele Futura G5285 Crystal Series Dishwasher; $1,699 from Miele. 

Above: We replaced a leaky mixer faucet with a commercial-grade, deck-mounted Chicago Faucet and installed hooks under the cabinets to hang scrub brushes. A vintage wall-mounted soap dish, sourced from Etsy, holds a pot scrubber and a mushroom brush.

Above: Since impromptu parties on the porch are a feature of summer life, we needed a hardworking dishwasher that could handle a dinner-party-size load of dishes.

Before

Above: The original sink area, complete with rickety plastic paper towel holder and rusty dish drainer.

Above: The sink area, pre-upgrade.

Fixtures and Fittings

Above: The Miele Futura G5285 Crystal Series Dishwasher ($1,699 from Miele) features six wash programs, a cutlery tray, a delay start, and more. Plus, it's super quiet, emitting a barely audible whoosh when in operation.

Above: We replaced the dated 1970s cabinet pulls with a pair of Sugatsune FT Classic Style Pulls; $15.13 each from ATG Stores.

Above: We custom spec'ed an eight-inch chrome Deck-Mounted Chicago Faucet from the Chicago Faucet Shoppe; it ran us about $400. 

Sink Accessories

Above: I jettisoned the paper towels in favor of a stack of French Charvet Edition Tea Towels; $19.95 each from Flotsam and Fork.

Above: I sourced a wall-mounted enamel soap dish from Etsy; for something similar, consider the Antique White Enamel Cast Iron Soap Dish for $60 from Etsy seller Vintage Laguna Beach, or Vintage Porcelain Over Cast Iron Soap Dish, $29.99, from Jnknjack on eBay.

Above: The Burstenhau Redecker Wash Basin Brush Set is $21.50 from The Best Brushes.

Above: Common Good White Grapefruit Dish Soap Refill is $11.95 at West Elm.

Above: A Gianinni Glass Olive Oil Cruet holds the dishwashing liquid; $16.95 at the Gourmet Food Corner.

—Julie Carlson 

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Things are starting to get spirited at Gardenista this week.

Above: A music studio built from Corten steel rises amid the ruins of a Victorian dovecote near the Suffolk Coast in England. Go to this week's Before and After to see the new structure being craned in.

Above: How do you get curb appeal with pumpkins? Michelle reveals 13 Ways.

Above: A dream within a dream? An autumn picnic on a bed of leaves is this week's Steal This Look: Style on a Budget.

Above: Erin used a trio of hand drills that cost $13.95 to create this starry jack-o'-lantern. She swears it's dead easy. Learn how in DIY: Pumpkin Carving Ideas, Milky Way Edition.

Above: A topiary-lined drive leads to English garden designer Arne Maynard's 15th-Century Elizabethan Folly in Wales—part of which is a B&B.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trending on Gardenista: The DIY Mudroom and More
• Trending on Gardenista: Garden Ideas to Steal from Belgium
• Trending on Gardenista: The Art of Curb Appeal (for Under $100)

We've seen the sloped space below stairs put to all sorts of good uses, from closets to picture galleries. Here's a new idea: wine storage. 

Above: Our friend Catherine Dann installed an under-the-stairs wine cellar in her St. Helena, California, house (fun fact: she also keeps an airline drinks trolley in her dining room as a party bar). Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Above: Wine storage under the stairs in the West Village, New York City, via Billinkoff Architecture.

Above: For a similar sourcing idea, consider the Custom Waterfall Cascade Wood Wine Rack for under the stairs or in rooms with angled ceilings.

Above: Wine storage beneath the stairway, via Room Service.

Above: Architect David Sarti created a full-service bar on wheels; photo by Misha Gravenor for Dwell.

A bar to go with your wine cellar? Consider an Industrial Bar Cart, a Bar Cart Made from Pallets, and a DIY: Built-in Picnic Table Wine Bar. And you live in Seattle, check out Union Wine Co.'s Wine Tasting Truck.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: Shaker Storage
• 12 Architectural Built-Ins for the Bedroom
• Table of Contents: Genius Storage Solutions

Last year we took our West Coast Market concept to NYC; this year we're thrilled to be heading overseas for our very first international Remodelista Market in London, held in conjunction with The New Craftsmen. Expect to find an exciting array of local Brit designers and creatives mixed with a selection of fine makers from The New Craftsmen.

While the emphasis is on the handmade and goods for the home, we'll be mixing it up with extras like handmade chocolate from NomNom (owned by the dapper Welshman Liam Burgess); new products from Geoffrey Fisher, creator of the Trook; and a first look at the about-to-open Native & Co. And for those in need of sustenance while they shop, Emilie Holmes will be serving refreshments all day from her Good & Proper Tea truck.

WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 10 am to 6 pm.

WHERE: The New Craftsmen, 34 North Row, Mayfair, London, W1K 6DG.

Above: A sampling of some of the goods on offer.

Fancy a signed copy of the Remodelista book? The event is open to all, but if you RSVP ahead of time we'll enter you in a drawing to win either a signed copy of our book or a set of two Billy bowls with five illustrated recipes from The New Craftsmen. For more details and to RSVP, check out our Remodelista Markets page.

We'll also be signing copies of the Remodelista book, so please swing by and say hello—we're looking forward to seeing you there.

Above: Emilie's Good & Proper Tea truck (L) and The New Craftsmen (top R) and the Billy bowl (bottom R).

A list of our Market sellers in London: Another Country, Billy Lloyd, Campbell Cole, Catarina Riccabona, Ede, Esk, Folk at Home, Geoffrey Fisher, Honest Skincare, Jeremy Pitts, Kirsten Hecktermann, Laura Carlin, Michael Ruh, Mourne Textiles, Mr Smith, Native & Co, NomNom Chocolate, Rush Matters, Stuart Carey, Tilly Blue, Tim Hurn, Tim Plunkett.

For more on the New Craftsmen, see A New Kind of Luxury, and to read more on Emilie's tea truck, see A Good & Proper Cuppa. For information on our three Markets this year, visit Remodelista Markets. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• An Under-the-Radar Shop in Nolita
• High Road House in London Gets a Revamp
• Shopper's Diary: Sharing Beauty in Antwerp

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

• Above: Commune, one of the most clever design firms around (and a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory), has just published a compendium of work, Commune: Designed in California. 
• Rare Device, an SF design shop, opens its second outpost in Noe Valley. 
• After a week spent investigating storage solutions, we have our eyes on this Singular shelf.

• Above: Halloween all year: We're admiring the moody living room of SF interior designer Lizette Bruckstein. Photograph by Aubrie Pick. 
• An eagle flying over Paris with a GoPro strapped to its back captures some incredible views. 
• Decorate with pumpkins—and skip the carving part. 

• Above: On our wish list: the PK80 daybed by Poul Kjærholm.
• Our friends at Domino are hosting an Instagram contest and Remodelista is on the panel of judges.

• Above: Dalilah is admiring the oversize knitting by Jacqueline Fink and Lara Hutton. 
• Take a tour of Ralph Lauren's multiple estates in Colorado, New York City, and Jamaica.
• What can $935,000 get you? A house in Virginia, Minneapolis, or Santa Fe.

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

• Above: We're following the Airstream makeover by @AWellTraveledWoman on Instagram.
• We have our eye on this Textile board by retail and product strategist Alexandra Sklar. 

Mark your calendars: The first London Remodelista Market is on November 15. We hope to see you.

For more from the week on Remodelista, go to Genius Storage Solutions, and take a look at Gardenista's latest issue, Orange Is the New Black. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• 5 Under-the-Stairs Wine Cellars
• Object Lessons: Shaker Storage
• 12 Architectural Built-Ins for the Bedroom

The scene: a one-bedroom apartment in a prewar building near Columbia University on the Upper West Side. The characters: a creative parental couple (an opera composer and professor father and a mother active in the arts world) and a writer/poet daughter who inherits the apartment and aspires to tell her family story through her environs.

A modernist at heart, the daughter commissioned Larry Cohn, founding principal of Shadow Architects (a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory), to help her update the architectural shell while also reinterpreting the history of the apartment).

The result: A home with a family narrative woven through the interiors, plus an economical Ikea kitchen. Cohn is available for the next 48 hours to answer any and all questions, so come take the tour and ask away!

Photography by Elizabeth Lippman.

Above: The 1,150-square-foot apartment with ceilings over 10 feet high was originally part of a much larger apartment that had been carved up in the 1940s. In the current layout, the living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen all radiate off the entry foyer, whose walls are painted in Gray Timber Wolf by Benjamin Moore. "We sought to redo the 1940s renovations with a keener eye toward the original proportions of the apartment," Cohn says. "We raised the kitchen and bathroom door openings to match the original living room and parlor doors, converted a small closet into a display cabinet, and created a new stepped crown molding in keeping with the elaborate profile in the living room." Family history speaks through the furnishings. The Danish modern rosewood bureau belonged to the client’s parents, the carpet is from Surya, and the midcentury black armchair is a family piece which the client had rebuilt and reupholstered. The chair on the right is a carved oak hall chair from Switzerland circa 1850—an heirloom from the client’s mother’s Swiss side of the family.

Above: Looking toward the entry foyer in the living room, Cohn designed a pair of low walnut bookcases based on a photograph from the client and details from a midcentury dresser in his own apartment. Along with a collection of works from fellow poets, the low storage unit is also home to the owner's vintage record player. The walls in the living room were painted a "slightly more blue variation" of Marilyn's Dress by Benjamin Moore. "We kept the background palette fairly subdued to allow the rich color and texture of the objects to take center stage," Cohn says. The original parquet floors were repaired and refinished throughout in a more natural wood tone to bring out the marquetry borders. 

Above: Inspired by her parents, the client regularly entertains her friends in a salon-like setting in the living room. "The client's existing furniture was mostly midcentury design, so we sought out complementary pieces from her parents' furniture collection," Cohn says. "And for the new purchases, we chose modern pieces such as the David Weeks Torroja Cross Chandelier in the living room that had some midcentury styling. We went for the larger version of this fixture so that it would fully inhabit the space."

Above: The nonfunctioning fireplace with faux-marble facing and mantel was retained and repurposed by giving the facing a simple matte black finish, which has a slate-like appearance, and using it as a backdrop to display original orchestral scores composed by the client's father, which he had bound in Italy. 

Above: A bold splash of custom yellow derived from the back-painted glass splash is inserted into the kitchen's neutral background comprised of white walls and Ikea cabinets—a key factor in keeping the kitchen renovation within budget. "While it takes a fair amount of design and finesse, we have found that if you really embrace Ikea's kit of parts and combine it with a few custom details, you can get quite close to the look of a fully custom kitchen," Cohn says. "For example, rather than covering every inch of wall space with cabinetry, we kept most of the wall above the sink free of cabinets and left five feet by the window open for the built-in banquette." 

Above: The floating bench and narrow shelves were custom designed with a contractor from upstate New York, who used old oak beams that he milled down for the project. "The natural material with minimal detailing intentionally contrasts with the gloss cabinetry to bring warmth to the room," Cohn says. An Accordion Modern Swing Arm Wall Sconce from Shades of Light provides adjustable task lighting over the bench, to which the client added a seasonal touch by having two seat cushions made with different materials, which she rotates according to the time of year. The photograph on the shelf is by German photographer Marco Breuer, and the two adjacent paintings are by the client’s friend, the painter Matthias Leutrum.

Above: The awkward proportions of the narrow bathroom with tall ceilings were managed with the decorative double rows of Penny Round Tiles from American Universal Corporation that wrap around the room. The blue-gray tiles, which are the same as the ones use on the bathroom floor, tie in with the paint colors used in the rest of the apartment. The shower curtain hangs from a surface-mounted hospital curtain track using beaded chains, which take up the difference in a bathroom with a lower ceiling height. 

Above: The bedroom is large enough to also function as the client's writing studio. The two areas are defined by the furniture layout. The midcentury desk, couch, and wood credenza are from Beall & Bell, in Greenport, Long Island, New York, the Gray Haller Credenza is from USM Modular Furniture, and the carpet is from ABC Carpet & Home. The art above the wood credenza is an abstract Ophelia by Bernard Perlin, from the client’s collection.

Above L: A detail of the new stepped crown molding, which Cohn designed to be in keeping with the elaborate profile in the living room. Above R: The original ceiling was cleaned up and restored.

Above: A floor plan of the apartment shows how all the rooms radiate off the entry foyer.

Before

Above: The Before image of the entry foyer shows the small closet that was turned into a display case and views into the bathroom and kitchen. 

Above: In contrast to the original footprint of the living room and bedroom, the kitchen (above) and bathroom had been carved out of the original section of the 1940s renovation, resulting in spaces with awkward proportions and dated fixtures and finishings. The architect and client agreed from the beginning that these two spaces would be completely gutted and made modern. 

See what architects Platt Dana Architecture did with a prewar apartment on New York City's Upper East Side in The Architect Is In: Making the Most of Your Floor Plan. 

On Gardenista, we visit Lucy Boston's Storybook English Garden Home. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Small-Space Living: A 410-Square-Foot Family Flat in Sydney
• An Organizer's Dream: An Art Studio with Color-Coded Built-In Storage
• Architect Visit: Rooms with a View and Maximum Storage Too

We're readying our rooms for the chill ahead—pulling out woolens, finding a new need for black accents, and allowing a cozy moodiness to rule the roost. With Halloween around the bend, join us as we celebrate the witching hour all week.

Above: It's the season of the woodstove (and the handmade ceramic teapot). Photograph by Michael A. Muller from Living in an Architectural Landmark, Seattle Edition.

Monday

Above: Shou sugi ban, the age-old Japanese practice of torching wood to fireproof it, has gone global. Learn about its pleasingly haunted look and myriad applications in Remodeling 101.

Tuesday

Above: In today's Lighting post, Julie presents a new favorite globe light from Paris perfect for shadowy and clean-lined settings.

Wednesday

Above: In Wednesday's Hotels & Lodgings post, Margot leads the way to the Loire Valley to tour a 12th-century abbey that's been transformed into a sybaritic place to stay.

Thursday

Above: Are you yearning to go to the dark side in your sink and shower? Christine fills us in on where to source black Faucets & Fixtures on Thursday.

Friday

Above: On Friday, Janet is inaugurating a new Remodelista column called Household Intelligence, dedicated to smarter living strategies. The topic: How to achieve total darkness in the bedroom—and why it matters for a better night's sleep.

Saturday

Above: What would it be like to be Michael Kors? In Weekend Spotlight, designer Glen Gissler, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, shows us around the fashion designer's New York City penthouse digs.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: The Autumnal Broom
• Living in Black and White: Commune's New Concrete Tiles
• Current Obsessions: Feeling Moody

The Scenario: Designers Megan Sommerville and Matt Ensner decide to leave Brooklyn to escape rising rents and resettle in the Hudson Valley to launch their furniture and lighting company Materia Designs.

The Solution: After looking at more than 40 properties, they buy a dilapidated 1940s Cape Cod–style bungalow in Ulster County with good bones and 13 acres of land (bluestone cliffs, a waterfall, and a crumbling outbuilding included). They sink their savings into the house, so the only way forward is to renovate it themselves. That means taking the house down to the studs and rebuilding it (yes, all electrical and plumbing, as well as walls, windows, and a back porch).

The Result: After a few rounds of “drywall parties” with friends from Brooklyn and three years of ongoing intensive work, they achieve a homestead that reflects their commitment to time-tested design.

The Couple's Top Three Tips: 1.) If you plan to live onsite during the renovation, focus on finishing a space that's clean and separate, so you can maintain your sanity. 2.) Spread out the large purchases—doing this allowed us to buy things that are made to last. 3.) Have a detailed plan. Knowing what you want to do and how you're going to do it is very helpful in avoiding costly and time-consuming mistakes.

Join us for a tour. Photography by Poul Ober (unless otherwise noted).

Above: The couple moved into the 1,900-square-foot house immediately after purchasing it. "We renovated the upstairs master suite so that we would have somewhere to live while we continued the downstairs renovation, as time and budget would allow," Megan says.

Above: The front door leads directly into the main living space, which is warmed by an Oslo Wood Stove from Norwegian company Jotul; it was one of the first things Matt and Megan installed. "We paid close attention to being 'green' wherever possible and have reaped the benefits: Since installing our Jotul stove six years ago, we've used only a single tank of heating oil to heat the house," Megan says. The couple removed layers of varnish from the original Douglas fir floors and treated them with their own custom gray-washed Driftwood Finish. 

The room is furnished with their Materia Designs Ulmus Coffee Table and Cubo Sofa of black walnut, linen, and calfskin. Vintage black walnut chairs are reupholstered in black cotton velvet and linen. The couple used painted plumbing pipes throughout as curtain rods for simple linen sheers.

Above: Throughout the house, the designers mix their own designs and prototypes with antiques and accessories they've collected over the years. A lamp from Ikea hovers over a Barcode Cushion printed on Belgian linen from the couple's new textile collection. The painting came from a local flea market, and they discovered the horns during a walk on their property. Photograph by Materia Designs.

Above: The dining area, which is near the kitchen at the opposite end of the living space, includes a steel Parsons table that the couple found on the street in Brooklyn. It's paired with 1940s black and brass dining chairs reupholstered in burlap and a Tibula Stool from Materia Designs. The oil portrait, painted in 1947, is of Megan's great aunt, and the two small intaglio etchings are by Joe Owczarek, an architect and artist whom the couple represent in their Hudson Valley showroom. Photograph by Materia Designs.

Above: The U-shaped kitchen occupies half of the back wall of the house and is open to the main living space. "We didn't want it to look too 'kitchen-y,' " Megan says. "We used darker materials to provide contrast with the light walls and chose finishes that we might use in our furniture, such as walnut and leather." The butcher block countertops were custom built from a black walnut tree that came from a neighbor's property. "They're finished with a natural oil and are super forgiving; we just have them wet-sanded from time to time." Vintage glass factory pendant fixtures hang over the counter; two Reed Lamps from Rejuvenation provide task lighting for the prep area by the stove; and the Cape Pendant above the sink is by Materia Designs.

Above: Forgoing upper cabinets was easy with the U-shaped kitchen configuration, which provides ample storage. The double-sided sink was discovered in the basement of an old farmhouse nearby and the industrial faucet came from Fisher, a restaurant supply company that makes all of its fixtures in the US using responsible manufacturing practices. 

The couple decided to expose the Douglas fir rafters and ceiling joists in the kitchen and plan to eventually carry that through to the living room, too. "Instead of leaving the original ceiling joists raw, we opted to paint them in several coats of Super White by Benjamin Moore, which made our eight-foot-high ceilings feel much higher and brighter," Megan says.

Above: The designers made the kitchen cabinets from several inexpensive architectural salvage units, which they disassembled and then reconfigured and refinished. They created the hardware from steel plumbing parts and calfskin from Pergamena, a family-owned local tannery. Photograph by Materia Designs.

Above: Megan and Matt built a small bar into a cedar-shingled wall outside the kitchen. The bar's exposed brick is chimney facing. 

Above: Off the kitchen is a sitting room with a daybed that the couple built for sleeping and watching TV. The flat files underneath are used for storing drawings and paperwork. Matt's great grandmother passed down the antique gilt mirror to the couple as a wedding present. The beveled weathered cedar shingle siding that lines the hall is repurposed from an outbuilding on the premises. Photograph by Materia Designs.

Above: In the sitting room, a roll-up vintage school map hides the TV. The stairs lead to a second-floor master bedroom suite, and the ladder provides access to a sleeping loft used for overflow guests.

Above: The antique steel chairs are reupholstered in gray goatskin. 

Above: Painted plumbing pipe was used to create a handrail and ladder hold. 

Above: In the downstairs hall, large-scale Kimura wallpaper from Romo contrasts with the raw, linear cedar shingles. "We think a lot about texture and scale in both our furniture and interiors projects," Megan says. "We wanted one moment of bold color and added it here because it's visible from all the downstairs rooms." The guest room is at the end of the hall; the sitting room and living area open to the right, and there's a bath on the left.

Above: "We chose charcoal chalkboard paint for the guest room because it's on the north side of the house and is always dark," says Megan. "We painted the room white at first, but it felt dead, so we decided to embrace the lack of light and envelop the room in a dark veil."

Above: The couple displays rotating groupings of objects around the house, usually based on a color story or contrasting textures. In the guest room, the cut paper silhouette is by artist and friend Jenny Lee Fowler, the bird-shaped marble bookends are from Matt’s mother, who is an antiques dealer, and the paper car came from Muji in Paris. 

Above: "The black-and-white print is by our friend Halsey Chait, whose work we represent in our showroom," Megan says. "I have a thing about foxes, so a friend gave me this photo on one of her visits. We found the playing card on a trip to Paris, and the feathers and rocks are natural objects that we’re always dragging in from the property."

Above: The subway tiles in the bathroom are rough-tumbled Turkish marble, sourced from a discount wholesaler in New Jersey. Because the tiles have an uneven surface, they were double glazed with a matte sealant to protect them from the light gray grout application. The bathtub is vintage; the exterior is painted in Elephant’s Breath by Farrow & Ball, and the Rigid Riser Shower Kit is from Hudson Reed. Turkish towels hang on vintage hooks. "We decided to leave them different because we always like something to be slightly off in our spaces," says Megan. "We’re not fans of things that are too symmetrical or perfect." The wooden "beads" by the bath are offcuts of African hardwoods that the designers found in a dumpster in Brooklyn and use as side tables.

Above: Megan and Matt painted the exterior of the house in Trout Gray with Witching Hour on the trim, both by Benjamin Moore.

Before

Above L: The couple replaced the windows with Marvin Integrity double-hung units, making the house significantly more energy efficient. Matt, a self-taught woodworker, became a master of all trades; he's shown here installing the large window over what is now the kitchen stove. "We did all the work on the house ourselves, so in the beginning, we often wound up working all hours of the days, nights, and weekends." Above R: A view of the kitchen before the wall between the living room and kitchen was removed.

Above L: The living room with the original Douglas fir flooring covered in layers of varnish. Above R: The staircase before the designers ripped out the the overhead wall, carpet, and paneling and replaced the door at the bottom right with a large window.

Above: The house that Megan and Matt bought, pre-renovation.

The Materia Designs showroom in Kerhonkson, NY is open by appointment only. Looking to overhaul your own place? Have a look at Reader Rehab: Danielle's DIY Kitchen Remodel for Under $500 and Back from Black: Repainting the Bath from Dark to Light. And for inspiration, see another north-of-New-York-City renovation, An Architect's One-Room Family House.

On Gardenista, take a look at a 186-square-foot garage transformed into a guest cottage, aka The Grottage.

More Stories from Remodelista

• The Architect Is In: Reviving a Family Flat on Riverside Drive
• Small-Space Living: A 410-Square-Foot Family Flat in Sydney
• An Organizer's Dream: An Art Studio with Color-Coded Built-In Storage

Dubbed the Native collection, Commune Design's new cement tiles for Exquisite Surfaces take inspiration from Native American and Scandinavian textile and pottery patterns—and perhaps classic black-and-white comics, too. Ready to go two-toned? We are—and with very little else: These tile patterns (nearly) furnish a room. 

Above: There are four patterns in the collection, and they each come in a range of colorways and are intended to be mixed together; they retail for $22 per square foot. Stockholm Zebra tiles are shown here on the wall and floor; each one measures 7 7/8 by 7 7/8 inches.

Above: Zuni Python tiles are also 7 7/8 by 7 7/8 inches. Like the other options in the line, they come in a matte finish but can be custom ordered in other finishes. 

Above: A floor in Zuni Zebra paired with a wall in Malmo Zebra tiles. The Zuni tiles are 7 7/8-by-7 7/8-inch square; designs in the Malmo range are rectangular subway tiles available in a variety of sizes.

Above: For something a bit less bold, consider the Navajo Zebra pattern.

Above: Zuni Zebra tiles in black and white.

Above: A close-up of the Malmo Zebra pattern in subway-tile rectangles.

Above: Zuni Python in gray.

Above: Go to Exquisite Surfaces to see the full Native by Commune collection as well as Commune's Sitio tiles, which are also available in black and white. Read about Commune's wood flooring in our post Reclaimed Wood Floors Made Modern.

Commune is an LA design collective and a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory. A new book of the firm's work, Commune, Designed in California, is just out from Abrams. Have a look at one of our favorite of their projects: the Ace Hotel LA, including its Rooftop Lounge and Black-and-White Bathrooms. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: The Autumnal Broom
• Table of Contents: Dark Shadows
• Current Obsessions: Feeling Moody

As temperatures begin to drop, we're pulling out our wintery accessories (woolly throws and sheepskins in darker hues of black and gray) and retiring our summery bits (light cotton blankets and white sheepskins). Here are five good choices for adding a moody note to your interiors.

Above: Photograph from interior inspiration blog Milo & Mitzy.

Above: Architect Bryce Gracey founded Black Sheep (White Light) as a result of a never-ending search for the perfect Icelandic sheepskin. His sheepskins, including the Black Icelandic Sheepskin 58, shown above, are all eco-friendly and "meet strict EU directives concerning environmental preservation and protection"; $220 at Totokaelo.

Above: A short-haired Auskin Sheepskin Longwool Rug, Single Pelt is $89.95 at Sierra Trading Post. 

Above: Another Black Icelandic Sheepskin from Gracey is $220 at The Line.

Above: Last winter, Sarah wrote about swapping out her white sheepskins for black. She sourced her Mongolian black sheepskin for $165 from Steed Fine Hoarding & Tack (contact Dione directly to purchase).

Warm up with more Sheepskins and Fur Throws and a DIY: Scandi Sheepskin Dog Bed. Have a look at one of our favorite destinations in Sweden, A Modern-Day Creperie, with an abundance of dark sheepskin-covered chairs.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Glamorous Pendant Lights from a French Designer
• 10 Favorites: Spooky Black Pianos
• Belgium by Way of Manhattan: Dmitriy & Co.

Repeat after us: shou sugi ban. Devised as a way to make wood less susceptible to fire and to keep away insects and rot, this longstanding Japanese method involves torching your building materials. The results are long lived and hauntingly beautiful. And the good news is that charred wood is now widely available for domestic use.  

Above: US lumber retailers of late have begun to specialize in shou sugi ban. Shown here, a sampling of the shou sugi ban finishes offered by Delta Millworks, in Texas, which focuses solely on burned woods and works directly with private and commercial clients. Another provider is reSawn TImber Co. of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In the UK, Shou-Sugi-Ban supplies, designs, and installs shou sugi ban cladding, flooring, and wall coverings in colors that it compares to "the dying embers of a log fire and the charred effects of a burnt wooden board." 

Above: Charred cypress for use as siding, fencing, decking, and flooring. Photograph via reSawn Timber Co.

Above: Delta Millworks and reSawn Timber Co. specialize in using cypress, as well as yellow pine and vertical grain Douglass fir, all grown in the southern US and treated with variety of burned finishes. Photograph via reSawn Timber Co.

Above: Yashu, a charred cypress, for interior and exterior applications from reSawn Timber Co.

Above: ReSawn Timber Co.'s Kujaku cypress with a subtle char.

Above: A house with shou sugi ban siding in Kajiyama, Japan, by Sakuma Studio. Photograph via Materialicious.

Above: Shou sugi ban siding and a living roof on a farmhouse in Sweden. Photograph via Basic Label Sweden.

Above: A modular studio (for use as a home office, guest room, or play space) made from shou sugi ban siding by Sett Studio of Austin, Texas. In addition to its designs, the company sells charred wood in a range of shades, including Snow White, which is pine with a whitewashed finish. Prices start at $13.99 per square foot. 

Above: The interior of Sett Studio's modular studio.

Above: New York City architecture firm LoadingDock 5 used charred cypress from reSawn Timber Co. on the exterior of a Brooklyn residence.

For more on burned wood, see Shou Sugi Ban Wood Siding, and, on Gardenista, A Teahouse, Charred and Blackened (On Purpose) and A Stylish Swedish Outhouse.

Drawn to black facades? See 10 Modern Houses Gone to the Dark Side and 11 Traditional Houses Cloaked in Black.

More Stories from Remodelista

• DIY Project: A $38 Pot Rack That's Perfect for Compact Kitchens
• Remodeling 101: Where to Locate Electrical Outlets, Home Office and Storage Edition
• 5 Quick Fixes: Closet Valet Rods and Hooks

We know we're not the only ones who notice the increasing advancement of the holiday season each year (I even saw Halloween decor seeping into stores this past July). At times it's as though the three tiers of holidays from October to December have melded into a never-ending retail loop. Which is probably why the idea of all-purpose holiday decor is so appealing, in particular to those short on time.

Last year we took note of the pan-holiday dining room by Amsterdam-based design blogger Desiree Groenendal of Vosges Paris, who strung a simple, adaptable ornament bar over her table. If you're familiar with her blog, you know about Desiree's penchant for the monochromatic palette. The advantage? It's a look to last through the whole season, with a few minor tweaks along the way. Here's a set of sources to re-create Desiree's festive dining setup.

Above: The DIY black bar over Desiree's table stands ready to be decorated for any occasion. Photograph from Vosges Paris.

Furniture

Above: Ikea's Bjursta Extendable Table in birch veneer, $199, can be sanded and painted white. Benjamin Moore Decorator's White paint is $36.99 per gallon of Ben Interior Paint.

Above: Designed by Hee Welling for Hay, the About a Chair is a stackable, molded chair with a sled base; $305 at Danish Design Store.

Above: The Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair is available in white and 13 other colors; $399 at Design Within Reach.

Above: To add to the mix of chairs, the Stackable Hee Dining Chair in black ($240 at A+R Store) has a similar look to Desiree's vintage steel folding chair.

Ceiling and Wall Decor

Above: Desiree modeled the hanging rod above her table after a clothing rack she designed. Re-create it with a cut piece of Formufit Half-Inch PVC Pipe in Black ($5.89 for five feet) and Everbilt Black Decorator Chain ($45.97 for a 100 foot roll), both at Home Depot.

Above: A darker version of classic string lights: 50 Clear Mini Lights on black cord are $5.52 from 1000 Bulbs.

Above: String ornaments from a Pale Gold Velvet Ribbon; the 1-1/2 inch size is $5 per yard at Fabric Indulgence. Narrower options are available through New York City's M&J Trimming.

Above: A Rustic Black Tin Star Ornament is $1.99 at Factory Direct Craft.

Above: Source an Unfinished Wooden Christmas Tree for $2 each from Ukranian Woods on Etsy. A Wooden Christmas Ball, about 1-5/8 inches in diameter, is $1.34 from Lee Valley and Veritas. Either can be painted white, black, or any desired color.

Above: From Mountain Feathers on Etsy, Natural Lady Amherst Tippet Feathers for decoration are $3.30 for 10.

Above: Learn how to make a black paper star in any size at Design and Form. 

Other Accessories

Above: A good addition to Desiree's black-and-white setting, Anthropologie's black-rimmed white stoneware: Lascari Canape Plates are $10 each; Lascari Chargers (dinner plates) are $24 each, and Lascari Serveware (platters and bowls, not shown) are $36 each.

Above: From Normann Copenhagen, the Heima Four-Armed Candlestick is made entirely of cast iron; $72.50. A similar option is Mogens Lassen's Kubus Candleholder of black-lacquered steel; €125 ($159.95 USD) from By Lassen.

Above: The Le Souk Ceramique Cookable Tagine in Black is $55.95 at Bellacor.

For more festive decor ideas, see our posts 14 Ways to Feather Your Nest and DIY: Last-Minute Halloween Decor.

Go to Gardenista to learn how to make a Black Thistle Halloween Bouquet and a Milky Way Carved Pumpkin.

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