Fans of Plain English kitchen designs, meet the company's Japanese counterpart. Put together like puzzle pieces without nails or screws, KitoBito's solid-wood designs apply traditional Japanese techniques (and some Shaker designs, too) to clean-lined custom kitchens. Owner Masayuki Yoneto is a mortise and tenon master—prior to starting his own venture, he worked at the Sakura Shop, makers of George Nakashima's furniture in Japan. Based in the rural town of Misaki in Okayama prefecture, KitoBito—which translates as "trees and people"—is now run by Masayuki and his wife, Michiko, who, after marrying into the trade, went to school to learn woodworking herself. Their workshop is situated in two barns alongside their showroom, where they spend hours with clients, sipping tea, discussing kitchen details, and poring over sustainable Japanese wood samples. Come take a look at their work and where it gets made.

Photography by Yoko Inoue.

The Kitchens

Above: The KitoBito showroom houses Kaze, a fully detailed kitchen built from solid oak. The benefit of joinery is that it can withstand changes of temperature by having built-in give when the wood shrinks or grows, something particularly beneficial in humid climates. "Counters made of plywood usually have to be replaced after 20 years; they fall apart and get moldy," says Michiko. "Ours are designed to be used forever." 

Above: Kaze's counters and cabinets were inspired by the fittings in old European butcher shops and have hardware made of blackened brass. "Unaffected and sincere" is the way the Yonetos describe their designs.

Above: The kitchen viewed from the showroom's loft. Kaze's counters are available in artificial marble (shown here) and stainless steel. 

Above: Where do most clients put their excess kitchen accessories? "We suggest having a storage room next to the kitchen, but there's room in our designs for pots and pans, tableware—all the things that get used every day,"says Michiko. "Smart people don't want to add too much stuff."

Above: One of KitoBito's recent kitchens was designed for a newly built house in Kobe belonging to a young couple. It's made of oak from Akita, Japan, which is known for its sustainable forestry practices. Because the wood isn't old, Michiko points out, it's particularly knotty—something traditionally avoided in Japan, but a feature they and their client happen to like.

Above: The Kobe kitchen has stainless steel counters, shelving with a built-in tool rail, and subway tiles.

Above: A drawer displays KitoBito joinery. 

Above: The Kobe kitchen opens to a dining area. Since tables and chairs are frequently requested, KitoBito makes those, too.

Above: A gray-tiled compact KitoBito design akin to the Kobe kitchen.

Above: The KitoBito showroom also houses an employee kitchen with an American black walnut counter and an American black cherry table. Lunch is cooked and served here daily.

The Workshop

Above: Masayuki built the KitoBito barn himself in 1997 from trees cut down on his father's nearby property. It's one of two side-by-side workshops.

Above: Cabinets left over from a project were put to use in the barn; they're finished with green chalkboard paint and illustrated with what they contain.

Above: Even the equipment is atmospheric. "We bought used machines and maintain them well; this planer is from 1976."

Above: Masayuki checking a tenon.

Above: Working on a cabinet frame. 

Above: A ladder displays saw blades, a gift from an architect who found them in an old house that was being demolished.

Above: A well-used vise known as a third hand. 

Above: Masayuki, center, with two of his crew. Go to KitoBito to see more.

Getting ready to design a kitchen? Take a look at some of our recent posts:

• Greatest Hits: 10 Fantastique French Kitchens
• Expert Advice: Sebastian Conran's 11 Tips for Designing a Small Kitchen
• 11 Design Details to Steal from High-End Bespoke Kitchens
• 11 Kitchen Islands Gone Glamorous

More Stories from Remodelista

• Remodelista Holiday Market in LA 2014
• True Grit: The New Iko Iko Shop in LA
• A NYC Cult Shop Heads to Tokyo

On the coast of Brittany, architects Lucie Niney and Thibault Marca of Paris-based NeM Architectes discovered "a vacation home frozen in time." The challenge was to add a bedroom without sacrificing any of the quaint atmosphere. The solution? They designed a mirror image—an even tinier replica—and connected the two buildings with a small walkway.

To create a mirror image effect, the architects wanted to complement the existing white cottage with a dark addition. (Black is a color often seen on the foggy Brittany coast, where nearby oyster huts are frequently coated with a black paint described as a tar.) But instead of painting the cottage black, Niney and Marca decided to burn it.

Photography courtesy of NeM Architectes.

Above: Old and new. The two cottages are joined by a walkway clad in charred Douglas fir.

Before

Above: Working with a budget of $45,000 and a mandate to add a bedroom to the vacation cottage, the architects decided to build a second peaked structure alongside the house.

Above: During a recent trip to Japan, the architects had become interested in the Japanese charred-wood technique of shou sugi ban. Charring wood makes it weather- and mold-resistant, a benefit near the sea. 

Above: The architects' plan called for a freestanding charred-wood cottage connected by a walkway to the existing house.

Above: The new cottage is clad in charred Douglas fir.

After

Above: The two cottages share a terrace.

Above: The bedroom in the new cottage has floor-to-ceiling doors instead of a wall, to connect it to the backyard.

Above: Connected by a covered walkway to the existing house, the new cottage is a mini replica of the old.

Above: From the road, the new charred wood cottage is reminiscent of the dark-stained facades of nearby oyster huts.

• Hardscaping 101: Charred Wood Siding
• Architect Visit: A Teahouse, Charred and Blackened (on Purpose)
• Outbuilding of the Week: A Stylish Swedish Outhouse
  

More Stories from Remodelista

• Midcentury Meets Zen: A DIY Remodel in LA
• A Romantic Farmhouse for Two, Japan Edition
• 10 Favorites: Wood and Steel Stairs from the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory

The Scenario: A Japanese couple buys a plot of land in the middle of a persimmon (kaki) orchard near the city of Yokkaichi, Japan, where they aspire to build a single-level family house with tall ceilings and wide-open, loft-like spaces that take advantage of the views of the surrounding orchard.

The Challenge: The couple's architect, Keiichi Kiriyama of the Ogaki-based Airhouse Design, has only 1,400 square feet to work with, due to zoning requirements. This means he needs to meet the varied programmatic requirements that come from family living—three bedrooms, a guest room, a library, a den, four storage areas, a large walk-in closet, a separate shoe closet, and a cat's room (yes, you read that correctly)—without adding a second story.

The Solution: In one double-height, shed-like space with a large roof set on seven thick columns, the family's loft-living aspirations are reconciled with their programmatic requirements. Kiriyama located all the private spaces in the columns, and at the same time freed up the public living spaces to circulate around the columns in their full double-height glory.

The Result: Unrestricted by the height limitations that would have been imposed with the addition of a second floor, the interiors feature large areas of double-height rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer expansive views of the sky and kaki trees. At the same time, the columns hide the detritus of daily living. Happiness for all, even the cat. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?

Photography by Toshiyuki Yano via ArchDaily.

Above: A view from the living area up to the dining area. The public spaces circulate around the columns, which hold the private rooms and have large expanses of glass open to views of the sky and orchard.

Above: A small tree grows in the middle of the indoor/outdoor terrace.

Above: The second floors of the double-height columns are accessed through individual sets of lightweight metal stairs or ladders that resemble mini fire escapes.

Above: A series of steps lead from the living area to either the kitchen/dining area on the right of the walk-in closet on the left.

Above: The kitchen and dining areas are shaped by four of the seven columns, which are punctuated by window openings.

Above: One of the many double-height, expansive views is available from the kitchen prep area.

Above: A built-in bench provides efficient seating in the passage between columns.

Above: A sheer curtain obscures the view of the neighboring house across the way.

Above: The sheer curtain and change in floor material from concrete to wood indicate the separation between the entry terrace and the interior of the house. The cat's room is behind the small door under the metal stair.

Above: A view of the open landscape from the second floor of one of the columns.

Above: The interior of the column that faces the kitchen island is lined with wood and houses two small children's playrooms stacked on top of each other.

Above: A view from an interior room into the kaki orchard.

Above: In the bathroom, a glass partition separates the wet area from the dry area.

Above: From the exterior, the house resembles a double-height shed.

Above: The house is nestled into the kaki orchard.

Above: The first and second floor plans of the house illustrate the division between public spaces in the open areas and private spaces enclosed in the thick columns.

See houses around the world that have been inspired by Japanese design:

• Slow House: A Serene Cabin in the Woods in Melbourne
• Japanese-Inspired Living in Sydney
• Urban Alchemy in Toronto, Children Included
• In Praise of the Shadow House in London
• An Indoor-Outdoor House in Australia

More Stories from Remodelista

• Before and After: A Charred Wood Cottage, on a $45K Budget
• Midcentury Meets Zen: A DIY Remodel in LA
• A Romantic Farmhouse for Two, Japan Edition

Isamu Noguchi was the first to bring us a modern take on the Japanese paper lantern; his Akari lights have been a mainstay of the lighting scene since the 1950s (and a personal favorite). Spotted recently at Lost & Found, in LA: a charming update of the form with brightly printed fabric used in lieu of paper. 

N.B. If you would like to get your hands on one, Lost & Found owner Jamie Rosenthal will be selling them at our upcoming Remodelista Holiday Market in LA (if they don't sell out beforehand).

Above: An orange-printed design (see it lit, below). The lanterns are in the Japanese style, but they're made in India from block-printed, handwoven khaddar cloth. 

Above: The lights come in a variety of organic forms and are available in several colors. 

Above L: Kyoto Orange UFO Light; $325. Above R: Blue Lejos UFO Light; $450.

Above: The Misha Orange UFO Light; $550.

Above: The lanterns are inspired by the motifs of traditional Spanish and Portuguese tiles.

For more easy lighting ideas, see these posts: 

• Object Lessons: Isamu Noguchi's Iconic Akari Lights
• 10 Easy Pieces: Clip-on Lights.
• California Made: Affordable Pendant Lights from LA
• High/Low Globe Light Fixtures

More Stories from Remodelista

• Required Reading: Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren
• New Japanese-Inspired Textiles from Zak + Fox
• Geometric Japanese Furniture with Sustainability in Mind

A Zen Halloween? Allow Gardenista to show you the way.  This week, as we've been celebrating Japanese interiors, the Gardenista team has been all about bonsai and bamboo (and pumpkins, too).

Above: Ofuro means "soaking tub" in Japanese, or "if only we had this our lives would be perfect," says Michelle. Take a look at 12 Serene Japanese Baths, forest views included.

Above: Ready to talk to miniature trees? Meredith gets the low-down on bonsai for beginners in Ask the Expert, and Cheryl presents a DIY No-Fuss Bonsai. Had in mind something a bit bigger? See 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Japan.

Above: "No offense to gnomes or pagodas, but for something more profound in your garden, consider a sculpture in the style of Isamu Noguchi," writes Cheryl. Where to find that perfect abstract statement? See this week's 10 Easy Pieces. 

Above: Actor Vincent Kartheiser—Mad Men's Pete Campbell—is known for the stylishly compact LA quarters he keeps, complete with Japanese courtyard garden. In Designer Visit: A Man Man's $800K Hollywood Hideaway take a look at his just-sold mini compound.

Above: Trying to master your outdoor lighting? Discover the wonders of wall lights in Hardscaping 101—they can even be used to spotlight pumpkins. Speaking of which, take a look at how Gardenista readers are celebrating Halloween this year. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trending on Gardenista: It's Alive
• Trending on Gardenista: Orange Is the New Black
• Trending on Gardenista: The DIY Mudroom and More

Japanese designer Kenichi Kandatsu would like to cast his country in a softer, kinder light. At Flame, his lighting company in rural Ashiya, Japan, he's helping to make that happen by presenting his poetic lamps in settings that are moody to the max.

N.B.: Flame's lights are sold at a number of design stores in Japan, but they're hard to come by outside the country. We consider them inspiration for projects we hope to undertake on our own.

Photography by Shinsaku Kato.

Above: Many of Flame's lights are inspired by European classics, such as this clear glass pendant design. The company is located in a house that Kandatsu built in 2010 as a combination showroom/store, headquarters, and living space. Considering a pilgrimage? Ashiya, in Hyogo, is midway between Osaka and Kobe.

Trained as a lighting designer, Kandatsu worked for a lighting parts company before founding Flame. He initially set up shop in Osaka, and, after a year and a half search for the right rustic setting, bought land in Ashiya overlooking the Ashiya River.

Above: Kandatsu collaborated with Tokyo fashion designer Minä Perhonen on a series of Scandi-inflected Flame lamps.

Above: Several of the Flame + Minä Perhonen designs have embroidered linen shades. 

Above: For years, Kandatsu has been collecting antique bottles one by one from all over; he puts them to great use as lamp bases with paper shades.

Above: Flame showcases its lighting in rooms furnished with Japanese antiques (that are also for sale). The spaces look as if they were lit by Edward Hopper. Shown here, Ladder, available with a fixed or moveable arm; ¥24,000 ($219.50) and ¥34,000 ($311), respectively. Flame's lights work with a range of bulbs.

Above: Most of Flame's lighting is made in Japan. Baba, the enamel design shown above, L and R, is ¥15,800 ($145). It's also available in clear glass (see top photo) for ¥14,800 ($136).

Above: Kandatsu created a sold-out series of glazed white lamps with Japanese ceramic artist Birbira. 

Above: Savoir, an enameled steel pendant, comes in two "dark, deep colors of dark gray" as well as pale gray: ¥24,000 ($219.75).

Above: A Minä Perhonen ceramic lamp with a crochet-trimmed shade.

Above: An embroidered Minä Perhonen shade for Flame.

Above: Relever, a new, "no frills, simple" clamp light from Flame, has a matte black shade and a shiny black satin cord; ¥36,000 ($330)

To see the full collection, go to Flame.

Looking for lighting advice? See:

• Afterglow: 10 Solutions for Romantic Lighting
• Remodeling 101: How to Choose an Overhead Light Fixture
• The Great Lightbulb Debate

More Stories from Remodelista

• Built to Last: Joinery Kitchens by KitoBito of Japan
• Remodelista Holiday Market in LA 2014
• True Grit: The New Iko Iko Shop in LA

NYC textile designer Zak Profera has a thing for antique kimonos ("I've been collecting old kimono stencils, called 'Katagami,' for a few years now," he says), and his newest collection is inspired by their intricate patterns. "I bought one initially because I thought it was much more unusual than what we typically see in Japanese textile pattern. Then I got hooked; I'm always on the hunt for the ones feel 'unplaceable.' Some skew very tribal, each is like a silk screen, one color per stencil, so when you are viewing them individually, there can be something beautiful and abstract in the reduction of elements."

For ordering information, go to Zak+Fox, and if you're in NYC visit him at his new showroom at 611 Broadway, Suite 511 ("by appointment or chance").

Above: A parade of prints on display.

Above: The Pazuru (Japanese for "puzzle") print is Zak's interpretation of a centuries-old kimono pattern.

Above: The Kaze print features "thick brushes of color spun together and is evocative of the wind." Hollywood at Home sells the Zak + Fox Kaze West Pillow for $265.

Above: The Pazuru print in matcha.

Above: The Hanami print is Zak + Fox's rendition of a 19th century cherry blossom tree print.

Above: A detail of the Hanami print.

Above: The Obi pattern was inspired by a tattered vintage sash used in traditional Japanese dress. Hollywood at Home sells the Zak + Fox Obi Pillow for $265.

We've been fans for a while now; see Zak+Fox Textiles: Inspired by Exotica.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Required Reading: Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren
• Global Spin: A Charming New Take on the Paper Lantern
• Geometric Japanese Furniture with Sustainability in Mind

The New York Times calls Leonard Koren "a maker of deceptively modest books about deceptively modest subjects"—his topics include gravel and sand gardens, tea ceremonies, and flower shops.

His book Wabi-Sabi, first published in 1994, is considered required reading for the thinking designer. His more recent title Which Aesthetics?  is another must-read. Koren, who studied architecture at UCLA, writes: "Aesthetics is pervasive in our lives and behavior. It's basic, it's primal. The way we dress, style our hair, decorate our homes, prepare our food, give names to things—these are all aesthetic activities. Then there's the novels we read, the music we listen to, the movies we view, the video games we play, the art we make and collect."

Imperfect Publishing publishes all current Leonard Koren titles, including Wabi-Sabi. Bay Area fans, please note that Leonard will be signing his books at our upcoming San Francisco Holiday Market on December 13 at Heath.

Above: Koren's house in Point Reyes, in Marin County, Northern California. See the whole house at the New York Times. Photograph by Paul Dyer.

Above: Koren not only writes, he also designs his own books, down to the typeface. Wabi-Sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers  is $10.88 at Amazon.

Above: Which '"Aesthetics" Do You Mean?: Ten Definitions is $10.93 at Amazon.

Take a look at our current Required Reading list:

• Mr. Finch: Living in a Fairytale World
• Collected, Living with the Things You Love
• Beautifully Small: Clever Ideas for Compact Spaces
• Cultivating Garden Style
• Green Kitchen Travels

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on February 23, 2012, as part of our Wabi-Sabi Week.

More Stories from Remodelista

• New Japanese-Inspired Textiles from Zak + Fox
• Global Spin: A Charming New Take on the Paper Lantern
• Geometric Japanese Furniture with Sustainability in Mind

Take a look at what's on our radar right now.

• Above: Next week, we're sharing intel on prepping for the holidays; to get in the spirit, we're making these maple hot toddies. Photograph by Eva Kosmas Flores. 
• Hang a string of lights—and other ways to make your house feel comfier.
• In the market to buy a ghost town? Consider Johnsonville, Connecticut. 

• Above: Have a look around the glam New York atelier of lighting designers Apparatus Studio. 
• Gearing up for a long flight? Consider these trip tips. 
• A refurbished war bunker isn't the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks about a family holiday retreat. 

• Above: Are these cups smiling? Nope, they're handy egg separators. 
• A UK travel magazine celebrates sidetracking.
• Remodelista's Julie Carlson sits down with Buzzfeed to talk Remodeling 101. 

• Above: A young Australian couple tackle the renovation of their cottage farmhouse, concrete sink included. Photograph by Eve Wilson. 
• Have you been cleaning your cutting board wrong? Find out here. 

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

• Above: We're enjoying daily glimpses into the life of UK photographer and upholsterer Charlotte Bland (@charlottebland).
• As we head into the gift-giving season, we're checking out designer Leland Rowley's Products board on Pinterest. 
• Reminder: The first London Remodelista Market is just two weeks away, on November 15. Hope to see you there. 

Catch up on our latest issue: We spent this past week learning Lessons from Japan, while the editors at Gardenista decoded Zen in the Garden.  

More Stories from Remodelista

• Required Reading: Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren
• New Japanese-Inspired Textiles from Zak + Fox
• Global Spin: A Charming New Take on the Paper Lantern

We tend to be an off-the-cuff bunch here at Remodelista. But in anticipation of our favorite feast, we're devoting this week to getting our households in gear for Thanksgiving (and all the festivities to come). Stay tuned for easy ways to spruce up your table, game-changing cooking gadgets, and where to source stacks of affordable tableware, linens, and folding chairs overnight.

Above: Photograph by Michael A. Muller from Get Out of the Heat: Josephine House, in Austin.

Monday

Above: Later today, watch for Izabella's Ceramics post on an LA "lab" whose handmade, white-glazed plates we covet by the stackful. 

Tuesday

Above: Julianne Moore has one, and so does her design hero Vincent Van Duysen. On Tuesday, Julie shares where to source the in-crowd Kitchen Range—in matte black.

Wednesday

Above: It's a tradition here—every Thanksgiving we turn to Le Marché St George, in Vancouver, BC, for tabletop inspiration (Canadian Thanksgiving takes place in October). This year, the two sisters behind the cafe outdid themselves.

Thursday

Above: To streamline the prep work ahead, we're sharing the wisdom: In Thursday's Editors' Picks, we've lined up the kitchen tools we swear by—and hope you'll chime in with your own tips. 

Friday

Above: In need of a gift, maybe for yourself? A French artist in Brooklyn block-prints napkins and tea towels that are an ideal seasonal pick me up. See her work in Margot's upcoming Tabletop post.

Saturday

Above: This weekend's Architect Is In spotlights a passive solar house on the edge of South Africa's Great Karoo. It's the work of UK firm Openstudio, and principal, Jennifer Beningfield, will be on standby both Saturday and Sunday to answer questions.

Looking for inspired DIY floral arrangements, garden-to-table recipes, maybe some curb appeal? Head over to Gardenista for holiday ideas.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 10 Favorites: Wall-Mounted Candleholders as Mood Lights
• Current Obsessions: November Arrives
• Required Reading: Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren

Nobuhito Nishigawara is a busy man: Chairman of the ceramics program at California State University at Fullerton, he's also a sculptor who shows internationally—and in his free time he makes useful, hand-thrown tableware at a studio he calls West River Field Lab (WRF for short). West River Field is a translation of his last name—Nishigawara grew up in Nagoya, Japan, and ventured to Los Angeles via the Kansas City Art Institute, where he got a BFA in ceramics, and Arizona State University, where he earned his MFA.

We're ready to start collecting his stacked dinnerware—white glazed and subtly detailed (and, yes, dishwasher safe), the simple shapes work equally well for everyday use and entertaining.

WRF's work is available at several of our favorite shops across the country. Here's a sampling of the current collection.

Photography via West River Field Lab and Spartan Shop, in Austin, Texas.

Above: Piles of WRF ceramics ready for a dinner party. All are hand thrown in Nishigawara's LA studio.

Above: WRF bowls have white-glazed interiors and exteriors and unglazed bases detailed with faint rust-colored stripes.

Above: WRF Bowls are $22 each at Spartan Shop. N.B.: WRF's full line is also available from Tortoise General Store and Nonchalant Mom.

Above: Tumblers come in four sizes.  

Above: A large WRF Tumbler, 5 1/8 inches tall, is $24 from the Spartan Shop.

Above: The WRF Mug is $22 at Spartan Shop.

Above: The WRF plate comes in two sizes: Dinner (10 1/2 inches in diameter) and Salad/Dessert (8 3/4 inches in diameter), $28 and $24 respectively at Spartan. (See the OK Shop, in LA, for a third plate size.)

Above: The WRF Serving Bowl, 8 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches tall, is $48 from Spartan. 

Above: The full WRF collection by Nobuhito Nishigawara. Visit West River Field Lab for more details.

Are you as obsessed with ceramics as we are? Here are three more LA studios to check out.

• Humble Ceramics 
• Irving Place Studio
• Hasami Modular Tableware

If you're looking for All-White Basic Dinnerware, we've got you covered. These ceramic Self-Watering Planters via Gardenista will keep your plants good-looking and happy. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: The Mason Cash Mixing Bowl
• Steal This Look: A Kitchen Designed for Entertaining
• American Standard Goes Luxe: The DXV Collection

This is not your grandmother's bathroom and kitchen. American Standard, a brand synonymous with quality, dependability, and utilitarian style, is going upscale with a line of luxury fixtures and faucets. Meet DXV by American Standard. 

To create the new portfolio, American Standard looked to design trends of the past century as well as its own archives, which date back to the company's founding in 1872 as a small tinwork shop in Massachusetts. But DXV faucets and fixtures aren't just reissues—they're modern interpretations of styles spanning the decades and presented in four movements: Classic (1880 to 1920), Golden Era (1920 to 1950), Modern (1950 to 1990), and Contemporary (1990 to today). And like fashion, mixing and matching pieces from different periods is not only possible but encouraged. 

Here's a roundup of some of our favorites from the collection.

Kitchen

Above: Julie, Remodelista's editor in chief, considers the pot filler over her range to be her kitchen's greatest luxury (Michelle of Gardenista feels the same; read her Ode to the Pot Filler). The DXV Contemporary Pot Filler has a two-piece, adjustable arm that reaches a generous 22 inches while striking a low profile when not in use. Available in polished-chrome ($1,095) or ultra-steel ($1,295) finishes.

Above: A farmhouse classic updated with contemporary lines, the Orchard 36-Inch Kitchen Sink from the DXV Classic Movement could be the most versatile kitchen sink around; $1,400. Made in Italy, the fire clay bowl can be mounted undercounter, flush countertop, or above-counter (with a custom installation), and includes a convenient bottom sink rack.

Above: The Isle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet (part of the DXV Contemporary Movement) swivels 150 degrees and has a pull-down spout for hidden sprayer convenience. Available in polished-chrome ($600) or ultra-steel ($720) finishes. 

Bath

Above: The DXV Lyndon Collection offers a full suite of bath fixtures and faucets sized for compact bathrooms, including the fire clay Lyndon Wall-Mount Bathroom Sink ($600) and the vitreous china Lyndon Two-Piece Elongated Dual-Flush Toilet ($650). The high-efficiency, low-water consumption (1.28/1.0 gallons per flush) toilet features a siphon-action jetted bowl, an EverClean® surface that inhibits bacteria growth, and a slow-close telescoping seat.

Above: The minimalist Percy Wall-Mounted Vessel Faucet with Cross Handles comes in brushed nickel ($707) and polished chrome ($615). 

Above: DXV's Percy Collection includes streamlined bathroom accessories, such as the Percy 24-Inch Towel Bar shown here in brushed nickel ($216).

Above: From the DXV Golden Era Movement, we like the enduring look of the Fitzgerald Collection. The fire clay Fitzgerald 28-Inch Pedestal Bathroom Sink includes a faucet ledge with an integral soap recess ($585).

Above: Pair the Fitzgerald 28-Inch Pedestal Bathroom Sink with the cast-brass Randall Widespread Bathroom Faucet with Cross Handles. It's offered in three finishes: polished chrome ($700), platinum nickel ($805), and brushed nickel ($805).

The DXV product portfolio is available exclusively in showrooms. Use the DXV Showroom Locator to find the one nearest you.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: The Mason Cash Mixing Bowl
• Steal This Look: A Kitchen Designed for Entertaining
• Currently Coveting: Japanese-Style Tableware Made in LA

Black beeswax candles are a Remodelista favorite all year round. (Yes, we even use them for summer dinner parties.) But at $10 or more a pair, indulging our noirish habit can get a little costly. So we wondered, How hard would it be to make them ourselves? I decided to give it a try. Here are the results, the instructions, and the final word: Was it worth the effort? 

Photography by Justine Hand for Remodelista.

MATERIALS

Above: Supplies laid out on a linen tea towel by my friend Susy Pilgrim Waters. Here's what you need:

• Wax in an amount to fill your molds. I used Beeswax Bars from Ruhl Bee Supply; $8.50 per pound. I ordered two pounds to make 12 tapers.
• Black candle dye. I used Liquid Eco-friendly Candle Dye, also from Ruhl; $7.35 per bottle.
• A double boiler. For an enamelware option similar to mine, try Etsy.
• A taper mold. I used an antique tin 12-taper mold procured on Etsy.
• Mold Release Spray, available at Ruhl Bee Supply; $11.95.
• Candle wick. Michael's offers 50 yards of Flat-Braid Wicking for $19.99.
• Several sticks. I used three bamboo shish kebab skewers leftover from summer; chopsticks or pencils also work.

Step 1: For 12 tapers, place two pounds of beeswax in a double boiler and heat at medium until the wax is entirely melted. (Use 1.5 pounds of wax for eight tapers, and so on.)

Step 2: While the wax is melting, spray the inside of each opening with the mold release spray. Then turn your mold over and thread the wicks through the small holes in the bottom, leaving several inches of wick sticking out at both ends.

Step 3: Tie knots to secure the wicks. Seal each opening with plumber's putty or something like it—I used my kids' Play-Doh.

Step 4: Turn the mold back over. Form a loose knot just above each opening. Thread one stick through all the knots in each row. Keeping each wick in the center of its opening, pull and tighten until it's taut. Repeat with each row. 

Step 5: When the wax is melted, reduce heat to low and gradually add color to get the shade you're after. 

Step 6: Dip an extra piece of wick in the wax a few times to test the color—you want to make sure you've achieved at least a nice aubergine. To color two pounds of wax, I used about a quarter to a third of the small bottle and my candles were very dark.

Step 7: Place the mold over newspaper in case any wax spills. To test your seals, carefully pour a little bit of wax into the bottom of each taper and let cool for a minute. Once no wax comes out the bottom, slowly pour the wax into the mold, overfilling each opening slightly because the wax will settle a bit as it cools. If necessary, you can top off the candles with a bit more wax. 

Step 8: Allow your tapers to set by leaving them out for 8 to 12 hours or by placing the mold in an ice bath (which is supposed to give the candles a glossier finish). Once the wax has hardened, turn your mold over and cut or untie the knots at the bottom. At this point, according to some tutorials, your candles should "just slide out of the mold." Mine did not. So I put them in freezer for 10 minutes as suggested. Still nothing. Then I tried running the mold under hot water. Nope. So, finally, I followed the boiling-water method of yet another candlemaker...

Step 9: Using boiling water to extract tapers is tricky: You have to work quickly and it's messy. (Don't wear your best oven mitts.) First, find a pot that's larger than your mold, fill it with water, and bring to a boil. While the water is heating, place newspaper or parchment in a cookie tray that has sides (to catch the dripping wax—I learned this the hard way.) Position the tray as near as possible to your pot. Using gloves to protect your hands, submerge the entire mold in the boiling water for 20 seconds.

 Step 10: Quickly remove mold from water to the cookie sheet and pull each row of tapers free. It may be necessary, as I discovered, to redip—but it works.

Step 11: Cut the candles from the sticks and trim the wicks.

N.B.: If you kitchen is now filled with black splatters, the best way to clean up is by pouring boiling water over the spills and quickly wiping the wax away.

The Finished Look

Above: My new candles are ready for the holiday table.

So let's review the cost of materials and labor—and see whether the project was worth it.

Prepping the wax was easy. I did it while making spaghetti sauce on the next burner. Ditto threading the wicks in the mold; that took about 10-15 minutes. The supplies came to around $35. My antique 12-candle mold was $60. (An eight candle mold is available at Better Bee for $40.15.) That's $95 for 12 tapers, which is about $16 a pair—so far, I'm not ahead.

But after the initial outlay, things get better. The wick makes about 50 candles and there's enough dye for around three to four dozen. So next time I make candles, I'll really only have to invest in wax. At $8.50 per pound (x2), that's less than $3 dollars per pair. Presuming it gets easier each time, I'd say that's well worth the effort! (Guess what I'm giving the rest of the Remodelista team this holiday?)

N.B. Looking to accessorize your black candles? See 10 Favorites Modern Chambersticks for Making Your Way in the Dark. And if you'd still rather buy your candles, take a look at Julie's 5 Favorite Moody Black Candles and Christine's picks for Sculptural Black Candles.

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Interior designer Summer Thornton took a masculine approach to the remodel of an early 1900s French Tudor in Evergreen Park, Illinois, a half hour south of Chicago. The house was overhauled for a single man—one who likes to entertain—and the plan allows for ample growth and plenty of guests.

With its classic French range and industrial accents, the grand-scale kitchen is a healthy mix of modern warmth and ruggedness. Here's a look at the design and how to source the key elements.

Above: A long marble-topped island runs down the center of the eat-in kitchen ending with a circular dining table. The range is set within a brick niche. Photograph from Summer Thornton Design.

Above: Thornton's firm designed and built all the cabinetry, including the columns of rustic open shelves on either side of the range.

Above: Large baskets tucked below the island add an extra layer of storage in the kitchen.

Appliances

Above: La Cornue's CornuFé Stove in Stainless Steel is available with chrome accents or, as seen above, chrome and brass accents; $8,600 at Williams-Sonoma.

Above: See what you've got: The Sub-Zero BI-36UG Built-in Bottom Freezer Drawer Refrigerator is $9,949 through approved dealers.

Faucets & Hardware

Above: A handy feature mounted over the range, the Kallista One Wall-Mounted Pot Filler has a 22-inch reach; $1,095 in chrome finish. Also available in nickel silver and brushed nickel through Kallista. Pot fillers are a Remodelista favorite; for more, see 10 Easy Pieces: Pot Filler Faucets.

Above: Similar to the cabinet hardware on the sink wall, Schoolhouse Electric's Edgecliff Pull is made of solid natural brass and comes in three sizes: 6, 8, and 11 inches; $28 to $50 each.

Lighting

Above: Designed by Michele de Lucchi and made of Murano glass, the Aquatinta Suspension Lamp in clear glass is $730 at Horne. Another glass pendant we like is the Mega-Bulb Pendant Light by Sofie Refer; $290 at YLighting.

Above: To light the dining table, Thornton selected the long-armed, modern classic Potence Lamp, designed in 1950 by Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand; $1,870 at Design Within Reach. For more like it, see 5 Favorites: Prouvé-Inspired Swing Arm Lights and High/Low: The Iconic Potence Lamp by Jean Prouvé.

Above: Restoration Hardware's Modern Taper Sconce, like the dressy wall lights over the sink, has a polished chrome base and white linen shade; $129.

Furniture

Above: For a stand-alone kitchen island with similar appeal, Williams-Sonoma's Marble-Top Kitchen Island has a white farmhouse-style base and a Carrara marble counter; $3,695. For other ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: Instant Kitchen Islands and get inspired by 11 Kitchen Islands Gone Glamorous. 

Above: The Mid-Century Round Dining Table has a solid eucalyptus base and walnut veneered top; $499 from West Elm.

Above: Michael Thonet's bentwood Era Chair, designed in 1859, is on sale for $141.75 to $189, depending on color (ordinarily $165 to $189) at Design Within Reach. See it and other options in 10 Easy Pieces: Wood Dining Chairs for Under $200.

Above: For an industrial, wall-mounted shelf akin to the one of the sink counter, consider the L-Beam Wall Shelf with metal brackets and mango wood shelves; $249 at West Elm.

Accessories

Above: The Simplex Gas Kettle has a mirror chrome finish over solid copper; $189.95. See 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Tea Kettles for more.

Above: A framed print by the sink brings art into the kitchen. West Elm's Gallery Frames range from $12 to $69 depending on size. To replicate the look, find more inspiration in The New Art Gallery: Paintings in the Kitchen.

Above: The Canvas Blond Cutting Board is made by Amish woodworkers from American hardwoods; $68 each at Canvas Home.

Above: The Williams-Sonoma Open Kitchen Stainless Steel Colander Set of 3 is $38.

Above: The Small Double-Handle Storage Basket is made of woven water hyacinth; £49 ($78) at Toast, in the UK.

Above: From Nickey Kehoe, in LA, Match Pewter Candlesticks from the north of Italy are $135 for a pair.

Above: Hand-Dipped Taper Candles made in the US are $8 a pair at March, in San Francisco.

Visit Gardenista for a look at some of the best Kitchen Gardens. See three more of our favorite kitchen designs to steal:

• Steal This Look: A Minimalist English Kitchen
• Steal This Look: A Spanish-Inspired Black and White Kitchen
• Steal This Look: The Endless Summer Kitchen

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Is there anything more festive or flattering than candlelight? Not that we've discovered—and we've been looking (see 11 Ways to Instantly Look Younger). For full drama on special occasions, consider lining your walls castle-style with mounted candleholders. Just be sure to keep an eye on the flames.

Above: Pivot, a new design from Fort Standard of Brooklyn, has a moveable steel arm and a stone candleholder that can also be taken out and used on its own. It's available in black (shown here) with a granite holder and white with a Carrara marble holder; $350 directly from Fort Standard, available starting at the end of November.

Above: Dutch designer Frederik Roijé's Wall of Flame consists of single-arm candleholders of powder-coated metal. Made in Holland, they're available in dark gray (shown here) and white; €29 ($36) each from the Frederik Roijé Shop.

Above L and R: Another just-launched design by Fort Standard, the Stone Candle Sconce, $420, comes in white Carrara marble and black granite, and has a removable candleholder.

Above: A modular design by Danish company Menu, the POV Wall Candleholder is made of powder-coated steel and comes in eight finishes, including black (shown), white, gray, chrome, and brass. It holds tea lights and works equally well individually and clustered; $34.95 from Menu.

Above: From UK consortium Not on the High Street, the Abel Brushed Wall Sconce by Rowen & Wren is made of metal with a soft silver finish that reflects candlelight; $46.88 each.

Above: Mirrored sconces that amplify light are a tradition dating to pre-electricity days. This pleasingly simple version from Ikea, the Ryssby 2014, is prehistorically priced at $7.99.

Above: Quebec potter Renaud Sauvé of Atelier Des Cent Ans's Wall-Hung Porcelain Candleholder is $80 CAD ($70.43 USD) at Mjölk. N.B.: The piece is currently sold out; inquire about availability. Mjölk recently held a show of Sauvé's work in its Toronto gallery.

Above: The Pillar Holder, one for $24, a pair for $44, is from Pottery Barn's collection of Artisanal Candle Holders made of cast aluminum with a blackened bronze finish.

Above: Made for indoor and outdoor use, the Marstrand Candle Lantern by Danish company Skarsgaarden hangs from leather straps around a Swedish blown-glass hurricane lamp; $150 from the Dwell Store.

Above: One we'd like to replicate: Alvaline, a concept design by Gabriele Pezzini for Italian lighting company Viabizzuno, features a mounted candleholder and companion book of matches.

Ready to fill your house with candlelight? Take a look at:

• Justine's DIY Black Beeswax Tapers
• 10 Favorites: Modern Chambersticks for Making Your Way in the Dark
• Playing with Fire: Clip-On Candleholders
• 10 Easy Pieces: Hanging Votive Lanterns
• Fragrant Holiday Candles (Beyond Diptyque)

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• Required Reading: Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren

A first in a city packed with corporate chain hotels, The Dean, in Providence, Rhode Island, is an Ace-inspired gathering place with a playful vibe and a flair for applying a fresh spin to old New England design. 

The hotel was created with the hope of becoming a local point of pride: Most of the furnishings and accoutrements are the work of designers and artists in and around Providence. The fact that it was developed by New York real estate and interior design firm ASH NYC might be damning—except that ASH founder and CEO Ari Heckman is a Providence native and cheerleader.

The Dean's interiors are the perfect draw for parents of students at Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University, but the hotel is also young and ready for fun: a coffee bar and Hofbräuhaus-style restaurant are the tamer of the four in-house establishments; a karaoke bar and seductively decorated cocktail lounge are the more risqué. And waiting in the lobby for those ready to explore Providence is an army of fixed-gear bikes.

Photography via The Dean.

Above: The Dean is set in a 1912 brick building, originally an Episcopalian social services center, and later a brothel turned strip club. The lobby displays the original tiled floor, which was uncovered during the renovation.

Above: The lobby also hosts a cafe modeled on traditional Italian stand-up espresso bars. 

Above: A bench-seating table at Faust, The Dean's Bavarian restaurant.

Above: Furniture in the 52 guest rooms is a mix of custom-designed and vintage pieces. Developer Ari Heckman told Sleeper magazine, "We asked ourselves if we could use local artisans for everything, and it turns out it was actually more affordable to do so."

The light fixtures are by Will Cooper, creative director at ASH NYC. They're the first products in ASH's soon-to-launch furnishings line.

Above: The top-floor suite has four connected rooms and sleeps up to 10. 

Above: A revealing shower in a double room is described as "ideal for voyeurs and exhibitionists." 

Above: Artwork is a mix of vintage European portraits found in Paris and contemporary photography by RISD students and alums.

Above: Classic rugs—some Persian, some Turkish—add color to otherwise neutral rooms. 

Above: Instead of closets and dressers, rooms are kitted out with simple hanging hardware. (Pack lightly.)

Above: Another staple absent from guest rooms? Phones. The hotel's general manager told the Providence Journal, "We find that passé; everyone has a cell phone these days." 

Above: Bathrooms are in black and white with brass hardware. The mirrors were designed by ASH's Cooper and Heckman.

Above: Beds have linens by Matouk of nearby Fall River, Massachusetts, and custom-woven blankets by Brahms Mount of Maine, both longtime Remodelista favorites.

Above: Bunkbeds, anyone? The Dean's blackened steel bed frames and desks are by Providence artist Nate Nadeau.  

Above: A bathroom off the Magdalenae Room, "an intimate and discreet" cocktail lounge modeled after European hotel bars. 

Above: Pink walls and overtly romantic lighting nod to the building's past.

Above: Basic needs—plus karaoke. 

Above: Kite Architects of Providence restored the building's original architecture, including the facade. For more information and reservations, see The Dean.

Swear off dull hotels, once and for all. Try:

• A Midcentury Classic Is Reborn in Acapulco
• Casa Angelina in Amalfi
• The Thunderbird Hotel in Marfa
• The Original Vertical Garden: Hotel Raphael in Rome

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British ceramics are often associated with the potteries at Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, but the tiny village of Church Gresley, in Derbyshire, made a very valuable contribution by giving us Mason Cash (as well as blue-and-white striped Cornishware). Like Stoke, the area was once rich in clay and coal deposits, idyllic conditions for running a kiln. In 1901, Thomas Cash bought a century-old pottery in Church Gresley called Mason, and soon after introduced the Mason Cash mixing bowl. It's been a staple of every British kitchen great and small ever since.

Unchanged over the years, the bowl is easy to recognize: It has an exterior the color and texture of an English custard cream biscuit, and a smooth white interior akin to the biscuit's butter-cream filling. The embossed pattern is not merely decorative—it provides a good grip for mixing and beating by hand, and the wide, shallow bowl is ideal for kneading dough. Over time, other shapes have been added and subtracted to the Mason Cash repertoire, but the mixing bowl has always remained the signature piece. Here are some examples of Mason Cash staples available today.

Five to Buy

Above: The Mason Cash Mixing Bowl is offered in two sizes at Provisions: The 3.5-quart and 5.25-quart bowls are $35 and $55 respectively. Space was as much a concern in grand Victorian kitchens as it is today, so Mason Cash mixing bowls have always been stackable.

Above: The traditional pudding basin also hails from Church Gresley. This stackable bowl is for cooking a treacle, steam pudding, or traditional breadcrumb-custard concoction known as "queen of puddings." The Mason Cash Set shown here is available at Kaufmann Mercantile; the bowls are sold separately for $8.95 to $17.95 each.

Above: The Mason Cash Ceramic Baking Dish, 9.75 inches across and 2 inches deep, is ideal for gratins, cobblers, and pies; $17.95 at Kaufmann Mercantile.

Above: The Mason Cash Pestle & Mortar, a favorite of many cooks, has a bowl with an unglazed interior and the pestle has an especially wide base for greater area coverage. This example, with a 4-inch-wide, 3-inch-deep bowl and a 6-inch-long pestle, is $42 at Whisk and Bowl.

Above: The Mason Cash Counter Grip Bowl has been recently reintroduced from the archives. Its incorporated stand enables the bowl to be held steady at an angle to better reach the ingredients at the bottom. This one, 12 inches wide and 5.25 inches tall, is $49.95 at Pacific Merchants.

Object Lessons columnist Megan Wilson is the owner of Ancient Industries and the curator of the Remodelista 100, a collection of everyday essential objects featured in the Remodelista book. watch for her column every Tuesday, and have a look at her past lessons on iconic designs, including the Pastel Enamel Pot and Shaker Storage Solutions.

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As we enter the holiday push, it's time to think about that last-minute additional dining room seating. Here are 10 folding chairs that are both tasteful and versatile.

Above: London shop Folklore's Steel Chair in white-painted steel and wood is made in the Netherlands by Reinier de Jong. Priced at $286.75 each, the steel folding chairs could become a permanent fixture at the dining table.

Above: The Terje Folding Chair in beech is $17.99 at Ikea.

Above: Designed by Naoto Fukasawa, the Folding Chair is $945 CAD ($829 USD) from Mjölk.

Above: Crate & Barrel's Spare Black Folding Chair is currently on sale for $42.

Above: The Magis Aviva Folding Chair is available in natural (shown) and black; €205 ($257.36) at Connox.

Above: Made in Thailand, the solid rubberwood Spare White Folding Chair is $49 from Crate & Barrel.

Above: The classic Hercules Black Metal Chair is $11.49 at Folding Chairs 4 Less.

Above: The Piana Folding Chair, designed by David Chipperfield for Alessi, is available in six colors; $180 at Design Within Reach

Above: Fermob Bistro Chair is available in 24 colors—everything from Fjord Blue to Aubergine to black (shown here); $216 at Horne.

Above: The All-Steel Antique Linen Folding Chair comes in a set of four for $62.36 at Home Depot (N.B.: The chairs are currently sold out online but available in stores).

Above: The Tarno Folding Chair is $15 at Ikea.

Need some last-minute tableware? See 10 Easy Pieces: Entertaining Essentials. A dining table to go with your folding chairs? Browse our Dining Room and DIning Table posts

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on November 10, 2011, as part of our Well-Stocked Home issue.

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A mysterious brass censer—and incense formulated to evoke "the hours of a most inspired day." Cleopatra would be on board (and we're pretty intrigued, too). The design is the work of Gabriel Hendifar and Jeremy Anderson, the duo behind Apparatus, one of our favorite New York lighting studios, now sniffing out new territory. 

Above: The porcelain-topped Censer is made of spun, cast, and machined brass, assembled, the designers point out, "to create a form that recalls a chalice."

Above: The censer opens to reveal slots for incense in the center. Apparatus collaborated with Cinnamon Projects of NYC to offer two special scents, which, like the rest of Cinnamon's just-introduced Series 01 set, are blends designed to capture moments: 11 AM is a sprightly mix of ginger, neroli, and violet; 10 PM contains "notes of cedar, iris, patchouli, rose, and tobacco." Each stick works its magic for about 25 minutes.

Above: "We love the idea of the censer being an object with uses that aren't obvious," says Gabriel. It evolved into a surprisingly multifunctional piece: With the dome and incense tray removed, the base works well on its own as a vase or bowl for fruit or objects (such as the beads shown here). And the incense grooves unscrew "to reveal a little secret compartment that's the perfect size for a tea light or a place to store other small items." 

Above: The censer as candleholder. With the porcelain top on and a lit tea light in place, the dome glows.

Above: The Censer is available from Apparatus for $820, 120 sticks of Cinnamon Projects incense included. Go to Apparatus to see the rest of the new tabletop collection as well as the company's signature lights. And see our posts about Apparatus: Lighting Mashup and Stealth Glamor at ICFF.

Scented candles worth lighting? See 10 Easy Pieces: Holiday Candles (Beyond Diptyque) and Justine's DIY Bayberry Candles.

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It's become an annual tradition at Remodelista: For Thanksgiving tabletop inspiration every year, we see how our friends at Le Marché St. George, a cafe and market in Vancouver, celebrated (it helps that Canadians are ahead of us—their harvest holiday falls on the second Monday in October). Last year, the festivities took place outdoors in the highlands of Eastern Washington State—see Into the Wind: Canadian Thanksgiving. This year, Le Marché's three owners—sisters Janaki and Klee Larsen and Janaki's husband, Pascal Roy—gathered family and friends at Le Marché itself. With foraged branches, juice bottle vases, a painter's rag napkins, they transformed the shop into a romantic dining room. Come step inside.

Photography by Luis Valdizon via Le Marché St. George. 

Above: Friends Lance and Aimee arrive with their kids and a box full of this year's favorite dessert: spicy apple pie. Janaki and Pascal's daughter, Lola (in the yellow skirt), holds her hands over her mouth in excitement.

Above: Janaki (shown here at left with her friend Sarah Klassen) spearheaded the cooking and decorating, assisted by her young daughter: "Lola was in charge of laying silverware, prepping the juice, and decorating the table: She added one chestnut on each plate."

Above: "The table was adorned with my usual casual array: "Lots of fall flowers and branches from our garden, including quince—they're so beautiful, we simply laid them out here and there," says Janaki. "This time of year, most plants are in their seed-head stage, which is so sculptural and textural." Note the shop's fridges, visible but somehow unobtrusive in the background.

Above: The table was topped with a linen tablecloth and set with mismatched silver cutlery, knotted napkins created from muslin painter's rags, and plates handmade by Janaki, who is also ceramic artist. "We always serve plenty of wine and sparkling French apple cider for the nondrinkers," says Janaki. "The only thing I ever match is the glassware; in my mind, it makes a table of mostly mismatched elements feel intentional."

For inventive napkin ideas, including Le Marché's, see 5 Quick Fixes: Elevating the Napkin, Thanksgiving Edition.

Above: "We collected the little glass bottles throughout the week at the cafe: They're Italian juice bottles."

Above: The prep pileup on the table includes champagne grapes, roasted chestnuts, yams, fingerling potatoes, parsnips, onions, and quince.

Above: "The roasted chestnuts were brought to us by our local cheesemaker", says Janaki, who served them as an appetizer with Farmhouse Camembert and champagne grapes. The cutting board is by Tuscan artist Andrea Brugi and the knife is from Catalan company Pallares Solsona (both will be available in Le Marché St. George's soon-to-launch online store; stay tuned). 

Above: Yes, turkey is the center of Le Marché's Thanksgiving. The secret to the perfect bronze? Janaki prepped the bird with lots of butter mixed with chopped fresh herbs, and rubbed garlic on and under the skin. "I usually cook the turkey for half an hour at 450 degrees, then tent it with foil and turn the heat down to 325 degrees. I always forget that fresh organic turkeys take less time to cook, and often start too early." 

Above: "Klee is the gravy master," Janaki tells us. "We used an antique gravy boat bought at a thrift store."

Above: "We had an abundance of quince in the shop this year, so I added them along with Italian prune plums to the cranberries," says Janaki. "It was a beautiful, aromatic sauce, the perfect fall flavors."

The sauce is shown here in an enamel Dansk pot on a silver platter: "I love this big silver platter; it carries things up and down stairs all day."

Above: Aimee's spicy apple pie was served with dollops of whipped cream on mismatched silver plates.  

Above: Highlights of the evening? Along with the dancing that capped off the night, one of the biggest hits was the can of whipped cream that made it to the celebration: "What else do you do with a can of whipped cream but spray it right into the mouths of all the kids?" asks Janaki.

Last year's Le Marché Thanksgiving took place in the woods: See Into the Wild: A Canadian Thanksgiving. If you like the outdoor table setting, learn how to re-create the elements in Gardenista's Steal This Look: The Last Outdoor Dinner of the Season.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Le Marché St. George chronicles their first feast at the cafe.  

Did you know that Le Marché rents out an apartment above the shop? It's impressive—see Living Above the Shop Le Marché St. George in Vancouver. 

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