The Young Turks of London (consisting of chef Isaac McHale, along with Daniel Willis and Johnny Smith, his "front-of-house charmers," as the Sunday Times calls them) have settled down. Last March, they launched their first brick-and-mortar restaurant, The Clove Club, in the Shoreditch Town Hall. The restaurant occupies two rooms: one is a bar (food on offer), the other is where the serious culinary prix-fixe menu happens.

Above: Located in the Shoreditch Town Hall, built in 1865 as a government outpost ("one of the grandest vestry halls in the city") and now an arts center, the Clove Club occupies a suite of rooms on the premises.

Above: In the bar, drinks and small plates are on offer.

Above: Bentwood bar stools; nothing too fancy.

Above: Chefs at work against a backdrop of blue tiles.

Above: The Young Turks describe the offerings: "An ambitious, five-course menu, focused on often overlooked British ingredients and produce, is served in the dining room."

Above: The five-course set menu might include mackerel, pickled rhubarb, and Tokyo turnip.

Above: A quiet corner, floral arrangement included. Photograph via The Dining Diary.

Above: The environs are simple; the emphasis is on the cuisine.

For more, go to The Clove Club.

Searching for London hotspots? Consult our London City Guide for our favorite hotels, restaurants, and design shops. And go to Gardenista for a tour of Liberty's Floral Fabrics and a look at the Bees of Buckingham Palace.

More Stories from Remodelista

• A New Emporium Devoted to the Tried and True
• Durslade Farmhouse in Somerset: The New Bloomsbury?
• Table of Contents: London Calling

At Brighton's new general store Workshop, the focus is on tried-and-tried housewares of wood, ceramic, and linen. "Simplicity is what best defines our aesthetic," says Jayson Tane-Smiler, a veteran of the retail world, who opened the store with fellow aesthete (and former financier) Ryan Kersop. An easy day trip from London, the shop is set in the seaside town's historic Lanes district. It's worth making a pilgrimage to stock up on hard-to-find basics and take in the ocean, a two-minute stroll away.

Above: Workshop is set in an old office building that the previous occupants converted into an art gallery. The stucco facade is original; Jayson and Ryan painted it in a charcoal called Railings from Farrow & Ball. "The wire plant rack is, in fact, one of our window security grills that get removed each morning," says Jayson. "We adorn them with various potted plants; the ones shown are Alpine shrubs."

Above: "We opened Workshop to share our passion for products that have a usefulness in everyday life," says Jayson, whose creds include working as an operations manager for Diptyque Paris. The utility corner is stocked with Beech and Horsehair Dustpan Brushes, £15 ($23.78), that hang from Birch Peg Rails; £14 ($22.20) for a four-peg length.

Above: Jayson tells us: "We stripped it back the interior to its core, salvaging the concrete floor, and fitting it very simply with shelves of reclaimed timber and a butcher's zinc sink." 

Above: The vintage sink displays kitchen tools, including Wooden Lemon Reamers that are based on 19th-century designs; £3.50 ($5.55).

Above: Solid oak Wooden Soap Dishes are £5 ($7.93) and horsehair Body Brushes are £15 ($23.78).

Above: Plant-based bath products from France in displayable brown bottles.

Above: Workshop has an extensive line of dishwasher-safe white enamelware; Casserole Pots (top right shelf) come in three sizes and start at £25 ($39.64). Enamel Measuring Jugs (bottom row) are £12 ($19).

Above: Beech Chopping Boards; the smallest is £12 ($19). 

Above: Woven from a fiber called hogla, rustic Storage Baskets are offered in five sizes, starting at £18 ($28.54).

Above: White stoneware by ceramicist Charlotte Storrs is housed in a custom-made display chest.

Above: Recycled Glass tableware for serving wine and water. The Recycled Glass Bottles work equally well as vases; £13 ($20.61).

Above: Succulents in white stoneware are lined up under a copper utensil rail.

Above: The kids' section is filled with French Wood Toys made of sustainable beech. To see more, go to Workshop.

If you like Workshop's approach to housewares, take a look at these kindred UK shops:

• Labour & Wait in London
• Objects of Use in Oxford
• Hendy's Home Store in Hastings
• Present & Correct in London (for stationery)

 Below: Workshop is situated just blocks from the Brighton Pier. Brighton is an hour and a half from London via British Rail.

More Stories from Remodelista

• The Clove Club: London's Restaurant of the Moment
• Durslade Farmhouse in Somerset: The New Bloomsbury?
• Table of Contents: London Calling

Willow, rattan, and other natural fibers have been woven into wicker baskets for a very long time—they've turned up in the tombs of the pharaohs and the ashes of Pompeii. The Romans brought wicker baskets with them to England, where (unlike other Roman attempts at civilization, e.g., bathing), their popularity never faded. Certainly one can more easily imagine a wicker basket hanging from the arm of Mrs. Miniver than from Julius Caesar's. Used to import tea and export china, wicker went on to play a role in the growth of the British empire.

The willow tree, which thrives in damp, well-drained soil with some sun, is perfectly suited to the southern English climate, and is the most common material used to weave baskets in the UK. The county of Oxfordshire alone provided inspiration for Kenneth Grahame's classic children's book The Wind in the Willows and William Morris's iconic wallpaper design Willow Boughs, both as popular today as they were in the Edwardian era. Of late, handwoven wicker has been enjoying a revival—take a look at its surprisingly broad array of uses. 

Five to Buy

Above: The British are quite serious about cycling—and minding their manners when they do so. Children take the Cycling Proficiency Test at age 11, and the rules of the road are henceforth respected. A wicker basket is invariably strapped to the front of the bike, a detail which, in addition to being functional, brings a dash of country to the city. The Pashley Britannia, shown here, hasn't changed much since it was introduced in 1926; it's available for £675, basket included, from Pashley. The company's bikes are distributed in the US by Belmont; the list of retailers includes Adeline Adeline in NYC, which offers the Britannia for $1,495.

Above: The Somerset Willow Company has been making picnic hampers, log baskets, and willow furniture since 1959; the Round Log Basket with Rope Handles is £125 ($198.32) for the large size.

Above: The concept of takeaway food originated at Fortnum & Mason in 1738, when it introduced the bread-crumb-and-sausage-wrapped Scotch egg for coach travelers. Since then, wicker picnic baskets and hampers have been synonymous with the store. Fortnum's food- and drink-stocked hampers begin at £45 ($71.44) and are delivered worldwide. Photograph of vintage F&M hampers via Batemans (similar Vintage F&M Hampers can be found on eBay).

Above: The Norfolk Basket Company weaves English and French willow into a wide range of traditional containers. Included above are the Wet Linen Basket, bottom row center, sized for laundry, £40 ($63.50), and the Cran Style Basket, bottom right, which is modeled on the old Norfolk herring cran (originally a fisherman's measuring unit), £68 ($107.96). The David Mellor shop on Sloane Square stocks a small selection of Norfolk Basket Company wares.

Above: The willow coffin, so redolent of Thomas Hardy, is having a huge comeback. Seen recently at the funerals of Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire (the youngest of the six Mitford sisters), and Jack Bruce of the very British rock group Cream, the woven coffin telegraphs "There Will Always Be an England" (and also has obvious ecological advantages). A wide selection is available at The Somerset Willow Company in the UK, and from The Natural Burial Company and Passages in the US and UK; inquire about pricing.

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 Autumnal Broom and The Great British Range Cooker.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Remodelista London Market Spotlight: Mourne Textiles
• Steal This Look: A Classic English Kitchen for an Oscar-Winning Set Designer
• Art and Industry: Responsible Plastic Made from Wool

Six months ago, when I moved from San Francisco to New York City, I sold my KitchenAid stand mixer at a sidewalk sale for $50—and then lived to regret it. The mixer, in bright cobalt blue, was handed down to me by my mother, who'd received it as a wedding gift but already had a mixer. I did everything with that machine: rolled pasta, kneaded bread dough, and made what felt like unlimited batches of kalamata olive shortbread one winter. The mixer now has a good home. I sold to my neighbor, an intimidating Irish-American chef who spent 20 years making pastry in Hell's Kitchen during the 1980s. I realize now that I could have easily shipped it for the same $50.

I'm settled in a new kitchen and with holiday baking season rapidly approaching—and a revived interest in olive shortbread cookies—I'm looking for a new one. KitchenAid is a brand I can stand behind, but there are others to consider; here are 12 notable options (copious attachments sold separately).

Above: The KitchenAid Metallic Series Five-Quart Stand Mixer, shown here in the Food 52 kitchen, comes clad in tarnish-proof metal—brushed nickel (shown), chrome, and copper—over die-cast zinc and aluminum housing. The KitchenAid mixer has 10 speeds and is made in Greenville, Ohio, where it's been manufactured since 1919; $599.95 at Williams-Sonoma. It comes with a beater, dough hook, and whisk; additional attachments can be found at KitchenAid. Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Remodelista.

Above: The Breville Scraper Mixer Pro Stand Mixer has a five-quart bowl and includes a scraper beater along with a standard wire whisk and dough hook. It has 12 speeds and a 10-minute timer for auto-mixing according to recipe instructions; $299.95 at Amazon.

Above: The Aga kMix Stand Mixer has a 500-watt motor and is fully constructed from aluminum; £349.99 ($555) at the Aga Shop, in Northern Ireland. The kMix is also branded under Kenwood, currently available in the US for $473 on Amazon.

Above: The Bosch Styline Stand Mixer with Continuous Shredder has a 450-watt motor, two whisk attachments, a dough hook, and a continuous shredder (food processing) attachment; $349.99 at Amazon.

Above: For those married to the hand blender, the Breville Handy Stand Mixer can be detached from its base and used separately. It has 12 speeds, an optional timer, and twin motor system (one motor rotates the bowl, the other rotates the beaters/dough hooks/spatula); $119 at Amazon.

Above: The Cuisinart SM-70 Seven-Quart Stand Mixer has a 1,000-watt motor, 12 speeds, and an optional timer; $449 at Zappos, additional attachments available separately.

Above: KitchenAid's Artisan Series Stand Mixer comes in a large array of colors (shown here in espresso). The model has a five-quart stainless steel mixing bowl and its housing is made of die-cast zinc and aluminum; $349 at Williams-Sonoma.

Above: The Smeg Stand Mixer comes in cream (shown), red, black, and chrome. It has a 600-watt motor, 10 speeds, and a retro appeal; $449.95 at West Elm.

Above: Manufactured in the UK, the heavy-duty Viking Professional Stainless Steel Five-Quart Stand Mixer has an 800-watt motor and weighs in at 35 pounds; $444.95 at the Country Gourmet and via sellers on Amazon.

Above: Bodum's Bistro Electric Stand Mixer has seven speeds and a stainless steel bowl. It comes in four colors: off-white (shown), black, red, and lime green; $286 from Bodum.

Above: The Swedish Ankarsrum Kitchen Assistant features a 600-watt motor and is available in 10 colors. Its electric motor and aluminum components are cast and assembled at the Electrolux factory, in Ankarsrum, Sweden; $799.95 from Metro Kitchen. Read more about the mixer in The Ankarsrum: Sweden's Iconic Kitchen Mixer.

Above: The Westinghouse Stand Mixer has a 450-watt motor and four speeds; $156.99 at Overstock.com

N.B.: A variety of affordable vintage stand mixers can also be sourced through Etsy.

For other essential kitchen appliances, see:

• 10 Easy Pieces: Juicers
• 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding 36-Inch Kitchen Ranges
• 10 Easy Pieces: Coffee Grinders
• 10 Easy Pieces: Compact Refrigerators

More Stories from Remodelista

• French Bohemian via Brooklyn: Table Linens by Amelie Mancini
• Editors' Picks: 13 Essential Kitchen Gadgets, Holiday Edition
• A Hamptons Kitchen with a Custom Island—Sourced on Etsy

Somerset House, the grand arts center (and host to London Fashion Week), recently got that much more interesting with the opening of Spring, the first solo venture of Aussie chef Skye Gyngell. 

The author of three cookbooks and a former Vogue food editor, Gyngell is best known for her post as chef at Petersham Nurseries Cafe, set in a garden center where her seasonal, produce-centric menu earned the restaurant a Michelin star. To Gyngell the star became something of a curse, because it invited finicky criticism of the locale's charms (think dirt floors and wild greenery). Upon leaving Petersham, Gyngell declared: "If I ever have another restaurant, I pray we don't get a star."

Her new 120-seat restaurant is in Somerset House's "new wing," built in 1856 and in use as tax offices ever since. Gyngell and interior designer Briony Fitzgerald had only to peel back the trappings of bureaucracy to use the dramatic 19th-century cornices, pillars, and soaring ceilings to their advantage. In a recent restaurant review, Tracey Macleod of The Independent said, "The result is one of the swankiest dining rooms in London; far grander and more elegant than most of the famous hotels." By the looks of it, Gyngell might be setting the scene for her next star. 

Photography via Spring, except where noted. 

Above: The restaurant's fresh feel benefits from full-height, round-top window and clustered pendant lights that hang like clouds. The service counter's white bookmatched marble is balanced by a pair of Atollo brass table lamps by the Italian designer Vico Magistretti. The floor of the main dining room is Dinesen oak.

Above: Pink is the dominant accent color in a palette of white and light neutrals. The space is further enlivened by fresh and dried flowers and artwork by Emma Peascod and Valeria Nascimento.

Above: An enclosed atrium by landscape designer Jinny Blom sits at the center of the restaurant, with black olive trees among the plantings.

Above: Server uniforms were custom designed by Trager Delaney and Egg, and are individually tailored. Photograph via Gumtree. 

Above: Spring also offers an all-day casual Salon, serving sandwiches, espresso, and desserts—like the toasted almond, fig, and marsala ice cream trio shown here. 

Above: An ingredient still life. Gyngell is known for taking great pains to retain the character of individual ingredients in her dishes; at Spring, she decorates finished plates with seasonal flowers and herbs.

Above: A hand-drawn map details pedestrian access to the restaurant from Waterloo Bridge or The Strand. Visit Spring for reservations—and for more charming Maps, showing access by car, tube, and train. 

Where else to eat in London? Here are some of our other favorite spots (including another at Somerset House): 

• Restaurant Visit: Fernandez & Wells at Somerset House
• Restaurant Visit: The River Cafe, London
• LA-Style Dining in London, Sunshine Included
• A Charles Dickens–Worthy Restaurant in London

More Stories from Remodelista

• Remodelista London Market Spotlight: The Native & Co. Collection
• A New Emporium Devoted to the Tried and True
• The Clove Club: London's Restaurant of the Moment

Nina Campbell, the grande dame of English decorating, has an equally accomplished tribe: Her daughter, Rita Konig, a former Domino editor, is now a contributor to T Magazine (oh, she also wrote a nice blurb for our Remodelista book). Another daughter, Alice Deen, works at Nina Campbell in PR, and her son, Max Konig, runs the business end. Now, Nina's niece, Vanessa Galloway (she runs the design firm Konig Interiors with her husband, Jasper), has launched a line of eco-friendly paints.

"We founded Konig Colours after we found ourselves frustrated at the range and depth of paint colors available in the UK," the couple says. Working with Paintplus, they've devised a range of "brilliant, diverse, and beautiful paint colors that's not just available to decorators and private clients, but to the decorating-mad British public as well." The line is sold at Nina Campbell's London shop and online at Konig Colours. Tres jolie.

Above: A pastiche of colors. Konig paints are all water-based and are described as "very low in VOCs and heavy-metal free." (Puzzling over the meaning of this? Read Meredith's Remodeling 101 report: All You Need to Know About VOCs in Paint.)

Above: A color chart on display at London design show Decorex.

Above: The paint card.

Above: A sample pot. See more at Konig Colours.

For other small paint lines, take a look at:

• 5 British Boutique Paint Companies
• 5 Boutique Paint Lines from Down Under 
• The Unbuttoned Palette: Sexy Paint Colors from Paris
• 10 Eco-Friendly Paints

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: The Almighty Wicker Basket
• Remodelista London Market Spotlight: Mourne Textiles
• Steal This Look: A Classic English Kitchen for an Oscar-Winning Set Designer

Who: London product designers Sharon Jo-Yun Hung and Chris Yoshiro Green, both graduates of Central Saint Martin's College of Art, have collaborated on a standout online design shop that's about to go brick-and-mortar.

What: A carefully-edited collection of goods for the home from small-time makers, with a heavy emphasis on goods from Japan and Taiwan.

Insider Scoop: Native & Co. will be shortly opening up a storefront in Notting Hill. Shop the line first at our Remodelista London Market this Saturday.

Above: A Cast-Iron Tea Pot; £250 ($396). (Read about Japanese Cast-Iron Kettles in our recent Object Lesson.)

Above: From Dutch workshop Mölle, a two-toned Chunky Denim Cushion knit from recycled jeans; £65 ($103).

Above: Bamboo Storage Jar with Lid; £18 ($28.50).

For more Japanese goods for the home, see:

• Designer Visit: Oji Masanori
• Japan Week: Fog Linen
• Shopper's Diary: Cho Lon in Tokyo
• No-Fuss Bonsai for Beginners
• The Outsider's Guide to Tokyo

More Stories from Remodelista

• Pretty in Pink: Spring at Somerset House
• A New Emporium Devoted to the Tried and True
• The Clove Club: London's Restaurant of the Moment

What happens when a new homeowner with an aversion to window coverings moves into a period flat in London adorned with shutters? She falls in love. I speak from firsthand experience. Until then, shutters had conjured up images of Southern plantations and retirement community homes; in other words, I didn't think they were for me. But my time in London set me straight. More versatile than shades and curtains, shutters allow you to filter light at exactly the level you want while offering privacy, insulation, and air circulation. Can this time-honored, low-tech window treatment do it all? 

Above: Shutters designer Caline Williams-Wynn's bathroom in Cape Town. Photograph by Warren Heath via House and Leisure. 

How did shutters come to be?

Shutters were originally used on the inside of windows before glass was affordable to keep out light, noise, pests, and the elements. After plate glass was developed, shutters continued to be used to provide privacy and protect the glass (it was expensive). Early shutters were typically flat wood or board-and-batten panels. Louvered shutters, which provide both ventilation and privacy, arrived in the mid-18th century and adjustable louvers were developed in the mid-19th century.

Interior shutters, common in houses in Europe and in early America, lost favor in the Victorian era, when heavy interior drapes became de rigueur. Shutters made a comeback with the revival of classical architecture, but the development of new building technologies (storm windows, screens, and HVAC systems) and the popularity of postwar building materials, such as aluminum and plastics, relegated them to a mostly decorative role in the 20th century. Of late, as green building efforts gain momentum, these old-style architectural features are again on the rise.

Above: A Georgian flat in London's Marylebone neighborhood renovated by McLaren Excell. The original wood shutters throughout were freed of many layers of paint. For a full tour, see A London Georgian, Artfully Restored and Updated. 

What are the benefits of interior shutters?

• Offer flexible light and privacy control that you can't get with curtains, shades, or blinds.
• Allow ventilation in warm months—unlike drapery, they let in breezes while providing privacy.
• Act as a sunshade and light reflector, keeping interiors cool.
• Provide a layer of insulation in cold months.
• Protect interior furnishings and floors from sun damage.
• Can be custom designed to fit virtually any window.
• Take up very little space, both physically and visually, making them a good solution for windows with little adjacent wall real estate for curtains.
• Available in different styles and configurations.
• Fit a range of architectural styles, from classic to minimalist.

Above: Shutters are an effective window treatment when wall space is tight. This London living room has solid-panel cafe shutters that fold up to let light in during the day, and close to offer privacy at night. Photograph via Light Locations.

What are the different types of shutters?

Shutters differ in how they're mounted and how they're made.

Solid Panel

The ultimate privacy screen, solid-panel shutters are also good insulators against cold and are effective at dampening noise from outdoors. 

Above: Like drapes, solid-panel shutters are best in rooms where you want either full daylight or darkness, and are not worried about the in-between. Photograph via House to Home. 

Louvered

Adaptable to different light, privacy, and air-circulation needs, louvered shutters are the most flexible option. They can be adjusted for maximum privacy while allowing light and circulation. Louvered shutters are generally classified as traditional or plantation. What's the difference? Plantation shutters have wider blades, allowing for more flow of light and air. 

Above: The brightness of your room when the louvers are fully open depends on the slat width, so consider the size that will be right for you. Photograph via Jasno Shutters.

Tier on Tier

Tier-on-tier shutters have stacked upper and lower panels that function separately. They offer the most flexibility in light and privacy control. You can open the top level to let in light while keeping the bottom panels closed for privacy. 

Above: London stylist Sara Emslie fitted all of the windows in her tiny Victorian in Richmond outside London with wooden shutters in "a classic, understated Shaker style that marries form and function." Tier-on-tier shutters were the choice for the bedroon. See more of Emslie's house and work in her book, Beautifully Small. Photograph by Rachel Whiting. 

Cafe

Cafe shutters cover only the lower portion of the window, providing privacy as well as loads of light. 

Above: Cafe shutters are a good solution for rooms that don't require full darkness and for street-level windows. I can attest to their effectiveness; they cover the lower half of my street-facing living room windows in San Francisco. Photograph via the New England Shutter Company. 

Full Height

Above: Full-height, solid-panel shutters in a Ladbroke Grove, London, house. See more in House Call. Photograph via Light Locations. 

Where can shutters be used? 

They work anywhere that there's a window, whether living room, kitchen, bedroom, or bath. When selecting shutters consider the architecture of the window itself. For example, if your window has two panes, it will look more balanced with a two-paneled shutter.

Above: Shutters offer a great alternative to shades (especially in markedly damp settings) and frosted glass. Having a center hinge connecting two shutters enables them to fold open to allow in light while providing privacy, as shown here in a bathroom at the White House Hotel in Daylesford, Australia. 

Above: Shutters can also be used in window-size openings between rooms, as seen in this Seattle remodel by Renzo J Nakata Architects. The shutters open the bedroom space to the atrium, drawing light and ventilation into the interior. 

How are interior shutters mounted?

As far as we're concerned, the only shutters worth considering are the ones that are operable—forget about the faux variety—and installation is easy. In historic construction, shutters typically were attached to the window casing and given their own specially constructed pockets next to windows to tuck into when open. Most windows don't have such deep-set surrounds anymore. Instead shutters are generally attached to the outside of the window casing, so they can swing a full 180 degrees when open (the hinge fold needs to sit just outside the casing for full range of motion). Sometimes this requires an additional frame set into the window opening. Panels can also be hinged together, creating a space-efficient folding shutter mounted to only one side of the window. This Old House offers a thorough tutorial on Hanging Interior Shutters. 

Above: So-called pocket shutters disappear when open. The pocket shutters in a London Georgian renovated by McLaren Excell were an original feature of the 1820s house.

Above: High-quality shutter hinges are a must to prevent shutter sag and the resulting poor window fit. Photograph via Back Bay Shutter Co.

How much do shutters cost and where can I get them? 

Shutters come in a wide range of sizes and prices, from ready-made versions you install yourself to custom designs. Average prices for shutters run between $20 and $35 per square foot, depending on the wood selection, whether they're stock sizes or made to measure, and painted or unfinished. Carpenters will be able to fashion solid or plantation shutters for you, but it can be cheaper to instead use a specialist company. There are a lot of shutter businesses out there, ranging from large national chains, such as The Shutter Store, that offer a variety of stock sizing and materials options, to Colonial Shutterworks, which handcrafts all orders. Many companies have easy-to-use pricing calculators on their sites. 

Above: Simple shutters in a bedroom at the White House Hotel in Daylesford, Australia.

Interior Shutters Recap

Pros

• Flexible control of light and privacy
• Insulation against winter cold and summer heat
• Take up little space
• Provide an affordable alternative to drapery
• Easy to clean and maintain 

Cons

• Don't offer the soft look of curtains
• Solid-panel varieties lack flexibility for light and circulation control

Above: Architects Liddicoat & Goldhill remodeled a 19th-century terraced house in London for a collector. The designers created a palette based on the client's antiques and the house's wood-paneled shutters and other woodwork. Photograph by Tom Gildon. 

For more window treatment ideas, see:

• Five Ways to Cover 50 Windows on a Budget
• Remodeling 101: Roller Blinds
• 5 Favorites: Textural Window Coverings, Winter Edition
• Curtain Call: World's Most Beautiful Drapery Hardware
• Hardscaping 101: Exterior Window Shutters

More Stories from Remodelista

• DIY: A Holiday Tablecloth Dyed with Red Cabbage
• Remodeling 101: Paper Composite Countertops for the Kitchen
• DIY Project: Black Beeswax Tapers for the Holiday Table

Whether you fancy living in grandeur, crystal-stemware-style, or in cozy quarters evocative of a scullery, photographic wallpaper master Deborah Bowness has you covered. The prolific London designer, best known for her trompe-l'oeil architectural details and bookcase wallpapers, recently broadened her repertoire to include the key trappings of the upstairs-downstairs life. And the good news: All you need is a wall to achieve it. 

Photography via Deborah Bowness.

Above: From Bowness's new Bric-a-Brac line, a pantry-inspired pattern called Bric-a-Brac Shelf Wallpaper. Rolls are 20.5 inches wide and 11 inches long; $200 each. All of Bowness's designs are machine-printed and hand silk-screen color printed in England. 

Above: The Bric-a-Brac Shelf Wallpaper Border comes in rolls that are 18 inches wide and 5.5 yards long; $90 each.

Above: Bric-a-Brac Shelf Wallpaper is available with a white or gray background. The rolls can be aligned, as shown, or staggered; they also can be hung as single strips.

Above: The Coffee Pot Border is offered with a background in pale yellow (shown) or white. Rolls are 10 inches wide and 5.5 yards long: $75 each

Above: Summon a footman. The Suitcase Border rolls are 20.5 inches wide and 5.5 yards long; $105 each. 

Above: The Suitcase Border adds interest overhead.

Above: From Bowness's new Collections collection, the Glass Tableware presents grandmotherly crystal in a new guise. Rolls are 22 inches wide and 11 yards long: $200 each.

Above: Ceiling Swag wallpaper is both glamorous and cheeky. Rolls are 20.5 inches wide and 11 yards long; $150 each.

Above: The pattern comes in pale pink (shown), gray, and white.

Above: For the full effect: The overall Wall Swag is $150 per roll.

See more of Bowness's designs in our posts:

• Instant Heritage, Subway-Tile Wallpaper by Deborah Bowness
• Book and Filing Cabinet Wallpaper by Deborah Bowness

More Stories from Remodelista

• London Market Spotlight: Tilly Blue's Travel Furniture and More
• A New Line of Eco Paints from England's First Family of Design
• Object Lessons: The Almighty Wicker Basket

Scenario: Beth Dadswell and Andrew Wilbourne, a creative couple with a young son, become their own clients when they take on the renovation of a 1,750-square-foot, semi-detached Victorian in Dulwich, South London. They come with experience: She's a fashion editor turned interior designer and the founder of Imperfect Interiors (motto: "Because who wants to live in a soulless showroom?"); he's a graphic designer.

The Challenge: How to reinstate the original Victorian grandeur of the house while also telegraphing a comfortable and casual vibe?

The Solution: They introduce light into the tall, dark public spaces by knocking through two strategic walls and installing new glass doors that open to the garden.

Dadswell's Top Tip: Spend time thinking about the space before you pick up a hammer: "The work you devote at the front end of a project, researching and putting together mood boards, makes for much easier and less stressful decisions later."

Photography by Leanne Dixon.

Above: The first wall that Dadswell removed was the one dividing the dining room and kitchen, where she also opened the space to the garden with a large, bifold, glazed door. "This part of the house gets the most use and is where I think the biggest transformation occurred," she says. By building the banquette seating right up to the kitchen counters, the dining room intentionally feels like it's part of the kitchen and garden. Adds Dadswell: "Having built-in seating means that you can fit more people around the table and hide ugly stuff in the storage underneath." She sourced the enamel pendants, cloth cord, and fittings on eBay, and made the seating pads from her mother's old curtains. 

Above: Dadswell also removed the wall that separated the house's two old-fashioned parlor rooms and introduced large French doors that lead to the garden and flood the room with light. The couple's son, Louis, watches a television hidden in a custom cabinet. The black-and-white graphic carpet is from Ikea.

Above: In the living room, the alcoves flanking the restored fireplace were put to use as shelving. The curtains are Ikea's Aina design in linen, and the the graphic woven carpet is from the Designer's Guild.

Above: The mantel still life includes dried hydrangea in a vase by glass artist Michael Ruh (who is selling his wares at this Saturday's Remodelista Market in London) and a bark owl from Petersham Nurseries. "Rooms should be a mix of inherited pieces, things picked up along the way, and items chosen for specific purposes," says Dadswell. "The key is to get them all to work cohesively through color and style."

Above: In the stairwell, Dadswell painted the wall Lamp Room Gray by Farrow & Ball and the railing Farrow & Ball's Down Pipe. She introduced a bright carpet and displays massed artwork to provide interest and contrast to the three-story-high wall.

Above: The gallery-style bathroom has tongue-and-groove paneling capped by a Carrara marble shelf. Two rows of subway tiles (Retro Metro by Fired Earth) provide a minimal backsplash. The vintage claw-foot tub was sourced on eBay.

Above: Beth Dadswell in her kitchen. "We sanded and painted wood-fronted Ikea cabinets and then added vintage handles," she says. "Nobody believes that the cabinets are from Ikea—it all comes down to the details."

Before

Above: The avocado kitchen was dated and gloomy.

Above: Dadswell replaced the existing single kitchen door with double French doors that bring in more light.

Above: "These are the dining room cabinets in their original state before I sanded them and attached vintage handles," says Dadswell. (You can get a tiny glimpse of the After in the first photo.) "There's a lot of wood in the house, and it had all been stained in a heavy Victorian shade of brown that made everything feel quite oppressive."

Above: The house's existing floor plan before the renovation. The major work was done on the ground floor; the red dotted lines indicate where walls were removed, and the blue dotted lines show where old openings were replaced with larger ones.

Have a look at other inspiring house transformations:

• Rehab Diary: A Small-Kitchen Makeover with Maximum Storage
• Rehab Diary: An Artist's NYC Kitchen
• Before and After: The Two-Week Bath Remodel for Less than $5,000
• Before and After: A Charred-Wood Cottage on a $45K Budget

More Stories from Remodelista

• The Architect Is In: A Passive Solar House for a Family of Stargazers
• Lofty Aspirations in a Small House
• Before and After: A Charred Wood Cottage, on a $45K Budget

Dog lovers, take note: London- and Wales-based start-up The Magnificent Hound is set on raising the sartorial stakes for pampered canines.

Above: Magnificent Hound products are produced by craftsmen primarily in the UK. Dog Leashes and Collars made from webbing with color-coordinated stitching and English bridle leather are available in red and pink (shown), as well as navy, burgundy, and orange; £60 ($95) for the leash and £40 ($64) for the collar.

Above: A stylish leash display, from L to R: Burgundy and Pale Blue Rope Leash, £20 ($31), Leather Leash in Teal Stitching, £60 ($95), and Orange Leather and Webbing Leash, £60 ($95).

Above: Handmade dip-dyed bowls come in Pink and Blue; £40 ($64) for small and £45 ($72) for large.

Above: Hound Wash, made of tea tree oil, peppermint, and lemon peel; £10.99 ($17.49).

Above: For the glamorous pooch, a Gray Glitter Dog Bed; £125 ($199) for medium and £150 ($238) for large.

Above: Keep your canine on trend with a Vintage Camo Dog Bed made from Swiss army camping sheets; £265 ($421). The dog shown here is wearing an Electric Blue and Yellow Beaded Collar handmade by the Masai in Kenya. The design comes in five sizes, including a wide one for lurchers, from £45 ($72) to £60 ($95).

Above: Whippet, a limited-edition print by the British sculptor Tanya Brett; £150 ($238.67).

Learn about stylish dog-proofing from An Architect-Designed House that Doubles as a Dog Salon. Have you ever thought about How Dog-Friendly Your House Is—or, for that matter, How Dog-Friendly Your Garden Is? 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Remodelista London Market Spotlight: The Native & Co. Collection
• Pretty in Pink: Spring at Somerset House
• A New Emporium Devoted to the Tried and True

Who: One to watch, Tilly Blue Davies is a young British designer and recent graduate of the University of Falmouth with a degree in contemporary crafts.

What: Her Tilly Blue Travel Collection is a stylish take on functional furniture for the young, modern nomad. Each item folds into a portable piece—a chair, for instance, that becomes a backpack.

Insider Scoop: Tilly will be at our London Market selling pieces and taking commissions. If we're lucky, she'll also be showcasing some of her clothing line. 

Above: The Travel Collection features a chair, table, and bed, all of which offer space-saving design by folding up into totable packages.

Above: The Travel Collection, ready to go: the seat folds into a backpack, the table becomes a suitcase, and the bed fits into a duffel. 

Above: Like the rest of her work, Tilly Blue's jewelry line is simple and restrained. Keep up with her designs at Tilly Blue.

Discover more of our favorite London designers in these posts:

• Another Country in Marylebone (they'll be joining us on Saturday, too)
• Manor-Worthy Furniture from Christopher Howe
• Shopper's Diary: Case Furniture in London
• And go to the Remodelista Markets to see our other London vendor spotlights.

More Stories from Remodelista

• The Instant Great House, Wallpaper Edition
• A New Line of Eco Paints from England's First Family of Design
• Object Lessons: The Almighty Wicker Basket

An 18th-century house near Spitalfields or a bedsit in Camberwell Green? The Landmark Trust, One Fine Stay, or Airbnb?  Everyone wants to see inside other people's houses; now you can not only look but take up residency, too—and usually for far better rates than you'd find at a hotel. We scoured vacation rental sites for the most stylish short-term stays in London. Here are our 15 favorites at a range of rates. (Note that the pricier options often have room for a group, so the per person cost can be quite reasonable.)

Above: This 300-year-old house in Spitalfields/Shoreditch is owned by an artist and a musician. It features original detailing, such as French Huguenot paneling; a large, well-appointed modern kitchen; and three double bedrooms, each with its own bath; $1,471 per night (minimum of two nights) on Airbnb. 

Above: A 650-square-foot apartment for two near Battersea Park has a Scandi-inspired kitchen with a glazed wall that opens onto a private patio; £140 (about $220) per night (minimum of five nights) via Ivy Lettings.

Above: An open kitchen in a two-story, light-filled flat in Notting Hill with two double bedrooms, two marble baths, and a wood-burning stove; $308 per night (minimum of four nights) on Flipkey.

Above: If you're traveling in a large group with kids in tow, this is the London house for you: Over three floors, the Highgate rental offers beds for at least seven people, plus a large garden, a piano, and plenty of toys; £400 (about $630) per night via Kid & Coe. 

Above: Rent the top floor of a house in Wimbledon with a double bed and private bath. Shown here, the large shared downstairs dining room; $102 per night on Airbnb.

Above: Located just off Battersea Park, this under-the-eaves rental for four is filled with artwork by the host's mother and grandmother; $440 per night (minimum of four nights) via One Fine Stay. 

Above: Another great choice for families with kids: a three-bedroom terrace house in Finchley with room for two adults, two children, and an infant. The house is fully babyproofed and even furnished with Eames rockers; £150 (about $235) per night via Kid & Coe.

Above: A room for two in an apartment in the Haggerston section of East London comes complete with your host's guide to the area; $74 per night on Airbnb. 

Above: This 2,900-square-foot townhouse sleeps 12; for a big group, the math comes out to around $50 per person per night. Located in the vicinity of Waterloo and Lambeth, the house comes with a large garden and gas grill; £400 (about $630) per night (minimum of two nights) via Home Away. 

Above: In London's East End, a former carpenter's workshop was converted into a house by Remodelista favorite Studiomama. It has room for five, is full of custom furniture, and even has a mini house-inside-the-house. Rates start at £700 (about $1,100) per week via The Modern House. 

Above: A room for the solo traveler: a twin bed in a private room in a Camberwell Green apartment is $45 per night on Airbnb. 

Above: Located on a quiet street on the South Bank, this double room has built-in wardrobes and access to the host's shared garden; $131 per night on Airbnb. 

Above: A three-story cottage for six in Westminster offers original fireplaces and appealing updates, including Hypnos beds, Smeg appliances, and a Gaggia espresso machine; $286 per night on Airbnb.

Above: This four-story Vauxhall townhouse sleeps eight people and "can be dog friendly." Shown here, the light-filled dining room has two fully glazed walls looking onto the large garden. There's also parking for two cars; $646 per night (minimum of seven nights) on Airbnb. 

Above: Built as part of the city's restructuring following the Great Fire of London, this Spitalfields abode housed Huguenot silk weavers in the 18th century. It has four floors and sleep six; £177 ($278) per night (minimum of four nights) via The Landmark Trust.

Traveling beyond London? See our Rental House posts, including:

• Editors' Picks: 15 Favorite Vacation Rental Resources
• Greatest Hits: 33 Top Rental Houses Featured on Remodelista
• Hotel Visit: Rent a Wing of Wiveton Hall in Norfolk
• Germany's Rent-A-Gardens

More Stories from Remodelista

• Going to the Dogs: The Magnificent Hound in London
• Remodelista London Market Spotlight: The Native & Co. Collection
• Pretty in Pink: Spring at Somerset House

This week, the Gardenista crew crossed the pond with us—and then peeled off to explore the garden-obsessed side of the city. Here are five posts not to miss. 

Above: "Move over, Brooklyn florists," says Cheryl. "London is home to the new 'it' girls." She leads the way to That Flower Shop in Shoreditch, shown here, and six other Must-Shop Florists in London. 

Above: The ultimate in Curb Appeal? A black-and-white tiled path to your front door. In Mosaic Tile From London with Love, Michelle supplies the inspiration and the sources.

Above: And to go with that geometric walkway, perhaps a winter window box of tiny trees? And a pot of hardy Helleborus too? Learn how to create both in Erin's DIY Project.

Above: Finding attractive yet unobtrusive umbrella stands can take up more than a rainy day. Naturally, the Brits supplied this rattan answer—see 10 Easy Pieces for Michelle's best finds. Go to this week's Object Lesson for more Wicker Baskets from England, Caskets Included.

Above: Wishing your rooms felt like summer year-round? Take a look at British Invasion: 6 Black-and-White Botanical Wallpapers. Conveniently they're all available from San Francisco's Wallpaper Collective. 

Now that winter is closing in, catch up on your Gardenista reading: Browse all the back issues here.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trending on Gardenista: Garden Secrets from Japan
• Trending on Gardenista: It's Alive
• Trending on Gardenista: Orange Is the New Black

"Making definitive decisions and being consistent about the follow-through is how to best avoid a mishmash of styles and colors,” says UK color specialist Annie Sloan. Creator of Chalk Paint, her own line of historically-inspired decorative paint colors, she also oversees workshops and writes books that serve as instruction manuals.

In her latest, Annie Sloan's Room Recipes for Style and Color, she translates her expertise into practical tips for the amateur decorator. The volume presents and dissects nine design styles, each approached with the color clarity and consistency that Sloan espouses. Here's a look at one of our favorites, designer Virginia Armstrong’s house, which Sloan classifies as London Retro.

Photography by Christopher Drake.

Above: White walls throughout the house are "counterpointed by a very limited palette, mainly yellowed-green with a blued-gray and pine-colored wood," Sloan says. In the kitchen the gray wall behind the open shelving provides a contrast to the whites and wood tones on display. While staying consistent color-wise, the house also has an appealing lived-in look.

Above: A large floor-to-ceiling window floods the room with natural light. The dining area is furnished with a classic, midcentury ensemble inspired by Eero Saarinen's molded-plastic Tulip chair from 1956.

Above: An Ercol daybed designed by Lucian Ercolani hosts a selection of cushions with classic patterns by British designer Lucienne Day that share the same gray-and-ochre color palette as the contemporary designs from Roddy & Ginger, Virginia Armstrong's own midcentury-inspired housewares line.

Above: In the living room, midcentury objects such as an Atomic Age mirror, wooden school chair, and a chrysanthemum print by Vladimir Tretchikoff maintain the color scheme.

Above: A midcentury G-Plan sideboard and wall-mounted 1960s Ladderax shelving unit present a blue and white theme in this corner of the room.

Above: Displayed as art, vintage books are an effective and authentic way to introduce midcentury colors and graphics to a room.

Above: Another way to add midcentury flavor: a world map laminated on the seat and support of a 1950s school chair.

Above: Annie Sloan’s Room Recipes for Style and Color is written by Annie Sloan and her son Felix Sloan with photography by Christopher Drake. It's just out from CICO Books for £25, and is available in the US through CICO Books for $35.

Choosing paint colors can be daunting; browse the designer-vetted colors in our Palette & Paints series, which includes:
     • Happiness-Inducing Colors
     • Moody Paint Picks
     • Metallic Wall Paints
     • 10 Best Pink Paints
     • Celadon Greens

And on Gardenista, we have expert advice on Exterior Paints.

More Stories from Remodelista

• London Market Spotlight: Tilly Blue's Travel Furniture and More
• The Instant Great House, Wallpaper Edition
• A New Line of Eco Paints from England's First Family of Design

Who: The New Craftsmen, a company founded by a talented trio whose mission is to represent the finest British craft makers (they have over 75 in total). They're hosting our first Remodelista London Market this Saturday at their exhibition space in Mayfair.

What: The group has rounded up standouts from their own collection and will be selling a mix of ceramics, lighting, fabrics, and more on Saturday.

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

When: Saturday, November 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Inside Scoop: Several of the New Craftsmen artisans will be at the Remodelista Market in person, including Michael Ruh, whose work is featured below.

N.B. There's still time to RSVP. It's not obligatory, but you'll have the opportunity to be entered into a drawing to win a signed copy of the Remodelista book or a set of two Billy Bowls with five illustrated recipes from The New Craftsmen.

Above: Harbour Lights, a collaboration between glass blower Michael Ruh and textile artist Aimee Betts, £1,150 ($1,807).

Above: Wood-fired Chicken Brick, a two-part clay oven by Dorset potter Tim Hurn; £150 ($235.70).

Above: Handwoven Throws by Catarina Riccabona, from £480 ($754.24).

Go to the Remodelista London Market for full details, including a list of vendors. And see our other London Market Spotlights here.

We're also holding markets in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 6, and in San Francisco on Saturday, December 13; for details, visit Remodelista Markets. We hope to see you!

More Stories from Remodelista

• 5 Favorites: Wheeled Canvas Laundry Hampers
• Small Space, High Style: A Napa Valley Laundry Room
• 10 Easy Pieces: Modular Closet Systems, High to Low

Take a look at a few things we've been loving lately. And if you're in London, head over today (Saturday) to the Remodelista Market at The New Craftsmen in Mayfair! 

• Above: To get ready for next week's family issue, we're admiring a house in Slovakia built by an architect for himself and his kin. Photograph by Peter Jurkovič.
• Expert advice: How to build the best pillow fort.
• A time-lapse, side-by-side comparison of New York and Paris.

• Above: On our holiday wish list: A handwoven twill placemat inspired by Agnes Martin paintings.
• Traveling with kids this season? Don't miss these tips on how best to pack. 
• A visit with Nickey Kehoe, one of our favorite LA design firms. 

• Above: Add this to your list of weekend projects: a DIY copper shelf. Photograph courtesy of Wood and Faulk. 
• The Corleone family's house from The Godfather is on the market. 

• German designer Katrin Arens creates fairytale children's furniture.
• An English interior design star takes T Magazine on a tour of his "humble" farmhouse, a look into the larder included.

• Above: This year's Thanksgiving feast calls for Fig and Anise Pull-Apart Bread. Photograph by Kelsey Boyte. 
• Six secrets to setting a fun kids' table.
• San Francisco furniture store Zinc Details just opened a new showroom at 1633 Fillmore. 

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

• Above: We love following the travels of Rich Stapleton (@rvstapleton), creative director at Cereal magazine.
  
• For the best retro inspiration, check out Rikkianne Van Kirk's Vintage board.

Catch up on our British Design Celebration, and take a look at Gardenista's dip into London's Best Gardens, Front Entries, and Flower Shops.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Required Reading: Annie Sloan's Room Recipes for Style and Color
• London Market Spotlight: Tilly Blue's Travel Furniture and More
• The Instant Great House, Wallpaper Edition

Chances are, you've already admired the work of Jersey Ice Cream Co.'s Tara Mangini and Percy Bright—the duo are longtime Remodelista favorites and recent members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory. A few weeks ago, we presented their transformation of Local Milk blogger Beth Kirby's kitchen—see The One-Month Makeover. And before that, they helped our own Justine create a Dream Kitchen for Under $3,000. Self-described “homeless home designers,” the couple are a full-service design and construction team—they like to do it all, just the two of them. They also like to relocate to renovate. For Beth Kirby, they moved into a rental in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and for plenty of jobs, they've camped out on site. In other words, they will go to any length to get to know you, your house, and how you want to live.

This weekend, Tara and Percy are on hand to help us launch our new feature, Ask the Kitchen Expert. They're available for the next 48 hours to answer any and all questions you may have about kitchens. Ask away!

Beth Kirby's Kitchen 

Above: "For Beth—who, in addition to being a blogger, is a photographer, recipe developer, stylist, and teacher—the kitchen is the heart of her everything. So we really wanted to hit this one out of the park," Tara says. The room is set up to offer Beth not only a range of work surfaces but also places to maneuver with her camera. It has enough space that she can hold classes and demonstrations (eating takes place in the dining room next door). Photograph by Beth Kirby.

Above: Self-taught design and construction savants who got their start remodeling Percy's former house in Philadelphia, the couple are able to tackle just about any task. They even Venetian-plastered the hood above Beth's state-of-the-art Lacanche Sully range. As Tara tells us, "We don't like to hire outside help because they almost never meet our standards." Photograph by Beth Kirby.

Above: For budget reasons, Tara and Percy recommended keeping the existing lower cabinet framework as a skeleton to which they added new cabinet fronts that they built on site. They found the vintage copper cabinet pulls at salvage shop ReStore, in Philadelphia. Photograph by Beth Kirby.

Justine Hand's Kitchen

Above: When Remodelista editor Justine bought her family's Massachusetts house, it was filled with historic character—except the kitchen, which required an overhaul. Working with a budget capped at $3,000. Tara and Percy stepped in, and, in a mere six days, gave Justine what she was after.

Above: Tara and Percy updated the existing orangey-hued wood cabinets with several coats of white paint. "To minimize the hulking form of the island, Percy enclosed it in horizontal shiplap-style boards, which added a lot of character," says Justine.

Above: A few simple moves, such as replacing the existing yellow granite counters with wood ones from Ikea and installing a new farmhouse sink, create an uplifting work station by the window.

Hudson Valley Kitchen

Above: Tara and Percy renovated this 1860s house in the Hudson Valley from top-to-bottom in two months: They were hired in September and were finished by Thanksgiving. As they told Design Sponge, "In the kitchen, we wanted to create a look that was bold and classic, something that was unfussy and romantic that feels very true to the house."

Above: The wainscoting around the room is painted in Black Horizon by Benjamin Moore with plastered walls above. The two-toned design was inspired by A Kitchen for the People, Courtesy of Prince Charles. 

Above: The designers repurposed an existing built-in cabinet and completely altered its look by changing the cabinet fronts. See more details in Steal This Look: A Prince Charles–Worthy Kitchen.

Above: Percy and Tara are available for the next 48 hours to answer your kitchen questions and quandaries.

See more of their work at Jersey Ice Cream Co. and in our posts:

• Rehab Diary: Miracle in the Catskills by Jersey Ice Cream Co.
• DIY: Lath Wall by Jersey Ice Cream Co.
• 5 Favorites: Before & After Kitchen Renovations

More Stories from Remodelista

• 10 Easy Pieces: Kitchen Stand Mixers
• French Bohemian via Brooklyn: Table Linens by Amelie Mancini
• Editors' Picks: 13 Essential Kitchen Gadgets, Holiday Edition

Here at Remodelista, we like rooms that are designed to be lived in (see Rule No. 8 of the Remodelista Manifesto: Beauty needn't come at the cost of comfort or utility). Add kids to the equation and it can be tricky to strike the right balance. And so this week, in anticipation of gatherings ahead, we're presenting sensible and stylish solutions to multigenerational living. (Warning: You may be inspired to install a trapeze bar in your living room.)

Above: Tranquillity begins in the bedroom. Photograph from Inner Sanctum: Maximum Calm in a London Townhouse.

Monday

Above: Later today we're running the first in our series of Gift Guides—they'll be appearing every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday up to the holidays. This week's gift guides are filled with our best kids' finds.

Tuesday

Above: This week's Object Lesson: Enamel cookware made by the same company for decades in dollhouse colors.

Wednesday

Above: In 10 Easy Pieces, Erin, the newest mother on our team, shares the result of a lot of research: the 10 best cribs out there, including the surprisingly affordable one, shown here, that she and her husband selected. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

Above: An American mother and daughter are living the dream life in Beaune, France: Together they run a combination cooking school and specialty kitchenwares, food, and wine shop (complete with pied-à-terre for rent). Julie drops in on them in Wednesday's Design Travel post.

Thursday

Above: Myles Tipley is a deejay by night and a designer blogger and DIYer by day. On Thursday, in his debut Remodelista post, the father of one shows us the display-worthy stereo equipment he's considering for own his family's listening corner. Watch for 10 Favorites.

Above: Fish gotta swim and kids gotta climb and slide—and fly. In our Children's Rooms post, we look at bedrooms (and beyond) that incorporate playground equipment.

Friday

Above: In Friday's Expert Advice post, a trio of expats in San Francisco show us how to stage a laid-back Thanksgiving, Northern California–style (festive table required, turkey optional). Photograph by Julia Spiess of Dinners with Friends.

There's more: Head over to Gardenista to explore the family farm, DIY floral arrangments, and garden-to-table recipes—plus "cocktails to make everyone grateful."

More Stories from Remodelista

• Fait La Force: Housewares Made in Haiti
• Current Obsessions: Welcome to the Family
• Required Reading: Annie Sloan's Room Recipes for Style and Color

As property values in metropolitan areas continue their prohibitive rise, urban families are always on the hunt for creative, affordable living solutions. Founding partners of Canadian architecture firm Studio Junction Christine Ho Ping Kong and Peter Tan designed their own home in Toronto to explore how they might use an ancient approach to architecture to transform urban infill into habitable plots, creating their own brand of urban alchemy.

Photography by Rob Fiocca. 

Above: The greatest challenge to building a house on urban infill is the potential lack of natural daylight. To solve the problem of their site—situated in a mixed-use, industrial neighborhood—Kong and Tan took inspiration from age-old courtyard housing. Their design revolves around two courtyards, one at ground level and the other on the second floor. The light from the secondary courtyard draws daylight not only into the second floor but the office on the first floor as well.

Above: The courtyard on the ground level separates the house from the office studio, creating a communal space for both structures and functioning as the primary source of natural daylight. 

Above: The living room, kitchen, and dining area all look onto the courtyard.

 Above: A view from the house across the courtyard into the couple's studio workshop.

Above: The office has two sources of natural daylight: light from the courtyard and light from a skylight. 

Above: The couple run their architecture practice from the office, which is top-lit from the secondary courtyard at the rear of the house. 

Above: Tan, a woodworker as well as architect, built the majority of the finely crafted house, including the stairs with built-in storage.

Above: The second-floor courtyard is a favorite play area.

Above: Japanese shoji-style screens allow the light from the courtyard to come through the bathroom and into the hallway.

Above: A built-in bed and storage divide the children's room from the master bedroom. A sliding partiton within the bed provides easy access in both directions. For more innovative children's beds, see 10 Favorites: Creative Beds for Children. 

Above: The original contractor warehouse that sat on the site. Photograph via Dwell.

Above: Studio Junction's Courtyard House under construction. Photograph via Dwell.

Studio Junction worked with Juli Daoust and John Baker of Mjölk to design one of our all-time favorite kitchens: See A Scandinavian Kitchen with Hints of Japan and Steal This Look: The Mjölk Kitchen.

For another creative, affordable urban living solution—two families sharing one house—take a look at The Architect Is In: Elizabeth Roberts Adds Value in Brooklyn. 

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on May 30, 2013, as part of our The Kids Are All Right issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Before and After: A London Victorian Transformed
• The Architect Is In: A Passive Solar House for a Family of Stargazers
• Lofty Aspirations in a Small House