January 1: I'm sitting with a cup of green tea (New Year's Resolution No. 1: Drink less coffee) jotting down a laundry list of things I intend to do in the months ahead—floss every night, eat less bread, get more exercise, etc., etc. January 3: I'm sipping a latte and finishing the crumbs of what was once an almond croissant. I'm already not flossing every night either, but, miraculously, there's one item on my list that I've already managed to accomplish: Redo my home office.  

As an editor at Remodelista by day and a graphic designer by night, my workspace is one of the most essential corners of my San Francisco apartment. Over the past few years, I've spent a lot of time in this eight-by-eight-foot space, working at the same table that had served me well during my art school days, gouache stains included. And doing without storage, the right size blinds, and even a desk light. The time to upgrade my work station was long overdue. 

Photography by Dalilah Arja.

Before

Above: Aside from a cat cameo and the chair, the old workspace was a bare-bones student's setup.

After

Above: My first order of business was to replace the old table: I went with a white Parsons Desk currently on sale for $179 (marked down from $199) at Home Decorators Collection (it works well with my old chair, an Eames molded plastic side chair). Next, I accessorized the desktop and area around it with a few tools that help make the space an inviting place to get work done at home.

Above: I'm happy to report that it took 15 minutes to assemble my new desk. 

Above: Aside from the table's simple design, my favorite feature is the discreet central drawer. 

Above: My apartment came with unnecessarily long blinds that hung much lower than the window opening. I was happy to see that Home Decorators Collection sells a set of white Two-Inch Faux Wood Blinds in a range of sizes, and if you don't see what you need, Home Decorators offers complimentary width trimming for most blinds. My 47-by-64-inch blinds cost $57.47.  

Above: A coat of Behr Premium Plus Zero-VOC Paint ($25.96 a gallon from The Home Depot) in a shade of pale blue called Watery transformed a Two-by-Four-Foot Sanded Plywood Panel ($14.95 from The Home Depot) into a finished mood board. 

Above: I added a Cargo Naturals Media Box to store all my USB and extension cords. The six-by-eight-inch container is made of 100 percent recycled paper and comes in five colors, including graphite, shown, from Home Decorators Collection.

Above: A Royal Chenille Area Rug in natural ($95 for the five-by-eight-foot size) now anchors—and warms up—the space. The cotton rug comes in 13 colors and nine sizes at Home Decorators Collection.

Above: After the addition of a Sherlock LED Desk Lamp ($149 at Home Decorators Collection), I'm not sure how I ever managed without a table light. The adjustable lamp is 7.25 inches wide and can be set at any height between 16.75 and 26.25 inches. I chose the satin steel finish; it's also available in black nickel. 

Above: I used a navy Amber Storage Basket (on sale for $48, marked down from $54, at Home Decorators Collection) to house books that overflowed from a nearby shelf. The basket comes in medium (shown here), large, and extra large, and in four colors. 

-Dalilah Arja

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: The Indispensable Desk Stapler
• Gift Guide: For the Tech-Obsessed
• Studio Visit: At Work with Two Downtown LA Pioneers

Michelin-starred London chef Skye Gyngell presides over one of the city's most ethereally beautiful new restaurants, Spring at Somerset House. At home, her approach to design is equally winning. She recently gave us a tour of her remodeled West London kitchen, which salutes classic English detailing while taking the look in a soulful direction. Here's how to re-create her approach.

Gyngell's kitchen photography by Alexis Hamilton for British Standard.

Above: In Gyngell's two-toned kitchen, everything under the counter is dark and above is light. The counters and backsplash are Carrara marble. 

Above: British Standard, the affordable offshoot of Plain English, supplied the cabinets. (Read about British Standard in A Kitchen for the People, Courtesy of Prince Charles.) Like the idea of integrating art into the kitchen? We do—see The New Art Gallery: Paintings in the Kitchen.

Above: Set on the ground floor of a terraced house, the room has window seating at one end and a bank of tall white cabinets that provide ample storage. For a rustic note, Gyngell preserved the battered original floors. 

The Basics

Above: The Deck-Mounted Goose-Neck Faucet with Crosshead Handles is from Perrin & Row; £328 ($501) in chrome, marked down from £386 ($590); also available in nickel, pewter, and gold finishes.

Above: Gyngell selected an inset double copper sink because she likes the way the metal looks against the marble and dark cabinets; copper also has antimicrobial properties. A Double Bowl Copper Kitchen Sink is £998.87 ($1,523.73) from the Copperstore.

Above: The stove is a Mercury 1000 Range Cooker, which comes in eight finishes, including Liquorice (shown here); Gyngell opted for the stainless steel. Mercury is an offshoot of Aga and also makes the companion streamlined Extraction Hood shown in the first photo.

Materials, Cabinets, and Hardware 

Above: Considering splurging on marble in your own kitchen? See Remodeling 101: Marble Countertop Pros and Cons, and read Michelle's cautionary tale, My Dirty Secret: How I Learned to Live with a Marble Backsplash.

Above: British Standard offers a range of cupboards in standard sizes that are made by hand in a workshop in Suffolk, England. They can be ordered online, but the buyer needs to arrange for pickup and delivery.

Above: Gyngell's leather cabinet pulls are custom-made for Plain English by Turnstyle Designs in the UK. Spinneybeck offers a similar belting leather pull with a water-resistant finish. The Small Sling Pull, shown here (5 1/2 by 7/8 inches), is $15 and comes in 26 colors. For more ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: Leather Cabinet Pulls and Handles and Made Measure Takes Leather Cabinet Pulls One Step Further.

Above: Sugatsune Stainless Steel Edge Pulls are $26.56 each via Amazon. For a more affordable alternative, read Izabella's Remodeling 101 post: How Kitchen Edge Pulls Changed My Life.

Above: The lower cabinets are painted in Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue, a shade that in different lights ranges from warm black to navy; $105 per gallon.

Task Lighting

Above: The classic British Bestlite Wall Light BL6 Wall, with a swivel arm and pivoting shade of powder-coated steel, comes in ivory (shown), white, and black; $380 from Apbeam. See Julie's post on Sconces in the Kitchen for more ideas.

The Accessories

Above: A 12-by-8-inch Wood & Leather Serving Board is $100 from TRNK. Larger sizes also available.

Above: Turnco's 64-ounce Glass Storage Jar with Walnut Lid (left) is $57.95 CAD ($49.33 USD) from the Old Faithful Shop (the smaller size is currently sold out). 

Above: Simon Pearce's Black Granite Mortar & Pestle is currently on sale for $50, marked down from $100.

Above: The Sophie Conran for Portmeirion Mixing Bowl in White is $35.99 from Replacements.

Above: French all-linen Striped Dish Towels are $19.95 each from Flotsam + Fork.

Above: The Astier de Villatte Small Adelaide Salad Bowl of black terracotta with the company's signature milky glaze is $140 at ABC Carpet & Home.

Above: The small Ruffoni Copper Sauce Pan is handmade in Italy and holds 19.5 ounces; $118 from Anthropologie, wooden spoon included. For vintage copper stockpots and other cookware in a range of shapes and sizes, take a look at Four & Twenty.

Above: Pigeon Toe Ceramics Utility Spoon Rest is hand-thrown porcelain with a clear gloss; $22.

Above: An Ikea classic, the enamelware Sockerärt Vase comes in three sizes, starting at $9.99. And, yes, it also works well as a pitcher.

Above: An all-purpose goblet, the French Clear-Footed Glass is $11 from Nineteen Mercier Home.

Above: Hand-Eye Supply Aprons are stitched in LA of American-made denim; $42.

Above: Handwoven from English bulrush, the Rush Matters Bread Basket is $128 at March in SF. Read our ode to woven rush on page 307 of the Remodelista book.

Above: Skye keeps her herbs on her counter in a Jet Black Gluggle Jug, a late-19th-century design famous for the gurgling sound it makes when poured. The large size is £29.50 from the Gluggle Shop, which only ships in the UK. In the US, Shreve Crump & Low offers a similar but more refined Gurgling Cod (shown here) in a range of colors; the large size is $95.

Embarking on a kitchen update? Get ideas from our Steal This Look posts, including:

• A Minimalist English Kitchen
• A Scandi-Meets-Japanese Kitchen
• A Kitchen Designed for Entertaining
• A Beadboard-Paneled East Hampton Kitchen

More Stories from Remodelista

• Artful Brass Hooks and Pulls, Australia Edition
• Table of Contents: Kitchen Secrets
• Current Obsessions: In with the New

Still using an old-fashioned timer (as opposed to your iPhone or your iPad) in the kitchen? We are; here's a roundup of five good-looking models. (Why is it so hard to find a kitchen timer that's not shaped like an egg, a safe dial, or, even worse, a duck?)

Above: The Stainless Twist Timer is $9.95 from Crate & Barrel.

Above: The Magnetic Kitchen Timer by Kikkerland is $14.50 at All Modern

Above: The Eva Solo Magnetic Kitchen Timer is $44.90 from Amazon.

Above: Ikea's stainless-steel Ordning Kitchen Timer is $11.70 via Amazon.

Above: The 60-Minute Round Timer is available in white or brushed stainless steel; $6.99 from Polder.

Consult our Domestic Science posts for more household staples, such as:

• The Perfect Office Wastebasket
• Display-Worthy Household Brooms
• Classic Made-in-the-USA Clothes Pins
• Glamorous Soap Dishes from France
• Parisian-Style Net Grocery Bags 

More Stories from Remodelista

• 9 Favorites: Utilitarian Wood-Handled Kitchen Tools
• 11 Best Industrial-Style Black Sconces for the Kitchen
• Object Lessons: Belgian Linen for Every Room

Newlyweds Isabel and George Blunden—she's a travel editor, he's in media—recently sunk their savings into an 1,100-square-foot Victorian railway cottage in southwest London. Yesterday, in Rehab Diary, Part 1, Isabel took us on a tour of the place and detailed their plans. Today, she chronicles the highs and lows of the construction process—and their big surprise along the way.

The Ground Floor

We were overflowing with excitement as the project got under way. In a matter of days, everything had been ripped out, walls had been smashed to rubble, and windows and doors replaced by big gaping openings. At this rate, we thought, the build would be finished in no time. Our optimism was soon brought to a crashing halt by the very wise words of a friend. “Please don’t get your hopes up too much,” she said. “Remember that it takes minutes to knock things down, and then it takes months to build them back up again.” How right she was. 

Photography by Jonathan Gooch for Remodelista.

Above: At the back of the house where the kitchen is, we got our first glimpse of the amount of light that we were letting in. It was exhilarating. The garden became a place where we might spend time with our child, rather than just a spot to have an alfresco drink after work.

This was a big job, involving digging foundations, inserting steel joists, and taking down the back wall of the house and rebuilding it brick by brick (we were incredibly lucky to be able to reuse the lovely London stock), all while upsetting our neighbors on a daily basis with the relentless noise and mess. Structurally the design of the exterior had already been approved by the planning department. That part was rather a relief as it was determined. Nothing we were doing on the exterior was especially avant-garde or boundary pushing. The creativity had to come on the inside.

Above: Peeling back the layers in the kitchen.

The kitchen installation was the most stressful. It was a brutal lesson in budgeting and compromise. The idea was for the kitchen to look as un-kitcheny as possible, for the units to be tucked right round the corner and the appliances to be completely integrated, so that from the sitting room you could see little of the workings. We were also adamant that we didn’t want over-counter cupboards for fear they would crowd the room and make it feel too functional. This left us with very little cupboard space and a need to massively edit down our pots and pans, plates and mugs, and all those pieces of kit that you never use. There was definitely the sense that we were going for style over substance, but we were sticking with it. Then, midway into the construction, I found out that we were expecting our first child, so we were suddenly designing the place for three.

Above: Our open-plan approach felt even more fundamental with a baby in mind—to create a sense of space in our tight quarters and for us to be able keep an eye on things. 

Above: The reshuffling of the downstairs loo to under the stairs was crucial (to avoid having to traipse up and down to the bathroom).

Most of the imperative and immovable decisions—the positioning of all wiring, the radiators, etc.—needed to be confirmed instantly when the electrician and the plumber joined the build. This was daunting because we were going it alone, without an architect or interior designer, so all eyes were on us. Now pregnant, I found myself completely incapable of choosing what to have for supper, let alone where to put the plug sockets and what height we wanted the electrical wires. How could we possibly know whether chrome wall lights would look dated in a few years time? Were pendants going to be annoying if we later moved the kitchen table? Did we want the front door light to come on by sensor or by switch? How about a five-amp circuit?

Above: Certain decisions, such as where to locate power sockets and other electricals, were especially stressful without an architect or interior designer to guide us.

I thought of my mother’s house, which is the most beautifully done up place I know (she is a master of fabric, colors, textures, and, above all, lighting.) She has always impressed on me the often-unappreciated importance of good lighting, that anywhere can be made to look lovely with proper lamps and soft lightbulbs. An associate in my office offered me her lighting designer’s number. But we couldn't spend money on things like that, so we had to thrash it out ourselves.

In the kitchen, we were willing to work with basic cabinets and inexpensive appliances, but had our hearts set on a marble countertop and a Perrin & Rowe tap. These were my luxuries. Other things I had my heart set on had to be forgotten. Without a utility room in which to hide the boiler, washer/dryer, and one of those lovely Victorian hanging laundry racks, everything had to be crammed into the kitchen. The wide and deep drawers that I had put all over my Pinterest boards were simply not going to fit. The boiler was relegated to the garden, the washing machines hidden behind a wall of cabinets, and the Victorian laundry rack postponed to the next house.

Above: Our first artwork: the downstairs plan for the crew to consult.

The Second Floor

We had always considered this a long-term project, shaping the house into a family home for at least the next five years, but there was now a sense of urgency and direction. The bedroom plans turned into nursery ideas.

Above: I had to look at how the spaces would work with a small baby, and then a crawling, walking, inquisitive toddler.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the big reveal: The result of our months of construction.

For more Rehab Diaries, take a look at:

• A Spare Bedroom Turned Glam Master Bath
• The One-Month Makeover: Beth Kirby's Star-Is-Born Kitchen
• Marrakech Modern: A Remodeled Riad for Rent

More Stories from Remodelista

• Rehab Diary, Part 3: A Small House Overhaul in London, The Big Reveal
• Rehab Diary, Part 1: A Small House Overhaul in London
• A Grand but Understated Flat in Paris

For stirring, beating, chopping, and more, wood-handled kitchen accessories are so much nicer looking and feeling than their synthetic counterparts. The good news: Wood handles are making a comeback. We're planning to upgrade our kitchen arsenals one tool at a time. 

Above: Best Manufacturing's 10-inch Wood-Handled Balloon Whisk is made in the US and comes with a lifetime warranty; $11.95 at Sur la Table. For more local heroes, go to 15 American-Made Kitchen Classics.

Above: An old-fashioned, round-handled Potato Masher is $14.95 from Flotsam and Fork.

Above: Pallares Solsona Carbon Steel Knives are handmade by a third-generation bladesmith in Solsona, Spain, and finished with boxwood handles. They range from $57 to $75 at March in SF.

Above: An Italian kitchen essential, a Stainless-Steel Mezzaluna is $23.39 via Amazon. See 16 Made-in-Italy Kitchen Staples for more ideas.

Above: Back to basics: A Natural Rubber Spatula with a removable handle and a hole for hanging is $6.95 at Flotsam and Fork.

Above: Italian company Bianchi's workbench-style, wood-handled graters are at the top of Julie's wish list. Perfect for grating cheese or ginger, they're hard to source in this country but available via Klala of Japan. The Medium Grater (shown above, middle) is ¥2,808 ($23.72). Contact Bianchi Casalinghi for more information.

Above: The beechwood and stainless steel Opinel Peeler is made in France and dishwasher safe; $12.95 from Opinel.

Above: The Scandicraft Wood-Handled Pastry Mixer is made in Canada; $9.95 from Amazon.

Above: For scrubbing produce, this German Round Vegetable Brush is made of beechwood and Tampico fiber; $12 from Brook Farm General Store.

Go to Kitchen Tools for more of our finds, including:

• The BMW of the Precision Kitchen World: German-Made Accessories
• Editors' Picks: 13 Essential Kitchen Gadgets
• 6 Favorites: Display-Worthy Rolling Pins
• Kitchen Tools with a Masculine Edge

More Stories from Remodelista

• 5 Best Kitchen Timers
• 11 Best Industrial-Style Black Sconces for the Kitchen
• Object Lessons: Belgian Linen for Every Room

Newlyweds Isabel and George Blunden—she's a travel editor, he's in media—recently overhauled an 1,100-square-foot Victorian railway cottage in southwest London, and moved in with their baby. On Monday, in Rehab Diary, Part 1, Isabel showed us the Before shots and detailed their plans. Yesterday, in Rehab Diary, Part 2, she chronicled the construction process (including discovering, midway into the build, that they were expecting their first child). Today, we get to see the results of their hard work.

Ground Floor

Finishing the building work was by no means the end of the project. We moved back into the house with chipboard on the floors, a mud pit instead of a garden, no curtains on the front windows, and no blinds in any of the bedrooms. The process that came next—the final 10 percent, the finishing off, the decorating—was, surprisingly, the hardest slog. This part that should have been the most pleasurable, but because we had run out of money and time became the most challenging.

We were sensationally naïve when it came to lead times for ordering items, and spent weeks living in the house with no kitchen tap and no window coverings. We budgeted hard, but clung to the tangible things that would make a difference to the look and feel of the place, such as dimmer switches on the lights, soft-closing mechanisms on the kitchen cabinets, and solid wood flooring.

Photography by Jonathan Gooch for Remodelista.

Above: Our new open, light-filled kitchen is a space to share with our family and friends. We were orginally going to paint the walls a Farrow & Ball color, but we liked crispness of the Dulux Primer so much we left it as is. A pair of wall-mounted Cheyne Wall Lights from Garden Trading are distinctly unkitchen-y. The cupboards are from the Burford Range at Howdens (a trade company, so your builder will have to buy them for you).

Above: Our countertop radio is a classic Roberts Radio and was a wedding present from great friends. We like it because it has a retro look, but is actually a digital radio with high-quality sound. And we can plug our iPhone in and use the radio as speakers as well.

Above: For our countertop, we chose Bianca Carrara marble from Venice Marble. The amount of veining and shades of gray in each piece varies a great deal, so we went and hand selected the slabs ourselves. Our faucet, a Phoenician Monobloc Mixer with Porcelain Lever Handles, and countertop were the two luxuries that I was not willing to forgo. 

Above: We jazzed up the blank kitchen with flashes of bronze courtesy of £3.50 ($5.00) cup-pull handles purchased on sale at Graham and Green. We used them sparingly but to great effect.

Above: Without any over-counter cupboards, we didn't install downlights. Instead, we used Ruby Lamps, little table lamps from John Lewis that were the smallest and slimmest ones I could find. We have very little countertop space so I didn't want the lamps to encroach any further.

Above: Without a utility room in which to hide the boiler and washer/dryer, we had to steal space from the kitchen. The wide and deep drawers that I had envisioned were simply not going to fit. The boiler was relegated to the garden, and the washer/dryer hidden behind a wall of cabinets. My wished-for Victorian laundry rack got postponed to the next house.

Above: We begged, borrowed, and stole family furniture: shelving that had once been in my husband’s grandfather’s garage; a lamp from my uncle; a chest of drawers that had hidden in a storage room in George's parents' house for years, discovered only when they moved; and a curtain from their old sitting room that miraculously fit perfectly across our new back door.

Above: Our birthday presents to each other were plants and soil and pots, anything for our sparse little patch outside. We bought laurels and clematis and hydrangeas at the end of the season, once they had already flowered and been placed on the sale rail. The bay trees on either side of the lattice were a housewarming present from my mother. We had planned to use the willow trellis to grow something up, but it looks rather nice on its own so we are leaving it as is.

Above: With our budget contraints and decorating challenges, we turned to our families. Part of our vision for our new home was getting inspiration not only from what we had seen in magazines and online, but also what we knew. Both of us were keen to incorporate the styles of our childhood homes, and we loved the idea of taking familiar elements from the houses we grew up in. My mother made us cushions using offcuts of her own curtain fabric. The sofa is the Blubell 2 Seater from Sofa.com and upholstered in their herringbone linen.

Above: I chose to study English Literature at Edinburgh University because I am a bit of a bookworm and could think of nothing nicer than spending four years with my nose in novels. I arrange my books by color because i think it looks neater, but it does mean that when I'm looking for something specific, I have to remember whether the spine was green or white or blue or black…..

Above: Our one big splash out was the wood-burning stove, a Salisbury 6kw, Multi-Fuel Stove from Chesney's. We decided to install it during the build, when the house was still a dusty mess and before the plastering and painting were finished. It was one of the largest financial investments, but is our favorite item in the house and creates a fantastic focal point for that part of the living space. It also warms the whole place to toasty levels on chilly evenings. The Amy Winehouse-Rehab Print over the mantle came from It's Pop It's Art.

Above: We put built-in storage whereever we we could. It helps us control the clutter and the space appears uniformly open. Our wood floor is Oak Distressed Old White, an engineered wood from the Natural Wood Floor Company. 

Above: Before we even made an offer on the house, I had said that the doorknobs and other hardware needed to be the first thing to go. These porcelain knobs were salvaged from my husband’s parents' house before they sold it.

Above: We moved the downstairs loo to the space underneath the stairs. 

Above: One of our various DIY projects was painting an old pine chest from George's childhood bedroom in Borrowed Light, a very pale blue-gray from Farrow & Ball.

The Second Floor

And when the money ran out, we turned our hands to DIY. We painted old pine furniture that family had handed down to us. A dresser was smartened up with a lick of Farrow and Ball and a glass top. Bedside tables were vastly improved by a few coats of white. Our tatty garden walls brightened up immensely with paint, and our flowerbeds cheered to be full of plants, herbs, and climbers.

There are, of course, things we might have done differently. The plug socket sunk into the floor for a lamp on a side table in front of the log burner is now just a trip hazard and something that will have to be dealt with before the baby starts playing there. The radiators in the bedrooms were been set too high, so we can’t put off-the-shelf covers on them. They are also, in fact, in the wrong positions. We didn’t get around to redoing the upstairs bathroom, it fell off our order of priorities but now that everything else has finally been done, it’s shot right back up to the top of my to-do list.

Above: We chose carpets for upstairs as a quick fix. I was initially keen on a natural material, such as seagrass or sisal, but was advised that neither is practical with a baby on the way and inevitable spillages. We then considered wood, but were worried about the noise. We went to the nearest carpet shop and couldn't pick one neutral from the next, so I asked the owner what the most popular and reasonable wool carpet was and we went with that. I had reached the point where I couldn't make any more decisions. 

Above: The upholstered bed in our bedroom is from Feather and Black and is covered in a woven cotton in color called Pebble. 

Above: The house had absolutely no fitted cupboards when we moved in, so one of the first jobs was to get a carpenter to create as much storage as possible. In the master bedroom, the new Shaker-style cupboards run the entire length and height of the wall.

Above: The bedroom wardrobes, as well as the bookcases and shelving in the sitting room, now have pretty French knobs that we collected from my mother's and George's parents' houses.

Above: In the guest room, the wall-mounted bedside lamps came from Ikea, and have drawn more inquiries than items 10 times more expensive.

Above: We were given our first Ranarp Lamp from Ikea as a present, and went out and bought a matching one instantly.

Above: With an Ektorp Jennylund Armchair from Ikea and a Moses basket borrowed from my sister-in-law, the nursery was ready. 

Above: My mother-in-law gave me this vintage copy of Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management. It's a wonderful thing to have in the house, but I haven't gotten round to making any of the recipes, such as stewed eel, just yet.

For more DIY & Remodeling, take a look at:

• Midcentury Meets Zen: A DIY Remodel in LA
• Expert Advice: 15 Secrets for Saving Money on a Remodel
• The Designers Are In: Expert Tips from Remodeling Pros

More Stories from Remodelista

• Rehab Diary, Part 2: A Small House Overhaul in London
• Rehab Diary, Part 1: A Small House Overhaul in London
• A Grand but Understated Flat in Paris

Rule No. 5 of the Remodelista Manifesto: "Ordinary utilitarian items, such as wastebaskets and scrub brushes, can—and should—be as pleasingly elegant as center-of-attention pieces." Case in point: classic pedal bins from a small workshop in northwest Germany. Manufactum offers a trio of models, but if you're truly obsessed, consider contacting Erpa Metall directly to access their line of jewel-toned trash bins.

Above: Erpa Metall trash bins, which have been made for 80 years in the Erpa workshop in northwest Germany, feature powder-coated enamel exteriors and high-gloss stainless steel lids (and appealing retro stamped logos). The 20-Liter Metal Pedal Bin (far left) is €188 ($221.45) and the 15-Liter Metal Pedal Bin (center) is €158 ($186) from Manufactum. 

Above: The Five-Liter Metal Bathroom Waste Bin is €78 ($91.90) from Manufactum.

For more Garbage Cans, go to:

• Trash Bins from a Cleanliness-Obsessed Country
• The Mercedes of Trash Cans
• 10 Easy Pieces: Recycling Bins
• The Perfect Office Wastebasket
• The Last Trash Can You'll Ever Buy?

More Stories from Remodelista

• 10 Easy Pieces: Food Storage Containers, Plastic-Free Edition
• Object Lessons: The Perfect Office Wastebasket
• Remodelista SF Market Spotlight: Quitokeeto's Pantry Picks

Winter in Madrid is very inviting: When I was there over the holidays, the sky was blue, the sun was shining, and it was in the sixties some days. One of the most happening areas to explore is the Las Salesas district. Just north of the well-known Chueca neighborhood, it's home to a new crop of design-oriented restaurants, shops, and hotels. Let me take you to five not to miss.

Photography by Pauline Egge.

Best Design Spot 

Above: Definitely the most beautiful concept store in Spain, Do Design showcases art, fashion, and housewares in an airy space with a front counter set inside a wooden house and dressing rooms that look like striped beach cabanas. It also has a small cafe where you can drink coffee, take in a print show, and meet some of the most creative people in Madrid. Photograph via Do Design on Petite Passport. 

Best Restaurant 

Above: The Table By is a cool new pop-up restaurant in a grand 19th-century neoclassical building that was recently converted into the luxurious Hotel Urso. Every month, a different star Spanish chef presents the signature dishes of his or her restaurant. Through January 30, it's Fernando Canales of Etxanobe in Bilbao. The place is popular: Be sure to make a reservation. Photograph via The Table By on Petite Passport. 

Best Breakfast Spot 

Above: Whenever I go to Dray Martina, I find it hard to leave. They serve a good breakfast at the counter (I get the yogurt with granola, fruit, and honey), and the all-white space with its amber globe lights is equally a draw. And to keep customers lingering, there’s a reading table stocked with the latest magazines. Photograph via Dray Martina on Petite Passport.

Best Fashion Store 

Above: Across the street from Do Design is Pez, a spacious store that sells women's fashion brands such as Humanoid, American Vintage, and IRO. I recommend the fluor sneakers by Golden Goose. In the basement, Pez offers things for the home, and Pez also has a superb menswear store just down the street. Photograph via Pez on Petite Passport.

Best Hotel

Above: The glam Only You Hotel & Lounge is the work of Spanish designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán. I like the check-in area the most: Old white suitcases are piled in a wall behind the desk, and the elevators are surrounded by blue-and-white Chinese tiles. Photograph via Only You Hotel & Lounge on Petite Passport.

Our new Weekend Guide columnist, Pauline Egge, is the founder and editor of the travel site Petite Passport. Pauline lives in Barcelona and the Netherlands and spends much of her time crisscrossing the globe. For Remodelista, she'll be sharing her favorite design addresses, city by city. Have a look at her recent guides.

• The Best Coffeehouses in Melbourne 
• Not-Yet-in-the-Guidebooks Design Spots in Barcelona

More Stories from Remodelista

• The Ludlow Hotel: Downtown NYC's Most Glamorous New Clubhouse
• A Modern Spa Retreat in Norway
• Posh Japanese Workwear by Way of Paris

All of us at Remodelista have been trying to banish plastic from our lives for a while now, some more successfully than others. But without succumbing to containers with plastic parts, such as lids, how best to stow leftovers and kitchen staples? My clean-living brother, Rob, posed the question, and here are our answers.

Above: Julie has her eye on Kaico Enamel Canisters from Japan. Made of scratch-resistant enameled steel, they have a vacuum seal and range from $45 to $55 at Muhs Home. For more on the line, see Kaico Cookware by Koizumi Studio.

Above: As a longtime collector of old kitchen things, my pick goes to Anchor's Vintage Glass Food Storage lidded boxes made from the company's original 1932 molds. They can be heated in the oven and microwave, and stack well in the fridge; $9.99 for the small, $14.99 for large at the Container Store.

N.B.: Vintage glass refrigerator containers are plentiful on eBay and Etsy in a range of shapes, sizes, and colors, often for less than $10. Also notable but pricier: Vintage Jadeite Refrigerator Containers. Take a look at Martha Stewart's Collection.

Above: Megan uses Indian tiffin boxes as lunch boxes and also as leftovers containers—read her Object Lesson on the Trusty Tiffin Box. This Stainless Steel Two-Tier Mini Tiffin is $8 from Rodale's. 

Above: We singled out Weck Storage Jars from Germany in the Remodelista book as one of our everyday favorites. They come in a variety of sizes (a sampling from Schoolhouse Electric shown here, priced from $3 to $8). Sarah swears by her Weck collection for containing everything from last night's pasta to soup to dried beans. She also likes 16-ounce Ball Jars for storing food, and notes, "The Weck tops fit on the Ball jars too, so really useful."

Above: Designed in 1953 by Kaj Franck, these ceramic, Finnish-modern classics have been reintroduced by Iittala in colors to match Franck's Teema Tableware. Oven- and microwave-safe, Purnukka Jars are $31.75 for the 2.4-inch-tall size and $39.75 for the 4.7-inch-tall size from the Finnish Design Shop. Photograph via UK retailer Panik Design.

Above: A tiffin spin-off, the stainless-steel Divided Airtight Container has four compartments and is 7 5/8 inches in diameter; $30 from Provisions.

Above: Another classic canning jar, Le Parfait Jars from France are currently available in the three largest sizes shown here, $8.95 to $15.95 at Crate & Barrel.

Above: A favorite of Megan's—and available at her shop, Ancient Industries—the Ice-Box Box, she says, is "for lashings of mash and peas," and ideal "for those who have no intention of ever attending a Tupperware party." Made by revived LA pottery Bauer, they're 5 3/4 inches in diameter, 2 1/2 inches tall, and designed to stack; $45 each. Bauer also offers the containers in 15 colors.

Above: "It's hard to find containers that are countertop worthy," says Janet. "I'm thinking about replacing mine with these Enamel Canisters by Riess." Made in Riess's century-old factory in Austria, they have ash lids with airtight seals and come in four sizes; $38 to $58 in white or green at Joinery. See more kitchenware by Riess in Object Lessons: The Pastel Enamel Pot.

Above: A great cling wrap alternative, Bee's Wrap is organic cotton muslin that's impregnated with bee's wax, jojoba oil, and tree resin—it warms to the touch and gets malleable and then stiffens and seals. Yes, it's washable and reusable. Cheryl and Janet both swear by it for wrapping cheese, fruit, and vegetables, and for covering bowls ("It's slightly adhesive; think Post-it note glue," says Cheryl). It's available in a range of sizes, including a Bee's Baguette Wrap. A good starter, Bee's Wrap in 3 Sizes is $20 from Provisions. The line is also sold directly by Bee's Wrap.

Read about a similar product in Justine's post Banish the Plastic Wrap: Bees to the Rescue.

Above: Portland, Oregon, studio potter Lillith Rockett makes these wheel-thrown Flat-Lidded Ceramic Containers of translucent porcelain with glazed interiors and unglazed, polished exteriors. For counter display and table use, they start at $130. 

For more ideas, including some good-looking glass options with plastic lids, see 10 Easy Pieces: Food Storage Containers.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Precision Trash Bins from Germany
• Object Lessons: The Perfect Office Wastebasket
• Remodelista SF Market Spotlight: Quitokeeto's Pantry Picks

Drawn to natural stone but also a fan of color? Until recently, the options in the countertop world were limited, but of late, lava stone has been gaining traction—and introducing an eye-opening new palette to the kitchen. Is this a countertop to consider?  Read on to find out.

Above: Glazed lava stone has advantages that raw stones, such as marble and granite, lack: color, for starters. Photograph via Made a Mano.

What is lava stone?

Lava stone is a natural volcanic rock that is quarried, cut into slabs, topped with an enamel glaze, and fired at a very high heat. The fact that it's volcanic lends it a toughness: Lava stone can withstand high temperatures, offers even heat distribution, and can be glazed, which sets it apart from other stone countertops. 

Above: Cut slabs of lava stone await glazing. Lava stone is sourced primarily from quarries in France (from the crater of an inactive volcano in Auvergne) and Italy (at the foot of the active volcano Mount Etna in Sicily). Photograph via Made a Mano.

Above: Lava stone's surface is typically patterned with crazing—a web of lines and cracks—that appears in the glazing during the cooling process and, according to fans, lend character. Photograph via Low Impact Ltd.

What are the benefits of using lava stone countertops? 

• Resistant to heat, cold, and temperature fluctuations. Lava stone has a natural ability to dissipate heat very well, meaning that hot pans can be placed directly on the surface without damage. 
• Extremely durable. The firing process creates an ecceptionally hard surface that can withstand corrosive chemicals and UV exposure (no fading!). It doesn't chip or scratch easily, but watch out for knife edges—use a cutting board.
• Non-porous. The material is impervious to water, won't harbor bacteria, and is stain resistant.
• Appropriate for indoor and outdoor applications. For all of the reasons listed above, lava stone can withstand everything that outdoor life throws its way. Fun fact: Thanks to its strength and permanence, lava stone has been used as road signs in France for most of the last century. (The famous Art Nouveau metro signs in Paris? Lava stone.)
• The finish is beautiful and available in a wide range of colors. 
• Sustainable. A naturally occurring resource, lava stone is also environmentally friendly because it's so indestructable (reducing the waste involved in having to replace less durable countertops). Just be sure to love the material; it's like a long marriage. 

What colors and finishes are available?

The enameled glaze that tops the stone slabs is available in nearly any color you can imagine, from vivid blues and greens, clean whites, metallics, and even neutral shades. Most lava stone manufacturers (and there are only a few) offer a number of standard colors, but custom, made-to-order colors are limited only by your imagination. Glossy and matte finishes are also available, but the matte are limited to a narrow range of more subdued colors.

Above: The leading manufacturer of lava stone is the French company Pyrolave, which offers a palette of 32 colors, 16 in glossy and 16 in matte.

Above: Danish company Made a Mano offers glazed lava stone countertops in two color collections: Ossido (15 neutral and metallic shades) and Cristalli (16 vibrant hues). This kitchen backsplash features lava stone in three shades from the Ossido color group. 

Above: Until recently, all lava stone was manufactured in Europe. Now the material is making inroads in the US, thanks MGO Stone Classics, which fabricates its LavArte glazed lava stone in New York State. MGO brings raw stone from Sicily and then custom cuts, fires, and glazes it for each project. 

How do you clean and maintain lava stone?

Lava stone's best attributes include its lack of maintenance. It doesn't require a sealant or treatment with any special cleaners because it doesn't stain or harbor bacteria. A wipe with something mild, like soap and water, is about all that it requires. The only recommendation is to use cutting boards on the surface to protect the countertop and your knives (which also makes cleanup easier). 

Above: A lava stone counter from LavArte in antique white. 

How much do lava stone countertops cost?

Lava stone's biggest deterrent is its price. At $250 to $350 per square foot, it's one of the most expensive countertop materials around, comparable to, or even exceeding, high-end marble. Most of the expense is due to the cost of shipping the stone. This is exacerbated by the low number of suppliers and the handwork required in the fabrication and glazing process.  

Above: Glazed lava stone tabletops, such as this Blue French Lava Stone Tabletop available to order through Sue Fisher King in San Francisco, are great for outdoor use and are offered in a range of sizes and colors. 

Lava Stone Countertop Recap

Pros

• Durable and long-lasting
• Non-porous
• Heat and cold resistant
• Available in a huge range of colors
• Fresh looking because it's relatively new to the market
• Can be used indoors and out
• Maintenance free
• A natural resource

Cons

• Very expensive
• Cannot be refinished if you tire of the color

Above: A blue-glazed lava stone counter tops an island in a San Francisco kitchen by Martha Angus.

Researching new countertops? Read Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Kitchen Countertops. And for more specifics on the subject, see our Remodeling 101 posts: 

• The Intel on Black Marble Countertops.
• 10 Easy Pieces: Remodelista Kitchen Countertop Picks
• A Marble Countertop Lookalike, Minus the Maintenance
• Remodeling 101: Butcher Block Countertop
• Remodeling 101: Marble Countertops
• Remodeling 101: Concrete Kitchen Countertops
• Remodeling 101: Soapstone Countertops
• Remodeling 101: Stainless Steel Countertops
• Remodeling 101: Corian Countertops (and the New Corian Look-alikes)
• Remodeling 101: Engineered Quartz Countertops
• Remodeling 101: Paper Composite Countertops for the Kitchen

More Stories from Remodelista

• Design Sleuth: Simple Brass Napkin Rings (from the Hardware Store)
• Remodeling 101: Wood-Burning vs. Gas Fireplaces
• Remodeling 101: Easy Whitewashed Scandi Floors

There's a lot of great design percolating in Amsterdam—and that extends to the city's guesthouses. Today, we're shining a light on five places to stay.

Photography by Pauline Egge.

A Design-Filled Duplex

&Klevering is a well-curated housewares shop, and its owners recently opened their duplex apartment as a guest rental. Of course, it's decorated with things from &Klevering—but there's more than that to see: The living room overlooks a quiet canal. Photographs via &Klevering on Petite Passport 

Surrounded by Dutch Design 

Droog Design, the edgy design brand from the Netherlands, has its own cultural center in a 17th-century building in the center of Amsterdam. At Hôtel Droog, you can shop (for Droog and other designs), have lunch, see an exhibition, and explore a garden. For the full experience, you can also book the hotel's lone room, a charmingly furnished top-floor suite, living room, kitchen, and bathroom with black fixtures. Photographs via Hôtel Droog on Petite Passport.

In a Former Brewery 

Above: Stout & Co. is a B&B located in what was once one of the city's most popular breweries. Its architect owners completely rebuilt the structure and opened a few luxurious rental apartments above their office on the ground floor. Each has its own bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bath—and I can promise you that you'll never want to check out. Sunday through Thursday the rate is €147 ($173) per room per night; Friday and Saturday it's €167 ($196). Photographs via Stout & Co. on Petite Passport.

Under the Beams

Above: Utrechtsestraat is a street full of places to discover, such as Marqt (a high-style "biological supermarket"), SLA (a hip salad bar), and Pistache (a pop-up event venue). Hotel Dwars is situated on a side street, Utrechtsedwarsstraat, and was once a hostel. The new young owners devoted a year and a half to turning the place into a nine-room style hotel—they worked on the design with stylists Things I Like Things I Love. The room to request is No. 9, shown here, where you get to sleep under the rafters while looking out over Amsterdam rooftops. Photographs via Hotel Dwars on Petite Passport.

In Amsterdam Noord

Above: Have you heard of Hotel de Goudfazant? If you're heading to Amsterdam, this Dutch-French restaurant is a must. It’s located in Amsterdam Noord (take the ferry to get there), where the Goudfazant's owners have also opened a new place called Cafe Modern. And the good news is that you can sleep above the cafe in their B&B, Sweet Dreamz, which they bill as "three rooms, six bikes, four showers." Each room is the work of a different Dutch design duo and their names are in marker on the doors: there's the Kiki & Joost room, the Maarten & Bas room, and the Herman & Tania room (shown here). Photographs via Style Memories.

Our new Weekend Guide columnist, Pauline Egge, is the founder and editor of the travel site Petite Passport. Pauline lives in Barcelona and the Netherlands, and spends much of her time crisscrossing the globe. For Remodelista, she'll be sharing her favorite design addresses, city by city.

Have a look at her guides to:

• Where to Stay, Shop, and Eat in Barcelona
• The Best Coffeehouses in Melbourne
• Madrid's Best Design Hotel and Other Hot Spots

More Stories from Remodelista

• Weekend Guide with Petite Passport Guide: Madrid Hot Spots
• A Modern Spa Retreat in Norway
• Posh Japanese Workwear by Way of Paris

In between shoots far and wide, New York lifestyle photographer Jim Franco became obsessed with making hand-thrown pottery. After three evening classes at Tribeca Potters, he turned to YouTube videos for further instruction and rented a studio at City Potters. His perfectly formed pastel bowls now sell out as soon as they're available. And Jim finds himself with a dual creative career.

In fact, Jim has long been at ease wearing many hats. He and I were colleagues years back when he was the photography editor at Travel + Leisure magazine. Jim and his partner, Joe Maer, now run a busy photo prop house and have an online boutique under construction. To find time for pottery, he often works from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., which perhaps explains his quietly magical results.

Photography by Gentl & Hyers for Dara Artisans.

Above: All of Jim's work is made of porcelain, and his speciality is the small, functional—and photogenic—bowl: "I like the challenge of making a bowl that looks and feels comfortable. Japanese ceramic artists seem to somehow imbue simple forms with power. It's an approach I've always admired." Shown here, a collection in a variety of glazes, including matte cream with blush accents and matte shamo glaze with dark brown brushwork.

Above: "Working on the wheel demands undivided attention," says Jim. "As soon as I touch the clay, I have to shut out all other thoughts and just concentrate on forming a shape. It would be interesting to do a study of ceramic artists to see if their blood pressure falls as they throw. I bet it does."

Above: Jim sells his bowls by request and through several shops, including online global emporium Dara Artisans, which sold out its most recent collection overnight. Watch for the next batch at Dara Artisans in early February. Ochre in Soho has also just begun offering Jim's work. Prices range from $55 to $150, depending on size.

Above: A collection of bisque bowls.

Above L: Jim's hands covered with slip. Above R: Two pieces of porcelain clay waiting to be wedged.

Above: Stacking bowls in emerald glaze, including one with a spout.

Above: Matte glazes in shades of sky blue and emerald.

Above: Tools of the trade. Interested in learning yourself? Jim recommends the YouTube videos by master potter Hsin-Chuen Lin of Fremont, California: "He has excellent technique and a clear teaching manner."

Above: To see more, including Jim's own photographs of his work, go to Jim Franco Ceramics. And for alerts about new bowls and where to purchase them, follow Jim on Instagram at @jimgl. 

We're in the midst of a Handmade Ceramics renaissance. Take a look at:

• Poetic Pottery from John Julian Design in the UK
• Japanese-Style Pottery Made in LA
• Atelier Dion: Ceramics for Caffeine Fiends
• A Philosopher Turned Ceramicist, Quebec Edition
• Soft Touch: Pastel Pottery by Lenneke Wispelwey

More Stories from Remodelista

• Steal This Look: A Star London Chef's Kitchen
• Artful Brass Hooks and Pulls, Australia Edition
• Table of Contents: Kitchen Secrets

Isabel and George Blunden are now happily ensconced with their three-month-old daughter in their fully remodeled Victorian railway cottage in southwest London. On Monday, in Rehab Diary, Part 1, Isabel showed us the Before shots and detailed the couple's plans. On Tuesday, in Rehab Diary, Part 2, she chronicled the construction process, and yesterday, in Rehab Diary, Part 3, she unveiled the finished results. In our final installment, she shares her top 10 takeaway tips.

Photography by Jonathan Gooch for Remodelista.

1. Hire an architect or interior designer.

We didn't, but, in hindsight, we should have. Working with a professional, even if only on an hourly basis, would have been more efficient and helpful on so many fronts, from space planning to figuring out the best places to locate outlets and switches. There's the impression that calling in a pro is always expensive, but I now realize that having someone's wisdom and guidance could have actually saved us money—and certainly would have reduced stress.

2. Look to your heritage.

Our inspiration for our furnishings came not only from what we had seen in magazines and online but also from what we knew. Incorporating styles and actual pieces from our childhood has made our rooms feel personal and instantly like home.

Above: My mother made the cushions on our sofa from offcuts of her own curtain fabric.

3. Spend here, save there. 

Prioritize the luxuries that you don't want to give up on, and work your budget around them. In the kitchen we splurged on a Perrin & Rowe gold tap and marble countertop but went with affordable cupboards. We also had to forgo the dream of steel-framed factory doors and went with aluminum instead.

Above: Our two luxuries, the tap and the countertop, do much to heighten our enjoyment of daily chores, not to mention the overall look of our kitchen.

4. Be open-minded along the way. 

Sometimes plans don’t turn out as expected, which isn’t always a bad thing. For instance, we had decided to paint our walls throughout a Farrow & Ball soft gray. But then we liked the brightness of the Dulux Primer so much that we left it as is—and spared ourselves the extra work. Of course, some changes can be expensive and time-consuming, so be aware of cost and schedule implications.

Above: The guest room is just wide enough for a double bed, but it feels light and airy thanks to the brightness of the Dulux Primer.

5. Don't postpone parts of the remodel.

As time-consuming and expensive as some of your plans may be, it’s better to get them done while your house is under construction than it is to wait. For budget reasons, we chose to redo our upstairs bathroom at a later date, a decision I now regret. The thought of calling the builders back in, with the accompanying upheaval and mess, means that this bathroom will probably not get redone. Remember, once the builders are gone, they are gone.

Above: With the debris removed, our bathroom is OK as is.

6. Small details can have a great impact.

Things like hardware add personality and can really color a space.

Above: We jazzed up the blank kitchen with flashes of gold, courtesy of a few £3.50 ($5) cup-pull handles purchased on sale at Graham & Green. 

Above: The new carpentry in the sitting room is dressed up with blue-and-white French porcelain cupboard handles from my mother's house.

Above: We used the same porcelain knobs on our cupboard doors upstairs.

7. Beg, borrow, and steal furniture—especially from family members.

As detailed in my last post, our furnishings include shelving that had once been in George's grandfather’s garage, a lamp from my uncle's house, and a chest of drawers discovered in a storage room. When various relatives moved house, we struck gold. 

Above: The curtain across our new back door came from George's parents' old sitting room. Miraculously, it fit perfectly.

Above: The newly repainted pine chest under the stairs was in George's childhood bedroom.

8. Embrace DIY.

Though we're first-time remodelers, we learned along the way that there's a good deal of work we can tackle ourselves— and if we can, you can. 

Above: We painted the cupboard doors and staircase ourselves over the course of a weekend or two.

Above: George cleared the garden, put in new plants, and resurfaced the brick and concrete pavers.

9. The character of your house comes from you, your things, and your stories.

By installing white walls and neutral flooring, we created a blank canvas, so that anything textured or patterned or colored stands out and bears our imprint.

Above: When the 2004 tsunami hit, George was one of the first to volunteer his services and flew to Sri Lanka to work in the Galle and Tangalle areas, where I joined him a month later. We brought home this cushion made by craftsmen of the area as a reminder of all the things we have to be thankful for.

Above: This framed poster of Amy Winehouse's famous lyrics was a present from George. I like the way it picks up the colors of our book spines.

10. There will always be too many good ideas.

Editing is a must. There's never the space or budget to do it all; some ideas you'll have to save for next time.

Above: We were lucky to find space in the kitchen for a washing machine and dryer, but I still dream of a utility room.

For more remodeling tips, have a look at our Remodeling 101 series, including:

• Extras Worth Considering in Your Remodel
• Marble Countertops
• Where to Locate Electrical Outlets, Kitchen Edition
• Where to Locate Electrical Outlets, Living Room Edition
• Where to Locate Electrical Outlets, Home Office and Storage Edition
• Where to Locate Electrical Outlets, Bath Edition

More Stories from Remodelista

• Rehab Diary, Part 3: A Small House Overhaul in London, the Big Reveal
• Rehab Diary, Part 2: A Small House Overhaul in London
• Rehab Diary, Part 1: A Small House Overhaul in London

From Elizabeth Roberts Design/Ensemble Architecture: a live/work Williamsburg loft that means business—with a made-for-TV kitchen, a cookbook-writing office, and a vast art studio. Her biggest achievement? Infusing the space with a light-hearted vibe that suggests not everything is as serious as it seems.

Roberts' clients—Ted Lee, one half of the food duo The Lee Bros., and E.V. Day, an installation artist and sculptor—searched for years to find the perfect space to call home-plus-office and landed in a generously sized, ground-floor industrial loft with a great deal of character. Architect Elizabeth Roberts—a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory—was tasked with dividing the space into living quarters plus his and hers offices within easy access—and just as easily closed off.

Day is a well-known sculptor whose work is sometimes massive, so an entire half of the 3,500 square foot space is comprised of her sculpture studio. Lee is a chef and cookbook writer, so his domain—the kitchen—couldn't be so neatly separated from the living spaces. Roberts solved the problem by creating a writing office just off the kitchen, which itself can be cordoned off via a large sliding door. When the door is open, the kitchen and office are a workspace. When closed, the kitchen is just another part of the home. Incidentally, this is Roberts' favorite part of the project: "What might be considered a complicated arrangement is celebrated with monumental sliding doors that are really fun—and extremely easy—to move."

Photography by Dustin Aksland.

Above: Roberts retained the original wood lintels above the windows. "They were so pretty," she says, "it was an easy decision not to paint them." The window sills are custom poured concrete. Roberts had the brick walls covered in plaster and hand-sanded to slightly reveal the contours of the brick, then painted them white. 

Above: The generously sized chef's kitchen is occasionally used for television production and events—the island cooktop and wall ovens are both well suited to filming. The Viking stovetop features a pop-up ventilation fan, so no hood is required.

Above: The studio backdrop: open shelving made of reclaimed pine sourced by the owners in Brooklyn. 

Above: Roberts chose glossy white laminate Abstrakt cabinets from Ikea: "The glossy finish was a great juxtaposition to all the the industrial textures and dark colors," she says. The kitchen countertops are white carrara marble.  

Above: His and hers workspaces—a writing office and a sculpture studio—are both separated from the living spaces by 10-foot-by-15-foot sliding partitions that are easy to move yet sturdy enough to mount art on. 

Above: Says Roberts, "Both of the spaces change constantly depending on how much of the work space they choose to reveal." Here, the writing office is closed off from the kitchen.

Above: The kitchen, dining, and living rooms are one open layout. The dining table is a simple Ikea wood table with dining chairs by Knoll.

Roberts replaced the loft's existing doors with two large custom steel doors designed with a center panel that opens inward to allow fresh air in through a screened opening. 

Above: Lee and Day discovered the light fixtures that hang above the dining table and kitchen from a vintage store; they are chandelier frames originally from a Miami department store, spray painted white.  

The brick walls, exposed pipes and sprinklers, and wood window lintels are all original to the building. The exposed wood ceilings and structural columns and beams are oversized to support the weight of the industrial building, says Roberts. She admires the tone of the aged, unpainted wood: "It's rare to see these huge pieces of wood and timber raw and without any paint."

Above: Beyond the dining table, a vintage living room set by Austrian art deco designer Paul Frankl. The pale white oak floors were brushed and scraped to create a hand-hewn look and finished with a sheer white wash. The loft's radiant heating is tucked beneath the floors.

See more through the lens of the architect:

• The Architect Is In: Elizabeth Roberts Adds Value in Brooklyn
• House Call: Elizabeth Roberts in Brooklyn
• Steal This Look: Elizabeth Roberts Brooklyn Bath
• Crisis in the Commode: Powder Room Edition

More Stories from Remodelista

• 9 Favorites: Utilitarian Wood-Handled Kitchen Tools
• 5 Best Kitchen Timers
• 11 Best Industrial-Style Black Sconces for the Kitchen

Visit the kitchen of any Remodelista editor and you'll likely find at least one prized piece by Joshua Vogel, the designer behind Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co. (I myself made a pilgrimage to March the last time I was in San Francisco to get one of his spoons.) Hand-carved to enhance the natural form of the wood, each of his designs has a wonky grace that makes it as satisfying to hold as to behold.  

Blackline is the latest collection from this architect turned maker, who works out of a small studio in Kingston, New York. Rather than adding pigments, Josh relies on a natural "reactive" process that makes use of the tannic acid within white oak. The resulting serving boards, spatula, and stool are in a rich—and food-safe—shade of black that will develop a patina over time. In other words, the more you use them, the better they'll get.

Above: The Blackline boards come in small, large, and paddle-size. The small board, shown here, an 8-by-16-inch square, is $150 from Blackcreek Mercantile. It and other Blackline designs are also available at The Commons in Charleston, South Carolina, and will soon be at March.

Above: The Blackline paddle, 5 inches wide and 24 inches long, is ideal for serving cheese; $200.

Above: The finish of Blackline wares is relatively resilient, but highly acidic foods will affect the natural dye. To maintain your board, Josh recommends cleaning it with soap and hot water and regularly applying Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co.'s Cutting Board Oil.

Above: Bent Spatulas are a generous 15.5 inches long; $60. 

Above: The Step Stool is $350. Blackline bowls, mortar and pestles, mallets, spoons, and trays will also be available later this year. See Blackcreek Mercantile's stock list to find other online vendors or a store near you.

To see more of Joshua Vogel's work, go to Studio Visit: Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co. in the Hudson Valley, and take a look at:

• 10 Easy Pieces: Wooden Cutting Boards with Cutouts for Hanging
• 10 Easy Pieces: Artful Wooden Spoons 

More Stories from Remodelista

• A Tree-Shaped Table Clamp for Clearing Clutter
• A Kitchen for a Cookbook Author and a Sculptor, Williamsburg Edition
• 9 Favorites: Utilitarian Wood-Handled Kitchen Tools

Looking for a way to keep your work surfaces clutter free? Connecticut design firm Layer x Layer proposes going vertical with its tree-shaped, dip-dyed table clamps that serve as decorative catchalls. Based in Milford, Connecticut, Layer x Layer is run by architect Patrick Turiello and industrial designer Leah Fabishto, a couple who met in high school, attended Boston College together, and have been bouncing ideas off each other for years now. They made the collaboration official by launching their combination woodshop and sewing studio in 2008.

We're particularly taken by their signature clamps, organizational systems that allow a messy table or desktop to be instantly cleared while keeping frequently used items within reach. "Borrowing the form of a tree seemed straightforward and useful," says Patrick. "I'm generally not a fan of skeuomorphic designs, but the clamp make sense to us."

Above: Indigo Clamps are each hand-dyed, no two are exactly alike, and come in different shades of blue; $150 from Layer x Layer. Several versions of the clamps are available, each with a poplar trunk and branches and a maple base. "Branch configuration will vary," the designers note, "just like a real tree."

Above: The basic Indigo Clamp has five branches. 

Above: The design works well on kitchen islands and desks. Maximum clamping thickness is 1.5 inches.

Above L and R: The clamps are handmade of maple and each screw is hand-threaded by Patrick in the duo's Connecticut woodshop.

Above: The natural wood Spruce Clamp is made to order for $120.

Above: The Black Clamp; $149. What's next for Layer x Layer? Leah and Patrick plan to offer clamps in a variety of woods, and they're getting ready to launch a companion line of storage vessels to hang from the branches.

To see the rest of their work, including a utility rack and bags, visit Layer x Layer.

Get more organized with these storage solutions: 

• 10 Favorites: Under the Bench, Kitchen Storage
• Clear the Decks: 11 Ideas for Controlling Desktop Paper (Shredder Included)
• 10 Wall-Mounted Wire Baskets as Storage Containers
• 14 Kitchen Tricks to Steal from the Bathroom
• 5 Favorites: DIY Magazine Racks Made from Leather Straps

More Stories from Remodelista

• Cutting Boards to Covet: Joshua Vogel's New Blackline Collection
• A Kitchen for a Cookbook Author and a Sculptor, Williamsburg Edition
• 9 Favorites: Utilitarian Wood-Handled Kitchen Tools

A plant stand as a bedside table, anyone? And how about a preview of Ikea's spring kitchen accessories collection? This week, Michelle and crew have been celebrating the Cook's Garden, but there's also plenty of takeaway for design hounds who like a bit of indoor greenery. 

Above: It's a nightstand, side table, and bookshelf—and there's plenty of room for plants. Find out where to source this Finnish design and more in 10 Easy Pieces: Stepladder Plant Stands.

Above: What does Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten's Hamptons Backyard look like? Yes, she grows her own ingredients—and has some enviable hangout spots, too. Take a tour in this week's Garden Visit.

Above: Coming next month to Ikea: a new line of kitchen storage accessories, including this bamboo system with room for spices, knives, and potted herbs. Go to Gardenista's Sneak Peak to see more. 

Above: Inspired now to plant some seeds? See Gardening 101: How to Sprout a Seed (in Winter) and consider the 135 Rare Heirloom Varieties from Jardin Co.; Rouge d'Hiver lettuce shown here. Or how about Growing Your Own Countertop Microgreens?

Above: For instant gratification: a potted Norfolk pine on the porch and a plant cutting in a vase. LA jewelry design Kathleen Whitaker's house and garden are filled with inspiring ideas.

More January garden tips? Go to Curb Appeal: 11 Ways to Make Your House Look Great in Winter.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trending on Gardenista: New Year Cure-Alls
• Trending on Gardenista: Little Luxuries
• Trending on Gardenista: The Day-After Festivities

Take a look at what's been grabbing our attention this week: 

• Above: In anticipation of our upcoming Italian Idyll issue, we've been admiring this family home extension in Treviso, Italy. Photograph by Francesco Castagna. 
• Some of the world's most productive people share their tips. 
• Step inside 13 celebrity bedrooms. 

• Above: On our wish list: candles in stoneware cups by Swedish ceramicist Evelina Blomquist. 
• Add this winter dish to your kale salad repertoire. 
• Here's one more plumbing pipe DIY we'd love to make. 

• Above: Fashion designer Helmut Lang's first art installation at Sperone Westwater in NYC is up now through February 21st. 
• A 10-second look at Farrow & Ball's HQ in Dorset, England. 
• From outdated to understated in Brooklyn. 

• Above: Planning your next getaway? Lonny singles out 50 design-minded hotels from around the world. Photograph by Sean Santiago. 
• 15 ways to arrange an art wall. 
• Handy advice for minimizing the mess of winter foot traffic. 

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

• Above: A look at Brooklyn (and beyond) through the eyes of photographer Fiona Conrad (@fionaconrad). 
• To admire snow from afar, have a peek at photographer Nicole Franzen's Winter board on Pinterest. 

For more from this week on Remodelista, see Kitchen Secrets and don't miss Gardenista's Cook's Garden issue. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Cult Following: Photographer Jim Franco's Ceramic Bowls
• Steal This Look: A Star London Chef's Kitchen
• Artful Brass Hooks and Pulls, Australia Edition

In our 2015 trend forecast, we singled out the new Moody Minimalism coming straight from Milan: pared-down interiors that are at once gritty and glamorous, monastic and industrial, luxurious and alive. This week, we're delving into the new look (hello, Vincenzo De Cotiis).

Above: Carlo e Camilla in Milan (stay tuned for our restaurant visit on Friday).

Monday

Above: From Italy's best design lab, the kitchen: new architect-designed cookware that we predict will be having a ripple effect all over. Watch for today's Kitchen Accessories post.

Tuesday

Above: An eat-in kitchen that stands ready for all needs and occasions, chandelier included. It's Tuesday's Steal This Look.

Wednesday

Above: This week's 10 Easy Pieces is devoted to our countertop favorite, the olive oil decanter. 

Thursday

Above: To be filed under brutti ma buoni (ugly but good)? A line of modern spatterware ceramics from Apuglia has us captivated. See why in Thursday's Tabletop & Dinnerware spotlight.

Friday

Above: At the end of the week, we'll be dropping in on Milan's chicest restaurant.

Psst: Secret Gardens are this week's topic on Gardenista.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 11 Favorites: Demijohns as Decor
• Steal This Look: A Glamorous Swiss-Italian Kitchen, Chandelier Included
• Current Obsessions: Wintry Warmth

There's a certain something in Italian design del giorno that has firmly caught our attention. Exemplified by the work of Milan-based designer Vincenzo De Cotiis, it's what T Magazine calls "monastery meets laboratory": both lavish and spare, rich and raw.

De Cotiis is an interior architect who got his start designing clothing boutiques. His credits include an impressive list of collaborations—with fashion designer Alberta Ferretti and kitchen manufacturer Rossana, among others. His firm, Progetto Domestico, now specializes in residential designs and highest-end furniture and backdrops: "This may sound a bit undemocratic," he told T, "but I don't like designing mass-produced pieces."

What De Cotiis does like is recasting old materials, creating bespoke pieces from worn furniture and fiberglass that he hunts down in shipyards. His obsession with patina led to his design of a patinated brass kitchen for a Milan apartment by Dimore Studio—which promptly landed on the cover of World of Interiors and in our story Ancient Meets Modern in a Milan Apartment. 

He planted an equally dramatic kitchen in this remodeled 18th-century house in Salò, in northern Italy, a showcase of the De Cotiis look. 

Above: De Cotiis has said that his starting point on any project is "what I find." In this case, he found soaring and intricately detailed ceilings. 

Above: A patinated bronze kitchen akin to De Cotiis's DC10 design for Rossana. Though the metallic kitchen is becoming a De Cotiis signature, he prefers not to repeat designs: His M.O. is to create entirely custom work for each space so that it has its own "strong identity."

Above: The bedroom wall is covered with torn gauze encased in glass. 

Having started in the fashion world, De Cotiis has an affinity for edgy textiles. Several years ago, he produced a fashion collection called Haute that included torn and washed silk, cashmere, and lace; sometimes he dissolved fabrics in acid and used only what was remaining.

Above: In a bathroom, De Cotiis pairs a stone trough sink and antique rustic cabinetry with Baroque mirrors.

Above: Dramatic arched ceilings meet minimalist rigor in the master bath. For more, visit Vincenzo De Cotiis. 

Explore more Italian interiors:

• Remodelista's Guide to Design Travel in Italy
• Luxury Redux at the Grand Hotel in Milan
• Apartment Upgrade: A Tiled Floor in Every Room
• A Whitewashed Italian Farmhouse with Just a Dash of Color
• Garden Visit: An Italian Terrace

More Stories from Remodelista

• For Rent: A Revived 16th-Century Farmhouse in Puglia
• Rehab Diary, Part 4: A Small House Overhaul in London, Lessons Learned
• Rehab Diary, Part 3: A Small House Overhaul in London, the Big Reveal