All-time sexiest cookware? In Italy, designers have started thinking beyond the burner, creating streamlined, multifunctional pieces that can go from stovetop to tabletop.

Above: Designed by Milanese architect Rodolfo Dordoni for KnIndustrie, the Foodwear line features bronze exteriors with polished stainless interiors; the lids (which can be used as presentation stands) are available in either bronze glass or polished stainless steel. An Eight-Piece Bronze Italian Cookware Set is $599.99 via Amazon. Individual pieces are also available from Dep Design Store. 

Above: Ceramic cookware with clip-on detachable handles, ABCT Pans have an eco-friendly nonstick surface and can be used on the stove and as serving dishes. Thanks to their removable handles, they're easy to store, and they come with mahogany lids that double as hot pads. Pans and woks start at €36.30 ($46.29) at Dep Design Store.

Above: Designed by architect Massimo Castagna, the eight-quart borosilicate Glass Pot for Knindustrie is handmade in Italy (only 10 are produced per day) and is $200 from the MoMA Store in NYC (the Silicon Lid is sold separately for $53). The KnPro Glass Pasta Pot is €114.05 from OWO. 

Above: Designed by Enzo Mari for Zani & Zani, the Cookware Set is available in black (featuring a nonstick coating) or brushed stainless. The ensemble includes two stock pots, three casserole pans, two low pots, and four covers; €2,099.21 ($2,426.46) from Dep Design Store (the pieces are also sold individually).

Above: Massimo Castagna's KnPro cookware line is made of aluminum with a white nonstick nanotech coating and steel handles. The shallow Skillet is €78 ($90.15) from Mohd in Italy.

Above: Same Same but Different is Castagna's KnPro companion family of multifunctional cover plates—porcelain-enamel-coated stainless steel plates or serving platters that double as lids when used with an oversized walnut knob. Prices start at €37 ($42.76) for the 25-centimeter size from Buru Buru.

Above: Toast's line of fireproof terracotta Italian cookware is handmade in Italy and available in a range of colors. The pieces have a ceramic-glazed interior with a chalky, hand-dipped exterior; prices start at £52.50 ($70.48) for the Terracotta Saucepot. Shop our Cookware section for more finds, including:

• The World's Most Beautiful Dutch Oven
• 5 Favorites: The Indispensable Grill Pan
• Object Lessons: Lodge Cast Iron Classics
• Jasper Morrison's Japanese-Made Cast Iron

More Stories from Remodelista

• A Kitchen for a Cookbook Author and a Sculptor, Williamsburg Edition
• A Tree-Shaped Table Clamp for Clearing Clutter
• Cutting Boards to Covet: Joshua Vogel's New Blackline Collection

Located on Via Solferino in Milan, Dry cocktail bar serves just the essentials, pizza and cocktails, in a stripped-down, neo-industrial setting. A venture of John Florins, Andrea Berton, Diego Rigatti, and Titian Vudafieri of food.different, Dry was designed by Vudafieri Saverino Partners and specializes in screening art videos (see Extra Dry). It's become a favorite with the fashion set, who arrive late and stay late. 

Above: The black-painted bay oak Drifted Bar Stools were designed by Lars Beller Fjetland and feature cork seats; €275 ($317.90) from Discipline.

Above: The dimly lit interior. 

Above: A mixologist at work; cocktails include offerings such as Blood and Sand, made with Grouse Scotch whisky. 

Above: The pizzeria is bright and airy—and the walls are ideal for projecting videos.

Above: A shorthand bar menu is incorporated into the frescoed walls.

Above: For spontaneous meetups: interconnected Living Forum seating by Dutch designer Niek van der Heijden.

Above: The tools of the trade. 

Above: Dry is located at 33 Via Solferino. For more information, go to Dry.

See more of our favorite places to eat, stay, and shop in our Italian City Guides. A sampling:

• Villa Lena: A New Creative Hub (and Hotel) in Tuscany 
• Restaurant as Social Experiment: 28 Posti in Milan
• A Medieval Hotel in L'Aquila, Restored for the 21st Century
• World's Biggest Vertical Garden: One More Reason to Visit Italy

More Stories from Remodelista

• Weekend Guide with Petite Passport Guide: Amsterdam Guesthouses
• Weekend Guide with Petite Passport Guide: Madrid Hot Spots
• A Modern Spa Retreat in Norway

Husband and wife duo Demetrio Zanetti and Veruska Gennari handpick the vintage and contemporary furniture that showcases at their gallery Demos Mobilia in Chiasso, Switzerland, one of the largest design shops in Europe. Not surprisingly, their own home, located in the Swiss-Italian city of Lugano, is filled with a glamorous mix of vintage and contemporary pieces. We're particularly intrigued by their eat-in kitchen. Get the look with the following elements.

Room photography by Davide Lovatti for Grazia Casa. 

Above: A kitchen that stands ready for dinner parties, the light-filled space features a grand chandelier, marble-top table, stainless steel appliances, and a checked stone floor.

Above L: Nestled in a corner, a fireplace and a midcentury classic lounge chair (see below) that's a favorite collectible among architects. Dishes are kept on open shelves for easy access. Above R: By the entry, vintage Italian vases are displayed on a ebony-molded plywood CTM coffee table by Charles Eames.

Above: The Marble Top/Elm Base Dining Table from Crate & Barrel is available in three sizes (from 48 to 72 inches wide); prices start at $999. The table is also available in a Marble Top/Dark Steel Base version. 

Above: Made by Swiss manufacturer Horgen Glasus, the couple's Massive Wood Dining Chairs date from the 1960s. They're available via Demos Mobilia; inquire about pricing. For a similar option, consider the Afton Chair with Wood Seat in a walnut finish; $399 from Room & Board. 

Above: Handcrafted in Schoolhouse Electric's Portland, Oregon, factory, the Chandelier Sergeant Green Lamp has a hand-welded steel base in a green finish, and its six exposed bulbs hang from adjustable braided-cloth cording (choose red or khaki); $285. Also consider British firm Bowles and Linares' steel and silk-cord Farol Chandelier, the light pictured on the cover of the Remodelista book.

Above: The Marset Polo Wall Lamp, designed by Joan Gaspar, comes in black and white; $495 via OLighting.

 Above: The 36-inch Bertazzoni Professional Series Pro-Style Gas Range with six sealed brass burners is $4,349 via Designer Appliances.

Above: A 36-inch 600 CFM Wall Chimney Hood by XO is $649 via Amazon. 

Above: The metal-framed Borsani P40 Lounge Chair, designed by Osvaldo Borsani in 1955 for Italian company Tecno, is still in production. It's available in leather or fabric, and in a black or satin nickel base finish, starting at $10,197 at Hive Modern.

Above: A vintage ebony molded-plywood CTM Coffee Table by Charles Eames for Herman Miller is available via 1st Dibs for $2,200.

Above: Demos Mobilia offers a variety of Vintage Ceramic Vases from Italy and Germany.

Above: The Bulb Vase in aqua is $66 from Heath Ceramics. 

Above: Architect Silvia Song's Nested Maple Bowls start at $149 at March in San Francisco. Read about her work in Moody Blues: Silvia Song's Indigo-Dyed Bowls and More.

Above: Italian-made Organic Dinnerware is $18 for a mug and $21 for a dinner plate at Hudson & Grace in SF.  

For more inspiration, peruse our latest STL Posts:

• A Star London Chef's Kitchen
• A Moody Minimalist London Bedroom
• A Library Loft in Barcelona
• Dinner in an Atelier
• A Low-Key Luxe Bath in Los Angeles

More Stories from Remodelista

• 11 Favorites: Demijohns as Decor
• Table of Contents: Italian Renaissance
• Current Obsessions: Wintry Warmth

Back in 2006, a San Francisco–based Italian-American couple set out to find an Italian retreat near her native city of Bari. After an exhaustive search, and the failed purchase of a modest home, they chanced upon one of the area's many decaying masseria, fortified farmhouses that dot the Puglia region. Despite the compound's "horrible state of repair," the couple fell under the spell of Villa Pizzorusso's Romanesque architecture and Arabic detailing and never looked back. Reviving the centuries-old structure with the help of local architect Cosimo "Mino" D'Astore took three years. Now fully restored—and furnished with style and restraint—it's available for rent by the week, six bedrooms, swimming pool, and orange grove included.

Above: The central courtyard of the villa is entered via a grand archway. When it was built in the 16th century, farmers and livestock would file through the portal each evening, seeking protection from marauding Turks and other invaders. Photograph via Designtripper. 

Above: Under the vaulted ceiling of the masseria's former stables, the salone provides a communal gathering, cooking, and eating area with an open kitchen and seating for 16.

Above: The owners designed the interiors of Villa Pizzorusso themselves. Avid foragers, they gathered furnishings from all over via Suvito.it, Italy's equivalent of Craigslist. The result is an eclectic mix of custom built-ins (by Mino), local antiques, and contemporary finds that pay homage to the building's past and present. In the salone, the generous dining table is made from Balinese teak that the owners' son found for them; Mino designed the base. The chairs are Spanish and came from the same local design shop as the B&B Italia sofa.

Above: The antique regional pottery on display, including a Puglia piece that the owners came across in a vintage shop in Hawaii. Photograph via Designtripper. 

Above: Old meets new(er): In the courtyard, the original Romanesque fortification from the 1500s abuts the "piano nobile" (noble's quarters), built in the 1700s.

Above: Upstairs, the piano nobile retains original Moorish details, such as the ornate tiled floor and arched doorways. Photograph via Designtripper. 

Above L: In the upstairs bath, a Spoon by Agape bathtub offers a memorable view. Above R: Now faded, the original frescoes are still visible in one of the four upstairs bedrooms.

Above: Very carefully edited, the interiors of Villa Pizzorusso consist of a few choice pieces, selected to enhance the architecture. Photograph via Designtripper. 

Above: The villa's grounds are equally impressive and include olive and citrus groves, an outdoor eating area (with a working, 500-year-old, outdoor oven), and a 25-meter (82-foot) swimming pool. Photograph via Designtripper. 

Above: More rustic but no less grand, the lower-story bedrooms have star-vaulted ceilings and stone floors. The owner's signature pared-down furnishings, include a Thonet bentwood rocker.

Above L and R: Part of Villa Pizzorusso's charm lies in its combination of sweeping vistas and more intimate nooks.

Above: Another alcove provides spaces for writing and repose. Photograph via Designtripper. 

Above: While the owners strove to keep the renovations as authentic as possible, they did make a few concessions for modern comforts, such as an updated kitchen and baths, as well as the night-lit pool.

Above: Villa Pizzorusso sleeps up to 14 people in six bedrooms. Weekly rentals start at $5,600 during the low season: January to mid-March and October 24 to December 12. For full details and reservations, go to Villa Pizzorusso, and e-mail info@villapizzorusso.com for availability.

Dreaming of a trip to Italy? Here are a few more luxury accommodations to tempt you:

• A Medieval Hotel Restored for the 21st Century
• Hotel & Lodging: Castello di Vicarello in Italy
• Malatesta Maison: Farmhouse Chic in Italy

More Stories from Remodelista

• Moody Minimalism: A New Project by Vincenzo De Cotiis
• 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

Perhaps the first bottles ever to get recycled as decor: Outsize French and Italian wine bottles—known as demijohns, damigiana, and carboys—have long been put to use as sculptural objects. An easy way to add spring color to a room, they look equally at home in a clean-lined or rustic setting. Here are some examples we've been admiring.

Above: A demijohn used as a vase in a minimalist apartment designed by Remy Meijers in the Hague, Netherlands. Tour the house in our post History and Modern Glam in the Hague.

Vintage demijohns and damigiana (characterized by their round bodies and small necks) and carboys (identifiable by their straight sides) are widely available: Search sellers on eBay and Etsy; some bottles come wrapped in their original wicker. Pottery Barn offers a selection, PB Found Oversize Wine Bottles, gathered in Central Europe by a collector and priced at $99 to $199. Wine Sphere Pendant Lights are available from Wild Flower Organics.

Above: Demijohns clustered alongside a concrete stair in a vacation house on the border of Switzerland and Italy, discovered via Marie Claire Maison.

Above: A Swedish interior from Heltenkelt via Pinterest.

Above: A gleam of green on the marble shelves in chef Skye Gyngell's London kitchen. See more in our posts In the Kitchen with Skye Gyngell, London's Chef du Jour and Steal This Look: A Star London Chef's Kitchen. Photograph by Alexis Hamilton for British Standard.

Above: Skye Gyngell's bottle display. Photograph by Alexis Hamilton for British Standard.

Above: A kitchen in a modern villa in Uruguay from Green Glass as Decor. Photograph via AT.

Above: A demijohn adds color to an all-white setting in graphic designer/stylist Jeanette Lunde's house in Norway. Photograph via Design Vox. 

Above: Damigiane line the hearth at Masserie Potenti in Puglia, Italy. Photograph via My Paradissi.

Above: A tabletop created by Jeanette Lunde for KK Living magazine. Photograph via Lund's blog By Fryd.

Above: A demijohn centerpiece in the dining room of the Frank & Eileen showroom in LA, designed by Melody Weir. Tour the rest in The Frank & Eileen Showroom: An Ode to Ireland in LA. Photograph by Torkil Stavdal.

Above: Vintage Wine Bottles in Crates from wholesale French decorative arts company Eloquence.

Above: A 1925 house in Osterlen, Sweden, with preserved weathered surfaces and a gleam of glass, discovered on Skonaham.

Go to Glassware for more ideas, including Trend Alert: Your Grandmother's Cut Crystal Makes a Comeback and Simple Glass Vases Under $30.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Steal This Look: A Glamorous Swiss-Italian Kitchen, Chandelier Included
• Table of Contents: Italian Renaissance
• Current Obsessions: Wintry Warmth

Jackson Pollock was hardly the first to elevate the paint drip. Spatterware (also known as splatterware) ceramics and enamelware have been around for centuries. But not all is equal. We especially like these classic glazed terracotta designs with just the right amount of speckling. Made by a generations-old, family-run workshop in Puglia, Italy, each piece is hand thrown and splattered. Available in eight color combinations, the line is available in the US from March in San Francisco.

Photography by Ben Kist for March.

Above: The Black on White 20.75-Inch Splatterware Platter is $225. The black-and-white color combination is made exclusively for March. 

Above: The Green on Cream 18-Inch Splatterware Serving Bowl, $210, is the largest of three serving bowl sizes available.

Above: Gray on White Splatterware Pitchers come in three sizes, priced at $45, $80, and $95. All pieces in the collection are available in any of the eight colorways.

Above: Brown on Cream Splatterware Plates range from 7.25-inch fruit plates to 14-inch chargers, $38 to $98. The line is dishwasher safe, but a low temperature is recommended.

Above: Blue on Blue Splatterware Cups are $35 each.

Above: The wedding gift you've been looking for? The Black on White Splatterware 13-Inch Serving Bowl is $98.

Above: For storing dry goods, Green on Yellow Splatterware Canisters come in small, medium, and large: $48, $65, and $75. They're not air-tight, but adding a rubber band to the rim creates a good seal.

Above: The Gray on White 18-Inch Splatterware Serving Bowl is $225.

Above: To view the whole collection, go to March.

For more ideas, browse our Ceramics and Tabletop & Dinnerware posts.

Like the look of spatterware? Consider refinishing your floors inexpensively and on your own: See DIY: New England Spatter-Painted Floors.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trousseau-Worthy Textiles from Gruppo di Installazione
• 11 Favorites: Demijohns as Decor
• Steal This Look: A Glamorous Swiss-Italian Kitchen, Chandelier Included

Purists insist that olive oil must be stored away from light and heat. Here are 10 containers that keep your liquid gold safe from both.

Metal

Above: Made of stainless steel, the Portuguese Olive Oil Drizzler Can holds 250 milliliters (8.5 ounces) and is £17.50 ($26.52) at Saudade in London.

Above: This elegant MUI France Stainless Steel Italian Oil Can holds 16 ounces; $41.61 from Barnes & Noble. 

Above: The handcrafted Copper Olive Oil Cruet is made by Turkish artisans; $99 from Williams-Sonoma.

Above: The Classic Spanish Oil Olive Dispenser comes in four sizes; the 1/4 liter size starts at $29.95 from La Paella. Photograph via Flotsam & Fork (which also offers the olive oil can; it's currently sold out). 

Above: The one-liter (34-ounce) Ilsa Olive Oil Cruet comes from Italy; $39.95 from Brick Oven Baker. 

Ceramic

Above: The Seletti Olive Oil Bottle is made of porcelain and has a stainless steel stopper. The bottle is offered in two wine bottles shapes and is $37 from Design Menagerie.

Above: The wheel-thrown stoneware 10-ounce Olive Oil Dispenser is $32 from Loma Prieta Pottery on Etsy.

Above: Made by a potter in Provence, these Barbotine Olive Oil Bottles are available in medium, $27 (left), and large, $48 (right), at Quel Objet.

Above: Made of Burgundy clay, the 450 milliliter (15 ounce) Emile Henry Olive Oil Bottle comes in a range of colors and is $47 from Amazon.

 Above: These hand-thrown ceramic Olive Oil/Dressing Bottles are made by Martin Wilson and Pam Smith of Trawden Pottery in the UK; £12.50 ($18.94) from Folksy. 

Above: Farmhouse Pottery's wheel-thrown stoneware Olive Oil Bottle, $95, is made to order.

Above: The navy blue Al Fresco Olive Oil Bottle from John Lewis is £12 ($18).

Allow us to help you find more Kitchen Accessories:

• 6 Elegant Cookware Lines, Italian Edition
• Cutting Boards to Covet: Joshua Vogel's New Blackline Collection
• 10 Easy Pieces: Plastic-Free Food Storage Containers
• Local Heroes: 15 Made-in-America Kitchen Classics
• Rustic Suede Pot Holders Made in Upstate New York

More Stories from Remodelista

• 10 Easy Pieces: Food Storage Containers, Plastic-Free Edition
• Precision Trash Bins from Germany
• Object Lessons: The Perfect Office Wastebasket

Scotti Sitz and John Davidson, the owners of Garde in LA, discovered textile collaborative Gruppo di Installazione a couple of years ago at Maison Objet. "We were walking through the exhibition halls, and we stopped in our tracks when we saw their work," John says. "Their work is both primitive and modern and has an entirely handmade look."

Founded by three young Italian fashion-world insiders, Samanta Mancone, Fabio Timodei, and Fabrizio Flaccomio, who share a passion for textiles and traditional folk craft, Gruppo di Insallazione makes handcrafted trousseau classics rooted in traditional design but with a contemporary, and decidedly artful, edge. The trio set up shop in an old factory in Abruzzo, in central Italy, where they employ century-old looms to create innovative, contemporary textiles. The work is available at Garde in LA (new pieces will be arriving soon).

Above: Tappeto Calabrese rugs are woven from a combination of wool, cotton, and genesta, a now-rare vegetable fiber; $2,585 from Garde.

Above: The Coperta Italiana throw blanket, the company's "manifesto product," is made of taranta, a material traditionally used by Abruzzo shepherds to weave tabarri, cloaks worn while moving livestock between summer and winter pastures. It has "Coperta Italiana" embroidered on it in red.

Above: The linen and cotton Tovaglia Agugliata Tablecloth with needle-punch embroidered stripes is $499.95 (down from $980) at Anthropologie.

Above: The Plaid Agugliato II blanket is Italian lamb's wool woven on looms from the 1950s. Its stripes hearken back to traditional blankets but are made by the modern technique of needle-punch embroidery; $650.

Above: The Ready-to-Embroider linen tablecloth is a concept piece: Some of the embroidery is finished, while the remaining design is outlined in black, encouraging the new owner to complete the design; $795.

Above: The Ready-to-Embroider linen tablecloth.

To see traditional weaving and slow design on the domestic front, read our posts on Farm-to-Table Textiles from Voices of Industry and The Olli Lounger: Slow Design for the Modern World.  

More Stories from Remodelista

• New Serving: Splatterware Ceramics from Italy
• 11 Favorites: Demijohns as Decor
• Steal This Look: A Glamorous Swiss-Italian Kitchen, Chandelier Included

With its gray stucco walls and simple architectural massing, Varese's Villa V by Milan- and Moscow-based Raboni Architetti saves its riches for the inside, where a muted palette meets an undertone of saturated color. It's the new minimalism, Italian style.

Photography via Raboni Architetti.

Above: In one of the living areas, the red in the textiles quietly warms up the gray plastered walls.

Above: The eclectic furnishings include a mix of the antique, modern rustic, and industrial.

Above: The neutral palette finds warmth, texture, and an element of surprise in rust velvet-covered vintage chairs.

Above: An updated loggia brings light into the upper-floor sitting area.

Above: Dark cabinets, a concrete countertop, and a patinated bronze pendant shade come together to create a minimalist and moody kitchen.

Above: Each room offers its own hint of color. Here, metal-framed bistro chairs have rattan webbing with integrated red stripes.

Above: Clean lines are offset by rustic elements, including a wood table, rough-hewn cutting boards, and woven placemats and trays.

Above: An industrial faucet paired with a stainless steel sink.

Above: In an under-the-eaves bedroom, chairs covered in soft yellow linen are surrounded by a palette of neutral grays and browns.

Above: A sink and a round nautical window are fit in beneath the upstairs eaves.

Above: The built-in furniture, painted the same gray as the walls, blends in with the architecture of the room, while the wooden eaves are painted white to give height to the space.

Above: The landing of the metal spiral stair has been inscribed with precision into the wood floor.

Above: The handrail detail at the top of the spiral stair is elegant in its simplicity.

Above: The house is located in the stone-cutting town of Viggiù in Varese, part of the Lombardy region, about 30 miles northwest of Milan.

Above: A pair of industrial lights are wall mounted on the exterior wall of the loggia.

Above: A verdant garden surrounds the house.

For more Italian interiors, take a look at:

• Pastels Go Rustic in an Italian Farmhouse
• Malatesta Maison: Farmhouse Chic in Italy
• Apartment Upgrade: A Tiled Floor in Every Room

And on Gardenista, visit An Italian Terrace.

More Stories from Remodelista

• For Rent: A Revived 16th-Century Farmhouse in Puglia
• Moody Minimalism: A New Project by Vincenzo De Cotiis
• Rehab Diary, Part 4: A Small House Overhaul in London, Lessons Learned

Here's a look at the latest modular kitchen systems from Italy: practical, precisely engineered, and, yes, pricey. The advantages? Modular systems offer the entire package, with an all-of-a-piece design so you don't have to cobble together elements from different sources (cabinets from here, counters from there). And most of the companies featured here have been in the business for decades and cater to a worldwide market. The drawbacks? You sacrifice a certain amount of aesthetic control, and most of these designs are pricey. Interested? Here are eight good examples of Italian kitchen ingenuity:

Alpes Inox

Above: Alpes Inox's freestanding, stainless-steel kitchen systems are multifunctional and made to come with you should you move—none are built-ins, so they can be rearranged as needed, and most designs are available on wheels. See Race-Car Style Appliances for Compact Kitchens.

Based in Bassano del Grappa, Italy, Alpes Inox is a family-run business; it's been fabricating kitchen equipment since 1954 using high-nickel stainless, which has a durable, bright, white shine. For more information and prices, see Alpes Inox, and contact Mr. Passalacqua in the company's export department at commerciale@alpesinox.com.

Arclinea

Above: Arclinea's Convivium Kitchen System is an open-living design, a "true center for rapport between the cook and the others." 

Arclinea was founded in 1925 in Caldogna, Italy, where it's still based. Since 1986, Italian architect and industrial designer Antonia Citterio has directed the company's designs. There are 13 Arclinea Distributors in North America, including Arclinea showrooms in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington, DC. 

Boffi

Above: The Boffi Aprile Kitchen, designed by Piero Lissoni, integrates rustic materials in the design: Its cabinet doors are made using wood staves of varying widths and thicknesses. 

Situated north of Milan and in business since 1934, Boffi has a worldwide presence, including Boffi North American Studios in Washington, DC, New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In addition to kitchens, it offers bathrooms, storage systems, and a range of interior items, such as lamps. The company's long list of contributing designers ranges from Marcel Wanders to Claudio Silvestrin. 

Dada

Above: Dada's INDada Kitchen System, designed by Nicola Gallizia.

Above: Dada recently introduced the linear Vela Kitchen System.

The region around Milan is home to several notable kitchen system manufacturers, including Dada (which has been part of the high-end furnishings group Moldeni since 1980). Dada offers seven kitchen system designs, all of which are on view in the company's New York and Miami flagship stores, and at In-Ex in Los Angeles. 

Poliform

Above: Poliform's Artex Kitchen offers ample work surfaces.

Above: Storage details in a cabinet from Poliform.

Poliform started in 1942 with a focus on bookshelves, wardrobes, and other home furnishings. Situated in the Brianza region of Italy and still family-run, it added kitchens to its repertoire in 1996 through the acquisition of the Varenna brand and now offers nine kitchen system designs. Poliform's North America Network includes more than 40 dealers, and there are dedicated Poliform stores in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Miami.

Rossana

Above: The TK38 Linear Kitchen was designed by architect Massimo Castagna is outfitted for professional-level cooking.

Rossana has been in the kitchen design business for more than half a century and has collaborated with big names like Michele De Lucchi, Rodolfo Dordoni, and Vincenzo De Cotiis (his burnished brass DC10 kitchen can be seen in the Milan apartment of Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci of Studio Dimore).

Schiffini

Above: The Cinqueterre, the first all-aluminum kitchen, was designed in 2000 by Vico Magistretti for Schiffini. Photograph via DesignSpace London.

Schiffini was established in the 1920s to supply nautical fittings to the Italian Navy dockyard in La Spezia and later specialized in the furnishings of military and civil ships. In the 1950s, Schiffini reoriented itself to kitchen furniture design, and claims to be the first Italian company to produce a series of modular offerings. Still located near La Spezia (think Italian Riviera), Schiffini is available in the US through McDuffee Design in Chicago.

Valcucine 

Above: The fully equipped back section of the Valcucine Logica System Kitchen comes in aluminum or stainless steel, and can be fitted against a wall or used in an island. Clutter averse? The unit can be fully enclosed with cabinet fronts. 

Above: The Sine Tempore system features a modern farmhouse spirit; see more at Modern Italian Rusticity from Valcucine.

The youngest of the Italian companies in our lineup, 35-year-old Valcucine is known for revolutionizing kitchen ergonomics with its 1996 Logica Kitchen (picture wall units with lift-up doors and cabinets with removable drawers). The Logica was updated recently and remains one of the more technologically advanced modular systems available. If you are looking for something with less drive, Valcucine offers several other kitchen systems, too. Valcucine US Dealers are located in New York, Minneapolis, Tulsa, Chicago, and Dallas.

Coming Soon

Above: Coming next? Binova is an Italian to watch. We're hoping its kitchens, including the Regula Ad design, shown here, will soon be available on the US market. 

For more on modular kitchens and kitchen cabinetry see: 

• Remodeling 101: Five Questions to Ask When Choosing Kitchen Cabinets
• Copenhagen's Coolest New Kitchen System
• Kitchen: Bulthaup Workbench
• And consider the American-made Henrybuilt and Viola Park Kitchen Systems.  

For more Italian kitchen design inspiration, see: 

• 11 Italian Kitchens, Dolce Vita Edition
• 16 Made-in-Italy Kitchen Essentials
• 7 High-Style Italian Kitchen Ranges

More Stories from Remodelista

• 6 Elegant Cookware Lines, Italian Edition
• A Kitchen for a Cookbook Author and a Sculptor, Williamsburg Edition
• A Tree-Shaped Table Clamp for Clearing Clutter

In Europe, radiators are the embodiment of quiet, gentle warmth and minimalism. Here, they have a reputation for being ineffectual and outdated. But this scenario is changing along with the profile of the radiator. No longer clunky, hissing pieces of iron that take up valuable space, modern wall-panel radiators are well-designed, quiet, efficient, and increasingly available in the US. Imagine a heating system that isn't seen or heard. 

Above: Flat-panel radiators can replace bulky, cast-iron hot-water radiators to save space and increase heating efficiency. Photograph via Runtal.

How do wall-panel radiators work?

Wall-panel (also called flat-panel) radiators work essentially the same way as old-fashioned radiators: Water is heated in a boiler and then flows through the panels to heat the surrounding air, radiating a warmth in the room. Note that wall-panel radiators are compatible only with "closed loop" hot-water (not steam) heating systems. 

Above: Slim panel radiators are also available with floor mounting as seen (though nearly invisible) in the London dining room of journalist and blogger Kate Watson-Smyth. Photograph via Mad About the House. 

What are the benefits of wall-panel radiators? 

Efficient heaters. Radiator heat is generally more efficient than forced-air systems, which lose upwards of 30 percent of their heat through the ductwork. Compared to traditional models, flat-panel radiators have a vastly increased surface area for giving off heat. They require a much lower water temperature to heat, and will only heat to the necessary temperature, keeping them safe to the touch. Flat-panel systems are also easy to zone, offering room-to-room temperature control with multiple thermostats. So you can limit energy waste and cost by heating select rooms rather than the whole house. 

Clean. Radiators don't stir up dust like central forced-air systems.

Quiet. No more hissing and hammering.

Space-saving. Flat-panel radiators have a very low profile (some as slim as two inches) and can be mounted on unused sections of a wall, freeing up floor space. And compared to baseboard heaters, flat-panel radiators take up less wall space and make furniture placement less restrictive.

Aesthetically pleasing. Their flexibility in placement and range of designs enables flat-panel radiators to be either nearly invisible or used as an architectural element. 

Above: Starting from scratch? Wall-panel heating systems are initially more expensive to install than forced air, but the energy efficiency should result in cost savings over time. Photograph via Runtal.

Where can I get wall-panel radiators? 

The following are a few of our favorite options that are available in the US market. Most are also available in floor-mount and baseboard configurations, and come in a range of finishes and colors. 

Above: Founded in 1953, Swiss company Runtal is known for its engineering expertise and architectural design. The Runtal Arteplano Radiator is shown here in anodized aluminum. Contact Runtal USA for specifications and pricing.

Above: Canadian company Jaga offers the Tetra Radiator and other models in the US; find a dealer on the Jaga website.

Above: Belgian company Vasco makes the Arche-Plus Radiator in horizontal and vertical configurations. Like many of the radiators shown here, it can also be outfitted with towel rails, towel rings, and robe hooks. In the US, the Vasco Arche line is available through Hydronic Alternatives. 

Above: British company Hudson Reed offers a selection of wall-panel radiators, including the Sloan White Vertical-Panel Radiator, through its US website. 

Above: Have a steam system? Steam Radiators (a sister company of Runtal) offer streamlined radiator designs that free up space. 

Thinking about staying warm? See our posts:

• 5 Things to Know About Radiant Floor Heating.
• 5 Favorites: Space Heaters with Style.
• Remodeling 101: Tankless Water Heaters.
• 5 Quick Fixes: Painted Radiators.

Note: This post is an update; the original was published on January 18, 2012, as part of the European Travel Issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Remodeling 101: Lava Stone Countertops
• Design Sleuth: Simple Brass Napkin Rings (from the Hardware Store)
• Remodeling 101: Wood-Burning vs. Gas Fireplaces

With two locations in Milan (the first at Corso Magento and the newest at Via Palermo in the Brera design district), Raw has the city's distressed/vintage market cornered. Paul Badesco, a designer, and Constantine Affuso, an architect, travel around Europe and the US in search of "the unusual and the poetic," as they say. Their wares range from salvaged architectural pieces and plumbing fixtures to ceramics and accessories from NYC's John Derian, Paris's Astier de Villatte, and Berlin's Kuhn Keramik. 

Above: Badesco and Affuso are constantly tweaking their two shops; in its current kitchen incarnation, the Via Palermo location features blue-black walls and dashes of red.

Above: Vintage cookware and plates on offer.

Above: The Corso Magento shop interior as it looked a while back.

Above: A black-painted ceiling and door frames.

Above: Piles of vintage steamer trunks and walls papered in maps.

Above: The cabinet of curiosities lives on.

Above: A deconstructed upholstered chair with a pillow by Boston-based artist Don Carney of Patch NYC.

Above: The exterior at 1 Via Palermo in the Brera design district. Go to Raw for more information.

Consult our Milan City Guide for more of our finds, including the World's Biggest Vertical Garden and the ASAP (As Sustainable As Possible) Shop.

For Antiques & Vintage closer to home, see Editor's Picks: 10 Favorite Sources for Bargain Vintage Furniture. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• Living the Life: 11 Farmhouse Rentals in Italy
• Decadent and Decayed: Dry Cocktail Bar in Milan
• Weekend Guide with Petite Passport Guide: Amsterdam Guesthouses

Paradise within reach? A new wave of restored villas for rent is making it possible; here's our guide to the farmhouse rental, Italian style. N.B. A good source for villa rentals is The Thinking Traveller.

Above: Masseria Alchimia is a restored, high-style masseria with 10 studios for rent; watch the snazzy video here.

Above: The perks at Masseria Cimino near Brindisi? A restaurant, a swimming pool, bicycles for guest use, plus olive oil made on the property. The 18th-century farmhouse was constructed from stone salvaged from a nearby Roman archaeological site. Rates start at $210 per night at Great Small Hotels. 

Above: Located in the town of Cisternino in Puglia, this Airbnb rental ($418 per night) is not a masseria but a collection of trulli—19th-century conical stone huts used as agricultural housing and now protected as UNESCO World Heritage sites. This one features five bedrooms with three baths and two kitchens, and is surrounded by a garden, pool, and solarium. We give it extra points for an effort at environmental sustainability. 

Above: A lovely 17th-century masseria in Petrarolo, Puglia, will be offered for rent sometime this year; stay tuned for details. The eight-bedroom estate flaunts romantic decor by Alexander Waterworth Interiors, as featured in House Tour: Pastels Go Rustic in an Italian Farmhouse. Photograph by Emily Andrews.

Above: Masseria Otranto in Otranto, Puglia, sleeps 11 people in three buildings: a main villa, a stone trullo, and a detached annex. Stylish interiors and swimming pool aside, it's a 10-minute drive to the local beach. Rates start at $8,600 per week at Masseria Otranto.

Above: A 16th-century masseria on a vineyard in the town of Grottaglie in Puglia sleeps 12 people in six bedrooms with eight baths and a private pool and garden. Rentals start at $775 per night for a minimum one-week stay on Airbnb.

Above: Casa Del Vento is a former monastery on Pantelleria, an island off the coast of Sicily. Located inside a national park, it features a pool, views, and outdoor lounge areas: hammocks, sofas, and chaise longues abound. For rental information, contact Casa Del Vento.

Above: Located in the Marche region, a high-style farmhouse with original stone walls is outfitted with furniture from Vitra, Cassina, and Philippe Stark. It sleeps 11 people with five baths, an infinity pool, and 360-degree hillside views. Rentals start at $5,060 per week at Casa Olivi.

Above: Villa Pizzorusso, a formerly decaying masseria outside of Bari in Puglia, has six bedrooms, a swimming pool, and an orange grove, and sleeps up to 14 people. Shown here, a dining table seats 16 in the masseria's former stables. For more of the estate's eclectic furnishings, see For Rent: A Revived 16th-Century Farmhouse in Puglia. Rentals start at $5,600 per week at Villa Pizzorusso. 

Above: The Mazzini residence is located on the border of Umbria and Tuscany in the 11th-century village of Monteleone, perfectly situated for family day trips to Rome and Florence. The 18th-century home sleeps nine people in three bedrooms, sports an indoor pool, and welcomes kids. Here, original stone walls surround a modern eat-in kitchen. Rentals start at $425 per night at Kid & Coe. 

Above: This masseria in Muro Leccese in Puglia has a vast collection of modern artwork and an orange garden on a sprawling property. The main building sleeps 14 people in six bedrooms, but arrangements can be made for an additional 19 people on adjoining properties. Rentals start at $1,193 per night for a minimum of two nights on Airbnb. 

For more rentals around the world, see:

• Editors' Picks: 15 Favorite Vacation Rental Resources
• Greatest Hits: 33 Top Rental Houses Featured on Remodelista
• Live Like a Londoner: 15 Short-Term Rentals, High to Low
• Airbnb Visit: Under the Radar, Near Capri

More Stories from Remodelista

• Raw in Milan, a Cabinet of Curiosities
• Decadent and Decayed: Dry Cocktail Bar in Milan
• Weekend Guide with Petite Passport Guide: Amsterdam Guesthouses

Our favorite countertop water dispenser? The Italian fustis, designed originally for olive oil but genius as a water dispenser. Here are five we'd be happy to own. N.B. Most of the retailers we link to offer fustis in a range of sizes, starting at three liters and going up to 50 liters and higher.

Above: The 10-liter Superfustinox Stainless Steel Water Dispenser from Italy is $179.95 from Water Check.

Above: The 15-liter Dinuba Water Tank is $159 directly from Dinuba. Photograph via Bon Appetit.

Above: The 5-Liter Sansone Stainless Steel Water Dispenser is $149.95 from Water Check.

Above: The 5-Liter Aginox Fusti Stainless Steel Ceramic-Coated Fusti is available in four colors (black, gold, green, and brown); $119 from Gourmet Italian.

Above: The 5-Liter Minox Stainless Steel Fusti is $107 from Gourmet Italian.

See 10 Easy Pieces: Drink Dispensers for more ideas. And on Gardenista, read Erin's recipes for herb- and fruit-infused waters in Herbal Essence.

Also don't miss 21 Tips: Ways to Save Water at Home, One Drop at a Time.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Curvaceous Designs from Pianoprimo in Milan
• 10 Easy Pieces: Olive Oil Containers
• 10 Easy Pieces: Food Storage Containers, Plastic-Free Edition

How to keep cut flowers fresh the longest? The realest looking fake foliage? The secret to cultivating weed at home (yes, where it's legal)? This week, Michelle and crew crack the codes.

Above: "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey and family (and chickens and donkeys) live in a Frank Gehry–designed Malibu spread. Take a look, including a Before & After Tour of the Garden and Grounds.

Above: If you happen to live in one of the states where marijuana cultivation at home is legal, you might want to give it a try. In Growing Guide: 11 Tips to Grow Your Own Marijuana, Michelle explains it all, starting with how to find the best seeds. And yes, she delves into potency, too.

Above: Tall, dark, and perfect for indoors and out—learn where to source this pot and others like it in From Italy with Love: Raw and Rustic Planters.

Above: The quest: How to keep cut flowers fresh for days (and which varieties create the longest lasting bouquets)? Take a look at Justine's findings in this week's DIY Test Drive. Photograph by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

Above: The only thing these olive branches require is an occasional dusting. In 10 Easy Pieces, Michelle presents a roundup of Eerily Lifelike Faux Plants for the Home. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Above: It's a greenhouse and a fully equipped kitchen. Learn how to Steal This Look.

Above: Some gardens come alive in the snow. This magical pairing in Belgium is the Outbuilding of the Week.

Go to Gardenista for more.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trending on Gardenista: Winter Greens (and Other Pick-Me-Ups)
• Trending on Gardenista: New Year Cure-Alls
• Trending on Gardenista: Little Luxuries

In the home of art collector and midcentury furniture dealer Demetrio Zanetti, high (velvet lounge chair, midcentury table and light) mixes well with low (metal clips as art hanging system). 

Above: Two canvases hang from metal clips nailed to the wall. Photograph by Davide Lovatti.

Above: Zanetti's finds come directly from his own 20th-century design gallery, Demos Mobilia, in Chiasso, Switzerland. Photograph by Davide Lovatti.

Above: Vintage Binder Clips from Etsy have more character than new ones from Staples; a set of Seven Binder Clips is $15 from Pivot 180.

Above L: A pack of 100 blued steel Forged Nails is £6 ($9.07) from Objects of Use in Oxford, England. Above R: A Set of Four Hand-Forged Iron Nails is $12 from Brook Farm General Store.

Take a look at more of our Design Sleuth posts:

• Faux Branch Good Enough to Fool the Experts
• Brass Napkin Rings Sourced at the Hardware Store
• Black Sheepskin Throws
• A Dan Flavin–Inspired Light

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trousseau-Worthy Textiles from Gruppo di Installazione
• New Serving: Splatterware Ceramics from Italy
• 11 Favorites: Demijohns as Decor

These curvy glass designs and full-figured baskets stopped us in our tracks on a recent visit to Garde in LA.  They're the work of Italian interior designers Fabio Cocchi and Luigi Rotta of Pianoprimo, who have been creating elegantly playful household staples since the early nineties. Garde owners Scotti Sitz and John Anderson discovered the duo at last fall's Maison et Objet and have just introduced the collection to the US. Anderson says, "We love that the designs look classic but very original at the same time. Besides being beautiful to look at, they can all be put to everyday use." 

Above: The large Tess Carafe, blown glass with wood handles, is $195.

Above: The Coco Blown Glass Cloche is available in two sizes: small for $225, and large for $285.

Above: The corset-stitched Lakota Wicker Basket with flaps is $350. 

Above: The Lakota Double Basket, made of wicker embellished with red PVC twine and a wood handle, is $350. 

Consult our Guide to Italy for more great design finds.

For the world's most beautiful pots and pans, see our recent posts Italian Cookware Designers Think Beyond the Burner and 16 Made-in-Italy Classic Kitchen Essentials. And take a look at Gardenista's pick of the 10 Best Glass Cloches.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 5 Favorites: Stainless Steel Water Fustis, Italian Edition
• 10 Easy Pieces: Olive Oil Containers
• 10 Easy Pieces: Food Storage Containers, Plastic-Free Edition

Milan's rawest yet most refined restaurant, Carlo e Camilla in Segheria, is located in a former 1930s sawmill (segheria is Italian for sawmill). The space, designed by Tanja Solci, has been left mostly untouched; the glamour comes from a suite of vintage cut-crystal chandeliers, fanciful dinnerware by Richard Ginori, and starkly modern dining chairs from Cappellini. 

Above: The magisterial banquet tables.

Above L: The tables can seat 70. Above R: The view from the chandeliers.

Above: Fanciful Richard Ginori teapots.

Above: Against fresco-like walls, white Fronzoni '64 chairs face off with black Tate Color chairs, both from Cappellini. 

Above: Classic Italian tableware designs by Richard Ginori. Photograph via My Luxury.

Above: Tate Color chairs from Cappellini in green and blue.

Above: A taxidermy pheasant.

Above: During the evening hours, the room is magical and mysterious. The restaurant is at 24 Via Guiseppe Meda in Milan. For more information, go to Carlo e Camilla in Segheria.

To see more of the latest in Italian design, take a look at:

• Moody Minimalism: A New Project by Vincenzo de Cotiis
• Bella Cucina: 8 Italian Kitchen Systems
• Trousseau-Worthy Textiles from Gruppo di Installazione
• Decadent and Decayed: Dry Cocktail Bar in Milan

More Stories from Remodelista

• Living the Life: 11 Farmhouse Rentals in Italy
• Raw in Milan, a Cabinet of Curiosities
• Decadent and Decayed: Dry Cocktail Bar in Milan

We've just spent a week exploring Italian design, so we're in a good mood. Here are some other things that are making us happy.

Above: Duncan Hannah, the F. Scott Fitzgerald of the art world, has a show on at Modernism in SF (have you seen his Penguin book cover paintings?). Modernism is at 685 Market Street; the opening reception is on Thursday, January 29, 5:30 to 8 pm; we'll be there, please come say hello. The show is called Foreign Affairs and it runs through February 28. 

Above: We're off scented candles; we've moved on to incense (smokier, more mysterious). So has Lauren Snyder of Primary Essentials in Brooklyn (see the rest of her pad here.

Is witch hazel making a comeback?

An inspiring kitchen remodel for a cookbook author.

Above: Apartment staging, Swedish style.

Artek is delving into its archives.

Above: We're still obsessed with dinner table candles, especially these Jewel Colour Candles made in Cumbria, via Folk at Home.

Above: Also coveting a Dove Candle from the oldest candle company in Portugal; it's £15 from Saudade. 

Above: A lovely living room in Spain.

Winter cabin roundup.

Above: Japanese Geografia Globes; discovered thanks to Stephanie Ross (see her Paris flat here). 

Above: Post-party dish duty might be more merry with this dish brush.

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

Above: Odd but artful: @erica_toogood (she's the sister of UK interiors phenom Faye Toogood; together they produce a line of challenging outerwear, available at Tiina the Store).

Above: Bay Area designer Erica Tanov on Pinterest; especially her Book Print board.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Design Sleuth: Metal Clips as Art Holders
• Trousseau-Worthy Textiles from Gruppo di Installazione
• New Serving: Splatterware Ceramics from Italy

Who hasn't coveted a neighbor's house? This week we're looking into the elements that create an enviable living space, from radiant heated floors to glamorous carved marble kitchen sinks. A person can dream. 

Above: We're mad for Tiina Laakkonen's Hamptons house (we featured it in Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home). Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Monday

Above: Seamless perfection: Later today we present our favorite examples of integrated marble kitchen sinks.

Tuesday

Above: A Nick Jones English inn and pub filled with modern rustic design ideas to replicate: Watch for Tuesday's Hotels & Lodging post.

Wednesday

Above: We'll be rounding up our favorite marble-top dining tables in 10 Easy Pieces.

Thursday

Above: In Thursday's Remodeling 101 post, we'll detail the extras worth including in your remodel (cat doors included).

Friday

Above: We've got a favorite new interiors magazine; stay tuned for Required Reading.

There's more to covet: Axel Vervoordt's Belgian castle, Chinese money plants, an in-house orangery—it's Garden Envy week at Gardenista.

More Stories from Remodelista

• American-Made Cashmere: Low-Key Luxury from J. M. Generals
• Current Obsessions: A Charmed Life
• Design Sleuth: Metal Clips as Art Holders