The Scenario: A young family of three—Allison Freedman Weisberg, executive director of Recess, a nonprofit experimental art space, and Peter Barker-Huelster, a legal services attorney—buy a dilapidated house in Brooklyn's Fort Greene and summon Elizabeth Roberts Design/Ensemble Architecture to take on a gut renovation.

The Challenge: As avid cooks, Allison and Peter knew that they wanted to spend most of their family time in the kitchen/dining room situated on the ground level, but the existing ceilings were low and the spaces dark. "My main criterion when searching for a new home was light," says Allison. "When Peter and I first walked through the crumbling wreck that would become our house, it was a perfect, sunny, early spring day. The backyard was filled with afternoon light, but the gloomy garden level was nearly a deal breaker for me. Elizabeth found a solution that would let the light in while leaving the history and structure of the townhouse intact."

The Solution: Built in 1852 as a single-family house, the structure had suffered so many years of neglect that its roof and back wall were on the verge of collapsing. Since a replacement wall was required, Roberts took the opportunity to create a problem-solving two-story addition. The resulting double-height (and on the second floor, double-layered) wall of windows includes an indoor/outdoor dining room with the open feel of a greenhouse and a light-filled parlor above.

Top Tips from Elizabeth Roberts

• Turn problems into opportunities. Having to replace the back wall meant that we could rethink the relationship of the garden to the house while bringing in more light.
• Model an addition in 3-D, so that you can really understand the important issues. We spent a good amount of time studying ways to draw light into the back of the building and ultimately came up with the dining room as greenhouse idea.
• Consult specialists: We worked with landscape architect Kim Hoyt to introduce plantings that blur the lines between indoors and out. 

Photography by Dustin Aksland.

Above: "We opened up the back of the house with a very large, two-story window and door unit—approximately 15 feet wide and 17 feet high," says Roberts. "Light carries through the interiors to the living room on the second floor." The perimeter plantings in the dining room are fully plumbed for drainage and are on an automatic drip sprinkler system. Eventually, vines will be visible on the parlor level in as they climb the two-story interior walls, bringing greenery into the heights and depths of the house.

Above: On the ground floor, the entire window slides open to create a double-wide opening to the garden. "Kim Hoyt turned the garden into a beautiful outdoor room," says Roberts.  

Above: A black limestone floor with white marble accents extends from the kitchen through the dining room addition and out into the garden.

Above: By exposing the kitchen's rustic beams, Roberts was able to gain some height in the low-ceilinged room. A Fireclay Apron Sink by Shaws is paired with an Ionian Deck-Mounted Gooseneck Faucet by Perrin & Rowe. Signal One-Arm Wall Sconces by Jielde provide red accents above the open shelf.

Above: Concrete countertops, more commonly associated with modern minimalist kitchens, contrast well with the Shaker-style kitchen cabinets by Wood Mode (they're painted Newport Green by Benjamin Moore). The gas range is by Bluestar.

Above: In the less-trafficked pantry area, Roberts specified a cherry butcher block for the counter.

Above: "We installed a custom grill from Grillworks in the kitchen fireplace," Roberts says. "It's pretty amazing to be able to cook over a wood fire in the winter with natural light and greenery visible out of the corner of your eye." The niche underneath the kitchen fireplace is for storing wood.

Above: The hall has a reclaimed herringbone-patterned wood floor in a custom finish from LV Wood, and the stairs are painted Off Black by Farrow & Ball.

Above: The front of the house has a more traditional look. Shown here, a library with sliding pocket doors that enable the room to be closed off or opened up to the rest of the second floor. The linen-covered chaise is from Liza Sherman Antiques; the rug is an antique Lavar Kerman carpet from Iran. The walls are painted Pavilion Gray by Farrow & Ball.

Above: The light and greenery in the back garden are visible from the library at the front of the house.

Above: A look at the double fenestration. The windows in the extension are custom powder-coated steel from Optimum Window in Ellenville, NY. "They worked with us to motorize the upper part of the dining room windows so that they could easily be opened up for passive cooling," says Roberts.

Above: Blue and white textiles in the master bedroom offer a clean and crisp aesthetic. The bedspread is from Coyuchi.

Above: A believer in serene white bedrooms enlivened by books, Roberts introduced recessed bookshelves. The custom wood headboard is from Boca Grande.

Above: A new walk-in wardrobe was inserted between the master bedroom and bath.

Above: The sink, toilet, and shower are in a separate room from the bathtub.

Above: The shower room is tiled with Hexagon Mosaic Tiles from Waterworks on the floor and inexpensive white subway tiles on the walls. "The idea was to keep it pretty simple and unfussy," says Roberts. The sink is from Waterworks.

Above: Additional storage was almost invisibly built into the room. The Aegean Free Standing Bath is from Albion Bath Co. in the UK.

Above: In the baby's room on the third floor, Roberts incorporated open storage for toys and books. The floor is reclaimed oak and the crib is from Kalon Studios. The vintage dresser came from Olde Good Things.

Above: An Astoria Mirror from Restoration Hardware hangs above an Alape Bucket Sink in a third-floor bathroom. To introduce light and air into the windowless space, Roberts installed an operable skylight. To source a similar wall sconce, see 5 Favorites: Bright Metal Lights for Under $125.

Above: Another third-floor bathroom, this one overlooking the garden, is appointed with a claw-foot bathtub and pedestal sink from Waterworks and floor tiles from Town & Country Surfaces.

Above: An outdoor kitchen allows for a true indoor/outdoor experience.

For more designs by Elizabeth Roberts, see:

• House Call: Elizabeth Roberts in Brooklyn
• The Architect Is In: Elizabeth Roberts Adds Value in Brooklyn
• A Kitchen for a Cookbook Author and a Sculptor, Williamsburg Edition

And on Gardenista, explore the work of Landscape Architect Kim Hoyt.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Milanese Minimalism: A House by Raboni Architetti
• For Rent: A Revived 16th-Century Farmhouse in Puglia
• Moody Minimalism: A New Project by Vincenzo De Cotiis

New York fashion designer Jeffrey Monteiro was researching American-made wool yarn for use in custom textiles when he happened upon a tiny, underground network of cashmere goat farmers. A pilgrimage to Black Locust Farm in Washington, Maine—owner Yvonne Taylor was one of the first to breed goats for cashmere in the US—set him on a mission: "The idea of developing products with this fine, luxurious American fiber turned into a need."

Having worked as a designer for Mayle and Derek Lam, and founded his own eponymous line of women's wear, Monteiro shifted course: He launched J. M. Generals a year ago with a single cashmere throw blanket, the result of many months of R&D working with suppliers all over the country and a speciality mill in Kentucky. He's since expanded his repertoire to include pillows, goat's milk soap, and other luxuries, all of them tailored with a minimalist's eye and 100 percent American materials.

Above: J. M. Generals' first design, the American Cashmere Double-Stripe, Large Throw, is made from natural white and indigo-dyed cashmere. The blankets, 42 inches wide and 76 inches long, are produced to order from cashmere fiber that is hand-combed from American goats and then needle-felted by machine (the felting process is guided by hand, and the placement and width of the stripes varies); $1,395.

Above: The striped throw blanket is also made in a natural brown cashmere with white stripes and comes in small and large. The American Cashmere Small Throw, shown here, is 40 inches wide and 44 inches long; $695.

Above: American Cashmere Cushions, with cashmere fronts and organic cotton-flannel backs, are $185 each. They come with inserts (25 percent down, 75 percent feather) that are made in New York.

Above: Monteiro has recently broadened J. M. Generals' line to include other specially developed American-produced fibers. The Agnes Cushion is handwoven from yarn that's a combination of organic cotton, wool, cashmere, and angora. They measure 19 by 19 inches and are $195 each.

Above: The new fringed Monochromatic Plaid Blanket is handwoven from American alpaca yarn blended with silk and American wool yarn. It's 55 inches wide and 85 inches long (big enough to work as a bedcover); $875.

Above: The American Cashmere and Cormo Large Wool Throw (56 inches wide and 80 inches long) is made of needle-felted cormo, a soft wool from cormo sheep that Monteiro describes as having a cashmere-like "loft and fineness"; $795.

Above: Another view of the American Cashmere and Cormo Large Wool Throw. The design combines natural white cashmere and dyed gray cormo wool and is edged with cashmere; $795.

Above: Monteiro has fully gone to the goats: In addition to his textiles, he offers all-natural, American-made soaps, including Liquid Goat's Milk Soap, $18 for eight fluid ounces, and Goat's Milk Bar Soap, $10 each. Both are available unscented and in several fragrances, including plumeria and evergreen.

Above: Castile Goat's Milk Soap bars contain at least one ounce of goat's milk blended with olive oil; they come in an unscented and lightly scented version made from essential oils, such as tangerine and lavender; $9 each. 

For more ideas, go to:

• Happiness Is a Warm Blanket: 10 Woolly Throws for Winter
  
• 10 Easy Pieces: Camp Blankets
• 5 Patriot's Blankets: Loomed in the USA
• DIY: Dutch-Style Knit Throw

More Stories from Remodelista

• Table of Contents: House Envy
• Current Obsessions: A Charmed Life
• Design Sleuth: Metal Clips as Art Holders

There's something inherently luxurious about an integrated sink (no grime-filled seams to agonize over), especially when carved from marble. Here are 14 covetable examples.

Above: An integrated marble sink in a kitchen by Belgian company Obumex.

Above: Il Granito in Belgium created a carved marble double sink for the VDL villa.

Above: A dramatically veined marble counter with an integrated sink in the Paris kitchen of Joseph Dirand. Photograph by Simon Watson for the New York Times.

Above: Dirand's kitchen design for Obumex, on view at the Paris showroom.

Above: An integrated Carrara marble sink in the JR Loft in Brussels by Nicolas Schuybroek.

Above: A polished marble sink in the DM Residence by Vincent Van Duysen.

Above: A marble sink in the Crosby Street Loft by Elizabeth Roberts of Ensemble Architecture (the project was a finalist in our 2014 Remodelista Considered Design Awards).

Above: An integrated Carrara marble sink in a kitchen by Belgian company Obumex.

Above: A carved sink in a kitchen project by Italian designer Henry Timi.

Above: An integrated double sink in the Oco Kitchen system by Italian company Vaselli.

Above: A minimalist marble sink in a Paris apartment by Joseph Dirand.

Above: An inset marble sink with marble stopper by Italian kitchen makers Boffi.

Above: An integrated Carrara marble sink by Vincent Van Duysen.

Above: A Carrara marble sink in the London kitchen of Italian architect Claudio Silvestrin.  

Investigate more possibilities by perusing our Kitchen Sink posts, including:

• 10 Easy Pieces: Stainless Kitchen Sinks
• Remodeling 101: Soapstone Countertops
• 10 Easy Pieces: Best Budget Kitchen Faucets
• Steal This Look: A Well-Stocked Modern Kitchen  

More Stories from Remodelista

• Bella Cucina: 8 Italian Kitchen Systems
• 6 Elegant Cookware Lines, Italian Edition
• A Kitchen for a Cookbook Author and a Sculptor, Williamsburg Edition

Yesterday, we toured the Brooklyn townhouse that architect Elizabeth Roberts of Elizabeth Roberts Design/Ensemble Architecture reinvented as a Greenhouse for Living. Today, we're dissecting its rustic-luxe kitchen tailored for a couple who love to cook.

Kitchen photography by Dustin Aksland.

Above: Owners Allison Freedman Weisberg and Peter Barker-Huelster requested a cozy yet spacious kitchen: "They showed us pictures of rooms with wooden beams, fireplaces, and mixed vintage cabinets," says Roberts, who responded by exposing the room's rafters and creating what she calls "an expanded galley layout." Shown here, the main work area with farmhouse sink, concrete counters, and open shelves.

Above: The range anchors a long work area with a prep sink. "Hidden in the tall cabinet is an appliance 'garage' with a microwave, standing mixer, coffeemaker, and all the small appliances," says Roberts. The wall tiles around the hood are Global Collection white porcelain from Town & Country Surfaces.

Above: The Shaker-style cabinetry was custom-made by Wood Mode. "Wood Mode rep Les Craig of Craig Design in Hudson, New York, worked with us to get the look we were after," says Roberts. "We ordered unfinished maple inset-type cabinets in Wood Mode's Sturbridge door style." The floor is tumbled black limestone with tumbled white Carrara marble inserts by Lapicida. 

Above: One of the kitchen's most covetable features is its custom, wood-fired grill from Grillworks, a Grillworks Architectural 36 model that allows for year-round indoor barbecuing. (The niche below is for firewood.) This section of the kitchen adjoins the dining room and the butcher-block-topped counter is used as a serving area. The glass-fronted cabinets are filled with tableware and the drawers hold linens.

The Essentials

Above: The Ionian Deck-Mounted Gooseneck Faucet by Perrin & Row is £328 ($491.66), marked down from £386.24 ($376) from Just Perrin.

Above: Shaw's Original 3018 Fireclay Apron Sink is $1,241.25 from Homeclick. For more options, see 10 Easy Pieces: Farmhouse Sinks.

Above: The faucet over the range is a Newport Brass Chesterfield 948 Pot Filler available in a range of finishes; $490 from Newport Brass. Roberts used polished nickel; polished chrome is shown here.

We consider pot fillers the ultimate kitchen luxury; read Michelle's Domestic Dispatch: Why Your Kitchen Needs a Pot Filler Faucet and see 10 Easy Pieces: Pot Filler Faucets.

Above: The work area's concrete counters were custom fabricated by the Concrete Shop of Passaic, New Jersey. Considering your own concrete counters? Get the lowdown in Remodeling 101: Concrete Kitchen Countertops.

Above: The serving area counter is Cherry Butcher Block from John Boos; prices start at $214. See more options in Remodeling 101: Butcher Block Countertops 

Above: The kitchen's custom Wood Mode cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore Newport Green.

Above: The 1.25-inch solid brass Kate Knob is available in three finishes; $7 from Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. 

Appliances

Above: The range is a 36-inch Blue Star Residential Culinary Series; for dealers and a price quote, contact Blue Star. The hood is a Stainless Steel Built-In Range Hood with an external blower from Best. "The external blower is important," Roberts says. "It's more powerful and much quieter—almost silent when it's on."

Above: The fridge is a 36-inch Liebherr CS2 062, a French-door design with two freezer drawers; $5,759 at AJ Madison,

Above: The Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher with controls concealed in the door top is $849.60 at AJ Madison. For tips on the right model for you, see Remodeling 101: How to Select a Dishwasher.

Lighting

Above: Lighting over the sink is supplied by the Jielde Signal One-Arm Wall Sconce, which comes in 24 colors and finishes; $387 at Horne.

Accessories

Above: An Ed Wohl Bird's Eye Maple Board, 7.5 inches wide and 15.5 inches long, is $86 at A+R Store. 

Above: The couple's black ceramics are from Michele Varian; Black Serpentine Bowls, six inches in diameter, are $35 each. 

Above: The Peugeot Red Lacquer Pepper Mill is $57.90 from Bluefy. Yes, it's made by the car company. See more Peugeot designs in 10 Easy Pieces: Salt and Pepper Mills from Around the World. 

Above: Blackcreek Mercantile's hand-turned Maple Salad Bowl is $300 from Wilson & Willy's. 

Above: A UK classic that we selected for the Remodelista 100, the Milton Brook Ceramic Mortar and Pestle is $38 at Canoe.

Tour the rest of the town house in Indoor/Outdoor Living, Brooklyn Style. 

Go to our Steal This Look for more kitchen designs to replicate, including A Star London Chef's Kitchen.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trend Alert: 10 Splatter Patterns
• American-Made Cashmere: Low-Key Luxury from J. M. Generals
• Table of Contents: House Envy

Spotted all over of late: black-and-white splatter patterns on wallpaper, sheets, tableware, even lampshades. 

Above: Merci in Paris is doing brisk business with their splatter enamelware from US manufacturer Crow Canyon; shown above, a display from Merci's pop-up shop at Salone Mobile in Milan last spring. 

Above L: The made-to-order Flying Scotsman Gray Marble English Ceramic Light from Dyke & Dean is £570 ($860.79). Above R: A set of Five Graniteware Nesting Bowls from Barn Light Electric is $130 (see more at Colorful Enamelware Made in the US).

Above: Justine Hand's splatter-painted floors. For more, see DIY: New England Spatter-Painted Floors and The Soulful Side of Old Cape Cod.

Above L and R: Emma Bridgewater limited-edition splatterware pieces in black and white for Liberty in London. For something similar, consider Emma Bridgewater's Splatterware Mug for £19.95 ($30) and Splatterware Plate in blue for £19.95 ($30).

Above: Kate Spade Saturday Galaxy Bedsheet Sets are on sale at West Elm; a queen set is $79, marked down from $99.

Above: A set of Mini Mug Salt and Pepper Shakers by Brooklyn ceramicist Helen Levi is $90.

Above: March in SF offers a line of handmade glazed, splattered terracotta from a family-run workshop in Puglia; the Black on White 20.75-Inch Splatterware Platter is $225 (see more at Now Serving: Splatterware Ceramics from Italy).

Above L: Ralph Lauren's Painters Studio Kraft wallcovering. Above R: Pierre Frey's Jackson Pollock–inspired Leo linen fabric.

Above: Hinson's Navy on White Splatter Wallpaper is available through Decorators Best. Photograph via Eddie Ross.

Above L: Marbled Enamel Dinner Plate Navy; £8.50 ($12.84): Above R: Marbled Enamel Mug Navy; £7 ($10.57) from Labour and Wait.

What's next? Take a look at our Trend Alerts, including The Top 15 Interiors Trends of 2015.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Steal This Look: The Ultimate Chef's Kitchen in Brooklyn
• American-Made Cashmere: Low-Key Luxury from J. M. Generals
• Table of Contents: House Envy

Tradition meets state-of-the-art hospitality at the Talbot Inn in Somerset: fish-and-chips, venison stew, and ale on tap, plus Egyptian cotton sheets, handmade soap, and Siberian goose down duvets. A venture of hotelier Nick Jones of Soho House fame, The Talbot is located in the village of Mells in Somerset, two hours from London by train. Once a traditional coaching inn for horse-powered travelers, it's now a gastronomic destination with two restaurants and eight bedrooms for overnight guests. 

The inn earned a 2015 Bib Gourmand award, which Michelin presents to restaurants offering exceptional food at modest prices. The pub serves top-notch versions of English staples such as savory pies and beer from local breweries Butcombe and Keystone in addition to its own Talbot Ale. The grill room, open on weekends, serves fish and meat cooked simply over fire—“the way country inns cooked hundreds of years ago." 

The best part? The Talbot's moderate prices: Rooms start at £95 ($143.47) year-round, hearty breakfast included. For more information, visit the Talbot Inn. 

Above: The Talbot is down to earth (despite the fact that it hosted the Rolling Stones' entourage for a concert two autumns ago); village locals and overnight guests are equally welcome, and no weddings are allowed—they're too disruptive to the everyday ebb and flow.  

Above: What is now the inn's sitting room was a "tythe barn"—storage for regional agricultural taxes—500 years ago. The wall mural depicts the history of Mells—from Neolithic tombs to medieval castles to the country homes of architect Edward Lutyens. One part shows fairy tale characters including Little Jack Horner—purportedly the ancestor of Mells's notable Horner family—who according to legend plucked out the title to Mells Manor from a pie intended for Henry VIII.  

Above: Each of the inn's eight bedrooms has Egyptian cotton sheets, Siberian goose down duvets, and vintage Welsh blankets. Artwork in the bedrooms and hallways is by local Mells artists. 

Above: Small luxuries include sheepskin rugs and comfy chairs in the bath.

Above: Floors are covered in aromatic seagrass matting.

Above: Soaking tubs and wool-covered water bottles. 

Above: The Talbot produces its own line of handmade, all-natural bath products called Bramley, available for purchase online. 

Above: Brass candlesticks add a glimmer to the interiors.

Above: Behind the pub, a cobblestone courtyard sports cafe tables and even umbrellas for the occasional sunny day in Somerset. Guests and locals alike can play pétanque on the nearby court.

Planning a trip to the UK? See:

• Remodelista Travel Guide: United Kingdom
• Gardenista Travel Guide: United Kingdom
• A Day at London's Grandest Brasserie
• Drink Up: The Draper's Arms

More Stories from Remodelista

• Raw Yet Refined: Carlo e Camilla in Milan
• Living the Life: 11 Farmhouse Rentals in Italy
• Raw in Milan, a Cabinet of Curiosities

Above: The Carve Table from Welsh designer Bethan Gray (a Tom Dixon protégé) has a white Carrara marble top and solid maple base with turned legs; contact her directly for ordering information.

Above: The A-Joint Table can be ordered with either polished aluminum or bronze A-joints and with a custom marble top; for information, go to Henry Wilson in Australia.

Above: The Arin Table from French marble company Retegui has a wafer-thin Carrara marble top made possible via precision milling and bonding techniques. Go to Retegui for dealer information.

Above: The large Mapp Table, designed by Vincent Chia for Air Division, is available with a black walnut frame (shown here) or a white-painted maple or white oak frame with a Carrara marble top; $3,510 from Design Within Reach.

Above: Conran's 275-centimeter (9-foot) wide Wardour Carrara Marble Top Dining Table with a white oiled solid oak base is currently on sale for £5,000 ($7,582), marked down from £6,250.

Above: The 72-by-42-inch Marble Top/Elm Base Dining Table from Crate & Barrel is $1,719 (other sizes available as well).

Above: The six-seater, 110-centimeter Rectangular Table has a Carrara marble top; £275 ($417) from John Lewis.

Above: The Finisterre Marble Oak Table with a Carrara marble top from Belgian company Heerenhuis is also available from UK company Different Like a Zoo.

Above: The 54-inch-wide, marble-top Paradigm Dining Table is $899 from CB2.

Above: Room & Board's 72-inch Linden Table with Venatino marble top and walnut base is $2,099. The design is available in four other woods as well and other tabletop options.

• 10 Modern Farmhouse Tables
• A Luxurious Ping-Pong and Dining Table  
• 10 Easy Pieces: Folding Dining Tables
• 10 Easy Pieces: Folding Dining Chairs

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• 14 Integrated Marble Kitchen Sinks
• Bella Cucina: 8 Italian Kitchen Systems
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Melbourne designer David Flack turned 30 a few months ago and promptly launched Flack Studio, a two-person office: He's the creative talent and his sister oversees operations. They're now juggling 12 residential and retail projects in Melbourne and Sydney, including this suave remodel: Phase One (living area, bedrooms, and baths) newly complete just in time for the arrival of the owners' first child. Phase Two (kitchen and family room overhaul) on the docket. 

The young couple, who work in finance and law (and "happen to have exceptional taste," says Flack) bought a Victorian terrace house that had been stripped of all its period details sometime in the nineties. "I would never have denuded such an ornate terrace," Flack tells us, "but instead of reinstating these features, I introduced a contemporary materials palette—gray with flashes of black and brass. The look is simple, cohesive, and masculine: It's subtle yet has a toughness to it."

Photography by Brooke Holm and Marsha Golemac.

Above: "If walls could talk, the rooms of this Victorian terrace would tell a story or two about the house's incarnations over its lifetime," says Flack. "The new scheme's backdrop is subtle: Soft taupe and white are complemented by natural, textural materials—including a gray-blond European oak floor—and punctuated with flashes of brass and black steel."  

The owners came to the project with a few choice pieces of furniture in search of a good setting, including the living room's Poliform sofa, which Flack paired with a Poliform coffee table and Cappellini's faux marble fiberglass Bong Coffee Table. The pleated floor-to-ceiling curtains are Belgian linen from Elliott Clarke. (Scroll down to see Before views of the space.) 

Above: British architect Michael Anastassiades Tube Chandelier of satin brass anchors the room—"it audaciously occupies the corner usually belonging to a standard lamp," Flack says. The brass side table is Cappellini's Gong Lux and the fireplace was already in the room. 

Above: Flack's favorite chair in the house is this striped re-edition of a 1934 Gio Ponti design for Rubelli: "classic and masculine with brass legs that echo the lines of the pendant light." The new pale floorboards, he points out, "ensure maximized light." The walls are painted in Linen from New Zealand paint company Resene.

Above: A Poliform sideboard, another of the clients' original pieces, displays a vintage "Murano glass, Memphis-style lamp" along with a concrete pipe and other geometric forms.

Above: Without changing the table, Flack dressed up the dining room with linen curtains and Neve Chairs by Pierro Lissoni and Mario Bellini's black leather Cab Chairs from Cassina. The standing light is the Flos Toio.

Above: The stairs are custom stained to match the floorboards and carpeted with a bamboo-and-silk runner by Melbourne custom rug maker Bibi Vero.

Above: The master bedroom came with its gray carpet and angular walls, which are painted the same taupe as the living room and dining room. The Charcoal Linen Duvet Cover and Linen Pillowslips are from In Bed of New South Wales, Australia. (For linen bedding in the US, consider Rough Linen.) The light is the Oluce Coupé, a sixties classic by Joe Columbo.

Above: In the guest bath, Flack installed a wall-mounted Agape Ottocento Washbasin against a backsplash of honed Bedonia limestone. Like the look? See 13 Noirish Black and White Bathrooms and consider the Alape Bucket Sink from Germany.

Above: The Matte Black Taps are Australian-made from Astra Walker.

Above: The sandstone-framed bathtub is from Kaldewei. For a similar towel ladder, see New Bath Hardware from Norm Architects.

Above: The white subway tiles are set off by dark gray grout. The anodized aluminum shower shelf is from Agape's Sen Accessories line.

Above: The owners' child was born just weeks after Phase One of the remodel was complete. The nursery is painted in Resene's "half-strength Linen" and has a Fiorenza Armchair by Franco Albini from Poliform. Note that all of the house's curtains hang from black steel rails. The ceiling light is Anna Charlesworth's Four Shapes Pendant, "a playful take on a hanging mobile," says Flack.

Above: The nursery's wall of custom cabinetry is made of American oak veneer with a painted finish. "It's a recessive piece," Flack says, "but has a subtle texture with the oak grain showing through." The sliding white ladder is for accessing the top shelves (but may have to be put in storage when the baby enters the climbing stage).

Above: A glimpse of the master bedroom's en suite bath: "I wanted the bathrooms to be similar," says Flack. "I only used a handful of materials throughout the house. I think that's the most powerful part of its reincarnation: the rooms fit together as one."

Above: A Duravit sink is set in a counter of honed Bedonia sandstone topped with with a custom mirror and lights trimmed with brass.

 Above: The matte black faucet is from Astra Walker's Icon Range.

Above: David Flack is ready for more. The house's remaining rooms are being remodeled this spring.

Before

Above: The living room as it was, with white walls and a pine floor—and a more ad hoc look. (The sofa was moved into another room.)

Above: Flack's intervention would rely largely on new finishes and furnishings.

Above: The dining room, before, with white walls and chairs.

Above: The master bedroom and bath as they were—the carpet stayed.

• Parts 1-4 of Rehab Diary: A Small House Overhaul in London
• A Charred Wood Cottage on a $45K Budget
• A Hamptons Kitchen with a Custom Island Sourced on Etsy
• Reader Rehab: Danielle's DIY Kitchen Renovation for Under $500

More Stories from Remodelista

• Indoor/Outdoor Living, Brooklyn-Style
• Milanese Minimalism: A House by Raboni Architetti
• For Rent: A Revived 16th-Century Farmhouse in Puglia

The Modo Chandelier by Jason Miller for Roll & Hill was an instant hit when he launched it in 2009. The bronze frame supports a system of smoked glass globes (it's also available with a nickel finish and cream glass globes). We're not surprised that the copycats have struck.

Above: Architect Cynthia Carlson installed the chandelier in one of our favorite LA projects (see more at Modern Meets Classic: A Sleek Home in Los Angeles). 

Above: The bronze Modo Diamond Chandelier from Future Perfect is available in black, and with either smoked or clear glass globes; prices start at $5,800. It's 58 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 26 inches high.

Above: The Pluto Chandelier is 63 inches long, 54 inches wide, and 42.5 inches high; it's $2,070 from Bliss Home & Design.

Discovered any High/Low Designs lately? Fill us in below. And take a look at some of our other finds:

• High/Low: The Half-Moon Table Lamp
• High/Low: Marble Wall Clock
• High/Low: Cloud Pendant Lights
• High/Low: The Curvy Velvet Sofa

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trend Alert: 10 Splatter Patterns
• Steal This Look: The Ultimate Chef's Kitchen in Brooklyn
• American-Made Cashmere: Low-Key Luxury from J. M. Generals

Belgian master architect and designer Vincent Van Duysen is better known for his bespoke interiors than for his playrooms. But his low-key approach to rarefied living works for all ages. When two new fathers asked him adapt their grand 1920s villa outside Antwerp for life with their young twin boys, he and his team stepped up to the task. The results, installation art and marching-soldier wallpaper included, just might be the world's most glamorous family clubhouse.

Above: One of the villa's best features is its pool and pool house with a gym, steam room, and sauna in the back, all of which are connected to the main house by an underground corridor.

Van Duysen updated the lounge with a banquette and Belgian linen pillows. Pierre Jeanneret's classic teak V-type armchairs—a Van Duysen favorite; see Trend Alert—offer poolside seating. The wall of framed prints are part of New York artist Allan McCollum's Shapes Project. Photograph by Matthieu Salvaing.

Above: The family at play. The owners—a businessman and photographer—moved into the three-story brick house when they were in their twenties after it had been remodeled by Bernard Coens and Jean de Meulder (their contributions included the pool house). Van Duysen, who once worked with De Meulder, had become friends with the couple and understood how to strike the new balance they envisioned between high-style design and everyday ease. 

Explains Van Duysen interior architect Rufus Knight: "The owners wanted a more contemporary and spacious feel. It was essential that the refurbishment feel sophisticated but also have an informality and a focus on spaces for family life and entertaining." Photograph by Matthieu Salvaing.

Above: The kitchen is a showcase of custom Vincent Van Duysen cabinetry in oak. The island, sink, and counters are polished Egyptian limestone. The black child seats are Stokke's Tripp Trapp chairs. The space encapsulates what the New York Times described as Van Duysen's "rigorous, spare design that retains a sense of life." Photograph by Matthieu Salvaing.

Above: Booth seating along the windows—one of the owners' initial requests—is paired with chairs by Christian Liaigre. Photograph by Stijn Rolies.

Above: The living room overlooks a terrace and manicured garden. Formerly Art Deco, the opened-up space is furnished with wood-framed armchairs by Christian Liaigre and an Axel Vervoordt linen sofa and armchair next to the newly inserted fireplace. The standing reading light is the diminutive but powerful Lumina Daphine Terra. The rustic yet refined oak end table is a sign that Van Duysen was here. Photograph by Matthieu Salvaing.

Above: The wide floorboards, another Van Duysen signature, are bleached French oak with an oiled finish. The entry hall, shown here, offers a glimpse of the glass partition that acts, says Rufus Knight, "as an antechamber, a calm welcoming into the house." The group of urns are an Allan McCollum installation. Photograph by Stijn Rolies.

Above: Van Duysen worked with the existing floor plan but reorganized it, devoting the second floor to the parents' quarters. Here, a linen-curtained glass-and-steel partition divides the master bedroom from the home office, providing a sense of openness as well as privacy. Photograph by Stijn Rolies. 

Above: The ultimate place to slumber? Wide timber floorboards meet carpeting in the softly hued master bedroom. Photograph by Stijn Rolies.

Above: Rest assured that there's plenty of play space in the house: The third floor is the children's area. Photograph by Matthieu Salvaing.

Above: The room is papered in Changing Guards at Buckingham Palace, a hand screen-printed pattern by London designer Lizzie Allen. Photograph by Matthieu Salvaing.

Above: Van Duysen and the sinuous new stair rail he installed. Photograph by Matthieu Salvaing.

Above: The plan for the newly open first floor, grounds, and pool house.

• 20 Questions: Vincent Van Duysen and Julianne Moore Talk Shop (and take a look at her Van Duysen–inspired kitchen in Behind the Scenes: 5 Design Lessons from Julianne Moore
• Architect Visit: Vincent Van Duysen Kitchens
• Black and White Grandeur from Vincent Van Duysen
• Subtle Luxury: Vincent Van Duysen's New Glass Display Vessels

More Stories from Remodelista

• Remodeling 101: 15 Luxuries Worth Considering in Your Remodel
• Before & After: A Melbourne Remodel with a Masculine Touch
• Indoor/Outdoor Living, Brooklyn-Style

The manifesto for Heerenhuis Manufactuur in Antwerp—"We make tables. That's what we do"—is bracingly straightforward. But they forgot to mention they make chairs too (or to give us much information aside from "we produce tables characterized by uncomplicated, straightforward design and good carpentry"). 

Above: The Trappist Table in oak.

Above: Metal Chair with leather seat.

Above: The Cross Table in oak.

Above: Metal Chair on Wheels.

Above: The Finisterre Table in oak. To see the full range, go to Heerenhuis.

For more Belgian inspiration, take a look at:

• Architect-Designed Belgian Furniture in NYC
• Simple Wood Furniture from Ethnicraft
• Dmitriy & Co: Belgium by Way of Manhattan
• 10 Design Ideas from the Belgian Masters

N.B.: This post is an update; the original ran on May 10, 2013, as part of our Modern Kitchen issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Required Reading: Faculty Department
• High/Low: Modo Chandelier
• Trend Alert: 10 Splatter Patterns

The most fun part of every remodel? Perusing—and choosing—some life-enhancing frills. 

In our book, Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home, we partnered with members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory to come up with a list of extras large and small that are well worth the splurge. True, these frills aren't inexpensive, but they're often money well spent. We've lived with many of these details ourselves and are eyeing several more for future remodels.

Here, 15 worth considering.

1. A standing seam metal roof

The favorite roofing material of every architect we polled? Hands-down the vote goes to "low maintenance, high aesthetic" standing-seam metal. Energy-efficient, sustainable, and long-lasting, metal roofs also provide a nice pitter-patter in the rain. See Remodeling 101: Standing Seam Metal Roofs for the lowdown. Pictured above: photovoltaic (PV) panels integrated into a standing seam metal roof. Photograph via Fabral.

2. Solar paneling

If you're looking to reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint, the time may be right to go solar. See our Solar Paneling Primer and then get inspired by architect Rafe Churchill's new solar Connecticut Farmhouse, standing seam metal roof included.

3. Radiant heat flooring

Can anyone resist the sensation of walking barefoot on a heated floor? If you’re just embarking on a renovation or building a new house, consider installing radiant heating (also known as underfloor heating), an energy-efficient way to keep warm throughout the cold months. "As an architect who has supervised and survived many remodels, I have experienced radiant floor heating in other people's houses and covet it in my own," writes our own resident architect, Christine. 

Stone tiles work well with radiant floor heating because of the material's thermal conducting properties. Shown above: rough-hewn tiles in a bathroom by Atelier AM of Los Angeles. Photograph via Mark D. Sikes. Learn more in Christine's post Remodeling 101: 5 Things to Know About Radiant Floor Heating.

4. Flat-panel radiators

"Imagine a heating system that isn't seen or heard," writes Janet in Remodeling 101: Wall-Panel Radiators. The embodiment of quiet, gentle warmth and minimalism, these European designs, now making inroads in the US, free up floor space, operate efficiently, and look good too. Shown here, the Sloan White Vertical Double-Panel Radiator by UK company Hudson Reed.

5. A fireplace or woodstove

A fireplace can have enormous impact as an architectural detail, and a wood stove is a significant and efficient heat source, point out Seattle architects Malbouef Bowie. "You can have a really simple interior," architect Tiffany Bowie says, "and if you add a focal point, it really grabs people’s attention and interest."

Pictured above is a minimalist fireplace in a house remodeled by Napa, California, designer Carolyn Leonhardt, who recommends making "at least one spectacular change" per remodel. Read more of Leonhardt's tips in Expert Advice: 15 Secrets for Saving Money on a Remodel. 

6. Pullout shelving in kitchen cabinets

For storing appliances and pantry items, architect Sheila Narusawa suggests installing pullout shelves. They bring all of the hidden items at the back into the light, making them easy to reach—and easy to put away.

Pictured here, a floor-to-ceiling cabinet with pullout shelves in a Boston remodel by Chris Greenawalt of Bunker Workshop. See the rest of the project in Rehab Diaries: Tales from the Hood.

7. A top-of-the line range

The race cars of the kitchen, a beautiful range is what we recommend for when your midlife crisis hits. Architect Vincent Van Duysen equipped his own kitchen, shown here, with La Cornue's Château Series, sparking a black appliance rage. Photograph by David Spero for the New York Times. For more stove lust, see 6 Château-Style Cooking Ranges and take a look at Beth Kirby's Star Is Born Kitchen, Lacanche Included. 

8. Double dishwashers

Have a large family or love entertaining? BAR Architects of San Francisco suggest adding a second dishwasher to handle overload. Photograph via Pure Style Home.

9. Antifog bathroom mirrors

Architect Jordan Parnass of Brooklyn, New York, recommends installing antifog bathroom mirrors; they save time and irritation in the morning, especially if two or more showers need to be taken. Shown here, a San Francisco design by bathroom expert Malcolm Davis. He shares his tips with us in Expert Advice: 10 Essential Tips for Designing the Bathroom.

10. Acoustic insulation for bathrooms

As charming as open-plan loft spaces are, it's not always charming to use the bathroom in one. Ditto for Victorians or anywhere that sound carries, such as a powder room next to a dining room.

According to architects Specht Harpman of Austin, Texas, the job of an architect is to consider things like "solar position at different times of day, reflectivity of materials, acoustics, and many other items owners might not be thinking about." We're all for that, and think that acoustic insulation, especially in the overhaul of an old space, is a smart move. 

Pictured above, the powder room in A Hardworking Brooklyn Kitchen by Architect Annabelle Selldorf. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

11. Dimmers on the light switches

Sheila Narusawa suggests adding dimmers to all light switches. And you needn't wait to install new lights—introducing dimmers can be a simple home improvement project that combats harsh overhead lighting. 

Shown here, the Meljac dimmer, which we've designated The World's Most Beautiful Light Switch.

12. Self-closing cabinet drawers

Brooklyn architects Made LLC always install self-closing cabinet drawers. Kitchens and baths look their tidiest when drawers are closed; if you live with a messy crew, spring for cabinets that close themselves.

Pictured above is a Dublin kitchen by architect Peter Legge, who used self-closing drawers with rectangular cutouts in lieu of drawer handles. Find this project and more in 10 Favorites: Cutout Kitchen Cabinet Pulls.

13. An electronics charging station

Bay Area architect Jennifer Weiss is proactive about suggesting details that clients don't think to ask for, such as charging stations for laptops and cell phones. Virtually everyone building or remodeling a house has tech gadgets to charge and corral, and having built-in solutions adds ease and order.

Shown here, an electronics charging station incorporated into a Henrybuilt closet system.

14. Interior shutters

Averse to curtains or shades? Old-fashioned wooden shutters are a great alternative, says San Francisco designer Kriste Michelini. We like the way they filter light in unexpected ways.

Shown above, a cottage bedroom from Here Comes the Sun: 10 Bedrooms with Yellow Accents. For more inspiration, see our posts Indoor Shutters and Black Interior Shutters. 

15. A designated area for your pets' things

Another tip from Made LLC: "Factor your pets and the way they live into your design plans." If you don't want a cat scratcher in the middle of your hallway or a dog bed on your living room floor, take the time to think this through during your remodel.

Find the cat hideaway shown above in our post A Modern London Addition Where Books Come First. And for canine ideas, see Remodeling 101: How to Build a Dog-Friendly House. For an ingenious drawer for pet food, see 15 Life-Changing Storage Ideas for the Kitchen.  

Embarking on a house project? Be sure to peruse all our Remodeling 101 posts, including:     

     • How to Choose a Kitchen Counter 
     • Architects' White Paint Picks
     • All You Need to Know about VOCs in Paint
     • How to Choose an Overhead Light Fixture
     • Solar-Paneling Primer

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on February 5, 2014, as part of our Small Space Living issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Vincent Van Duysen Designs a Family House
• Before & After: A Melbourne Remodel with a Masculine Touch
• Indoor/Outdoor Living, Brooklyn-Style

Surrounded by creative and inspiring people on a daily basis, New York fashion and lifestyle photographer Justin Chung decided to document the lives of artists, friends, and mentors. And this led to Volume One of Faculty Department, a magazine packaged as a hardcover book that offers a "glimpse inside the lives of noteworthy individuals—while at work, inside their homes, during a particular daily routine, or within the stillness of a moment."

"The idea of Faculty Department started when I was on a monthlong assignment in Paris during the fall of 2012," explains Chung in the Introduction. "The task was to document and profile individuals making their mark in creative fields. Over five weeks, I photographed artists, designers, and entrepreneurs. I found the resulting glimpses into their lives both intriguing and insightful." Take a look at some selections from the book and see if you agree.

Photography by Justin Chung.

Above: Lauren Snyder, owner of home goods shop Primary Essentials, in her Fort Greene, Brooklyn, kitchen.

Above: The living room of Kristoffer Dahy Ernst, owner of Double, a Copenhagen creative agency.

Above: A bookshelf belonging to Frank Muytjens, director of menswear at J. Crew.

Above: The desk of Richard Haines, illustrator and creator of the blog What I Saw Today. 

Above: Primary Essentials shop in Brooklyn. 

Above L: Truck Furniture studio in Osaka, Japan. Above R: Tokuhiko Kise (who owns Truck with his wife, Hiromi Karatsu) and one of their dogs.

Above: The book is available from Faculty Department and a number of boutiques, as well as Barnes & Noble and Amazon. 

Take a look at more Required Reading: 

• Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren
• Annie Sloan's Room Recipes for Style and Colour
  
• The Inspired Home: Nests of Creatives
• The Stuff of Life
• Collected: Living with the Things You Love

More Stories from Remodelista

• We Make Tables. That's What We Do.
• High/Low: Modo Chandelier
• Trend Alert: 10 Splatter Patterns

It's a genius European idea that hasn't caught on in the US yet: the modular kitchen that you take with you when you move house. One of the nicest examples we've seen is Enzo Berti's Convivio kitchen for Italian furniture maker Lando. Berti's concept? A "kitchen in a living room," centered around what he calls the "domestic hearth." The line includes worktops, storage units, and more. 

Above: The Dolmen version of the Convivio kitchen is a freestanding unit with a black or white marble countertop and matte black or white tubular hood. In this version, walnut planks suspended on sawhorse legs serves as storage for pots and pans. 

Above: The white Dolmen countertop is available in either Calacatta Borghini marble or Carrara marble. Against the back wall are two Novella Up cabinets in oiled walnut. The doors have leather handles and fold out on stainless steel hinges to reveal two large inner shelves. 

Above: The second version of the Convivio, called Forgia, has a hand-brushed and hand-forged stainless steel countertop and hood. The wood shown here is larch in an oiled finish. 

Above: This Forgia worktop rests on an Inno dining table, featuring turned wood legs and a wood tabletop hovering on an internal metal frame. The wood is larch in a vintage finish.

Above: The Forgia system can be freestanding or mounted against a wall. Here, the worktop is paired with Lando's Thema modular wall system, made of solid wood that can be outfitted with shelves, cabinets, and extra worktops and sinks. Like the Dolmen marble unit above, this workspace has a stainless steel panel beneath for keeping pots and pans within easy reach. 

Above: The grand idea of the Convivio system is that complementary tables, chairs, and benches can be added around the central "hearth" to create a customizable kitchen, living, and dining room in one. The Thema wall system is meant to extend into the living and dining rooms as bookcases and tableware storage, and can be configured with glass display doors or to hold a television. Lando's Canone chair—a reinterpretation of a traditional Alpine peasant chair with a leather seat—is held together by a single wooden peg and can be disassembled for storage and moving. 

Above: Both the stainless and marble versions of the kitchen feature four streamlined burner knobs on the side of the cooktop. 

Above: This Dolmen version uses an electric cooktop instead of gas and a counter made of matte black marquina marble. Optional wood cutting boards slide over and to the sides of the sink. 

• Bella Cucina: 8 Italian Kitchen Systems
• Ultimate Budget Storage: 10 Kitchens with Ikea's Grundtal Rail System
• Kitchen: Henrybuilt Workspace Component System
• Steal This Look: An Industrial Greenhouse Kitchen

More Stories from Remodelista

• 10 Easy Pieces: Marble-Top Dining Tables
• 14 Integrated Marble Kitchen Sinks
• Bella Cucina: 8 Italian Kitchen Systems

Plaster artisan Stephen Antonson makes chandeliers and sconces of the sort that Gertrude Stein might have hung in her Paris salon to illuminate her Picassos. Fittingly, he has a Brooklyn studio that looks like a classic atelier. 

Antonson studied painting and sculpture at Carnegie Mellon University and applies both skills to his plaster designs. Working in the great (and painstaking) tradition of Giacometti, Jean Michel Frank, and Serge Roche, he creates his lighting by hand, building an armature of steel, adding wiring, applying a primer, and then brushing on layer upon layer of plaster—and sanding and sculpting each step along the way. 

Above: Each Earle Chandelier, like all of his large-scale designs, takes weeks to complete. 

Above: Antonson at work on a Hilary Chandelier in his Gowanus, Brooklyn, studio. 

Above: A finished Hilary Chandelier. Unless otherwise requested, his lighting is electrified.

Above: All of Antonson's designs are worked out on paprer—"the more elaborate pieces get rendered on a computer, but only after hand drawings are done," he says. Antonson also makes tables, which begin with a handmade wooden substrate that's primed, plastered over many weeks, and sealed with shellac.

Above: Antonson frequently collaborates with architects and designers on commissions and most of his pieces are customizable.

Above: The Tabowl has a 42-inch wide tabletop and is 27 inches tall.

Antonson's work is represented by four showrooms: Dessin Fournir in New York and Chicago, Therien in LA, and Ainsworth-Noah in Atlanta. It's available to the trade only, but the showrooms can help retail customers place orders via a professional. Be prepared for sticker shock: Prices reflect all the labor involved and start at $800 for a candlestick; inquire with one of the showrooms for more details.

Above: Each of the many layers of plaster brushed on the designs gets hand sanded. "As you can see, texture becomes extremely important in the final object," says Antonson. Shown here, his Gourd Lamps in progress.

Above: Antonson's plaster Zigzag Candlesticks are cast and then finished with several layers of hand-painted plaster.

Above: The Morandi Single Sconce is also available as a double sconce.

Above: The Hilary Sconce, a companion piece to the Hilary Chandelier (shown above).

Above: Works in progress. Antonson has recently started casting in bronze, but mostly he focuses on plasterwork—and almost always sticks with white: "White shows form and texture the best. One notices shadows. White also plays well with others."

Above: The Finn Lantern. Go to Stephen Antonson to see more and to contact him directly.

For dramatic plasterwork walls, see Hollywood Tale: An Uncommon Spec House and Remodeling 101: Limewash Paint.

Browse our Lighting posts for more of our discoveries, including:

• Streamlined Light: Designs by Lambert & Fils of Montreal
• Atelier de Troupe's Navire Collection
• Brendan Ravenhill's Minimalist Sconce
• The New Classics: Lighting from Rubn in Sweden
• Standard Shines a Light in Seattle

More Stories from Remodelista

• Required Reading: Faculty Department
• We Make Tables. That's What We Do.
• High/Low: Modo Chandelier

Michelle and crew rode out this week's storm by sitting back and admiring restored 12th-century castles, indoor orangeries, and a luxe new exterior paint line out of the UK. Count us in on the ogling.

Above: Having started the year with the Top 10 Garden Trends of 2015, Michelle moves on to 13 New Landscape Design Ideas to Steal. We love the dramatic look of green leaves against a black palette.

Above: Modeled after London's Crystal Palace, this 1876 greenhouse, an orangery on the grounds of a Danish castle, has been completely restored and is open for tours. Sandstone fountains and orange trees await; go on a Greenhouse Visit with Cheryl.

Above: A greenhouse to call your own: The terrarian precursor, the Wardian case, is having a revival. Find the one for you in 10 Easy Pieces.

Above: In this week's Designer Visit, join Michelle as she helps water the plants at designer Axel Vervoodt's Belgian castle. Shown here, the indoor garden room that Vervoodt and family use as a winter gathering place.

Above: Now coveting: A new line of 84 exterior paints from UK greenhouse specialists Marston and Langinger. Formulated to reflect sunlight without glare, the eggshell shades "appear to radiate color." Go to Paints & Palettes to see more—and also to Vote for the Perfect Paint Palette for a Gardenista reader's Tudor house.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trending on Gardenista: Garden Secrets, Marijuana Grower's Guide Included
• Trending on Gardenista: Winter Greens (and Other Pick-Me-Ups)
• Trending on Gardenista: New Year Cure-Alls

Barbara Harman founded The Butler's Closet when she couldn't find conservation-quality drop clothes for her own expensively upholstered furniture. After consulting with conservation professionals, she developed a line of 100-percent cotton, chemical-free dust covers for furniture and for the wardrobe.

About: "In the mid-nineteenth century, England's stately homes were managed by an expert staff," Harman says. "During the off season, clothing was stored in muslin and furniture was draped in dust covers. It's a world that's mostly vanished. But the houses live on via the National Trust, and the fact that the art and furniture has been protected for hundreds of years is a testament to the skills of the butlers and their staffs." Photograph via The Selby.

Above: The Butler's Closet Wardrobe is made from 100 percent percale wove to textile conservator specifications and is free of dye, bleach, sizing, and chemicals. 

Above L: Prices start at $70 for the Small Furniture Cover. Above R: Butler's Closet Wardrobe Covers start at $18 for a Shoulder Cover.

Above: French furniture restorer Christophe Pourny's Furniture Tonic is made from organic linseed and walnut oils, beeswax, and a natural cleaner and drying agent.

Above: Harman also stocks English horn accessories: the English Shoehorn is $85, the English Horn Clothes Brush is $100, and the English Horn Travel Brush is $85.

Above: Christophe Pourny's Color Reviver "refreshes dark wood finishes and hides nicks and scratches." It's made by hand in Brooklyn from organic and virgin seeds and lavender and rosemary oils; $30, two 100-percent cotton polishing clothes included.

For more ideas on clothing care, see Expert Advice: 10 Wardrobe Maintenance Essentials, and for more on furniture care, see Tips from an LA Antiques Maestro.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Curvaceous Designs from Pianoprimo in Milan
• 5 Favorites: Stainless Steel Water Fustis, Italian Edition
• 10 Easy Pieces: Olive Oil Containers

Here's a look at a few things we loved this week.

• Above: The designers at Vipp (you know their trash bins and and dustpans) are venturing into the prefab home business.
• The creative communities of Charleston, SC; Denver; Nashville; Portland, OR; and Savannah, GA; in a monthly series of photo essays.
• "Try using neutral stone as a neutral pattern" and more tips for pairing floor and wall tiles.  

• Above: 10 artists, 10 workspaces. Photograph by Jordi Huismann. 
• $12 million will buy you Matthew Perry's oceanfront Malibu house. 
• Tips on entertaining for the Super Bowl. 

• Above: Elevated papier-mâché bowls by Danish designer Judy Adrichem. 
• The books to read in a lifetime. 
• Bedding for the cat lover.

• Above: Conference rooms have never been cooler. 
• Simpler and easier than a storage unit.
• On our wish list: A ball-shaped brass and maple pen holder. 

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

• Above: Our favorite Instagram discovery of 2015 (so far) is a Portuguese architect living in Macau (@nunoassis). 

• Above: Toronto graphic designer Melody Hansen's Objects pinboard is a minimalist's dream.

Read more from this week in our House Envy issue and check out Gardenista's Garden Envy issue. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• The Master of Plaster: Stephen Antonson's Sculptural Lighting
• Required Reading: Faculty Department
• We Make Tables. That's What We Do.

Modesty is a trait we can all get behind. Last week, we dreamed big (see our House Envy issue). This week, we've come back down to earth and are exploring the humble abode.

Above: Artisan Alessandra Taccia lives in a small rental near Cambridge, England, that's filled with her quietly magical creations. We'll be exploring her rooms today in House Call. Photograph by Alessandra Taccia.

Monday

Above: Clear the counters and free up workspace. We're calling it a trend—learn where to source your own (and see more of our Trend Alert predictions).

Tuesday

Above: Ikea's latest collections are about to be unveiled. In Shopper's Diary we're offering an advance look at our favorites, including this $189 table and $9.99 lampshade. 

Wednesday

Above: Kitchens these days have grown out of control, says Danish industrial designer Tobias Tostesen. To rein them in, he's introduced a concept kitchen that's not only compact but easy to disassemble, so that it can be used over and over. Meredith investigates in Wednesday's Kitchen Design post.

Thursday

Above: In this week's Remodel & Renovation column, Julie presents a London apartment kitted out like a jigsaw puzzle.

Friday

Above: The owner of this Wyoming cabin kitchen got the counter of her dreams and kept within budget by staining wood to look like soapstone. (And she reports that even after use by her family of five, the results have held up extremely well.) Tour her design in Friday's Kitchen post.

Wishing you had more space for plants? Turn to Gardenista this week for all sorts of Living Small solutions.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 10 Favorites: Best of Ikea 2015
• Current Obsessions: Happy Winter Blues
• The Master of Plaster: Stephen Antonson's Sculptural Lighting

It was the first time I've ever been jealous of doll furniture.

My introduction to artisan and blogger Alessandra Taccia came when I purchased several hand-stitched linen cushions, a luxurious knit cashmere throw, pom-pom slippers, and a hand-crocheted pouf, all miniaturized for my daughter's toy mouse. Since then I have been an avid follower of Alessandra via La Casita, her blog in which she chronicles her home and creations. (N.B. Alessandra's latest projects can now be found on her website alessandra-taccia.com.)

Much like her mouse accessories, Alessandra's blog hones in on the little things in life, celebrating quiet moments—a pile of newly washed tea towels or the perfect cup of grapefruit juice. Relaxed and welcoming, her world is not trendy but organic and full of soul. It's populated by storied pieces and personal objects, often crafted by Alessandra herself, that reflect her belief that a home should be a "work in progress, made slowly."

Photography by Alessandra Taccia.

Above: Born of an Italian father and Argentinian mother, Alessandra grew up by the sea coast of Cinque Terre and studied painting. Today, she makes her home with her husband and daughter outside of Cambridge, England. 

Above: In our correspondence Alessandra informed me that in Italian "taccia," her last name, is the imperative third person of the verb tacere: to be silent. I found that fitting, because Alessandra's house is a bit of an oasis, a place for quiet conversation. 

Above: Alessandra prefers natural materials—linen, wool, ceramics, and wood—like these simple, utilitarian objects in her kitchen. Her online shop, Alessandra Taccia, is an extension of her home and blog, offering an on-and-off-again array of one of a kind, handmade, and vintage goods.

Above: Being "often on the move"—the family lived in London before they relocated to their current rental—Alessandra edited down all of their possessions "to only what is really needed, either because it's useful or because it holds a memory we're fond of. For this reason I try to buy handmade things that are respectful of the environment, that are beautifully made, and designed to be passed on to the next generation." Over the dining table, a flock mobile by Bookhou is an example of the accents that speak to Alessandra.

Above: Alessandra's mother was an accomplished seamstress and knitter who passed on these skills to her daughter. One of Alessandra's specialities is making these patchwork hot pads. Other small-production items pictured here include ceramics from Analogue Life and a small wood plate by Caroline Gomez.

Above: On the table, a mitt crocheted by Alessandra and a wooden trivet made by fellow blogger Xenia of Eau de Nil complement a perfect cup of tea. 

Above: A leather pull and beaded key ring accessorize a £10 thrift store cupboard; Alessandra painted the piece a succession of Farrow & Ball shades before settling on white.

Above: Alessandra's so-so sofa was a victim of one of her recent edits. She replaced it with a floor cushion that she covered in heavy linen, and an assortment of pillows. Adding a diminutive table by Spielplatz, a low-hung midcentury pendant lamp, and one of her own crocheted throws hung on a Nakagawa hanger ($38.50 from Hubu Textiles), Alessandra created a space that's both minimal and intimate.

Above: Alessandra displays ceramics by her daughter on a living room shelf alongside a wire crown they made together.

Above: A mood board in Alessandra's office includes natural specimens and favorite prints. 

Above: Hand-knit and crocheted items adorn Alessandra's daughter's room.

Above: In a corner a vintage Dryad chair sits under Alessandra's own woven pieces (available at her online shop) and an landscape print from Fine Little Day.

Above: Bookshelves aren't essential.

Above: Oh, and those mouse accessories I mentioned earlier. Too adorable, no?

Another of my favorite interiors: a New Zealand Ranch Transformed by Mel Bombardiere. Interested in the plants in Alessandra's house? Her specimens provided inspiration for 5 Favorite Mini Plants for Apartment Living.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original ran on March 17, 2014, as part of our British Isles issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Remodeling 101: 15 Luxuries Worth Considering in Your Remodel
• Vincent Van Duysen Designs a Family House
• Before & After: A Melbourne Remodel with a Masculine Touch