To be filed under "Do try this at home": watercolor-splashed Japanese paper lanterns, courtesy of Danish textile and product designer Ditte Maigaard, who runs the Ditte Maigaard Studio.

To see more DIY products from this inventive Dane, go to Made by Maigaard.

Above: Maigaard bought a trio of "anonymous, cheap" Regolit Pendant Lamp Shades from Ikea ($4.99 each) and created a hanging lamp "made much more interesting with watercolor paint."

Above: A detail shot of Maigaard's handiwork.

Above: Maigaard used standard-issue watercolors, for something similar, consider Faber Castle's Watercolor Paint Set; $8.99 from Amazon.

Above: The lanterns installed over Maigaard's dining table.

According to psychologist Barry Schwartz, the secret to happiness is having less to choose from. In his book, The Paradox of Choice (Harper Perennial), Schwartz describes how choice ultimately leads to paralysis. If you've ever spent hours sleuthing for something as seemingly simple as the perfect tea kettle, you know this is certainly the case.

So we've sifted through the exhaustive amount of options to a more narrow selection of 10 classic tea kettles to choose from. Have one to add to the list? Let us know in the comments section below.

Above: The venerable Belgium company Demeyere makes a high-gloss finish Stainless Steel Tea Kettle; $64.95 for the small size (2.4 quarts) and $84.95 for the large size (6.3 quarts) at All Modern.

Above: Both Alexa and Francesca swear by the Staub Theiere Teapot, available in black cast iron as well as a range of enameled jewel-like colors (cherry, basil, grenadine,aubergine); $149.95 at Amazon; photo from Distinctive Decor.

Above: Sarah's favorite is the Water Kettle by Sori Yanagi, designed by the Japanese master, available in stainless steel; $150 from Unica Home. Photo from Antik Modern.

Above: The BonJour Porcelain Tea Kettle in black enamel holds 2 quarts; $38.57 at Amazon.

Above: The Opa Nuotiokahvipannu tea kettle is made by Opa Oly, the oldest manufacturer of stainless steel household items in Scandinavia; available for €59 from Retkiaitta.

Above: Illinois-based Copco has been making teakettles since 1962; the Cambridge Stainless Steel Tea Kettle is $30.95 at Amazon.

Above: Michelle has the Le Creuset Kone Kettle in black, enameled steel holds 1.6 liters; $114.79 from Langton in the UK.

Above: Julie's next purchase will be the Kaico Kettle, designed by Makoto Koizumi and made of enamel-coated steel with a beechwood handle and maple knob; $140 at Emmo Home. Photo from Rakuten.

Above: The classic Le Creuset Stainless Steel Tea Kettle is $100 at Williams-Sonoma.

Above: The High Gloss Finish Solid Copper Tea Kettle from traditional Old English whistling kettle maker Simplex is $179.95.

For more dining room decor, sift through all 230 Tabletop posts in our archive, and for an alternative tea pot see our past article: The Teapot Transformed.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on September 28, 2011.

I tracked the growth of my two children by marking their heights on their bedroom door. Alas, all that information was painted over when we sold our house. When Wakako Takagi, the founder of Baum-Kuchen, wanted to do the same with her two-year-old daughter, she was reluctant to mark her all-white interior. The solution? A folding measuring stick that can be hung from the wall, and, more importantly, kept forever.

Life's Journey Measuring Stick; $24 from Baum-Kuchen.

Above: Roo having her height measured. There is a nail hole at the top and bottom of the wooden stick specifically for hanging, and plenty of room to write.

Above: Takagi noted the collapsible brass mechanism on German rulers and reached out to a local manufacturer to help create her measuring stick.

Above: Made in Germany, the plain wooden folding ruler has an environmentally friendly clear coating; when fully expanded, it extends to 6 feet.

See more on the creative couple behind the brand in this post: The Notebook that Launched a Business. Explore our gallery of Children's Rooms.

If you had a long and narrow side garden instead of a front one, and the opportunity arose to turn it into an L-shaped garden by purchasing a perpendicular vacant lot; would you do it if even if it still meant no front garden?

Evolving urban fabric to suit one's needs often requires the creative knitting together of leftover pieces; a perfect challenge for landscape architect Sophie Robitaille and her architect husband Andrew Curtis, founders of their eponymous firm Robitaille Curtis when they were commissioned by the owner of a 19th-century townhouse in Center City, Philadelphia, that rather uniquely did not front out onto the street.

The original intent was to remodel the kitchen, but when the rare opportunity to purchase the vacant perpendicular lot arose, the designers realized that a much more ambitious remodel was required to fully exploit the relationship between interior and exterior spaces that the new garden offered. The solution? The ground floor and exterior spaces were entirely reconfigured and a new large eat-in kitchen was added to anchor the L-shaped garden.

Discuss on Facebook and Pinterest.

Photographs by Catherine Tighe.

Above: Looking out on the garden that was previously a vacant lot from the new kitchen addition. The kitchen addition's bluestone floors continue out to the exterior paving to enhance the relationship between inside and out.

Above: The fountain in front of the garden shed is board-formed cast-in-place concrete and contains lotus flowers and lilies.

Above: The view of the garden shed, whose western red cedar siding has been stained black, from the street.

Above: The garden shed creates an entry to the new garden and kitchen addition with a glimpse of the roof deck above. The new side entry garden was formalized into three distinct tiers that create outdoor rooms for entertaining.

Above: A 'Before" image of the narrow vacant lot before Robitaille and Curtis transformed it.

Above: Because of the L-shaped garden, the two legs of the garden offer two points of access.

Above L: The view of the original garden from the original point of access. Above R: The garden now has a destination in the form of the kitchen addition and roof garden at the end. As one walks toward the addition, one passes the enlarged bay and window of the formal dining room.

Above: The new kitchen addition acts as an anchor for the two legs of the L-shaped garden, while the new garden begins to reveal itself around the corner.

Above: Large areas of new windows and glass doors bring daylight into the home and visually connect the interior of the house to the expanded and remodeled gardens.

Above: "To heighten the interior/exterior relationship of our interventions, we carefully considered how the interior material palette relates to that of the exterior," Curtis says. "As a result, we used some of the same materials inside and out and we were careful to select complimentary colors and hues for the interior and exterior."

Above: "For the kitchen, we chose a warm palette of durable materials that would patina over time," Curtis says. "The new kitchen includes custom American cherry cabinets, honed Pennsylvania bluestone, stainless steel, and a cream colored tile backsplash from Ann Sacks." A skylight brings additional light into the primary work zone.

Above: "The existing kitchen was small and had little access to the adjacent garden or daylight," Curtis says.

The interconnectedness between interior and exterior space is a concept from traditional Japanese architecture. Explore more with 1,659 images of Indoor Outdoor in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

We think most things look--and feel--better once they're worn in, wood included. Here, five favorite spaces with wood that flaunts the lived-in look; some of it centuries old, some brand new.

For more from our member architects and designers, visit the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory.

Above: A mix of old and new in a Brooklyn Heights loft remodel by Elizabeth Roberts Design. A new open kitchen and reclaimed-wood dining table suit the owners' entertaining needs.

Above: Elizabeth Roberts Design installed new white oak floors throughout this duplex renovation in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The muted color pairs well with the home's historic features.

Above: Architects Liddicoat & Goldhill remodeled this 19th-century terraced house in London for a client who is an avid collector of vintage and reclaimed materials. Photo by Tom Gildon.

Above: A credenza set for serving in the home of Santa Barbara-based Carole Magness of Magness Interiors. The designer's home, a 1919 farmhouse, was designed by Wallace Neff.

Above: Golden wood and gilded frames warm this modern kitchen/dining renovation by SF-based Nick Noyes Architecture.

Above: Hundred-year-old beams (and relatively newer Wishbone chairs) in a Tribeca loft by Wettling Architects.

Get even cozier with 613 images of Rooms with Rugs in our gallery of rooms and spaces.

We think most things look—and feel—better once they're worn in, wood included. Here are five favorite spaces with wood that flaunts the lived-in look; some of it centuries old, some brand new.

For more from our member architects and designers, visit the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory.

Above: Elizabeth Roberts Design installed new white oak floors throughout this duplex renovation in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The muted color pairs well with the home's historic features.

Above: Architects Liddicoat & Goldhill remodeled this 19th-century terraced house in London for a client who is an avid collector of vintage and reclaimed materials; original woodwork (such as wood paneled shutters). Photo by Tom Gildon.

Above: Hundred-year-old beams (and relatively newer Wishbone chairs) in a Tribeca loft by Wettling Architects.

Above: A credenza set for serving in the home of Santa Barbara-based Carole Magness of Magness Interiors. The designer's home, a 1919 farmhouse, was designed by Wallace Neff.

Above: A mix of old and new in a Brooklyn Heights loft remodel by Elizabeth Roberts Design. A new open kitchen and reclaimed-wood dining table suit the owners' entertaining needs.

Above: Golden wood and gilded frames warm this modern kitchen/dining renovation by SF-based Nick Noyes Architecture.

Get even cozier with 613 images of Rooms with Rugs in our gallery of rooms and spaces.

This coming week we'll be tackling DIY projects (online, at least). Meanwhile, here's what's been piquing our interest lately:

Above: Alexa is looking forward to Paulette Tavormina's Old Master-inspired photography featured at March in San Francisco from March 14 to June 1.

• Stacey is wishing she could see the SXSW debut of House of Card, an Australian architecturally designed, portable house made entirely from cardboard, plywood, and shipping pallets.

Above: As we head into a week all about DIY design ideas, we're taking note of simple projects to update the look of our homes. Projects like this exposed bulb pendant lamp, spotted on Real Simple.

• From airstream trailers to Shakespeare & Co. in Paris, looking at this list of hipster hotels and hostels.

Above: Christine has her eye on the Pibal; a hybrid scooter/bicycle designed by the Superman of product design, Philippe Starck.

• We're reorganizing with the 9 craft room makeover ideas that could work for any studio space.

Above: We're admiring the aluminum water-jet cut fence at the Arlington, Virgina, home designed by architecture firm Höweler + Yoon.

• Looking into Ai Weiwei's only architectural project in the US, located in the Hudson Valley.

• Check out Sarah's DIY Pinboard of projects to do (some day).

My friend Wendy Furman, an artist and graphic designer, high-tailed it out of LA six years ago, trading her Laurel Canyon home for a funky 1940s cottage overlooking vineyards in the Napa Valley. Overnight she went from nearly a thousand square feet of living space to 643 square feet. Smog-free living for idyllic vineyard views was an easy trade, but how to adjust to the smaller space?

Fortunately, she has honed a clean minimalist look over the years. The Arizona native, who confesses to having known more about architecture than boys by sixth grade (she went to school with Frank Lloyd Wright's granddaughter and was already familiar with his Arizona winter home,Taliesin West), was an early adopter of Neutra and California Arts and Crafts when she first moved to LA. Her affinity for midcentury design was further solidified by a year in Stockholm, where she embraced Swedish modernism.

Tackling the cottage, she armed herself with cans of gallery-white paint and created a neutral palette that allowed the objects to fill the space, a technique she had learned working with museums and galleries over the years. She put her extensive art collection in storage; and throughout the year, she rotates her pieces to keep the space fresh. As she puts it, "I shop the things I have."

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Remodelista,

Above: Wendy in the doorway. She opened up the connection between the living room and the kitchen by removing the divider in the opening.

Above: Wendy removed the doors from the cupboards to create open shelving. She painted the whole space in Behr Ultra Pure White with, as she says, "an extra hit of Pure White, around 5 percent. They think you're nuts when you ask for it at the paint store, but it makes the white colder and more opaque." The four ceramic containers on the countertop are local Californian pottery and are one of the first things Wendy bought when she moved to LA at 23.

Above: Wendy painted the frames white and the back wall a custom flat graphite gray to tie into the gray couch in the living room. The gray also provides a contrast for the white dishes on display—an installation of sorts. The leaf bowl is by Gregg Moore, a recent discovery.

Above: A collection of green bowls sit atop an Ikea cabinet with a collage by Bill Radawec propped against the wall.

Above: Wendy, who describes the interior of her cottage as "looking like a flop-house" when she first moved in, replaced the base cupboards with Varde Kitchen Drawers topped with Varde birch counter tops from Ikea; she inserted a wine refrigerator in the space intended for a dishwasher. (An larger refrigerator sits in the hallway.) Lamenting the loss of her Viking range, she kept the original O'Keefe and Merritt gas stove, noting that "If you have to have an old stove, this is what you want."

Above: A tray with pieces from Wendy's collection of Russell Wright ceramics sits on a Parsons Dining Table from West Elm. (One of Wendy's first art installations involved a piece of Russell Wright hanging on the wall). The Thonet chairs are custom covered in 1950's Knoll green fabric. She replaced the kitchen and dining room with laminate flooring.

Above: Wendy uses a second bedroom as a showroom for her newly launched business, Whim & Caprice. A Bertoia chair sits in front of a set of maple bookshelves that she commissioned from an LA furniture maker years ago. On the wall is a sculpture by Steve DeGroodt.

Above: Wendy designed the wardrobe and had it custom made in solid maple.

Above: Wooden shelving between the two bedrooms is used to display art.

Above: One of a pair of Cherner side chairs atop a Nesta Rug from Design Within Reach.

Above: An Ikea floor lamp sits beside a Case Study V-Leg Bed from Modernica.

Above: A screen door with view onto the vineyards. A Noguchi Lamp sits on a Roy McMakin wooden table.

To see Wendy's pieces, check out our post on Whim & Caprice. And here's another compelling take on a Napa Valley Cottage, this one remodeled.

See more of our posts on Napa Valley Living.

Have you ever taken a personality test and felt betrayed, like they've got you all wrong? "Don't they know that I'm really more of a rebel with a carefree spirit and not an uptight, over-organized workaholic?" I recently took such a test, adapted from Carl Jung's "Psychological Types," and discovered that I'm more likely to make something myself than buy it from a store. OK, so that is true.

And that is probably why I still have so little furniture in my apartment, because I can't make it myself. For awhile now, I've been mildly obsessed with London-based furniture designer Max Lamb's simple and smart designs. Take his Round & Round Table and Last Stool, for instance. So while perusing his online portfolio the other day, I discovered this thoughtful DIY chair project—complete with a PDF printout. No need for power tools for this one; Lamb wants you to build the chair with simple hand tools and joinery methods. The best part? You can feasibly construct a set of 8 chairs for under $100. Here's how to do it:

Above: Lamb designed the chair to be constructed using inexpensive building materials found at local hardware stores. "A design for everyone and anyone; mass production in fact, but production by the masses rather than machines," says Lamb.

Above: Thirty-one pieces of Smooth Planed Pine, a splinter-free softwood commonly used in the building industry: "The idea is to use a local or indigenous wood that is easily obtained, affordable, and sustainable."

Above: As Lamb says, "The dimension of wood required is 34mm by 18mm and typically available in lengths from 2 meters to 2.7 metrers. I bought seven lengths of 2.7-meter pine. The critical dimension is the 18mm by 34mm cross-section of the wood, as this dictates the width and depth of the DIY chair and also the spacing between the seat surface and backrest slats."

Above: "Alternatively, you can simply use my DIY Chair instructions as a template to design and build your own chair, table, stool. You can edit the design and assembly as much as you like. The possibilities are infinite."

Above: For a list of materials needs that you can print out and bring to the hardware store and further instructions, visit Max Lamb.

Looking to make all your own furniture? Make a Pipe Bed Frame, Instant Built-In Daybed, and Mod Desk and Shelving.

Cheap, easy, fast: our five favorite DIYs involving inexpensive paper lanterns (easily sourced from Ikea or your local party supply shop). What could be easier?

Above: A stack of lanterns illuminates a corner of Vanessa Bruno's Paris apartment. Photograph by Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer. For instructions, go to Vanessa Bruno's Stacked Paper Lanterns.

Above: A black drip-painted paper lantern suspended from a rope in the West Hollywood home of Chris McMillan (hairdresser to the stars, including Jennifer Aniston), photograph by Tim Street-Porter via the LA Times.

Above: A genius lantern cluster from Maxwell Ryan of Apartment Therapy; photo by Eric Striffler via the NY Times. For instructions on creating something similar, go to Big, Beautiful Paper Globe Chandelier.

Above: A rosy-hued ombre paper shade from Finnish interior prop stylist Susanna Vento. For instructions, go to DIY: Ombre Pink Paper Lamp Shade

Above: Danish textile and product designer Ditte Maigaard, who runs the Ditte Maigaard Studio, created this splash-painted trio of lanterns; go to DIY: Japanese Watercolor Lantern. To see more DIY products from this inventive Dane, go to Made by Maigaard.

One of my favorite rooms ever? The parlor of Brooklyn-based ceramicist Paul Grieff, who is a genius at mixing new and old, high and low, artful and artless. When I dropped in on her Cobble Hill townhouse a while back, I zeroed in on the pale pink flower arrangement. "Where did you get these?" I said enviously. "Oh, those are from Ikea," she said breezily.

On my next trip to the Swedish megaplex I scoured the store in search of those blowsy paper flowers, hoping to steal a bit of Paula's urban bohemian style. No luck. So when I recently spotted some paper flowers at West Elm I took note (and ordered a couple).

Above: An eclectic mix of vintage and modern furniture animates Greif's living room (see more at The Handmade Kitchen: Paula Greif in Brooklyn). Photo by Anita Calero.

Above: West Elm offers limited quantities of handmade paper flowers; the Hellebores shown here have sold out but we also like the set of 12 Red Roses for $36 and the set of 10 Paper Tulips for $32.

Above: Mini Magnolia Flower Kit, a DIY kit from Paper Source, is $14.95.

Above: DIY Paper Flowers made from yellowed sewing patterns; for instructions, go to Wedding Chicks.

Spotted (and admired) in the showroom of Chairloom in Philadelphia: rough-hewn factory floors embellished with dramatic stencils. Read on to discover how to achieve a similar look.

Chairloom founders Tracy Jenkins and Molly Andrews believe in second chances. If it works for their furniture, it also seems to work for the beat-up floor they found in their new showroom space. Rather than sanding the character out of the floor, they took an additive approach and asked their friend Ilene Pearlman to come in and cover the 1,000-square-foot space with dramatic stencils, proving that everything deserves a second chance.

Images via Chairloom.

Above: Ilene Pearlman's stencils create a dramatic background for both the finished refurbished pieces as well as the as is pieces Chairloom holds in stock.

Above: Pearlman created a stencil out of large piece of corrugated cardboard which she found in a dumpster. Pearlman spent three days designing the stencil and preparing it by cutting it out and laminating the entire stencil with tape to keep it from absorbing moisture from the paint. From point to point, the stencil measures 5'- 0". N.B. Pearlman will be exhibiting her work at the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show in September.

Above: Pearlman uses a roller to apply the paint while her mother holds the stencil in place. Rather than prime the area first and then paint over it, she saved a step by just using primer. A protective coat of polyurethane was applied on top of the stencils. Painting the stencils took her two days.

Above: The existing floor had to be scrubbed and cleaned thoroughly before Pearlman could apply the stencils.

Above: In classic Chairloom style, this high back chair has been updated with originality.

Above: A view of Chairloom founder Molly Andrews' desk.

Above: A found sofa awaits its second chance at Chairloom.

Interested in other DIY stencil projects? See DIY: Picnic Tables.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 10, 2012.

Is Crate Brewery in London the ultimate DIY cafe? We think so. Just take a look at the details: light fixtures made from box springs, a sign fashioned from screws, a couch made from stacks of burlap coffee sacks, tables lashed together with fishing line.

Located in a former print factory in Hackney Wick, Crate is owned and operated by locals, who also built the industrial interiors using one-of-a-kind pieces and reclaimed materials. For more, go to Crate Brewery.

Above: A sign made from screws drilled into a piece of reclaimed wood.

Above: An aerial view of the brew pub; note the box spring lights strung on electric cords.

Above: A detail of the DIY lighting system.

Above: Cushions covered in burlap sacks create an ad hoc seating area.

Above: Tables made from slices of burl wood.

Above: A cluster of DIY lights.

Above: Tables made from salvaged wood, lashed together with fishing line.

Above: A view of the interior.

Above: The pub is located on an industrial waterway.

Planning a London pub crawl? See our favorites in our London City Guide.

According to our friend Charlie Scott, the one drawback to living in an open loft space is the the lack of a guest bedroom. Imagine his surprise when his sister sewed him a guest bedroom fabricated from canvas.

An extensive traveler and founder of Trufflepig (a trip planning company), Scott had "couch-surfed" around the world for years, and his 1600-square-foot loft was the first stopover for many of his friends on their way through Toronto. In passing one day, he mentioned to his sister, artist Sally Scott, that it would be nice to be able offer his guests some privacy. Sally’s Christmas present to her brother that year was a custom-made canvas tent; big enough to accommodate a camp bed, a side table, and a chair. Voilà—an instant guest bedroom. For more information, contact Charlie Scott.

Above: The tent has three operable flaps; one on each side and one in the back.

Above: The tent was designed and fabricated by Sally Scott. It has two structural members; a wooden rod threaded through the top creates the roof pitch and copper piping with elbow joints provides a rigid rectangular frame. When guests leave, the tent can be taken apart and stored away in minutes.

Above: The canvas fits in well with the rest of Scott's décor.

Above: The tent is hoisted up by a simple pulley system, which is attached to the ceiling.

Above: At night, the tent emits a warm glow, providing a cozy backdrop to a candlelit dinner; the ultimate in sophisticated camping.

Above: Sally Scott sewed the case for the tent out of ticking fabric and hand-embroidered the label. "Shim Shim Tents" is a family joke shared by the siblings. "Our father was a building contractor who often worked on old Canadian houses," says Scott, "A shim here and a shim there were his favorite words."

Do you share our obsession with canvas? See 106 Canvas images in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on May 17, 2012.

We first came across artist Dino Sanchez and his lamps via on-line based The Vitrine. His latest collection includes two DIY lamps: one table lamp and one wall-mounted version. According to the directions, all you need is 10 minutes and a phillips screw driver to complete assembly.

Above: The DS Kit 02 lamp is $75 and available in white, black, and blue.

Above: The DS Kit 01 lamp; wall-mounted version is $75 and available in black, white, and blue.

Above: DIY lamp parts.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 17, 2012.

Spotted on Dezeen: a low-cost kitchen by Tank Architects of Tokyo, designed for a couple with a passion for cooking but a limited budget.

The homeowners of House K wanted a kitchen with enough space for serious culinary experimentation. The solution? Humble materials like concrete blocks and larch plywood topped with polished stainless steel countertops, which add a finished note to the otherwise rough-looking space. Here are some ideas for recreating the look.

Photography by Eric Bossic.

Above: The kitchen's minimalist elegance makes a virtue out of an economical building material.

Above: A stack of concrete blocks creates a slim counter that divides the space.

Above: The polished stainless counters bounce light into the kitchen.

Above: Oldcastle Concrete Block is 16 inches long; $1.14 at Home Depot.

Above: Stainless Steel Counter Tops are available in standard sizes from A Best Kitchen; a 24-by-25-inch length is $388.

Above: The architects used larch plywood for the shelving, which can be hard to source in the US. One alternative: Birch C-3 Plywood in a 3/4-inch thickness for shelving; a 4-by-8-feet panel is $44.97 at Home Depot.

Above: Elements of Design Single Handle Faucet in polished chrome; $193.17 at eFaucets.

Above: Smeg Classic Design 24-Inch Gas Cooktop; $620 from AJ Madison.

Above: Nutid Free-Hanging Extractor Hood in stainless steel; $1,199 from Ikea.

Above: The exposed light sockets can be created using a Standard Porcelain Lamp Socket; $6.99 at Aubuchon Hardware.

For more ideas with concrete, see our post, Concrete, from the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory. And if you prefer concrete for outdoor paving instead, see Gardenista's post: Eco-Friendly Paving Solutions for porous concrete.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on February 21, 2012.

At L'Ouvrier in Toronto the formula is simple: gallery white walls and concrete floors serve as a backdrop for a number of clever DIY installations and a few carefully placed fluoro accents.

Designer Courtney Wotherspoon of Spoon Studio started with a clean canvas, painting exposed pipes and walls in a medium gloss white, then added some serious creativity. DIY installations featuring commonplace objects such as black electrical cords, steel construction nails, thumbtacks, and plastic bags. The main dining area is comprised of vintage table bases paired with thick-cut wood slab tops, all in a wash of white; and a mix of Bouroullec Steelwood chairs and classic Eames dowel-leg chairs. Since its opening, L'Ouvrier is the new favorite spot in Toronto, with visitors like Arounna of Bookhou (whose blog we first spotted the restaurant on). The restaurant is located at 791 Dundas Street West; for more information, go to L'Ouvrier.

Photography via The Marion House Book, unless otherwise noted.

Above: Wotherspoon used a standard black electrical cord in a curled up design against the white wall.

Above: A detail of the simple table setting with menus also designed by Wotherspoon. Photograph via Bookhou.

Above: A collection of DIY and building materials are wrapped in small bags.

Above: The installation aims to elevate standard building materials such as steel screws and extension cords by displaying them in their own cases.

Above: Photograph from L'Ouvrier.

Above: A single fluorescent red table top stands out against a sea of white and is surrounded by four Steelwood Chairs by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Magis ($679 each from Nest Living).

Above: Wotherspoon painted a series of found driftwood in various patterns to use as wall art. For more, see our post DIY: Painted Natural Objects as Decor.

Above: An pattern made from simple silver nails dashes across the wall on one side of the restaurant. Photograph from Spoon Studio.

Above: A design in fluorescent pink string. Photograph from Spoon Studio.

Above: Photograph from Spoon Studio.

Above: Photograph via Bookhou.

Visiting Toronto? See our 13 favorite restaurants, hotels, and shops in our Toronto City Guide. Ready for your own DIY project? Sift through our archive of over 200 DIY Ideas to get inspired.

Not all white paint shades are created equal. A number of factors come into play when deciding on the perfect white: the region (Northwest? East Coast? Los Angeles?), the quality of the natural light, the window placement, the size of the room and the height of the ceiling. We consulted a selection of architects from the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory for their go-to white paint picks.

Above: The top choice for an all-purpose white is Benjamin Moore's White Dove (OC-17). San Francisco-based Cary Bernstein calls low-VOC White Dove a "foolproof, livable shade of white." According to John DeForest of DeForest Architects in Seattle, "White Dove is clean and calm, a great backdrop for art." Celeste Robbins of Robbins Architecture in Winnetka, Illinois, is another proponent of Benjamin Moore's White Dove.

Above: The go-to white paint for Brooklyn-based architect Clay Miller of Bergen Street Studio is Farrow & Ball's White Tie (No. 2002)—a warm. neutral white ("the white of old, pre-brightened, starched cotton," as the company says). Sample pots are available for $7.50 at Farrow & Ball.

Above: Jim Poteet of Poteet Architects in San Antonio, Texas, says, "Our favorite is Pittsburgh 520-1 Gypsum. It has a tiny amount of gray and a warmth to it that moves it away from pure white. We primarily use eggshell finish on walls and prefer that they be sprayed for a smooth, hard finish."

Above: Malibu-based architect Bruce Bolander uses Dunn Edwards White (DEW 380). "It hits the gallery white pretty well, not too warm or too cool," he says (the white paint is available in Dunn Edwards' low-VOC paint line, Enso). Photo via Eco Building Pulse.

Above: Brooklyn-based Delson or Sherman Architects favor Benjamin Moore's low- and no-VOC paints in either Super White (L, photo via House Beautiful) or Decorators White (R). "Because color is so dependent on context, we always select colors based on the material palette and lighting in each room; the relative amount of gray or yellow is critical. We avoid pink-tinted whites."

Above: For woodwork, molding, and cabinetry, Dana likes Farrow & Ball's All White (in an enamel oil-base high gloss). Sample pots are available for $7.50 at Farrow & Ball.

Above: Hope Dana of Platt Dana Architects in New York favors a mix of half Benjamin Moore Linen White (R) and half Benjamin Moore Decorators White (L) for walls, which creates a "warm and consistent color whether it is in shade or sun."

Above: Bay Area architect Ken Linsteadt's "patented favorite" is Benjamin Moore's White Chocolate (2149-70).

Above: A favorite white for Michielli+Wyetzner Architects in New York is Benjamin Moore Atrium White. "We like it because it has a warm, almost reddish tone, as opposed to most whites, which we find either too blue, too icy, or too yellow," Michael Wyetzner says.

Above: Pulltab A+D prefers Fine Paints of Europe in Pantone Bright White (Fine Paints of Europe can specify any Pantone shade); the firm also likes Benjamin Moore's Snowfall White.

For more white paint ideas and inspiration, see "5 Quick Fixes: White Paint Solutions."

N.B.: This post is an update, the original story ran on April 20, 2011.

Is this farmhouse in West Sussex the ultimate DIY project? We think so; just look at the details: kitchen shelving made from reclaimed fence boards, cabinets worthy of the Dutch reclamation expert Piet Hein Eek, a bed canopy made from a length of vintage fabric. Lots of good ideas to steal.

See more at Light Locations.

Above: Encaustic tiles set into a frame create an instant backsplash.

Above: The kitchen cabinetry is made entirely from reclaimed wood.

Above: A reclaimed wall light illuminates a corner of the kitchen.

Above: A length of fabric creates an instant bed canopy.

Above: Wooden dowels suspended from the ceiling creates a frame for the canopy.

Above: In a guest bedroom, a headboard is formed from reclaimed doors.

Above: In the bath, cabinetry from reclaimed wood contrasts with white-painted floors.

Above: A handmade curtain obscures the under-sink storage area.

Is it just us, or is Ikea's Fas Clamp Spotlight the most versatile lamp ever? We've been noticing it for years in unexpected (and expected) spaces, and it never fails to please. Finland-based industrial design student Minni of Nimi Design has reimagined the spotlight as a task lamp, complete with a concrete base.

As all great DIYs projects begin, Minni obsessed over a Cox & Cox task lamp she first spotted on Pinterest before deciding to just make it herself. She sourced a few strips of teak, the Fas Spotlight ($9.99 each), bolts, screws, and a mold for the concrete base. For further instructions, see Nimi Design for the DIY project.

Above: The final product from Part 4 of the DIY; read about the inspiration for the project in Part 1.

Above: Materials sourced in Part 2 of the DIY.

Above: Instructions for making the concrete lamp base can be found in Part 3.

Above: A detail of the connecting base.

Looking to buy (rather than to DIY) a task lamp? Shop 502 of our favorite Task Lighting options in our Shop section. For another DIY lighting project, see our recent post: A Ten-Minute DIY Lamp by Dino Sanchez.