Is this a new vision for American suburbia? We think so. Located in the Historic Houston Heights neighborhood in Texas, the Shade House project consists of nine symmetrical buildings settled in an expansive Texas-style grassland. The homes were designed in homage to the American architectural standard, the row house, but this development, by green design and construction firm Shade House, is different.

Matthew and Tina Ford of Shade House teamed up with Atlanta-based developer Holden Shannon to design something beyond the average tract home while keeping costs down to just $170 per square foot in each 1,900-square-foot home. Shade House works under the principle that, as the Fords say, "by integrating design, development and construction, we have the ability to control costs while pushing the design and quality further." At Row on 25th, they've done just that with an easy-to-build design, cabinetry built in house, and humble materials. With green design in mind, the Fords installed a reflective metal roof to combat the Texas heat, energy-saving water heaters, and finished the floors and cabinets with a zero-VOC protective coating. The nine homes are available for lease at $2,850 each per month. Visit Shade House directly; to read more about the project, go to Dwell.

Above: The compact kitchens feature Sub-Zero refrigerators and gray limestone counters and backsplashes.

Above: The houses are available either with custom laminated kitchen cabinets and ash flooring (shown above) or custom stainless steel kitchen cabinets and reclaimed wood floors from the 1880s.

Above: A view of the kitchen area from the living room; Holden Shannon decided to purchase one of the homes himself, enlisting designer Barbara Hill to orchestrate the interior design.

Above: A vintage rosewood desk paired with an Eames side chair.

Above: Polished chrome fixtures and fittings above and below the powder room sink.

Above: The stairways are minimally detailed.

Above: In the bedroom, a pair of Kofod-Larsen chairs sits beneath a print by Elva Stewart.

Above: Hallway lighting is made from simple hardware store sconces and silver tip light bulbs.

Above: Natural light travels through the open floor plan.

Above: The master baths feature gray limestone counters.

Above: A selection of Row House are designed with reclaimed longleaf pine salvaged from demolished 1880s homes.

Above: Olive trees potted in concrete separate the houses from one another. The architects' goal with the nine houses was to maintain a high level of privacy while allowing for community with a common area in back of the lot.

Above: As the Fords say, the intent of the project was, "to rejuvenate the style of old row houses by way of warm minimalism."

Above: Although the emphasis was placed on the overall image of the houses together over the individual homes, each house is painted in a slightly different shade of white, low-VOC paint (for more, see 10 Easy Pieces: Eco-Friendly Paints).

Above: A field of native Muhly grasses sway in front of the nine white houses.

Looking for prefab-like homes with a strong sense of design? See our previous posts Architect Visit: Beach Cabins from Sommarnöjen and Steal This Look: DIY Scandinavian Outdoor Dining Space.

My apartment is now washed entirely in bright white paint. It's the kind of Victorian where tenants before me have annoyingly painted over all the hardware so I did the same, slapping paint over anything that need a "fix"—the smudge on the wall, the faux gold hinges, you name it.

But now that everything is all white, it needs a little edge without going fully B&W. The answer, I've discovered, is in dark wood and rich mahogany leather; exactly what drew me to this space in Österlen, Sweden. The 300-square-meter, loft-like space is owned by Henriette and Peter of design studio The White Briefs and has an easily replicable look; see our sources below for more.

First seen on Emmas Design Blogg, photography by Jenny Brandt.

Above: A design using 20 porcelain ceiling lights in a circular outline provides dispersed lighting in the living room.

Above: A black painted antique table and dark bentwood chairs stand out against the white walls and polished concrete floors.

Above: We could imagine these Leather Pulls from The Brick House in this space; for how-to DIY a similar look, see our video: How to Make a $20 Cabinet Pull for $2.

Above: The Geoffrey from Montauk Sofa is 95 inches long; $3,800. To achieve a similar mix of white sofas, see our 10 Easy Pieces: The Perfect White Sofa.

Above: A similar Moroccan Tuareg Rug made of dwarf palm tree fibers with hand-woven with leather stripes; available from Mosaik at 1st Dibs. Hannoun: Rugs from Morocco also has a good selection; prices start at $800.

Above: Hudson's Bay 6 Point White with Black Stripes Wool Blanket; $315 from Oregon Trail Outfitters.

Above: Source vintage Kilim pillows from Istanbul on Etsy like the Kilim Pillow Cover for $55 from Decolic. Photograph from The Brick House.

Above: The Tan Moroccan Leather Pouf has subtle color variation and is packed with dense cotton and finished with hand embroidery; $450 from Serena & Lily. For more poufs in metallic shades see our Moroccan Pouf Roundup.

Above: Canvas' velvet Rectangular Pillows are handwoven in India and in six colors of velvet and two different sizes (12 by 16 and 12 by 24 inches). Visit Canvas for pricing and availability.

Above: Henriette and Peter have a collection of vintage bentwood chairs; an alternative easy-to-find option is the solid-base Era Chair in dark brown ($150) or the Era Chair with Caned Seat ($170) both at Design Within Reach.

Above: The Noguchi Akari Table Lamp 1N is $105 from Canoe.

Above: A quick and inexpensive furniture fix is painting an antique table in a glossy black paint. Benjamin Moore's Aura Semi-Gloss Finish Paint is $67.99 per gallon directly at Benjamin Moore.

Above: Design House Stockholm's Step Ladder in black is $330 from YLiving.

Above: The Thomas Hoof Porcelain Ceiling Light is €22 at Thomas Hoof Produkt. For more ideas visit our post: Design Sleuth: Porcelain Ceiling Fixtures.

For a living room with a similar jewel tone color palette, see our Design Sleuth of Isabel Marant's Paris Apartment. Seeking more Scandinavian inspiration? Sift through 74 Scandi Living Rooms and 93 Dining Rooms in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

Gone are the days when the words "go to your room" had a negative connotation. With these kids' swings (some in the bedroom, others in the living room), playing indoors is almost as good as out.

See what first sparked our interest in our previous post on Indoor Swings, and source a Carved Oak Rope Swing, the Hooks Fluorescent Swing (featured below), and the Original Tree Swing in our Shop section.

Above: An indoor swing in the Brooklyn home of Sophie Demenge featured on Martha Stewart Living; and spotted on Cup of Jo.

Above: Antique store owner Hitoshi Uchida's daughter swings in the living room of their home in Kamakura, Japan; featured on The Selby.

Above: A makeshift rope swing in a living room photographed for Milk Magazine via LoveNordic Design.

Above: A swing in a San Francisco house photographed by Melanie Acevedo.

Above: An indoor swing made from rope and and an old block of wood from 101 Woonideeën.

Above L: A blue tire swing in Rebecca Robertson and Marco Pasanella's NYC loft from Martha Stewart. Above R: A dowel rod hanging from exposed beams functions as a swing in the home of blogger Met Melk & Suiker.

Above: An indoor swing for children and adults alike. Photographed by Jeltje and first spotted on Emma's Design Blogg.

Above: A tire suspended from a red rope; photograph by Patrik Hagborg for Sköna Hem.

Above: A fluorescent hook swing from Instant Hooks Swing from Belgium.

Above: A bright green swing in a boy's bedroom spotted on My Ideal Home.

Above: A trapeze-style swing hangs over a reindeer skin rug in a children's room in Denmark via Nordic Bliss.

Above: A classic rope swing in a boy's bedroom in Mill Valley, California. Photograph by Dustin Aksland for Dwell.

For more inspiration visit a gallery of 249 Children's Rooms and our previous post: 15 Radical Kids' Climbing and Sliding Spaces.

Completely compelling and strangely covetable: Hand-painted tiles from London ceramicist and illustrator Laura Carlin, depicting wild beasts (the truly obsessed can commission an entire tile mural by special order).

The tiles are available individually through the New Craftsmen; see more of her work at Laura Carlin.

Above: A collection of six decorative Cat and Dog Tiles is £132 from the New Craftsmen.

Above: A collection of six decorative Lion Tiles is £132 from the New Craftsmen.

Above: A collection of four Bear Tiles is £88 from the New Craftsmen.

Above: A collection of four Cheetah Tiles is £88 from the New Craftsmen.

Above: A collection of four Gorilla Tiles is £88 from the New Craftsmen.

Are you obsessed with tiles? We are (see our favorites in our Tile Shop section). Check out another favorite whimsical tile maker: UK-based Marlborough Tiles.

If Jackson Pollack were an interior designer, we can imagine him dreaming up these spaces featuring black and white splash- and splatter-painted surfaces. What do you think? Inspired design or monkeys painting?

Above: A dramatic splash-painted entryway in NYC via Lonny.

Above: A paint-spattered cabinet by Leslie Oschmann of Swarm, featured in Mark and Sally Bailey's book The Handmade Home; photo by Debi Treloar.

Above: A kitchen by French interior designer Marianne Evennou, first spotted on Desire to Inspire.

Above: A black and white lampshade by Claire O'Hea in the home of UK designer Virginia White.

Above: For a DIY from Remodelista's own Justine Hand, go to New England Spatter-Painted Floors.

Graduated from Ikea but can't quite afford Herman Miller? Heartwork to the rescue.

Metal Storage 1.0 is the first collection from Heartwork, a new Portland, OR-based company founded by industrial designer and entrepreneur Karen John (who is quite possibly the most qualified furniture designer we know of: she studied industrial design at Domus Academy in Milan, got a masters degree at Stanford in manufacturing systems engineering, squeezed in an MBA at Insead in France, and then served as VP of Merchandising at Design Within Reach). Now she's filled a longstanding hole in the market with her compellingly priced line of USA-made, high-quality, heavy-duty 18/20 gauge steel storage cabinets and drawers. Available in a choice of six colors, these office building blocks are perfect for startups, home offices, children rooms, and beyond.

Above: The Modern Media Credenza in teal with casters is $755 ($725 with legs).

Above: The Cargo Cabinet with Shelves is $750 and the Active Duty Bookcase 4 Shelf shown in white with casters is $425.

Above: Vertical Files 2 Drawer sit beneath the desk. Heartwork also offers a line of office accessories including Le Clamp Lamp shown; $25.

Above: The Metal Storage 1.0 line comes with various options including the choice of caster or legs as well as open or backed shelving.

Looking for office furniture for a small space? Check out our post on Diminutive Desks.

In the right (or wrong) room, a floor mirror is transformative. Adding dimension to narrow hallways and rendering awkward spaces as inviting and seemingly functional, it's the renters secret weapon.

Here are 10 leaning mirrors at full length heights, each with a timeless design to carry from one house to another:

Above: The Metal Floor Mirror with a brushed nickel frame leans against the wall; $299 from West Elm.

Above: Room & Board's Loft Leaning Mirror has a shadow-box frame and is available in solid maple, cherry, walnut (shown), or ash wood with an ebony finish; $899.

Above: The Hanging Mirror from Michigan-based Tenebras Design is meant to stand against a wall as a floor mirror or hung on the horizontal; $225 directly from Tenebras.

Above: Designed by Treviso, Italy-based Luciano Bertoncini in 2011, the Large Luciano Mirror in a white or black epoxy powder-coated finish is $795 from Design Within Reach.

Above: The Infinity Leaning Mirror is made of beveled-edge glass and finished with thin stainless steal frame for $649 from Room & Board.

Above: Designed by Niels Bendtsen, the Lean Mirror is made of wood veneer in British Columbia and leans at a 5 degree angle (it also includes a wall mount safety bracket to securely hold the mirror to the wall); $842 from Hive Modern.

Above: The Silver-Gilt English Dressing Mirror has a low-luster silver finish and slim proportions (it's only 2 inches in depth); $475 for the 72 inch size from Restoration Hardware.

Above: Ethnicraft's Teak Mirror is made from FSC certified wood and is made to lean against the wall as a freestanding mirror or flush mounted with included keyhole bracket hardware. The mirror is $1,100 from Lekker Home (for more, see Simple Wood Furniture from Ethnicraft in Belgium).

Above: West Elm's Floating Wood Floor Mirror is made from glass and a solid wood frame and measures 72 inches tall and 30 inches wide; $399.

Above: The Linea Floor Mirror in FSC certified sustainable teak wood is $499 from Crate & Barrel.

Above: Restoration Hardware's Bistro Polished Nickel Leaning Mirror is available in 72- and 84-inch sizes for $625 and $845 respectively.

Above: CB2's Infinity Standing Mirror has a thin aluminum frame and can be used as a leaning mirror or standing with an easel-style frame; $199. Another option is the slightly wider Infinity Floor Mirror without the easel frame for $399.

Looking for more mirrors? See Sliding Barn Door Mirror, Vintage Mirrors Painted White, and High/Low: Coat Rack + Mirror Combos.

We like this twist on the family photo. With an aim to beginning another era of their lives, Brooklyn designers Loren Daye and Jesse Rowe wanted to memorialize their apartment before selling it and most of their belongings in it. What did they do? They commissioned their good friend, photographer Brian Ferry (a Remodelista favorite) to take a series of photos that captures where their thoughts have been for the last four years.

Daye and Rowe’s 1250 square foot studio in an old paint factory in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn is an exercise in filling a home with personality even if your day job as designers is all consuming. Daye who worked at Roman and Williams before moving on to establish her own studio, Love is Enough, has recently rejoined friends at Atelier Ace as Head of Interiors while Rowe, a clothing designer, worked most recently as a menswear designer at Steven Alan. “Our space is a random, circumstantial and accumulative amalgam and collection of personal history and travel,” Daye says. “So much love and attention goes into my work that home becomes a leftover respite, very rarely a design exercise in its unplanned melange.”

Photography by Brian Ferry.

Above: A listening nook for enjoying the couple's vinyl collection is anchored by a limited edition, rocking chair from the Ikea PS collection. a kind of limited edition line a few years ago called PS that the rocking chair was part of. The double wide proportions make for comfortable listening.

Above: The bed is made of blackened steel with a Baltic birch plywood headboard and was built by good friend and architect Matt Hutchinson who built the bed from a toothpick model that Rowe made. Rowe's mode of transportation around the city hangs on the wall.

Above: A map of coastal Maine from Daye's mother hangs in a Re-Frame poster hanger designed friends Paul Galli and Todd Seidman of 54Dean. "Jesse built the lamp for me from a old tripod when we were first dating," Daye says. "He bought the lampshade from Just Shades on Spring St. and vintage cloth covered wire from Sundial Wire and cobbled the whole thing together."

"It's a little janky and tilts to one side, but I love it," Rowe says.

Above: The artwork on the walls is a combination of the couples' own, that of friends and artists - a place where the couple feel they can visually catalog their experiences for a sense of time, place and connectedness. "I have an obsession with affordable art so I have always got an eye out for new stuff when I'm out and about," Rowe says. "It could be a random flyer, a gig poster on a phone pole, a page from a found book, a screen print by a local artist. The one on top is actually a painting by my uncle Tim from when he was in art school in the 60s."

Above: The floors are finished with three-parts basic ebony stain mixed with one-part Ronan Japan colors pigment in white. "The floors were kind of an experiment to approximate the look of a concrete factory floor", Rowe says. "Instead of wiping the stain back after application, we let it sit and soak in; applying 2 coats. The resulting finish has a paint-like opacity but it is actually soaked into the wood, showing its character more than paint."

Above: The bookshelf which the couple use as an ad hoc room divider is made from walnut and bent plywood and made by a local Brooklyn furniture designer.

Above: " I actually bought the bookshelf when we were living to together in a different space, but in a weird act of kismet we discovered it fit perfectly between the columns of our current space and helped divide the home office and living areas really nicely," Rowe says. "One of those happy accidents."

Above: "I've always loved models and miniature things," Daye says. "I bought this model of a house in the desert at an antiques shop while sourcing for Ace Palm Springs."

Above: (L) "On my 16th birthday, I dragged this piece of driftwood back from Assateague Island as a gift to my father," Daye says. (R) Rowe bought the motorcycle from eBay on a lark to celebrate his birthday. "I always wanted a vintage motorcycle and was trolling around eBay for bikes that were built the same year I was born," he says. "This one popped up and I bought it immediately. In my excitement, I failed to realize that it was located in Vancouver, BC and it cost more to have the thing shipped across the country than what I paid for it. We call him Elmo."

Above: The couple are selling their old oak drafting table (contact them through comments below if you are interested). "It actually has a light box built into it, which is pretty amazing," Rowe says. "I found it on a trip to Seattle and (like the bike) had it shipped cross country - don't know what it is about me and the transcontinental purchases?"

Above: The credenza is a remnant of Daye's renovation of Steven Alan's original flagship store in Tribeca and used to be the back bar to the cash register. "I didn't want to see it thrown away, so we took it home," Daye says. " It's so big we had to hire someone to cut it in half to get it through the door."

Above: "The formica on the credenza is a marvelous shade of light blue and has really interesting patterns of wear and texture on the surface from its different lives so far," Rowe says. " It's like chambray."

Above: The couple have a rotating furniture exchange with friends from down the street to keep their respective spaces feeling fresh.

Above: The couple's small kitchen was inspired by "tiny but well equipped Japanese kitchens".

Above: (L) A wooden ladder is propped up against the bathroom wall and used as a towel rail. (R) Every inch of available space is used for storage in the kitchen.

Above: A wooden walk-in closet has been installed against the building's original brick walls, which the couple painted white.

Above: A fireplace mantle becomes a garden feature when place outside.

If you liked the bookshelf that Daye and Rowe made into a room divider, see 5 Favorites: Clever Room Dividers for more.

With their experimental approach to material and ability to re-imagine classic designs in innovative (and often more affordable) ways, today's indie designers are heating up the lighting market. Here are ten of our favorite illuminating newcomers.

Above: The DIY project that launched a business: After making an adaptation of Jean Prouvé's Potence Lamp for his own home, Logan Henderickson was beset with orders from others who were also looking for a low-cost alternative. From there Logan began designing an entire line of mid-century-inspired, swing-arm and pendant lights, named after the home that started it all: OneFortyThree. Available in myriad colors and finishes, the swing-arm wall lamps pictured here are $125.

Above: Atelier de Troupe is a small design outfit in LA, which hand crafts inspired yet functional pieces like this Usine sconce: $345.

Above: Quite the characters, the whimsical lighting designs of Estudio Manus in Sao Paolo are known for their playful and surprising juxtaposition of materials. Contact the company for order information.

Above: Fresh off his 2009 Masters degree in Industrial Design from RISD, Brendan Ravenhill has been taking the design world by storm with his mid-century-inspired designs, including a diverse selection of lamps. We are particular to his glass pendants and cord chandeliers ($2,000), but his new sconce has also caught our eyes.

Above: From her studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn, multi-disciplinary designer Alexandra Burr creates lighting and furniture characterized by their elemental forms. Here her simple 2x4 light, is constructed using two whitewashed boards suspended by a red cord, appears to float in the air. Contact Alexandra for pricing information.

Above: Designed to complement the firm's warm, contemporary interiors, the custom illuminations of Brooklyn-based Workstead pay homage to industrial and mid-century classics. This chandelier is available directly through Workstead; $1,800.

Above: Known for their creative use of reclaimed and vintage materials, Toronto-based Atelier 688 is a Canadian design collaborative whose specialties include furniture, art, lighting, and interiors. Here one of Zac Ridgley's rustic/modern rope chandeliers adds a dramatic centerpiece at West Bridge restaurant. Single pendants are available through the firm's Etsy shop; $475.

Above: French designer Olivier Abry re-imagines vintage, industrial style lamps in his Wo & Wé Collection. Double "Potance" lamp; €675.

Above: Ever since she opened her Etsy shop three years ago, we have been fans of the re-purposed illuminations of Ursula at Earth Sea Warrior. Rewired with vibrant contrast cords, vintage lamps like this "mad scientist test tube pendant" seem shocked life; $125.

Above: Founded by Dylan Davis & Jean Lee in 2010, Ladies & Gentlemen is a multidisciplinary design firm known for their playful explorations of material and form. Here their "Aura" pendants represent light reduced to its most basic components: the bulbs and its aura. 10 inch ring, $345; 15 inch ring $395.

N.B. We're also pretty impressed with the L sconce of drummer-come-lighting-designer David Kitz.

Sometimes simple and humble is best when it comes to design; case in point, the interior of Lulu & Po in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, a low-key restaurant with an industrial vibe punctuated with dashes of color. Oh, and a giant rooster mural.

Chef Matthew Hamilton (he's an alum of the Prune and Belcourt) named his restaurant after his daughter, Lulu, and his wife, Po Kutchins; he worked with local design studio Ka.Va. (headed by Kananshree Prasee and Sanjive Vaidya) on the interiors.

For more information, go to Lulu & Po.

Above: A single wall paneled in stained reclaimed pine anchors one wall; Ka.Va. custom designed the chandelier. Photo by Alice Gao of Lingered Upon.

Above: A mix of seating with a unifying industrial theme. Photo by Alice Gao of Lingered Upon.

Above: The bar features a mix of penny round and subway tiles. Photo via Ka.Va.

Above: Custom steel coat and bag hooks under the bar; photo via Ka.Va.

Above: The unfinished concrete floor features layers of paint. Photo by Alice Gao of Lingered Upon.

Above: A giant rooster surveys the scene; photo via Ka.Va.

Above: Red navy chairs add a dash of color. Photo by Alice Gao of Lingered Upon.

Above: The restaurants bathrooms are painted black; photo by Alice Gao of Lingered Upon.

Above: The restaurant's exterior is painted gray (a red door adds a dash of color). Photo via Ka.Va.

Here's a clever idea spotted on SF Girl by Bay: A clip light as picture illumination. For ideas on something similar, go to 10 Easy Pieces: Clip Lamps.

Above: Victoria's dining room is an eclectic mix of rustic and mod.

Above: Victoria sourced her black industrial lamp from Midcentury Modern Finds. To see more of her new space, go to SF Girl by Bay.

Above: A detail of the vignette.

Above: The Coronet Clip Light from French company Tse Tse is $235 from Horne.

One of the most innovative baths we've seen yet: a free-standing concrete and tile cube in a restored Italian stable; one end houses the sink, the other the shower.

The studio, located on a tiny street in Val Parma, Lasagnana, was converted for a young couple by Karin Matz Arkitekt with Frencesco Di Gregorio. The ground level of the former stable was left intact with existing windows, walls, and columns with the only addition of a modern, freestanding bath. For more information, see the inside of the stable below and visit Karin Matz Arkitekt.

Above L: A shower on one side of the structure. Above R: On the side is a bathroom sink and storage.

Above: A view of the shower side of the cube.

Above: The cube is covered in white 10-by-10-inch tiles.

Above: In the bedroom, a simple pine bed features two bare light bulbs as reading lamps on either end of the headboard.

Above: The workspace of the young couple is separated from the bedroom with white curtains.

Above: The new concrete floor is separated from the walls, bathroom, and columns with a gap framed in steel plates.

Above: Silver wires connecting each column function as room divider hardware and to keep extension cords off the floor.

Above: A view of the bath cube from the entryway.

Above: A look inside the stable house from the exterior.

Looking for more house visits? See 18 House Calls in Loft Spaces in our archive and see our recent post: Paradise Found: A Garage Transformed into a Garden Pavillion.

It's not just the cement floors, brick walls, and exposed ceilings we're admiring in these loft spaces; it's the expanses of metal factory windows that have us hooked. Often these industrial windows run the length of a loft wall, allowing for plenty of natural light. Here's a roundup of some eye-catching lofts with metal windows.

N.B. Need a source for metal windows? British company Crittall is the oldest and largest steel window fabricator in the world and is available in the US. Also see Walls, Windows & Floors: Steel Window and Door Fabricators.

Above: A Montreal apartment in the Quartier International available furnished for rental from Creative Flats.

Above: An interior wall of windows in the Fairo Loft by Athens-based Ese Studio.

Above: A former plow factory serves as the loft studio for Atlanta-based photographer Rob Brinson via Design Sponge.

Above: Black painted metal windows in a loft via VT Wonen. Photography by Marc Prague and Sunna Axe.

Above: An industrial loft by Brazilian architects AR Arquitetos.

Above: A loft by Orly Shrem Architects via Ajotdesign.

Above: Sloping windows in the kitchen of the London loft of Ochre partner Solange de la Fouchardière from House Call: London Loft.

Above: The kitchen in the offices of Beast, a formerly decrepit single-story warehouse in downtown Austin, designed by Specht Harpman Architects (members of the Remodelista Architects and Designers Directory).

For one of our favorite lofts of late, check out this Pallet Loft in Florence.

Explore more Windows.

For artist Diita Hoeber and her historian/writer husband Frank, home—an open, white, minimalist loft located in a former window factory—is where they work and live; all 3,000 square feet of it. Their secret to keeping it pristine and orderly is a smart storage system designed by Philadelphia-based architecture firm Qb3.

According to Patrycja Doniewski, a Qb3 founding partner, “the storage and display cases delineate the floor plan like chess pieces; each responding to the activity of the space it demarks.” How's that for smart?

Photography by Todd Mason/Halkin Mason Photography.

Above: A library of art books has a natural adjacency to the kitchen. "The shelves near the small table are filled with art books so that the owners can pull them out to show company, or have something to browse while waiting for things to cook," Doniewsky says.

Above: The storage/display cases create zoned areas in the open loft.

Above: "Although beautifully composed, the white dishes are not a collection," Doniewski says. "It's much more about arranging objects rather than collecting objects, as the pieces are largely thrift store finds or hand-me-downs, like the collection of Stelton Cylinda-line stainless serving pieces inherited from Ditta's mother." The integrated stainless steel sink and counter were custom built; the faucet is from Aquabrass.

Above: At the owner's request, the architects used Pratt + Lambert Designer White #33-1 paint. "She felt that this 'white' has a light bulb behind it; some warmth, some glow, keeping the huge space from feeling too empty," Doniewski says.

Above: The floors are original maple which the architects sanded and whitewashed.

Above: "In the informal dining area, the display case on the right is filled with art books," Doniewski says.

Above: Frank Hoeber's office is delineated by more smart storage, providing him with a designated area to do his writing (read his musings on Hoeber). Ditta Hoeber's office is across the space on the opposite wall.

Above: An antique dining table becomes sculptural in its minimalist surroundings.

Above: The loft offers far-reaching views of the city of Philadelphia.

Who doesn't love a white loft space? See 4,481 images of White Loft Spaces in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

The combination of black and white paint can be both simple and dramatic, but it's a look that is not necessarily easy to pull off. We turned to paint expert Eve Ashcraft and interiors writer Heather Smith MacIsaac, who collaborated on the book The Right Color, for insights into how you effectively combine the two colors.

Remodelista: What is it about a black and white interior that is so appealing?

Eve Ashcraft and Heather Smith MacIsaac: Most people think of patterns when it comes to combining black and white. But beyond the obvious and often wonderful graphic possibilities of the duo, like classic checkerboard floors, we love black and white for their muscular ability to shape space and call out architectural details.

Above: Inax woven tiles on a mantelpiece in a Melbourne apartment. Photograph by Sharyn Cairns for Home Life.

RM: How do you mix black and white without overwhelming a room?

EA & HSM: When combining black and white as a pattern, the smaller the scale the more the pattern will read as texture rather than colors. The tile on this fireplace, the dominant feature of the room, knits together a black and white scheme via its geometric pattern.

Above: Pressed wildflowers hang on a wall in the entry of Jimmy Stanton's antebellum home in Georgia. The wall is painted in Writer's Parchment by Ralph Lauren. Photograph by Bjorn Wallander for Country LIving.

RM: What makes this grouping of black frames so powerful?

EA & HSM: By its very nature, black has a strong graphic quality some steer clear of. Black furnishings like this wall of framed pressed flowers allow you to ease into the commitment to black. One row of prints would be a dipping of the toes, four rows is a plunge, with far greater impact and reward.

Above: An elegant Cuban tiled staircase from the book The Great Houses of Havana by Hermes Mallea. Photograph via Harrison James.

RM: How do you make a bold statement without going over the top?

EA & HSM:: Bold black and white motifs can be tricky when applied to walls; supergraphics are not the easiest to live with. Underfoot though, such patterns can animate an otherwise tailored space. Here, black paired with ivory softens the optical effect of the tile floor, the jazzy pattern itself a contrast to the fluid black line of the banister.

Above: A bunk bed featured in our Remodelista post of Ski Cabin Bunk Beds.

RM: How do you add a touch of black to an all-white space?

EA & HSM: In a nearly monochromatic environment, where shadows alone create different shades of white, black sconces act like distinct punctuation, literally commas on the wall. The density of the small black objects is visually commanding.

Above: A black painted armoire in the 19th century home of French designer Sandrine Zigler-Munck via Marie Claire Maison.

RM: Can you mix matte and gloss in a black and white interior?

EA & HSM: Black can be a sinkhole, but in this hallway, texture and finish allow black to deftly play with light and shadow. The floor is a solid plane of black, but because it is glossy it acts like a deep reflecting pool. The armoire carries the black right up the wall but its mottled finish tempers the impact of its heft.

Above: A DIY bedside table made from a stack of magazines and a buckle belt found on the blog Varpunen.

RM: An easy color fix?

EA & HSM: Not only is a stack of magazines bound by a single band a clever provisional nightstand, the band is a brilliant stroke made bolder by being the only black in a spare all-white room. Here black provides direct simple drama.

RM: Suggestions for good black and white paint pairings?

EA & HSM: Here are a few different options:

• Benjamin Moore's Onyx 2133-10 with Cloud White 967 for a deep black/warm bright white combo.
• Farrow & Ball Off-Black No.57 with Clunch No. 2009 for a more aged/softened combo.
• Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No. 256 with Benjamin Moore Calm 2111-70 for a cooler, grayer effect

Need more paint suggestions? Check out more posts from Eve Ashcraft. Explore more Palette and Paints.

We like the versatility of a work bench on wheels—great for small spaces but equally useful in larger ones. West Elm has come up with a covetable industrial version that includes a blackened-steel top comes and solid wood shelves with two bars on either side for hanging tea towels, pans, and the like.

Above:The Design Workshop Metal Top Bar is $2,299 and the Design Workshop Metal Top Counter is $2,399 from West Elm. The carts are made in the USA with solid steel tops with a blackened finish.

Above: The solid oak comes from the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee and has a natural lime finish.

Want to see the Ultimate Chef's Work Table? That said, the oak and steel table at March is a close contender.

Explore more Work Tables and Carts.

Loft living is all about the open plan. Or is it? Sometimes it's good to have the flexibility of being able to close off an area like a bedroom or a bathroom, and this is when the full height sliding partition comes into its own. Here are 10 spaces with clever sliding doors.

Above: In this New York loft by Studio Garneau, a full-height sliding partition hides the bedroom area when required.

Above: A full-height sliding partition reveals a spot of color in the bedroom beyond. Image via Digsdigs.

Above: In Openstudio Architects' remodel of a Victorian flat in London, sliding teak partitions at full height hide the kitchen when required. Photograph by Richard Bryant of Arcaid.

Above: In a narrow Soho loft by Martin Raffone, a guest bedroom is partitioned off from the hallway by a sliding door of black-painted slats. Photograph by Åke E:son Lindman.

Above: London's reclamation specialists Retrouvius created a full height sliding partition made from reclaimed parquet flooring from a primary school in this flat in the Barbican. Photograph by Tom Fallon for Retrouvius.

Above: These full height lacquered sliding doors in a Broome Street loft by Loading Dock 5 Architecture introduce a large scale door with a standard opening width behind. Photograph by Sophie Munro.

Above: A full-height partition slides into a pocket behind the bookcase in a Barcelona loft. Image via Coolboom.

Above: A full-height sliding steel door enhances the industrial feel of this London loft belonging to Ochre cofounder Solange de la Fouchardière.

Above: A sliding barn door made of steel opens into the bath at Cinema Sil Plaz in Switzerland.

Above: A full-height sliding partition is fashioned out of shutters, which works well in warm climates. Image via Traditional Home.

Sliding doors and partitions can solve a myriad of design problems. See 660 images of Sliding Barn Doors in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

Auckland-based architecture studio Fearon Hay converted a large open loft in a former textile warehouse into a light-filled residence, winning the 2010 Best Gold Award for spatial design in residential architecture from the New Zealand Designers Institute.

The goal, according to architects Jeff Fearon and Tim Hay, was to "leave the existing shell of the loft unencumbered by internal partitions, maximizing the sense of openness while providing the hierarchy and division of space required for living." The service rooms are arranged in a linear sequence in the center of the space; working with designer Penny Hay, the architects created tracked fabric screens and sliding partitions to add flexibility. Many of the fittings—the blown glass pendant lights, the basalt bathtub and bath sinks—are custom made, and most of the furniture is from Christian Liagre or custom-designed by New York-based BDDW. To see more of the firm's work, go to Fearon Hay.

Photographs by Richard Powers and Fearon Hay.

Above: The floors are reclaimed oak polished to a matte sheen.

Above: The sofas and floor lamps are from Christian Liagre; the curtains are made with heavy linen from Dominique Kieffer.

Above: Fearon Hay designed the custom glass lights used throughout the loft with New Zealand glass artist Katie Brown.

Above: The kitchen table is a Fearon Hay design made of steel and basalt.

Above: In the bedroom area, a raised dark-stained oak platform creates a sleeping pavilion.

Above: The basalt bathtub was designed by Fearon Hay; the Minimal faucets are from Boffi.

Get inspired with 335 Loft Spaces in our Gallery of rooms and spaces. For similar room dividing ideas, see our post 5 Favorites: Clever Room Dividers.

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

Is there anything burlap can't do? It can cover windows, skylights, serve as a table runner, divide a room, and more. Here are five spaces that make clever use of this humble material.

Above: A handmade burlap curtain in a room designed by Sibella Court.

Above: Fabienne Collombel's bedroom in Marseilles features an instant burlap headboard, photo via Marie Claire Maison (via The Design Vote).

Above: Burlap serves as a skylight cover in this room featuring White Bookshelf Wallpaper designed by Young & Battaglia.

Above: Burlap curtains serve as room dividers in Scott Newkirk's Brooklyn flat.

Above: A painted burlap table runner by Radical Possibility.

We've posted on counter stools before; now we turn our attention to the classic wooden bar stool—most are available in both bar and counter heights.

For more seating options, see our previous posts: Brew Pup-Style Bar Stools, Counter Stools with Backs, and High to Low: Industrial Stools.

Above: The Natural Barstools are made from solid rubberwood with a clear lacquer finish. The stools area available in walnut (shown) and white and sized 24 inches high for countertops and 30 inches high for bars; $79.95 for the 24-inch stool (R) at Crate & Barrel.

Above: Craig Bassam's tractor-seat inspired Tractor Barstool is available in sustainably harvested ash (shown) and walnut and hand finished with a wipe-on oil and sealer; $1,250 from Design Within Reach.

Above: Ikea's Bosse Bar Stool is made from solid birch with a galvanized steel foot rest; $49.99

Above: The Bay Bar Stool is available in maple (shown), cherry, walnut, and ebony; $359 from Room and Board.

Above: The Klismos Bar Stool is made from barley-stained veneer and is currently on sale for $89 from West Elm.

Above: The Cherner Wood Leg Stool is available in bar or counter height; $749 from Hive Modern.

Above: Misewell's Poet Solida Walnut Stool in handmade in Milwaukee and each piece is connected using mortise and tenon jointing. The stools are made from solid walnut and black powder coated steel; $620 from Horne.

Above: Staach Cain Collection Kitchen Stool; $308 at Design Public.

Above: The Sawkille Tall Stool is available in oxidized cherry, white oak, hard maple, black walnut, and vintage pine; $750 for the 28-inch stool from Matter. See our post on Sawkille Co. Furniture & Fine Goods in Rhinebeck.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 8, 2012.