All of us at Remodelista are mildly (make that majorly) obsessed with the Japanese luxe utilitarian clothing and home line Arts & Science, so we took note when we read about the company's "staff canteen," a cafe and kitchen shop located on the lower level of the Tokyo shop.

The company’s owner, Sonya Park, envisioned a space where her staff and customers could mingle over afternoon tea served on salt-fired pottery by UK designer Steve Harrison, lunch plates by Astier de Villatte of Paris, and glassware by the Japanese artist Kazumi Tsuji. For more information, go to Arts & Science.

Above: Everything in its place: the counter where lunch is prepared for staffers and customers,

Above: The simple space features a polished concrete floor, refectory-like furniture.

Above: Delicate glassware by Kazumi Tsuji (her work is available at Mjolk in Toronto).

Above: Tea is served in salt-fired pottery by UK ceramicist Steve Harrison.

Above: A selection of coffees, jams (are those June Taylor preserves we see?), and sundries for the home.

Above: The cafe looks out over a small verdant garden.

See more of Sonya Park's impeccably curated shops at To Wear, to Dwell, to Eat; to see all our favorite shops in Japan, go to our City Guides.

One of our favorite houses ever? London theater designer Niki Turner's Providence Chapel conversion in the picturesque village of Colerne near Bath. Niki just emailed us to let us know that she and her family are making a move to Stroud, and the house is on the market. “It’s a wonderful family home," says Niki, "and great for entertaining—it’s a wrench to have to leave." Read on to learn more about the project:

"We converted Providence Chapel, which was a semi-derelict, Grade II-listed 1867 structure when we bought it, into a home ten years ago, working with architect Jonathan Tuckey," Niki says. “When we first walked into the main space, we immediately fell in love with its stillness, warmth and calm, and wanted to retain that. Jonathan added an award-winning extension to accommodate our three children and an au pair. He describes the extension as 'complementing, not competing with, the scale and status of the chapel itself.' "

To see the property listing, go to Knight Frank.

Photos by James Brittain and Dirk Lindner.

Above: "Jonathan is a pioneer of sustainable architecture," Niki says. "He chose to clad the addition in stained larch and embrace the walled garden on all sides with generous windows and sliding doors."

Above: "Large arched windows flood a 77-square-meter open-plan kitchen and living area, which retains a Shaker simplicity, with sunlight all day long," Niki says.

Above: The original choir gallery, accessed by a winding stairwell, provides a useful office area for Niki.

Above: A long ladder provides access to the upper-levels of the soaring bookshelves.

Above: The master bedroom is tucked under the eaves.

Above: A well-worn carpet and a collection of framed art soften the industrial bathroom.

Above: The family bath features a floor-to-ceiling window and opens directly onto the garden.

Above: A glass-walled connecting hallway serves as a study and play area; Alf Coles, a philosophy teacher and Niki's partner, uses a former schoolroom as an office.

Above: A view of the black-stained timber clad extension.

Above: "The addition follows the strong silhouette of the original building and is completely hidden from the front, connected to the bath stone chapel by a glass link." Photo by Dirk Lindner.

Above: A view of the well-tended cottage garden.

Above: The chapel's facade; the addition is not visible from the street.

See more of the architect's work at Architect Visit: Jonathan Tuckey; see another chapel project at A Room at the Inn: At the Chapel.

After completing more than a dozen remodels among us, we've narrowed our kitchen faucet selections to a handful of tried and true stalwarts. Here's our top ten high-quality, high-style faucets (featuring solid bodies, ceramic cartridges, and long warranties).

Traditional

Above: Sarah likes the traditional Churchman's Kitchen Pillar Taps; £112 at Bath Shop 321. For the Churchman's High Neck Kitchen Pillar Taps, Tap Shop 321 has the faucet for £58.

Above: Julie's top choice (she uses it in her Mill Valley kitchen) is the Chicago Wall-Mount Kitchen Faucet with double-jointed spout; It's well priced, well engineered, and features a classic industrial aesthetic; $222.64 at Faucet.com.

Above: Both Francesca and Janet favor the classic Franke Manor House Gooseneck Bridge Kitchen Faucet. It's ideal for use with oversize sinks; $843.75 ($1,016.25 with a side spray) at Faucet Depot.

Above: Michelle's favorite, the Steam Valve Original Wall-Mount Bridge Mixer features a 10-inch swivel spout (shown in brushed stainless with wheel handles); $971.25 at Quality Bath.

Above: Christine likes the utilitarian look and feel of the Watermark Wall-Mount Bridge Faucet; $658.39 from Designer Plumbing.

MODERN

Above: Alexa's choice, the Vola KV1 Single Handled Faucet with a double swivel spout, worked well in Janet's London kitchen with a moderate sized sink; $997.50 at Faucet Farm.

Above: Sarah's choice for a modern space is the Oxygene Hi Tech Faucet from Italian company Gessi. The faucet comes in polished chrome or satin nickel and includes a pullout double spray; available through Davis & Warshaw in New York.

Above: Izabella likes the Tara Logic Single-Level Basin Mixer is a modern classic; $1,656 at Faucet Farm.

Above: Janet installed the Purus II Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet from Blanco in her San Francisco kitchen. The swivel arc neck is highly functional; $517 (currently on sale for $477) at Designer Plumbing Outlet.

Above: Christine likes the Grohe Essence Pull-Out Faucet; $397.27 at Amazon.

Looking for more faucets? See our previous posts: 10 Easy Pieces: Commercial-Style Kitchen Faucets and 5 Favorites: Brass Faucets for the Kitchen.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on June 22, 2011.

Yesterday, we featured a black and white colorblocked kitchen inspired by a British Standard design. Here's a shocker: the same kitchen in bold cobalt blue. Too much? Or just enough?

British Standard (it's an offshoot of the higher-end kitchen fittings company Plain English) offers "sensible cupboards at sensible prices for people with good taste but modest means. British Standard is a call to arms for British manufacturing and for honest, properly made products. Their modest appearance is matched by their modest price (around £7,000 for an average-sized kitchen, including worktops) because all you pay for is the joinery; there is no bespoke design, deliver, or fitting service; you do that yourself."

Hmm, when is something like this going to launch in the US? See more at British Standard Kitchen.

Above: Brilliant cobalt painted upper cabinets contrast with the pale green lower cabinets.

Above: The cabinets are outfitted with traditional blackened brass fittings; contact British Standard for ordering information.

Above: The palette graduates from rough hewn floor, to pale cabinets, to brilliant cobalt cabinets above.

What happens when two designers integrate textile patterns into the bakery?

Loukas Angelou and Vasso Asfi are the creative minds behind London-based design collaborative Studiolav. They recently designed a two-piece set of kitchen stamps for the creation of artful baked goods. The idea was initiated by the Skoufa Gallery of Athens, Greece, who asked designers to re-imagine the meaning of "folklore" using olive tree wood as the main material. To learn more, visit Studiolav.

Photographs by Predrag Pajdic for Studiolav.

Above: The stamps are made from solid olive wood.

Above: Reliefs of iconic fabric patterns, including Pied de Poule (houndstooth) and Tweed Herringbone, are embossed onto the base of the wooden stamps.

Above: A hole at the top of the pyramid is useful for gripping purposes.

N.B.: I don't know about you, but this post has us thinking about coffee and pastries. Here are 196 Cafe posts in case you have a sweet tooth to please.

Building on more than a half a century of success, String, the innovative, modular shelving series from Sweden, has now expanded into furniture.

Originally designed in 1949 by Swedish architect Nils Strinning, String is a system of flexible shelving units that can be configured to fit any space. Now, String has introduced String Plus, a line of complementary furniture pieces designed by architects Anna Von Schewen and Björn Dahlström. The first in the series is a collapsible table, which, when not in use, folds neatly back into the unit. We're looking forward to more furniture add-ons coming later this year.

Above: Utterly adaptable, String Shelves (shown here in white and birch) come in a number of sizes and finishes that can be reconfigured to suit your dining needs and decor. Available in the UK at Haus London, starting at £189. Pocket Shelving is also available in the US at A+R in Los Angeles; $195.

Above: The streamlined silhouette of String Shelves, shown here with the table up.

Above: With the table down, the String System creates a small dining area for two.

Above: Designed to complement any scheme, String accessories, including the cabinets and magazine shelf shown here, come in many different finishes including: birch, oak, walnut, black, gray, and white.

Above: Perfect in more classical interiors too. Here String birch shelving adds warmth, and a touch of contemporary, to this serene white kitchen.

Above: String Shelves are also great for the office, bath, kids rooms, living room, or as shown here, in the world's nicest garage.

N.B. Looking for more clever culinary shelving? Browse all our favorite kitchen storage solutions.

The biggest mistake I made in my Seattle kitchen remodel was not extending my cabinets to the ceiling. I thought it would be a waste not to install storage; but instead, the space just became a collector of dust and paper airplanes launched by my children. Why didn't I consider a library ladder in the kitchen?

Above: The high elevation kitchen storage in this Tribeca Kitchen by Fearon Hay is accessed with a steel ladder. From German manufacturer MWE, the Positionable Classic Stainless Steel Ladder does not require a rail. The stable rocker arm rubber feet allow the ladder to be safely adjusted to any tile angle; $2,402 (for the 8-foot size) at Better Building Hardware.

Above: The MWE Quattro Rolling Stainless Steel Ladder has top and bottom rollers to allow for easy rolling without any lifting. An automatic stopping device is activated by stepping onto the ladder, preventing it from moving while in use; $5,277 for the standard system with a 10-foot rail and an 8-foot ladder at Better Building Hardware.

Above: The rolling ladder at Papabubble's New York confectionery was sourced at Elephant's Trunk Country Flea Market, a seasonal monthly market in New Milford, Connecticut. A sure-bet source for something similar: The Putnam Rolling Ladder Co., a downtown New York institution since 1905. Custom rolling ladders start at $1,137.

Above: Architect Chris Greenawalt used a wood hook ladder to optimize storage in the kitchen of a small historic apartment in Charlestown, Boston. Spiral Stairs offers Rolling Wooden Ladders in red oak, maple and cherry in 8-, 9-, and 10-foot lengths; $490 to $740. Corresponding Rolling Wooden Ladder Hardware Kits are $468 to $715 depending on finish.

Above: For ultra secure footing, consider the Azkent Stainless Steel Hook Ladder with stainless steel steps (as opposed to bars); $5,912 for an 8-foot ladder and 10-foot rail system at Better Building Hardware.

Like ladders in kitchens, but don't have out of reach storage? See Sarah's DIY: Ladder as Pot Rack.

Lovely, organically shaped cutting boards from Caroline Gomez (her mantra is "natural and slow design"), too pretty to stow away when not in use.

Above: The boards can be propped on the counter or hung on the wall with the leather loops.

Above: La Planche de Service is €46.

Above: The egg-shaped La Planche a Decouper is €44.

Papabubble, an edgy artisanal sweets shop on Broome Street in the southern fringes of Nolita, is the lone American outpost of an inventive confectionery that originated in Barcelona in 1992. It now has a dozen branches around the world, including in Amsterdam, Brussels, Tokyo, and Moscow. In each, the candy is hand rolled, stretched, and sculpted in house, an elaborate process akin to making Venetian latticino glass and resulting in some of the world’s tastiest sweeties (we especially like the lime chili pepper flavor).

For more information, visit Papabubble (and for ideas for recreating the look in your own kitchen, go to Steal This Look: Pappabubble-Inspired Kitchen).

Photography by Seth Smoot, styling by Kendra Smoot for Remodelista.

Above: The recessed lab area features vessels filled with custom-mixed candy flavorings. One of the owners' favorite sources for oils and natural essences is the Canadian company New Directions.

Above: The tiny storefront is designed to resemble a science laboratory.

Above: Tools of the trade, arrayed on a stainless peg board.

Above: A stainless taffy hook serves as an apron holder when not in use.

Above: The industrial pendant lights were sourced from Perkiomenville Auctions in Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania (L). A handful of candies arrayed on the shop's marble counter (R).

Above: A clever way to beautify a utility pipe: wrap it in cotton cording.

Above: Classic lab flasks evoke images of childhood science experiments.

Above: A handmade lollipop with an array of handcut hard candies featuring hearts and other patterns in the center.

Looking to mimic the look of Papabubble? See our Steal This Look post and source more inspiration from our Shopper's Diary posts in our archive.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on October 24, 2011.

It would be an understatement to say that Monelle Totah and Gary McNatton, owners of the newly opened Hudson Grace in San Francisco, are no strangers to retail: their mentors include Chuck Williams (Williams-Sonoma founder), Mickey Drexler (famed retail impresario), and Don Fisher (Gap founder).

It was a life long dream that motivated the pair to open their own store that specializes in an array of goods for the home ranging from simple white dinnerware, linens. vintage hotel silver, flatware from Europe, to other found objects. As McNatton explains, "To be a true merchant without being edited to within an inch of your life by numbers people and committees is a whole other ball game. And if not now, when?" For more, visit Hudson Grace.

Above: The store, located on Sacramento Street in the Presidio Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, was designed by Michael Bodziner of Gensler.

Above: Hand-woven willow baskets in a washed gray from the Philippines, with prices ranging from $29 to $379. The hand-poured candles are made for Hudson Grace in San MIguel Allende and come in pillars, votives, and tapers with prices beginning at $3.50.

Above: Linens, silverware, and ceramics on display. As Totah explains, "Gary and I both love to cook and entertain, and wanted a shop where you can pick up 12 linen napkins, 24 wine glasses, or the perfect oversized salad bowl for your dinner party tonight".

Above: White dinnerware displayed on a table. The store offers a selection of hide rugs beginning at $595 for neutral colors. The large orange hide shown here is dyed and is $995. The stools are vintage with the bases made from Singer sewing machine stools with reclaimed wood tops; $325 each.

Above: "Don Fisher once told me as I sat in my rooftop office overlooking the SF Bay and endless sky, 'You can think as far as you can see, now look at your view,'' " McNatton says. We'd have to say the view looks pretty good for both McNatton and Totah.

Check out our post on March, another Sacramento Street find.

See more Tabletop.

If you've been reading Remodelista for any length of time, you might have noticed that we are obsessed with the Swiss Cross, in all its forms, including these tiles from London ceramicist Lubna Chowdhary's latest line of sculptural tiles.

Above: Chowdhary's clients include Anthropologie, Retrouvius, and Margaret Howell.

Above: Individually made and hand glazed, the tiles can be ordered in bespoke colors; 15 cm, £50; 10 cm, £40; 7.5 cm, £30. For more information, see Lubna Chowdhary.

See 173 back posts of Swiss Cross to find more ways to cleverly incorporate this enigmatic symbol into your home.

I was first introduced to a touch-activated kitchen faucet at Dwell on Design a couple of years back. I was intrigued. But why haven't these faucets taken kitchens by storm? My own theory is that the early designs weren't aesthetically appealing enough to win kitchen remodelers over. That may be changing. Here's a touch-activated faucet with a design we like.

Above: The Delta Trinsic Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet turns on and off with a touch anywhere on the spout or handle. Not only does this enable cooks with messy hands to turn on the faucet with a tap of the forearm, elbow, or shoulder, but also to turn off water easily when not needed between tasks; $382.20 at eFaucets.

Above: The faucet works using capacitance (the same technology that makes touch screens work). There is a low voltage electrical current that flows across the handle and spout of the faucet. As soon as this circuit is interrupted by contact water begins to flow. The Delta Trinsic Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet is available in arctic stainless, chrome (shown above) and champagne bronze (shown below) finishes.

Above: Why not hands-free faucets? Delta researched this. It turns out that because so much activity happens in and around the kitchen sink hands-free sensing can activate water when it isn’t needed. The faucet does have an automatic shutoff feature just in case it’s lightly tapped by something that shouldn’t tap it (a cat walking across the counter?).

Not ready to change your faucet, but intrigued by touch activation? Toto offers a Wireless Touch Faucet Controller that can be added to virtually any kitchen faucet. The touch "remote" pad can be placed within three feet of the controller box (counter, cabinet front, backsplash); $374.40 at eFaucets.

What's in our kitchens? Get a peek at the Remodelista Editors' Favorite Kitchen Faucets.

Is there anything more timeless than a black and white palette? Here's a house that proves the point. Michelle Chan (she's the senior editorial director at Banana Republic) and her husband, Jesse Zeifman (he's the creative director of video at Apple), both work for iconic Bay Area companies known for their aesthetics. So it's not a surprise that their own home, an 1880s Victorian in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, is both timeless and forward looking.

When the couple first moved in 10 years ago, the interiors were over-the-top Victorian (think plenty of gilded rosettes on the ceiling and painted clouds to boot). So how did they achieve such a serene interior? As Michelle says, "We kept the bones and whitewashed everything to lighten it up." And for the black and white palette, she drew on her fashion background: "Black and white is always in style, and it's effortless and easy."

Above: Michelle Chan at home (she's wearing a black top from Banana Republic); the midcentury leather chair is from Coup d'Etat in San Francisco. "The aesthetic of the house really reflects the Banana brand, a mix of modernity and soul," she says. Framed on the wall is a poem by her mother-in-law, noted poet Norma Cole. The peacock feather scroll is by Tracy Kendall from Hollace Cluny in Toronto.

Above: The Charles Sofa, a modern classic, is by Antonio Citterio for B & B Italia (the couple opted for child-friendly dark gray wool upholstery). Michelle uses vintage shearling pillows in white and black to add texture and contrast. The round wooden table with brass inlay is a 1960s Mexican find from 1stdibs; the Dara Carpet is by Ben Soleimani for Restoration Hardware.

Above: The marble fireplace is original to the house. The Noguchi pendant reflected in the gilded mirror was from a local store in Japantown.

Above: On the coffee table: Japanese wooden spinning tops displayed in a rustic bowl and a vintage white Rosenthal vase.

Above: A view from the library to the living room. Michelle was inspired by the modern Victorian interiors in London and spent hours looking for the right shade of white paint; she finally settled on Benjamin Moore's Dove White.

Above L: A side table in the dining room with hurricane candle holders from Hudson Grace and a pair of bronze Ted Muehling candlesticks. Above R: A built-in bar in the dining room.

Above: A home office faces the garden at the rear of the house. Michelle paired two wooden desks back to back with Noguchi chairs and a midcentury floor lamp from Organic Modernism.

Above: When Michelle and her husband first moved in, the skylight was boarded over (they assumed it was because of water leakage). When they removed the board, they discovered that the owners had built over the roof line, blocking the light). They placed opaque glass in the skylight, restoring the upper landing to its former grandeur. The two Hampton Pendants are from Simon Pearce.

Above: The master bedroom features a minimalist gas fireplace that replaced the original brick one. A Noguchi pendant hangs over the bed. Upstairs, Michelle chose a different shade of white for the walls (to find the right color, she ended up having an exterior paint shade customized for the interior).

Above: The dressing room is Michelle's favorite spot in the house. Before the couple renovated the upstairs, there was hardly any closet space, so Michelle was determined to build a huge walk-in closet. Instead, she capitalized on the light in a small extra bedroom and furnished it with Japanese tansu chests and a long bench (a jacket from Banana Republic is draped on top). A framed Noguchi print sits above on a shelf from Lekker home, which is where the Teak Wardrobes were also sourced.

Above: In Michelle's dressing room, a white leather Dianne Tote Bag from Banana Republic rests against the tansu dresser; on the wall, a Ponte Modern Blazer and a Sparkle Stone Necklace hang on a set of Coatrack Dot Hooks by Muuto.

Above: The teak cabinet houses Michelle's formidable collection of shoes and bags (including the Evan Satchel from Banana Republic). A hide-covered Corbusier chair sits on a seagrass carpet covered in a hide rug from Hudson Grace. "The dressing room feels a little bit indulgent," Michelle says. "Some people have an enormous tub. I gave up a tub to accommodate larger closets. It's a luxury to get dressed every day."

Above: Half of their son's bedroom is a play area. The playful wood Fujiya Floor Lamp is from CB2.

Above: A blue Muuto Unfold Pendant punctuates the room; the Industrial Loft Twin Bunk Bed is from Restoration Hardware. The La Mela Poster is by Enzo Mari.

Erwan Lévêque and Alphonse Sarthout of French firm Ciguë are nonconformists on a mission; they describe their projects as “landscapes of experimentation.”

The design duo met in 2003 as architecture students at L’École d’Architecture de Paris la Villette and started Ciguë SARL d’Architecture in 2008. Seeking an alternative way of designing through making and building, they continually look to renew what is around them without becoming attached to the past. To see more of the firm's work, go to Ciguë.

Above: A kitchen from Cigue's Sevres House Rehabilitation project just outside of the center of Paris; eschewing nostalgia, they reuse the layers of the past to inform a new vision.

Above: The kitchen sink sits on a counter made from wood pallets.

Above: The cabinet doors are wooden frames with metal screens, enabling a muted transparency (L). Carcasses from wooden boxes are re-purposed as kitchen cabinets, while blocks of wood are used as shelving (R).

Above: A vintage sink inset into a reclaimed countertop.

Above: Straps of leather function as cabinet pulls.

Above: The construction of the midcentury table and chairs reflects an honesty in the materials favored by Ciguë.

Intrigued by the leather cabinet pulls? See Accessories: Leather Handles from Nu Interieur Ontwerp in Delft or better yet, make some yourself with our DIY Video: How to Make a $20 Cabinet Pull for $2.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on April 13, 2012.

I can't hate Ikea. As someone who has moved frequently, this Swedish DIY mega-store has saved me more times than I can count—whenever I needed instant storage or an economical piece of furniture to fit the new space. But despite being a devotee, I never developed the knack for the Ikea hack. Perhaps that's why I get so excited when meet someone who has.

Ever since Katrin Scharl and I met online and bonded over our mutual enthusiasm for old houses and warm shades of gray, I have enjoyed following the DIY trials and triumphs of her spacious home in the Germany countryside. Some of Katrin's projects are quite ambitious (like refinishing the floors herself). Others, like this simple Ikea hack, leave you thinking, "Gee, why didn't I think of that?"

Above: Katrin's newly painted Ikea shelves complement her recently renovated kitchen.

Above (upper R) With saw in hand, Katrin's husband customized one side of Ikea's Besta shelves ($150) to fit the corner of their newly renovated kitchen. But still, the unpainted shelves did feel like an integral part of the design scheme (upper L). By painting the shelves' interiors with Farrow and Ball Down Pipe (left over from her library renovation), Katrin created a strong accent piece that feels more unified with the rest of the room.

Above: From ho-hum to wow: the finished shelves receive a final bit of order from Ikea's Branäs baskets; $12.99.

N.B. Want more design on a dime? Explore all our favorite Ikea products and projects.

Is it just us, or is a kitchen not a real kitchen without an easy-to-read classic clock to keep everyone on schedule?

Here's a roundup of kitchen clocks; all with quartz-battery mechanisms.

Above: The Classic Clock was designed by Howard Miller (son of Herman) and measures 12 inches in diameter; $55 at DWR.

Above: The Aluminum Wall Clock measures 9.45 inches in diameter; $48.75 at Muji.

Above: The Max Bill Wall Clock with Numbers, by famed Bauhaus designer Max Bill, is $400 for the small (8.80 inches in diameter) and $450 for the large (12 inches in diameter) at Lumens; photo from Loft Modern.

Above: Embossed Numbers Wall Clock; $54.95 at Crate & Barrel.

Above: The Swiss Railway Clock by Mondaine is available in two sizes. The small (10 inches in diameter) is $195 and the large (15.75 inches in diameter) is $395 at MoMA Store (the small is also available with a red finish).

Above: The Simple Wood Wall Clock is 10 inches in diameter; $39 at West Elm.

Above: The simple, well-designed Pugg Wall Clock is $14.99 at Ikea.

Above: The Bi-Color Plywood Clock from Yuichi Nara features a natural wood face with die-cut numbers; $95 at MoMA Store.

Above: Rosendahl Copenhagen's City Hall Clock was designed in 1955 by Arne Jacobsen and measures 11.4 inches in diameter; $440 at Ameico. Photo from Scandinavia Design.

Above: The Mr. White Wall Clock from Karlsson is made of white ceramic and steel and is available at Amazon for $145. For more white clock inspiration, see Design Sleuth: White Kitchen Clocks.

For more ways to tell time, see more of our favorite wall clocks and sift through an image gallery of Kitchens for more remodeling inspiration.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on December 8, 2010.

Recipes, cooking apps, pasta-making tutorials. What's not to love about the bottomless recipe book and culinary courses available on tablets? Food splatters on the screen, for one. Spilled milk on the counter where the tablet lays, for another. I'm having my own debate about my tablet's readiness to be in the kitchen. Is the iPad ready to be a kitchen appliance? Where do you stand?

If you are a devotee of your tablet as cooking assistant, let us know your favorite cooking apps in the comment section below.

Above: Designer Andrea Ponti's Bosco Cutting Board and iPad Stand is the product that could get my iPad to migrate to the kitchen counter top.

Above: An "experiment with the relationship between technology and a kitchen tool that is often dull and flat but used daily", the Bosco Cutting Board and iPad Stand is made of Ginkgo wood hand-carved out of a single log by Kyoto craftsmen. Take the cutting board out of the stand and replace with an iPad. Still a prototype, I am hoping it comes to market soon. Images via Andrea Ponti Design.

Above: Take cover. Spill proof and food-covered hands proof, Chef Sleeves are perfectly sized ziploc covers for the iPad; $19.95 for a 25-pack at Amazon. Image via Whole Food Lab.

Above: I prefer to keep disposables at bay. While is doesn't protect from monumental spills, the washable, anti-glare Williams Sonoma iPad Screen Shield keeps your iPad splatter free; $14.95.

Above: The best idea may be to keep the iPad off the counter altogether. There are a variety of wall-mount options. My favorites are those with minimal visible hardware like Vogel's RingO Wall Mount; $66.95 at Amazon.

Above: I am not sure our family needs another draw to the refrigerator, but an option to keep your kitchen tablet off the counter without a permanent fix is the magnetic FridgePad for iPad; £34.99 at Woodford Design.

Maybe a Tablet Disguise is the way to go?

Last time we wrote about Note Design Studio, we featured their ceramic washbasin with a removable upper wooden deck—this time we're admiring their latest creation: the Fuse Pendant Lamp.

Stockholm-based Note Design Studio designed the Fuse pendant lamp for Italian design brand Ex.t. The lamp is made from porcelain and ash wood and features a perfect marriage of traditional Italian craftsmanship and Nordic simplicity. To learn more, go to Note.

Photographs by Mathias Nero.

Above: The lamp is available in two sizes (large or small) and three colors (white, gray, orange). You can pick between a gray or orange cord.

Above: The Large Fuse Lamp is €185 directly from Ex-t online. The large pendant measures 25 centimeters in diameter and it's 24 centimeters tall.

Above: The Small Fuse Lamp is €125 via Ex-t online. It measures 12 centimeters in diameter and 25 centimeters tall.

Above: Lit small and large Fuse lamps.

N.B.: Pendant light shopping? Our archive shows 601 Lamps to pick from. Let's not forget about Note's washbasin? Aren't you curious what it looks like?

SPONSORED POST

The task of designing a new home from the point of a clean slate to a balanced state is an overwhelming one. We think it's best to start with a few pieces of furniture, lighting, and textiles—all with a classic and timeless design—and build your interiors from there.

From the kitchen to dining, living, bed, and bathrooms, here are 10 of our favorite individual pieces from Williams-Sonoma Home's Spring 2013 collection, an entirely new look for the brand. The collection centers around the use of both refined materials (like brass, nickel, stone, oak, and cashmere) and smart design details (like mortoise-and-tenon joinery and hand stitching and finishing techniques). With a focus on three main styles: New Traditional (classic silhouettes mixed with luxurious fabrics), Beach Chic (natural fibers and regatta-inspired color palettes), and Rustic Modern (expressive objects: hides, horns, and original art), the collections are vailable online at Williams-Sonoma Home, via catalog, and in-store at their New York City; Portland, Oregon; and San Francisco locations.

In the Kitchen

Above: The Stone Top Kitchen Island is designed in the style of an antique French utility table made from reclaimed pine base and a natural stone top for rolling out pastry. Sitting on locking caster wheels, the island can be moved around the kitchen; $2,495.

Above: The Rejuvenation Reed Sconce is versatile enough for the living, kitchen, or bedroom. With double-knuckle articulation, the lamp provides direct task lighting adjusting in four different places. Made from brass with a spun-steel shade, the lamp is available in brushed nickel, polished nickel (shown), and an oil-rubbed bronze finish. Made in the US for $339 each.

Above: From French company La Cornue, the CornuFé Stove in Stainless Steel features the workmanship that has distinguished the company's stoves for nearly a century but with quicker availability. Each stove is assembled with new manufacturing and finished by hand; a professional-style gas burning cooktop, a convection and conventional oven with French side-swing doors. Proportioned for use with a standard 24-inch deep base cabinet, the stove can be adjusted in height; $8,600.

Dining

Above: The Emmett Pendant Lamp borrows its design from a 20th century-style factory light available in antique brass or oiled bronze for $450 each.

Above: The Rectangle Dining Table is hand built from French Oak in the form of a carpenter's workbench, mortise-and-tenon joinery included. The table is finished with beeswax and measures 93 1/4 inches long, 39 1/2 inches wide, and 30 inches high for $3,250.

Above: A pair of matching benches, like the Mendocino Bench, accommodates any number of guests around the dinner table for $995 each.

Living

Above: The essential living room piece: the classic white sofa. Like the Terrence Sofa which features a linen slipcover (available in white, ivory, sand, and flax), tapered legs and frame constructed of FSC certified, kiln-dried hardwood with mortise-and-tenon joinery. The frame is reinforced with double doweling and corner blocking and seat is made with sinuous steel springs; $2,695. Note that all upholstered furniture from Williams-Sonoma Home is made in the US and can be custom designed with a selection of premium textiles from international sources.

Above: A dark indigo area rug like the Melange Dhurrie Rug, hand-loomed in India from yarn-dyed wool, features a rich blue that is just soft enough to build an entire color palette around. The rug features a subtle woven stripe and measures approximately 8-by-10-feet for $995 (also available in a 5-by-8-foot size).

Above: The Murray Coffee Table features a classic design: a mix of oak wood reclaimed from American textile mills in North Carolina with hand welded and finished square-stock steel. Due to the nature of the reclaimed oak table top, each piece is unique but all are sealed with a matte acrylic finish; $1,250 for the 63-by-32-inch table.

Bed and Bath

Above: Williams-Sonoma Home's Signature Linen Bedding is made from the fine linen, woven to a smooth finish. The Linen Sheet Set, available in white, natural, ivory, and dove (shown) is $379 for the queen and $389 for the king.

Above: The Chambers Heritage Solid Towel Set is made from 800-gram-weight Turkish cotton loomed with dense loops and a piqué dobby. The set includes two washcloths, two hand towels, and two bath towels for $110.

Williams-Sonoma Home Giveaway: Enter now for a chance to win favorites from our newest collection!

With spring finally upon us, we're drawn to softer colors and cleaner, open spaces, both indoors and out.

Above: Poring over Ye Rin Mok's photographs of Eric Grunbaum's Venice Beach surf shack, designed by Barbara Bestor.

• RM readers take note: our friend Tricia Rose of Rough Linen is offering Remodelista readers 15 percent off her smooth natural (unbleached) linen bedding during the month of April. To receive the discount, go to Rough Linen and mention Remodelista.

Above: Admiring (make that envying) stylist Kate Young's Clinton Hill house on Refinery 29. Above photograph from Industrie Magazine.

• If you haven't seen this video (spotted on Swiss Miss), you must: Marina Abramovic and Ulay.

Above: With her house renovation underway and the dust flying, Christine will be spring cleaning (her body instead) with this Spring Soup recipe.

• Inspired by Alexa's Celery Salt, Sarah is contemplating making her own sumac salt (she's been on a sumac bender of late). Here are some other sumac recipes via The Kitchn.

• The quest to conquer clutter is never finished: new ideas for old things around the house.

• With warmer seasons comes the return of local farmer's market (one of our favorite perks of spring). For instance, the Greenpoint market is back in Brooklyn; see more at Brownstoner.

Above: Alexa's recent favorite Tumblr to scroll through on a lazy weekend afternoon: Post-Patternism.

• In light of this week's color-blocked kitchen, we're looking at this fabric covered lampshade DIY.

Above: If you missed the "Indigo Rooster's Exhibition: An Exploration of Indigo," curated by Levi’s Vintage Clothing’s creative director Miles Johnson and merchandise manager Victor Sandberg, in Amsterdam last month, see it here.