When a San Francisco couple with two young boys were looking for help in decorating the guest house for their Sonoma weekend retreat, they turned to Bay Area designer and Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory member Nicole Hollis for help with the interiors. The challenge? Turn an 800 square feet building into a guest house to accommodate up to four visitors while maintaining a sense of space and openness. Hollis tells us  "I wanted to create a serene retreat that maximized the relationship between the cottage and the Sonoma hills. Keeping things neutral and bringing in whimsical bits of nature in an understated way allowed the space greater harmony with its surroundings." Read on to see how Hollis achieved the result.

N.B. Nicole Hollis is one of the designers featured in the Make Room: Modern Design Meets Craft showcase at the upcoming American Craft Council's Show in San Francisco, from August 2nd through 4th.

Photography by Ben Mayorga.

Above: The 800-square-foot cottage is nestled on a hillside beside the pool with views onto vineyards and oak trees.

Above: The main living area houses a kitchen nook, built-in window seating, and a guest bed.

Above: A vintage colonial-door armoire sits on a hand forged iron base from Guatemala.

Above: A fireplace anchors the main room. On the ceiling are white oak boards from Restoration Timber.

Above: The kitchenette area with custom-designed glass shelving on steel supports. The custom countertop is made of Bluestone with a hammered top and racked edge detail at the front edge face.

Above: A collection of butterflies displayed above the guest bed.

Above: The ceramic square butterfly tiles on the wall are from Bardelli in Italy and continue the butterfly motif. The custom tub sits on eight-inch-by-eight-inch white oak wooden blocks in a natural finish from Restoration Timber in San Francisco.

Above: The washroom and kid's room are off the main room. Above the sink is a BDDW Captain’s Mirror.

Above: Bunk beds with wood dresser from Anthropologie with custom rope knot pulls. The vintage lamp in the corner came from Dogfork in San Francisco and is made from repurposed vintage wood floats above an alarm bell base.

Find more Summer House inspiration in our gallery of images.

You might think that it's as simple as a tea light and some colored liquid but upon closer inspection, you realize that Norwegian designer Kristine Five Melvaer's Liquid Light is so much more.  

At its most basic, Liquid Light is a birch wood plate which holds a glass carafe and a brass socket for a tea light candle. Once the carafe is filled with liquid and the candle is lit, magical things happen as the carafe becomes a lens which amplifies the light and the options for creating your own still-lifes begin to unfold. See Kristine Five Malvaer for more information. 

Photography by Erik Five Gunnerud via Kristine Five Malvaer. 

Above: Liquid Light is comprised of a birch wood holder, a glass carafe, and a brass socket for a tea light. 

Above: The carafe acts as a lens and amplifies the light. 

Above: A plant specimen gets magnified. 

Above: Create your own still-life painting by varying colors and objects. 

See Candles as Still Life: Le Moradine for another way to create a still life painting in your home. 

Lizzie Garrett of Tomboy Style recently clued us in to Beetlebung Farm, a five-acre property in Chilmark, Massachusetts. Chris Fischer, the proprietor, grew up on the family farm and later studied cooking under such chefs as Mario Batali and Keith McNally in New York, London, and Rome before returning home, where he sells his organic produce (current clients include the Obamas) and hosts communal greenhouse dinners.

"We were served by friendly barefoot hosts on a dirt floor sitting on wood benches and rusted metal chairs under a roof of stars and a garland of Jerusalem artichoke leaves," Lizzie writes. "The aroma of the farm vegetables lingering with the salty Atlantic air was almost as intoxicating as the burrata, the kale salad served over a fried egg, the sugary sweet perfect tomatoes with squid, the pork tossed with pasta and basil." For more, see Beetlebung Farm at Tomboy Style.

Photography by Gabriela Herman for Beetlebung Farm (except where noted).

Above: Chris Fischer, the 12th generation of his family to live on the Vineyard, serves just-grown, fresh-picked food (prepared simply) in a greenhouse transformed into a dining room. Photograph by Lizzie Garrett of Tomboy Style.

Above: Burrata bruschetta. Photograph by Lizzie Garrett of Tomboy Style.

Above: The hoop house is set with a long dining table, mismatched chairs, and flowers from the farm. Photograph by Lizzie Garrett of Tomboy Style.

Above: Food is served family style on platters.

Above: The farm isn't an official restaurant; dinners are by invitation only. 

Above: Recent greenhouse dinner guests have included actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Seth Meyers.

Above: A large bluefish stuffed with herbs and grilled over an open fire.

Above: Organic produce under cultivation at Beetlebung Farm.

Above: Beetlebung chef Chris Fischer is a descendant of Albert Osborne Fischer, who bought the farm in 1961.

Above: Makeshift lamps and strings of lights. Photograph by Lizzie Garrett of Tomboy Style.

Above: And for dessert? "A buttery slice of cantaloupe," says Lizzie Garrett. "A simple and perfect dessert."

For more ideas for dining under the stars, see Into the Field: A Dinner in a Greenhouse in Oslo.

This summer, the hottest drink in the Napa Valley is not wine, but cocktails made with bitters. Yes, the onetime medicinal plant-based digestive is enjoying a renaissance, even in wine country. Arthur and Lusine Hartunian, the team behind Napa Valley Distillery (makers of premium small-batch vodka and whiskey), recently opened the Vintage Bar Shop in Napa's Oxbow Market, where they sell more than 300 artisanal bitters. 

Since they opened the shop, the number of small artisan bitters makers keeps growing. As Arthur Hartunian tells us, "I am really excited to see this lost art form coming back. People are really into cocktails and craft spirits and bitters add depth and character to a drink. It's the salt and pepper of the bar—in fact, it's not really a cocktail without bitters."

With almost 300 bitters to choose from, what's my favorite? Bittered Sling, a line from a culinary duo in Vancouver, Canada (she's a mixologist, he's a chef), whose offerings include Grapefruit Hops, Orange and Juniper, and Shanghai Rhubarb. For now, you'll need to visit the Oxbow Vintage Bar Shop in person, although they plan to come online soon. 

Above: Bittered Sling's Cascade Celery is "a complex, forested, and herbaceous blend of ingredients, offering sweet and savory tonality, all the while profiling one of nature’s most beautiful ingredients, wild celery." Highly recommended with vermouth.

Above: A selection of offerings from Bittered Sling, distilled essences made from natural herbs, spices, fruits, barks, and roots. Traditionally used in cocktails, bitters can also be added to recipes to add an extra kick. As Hartunian notes, "Bitters have become a real foodie ingredient."

Above: "A great way to enjoy Bittered Sling extracts is simply with sparkling water," they say. For a selection of zero-proof cocktails, go to Bittered Sling.  

Lady Grey, a spiffed up iced tea with Orange and Juniper Bitters, refreshing and alcohol free.

1 oz lemon juice

1 oz lavender flower syrup

4 oz freshly brewed (cold) Earl Grey tea

2 dashes Bittered Sling Orange and Juniper Bitters

Layer the ingredients in a Collins glass (we like these large Straight Glasses from Heath Ceramics) filled with ice. Add the cold tea, stir gently, and garnish with a lemon slice.

Check out a recent favorite drink: our Raspberry Sparkler.

The market tote's more compact sibling? The Parisian-style netted cotton grocery bag. While it seems to me that the bags had some popularity in the 1990s, lately we've been noticing a resurgence—and some modern versions including leather handles.

Leather

Above: French fashion house Carven has designed the Fishnet Bag with adjustable leather straps and with an orange, mint green, or pink thread; $150 at Maryam Nassir Zadeh. Also available directly from Carven and at Ron Herman.

Above: So It Goes' Small Basket Tote is made from thick cotton rope, using traditional net making techniques; $70 from Need Supply.

Above: À Detacher's Macrame Bag has a slouchy, open weave in palm fiber. It is handmade in Peru and finished with leather handles; $230 from Anaise.

Vegan

Above: Jennilee Marigomen's Yukon Gold Potatoes, 2011 features a purple cotton string bag similar to the lavender bag in EcoBag's Reusable Pastel String Bag Set of 5 ($32 from Amazon). Photographed for Montecristo Magazine in collaboration with Elicia Di Fonzo.

Above: The Natural Cotton String Shopping Bag is made in France and is $10.95 from Amazon.

Above: Green in color and in ethos, the Reusable Shopping String Bag is designed to carry up to 20 kilograms in weight and is $12.60 from Eco Net on Etsy.

Above: The dark purple 100-Percent SKAL Certified Organic Cotton String Bag is $9.99 from Green Please For You.

Above: The 100 percent cotton French Cotton Net Bag in black is $10.95 at Kaufmann Mercantile.

Above: The French String Shopping Bag in an off white cotton is $18 from French Vintage Home.

Above: A dark green Cotton Net Shopping Bag from Better Houseware is $7.15 from Amazon (and also available in Blue).

Above: Made by Kham tribe villagers, the Kincyaku Mini String Bag is made from kuzu fiber and knotted by hand. Each bag is labor intensive and one of a kind; $39.50 from Habu Textiles.

For a sturdier option, see ten of our favorites in our recent post: 10 Easy Pieces: French Market Totes.

Matt Lambert, an Auckland native, and designers Alexander Evangelou and James Waterworth of London-based Alexander Waterworth Interiors are behind the newly opened Musket Room in Nolita, possibly the prettiest (and leafiest) new restaurant in NYC. 

Photos by Emily Andrews via The Musket Room.

Above: A live-edge wood bar adds an organic note to the interior.

Above: An exposed brick wall keeps things rustic.

Above: Giant leafy arrangements add a touch of color to the neutral space.

Above: Teal upholstered banquettes line one wall.

Above: Scalloped tiling extends from the bar.

Above: A view of the patio.

Above: Lambert grows his own herbs in the rear garden.

Like the look of Alexander Waterworth's interiors? Check out two more projects by the firm: Hally's Parsons Green and Kerbisher & Malt.

One of the first foodie people I began slavishly following online was Karen Mordechai of Sunday Suppers. A stylist and photographer, Karen manages to creatively bring together all the essential elements of a good dinner: food, decor, and ambience, without ever losing sight that it's all about connecting with the people around the table. We asked Karen to share her insights on entertaining with friends.

Photography by Karen Mordechai except where noted. 

Above: Photo by Jennifer Causey.

Remodelista: What is the first thing you think about when you are having people over for dinner?
Karen Mordechai: I think about the season and an overall feeling that a great meal can create. The starting point can be a location, a time of day, or a particular ingredient that is beautiful at the market.

RM: Best way to serve food?
KM: I love family style; it adds a sense of community and enjoyment and suits our type of food, which is honest and straightforward cooking.

RM: What's secret is to creating a good dinner party?
KM: A great mix of people and good food. In the end, those are the most memorable evenings.

Sunday Suppers Tomato Salad with Coriander Dressing

1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 pound English hothouse cucumbers, sliced
2 to 3 large heirloom tomatoes, sliced
6 small red tomatoes, cut into wedges
2 pints small cherry tomatoes, halved
1 bunch wood sorrel
1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves with tender stems

For the dressing:
½ tsp coriander seed
Juice of 2 lemons
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
½ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Make the dressing by toasting the coriander seeds in a pan over medium heat until golden, then finely grind them in a mortar and pestle. Add the coriander, lemon, sugar, salt, and pepper in a bowl and whisk to dissolve sugar. Slowly whisk in the oil, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Arrange the sorrel on a platter, layer the tomatoes and parsley on top, and dress with coriander dressing. Top with olive oil and smoked Maldon sea salt to taste.

Check out our Recipes from others featured on Remodelista.

Designed by Australia-based ArchiBlox, there instant Backyard Rooms—well, practically instant—create extra living or studio space (no building permit required). All you do is pick a size, configure, and place the order. Six weeks later, your studio has arrived.

Photographs via Backyard Room.

Above: Available in several sizes and configurations (including a two-story studio layout), the Backyard Room can be customized with various windows and doors. Prices range from $15,840 AU to more than $150,000 AU. 

Above: Specialists in prefabricated design, the ArchiBlox team's modular workspaces feature built-in bathrooms, kitchens, desk areas, and bookshelves.

Above: A tiny office nook with a view.

For more of our favorite prefab cottages, see A Tiny Backyard Guest Studio (Sleeps One).

I'm a skeptic when it comes to outdoor kitchens (who needs anything more than a grill and a set of tongs?). I'm revising my thinking, however, after spotting—and swooning over—the ultimate setup from the Netherlands.

From WWOO Outdoor Kitchens comes the perfect combination of stylish design and Dutch practicality. Composed of modular components, WWOO kitchens offer systems that range from barely-beyond-basic to well equipped. Add-ons include a pizza oven, a steel fireplace, and a stainless firebox. WWOO Showrooms are located throughout the Netherlands, as well as in Paris, Stuttgart, and Prague.

Those of us who live in the US can recreate the look using a contractor and the products we've sourced below:

Above: The WWOO accessories range from wood storage boxes to cutting boards and Green Egg ceramic grills.

Above: The designer behind WWOO Kitchens is Piet Jan van den Kommer, who feels that many of the outdoor kitchens on the market are expensive, poorly designed, and require a lot of maintenance. His kitchen system is built for endurance.

Above: WWOO Kitchens are made of durable concrete requiring next to no maintenance. The concrete components are available in gray or anthracite (shown).

Above: The stainless steel sink is topped with a stainless faucet connected to a "fire tap."

Above: A modern version of a Japanese kamado cooker—a wood- or charcoal-fired earthen vessel capable of achieving both high and low temperatures for greater control—the Big Green Egg comes in five sizes, from mini to extra large. The Medium Big Green Egg is $850. No countertop to nest the egg? The Big Green Egg with a Compact Cypress Table on wheels starts at $1,175. Both at Big Green Egg Chicago.

Above: Pair a Key Stop and Waste Valve with female inlet ($41.03 at Wayfair) with a Chicago Faucets Rigid Gooseneck Spout with a male outlet and the necessary plumbing fittings (contact your plumber) to attach to the water supply.

Above: Simple 15-inch stainless steel Lenova Rim Series Single Basin Sink; $392 at Fixture Universe.

Above: For a flush counter grill, consider the Fire Master Classic Drop-In Countertop Charcoal Grill; from $137.70 to $681.70 depending on size from Seattle Luxe.

Above: For a countertop option, the stainless steel Kavkaz Mini Grill measures 16 inches wide and 12 inches deep (larger sizes available); $144.99 through BAS Metal. An optional top grate is available.

Above: Lodge Logic 6-Quart Camp Dutch Oven for campfire or fireplace cooking; $59.99 at Amazon.

Above: The Ratskeller Crate from Cenzo Design is crafted of pine and sized to fit 24 glass bottles, and is sturdy enough to carry them. Contact Cenzo Design for pricing and availability. Vintage wooden crates offered through a variety of Etsy sellers are another good option.

For more on outdoor kitchens, see "5 Favorites: Ultimate Outdoor Kitchens."

Inspired to fire up the grill? See our earlier post: World's Best Barbecue Grills.

N.B.: This is an update of a post published on August 14, 2012.

Spotted lately, fully equipped outdoor kitchens for plein air dining (no trips to the indoors fridge or sink required). Here are 10 standout examples.

Above: LA design collective Commune created this pergola-like outdoor kitchen in a remodel of a Buff & Hensman house in Nichols Canyon. (N.B. For more information, see Commune in Nichols Canyon, LA.) Photography by Richard Powers.

Above: An indoor/outdoor kitchen in South Carolina by architect Heather A. Wilson (see more at The Ultimate Indoor/Outdoor House?).

Above: An indoor/outdoor kitchen in the Netherlands, via VT Wonen (first spotted on Vosges Paris).

Above: An indoor/outdoor kitchen in Todos Santos, Mexico, via LA-based photographer Laure Joliet.

Above: Architect Guilherme Torres' kitchen in Sao Paulo, Brazil, opens onto a tree-filled courtyard (see more at A Magical Kitchen in Brazil).

Above: Made of separate components, the WWOO kitchen by Dutch designer Piet Jan van den Kommer offers ultimate flexibility; for more on the WWOO kitchen, see The Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen. Image via vtwonen.

Above: A kitchen in Capetown in a house owned by Rupert Smith and Warren Matthee of Olive Studio, via New Zealand House and Leisure. Photo by Micky Hoyle.

Above: Students from Budapest University designed this outdoor kitchen as part of the Odooproject; see more at Archdaily.

Above: An outdoor kitchen in Sweden from Ikea; the wicker storage chest is the Byholma; $69.99.

Above: A summer house in Denmark by Kontur Arkitekter.

I had admired my friend Renee's Napa Valley house from afar long before I got to know her (it was hard to see the home hidden behind the wooden gate, but the low fencing and graveled outer garden gave it the appearance of being open while remaining private at the same time).

When Renee bought the land several years ago, there was nothing on it except a small vineyard and a well in the middle of the lot. She knew she wanted to design a home that embodied indoor/outdoor living, and ultimately, the well ended up dictating the plan, with the house built around a central courtyard in the center. Renee tells us, "I have the doors open all day for a lot of the year, and the courtyard has very much become an extension of the living room and the outdoor space feels very much part of the house." Her indoor/outdoor living mission duly accomplished.

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Remodelista.

Above: The house is set behind a low fence; the graveled patio is used for bike parking.

Above: The wooden gates open up onto an inner courtyard to the entry of the house. Renee says, "it was my intention to create something peaceful so I could spend time on the front porch reading. It's a great spot to catch the afternoon sun."

Above: The view from the living room to the front gate through ivy trailing from the front of the house.

Above: The ivy carries over the courtyard. " We usually have wine and cocktails outside and will sit by the fire when it's cooler. When the kids were younger they would chalk and paint out here all the time."

Above: A bull's head above the stone fireplace.

Above: The outdoor Montego Seating came from Room & Board and the red Adirondack chairs were picked up at a local farmer's market.

Above: The children's collection of stones and bottle caps.

Above: "I have a lot of greenery in pots—it's good for adding height—things like Euphorbia, flax, and succulents, low maintenance sorts of things."

Above: An Ikea Doksta Table in the corner of the courtyard with two Eames Chairs from DWR.

 Above: Galvanized planters at a secluded area at the rear of the house.

Above: A small seating area in the inner garden at the front of the house.

Above: The garage with sliding barn doors.

If you are looking to add an eco-chic note to your garden furnishings, see our post on this Outdoor Furniture.

The winner in our Considered Design Awards, Best Design Professional - Submitted Office Space category is Kate Monckton, a London-based designer who created a home office space that manages successfully to look more like a home than an office. 

As more and more people operate out of live/work spaces, Kate Monckton, founding principal of Kate Monckton Interior Design, has noticed an increasing demand for personal and relaxed offices. Monckton’s client for this project, who works in a creative industry, needed a space to work from as well as one in which to entertain clients, colleagues, and friends. Monckton wanted to lighten the space, located  in a small and dark Notting Hill apartment, as much as possible; to that end, she changed the flooring to light oak and painted the walls a subtle shade of gray (Fired Earth Earls Grey).

No structural changes were required—instead, Monckton sourced appropriate furniture, lighting, soft furnishings, and decorative items from auction houses and vintage markets (her personal art collection included), creating a small, eclectic office with a big personality. “I don’t know whether I can really explain how I put things together; it’s automatic," she says. "Mixing color and pattern is one of my favorite things to do. It’s persuading the client to run with it—that’s the hard bit.”

Above: Monckton purchased the blue laminate-topped desk and 1950s bentwood Thonet chair at auction. "I buy from auction quite often," Moncton says. "You can sometimes get collector's pieces at affordable prices, but you need balls of steel to hold your nerve." The metal cabinets are original French postal cabinets from the 1940s, which the designer sourced from Couilles du Chien.

Above: "The shelf detail above the desk is my favorite part of the project," Monckton says. "The grouping of gold glasses gives the client something beautiful to gaze upon when they look up from the laptop; something other than an office photocopy machine and a water dispenser." Monckton sourced the 1930s French collection of glasses from Kempton Antiques Market. "Cheap as chips—didn't need them but couldn't leave them behind," she says. "That is the key to successfully creating an eclectic style in a room. Often it's the unnecessary, slightly bonkers things that give a room its personality."

Above: Monckton often sources art for her clients and visits degree shows at art schools to find the latest. The pair of charcoal figurative drawings are by Simon Nicholas (the designer spotted his work at his Goldsmith's College degree show) and come from Monckton's own personal collection. 

Above: "I am obsessed with cushions and rugs and love all things graphic—fabric, artwork, rugs, tiles, anything, really," Monckton says. The designer sourced these pillows from Rouge du Rhin. "When I found these, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven," she says. "I could happily have each and every single design of theirs." Monckton wanted the mirror, which she found at the Ardingly Antiques and Collector's Fair, to blend into the room in a subtle way, so she painted the "nasty" bright white frame the same color as the walls (Fired Earth Earls Grey).  

Above L: When Monckton was unable find a narrow-enough console table for the hallway, she created one out of reclaimed materials. The aged wood top, which she purchased for £20, is from a vintage dealer on Golborne Road near Portobello Market and the legs were found in a reclamation junkyard for £18. Above R: Monkton purchased the antique Victorian suede gloves, embroidered with the words "Love" and "Hate," and displays them in a frame found from the Lacey Gallery, her favorite source for antique frames. "There's no significance to the gloves, I just like them," she says. "The mix of Victorian quirkiness and the modern obsession of tattooing appeal to me."

Above: "The key to a good interior is to mix up your colors, patterns, and textures," Monkton says. "If not, it will look bland and safe." A cotton dhurrie from The Rug Company creates pattern on the floor while a vintage Afghanistan quilt cover that Monkton found after scouring Portobello Road is draped over a chair that might otherwise need recovering. The cushion is from the designer's favorite local antiques shop, Couilles du Chien. 

Above: Monckton mixes work from unknown artists found in flea markets with Bavarian porcelain and a pair of 1930s carved wooden bookends. 

Above: "All the furniture had to be carefully considered, as there wasn’t a huge amount of space to play with," Monckton says of the one-room office and entertaining space. 

See all 11 winners of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards and watch for individual project profiles as they publish over the next several weeks. 

As we head into August, we approach the last stretch of summer. That is why, in part, why we got most of the outdoor entertaining ideas out of our systems this past week.

This weekend, we'll be stopping by the "Make Room: Modern Design Meets Craft" showcase at the American Craft Council Show (Remodelista is one of the sponsors). Other than that, this is what's on our collective radar:

• In anticipation of next week's "In the Art Studio" theme, we're inspired by these 10 famous artists studios. Shown above is Georgia O'Keefe's studio.
• We like this idea cooked up by Heath Ceramics in Los Angeles as a benefit for the Skid Row Housing Trust. Bring in your old dinnerware and exchange it for 25 percent off a corresponding piece from Heath.

• Sarah's checking out the Soba Making Workshop from Common Grains at SHED in Healdsburg later this month.

• A Hollywood couple just put their Southern California ranch on the market. Curious about their next venture?  
• An uplifting story about Country Living's House of the Year (a bungalow wrecked by Hurricane Sandy gets a new lease on life).

• Alexa is inspired by a discovery made by designer Michelle Lane of BREADstudio: the work of Marina Dragomirova at Sofia Design Week in Bulgaria.

• Big Daddy's, our go-to source for antiques, just opened a store in Aspen, called Georgia Brown (named after owner Shane's youngest daughter). We'll be checking it out on our next road trip West.
• Christine is taking advantage of all the summer produce; here's this week's favorite recipe: Grilled Halloumi & Quinoa Salad.

For an artist and his wife, a warehouse building in south London was the perfect live/work space—until their family expanded by one. The couple worked with London architect Dingle Price to create, as Price says, "a more formal inhabitation."

The architects began by stripping the interior and subdividing the space into equal parts: a two-story living area and a double-height studio space. Working with the warehouse's existing mix of materials—white plaster and unfinished pine floorboards—the architects created a staircase and cabinetry to harmonize with the whole. For more, visit Dingle Price Architects and Dezeen.

Photography by Ioana Marinescu via Dezeen.

Above: The two-story house's front facade, or the dividing wall of the warehouse, overlooks the studio space as if it was a small piazza or garden.

Above: The residence can be entirely or partially closed off from the studio as desired. As the architects describe, "opening the doors and shutters reveals scenic views across the internal landscape." North-facing skylights fill the studio with natural light.

Above: Just past the paneled wall of white painted pine boards is the family's kitchen.

Above: The kitchen color palette is a reflection of the coexistance of the artist's paintings with the plaster and pine warehouse.

Above: "The design draws on the symmetrical character of the existing building to provide a series of interconnected rooms of varied scale and proportion."

Above: One of the two bedrooms upstairs; each room with a window that opens out onto paintings in progress.

Above: A series of tan-colored rice paper lanterns, a red mobile, and subtle groupings of gallery frames are the only decor required.

See more studio visits like this one in Marianna Kennedy, London's Sorceress of Color and Cold Press Gallery in Norfolk.

One of the easiest—and most underutilized—interior design strategies? Drape your furniture in simple cotton canvas painter's drop cloths.

Above: Wrapped in a drop cloth, a sofa becomes a Christo-like work of art; this one is in antique store owner Hitoshi Uchida's home in Kamakura, Japan. Photo via The Selby.

Above: A chair is invitingly rumpled, via OWI.

Above: A covered chair from Le Dans La.

Above: An instant bedspread, via Kikette Interiors. Although this one appears to be linen, a laundered painter's drop cloth would also work.

Above: The draped sofa adds a casual note to a potentially formal space; photo by Jim Franco.

Above: At the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, beds are draped in covers resembling drop cloths from Free City in Malibu.

Above: Cotton canvas drop cloths are available from several online sources. Ace Hardware offers heavyweight Canvas Drop Cloths in several sizes, ranging in price from $25.99 to $35.99.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on March 13, 2009.

Derek Wilson is "a twenty-first century hybridization of studio potter and conceptual artist," as he says, sculpting a diverse range of objects that blend the abstract and the familiar and extend across functional and sculptural pieces.  

Wilson acquired a taste for modernism early on, growing up between Germany and Britain before moving to Belfast, Ireland, in the late 1990s. Drawing inspiration from midcentury British Constructivism and the utilitarian history of ceramics across Europe and Asia, Wilson works in both celadon-glazed porcelain and stoneware. For more on the artist, visit Derek Wilson and read Stephen Farnan's editorial in Ceramic Review.

Above: A tea set in a transparent glaze sits on a dark stoneware tray.

Above: Wilson creates functional pieces for everyday use at the potter's wheel.

Above: Colorful objects from We All Contain Things in 2012.

Above: A glimpse into Wilson's office is a reflection of the artist's standards of "restraint, containment, and minimalism."

Above: Shades of blue-green glazed pieces from the Coloured Porcelain Tray series, 2012.

Above: Wilson carefully considers the hand-built aspects of each thrown container.

Above: An archival row of tall mugs glazed in light celadon on a light wooden tray.

Above: Porcelain stamps feature Wilson's eponymous studio emblem.

Above: A large matte piece of stoneware from the Void series, 2011

More for the clay-obsessed: An Architect Turned Potter: Anchor Ceramics in Australia, Slow Ceramics from Tortus Copenhagen, Subversive Ceramics in Berlin, and The Quiet Storm: Organic Ceramics from Japan.

Restaurateur Donna Lennard opened her downtown NYC spot Il Buco on Bond Street in 1994, and it's been a mainstay ever since. More recently, she opened Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria on nearby Great Jones Street, a rustic market-cum-restaurant that's been an instant hit.

The onetime prop designer opened Il Buco in 1994 with her then-boyfriend Alberto Avalle as an antiques store. The shop quickly morphed into a dining spot when shoppers started joining the couple for their daily Italian lunches in store. Antiques gave way to a restaurant full of Italian rustic charm, and now Lennard has come full circle with the launch of her line of kitchen goods, Il Buco Vita. Enlisting two of her friends, Umbrian brothers Antonello and Lorenzo Radi (the latter an acclaimed Italian architect), Lennard has put together a collection of handpicked goods for the home from central and southern Italy, refreshingly none of which have been sold stateside before. Stay tuned for the opening of a dedicated store; in the meantime the collection can be found at Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria.

Above: Glass tumblers, terracotta dinner plates, and linen placemats on display with antique tiles.

Above: One of several antique jugs that start at $395 and a terracotta serving bowl with a green/brown glaze; $95.

Above: Terracotta plates made outside Siena; $42.

Above: Antique wine bottle from Umbria; $395. Wire mesh basket from Umbria with antique linen liner; $295.

Above: Handblown glass tumblers from Toscana; $30 each.

Above: Antique cotton sacking pillows from Toscana are used in the restaurant and are available starting at $195.

For more Italian finds and sources, see our Italian Travel Guide.

Twenty-five years ago, Tim and Kathy Ritchie were living in an unfinished house in Portland, Oregon, where they made their first piece of furniture—"a simple little side table"—which inspired them to launch their business when they moved to England.

On offer at the couple's Cambridge, UK, shop: their own line of chalky emulsion and eggshell Providence Paints (in shades like Black Sheep, Moonshine, and Dirty Dog) as well as Farrow & Ball and Earthborn Clay Paints, classic cabinet hardware, both wood (oak, walnut, cherry, maple, and beech) and metal, plus household essentials like cleaning and paint brushes. Furniture prices are reasonable, considering the high-quality materials used and the labor involved; prices start at £16 for a 45cm-long Shaker peg rail and go up to £3,200 for a large breakfront cabinet. For more, go to Providence.

Above: A custom Providence armoire painted bright yellow, in the window of the Cambridge shop. "We use traditional methods of joinery; though the tools we use are modern, which makes our craftsmanship more efficient," Tim says.

Above: Samples of shades available in the Providence paint line.

Above: A sampling of paint from the Providence line.

Above: Classic cabinet knobs in oak, walnut, cherry, maple, and beech.

Above: Tim and Kathy give their solid oak pieces a modern twist by painting them in unexpected modern colors.

Simple white lampshades made interesting with a swirl of black paint in the loft of Johannesburg artist Kudzanai Chiurai, easily replicated with a can of black paint and a brush.

Above: A simple pendant light in an otherwise austere kitchen; photo by David Ross via Elle Decoration South Africa.

Above: In Chiurai's living room, a standing lamp gets a dash of visual interest via a gridlike black and white pattern; photo by David Ross via Elle Decoration South Africa.

Above: In the bedroom, a standing lamp is painted with a simple black squiggle; photo by David Ross via Elle Decoration South Africa.

The winner in our Considered Design Awards, Best Design Professional-Submitted Kitchen Space category is Mark Reilly Architecture, a San Francisco-based firm that modernized the floor plan of a Victorian house by bringing the kitchen upstairs. 

When Mark Reilly Architecture came on board to renovate this vintage house with lots of historic charm and stunning views, there was one fundamental problem. The kitchen and dining room, the center and heart of most modern homes, were located in small and viewless rooms downstairs. (Fun fact: The kitchens of these vintage homes in the Marin County town of Belvedere, a former island, were typically located downslope to be closer to the shore and to the boats that delivered the food.) Mark Reilly Architecture’s solution was to flip the floor plan. The firm demolished the two small bedrooms on the upper level and transformed the space into a kitchen, dining room, and powder room (the lower level is now a modern master retreat). 

Some of the greatest challenges in converting the space into a kitchen were the low sills of the historic windows, which fell below counter height. On preservation order from the city, Reilly had no choice but to keep the windows intact. He resolved the challenge by floating the prep and clean-up sinks in front of the windows, and continued the theme by anchoring shelves above the countertops, maximizing storage and connecting to the light and views. “My favorite part of the project is the modern floating shelf detail in front of the vintage windows and trim,” Reilly says. “To me, they clearly illustrate what this project is about—striking the right balance between vintage and modern.”

Above: "The main challenge in inserting a modern kitchen into a Victorian home is striking the right balance between vintage and modern materials and details so that it feels seamless, intentional, and timeless," Reilly says. 

Above: Creating a sense of openness in a Victorian house was another challenge. "In this project, we had to remove dividing walls and closets to get the feeling of open space we desired," Reilly says. "Locating a wall of appliances and pantry at the back of the kitchen further contributed to the openness and also created a functional space."

Above: The countertops are made of honed Caesarstone in Pebble. To give the countertops heft, the architect added a 1 1/2-inch mitered edge on the front face.

Above: The modern shelves float in front of the historic window and the backsplash made of 6-by-12-inch Carrara Bianca marble tile. "The large tile size fit well with the stately hood and industrial fixtures," Reilly says. 

Above: "The underside of the sink, disposal, and drainpipe were left exposed for a modern and yet utilitarian, Victorian detail," Reilly says. "Of course, this meant we had to specify attractive and simply designed sinks and disposals."

Above: A secondary goal of the project was to create a home for the clients' collection of vintage San Francisco etchings, acquired over 20 years. Created by San Francisco art school students, many of the etchings are by John Winkler, who is known as "The Master of the Line." The wall color is Nantucket Fog by Benjamin Moore.

Above: To improve the visual flow between the spaces, doorways between the new kitchen and existing living room were widened and new oak flooring was installed to match the original flooring. 

Above: The door frames and trims have been rebuilt with a more modern profile.

Above: Redwood paneling with a wire brushed gray stain wraps around the living room area. 

Above: A space for after-dinner board games and taking in the spectacular views was created in the corner of what was formerly a wraparound porch. 

N.B.: Mark Reilly Architecture worked with Neill & Lee Contractors on this project. 

See The Architect Is In: A Renovation with Respect in Palo Alto to see another historic renovation from Mark Reilly Architecture.