Forgive us our fetish (everyone has one, right?). Ours is desktop accessories: staplers, pencil sharpeners, tape dispensers, scissors. We spend eight hours a day at our desks, so why not create a setup you love, surrounded by life-lasting, well-designed work accoutrements? Our favorites come from El Casco in Spain; to see the full line, go to El Casco.

Above: The El Casco Pencil Sharpener in chrome is $385 at Amazon.

Above: A range of El Casco scissors is available through Amazon; prices start at $70.63 for the El Casco 6-Inch Chrome Scissors.

Above: The El Casco M-5CT Stapler in chrome is $229.24 at Amazon.

Founded by Gloria Margenat in Barcelona in 2008, Arxe is a design studio focused on creating furniture and one-of-a-kind textiles for the home out of salvaged industrial materials. The principals "search across Europe to find antique furniture and old industrial materials—wood, leather, iron, steel, and textiles," which they bring back to their Barcelona warehouse to be refashioned into one-off or limited-edition pieces (such as the Double Duty Beach Towel, available at Anthropologie). To see more of the studio's work, go to Arxe; a small selection of their work is offered for sale in Barcelona at the Woki Organic Market, which the studio also designed.

Above: Arxe's small shop annex in Barcelona, located on the premises of the Woki Organic Market.

Above: Drawers made from salvaged office furniture.

Above: A wall-mountable utensil holder.

Above: Bags made from vintage flour sacks.

Above: Clipboards serve as signage in the market.

Above: The cafe seating area features shelving made from salvaged wood and factory-style lighting.

Above: Vintage metal baskets lined in reclaimed linen.

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

Earlier this week we featured a project on Twin House by Barcelona-based Nook Architects. We couldn't help but notice (and admire) the Ikea Godmorgon vanity installed in the bathrooms (I used that same vanity for our children's bathroom during a recent remodel and I couldn't be happier).

Photographs via Nook Architects.

Above: The architects installed the Ikea Godmorgon/Odensvik single sink in all the bathrooms.

Above: In the Twin house, mint green tile adds a cheerful note to the bathroom. 

Above: The Ikea Godmorgon/Odensvik sink cabinet in white oak stained veneer is $349. It's available in several different colors, sizes, and can be wall-mounted or installed (using Ikea legs). 

Looking for more economical Design Sleuths? Here is one for $15. And how about that mint green tile? See our post 5 Favorites: Minty Green Bathrooms, Retro Edition for inspiration.

I've been tracking James Beard-award winning chef Matt Dillon for a while now (he's the force behind Sitka and Spruce and the Corson Building), so I headed straight to his latest venture when I landed in Seattle last month

At Bar Sajor in Seattle, Dillon pushes his culinary creativity by limiting his cooking source to a wood-fired oven. The space is equally boundary breaking: In collaboration with furniture maker Steve Withycomb, builder Edward Pierce, and graphic designer Eric Fisher, Dillon conceived, designed and built Bar Sajor's exotic interiors that transport you straight to Spain.

Above: The entry to Bar Sajor is on the corner of Occidental Avenue S. and S. Jackson Street in the Pioneer Square area of Seattle. Image via Downtown Seattle.

Above: The interiors are a mix of simple (white beadboard wainscoting and ticking-covered seat cushions) and sumptuous (Moroccan-inspired elements and rich brass fittings) that creates an elegant vibe. Image via the blog of photographer Andrea P. Coan.

Above: The open kitchen is welcoming; you might be tempted to pull up a stool and start chatting with the chefs. Image by Curt Edwards courtesy of Bar Sajor.

Above: The driving force behind the cooking at Bar Sajor: the wood-fired oven and rotisserie is the only heat source. Image by Janet Hall

Above: Wall reliefs above the oven were created and installed by Seattle artist Tamara Codor.

Above: Ornate Objet Trouve mirrors by artist Tamara Codor add a Baroque element to the space. Image by Belathee Photography via Codor Design (where you can see more of Tamara's Bar Sajor installations).

Above: There is a mix of a bar-style and cafe seating. Image by Curt Edwards courtesy of Bar Sajor.

Above: The same creativity and attention to detail that makes Dillon's food stand out permeates the space.

Above: Oyster shells as herbed butter serving dishes. Image by Janet Hall.

Above: At the table: simple linens, vintage-style flatware and Moroccan tea glasses. Image by Janet Hall. 

Above: And, just two weeks ago, Dillon unlocked the doors to the London Plane, a wine-bar-cum-event-space-cum-shop across the pedestrian street from Bar Sajor. A return trip is on my list. Image by S. Pratt via Seattle Eater.

Above: A collaboration between Dillon and Katherine Anderson, the owner of floral design shop Marigold and Mint, London Plane will eventually have two spaces. The second space, targeted to open later this fall, will house their bread and pastry production, a retail bakery, and floral shop. Seattle Eater offers a great Look Inside London Plane. 

Heading to Seattle? Don't miss another favorite destination: Peter Miller Books.

Barcelona-based Santa & Cole was founded in 1985 by Javier Nieto Santa, Gabriel Ordeig Cole, and Nina Masó, a trio of design professionals with a curatorial mission. "Our purpose is not to accumulate but rather to choose, not to enjoy thanks to the quantity but rather the quality." They describe themselves as editors rather than manufacturers: "This way we select the best suppliers for each product category." Santa & Cole products are available in the US through Ameico.

Above: The Gandula Barceloneta chair was designed in 1953 by Federico Correa and Alfonso Mila as an ironic tribute to the Barcelona chair by Mies van der Rohe. The chair features a varnished beech wood frame, canvas backrest, and leather seat.

Above: Designed in 1957 by Kazuhide Takahama, the Banco Taka features a solid beech frame with curved beech wood slats.

Above: The Mecedora de la Huerta rocking chair inspired by the work of anonymous craftsmen; made of walnut-stained beech wood with an unbleached natural canvas or striped canvas cover.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on May 28, 2009.

We're not ready to give up on summer yet. We're still cooking outdoors and sneaking in a some late night swimming while the weather still allows. To that end, we'll be featuring the Summer Kitchen next week but in the meantime, here's what we're up to:

• We're digging the pool-side set up at The Graham in the Catskills.
• Keep refreshed with Iced Ginger Hibiscus Tea.

• Jasper Conran recently took over the helm from his father at Conran and we love the newly revamped Conran Shop on Marylebone High Street, (the Brompton Cross store got a makeover last year). Photograph by Paul Raeside via Wallpaper.
• Relationship challenged? Check out 40 Days of Dating. Two friends living in New York try dating each other for forty days—couple's therapist included.
• Stacey is eyeing the clothing and product created by design duo Airi Isoda and Ryan Upton of wrk-shp.

• What we're making: Five Herb Pesto.
• Sarah's checking out the new mag Cherrybombe—a good mix of women and food.
• 27 ways to decorate your walls—Casasugar's Insta-Inspiration tells you how.

• House or sculpture? Korean modern via Yatzer.

Imagine a trunk full of premium kitchen essentials compiled to represent the best kitchen tools a cook could ever desire. This is exactly what Isabelle Mathez and Frederic Winkler set out to do, after their daughter threatened to poach their heirloom kitchen utensils prior to leaving home. Each product was curated for its exceptional quality, functionality, and beauty. Are any of your favorite kitchen items part of the Malle W. Trousseau kitchen set? For more information, visit Malle W. Trousseau. 

Above: The Malle W. Trousseau Kitchen Set is $5,800 from the MoMA store ($5,220 for members).

Above: The set includes 43 kitchen essentials (for cutting, cooking, and storage). The apron is designed by Malle W. Trousseau (inspired by a blacksmith apron) and is made from calf leather in France.

Above: The cast iron casserole with the signature wooden handle (designed by Timo Sarpaneva) made the cut.

Above: The mixing bowls are made in Denmark (since 1941) and are famous for their functionality (designed by Sigvard Bernadotte in 1949).

Can you spot the Iron Spice Grinder in the second photo? Learn more about it in one of our Kitchen posts.

What you don't see can be as important as what you do see. Case in point: electrical outlets. This is especially true in kitchens, where space is tight and power needs are great. Reduce visual clutter by hiding your outlets in an unused spot: under the cabinets.

Are you as obsessed with hiding outlets as we are? Share your clever hiding spots in the comment section below.

Above:  Eric Pike, the Creative Director at Martha Stewart Living, wanted to keep the counters of his small Manhattan kitchen as clear as possible. He keeps appliances behind doors and concealed the electrical outlets under the upper cabinets. Image via Martha Stewart. (See Alexa's Steal This Look: Eric Pike's Glamorous NYC Bath for another glimpse inside his space.)

Above:  In a small kitchen remodel in Seattle, NW Homeworks removed all outlets from the backsplash and hid them under the cabinets to create a clean, uncluttered feel.

Above: Created for residential use, Wiremold offers a variety of options including the Plugmold Hard Wired Tamper-Resistent Kit that comes complete with all the fittings, connectors and mounting hardware needed for full installation. It measures 36-inches in length and has six tamper-resistent outlets ideal for kitchen applications including under-cabinet, backsplash, islands, or work counters; $129.97 for the stainless steel kit at Amazon. Plugmold Tamper Resistent Multi-Outlet Strips are available in several sizes and finishes (including stainless, aluminum, white, black, ivory and gray) at Crescent Electical Supply.

Above: Don't have upper cabinets? Multi outlet strips can be places discreetly under counter overhangs or open shelving. Here outlet strips are installed at the end of a kitchen island.  Image via Leite's Culinaria.

Above: Even if you are not undertaking a renovation soon, multi-power outlets are an easy solution if you are short on outlets. No hardwiring required with the WIremold 52-inch Multi-Power Outlet System with Cord that features 8 Outlets and a 6-foot cord. Simply mount, plug into an existing power source, and you're done; $44.97 at Amazon.

Above: Some favor angled power strips that are placed at the intersection of the upper cabinets and the backsplash. While not completely hidden, they are easy to access and still create a clutter-free backsplash. The Task Lighting Angled Power Strip is $174.99 at Lighting Universe. Available in several finish options.

Above: Combine under cabinet power with a light source. The Plugmold Power Light features four outlets and a light; $40.76 at Home Depot.

For more solutions to unslightly sockets, see our earlier features on Recessed Outlets and Pop-up Outlets.

Cofounded by Colorado-based Beau Wynja and Meggan Fadden Wynja, the Color Cord Company offers offers pendant light cords in dozens of colors as well as sockets (including brass and porcelain), pendant cord conversion kits, and more. Everything you need to unleash your inner lighting designer. See the whole line at the Color Cord Company.

Above: The Pendant Light Cord Set in Black & White Multi is $25.

Above L: The Pendant Light Cord in neon yellow is $25. Above R: The Pendant Light Cord in red is $25.

Above L: The Pendant Light Cord in silver is $25. Above R: The Pendant Light Cord in hot pink is $25.

Above L: The Pendant Light Cord in houndstooth is $25. Above R: The Pendant Light Cord in mint green is $25.

Shortly after Abby Weintraub and Matt Manfredi bought their 1941 Hancock Park house, they watched it gobble up their savings: new roof, furnace, pipes, wiring, and air conditioning. Faced with a cramped kitchen last touched in 1984 by Laura Ashley-loving former owners, they waved an SOS sign and architect Barbara Bestor came to their rescue.

Bestor didn't flinch at the couple's request for a total transformation on a relative shoe string. Instead, she took a look around the house, which the couple term "Hollywood Georgian," and made some masterful room reassignments. She designated the unneeded formal dining room the family room—the couple has two young kids and a casual, all ages approach to entertaining.

Meanwhile, a small den morphed into the dining room, and by taking down a wall between it and the kitchen, Bestor created an open-plan cooking and eating setup that makes both spaces feel bigger and brighter.

Lastly, she oversaw a gut renovation of the kitchen itself, mindful of the couple's desire for a clean, high-functioning setup that looks entirely at home in a period house: "We took the elements of a lovely 1940s kitchen and rebuilt them for now," says Barbara. The couple—she's a graphic designer specializing in books; he's a screen writer and an avid cook—are East Coast transplants who thoroughly appreciated the new old-fashioned details and practicality. "Barbara is known for her California look, but she grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and she has a real New England sensibility," says Abby. 

 Photographs for Remodelista by Jessica Comingore

 Above: Barbara Bestor preserved the kitchen's original steel-framed casement windows and added more. This one is new—it came from Torrance Steel Window Co.—and opens up views to the expansive backyard. "It's true that steel windows are more expensive than wood," says Barbara, "but they offer a very different effect in important ways: size of mullions, flat profile, and continuity with the period of the house." As for the kitchen faucet, after a long hunt for the right design that wouldn't take months to arrive, Abby found their Axor Montreaux bridge model by Hansgrohe on Amazon. 

 Above: Instead of a space-hogging island, the new kitchen has a Carrara-marble-topped peninsula that serves as a breakfast counter and holds a six-burner Aga stove (surprisingly less expensive, the couple found, than the equivalent from Viking or Wolf.) The pendant light is a 1969 Verner Panton design from LA's A + R Store that comes in 10 colors.

Above: The kitchen is open to the dining room carved out of what had been a tiny den clogged with deep bookshelves and too many doors (some were closed up and all remaining door frames got streamlined). The bentwood Bento Chairs are by Swedish group Form Us With Love and came from the A + R Store.

 Above: On a dining room wall, Bestor inserted a porthole window that frames the dining room's Tom Dixon bronze copper shade pendant, and provides a glimpse of the backyard from the front foyer. "I wanted to have a visual connection with the outside but a traditional window would have looked like a mistake," says Bestor. "The circle reads like a mirror and preserves a sense of privacy. It's more Magic Castle than Barcelona Pavilion."

 Above: A detail of a ship painting by Duncan Hannah on the mantel, the den's lone feature that was preserved.

 Above: White painted poplar cabinets were designed to look, as Bestor puts it, "sort of old-new." The upper cabinets have glass fronts that lend a lightness and prevent the tight space from feeling crowded. In keeping with the traditional look, the counter is polished Carrara marble. 

 Above: Faceted craftsman-style wooden cabinet pulls were sourced from Nice Knobs.

 Above: The steel framed windows are painted Black Bean from LA company Dunn-Edwards Paints.

 Above: A washer and dryer are sequestered at the far end of the kitchen, where they're on hand but not visible from most views. The oak flooring matches the original floors in the rest of the house. Barbara and Abby both credit the overall success of the remodel to a first-rate crew headed up by contractor, David King of DTK Builders in Los Angeles.

 Above: Whenever anything was deemed too expensive, Barbara pulled a new trick out of her bag. This desk is made from Ikea dark butcher block sanded and stained to look like teak. "It's one of the most commented-on features in the kitchen," says Abby. "Everyone loves the wood and asks what it is."  The cabinet above it has a built-in nook for a microwave.

 Above: The walls are tiled in outsized subway tiles—6"-by-12" Northern Lights tiles in Dover White from Mission Tile West.

Above: The peninsula that extends from the counter is detailed with a handy bookshelf for cookbooks.

Above: The fridge—a 48" Kitchen Aid—stands discreetly at the back of the kitchen.

Above: A gloomy glimpse of the setup B.B.B.—Before Barbara Bestor.

 Above: Formerly sectioned off behind closed doors, Bestor opened up the backstairs. They're painted a glossy black and outfitted with a pole bannister in Benjamin Moore Bumble Bee Yellow—no nonsense New England, points out Abby, with a hit of sunny California.

More easy kitchen takeaway? Check out our ideas-packed kitchen gallery.

Since we first posted on designers Saana and Olli (of Sanna ja Olli), we've been curious about their cottage and working studio in Padasjoki, Finland. As it turns out, thanks to a sneak peak into Finnish magazine Deko's feature on their home, it's as infectiously charming as the couple themselves. The kitchen and dining room are full of design ideas to take away from so we've sourced the key elements (and hard-to-find light fixture) below. 

For more on Saana and Olli's textile designs see our previous post, Hemp Textiles with a Nordic Edge.

Above: Nordic fabrics include a tea towel from the couple's own line as well as eclectic cookware and accessories. Photograph via Deko Magazine.

Above: Over the midcentury picnic table hangs a glass pendant and a himmeli mobile. Photograph via Deko Magazine.

Above: Saikai Toki's Enamel Pot is coated in a blue, heat-resistant enamel with a large rectangular handle, removable top lid and holds 50 ounces; $135 from Steven Alan Home.

Above: A pair of Kuksa Finnish Camping Mugs hang near the stove in Saana and Olli's kitchen. The Kuksas are hand carved from Arctic birch burl and boiled in salt water for 12 hours (to treat the wood); each mug comes with a reindeer leather handle. Currently available through Nordic Art Store on Amazon for $29.99 each. We first wrote about the mugs during the holidays in 2011.

Above: Ferm Living's Triangle Tea Towel in black and white are handprinted on 100 percent organic cotton for €8.80 each.

Above: West Elm Market's Kitchen Cleaning Pot Brush is made from beechwood and synthetic fibers and is currently on sale; $4 each.

Above: Ferm Living's house-shaped Cutting Board 4 is modeled after the view seen from Rundetårn, Copenhagen, and made from oiled oak wood; $66.76 from Ferm Living.

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. For more, see 10 Easy Pieces: Simple Kitchen Wall Clocks.

Above: Designed by Yki Nummi in 1960, the Skyflyer Lamp is also known in Finland by the name of Lokki (Seagull) and is made from white acrylic and a steel chair; the shade measures a width of 70cm and height of 32cm; €395 from Finnish Design Shop.

Above: From their Maailman Synty collection, Saana and Olli's Yö Metsässä Table Runner measure 45 by 45 centimeters and is made from European 100 percent hemp fabric manufactured in Finland; €45 each and ships worldwide from Sanna ja Olli.

Above: You can sleuth out a Midcentury Teak Picnic Table like this one from Amsterdam Modern at online retailers like Midcentury LA and 1st Dibs. We first posted on indoor picnic tables when we spotted the ideas in the home stylist Nikole Harriott's house in Design Sleuth: Indoor Picnic Table.

Above: Brahms Mount's Cotton Herringbone Throw is made in Maine from slate gray or navy cotton thread and measures 50 by 72 inches; $220 each from Alder & Co. in Portland, Oregon. For more options, see 10 Easy Pieces: Lightweight Cotton Blankets and for colder months, Winter Wool Blankets.

Looking for more Scandi kitchen inspiration? See our previous posts on Annaleena's Swedish Kitchen and Emma Persson Lagerberg's Mint Green Kitchen.

Years ago, Bosch set a new standard for American dishwashers. Slowly but surely, other manufacturers caught on and caught up, offering consumers several options in the high-end dish cleaning department. Now, with a complete redesign of their dishwasher line, Bosch may have us considering a replacement of that aging and inefficient dishwasher. Or, at least putting their new models high on the kitchen remodel list. 

Upgrades across the Bosch 300-, 500-, and 800-series models include technological advancements that increase quietness, a larger tub design with increased loading capacity, rack enhancements, and improved energy efficiency. The dishwashers are manufactured in New Bern, North Carolina (for more home-grown appliance options, see our earlier feature: 13 American-Made Appliances).  

Are you attached to your dishwasher? Please weigh in with your experience in the comments section below. 

Above: Bosch completely redesigned their dishwasher's interior with a larger stainless tub and concave interior door, allowing for larger racks that increase the loading space by 3 inches with the same standard exterior size. This improvement applies to all the Bosch models from the 300 series and up. They also made the second rack adjustable to accommodate stemware and increase flexibility in loading.

Above: The exterior redesign includes three new handle options (shown L to R): recessed handle with angled controls, flush handle with hidden controls, and bar handle with hidden controls. They are also available custom-panel ready with hidden controls. Offered in white, black, and stainless, the Bosch 300 Series Fully Integrated Dishwasher features two racks and four wash cycle options; $759.60 for the stainless model with bar handle (shown above R) at AJ Madison.

Above:  Bosch has added a third rack to its 500-series and 800-series dishwashers, which increases the loading capability by 30 percent. The Bosch 500 DLX Series Dishwasher with a bar handle and in stainless finish (also offered in white and black) is $849.60 at AJ Madison.

Above: The third rack in the 500- and 800-series Bosch dishwashers has a v-shape that enables you to place long-stemmed glasses on the rack below. It can be used as a cutlery tray for your everyday silverware, or you can use the Duo Flex silverware basket on the first rack while using the third rack for larger cooking utensils, shallow pans, and other items that have been traditionally awkward to place in the dishwasher.

Above: At the top of the Bosch dishwasher pyramid is the Bosch 800-Plus Fully Integrated Dishwasher. Its claim to fame is that it is rated the quietest dishwasher in North America (38dBA) thanks to engineering that includes technology for keeping interior spray from hitting the inside of the door and two motors to eliminate drain noise. It includes a third rack, an interior light, and six wash cycles. It's $1,449 to $2,099m depending on finish and handle selections. Available at AJ Madison or a dealer near you.

Explore more Dishwasher Options.

When I first fell for Joshua Vogel's hand-carved spoons, a friend said, "But you can't actually use them." I dismissed this with a breezy, "Of course I can." Since then, I've bought three from the collection, and guess what? I don't use them for cooking; instead they hang on my wall as art. And I couldn't be happier.

The spoons are meant for utilitarian purpose, but for me, they double as just the sort of art I want on my wall. We've noticed the influx of wooden spoons before, but worshiping the new art objects has left us wondering how to display them when they're not in use.

Above: Toronto-based blogger Margaret Oomen designed a chalkboard pegboard to display the variety of wooden spoons she owns in her kitchen; noticed over at Dwell Magazine.

Above: Brooklyn-based woodworker Ariele Alasko hangs a hand-carved, sanded ,and beeswax-finished Walnut Hanging Spoon in her studio; contact Alasko for ordering information. And see her workplace at A Sculptor Turned Furniture Maker in Brooklyn.

Above: On display in Spitalfields (sitting in the window carving for eight hour stretches) is spoon carver Barnaby Carder who made this custom rack to display his wares; for more see our post A Spoon Carver in Spitalfields.

Above: A trio of objects hand carved by Joshua Vogel at Blackcreek Mercantile. The individual pieces (a Turkish-style flatbread tool and two spoons from the 365 collection) present a variety of unexpected forms; available at March in San Francisco.

Above: Six spoons arranged by size in the Balcombe house in West Sussex from Shoot Factory.

Above: Spoons hang from heavy thread in the home of artist June Schwarcz's home in Sausalito visited by Catherine Bailey of Heath Ceramics via AT.

Above: Sets of wooden spoons hang in geometric patterns on the wall at Persephone Bakery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, photographed by Blair Friedeman of Delight by Design.

Above: When searching for soulful kitchen items, one cannot pass up stylist Nikole Harriot's Harriot Grace, her online shop stocking items like her hand carved spoons shown here.

If wood is not your prefered medium, see all our Tableware items ranging from enamel to ceramic in our Shop section.

Scandinavians in New York have their own underground circuit of home-away-from-home hangouts. There's Scandinavia House, a multi-story cultural center with a birch tree-decorated modernist cafeteria (and much better Swedish meatballs than Ikea). It's hidden on an overlooked stretch of Park Avenue at 38th Street. There's the Mirjam Bayoumi Salon on East 78th Street in Yorkville, which, according to devotees, is the only place in town that knows how to properly highlight blonde hair—those of you who are obsessed with creating Scandianivian-style pale wood floors will immediatetly understand the complexities and pitfalls of the task. And tucked out of sight at 5 East 48th Street, there's Svenska kyrkan, the Swedish Church in New York, which has an all-white chapel and a homey cafe serving kaffe and Swedish newspapers; it's a secret haven just inches from the madness of Fifth Avenue. 

Aamanns-Copenhagen is the newest Nordic arrival. 

Photography by Marta S. McAdams.

Above: With its painted exterior advertising sild (herring), snaps (schnapps), rugbrød (brown rye bread), postij (pate), and aeg (eggs), the restaurant feels as if it was teleported straight from Denmark. It's located in the Tribeca Filming Building on Laight Street, a quiet, cobblestoned stretch just below the west side of Canal Street.

Above: Aamanns-Copenhagen was opened by Sanne Ytting, a native of Denmark who felt the flavors of her country were under-represented in Manhattan. She collaborates on the menu with celebrated Copenhagen restaurateur Adam Aamann, the man who made open-faced sandwiches chic again. All the pickling, smoking, curing, and bread baking is done in-house, and the offerings change every three weeks. Nordic dinners and Sunday brunch have just been added to the lineup. 

Above: The restaurant seats 50 on classic Arne Jakobsen chairs from Fritz Hansen. The space was designed by Anders Busk Faarborg of Fobsi Studio in Copenhagen as a white-on-white showcase of modern and contemporary Danish style.

Above: The house speciality is smørrebrød, open-faced sandwiches made from dense brown rye bread artfully piled with ingredients. The chef went to great lengths to ensure that the bread tastes as richly malted and nuanced as it does in Denmark.

Above: Roast beef with remoulade, fresh horseradish, and onion rings.

Above: The aquavit is housemade and served in Holmegaard glasses. It's infused with flavors like beet and apple-walnut, leading The New Yorker's reviewer to comment: "It remains to be seen what kind of foot traffic dill aquavit will attract." 

Above: The revolving art display comes from Galleri Oxholm in Copenhagen. Shown here, Circuit by Peter Max-Jakobsen.

Above: The micro brews on tap are from Brookyn's Evil Twin Brewing, owned by Danish transplant Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso.

Above: Plates and bowls are by Danish designer Anne Black. Water bottles are from Sort of Coal in Copenhagen; each comes with a stick of Japanese-style binchotan, a high-grade charcoal that acts as a natural purifier and turns tap water into mineral water.

Hungry for more? See our album of Scandinavian design, both in and out of Scandinavia.

A Remodelista reader clued us in to Borough Furnace, a Syracuse, NY-based blacksmith that makes hand-forged cast iron skillets. Founded in 2011 by cousins John Truex and Jason Connelly, the company began with the backing of 193 Kickstarter investors.

Using their windfall, John and Jason built the custom Skilletron, a barrel-sized metal melting furnace that burns waste vegetable oil at 3000°F to melt scrap iron. "By using old fryer grease to fuel our furnace, we eliminate the massive energy consumption of a typical metal casting operation," the cousins say. "We only use recycled iron as source material, in keeping with our mission to consume as little as possible." It doesn't hurt that the skillets are minor works of art; life-lasting kitchen implements worthy of display. To check availability, go to Borough Furnace.

Above: The Frying Skillet is preseasoned with flaxseed oil; $280.

Above: A detail of the frying skillet. Photo via Serious Eats.

Above: The Braising Skillet is $180. Photo via Serious Eats.

You've chosen the winners in our first annual Remodelista Considered Design Awards—now, come see all 500 entries in our newly created Considered Design Awards Gallery. You can sort by room (see all candidates for Best Kitchen Space, for instance) and comment on individual photos. Let us know what you think!

Be sure to visit Gardenista for a look at all garden design entries in the Gardenista Considered Design Awards Gallery. 

See all 11 winners of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards here, and check out their individual project profiles in our index of All Design Awards Coverage.

For those who prefer a rapid boil for tea and pour-over coffee, we've combed through all the electric tea kettles on the market to find the 10 best (and most attractive).

Above: Designed with aesthetics in mind, Krups' Silver Art Collection features high gloss chrome and contrasting natural wood elements. The BW600 2-Quart Electric Kettle with Stainless Steel Silver Housing has a 360-degree rotational cordless base and the kettle has an outside water level indicator, an automatic and manual shut-off, and anti-scale water filter; $71.99 from Amazon.

Above: Designed by Wiel Arets for Alessi, the Hot.It WA09 Electric Kettle is made from 18/10 polished mirror stainless steel; the inside, handle, and lid are made of thermoplastic resin. Available in white (shown) or black for $205 from Alessi.

Above: The go-to kettle for San Francisco coffee shops Blue Bottle and Ritual Coffee is the Hario. It's electric counterpart, the Hario Buono V60 Power Kettle, has the same design but comes with an electric burner: the long, narrow spout assures precise pouring, has a removable cord, 18/8 stainless steel kettle, and boil-dry protection; $84.95 from Crate & Barrel. Made in Japan.

Above: Bodum's Bistro Electric Kettle, available in cream (shown), lime green, red, or black, has transparent, double-walled glass that is both heat- and acid-resistant borosilicate glass (a.k.a lab glass); €129 from Connox. Alternatively, the Bodum 11451-913US 17-Ounce Electric Water Kettle is made from BPA-free plastic and stainless steel with a similar shape for $39.95 from Amazon.

Above: For a classic look, Cuisinart's RK-17 Traditional Electric Kettle is cordless and finished in stainless steel with a nonslip handle and anti-splatter spout. While the model is discontinued through Cuisinart, you can still secure a few from Overstock (link above) or Amazon for $59.99.

Above: The Breville Variable-Temperature Electric Kettle has five preset brewing temperatures (green, white, black, and ooling tea, French press, and boil) and a "hold temperature" feature to keep water at the selected temperature for 20 minutes. The kettle is brushed stainless steel, has a safety shut-off feature and removable scale filter; $129.95 from Sur La Table.

Above: Dualit's Cordless Jug Kettle (shown in white) has a rapid boil concealed element and laser-cut lime scale filter inside and water indicator outside; made from stainless steel with plastic handle and design elements; $109.99 from Target.

Above: The Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTempt 1.7-Liter Electric Kettle is cordless with a concealed heating element, made from stainless steel, and has a blue backlit water window; $83.99 from Amazon.

Above: The Dualit Architect Jug Kettle is of commercial quality with a stainless steel body and interchangeable, screw-on colored panels to customize the kettle with. The kettle has a cordless, 360-degree base and a blue water level indicator light on the side; £79 from Lakeland.

Above: The Breville Crystal Clear Water Boiler is made from German Schott glass for durability, is BPA free, and has a safety auto shut-off and boil dry protection for unwatched pots; $99.99 from Zappos.

Prefer the stovetop method? Shop our previous post: 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Tea Kettles for more.

Our friend Mimi Giboin just got back from a trip to France (she was visiting her parents, who live in the town of Royan on the southwest coast). Lucky for us; she pulled out her camera and took some snaps of an out-of-the-ordinary herb stand run by Christine Bouquet (yes, that's her name) at the local farmer's market.

"Christine's stall is bit disheveled, in a good way," Mimi says. "The herbs she offers, you just don't find them anywhere else in the market. She specializes in seasonal and forgotten varieties of herbs, spices, and heirloom tomatoes. Christine's mother raised and sold flowers, and Christine worked alongside her throughout her school years. She ended up buying her grandparents' farm, and now she runs an organic herb, vegetable, and spice garden. She works from dawn until dusk; she's on a mission to make us comfortable using foreign flavors in cooking."

Christine can be found at the Central Market Royan, facing the boulevard Aristide-Briand; on the weekend off-season and daily in season.

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Remodelista.

Above: Christine's stand, laden with her herbal harvest.

Above: Braided garlic bulbs hanging from a pole.

Above: Mint and sage on display.

Above: Christine at her stand.

Above: Christine stacks wooden crates to display her produce.

Above: A wheat sheaf braided around the head of a garlic flower.

Above: One of Christine's favorites, salicornia, is a briny, crunchy succulent that grows in the regional marshes. We recently spotted salicornia at Far West Fungi in San Francisco's Ferry Plaza, and you can occasionally source it at Earthy Delights. For a Sea Bean Salad recipe, go to Honest Food.

Above: An array of tomatillos.

Above: Vintage scales used for weighing produce.

Above: L'hélichrysum Italicum, a flowering plant of the daisy family, or what Christine calls the "curry plant"; she uses it in Indian cooking.

Think of all the households with McCormick spices sitting on the shelves. That's not you; you're going to grow your own herbs and dry them for future use. How? With a wrought-iron herb dryer (similar to the Cox & Cox Herb and Flower Dryer) from Burgon & Ball:

Above: The Harvest Herb Dryer is made from hand-forged steel that is powder-coated in matte black; £10.95 directly from Burgon & Ball; also available through Tinder.

Above: The dryer comes with six hooks.

Above: For drying herbs from the garden or the market, the herb dryer can hang from wall bracket or an S hook (included).

For more herbal solutions, see our other posts on Gardenista: An Herb Dryer Rack for Harvest Season, A Clever Kitchen Herb Rack from Austria, and a DIY Video on Rehabbing Your Herb Garden. 

In an episode of The French Chef, Julia Child famously called American rolling pins "toys" and tossed one to the back of the set. She proceeded to introduce her audience to real French rolling pins. Favored by pasty chefs for their precise control and ease of applying even pressure, French rolling pins have no handles and are tapered on the ends. The tapered shape allows you to easily pivot the pin to create a nearly perfect round shape. 

Available in a variety of hardwoods, French rolling pins are not something you need to hide. Like Julia, you can store these display-worthy pins out in the open (hers were kept in a copper stock pot on top of a counter). Here are a few of our favorites:

Above: Furniture maker Michael Robbins offers a collection of rolling pins that he makes by hand in an old barn in the Hudson Valley. Available in a range of hardwoods including cherry, ash, white oak, black walnut, sycamore, and maple, the Michael Robbins Small Tapered Pin is 18 inches long and 1.25 inches in diameter. The Michael Robbins Large Tapered Pin is 20 inches long and 1.75 inches in diameter; $62 and $72 respectively.

Above: Crafted in their studio in Burlington, Vermont, the Vermont Farm Table French Taper Rolling Pin is 19 inches long and 1.75 inches diameter in the center. Available in maple, cherry (as shown), walnut, and tiger maple, the solid wood pin is dipped in food-grade mineral oil; $30 to $40 depending on wood.

Above: From the Canadian father-daughter woodworking team of Herriott Grace, the hand-turned Oak Fine Rolling Pin has slightly tapered ends and is $80.

Above: Hand crafted of kiln-dried maple wood, grown and milled 10 miles from the Indiana factory where the pins are made, the Whetstone Woodenware French Rolling Pin is a generous 22 inches long and 1.75 inches in diameter; $23.95. 

Above: Designed and crafted by Jordon Tomnuk out of his Edmonton, Alberta, shop, the Tomnuk French Rolling Pin is available in FSC-certified walnut or maple, and features a brass tube insert for hanging; CAD$84 at On Our Table (ships to Canada, the US, and international destinations).

Above: Made in Maine of rock maple, the long and slender Williams Sonoma Tapered Rolling Pin measures 20 inches long and 1.25 inches in diameter; $14.95.

For more display-worthy wooden kitchen tools, see Alexa's Favorite Wooden Spoons.