Continuing in the tradition of grand Parisian cafes, where writers and existentialists held court, Craft Cafe, near the newly chic Canal Saint-Martin, provides a workspace and hangout spot for the creatively inclined. Plus, good design, good coffee, and high-speed wifi. Photos via Cafe Craft.

Above: The simple exterior could be mistaken for a bookstore.

Above: The interiors, designed by Paris-based Pool, hew to a black and white palette.

Above: Stationery supplies on offer.

Above: Long communal tables encourage collaboration.

Above: Brooklyn-style lattes.

Above: Pool designed the Vulcain marble-based lamps with brass turnkeys; for information, go to La Chance.

Above: A detail of Craft's tiled floors.

For another intellectually oriented hangout, see Alain Botton's School of Life in London.

Working with only 1,000 square feet of living space on three floors in Itami, Japan, Yo Shimada of Tato Architects works the classic Japanese Smart and Skinny with his own set of tools, two well-positioned staircases and built-ins that behave like furniture. 

Two separate staircases in one small 11-foot-wide house may seem illogical and space-hogging until you see the careful choreography Shimada executes as the placement of each staircase in the middle of the rooms creates functional and open spaces on both sides, allowing architectural elements (stairs, laundry space, closets and handrails) to seemingly dance by under the guise of furniture.

Above: An open metal stair between the second and third floor means the second floor can feel like one open loft space.

Above: The stair from the first floor to the second separates the kitchen from the dining room. 

Above: The dining room table floats over the stair opening and becomes a work surface in the kitchen. 

Above: The kitchen has the efficiency of a galley kitchen without feeling closed in.

Above: The structural handrail supports the dining room table. 

Above: The view from the kitchen to the living area shows a narrow storage cupboard.

Above: A coffee table and a set of drawers that appear to be pulled out from a dresser act as treads. 

Above: The emphasis in the small space is on openness. 

Above: The metal stair splits the floor plan into neatly allocated zones on either side. 

Above: The deck is open to the sky while reading as an seamless extension of the third floor.

Above: The open storage of the kitchen becomes the glazed wall of a stairwell.

Above: By using the dining table as a bridge, the stair opening is integrated into the space.

Above: The stair descends into a closet full of drawers for storage.

Above: The closet/stair does not reach the ceiling allowing light from above to come down.

Above: The closet/house is wrapped in corrugated metal.

Above: A 3-D model of the house and its level changes.

Intrigued by living in an tall and narrow house? See 10 Favorites: Smart and Skinny Houses in Japan for more. 

When you ask book enthusiast Erik Heywood about his new shop in Oakland's Temescal Alley, he'll first tell you: "We are not a bookstore, that's not really what we're doing. We're here to encourage people to go to bookstores, visit libraries and live with books." A champion of book culture, Heywood offers a rotation of rare book stock in a used book setting. "A bookstore is such an archetype that people walk in freighted with expectations," he says. "Some come in and love it and others require more explanation," says Heywood. "Now, with the internet, what's the point of going to a bookstore when you have a specific title in mind?" Book/Shop offers a selection of 80 books on rotation, vintage books, and rare editions to expose you to something you didn't actually have in mind.

With a background in interior design in New York (he specialized in retail concept shops), Heywood took on the interior himself. "It was all me," he says. "The walls were soaked with dark blue paint, so the space was like a tiny coffin." Heywood painted everything white to show off the individual books and to avoid the dark, dusty atmosphere that some people associate with bookstores. In addition to books, you'll find well-chosen vintage furniture, limited edition products, tabletop bookshelves, bookends, and canvas sleeves. Heywood's delight around book culture is infectious: a visit to Book/Shop will inspire you to get out all your old books, cleaning, displaying and reading them for hours.

N.B.: For more with Heywood, see Ask the Expert: Erik Heywood Talks Books.

Photography by Marielle Hayes for Book/Shop.

Above: A hand-painted sign designed by Heywood.

Above: "The shop was originally painted in a dark grayish-blue, so it took six coats of paint to cover," Heywood says. Today, white painted wood shelves serve as display against the wood wall.

Above: The Ballast Bookbag is a collaboration with Ken Nishijo, a Tokyo-based cabinet maker and bag builder. The canvas is made on looms imported to Japan from Belgium in the 1930s and the pale leather handles from the best tanners in Tokyo; $279.

Above: Inside the book bag is a hand screened motto from Book/Shop about book-carrying.

Above: Heywood sells useful products like Absorene Book Cleaner ($17), which brightens and cleans paper.

Above: The display shelves were built by Heywood using materials sourced from the hardware store; elevated DIYs abound.

Above: "We only keep maybe 80 books at a time, and there's something new every time you come," says Heywood. The selection of books in-store differs from those online.

Above: Heywood's SSB-1 Bookshelf packs flat and slots together for instant set up; shown here in the shelf in a walnut ply; $139 each. For more, see A Tabletop Bookcase for Small Spaces.

Above: Stay updated on events in the shop and editorial features like the various Summer Reading Lists from notable creatives on Book/Shop's blog.

Location of Book/Shop in Oakland:

This summer, with the imminent arrival of my teenage sons' out-of-town friends, the thought of all those wet towels, clothes, and bathing suits on the floors prompted me into immediate action. “Provide them with as many hooks as possible,” I thought to myself, “like the Shakers, who hang everything from pegs, including chairs.” My designer brain started to whir away and before I knew it, I had envisioned Shaker pegs rails running around all four walls in every bedroom—bespoke, long lead time (summer would be over!), and without a doubt, too expensive. It was time for compromise.

In my search for lengths of Shaker peg rails that would allow me to maximize the available space on my walls, I discovered I could order them in increments of 6 inches (recommended peg spacing) from Peg and Rail in Highland, Michigan. I proceeded to order 54 feet of Shaker peg rails in varying lengths for every bedroom as well as my back hall. The 10 rails arrived within a week of my order, resulting in clutter-free floors for the rest of the summer. They may not have been custom made by a carpenter, but they're utterly serviceable (and sanity saving). Go to Peg and Rail for more information.

THE INSPIRATION

Above: A while back, we became obsessed with Ilse Crawford's designs for High Road House in London (see Steal This Look: Ilse Crawford Shaker-Inspired Bedroom).

Above: Another of our favorite inspirational spaces: London stylist Twig Hutchinson wraps a bespoke rail of Shaker pegs around her studio and summerhouse. See House Call: Summerhouse on Lorn Road to see the rest of Hutchinson's studio. Photo via Light Locations.

Above: Shaker pegs in the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Kentucky; photo via Designtripper.

THE IMPLEMENTATION

Above: As a result of the 8-foot length of rail that I installed in the master bedroom, my husband and I became neater as well. While sweaty tennis clothes and damp bathing suits hang from the teens' pegs, I displayed my favorite pieces of clothing, like this artist's smock from MHL. See Artist Style: 7 Studio-Inspired Smocks for some of our other favorites. Photograph by Christine Chang Hanway.

Above: I purchased my Shaker peg rails from Peg and Rail, who offer a shelf and various finish options. We went for the shelf option, which allows us to display art without having to commit to hanging it.  Photograph by Christine Chang Hanway.

The shelves on our rails freed up the way we think about displaying our artwork. See The New Art Gallery: Paintings in the Kitchen for more ideas. 

When Canteen owner Brian Heck hired Von Tundra to design the interiors of his vegetarian cafe, the goal was "to appropriate the language of mobility" (as a nod to Heck's Sip juice and smoothie carts). Portland, Oregon-based design collective Von Tundra (consisting of Dan Anderson and Chris Held, classmates at Oregon College of Art and Craft) looked to the Shakers for inspiration, creating a wrap-around peg system from which they suspended menus, storage cubbies for provisions, and even magazine racks.

For more, go to Canteen.

Above: The cafe's exterior is painted a deep dark gray; photo by Michael A. Muller for Kinfolk.

Above: Von Tundra devised a mastermix of outdoor seating: cedar stumps, concrete cylinders, wood tables, metal office stools, plus one "big-ass cedar log."

Above: A trio of industrial cage pendant lights provides interior illumination.

Above: A curved, polished marble bar.

Above: Von Tundra created cafe-style built-in banquette seating.

Above: A blackboard menu suspended from a peg.

Above: Custom magazine racks.

To see more, go to Von Tundra in Portland, Oregon.

Back when he was looking for housing for his newly rescued miniature pincher, Peter Pracilio was uninspired by the "jail-like" or "obtrusive" crates then on the market. Thus the grad student in industrial design at Pratt set about forging his own doggy digs, and a business was born: GO!PETDESIGN. 

Today the part-time product design professor can be found in his Brooklyn-based studio, which he runs with his girlfriend, Leonora. Here Peter conceives and makes by hand original accommodations and accoutrements for design-savvy pets and their people. Being a responsible pet owner himself (Peter now has three dogs, or "product testers"), Peter ensures that each GO!PET product is built to last from pet-safe, US-made, and reclaimed materials.

Above: "Attention all four-legged personnel! Your barracks have been upgraded." So writes Peter of his Field Tents, available in two styles: one made from heavy duty canvas that is hand dyed in orange or fucshia ombre, and another inspired by vintage military designs made from waxed canvas. Both are available in 26 inches, good for sheltering smaller pets (cats and toy breeds) in style, or 30 inches; $200 and $300. For purists, a plain canvas tent is also available. And to cushion your pet, Peter makes a handy Sherpa Fleece to go inside; $50.

Above: Rations-on-the-go can be delivered via GO!PET's field waterproof Field Sink, made from vintage military issue pup tents. Available in tan, olive, and navy; $28.

Above: Meri Mice are made from eco-friendly wool and all natural dyes; $22 for four.

Above: Made from recycled lumber, GO!PET's Ammo Box feeder is styled after vintage ammunitions boxes; $160.

Above: Catnip never looked so good: GO!PET's Scrappy Rats are made from bits of upcycled material from NYC's fashion district; $13 for two. Also available in Pendleton Blanket.

Above: The design that launched it all: Peter's original eiCrates stand in various stages of assembly. As much art as practical pet-crate, each design is hand welded by Peter; $1,100.

Above: In the studio, an array of pet toys and other GO!PET products await packaging.

Above: At GO!PETDESIGN's product tester at work. Image by GO!PETDESIGN via Etsy, where you can read more about Peter's studio in this article.

N.B. And while we're on the subject, stylish pet-owners may wish to check out our other favorites design-savvy accessories for four-legged friends.

My former roommate and I used to call stationery shops "danger zones" because we couldn't leave them without spending all of our grocery budget. The Japanese ones were the worst and would inevitably lead us down the path of another week of ramen dinners. London-based Present & Correct falls into the same category; so danger zone alert: after operating as an online outfit, the shop recently opened a brick-and-mortar outpost on Arlington Way.

Present & Correct owners Neal Whittington and Mark Smith, two graphic designers, wanted the shop to look as similar as possible to the design of their virtual presence; an evolution of the online store. Whittington and Smith built out the store with the same materials they styled their online wares with: birch ply, peg boards, and lots of graph paper. The shop stocks hardworking office essentials like scissors and writing utensils, organizational tools and must-have-but-not-sure-why items like German and Belgian invoice pads (Whittington and Smith travel Europe in search of rare paper ephemera); there's also a stationary vending machine. For more information, visit Present & Correct and see our first piece on their company, Schooled in Stationary.

Photographs courtesy of Present & Correct unless otherwise noted.

Above: Whittington designed all of the furniture, including the counter, and built it along with Smith and Whittington's father.

Above: Each birch ply unit sits on catering castors and some table legs are made from £3 rolling pins from the supermarket that they cut down and screwed on.

Above: A gray painted pegboard displays items such as Brass Scissors with contrasting black rubber rings (£10) and Italian Staplers in blocks of color (£14.50). Photograph via Shopikon London.

Above: Photograph via Shopikon London.

Above: A pair of Big Spanish Brushes that are made in Seville (£11.50 each) sit on a plywood shelf. Photograph via Shopikon London.

Above: An open desk set up with office supplies.

Above: A set of pink and red giant pencils in the shop's window on Arlington Way. Photograph via Shopikon London.

Traveling to London but looking beyond stationery and desk goods? Sift through all our suggestions on Shops in and around London in our City Guides. Staying home? Get busy and Build Your Own Industrial Mod Desk, then grab a Table and Desk Fan, and finally some Precision Desktop Accessories from Spain.

Location of Present & Correct in London:

This week, Michelle and Erin toured a rooftop garden in Rotterdam, shared a fiery (and foolproof) anti-cold elixir, tracked down the world's most beautiful growlight, and visited a nursery school in Manhattan where gardening is part of the curriculum. Oh, and they dropped in on Prince Charles' garden at Highgrove.

Above: Michelle found a rooftop garden in Rotterdam complete with wildflower meadow.

Above: Erin shared her recipe for Fire Cider, which involves a fearsome array of cold-busting ingredients.

Above: Erin tracked down the handblown glass Growlight on display at Spruce, the new Portland, OR, apothecary.

Above: Michelle discovered a nursery school in Manhattan where gardening is part of the curriculum.

Above: And don't forget to consult Gardenista's 10 Best White Exterior Paints guide and to join Kendra on a ramble through Prince Charles' gardens at Highgrove.

Have you ever stepped out of the car (after a traffic-dodging drive from the city) into fresh mountain air, drawn in a deep breath, and felt instantly—miraculously—well, better? The spaces we live in affect us deeply: they impact our behavior and, as a result, our health. Our environment can trigger a stress response (an imprisoning brick wall, stacks of unpaid bills, mounds of dirty laundry) or cue the relaxation response.

As we return to desks, deadlines, homework and cooler weather, let's consider the benefits of bringing a feeling of vacation back with us to our homes, our cubicles, our daily lives. Adding a little nature to our lives is one way to put a few more deep exhales back into the daily grind: a connection to nature, after all, is an essential ingredient of human health and well being. Here are 10 reasons for bringing the outdoors in:

Above: Houseplants in the bedroom of rug designer Cassandra Karinsky in Sydney, Australia, via The Design Files.

1. Plants improve air quality. In the 1980s, NASA discovered that plans can improve indoor air quality. And let's not forget that fresh air helps you sleep: Remember, nature is the original Ambien.

Above: Photograph of yellow mimosa flowers from Cécile Daladier.

2. Fresh-cut flowers in the home boost feelings of happiness. As I stroll through the supermarket aisles, I often wonder: is it worth the extra tally on the grocery bill to buy flowers? They are cheery, no doubt, but they never last long. After reviewing the research, I'm now convinced: it's worth the debit in your happiness account. Studies have shown that flowers reduce depression and increase positive emotion. Read more in Need to Be Productive? Buy Some Flowers on Greatist and Flower Power in Rutgers Magazine.

3. Growing what we eat can help connect to the earth. For urban dwellers, compact edible gardens or a few potted herbs can make a dramatic difference in our culinary experience. After growing a bit of lettuce on our back porch, my children now prefer it to the store-bought variety.

Above: A still life of shells and stones is one of many natural collections at Kettle's Yard in Cambridge.

4. Consider adding a small tree, a rock garden, or a terrarium to your indoor space. A verdant tree, like a Fiddle Fig Leaf, or a small rock garden of collected stones or a terrarium can help set the mind at ease after a hectic day.

5. Getting back to nature can inspire creativity. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, coined the term "nature-deficit disorder" to describe a condition that he says results for our lack of communion with living things. He recommends living in and around natural living things, which boost our creativity, happiness, and health.

Above: A set of herbal tisanes at Babel Restaurant in the Cape Winelands of South Africa.

6. A dose of nature can enhance energy and performance. Atlanta-based interior designer Ginny Magher (full disclosure: Ginny is married to my father, Craig) recommends growing a variety of kitchen herbs in small pots for a quick tisane. She snips fresh basil or thyme into her tea and finds the scent of fresh herbs provides an early morning mood-boost.

Above: A houseplant in a vintage pale blue pot from At Swim Two Birds.

7. Spending time looking at plants can help you heal faster. Nature is natural medicine. In 1984, environmental psychologist Rodger Ulrich conducted a study on gallbladder surgery patients, which proved that those whose rooms overlooked trees healed faster than those who looked at a brick wall. Read more in How Hospital Gardens Help Patients Heal from Scientific American.

Above: A grouping of houseplants in a home office from Hardworking Houseplants; photograph via Home Designing.

8. Spending time around greenery can improve concentration and increase attention span. This benefit holds true for children as well. Studies have shown that children who spend time around plants have better concentration (A "Dose of Nature" for Attention Problems, NY Times). At Waldorf Schools, families are encouraged to build a nature table to reflect the changes in the seasons; children are encouraged to collect "treasures" from the outdoors and display them inside to maintain a connection to the present season.

9. Being in a natural environment can improve memory performance by as much as 20 percent. Dr. Esther Sternber, author of Healing Spaces: The Science of Place and Wellbeing, says that our health extends beyond our physical bodies to include our emotions and the spaces around us. The practice of Feng Shui, the system of harmonizing the human experience with the surrounding environment, echos this same principle.

Above: At (or past) their prime ranunculas and a few potted plants from At Swim Two Birds.

10. Plants require care, which helps to flex our nurturing muscles, making us more compassionate. Caring for life can channel anxiety into an outlet of caretaking and nurturing. In our texting, updating, connected-but-disconnected modern life, we can forget our place in the larger universe; having a life to care for can put it all back into perspective—and again, helps us feel more alive, at ease, and whole.

For more advice on wellness and balance, see more of our Happier at Home posts: 10 Secrets for a Better Night's Sleep, 10 Cures for TechnoStress, and 10 Tips for Happy Housecleaning. 

Last week we focused on offices, closets, all things storage (see last week's Get Organized issue). This week we're ready for something new, so we're scoping out London Design Week; we'll be featuring new hotels and restaurants in London as well as designers who will be showing their work at upcoming events.

Above: Margaret Howell has just opened a new shop for her utility workwear brand MHL on New Cavendish Street in Marylebone. Wasting no time, Christine was one of the first to visit on the lookout for this season's essential item to accompany her favorite MHL dress . 

Above: British-born, New York-based Richard Ostell recently added two new copper pieces to his repertoire of custom furniture, including the Copper Side Table made of solid brass with heavy copper plating and handmade copper brackets.

Above: Alexa has been admiring works by Danish artist Eske Rex, like this exhibition, Measuring Space shown in Copenhagen last year.

Thinking of an exterior overhaul? See a list of architects' top 10 exterior white paints on Gardenista this week.

Design for the oenophiles among us, thanks to Sunset Magazine.

Above: Sarah and Julie's latest source of inspiration? The under-the-radar trend forecasting on tumblr Rue de Beautreillis.

Above: We visted her Brooklyn home last week, now here's a look at Michelle James' storefront on Dering Hall.

Christine has been impressed by the idea of making clouds indoors.

Above: Meredith has been admiring the camping set-up from La Casita's trip in North Somerset.

A brick home in Northern Italy is updated with sustainable, earthquake-resistant materials and includes a photovoltaic ventilated exterior via Inhabitat.

This weekend, Nashville-based architect Marcus Di Pietro ( amember of the Remodelista Architect and Designer Directory) talks about a creating a home out of a love for the land, complete with a piano and three screened porches. He is available for the next 48 hours to answer your questions, so ask away!

Di Pietro’s clients, who had been living in a suburban "McMansion" with their two young sons, wanted a more intimate connection to the land. In pursuit of this dream, they purchased 200 acres of land in a rural farming area outside of Nashville, home to the likes of black angus cattle, horses, and even a few country music song writers. 

For the next five years, they proceeded to live in a 500-square-foot carriage house that they had erected as a stopgap and continued to plan their dream home that would one day be situated seamlessly on the land. Enter Di Pietro, whose own love of the land had brought him back to Tennessee after completing his architecture studies in Michigan.

Sharing his clients’ passion for the surrounding fields and forests, Di Pietro designed a floorplan to look like a series of additions, thus providing many opportunities to meet the clients’ goal of “bringing the outside in and the inside out."

“The country farmhouse was an icon that immediately jumped to mind,” Di Pietro says. “I understood this was going to be a romance with the country, so placing the home masterfully on the land was very important."

Photography by Ruth and Marcus Di Pietro.

Above: The owners lead active outdoor lives and wanted a mudroom as a place to organize gear, bags, and boots. Behind the partition wall is a stainless steel counter and cabinets for sorting mail and packages as well as access to a half bath with a dog washing shower. 

Above: Active antique collectors, the owners repurposed drawers from an old grain bin in a country store into a family recycling center. 

Above: The kitchen features oiled soapstone countertops and country-style kitchen cabinets.

Above: The screened porch off the kitchen is used for year-round outdoor dining because the winters in Nashville can be mild, while the summers are warm and mosquito-filled. The pass-through window facilitates easy serving and clearing up.

Above: Family life is centered around an antique wood table centered in the kitchen. 

Above: Reclaimed Douglas fir timbers bring a farmhouse aesthetic to the new build.

Above: "My favorite part of the project is the wood," Di Pietro says. "The timbers exude such character because no two timbers are ever alike. The joints are handmade mortise and tenon (without metal fasteners) and the craftsmanship adds wonderful personality." 

Above: To accommodate the clients' musical talents and that of their friends, the piano can roll out onto the covered breezeway for large impromptu jazz sessions.

Above: The walls throughout the house are made of solid butt-jointed boards instead of drywall. 

Above: The boards run vertically in the upstairs study because Di Pietro wanted the space to have a connection to the double-height living space visible beyond the interior window.

Above: "My task in the bathrooms was to harmonize the new with the old—antique medicine cabinet, bathtub, sconce, and reclaimed door hardware," Di Pietro says. "Carrara counter tops, bead-board wainscoting, ceramic hextile flooring, and period plumbing faucets finished the simple, understated look."

Above: "The main front porch is intended as the initial welcoming space for visitors," Di Pietro says. "where there is an awe-inspiring view overlooking the pond and Broomsedge covered fields that turn bronze-orange in the winter."

Above: The house was sited partway up a hill, which allows it to take advantage of views while catching cool evening breezes, which come down from the top. "Most of the stone comes directly from the property," Di Pietro says. "I have always been drawn to the old stack stone walls in the South because of their timeworn quality, which I wanted to invoke in this project."

Above: Di Pietro's layout strategy separates the master bedroom suite from the main house by a covered porch breezeway. "It is only a few steps into the outdoors, but it has a huge impact on daily life," Di Pietro says. "One is aware of every change in the weather and season in those few steps."

Above: The interior of the breezeway porch is one of four porches in this project. "It is a bit unusual to build so many porches on a new residence as budget constraints and modern air conditioning usually rule out all but the most modest examples," Di Pietro says. "However, the desire to live indoors/outdoors made them essential."

Above: An outdoor shower off the master bedroom suite responds to the temperate Tennessee climate, where it can be used for three seasons of the year. With 200 acres of land, privacy is guaranteed.

Above: De Pietro's floor plan was designed to look like a series of additions situated seamlessly on the land. 

Thinking about building a porch? See the magic they provide in Porch Appreciation in Connecticut or 5 Favorites: Screen Sleeping Porches. 

If you're lucky enough to be in London this week, you'll want to check out Norwegian designer Lars Beller Fjetland's latest design object, a bentwood and copper (or brass) Cloche Lamp. It's part of the 100 Percent Norway show at Tent London during the London Design Festival, and it's spectacular; to learn more about the designer, visit Beller, and for more on the event itself, go to 100-percent Norway.

Photography by Magne Sandnes.

Above: The copper shade of the Cloche Lamp resembles a blue bell flower. 

Above: The lamp features a cast iron base, a bent ash arm, and a hanging copper or brass shade (shown above is the brass shade).

Above: It can easily be assembled from the three pieces, making it easy to store and transport.  

Above: The Cloche Lamp "explores beauty, weight, and balance, seeking inspiration in some of nature's most elegant and remarkable solutions," says Beller.

Above: Designer Lars Beller Fjetland in his studio in west Norway.

Traveling to London? Make sure to check out our London City Guide for visit-worthy stops. 

Since its launch in 2010, we've been fans of the contemporary craft furniture by UK-based Another Country. We're adding their new bedroom furniture line to our wish list.

Designed by Another Country for UK home retailer Heal's, the Sleep Series (sold at Heal's as the "Craft Series") is an appealing group of sleeping and storage pieces inspired by the functional forms, clean lines and enduring craftsmanship of Shaker furniture. As with other collections, Another Country manages to take this traditional inspiration and make it throughly modern and timeless. 

NB: During this week's London Design Festival, you can visit Another Country at the designjunction show set in a 1960s postal sorting office in Chelsea. They will be launching "Series Three," a collection inspired by Edwardian workshop furniture, as well as a new textile "soft" series.

Above: Another Country's Bedroom Collection features five pieces that work as a group or independently. Made in Portugal of FSC-certified ash wood with Another Country's signature authentic craft detailing: dovetail joints, traditional wood drawer runners, and brushed brass hardware. In the UK, the collection is sold exclusively through Heal's.

Above: Finished with brushed brass feet and a soft natural linen-covered headboard, the Sleep Series Bed Two is available in single, double, and king sizes; £3,200 for the king size.

Above: Designed to sit at the end of the bed, the Blanket Chest Two can live comfortably anywhere; £1,400.

Above: The exposed brushed brass hardware stands in contrast to the cool ash wood. 

Above: Functional and slim, the Tall Boy Two offers maximum storage with a minimum profile. All the storage pieces, including the Tall Boy, feature brushed brass knobs; £3,000.

Above: The craft details really stand out on the diminutive Bedside Table Two. Like the storage chests, the table is designed with a small Arts and Crafts-inspired upright on the back of the tabletop; £1,400.

Above: Chest of Drawers Two features three drawers that grow in size from top to bottom. The top drawer is lockable, and the bottom drawer is sized generously to accommodate large items; £2,500.

Thinking of renovating the bedroom? Visit our Bedroom Room Gallery for more design inspiration.

Here we go again: another Ace Hotel for the design world to obsess over (remember the flurry when the Roman & Williams-designed Ace opened in NYC?). The new buzz-generating Shoreditch outpost features the chain's signature Pacific Northwest grunge-industrial vibe (turntables included). Stay tuned: tomorrow we'll be deconstructing one of the bedrooms in our Steal This Look department.

Located in the overhauled former Crowne Plaza, the interiors have been transformed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby of Universal Design Studio (their offices are two blocks away). And as with his other Ace outposts, founder Alex Calderwood is keeping it local: Much of the furniture is from UK companies Benchmark and Ercol and the carpets come from family-run company Brockway. On the premises: Hattie Fox's That Flower Shop, a juice bar from Lovage, a coffee shop from Square Mile Coffee Roasters, and still to come, Hoi Polloi, a restaurant and bar from the team behind hot spot Bistrotheque.

Go to Ace Hotel Shoreditch for more information. Unless otherwise noted, all photos via Ace Hotel.

Above: The Ace team commissioned lighting made from vintage parts from French company Wo & Wé.

Above: Rooms feature wall murals and installations by Ace artist-in-residence Johnne Eschleman; photo via Monocle.

Above: The hotel's interiors hew to a moody palette of blacks, dark grays, neutrals, with a dash of teal here and there.

Above: A simple schoolroom-like seating area.

Above: Bedrooms feature quilts from French company APC made from denim and fabric scraps.

Above: A bedroom with its own vinyl collection.

Above: Turntables are by British audio company Reva.

Above: Fabric upholstered headboards with convenient storage pockets.

Above: Enamel tumblers from nearby shop Labour & Wait.

Above: Another lighting installation by French company Wo & Wé.

Above: Wall-mounted clipboards display hotel literature.

Above: Bathrobes from Wings + Horns can be purchased from the hotel's shop.

Above: The white-tiled baths have a minimalist vibe.

Take a tour of the Ace Hotel via our past posts (we've visited, and loved, them all):

Yesterday we featured the new Ace Hotel of Shoreditch, London with interiors by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby of Universal Design Studio. Barber and Osgerby, along with the Ace Hotel team, extended the laid-back Pacific Northwest vibe of the original Ace to the UK location, with a few updates: indigo patchwork, perforated metal storage cabinets, a custom raw denim headboard, and chalky black ceilings. Recreate the look with the following elements:

Above: The floors of the bedroom are finished in a low-pile carpet from UK company Brockway.

Above: A few carefully placed industrial elements keep the look subtle throughout the hotel.

Above: A similar style sofa is Room & Board's Clarke Sofa (shown here in an indigo cotton), made from US-sourced fabric in Virginia. The midcentury-inspired sofa has a hardwood frame and comes in a choice of 15 different colors; $2,299. Another option? Pull out the power tools for a DIY: Instant Built-In Day Bed.

Above: Simple Burlap Throw Pillows in a deep mustard yellow are available in a 20-by-20-inch square (shown) and a rectangular lumbar size; $67.95 each through Zazzle.

Above: Bedroom quilts were custom made at A.P.C. using denim and fabric scraps from past collections. The Atlantic Pillow is hand stitched in royal blue over a padded lining and is available for $125 through A.P.C.; read more about the quilt project in our previous post, Piecing Together an A.P.C. Quilt.

Above: From Normann Copenhagen, the Kabino Sideboard is made from perforated gray steel and ash wood and is also available in white steel; $1,050. Alternatively, Strong-Hold Ventilated Storage Cabinets are available for $1,148.93 from Custom Equipment Company.

Above: From Original BTC, the BB1 Aluminum Pendant is designed in the UK from spun aluminum and ceramic and comes with 60 inches of black and white cloth cord for $395 from Horne.

Above: The Parker Mid-Century Round Dining Table is designed out of FSC-certified eucalyptus wood with a walnut veneer top for $499 from West Elm.

Above: Saarinen's Executive Armchair with steel legs and a bouclé or Rivington fabric upholstery is $1,508 from Design Within Reach.

Above: Farrow & Ball's Studio Green in an Estate Emulsion finish gives ceilings a chalky matte look; $92.50 for 1 gallon of paint.

Above: Available at the Ace Hotel shop, the Ace Hotel x Billykirk "Change Is Good" Tray is made from vegetable-tanned leather that is molded, finished, and hand-stitched. Used at Ace Hotel in New York at the front desk, the trays are also fit to sit on a nightstand; $35.

Above: The Lampe Gras Model 304 Sconce Lamp has a cast steel body and a chrome (shown) or black powder-coated finish for $333 from Design Within Reach.

Above: DIY a fabric-covered headboard (including a pocket) like the Ace does using Vintage Selvedge Denim Fabric sourced on Etsy; $95 for 2 yard from Antique Jewelry Supply (find more by searching for denim fabric).

Above: For a similar sleeping experience at home, the Suite Sleep x Ace Hotel Mattress is made from 100 percent natural latex rubber with an organic cotton cover and wool batting. Prices start at $1,428 for the twin mattress through Suite Sleep.

Above: The Signal Blanket is made from pure new wool designed on a dobby loom in London and woven at a traditional mill in Wales. Stitching in midnight blue and white with an olive colored hem; $£225 from Toast.

This isn't the first time we've wanted to recreate the look of an Ace Hotel room. See our previous Steal This Look posts on the Ace Hotel Bath in Portland, Oregon and the Outdoor Lounge in Palm Springs.

It seems you can't walk down a London street of late without encountering a perfectly pulled, barista-blessed flat white coffee—a good cup of tea on the other hand is considerably more elusive. The onetime British staple has fallen by the wayside as coffee has become the drink du jour. To the rescue: avid tea drinker Emilie Holmes, who took it upon herself to remedy the problem. Armed with the mantra "Bringing better cups of tea to the streets of London" and with a decked-out 1974 Citroen H van, and plenty of well-sourced loose leaf, custom-brewed tea, Holmes is bringing back the humble cuppa in a more worthy form. Her van can be found on most week days on King's Boulevard near Kings Cross (and later this week at Somerset House). For more go to Good & Proper. 

Above: Holmes turned to Kickstarter to find financing for her business which included the refurbishment of the 1974 Citroen H van to accommodate brewing essentials like a sink, water boiler and a refrigerator. 

Above: According to Holmes, the secret to great cup of tea is not just sourcing great leaves but also getting the right temperature for each brew.

Above: Tea pots on wooden stands with timers for the brew.

Above: A folding tiled counter on the van.

Above: Crumpets to accompany the tea. 

Above: Emilie Holmes (on the far left) making tea.

Above: The van in action.

Looking to brew a great cup of tea? See out guide to the 10 Best Kettles.

Oxford-based Sarah Matthews was taught to sew by her mother, who, whenever she took a trip into town, always made sure to pick up a few scraps of fabric for her daughter to practice with. Later, Sarah's interests in archaeology and anthropology led her to study ancient and medieval textile practices and material cultures of the world. Her favorite haunt? The rural countryside of Japan, where she admires the rich folk customs and measured way of life. All of these interests inspired her to launch Octavi, her own line of signature textiles and vintage goods inspired by the age-old craft traditions of Japan and beyond.

Above: Octavi's signature boro pillows are hand stitched from antique Japanese indigo cloth; $73.

Above: A detail of two boro cushions shows the individual scraps of Shibori and other fabrics, which are the hallmark of these characterful cloths.

Above: A dark blue boro cloth pillow is made from patched denim; $57.

Above: A cushion is handmade from rare white boro fabric with blue stripes; $73.

Above: East meets West: this dual cushion is fashioned from a panel of hand-dyed antique linen from Germany and a sashiko-stitched light gray linen from Japan; $39.

Above: This one-of-a-kind cushion is made from a remnant of woven indigo fabric from Kyoto; $40.

Above: Octavi's velvet cushion is filled with buckwheat, a natural, sustainable material widely used in Japan; $23.

Above: In addition to pillows, Octavi goods including handmade pouches ($10 to$45), as well as table linens and a curated selection of vintage housewares.

N.B. Seems like indigo is the new black. Are you as obsessed as we are? Check out all our favorites in this inky hue.

We polled members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory to come up with our list of the best gray exterior paints out there. You're done! And if you're thinking of painting your house white, we've got you covered, too: check out 10 Best White Exterior Paints.

Swatch photographs by Katie Newburn for Gardenista. 

Above: Top row, L to R: Benjamin Moore Sag Harbor Gray; ICI Grey Hearth; Dunn-Edwards Vulcan; Benjamin Moore Graphite; Benjamin Moore Bear Creek. Bottom row, L to R: Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain; Benjamin Moore Gravel Grey; Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn; Farrow & Ball Down Pipe; and Benjamin Moore Graystone.

Above: LA-based SIMO Design painted this home in Dunn-Edwards Vulcan, a cool blue-gray and the bluest of the shades in our top ten.

Above: Los Angeles designers Nickey Kehoe Inc. had this house painted in Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain, a dark gray with a rich brown undertone. The shade is also a favorite of SF Bay Area-based Geremia Design and Klopf Architecture. Photograph by Amy Neunsinger.

Above: Chatham, NY-based architect James Dixon chose Benjamin Moore's Sag Harbor Gray for this Hudson Valley farmhouse. The light green-gray is part of Benjamin Moore's historic colors series.

Above: SF Bay Area-based Ana Williamson Architect used Benjamin Moore Graphite on the siding of this modern home; the color is a true dark gray with just a hint of blue. On the trim, Williamson used Benjamin Moore Gunmetal and had the stucco integrally colored to match Benjamin Moore Timber Wolf.

Above: SF Bay Area-based interior designer Kriste Michelini chose Benjamin Moore Bear Creek as her favorite gray. Bear Creek is also rich in brown tones; lighter than Iron Mountain but darker than Grey Hearth. Photograph via Pinterest.

Above: Both LA-based DISC Interiors and SF-based Nicole Hollis chose Farrow & Ball Down Pipe as their favorite exterior gray. The popular color is a complex mix with hints of blue-green. Photograph via Farrow & Ball.

Above: NYC-based architect Alex Scott Porter has used Benjamin Moore Gravel Gray on several house exteriors, including the Maine island home shown here. Gravel Gray is the darkest of the shades we've recommended.

Above: LA-based Kevin Oreck Architect painted this new home in ICI Grey Hearth. 

Above: Interior designer Laura Clayton Baker of LA-based The Uplifters Inc. used Sherwin Williams Peppercorn on this Washington, D.C. home. Peppercorn is the truest gray of those listed here, and pairs well with Clayton Baker's other picks on this exterior: The trim is Sherwin-Williams' Pure White and Tricorn Black, and the door is Benjamin Moore Vermilion in a high gloss finish.

Above: SF-based Klopf Architecture has used Benjamin Moore Graystone on several home exteriors; it's a flattering shade in all kinds of light.

Don't miss our designer-approved outdoor paint picks in white, gray, and black. Here, Architects' White Exterior Paint Picks.

La Petite Bretagne in west London is dedicated to dispelling misconceptions around the crêpe: "they're not filling enough," "not right for lunch," "they're always pre-made," and "just for dessert." Not so, says La Petite, whose crêpes are made with traditional Breton buckwheat.

The charm of both the menu and the mission are matched with interiors designed by Paul Crofts Studio. Inside the crêperie, the floor (half reclaimed French oak parquet, half concrete) extends up to a cast-concrete counter. Across the front of the counter, down the length of a communal table, and repeated across wall shelves are screen-printed designs that nod to the "historical craft of Brittany from where the crêpe originates," says Crofts.

Above: For more information, visit La Petite Bretagne and read more about the project on Dezeen.

Above: In the center of the crêperie sits a large communal table in solid ash. Behind it, the crêpe counter features the same design as the one printed on the table, but abstracted.

Above: The tabletop is screen-printed with illustrator Katharine Gorham's design.

Above: Inside the restaurant is a delicatessen stocking rare and authentic Breton food products.

Above: The screen print on the shelves is a lace design inspired by bonnets from Brittany.

Above: The layout of the restaurant was "designed to evoke the intimate setting of a domestic kitchen or dining room," says Crofts. This was achieved with a large communal table, delicatessen, and an open counter where guests can watch their crêpes being made.

Location of La Petite Bretagne in London:

The danger of designing a custom lighting series for a restaurant? Patrons will start to take note and follow up with demands for production, as was the case with London-based Paul Crofts' Nonla Lamps, which he designed for the interiors of La Petite Bretagne (the crêperie we featured earlier today). The lamps were named after the Vietnamese word for traditional hats of a similar shape and are available individually or as a series of three.

Above: Two sets of three hang over the countertops at La Petite Bretagne in west London; the lights can also be seen at Cornerstone Cafe.

Above: The lamps' popularity convinced Crofts to manufacture them individually. For more information on how to purchase directly, contact Paul Crofts Studio in the UK.

Above: Made from white powder-coated spun aluminum with a CNC (computer numerical control) turned and routed American white oak top.

Above: The lamps are also available in a matte black powder-coated steel with red cords.

On the hunt for kitchen and dining lighting? Shop all our favorite Pendant Lights (those made from powder-coated steel, glass, wood and even leather) in our Shop section.