At Shark Tooth on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, owner Kellen Tucker has been collecting vintage and antique patchwork quilts and over-dyeing them in deep shades of indigo. When I first saw her handiwork, I couldn't decide if it was brilliant or blasphemous to turn all that multicolored work monochrome.

But on closer inspection, I realized that not all is lost in the dye bath. Nuances of color still manage to peek through and, in many cases, the hand stitching appears all the more prominent without the distraction of patterned prints.

Maybe best of all, instead of these quilts languishing in attics, their owners too bashful of their brightly colored spectacle to put them to good use, the dyeing process has made them modern once again. As Kellen says, the goal for this collection is to "restore the usefulness, and temper the kitsch."

Shop the whole collection at Shark Tooth NYC.

Above: An over-dyed floral quilt has a new dignity in a strong solid shade of indigo; $300 at Shark Tooth. Tucker uses only natural dyes, which, in addition to color, add softness to the textiles.

Above: Louise Nevelson would approve: the classic log cabin quilt pattern gets a modern makeover in indigo; $275 at Shark Tooth.

Above: A colorful starburst toned down with a light wash; $425 at Shark Tooth.

Above: Reds and greens and yellows, muted, but not gone.

See Over-Dyed Sling Chairs from Still and Co. for more experiments in super saturated furnishings. To embark on a natural dye project of your own see DIY: Black Walnut Tie-Dye Napkins on Gardenista.

Design firm Roman and Williams have left their mark on lodgings all over New York, including the inventive and buzzing Ace and Standard hotels. The High Line Hotel, which officially opened last week, is one of the most imposing and also the quietest of the duo's designs (most nights, the small lobby is quiet enough for hymn singing). Located in Chelsea in a landmark Gothic building that spans the block on 10th Avenue between 20th and 21st streets, the 60-room hotel occupies what had been until recently a student dormitory belonging to the General Theological Seminary, which still operates in a section of the structure Roman and Williams preserved the spirit of the place while sprucing up the accommodations. Go to the High Line Hotel for more information.

Above: The immense Gothic structure was built for the General Theological Seminary in 1895 (it was formerly an apple orchard on an estate that belonged to Clement Clarke Moore, who wrote 'Twas the Night Before Christmas—and willed tracts of his property to the Episcopal Church.) This photo was taken from the High Line, the elevated rail bed turned urban park, across the street from the hotel. Twenty-two of the 60 guest rooms have views of the High Line.

Above: The red brick landmark retains its soaring stained-glass windows. 

Above: The modest lobby has a tiled floor and zinc coffee bar—New York's only outpost of famed Intelligentsia Coffee of Chicago. Beer, wine, and Champagne are also served (if you arrive before 9 pm), and there are a few chairs for lounging, but it's a low-key spot: guests self check-in via iPad and the management bills the setup as a guest house. There's no restaurant or room service on the premises, and a simple courtyard bar is in the planning stage.

Above: The highlight of the High Line Hotel: the original refectory, Hoffman Hall, a Hogwarts' Dining Hall-like space that spans 3,300 square feet and holds 400 people. It's used for events, including last week's hotel opening party, weddings, and fashion shows—and also still serves as the seminary's weekday lunch room (during which the football-field-size space is filled with round tables for five).

Above: Hoffman Hall's central fireplace is carved with the exhortation "Manners Makyth Man."

Above: The 60 guest rooms range in size from 275 square feet to 500 square feet (shown here). They all have wooden floors with worn Persian and Turkish antique carpets and lamp-topped tables—a nod to dorm style of yore—and many still have their original mantels. The scene-setting custom damask wallpaper behind the bed is a reminder that Roman and Williams began their careers as set designers.

 Above: Another genius Roman and Williams touch: 1928 Western Electric 202 rotary-dial phones (with updated workings) on bedside tables throughout the hotel.

Above: The bathrooms have black-and-white tiled floors and Kohler marble-topped sink stands. We have a hunch the vintage-style lights came from Rejuvenation: see the Rufus two-light wall bracket. We like the way the window frames in the rooms, as well as the mantels, are painted in Stone, a warm gray from Benjamin Moore.

Above: An antique desk and reading lamp in a suite. Vintage furniture was sourced from an estate sale on the Bowery, among other places. Here and there, the 21st century tiptoes into the rooms: note the barely noticeable television screen on the wall. 

Above: Roman and Williams planted every desk with an antique cast-iron embosser for embellishing hotel stationery with a geometric circular design, a pattern taken from the building.

Above: Each of the four suites has a sitting area furnished as if an aesthete priest from a bygone era were in residence.

 Above: In the back of the hotel, stairs lit by a wall of leaded glass lead to the refectory. For details and reservations, go to High Line Hotel. For more on Roman and Williams, see 7 Secrets from the Set Designers: A Q & A with Roman and Williams and Required Reading: Things We Made, by Roman and Williams.

For more Manhattan highlights, check out our New York City Guide. And have you heard? On November 21-23, we're hosting our first Remodelista Market in New York—hope to see you there.

Urban dwellers often have to give up space to gain space—it's a matter of choosing which rooms to prioritize. When a Stockholm family of five wanted to create a living room that's a real gathering place, their apartment required some spatial juggling. Architects Lotta and Henry Imberg of Imberg Arkitekter's solution? They gained footage by corralling the family's three children in a fun and high-functioning room with a three-level bed. And a bathroom that had been in the front of the apartment got relocated to the middle. Have a look at the results:

Photography by Pia Ulin via Imberg Arkitekter. 

Above: The newly enlarged living room is furnished in black and white. Light colored floors make a room look more spacious and the pale gray used here is a warmer alternative to white. The large framed mirror also enhances the sense of space.

Above: The architects introduced built-in storage to the hall outside the master bedroom and childrens' room.

Above: The cabinets strike a balance between open shelving and and closed doors.

Above: In the master bedroom, mid-century Vittsjø Luxus Wall Lamps by Östen Kristiansson serve as reading lamps and a commercial kitchen rail for cooking utensils is used to hang clothes. N.B.: Another source for vintage Vittsjo lighting is Domino Antik in Stockholm.

Above: Book spines provided the only color in the otherwise neutral space.

Above: In the boys' room, a custom closet acts as a divider while providing storage (note the black and white door pulls).

Above: Two children sleep on one side of the divider and a third on the other. Access to the top bunk is via a ladder of sorts fashioned out of cabinet handles on the wall. A set of hooks inspired by the Eames Hang-It-All provides casual storage opportunities. (Looking for more hook ideas? See Remodeling 101: How Shaker Pegs Saved My Summer Sanity—my philosophy is if it's off the floor, it's been put away.)

Above: The window ledges have been extended to become desks for the children.

Above: White ceramic tiled walls combine with Carrara marble tiles on the floor in the family bathroom.

Above: The floor plan shows how Imberg Arkitekter made smart use of the available windows by moving the bathroom to the middle of the apartment. The three childrens' beds are part of the multi-level custom closet and room divider. 

Swedish photographer Pia Ulin's photographs in this post supply a real sense of Scandinavian winter light. An Architect's Dream Commission in Norway shows her portrayal of summer light. For more on architects Lotta and Henry Imberg of Imberg Arkitekter, see the family home they created out of a disused military garage on the island of Gotland in Before & After: A Garage Turned Summer House in Sweden. 

Aloe vera, peach oil, coconut, orange, soy beans. No, this is not my grocery list, but a sampling of the ingredients used in the cleaning products from Sweden's Tangent Garment Care products, an ecologically sound set of washes and shoe polishes and waxes to keep your wardrobe well maintained.

In creating Tangent cofounder David Samuelsson was inspired by his grandfather, a chimney sweep who was "meticulous when it came to his wardrobe and dressed with a certain degree of elegance." An antidote to the throw-away culture of modern dressing, Tangent is about honoring the production of clothing by buying fewer things, wearing the same things over and over, and preserving them—all ideas we can get behind.

Above: Tangent's Stain Remover in a brown glass bottle. The line is currently available from Tangent Garment Care directly; we hope it makes its way to the US soon.

Above: The Stain Remover in easier-to-ship packaging; €12. Tangent claims the product works effectively on all fabrics, including silk and wool.

Above: From left to right: Displayed ingredients on tins of Black Shoe Polish; Shoe Grease (which also contains beeswax, coconut fat, and rapeseed oil); and Neutral Shoe Polish; €12 each.

Above: Textile Shampoo, Tangent's laundry soap, is made with coconut and orange extracts. Contact Tangent Garment Care for buying information. 

Above: The Fine Wash with orange oil is formulated for hand-washing fabrics made from natural materials, such as wool, silk, mohair, down, and cashmere; €12 each.

We're fans of natural cleaning products—and not all of them require international shipping (or buying any packaged cleaning products at all). See our Cleaning Products posts, including Move Over, Mrs Meyer and Shine Bright Like a Diamond, Window Cleaning Edition.

What is it about bedrooms under the eaves that is so appealing? Here are ten we love:

Above: The Amsterdam bedroom of designer Ulrika Lundgren at Maison Rika.

Above: The Degree Stool by Patrick Norguet, photographed in an attic bedroom.

Above: Found sleeping space, via Marie Claire Maison.

Above: An attic bedroom photographed by London-based Paul Massey.

Above: An attic bedroom at the Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam, complete with swing.

Above: A bedroom at the Hotel Chateau Bethlehem in the Netherlands.

Above: A sleeping loft in a Brussels house by Vanden Eackhoudt Freyf Architecture.

Above: A loft-like bedroom in Napa designed by Erin Martin, from Diane Keaton's book House.

Above: A loft bedroom at the Hotel & Restaurant Groot Warnsborn in the Netherlands.

Above: A lofty bedroom space in the Tenbroeck Cottage by New York architects Messana O'Rorke.

Above: A photo by Daniel Hertzell (see more at Bedroom: White Roundup).

Above: A loft bedroom in a Gotland summer house, via My Scandinavian Retreat.

For more ideas visit Serene White Bedroom Roundup.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on January 11, 2013 as part of our Bedrooms issue.

Now that it's getting chilly out, we're taking a tip from the Brits and rediscovering the hot water bottle. Covered in a soft, appealing-looking case, they're perfect for instant warmth in bed —just add hot water (so much convenient than in the 16th century when bed heaters were filled with dying embers from the fire). Today's hot water bottles are made from rubber, which, when filled, often feels too hot—and 30 minutes later too cold. Wool covers remedy the temperature problem, making the bottles look and feel inviting. Which of these would you let in under the covers?

Hot water bottles not included, unless noted. Classic rubber Hot Water Bottles are available from Ancient Industries in three different colors for $25.

Above: The Hot Bottie Cover is hand knit in Leicestershire, England, and has a turtleneck collar and long johns-style button flap. Available in light and dark gray; $45 from Ancient Industries. 

Above L and R: Woven in a traditional Welsh pattern in one of the last working woolen mills in West Wales, the Hot Water Bottle Cover Natural and Hot Water Bottle Orange are £34 each from Labour and Wait of London. Ribbed rubber water bottles in black, white, or red are available for £8.50 each.

Above: The Pure New Wool Hot Water Bottle Cover in soft blanket-weight wool with elastic opening and stitched edges; €31 from Germany-based Manufactum.

Above: The Knitted Hot Water Bottle Cover in Grey Marl Zig-Zag is handmade in Burnham, England, from an alpaca, wool, and acrylic blend. It has a ribbed neck and button flap; $35 from Loftlines via Etsy.

 Above: The Hand-Knitted Hot Water Bottle Cover by High Fibre is made from Scottish yarn that's hand knit and then felted; $59.93 from online shop Not on the High Street. 

Looking for more ways to keep warm this winter? Here are 5 Glamorous Velvet Blankets to check out.

When I was young my mother made the smart choice of a simple coverlet of pale pink flowers for my bed that was pretty enough for a little girl yet sophisticated enough to take me all the way through college. Following her lead, I've been hunting for something similar for my own young son and daughter. I was happy to discover several timeless options in Anthropologie's latest bedding collection.

Sheet sets available in all standard bedding sizes, from twin to California king. Prices quoted are for twin size.

Above: Whimsical bird drawings dot Anthropologie's Path of Flight Sheet Set; $148.

Above: Who wouldn't want golden fleece marching across their bed? Herd Sheet Set, $148, at Anthropologie.

Above L: Reminiscent of old-fashioned wallpaper, the florets on the Arga Sheet Set have a vintage appeal; $148. Above R: The pattern is also available in a pink and gray combination.

Above: For company at night, the Creatures Hideaway Sheet Set is patterned with bounding wildlife; $158.

Above L and R: Embroidered birds cover the Aviary Coverlet; also available in gray, and currently on sale for $99.55 from $198.

N.B. Looking for more ways to ensure sweet dreams? Check out all our favorite kids' bedding and ideas for for children's rooms. 

Can anyone resist the sensation of walking barefoot on a heated floor? If you’re just embarking on a renovation or building a new house, consider installing radiant heating (also known as underfloor heating), an energy-efficient way to keep warm throughout the cold months. As an architect who has supervised and survived many remodels, I have experienced radiant floor heating in other people's houses and covet it in my own. Here’s the lowdown on the subject: Read on if you're ready to rip up your floors in the name of cost-effective, energy-efficient heat.

1. What is radiant floor heating?

Invented by the engineering-savvy ancient Romans, who had slaves fanning wood-burning fires under elevated marble floors, radiant floor heating is an under the floor heating system that conducts heat through the floor surface, rather than through the air as in conventional forced-air heating systems.

Above: Imagine waking up and putting your bare feet on warm oak floor boards every morning in the winter. Image via Dinesen.

2. How does radiant floor heating work?

The two most common types of radiant floor heating systems are electric (heat via electric wires) and hydronic (heat via hot water tubes), both of which are buried underneath the floor. Here's how the two compare: Electric radiant floor heating systems are easier and more affordable to install but more expensive to operate, making them ideal for heating small areas. Hydronic systems are less expensive to operate, so they work well for large floor areas and even entire houses. The caveat is that they come with higher initial costs because they're more complicated to install and require heated water from a boiler or a water heater. For more on the pros and cons of each system and which might be better suited for you, see Radiant Floor Heating: Electric vs. Hydronic by contractor Jeff King of San Francisco-based Jeff King & Company, a member of the Remodelista Architect and Designer Directory. 

Above L: An electric wire system being installed in a bathroom. Image via Maud Plantiga on Flickr. Above R: A hydronic system waiting for the flooring to be installed. Image via Triangle Tube.

3. What are the pros of radiant floor heating?

Not only does radiant floor heating keep your toes warm, but it ensures that the rest of your body will be kept at a comfortable temperature as well. Waves of infrared radiation rising from the floor warm up the building mass, insuring that heat isn't lost to surrounding surfaces. In a conventional forced-air heating system, heated air (along with dust and allergens) rises to the ceiling and drops back down as its temperature lowers, making it difficult to keep your toes warm even if everything above your shoulders is boiling. "We experience pure warmth with radiant floor heating. As we heat up from our feet, we stay warmer at a lower temperature," says contractor Jeff King. Delivering heat and comfort efficiently, what’s not to love?

Above: The diagram on the left illustrates the principle of radiant floor heating in which heated surfaces transmit heat to all surrounding objects. There is no loss of heat because everything is at the same temperature. The diagram on the right illustrates how heated air in a conventional forced-air system rises to the ceiling and then comes back down as cool air. Which explains how you can still be cold when the thermostat says 72 degrees. Diagram via Sustainability Workshop.

4. What are the cons of radiant floor heating?

A radiant floor heating system is difficult to install after a floor is already in place, and is only really feasible if you're prepared to remove your floors or are building a new house. While there are new products, such as electric radiant pads that can be installed between the joists underneath your floor, they require access from below, via a basement or crawl space. Lack of one or the other is a deal breaker.

Above: Stone tiles work well with radiant floor heating because of the material's thermal conducting properties. Shown here: rough-hewn stone tiles in a bathroom by Atelier Am of Los Angeles. Image via Mark D. Sikes.

5. Which flooring materials work best with radiant heat?

While all floor materials can be used with heated floors, some work more effectively than others. Some general rules of thumb: Materials with thermal conducting properties, such as stone, concrete, and ceramic tile, conduct, transfer, and hold heat effectively while withstanding high temperatures. Solid wood floors can shrink and expand with fluctuating temperatures, leaving unsightly gaps. If you’re in love with wood floors, however, an experienced wood floor installer will be able to manage potential shrinkage. Vinyl and plastic laminate floors also come with temperature limitations, while carpets have insulating properties that potentially reduces heat flow.

Above: Polished concrete floors with radiant floor heating warm a house converted from a horse stable by AR Design Studio. See Manor House Stables, A Champion's Home Reborn for more. Image via AR Design Studio.

Ready to rip up your floors and install radiant floor heating? Choose your next flooring by perusing images of our Favorite Floors in our gallery of rooms and spaces. 

Working on your kitchen? See Remodeling 101: Five Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Kitchen Countertops.

We recently took note of London-based designer Harry Thaler's renovation of a formerly run-down work and living space for artists in residence in Bolzano, Italy.

The project, named Atelierhouse, was commissioned by the city's Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art out of a need for a more dynamic residency studio. The mandate: to create a space that comfortably houses more than one person at a time, and also provides studio space for making and installing art. Thaler worked on the commission in 2012, just two years after graduating from the Royal College of Art in Product Design and receiving a Conran Award, designed to help launch promising careers. With a background as goldsmith and craftsman, Thaler stepped up to the job by building simple, moveable furnishings that we're ready to copy for our own rooms. For more information, visit Harry Thaler.

Above: Conceived as a live/work setup, the studio in Bolzano, Italy, is kitted out with designer Harry Thaler's nailed pine furniture. Made for the space, the pieces include a single and double bed that have closable fronts and are set on casters for maximum flexibility.

Above: Thaller supplied the modular twin murphy bed with built-in shelving and bedside lighting. For more examples of sophisticated murphy beds, see 5 Favorites: The Murphy Bed Grows Up.

Above: In its closed form, the murphy bed resembles a small wardrobe.

Above: The room's multi-person desk resembles an oversized open wall shelf, or, perhaps, an empty frame. 

Above: The closet, sequestered at the back of the bed, has an exterior of unfinished wood and interior of black-painted MDF.

Above: Hanging over the full-length mirror, a Silver Tip Light Bulb ($5 from Schoolhouse Electric) casts a low glow.

Above: A view from the desk towards the picnic-style eating area.

Above: The dining table's floor lamp, also designed by Thaler, has a wood-box base and a frame shaped like industrial piping.

Above: The knotty pine bed is lit by an incorporated pair of weighted lights.

Above: When both are beds packed away, the room becomes a clutter-free work and living space.

Looking for more inspiration? See our previous posts: A Converted Stable in Italy and DIY Seating from Max Lamb.

Ready to be a bit less plugged in? A slew of wireless charging mats have appeared on the market of late, but the Orée Wireless Power Pebble is the first we've seen that was conceived to be a simple and interesting object on its own. The wireless charger is part of French company Orée's collection of tech designs and accessories in wood, leather, and stone that, we hope, are are glimpse of workstations to come.

Above: The Orée collection of wireless tech products includes, from left to right, a wooden keyboard, leather tablet pouch, wooden tablet board, wireless phone chargers in wood and marble, and leather and wooden phone sleeves. Orée is a French tech company whose name stands for original, rational, elegant, and engaged.

Above: The Orée Wireless Power Pebble provides wireless charging for Qi compatible smartphones (such as the Google Nexus 4 and LG Revolution) or tablets simply by placing them across it. It's shown here in tilia (linden wood) and is also available in walnut; €110 from Orée. 

Above L and R: The Orée Wireless Power Pebble is also made in two kinds of marble: white Carrara and a veined red marble, €150. 

Above L and R: A smartphone and tablet being charged on an Orée Wireless Power Pebble in white marble. The company says it takes approximately 20 to 30 percent longer to fully charge a phone using the Pebble vs. standard plug charging.

Above L and R: For many smartphone users, there's a wrinkle: their phones aren't Qi compatible. To enable the iPhone 5S, iPhone 5, and Galaxy S4 to work with the Power Pebble—or any Qi-compatible charging mat—the company offers the Orée Wireless Power Sleeve made of leather (in natural or indigo) and wood (maple or walnut); €90. It makes these phone designs, but no others, Qi compatible. Confession: We like the way these cases look and are still trying to wrap our minds around the technicalities.

Above: The Orée Board is a portable wireless keyboard cut from a single piece of maple (shown) or walnut, so that each key matches the overall look; €150. It comes in three keyboard fonts, is powered by a pair of AAA batteries, and works with tablets, smartphones, and PCs equipped with Bluetooth (an invisible varnish protects the wood from finger smudges and water spills.) It's shown here paired with the Orée Board Leather Pouch, a stand for a smart phone or tablet (it's sized to also work as a tablet cover) that comes in natural or indigo leather; €50. 

For more details ad to view the whole collection, go to Orée.

Ready to be less plugged in? Read 10 Cures for Technostress.

When I first moved to California, land of earthquakes, one of the first rules I learned was not to hang anything over the bed. This strikes me as a good solution: recessed shelving over the bed.

Above: Shelving above a guest bed from Tine K in Denmark.

Above: A shelf above the bed at Margiela's La Maison Champs-Elysées in Paris.

Above: A bed niche painted dark gray, via Design Ville.

Above: A simple bedroom in a London apartment via Airspace.

Above: An illuminated niche displays a collection of tribal pots in a South African beach house via French by Design.

Above: A bedroom in a Tribeca Loft designed by Stephen Roberts Inc. via Architizer.

Above: A bedroom by Danish firm Norm Arkitekter seen on The Contemporist. For more from the architects, see our recent post: Clever Kitchen Lighting from Copenhagen.

Above: An entire shelving unit is carved into the wall in an Australian beach house on Home Life via My Scandinavian Home.

Above: A bedroom featuring Design Within Reach's American Modern Bed in Maple and a maple-lined shelf overhead to match. Photograph via Design Within Reach.

Above: A concrete wall opens up lots of wall niche possibilities as seen in this masculine bedroom via The Style Files.

Looking for more traditional headboard ideas but won't compromise the smart storage? See our post 10 Favorites: Headboard Storage.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on May 8, 2009 as part of our Shaker Style issue.

Just in time for the holiday season: a trio of brass lighting fixtures that will add a gleam to your interior without draining your bank account (prices range from $59 to $129).

Above: The Magical Thinking Geo Pendant is $69 from Urban Outfitters.

Above: The Angled Wall Lamp is $59 from Urban Outfitters.

Above: The Magical Thinking Geo Wire Lamp is $129 at Urban Outfitters.

Let's face it: Travel, particularly during this hectic time of year, is exhausting. Hitting the road for work or pleasure can disrupt your sleep, put the kibosh on your new exercise routine, and throw you into a knee-deep backlog at the office. It also compromises the immune system, setting the perfect stage for a seasonal encore of colds and flus. But a little effort to maintain a healthy routine while you're away will keep you in good shape from door to door. Here, 10 tips for staying calm and happy while in transit.

Above: Smart entryway storage makes packing and preparing for travel less complicated; photograph via Welke.

1. Get some exercise the day before you travel. Adjusting to time changes and jet lag is never easy, but a study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (via Men's Fitness) shows that working out before you dash off on a trip helps the body function and acclimate more effectively.

Above: One of Aesop's destination-based Travel Kits profiled on Mr. Essentialist.

2. Stash your carry-on with essential oils, vitamins, and saline spray to stay healthy. I recommend Flight Spray ($9.99 at Amazon) for keeping nasal passages clear. It's lined with turmeric, a natural antibacterial, and spearmint to clear congestion. Another of my go-to's, Aesop's Ginger Flight Therapy ($31 from Aesop), is formulated to boost your senses during the weary hours of travel: Apply a few drops to your neck, temples, and wrists for a mid-flight pick-me-up. Colleagues of mine also swear by Source Naturals' Wellness Formula ($21.39 from Vitamin Shoppe), capsules containing a combination of herbs, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. And several of our editors like to keep their skin hydrated while in flight by spritzing with La Roche-Posay's Thermal Spring Water ($9.99 for the 1.8 ounce size from Amazon).

3. Make those hostage-like hours on the aircraft more comfortable with a neck pillow, eye mask, and noise canceling headphones. Travelrest's Travel Pillow, $26.95, effectively provides the support you need for a restful sleep. The Blackout Travel Eye Mask ($19.99 from Brookstone) lives up to its name, while the Binchotan Charcoal Eye Mask ($23 from Rikumo) stimulates blood flow to soothe the eye area. For headphones, Bose has it: their QuietComfort Headphones ($299 at Amazon) provide in-flight protection against toddler meltdowns and loud coughing.

Above: The ideal travel alarm clock? Our vote goes to the updated Braun AB1A Small Travel Alarm Clock designed by Dieter Rams with Dietrich Lubs, $32 from Amazon. For a bit of backstory, see Germany's Iconic Designer: A Day with Dieter Rams.

4. Change your watch to local time as soon as possible, and soak in the local sunlight at your new destination. Allow mother earth to set you straight: Sunlight, fresh air, and the great outdoors are powerful mood lifters, time-change-enablers, and energy boosters. 

5. Try to keep up a few of your routines while on the road. Experiencing new things and breaking old habits may be a big part of travel, but our bodies and psyches crave routine. Whether it's maintaining your morning run or avoiding the "I'll eat healthy when I get home" tack, sticking to your usual feel-good methods will pay off over the course of the trip.

Above: The Porcelain Donut Coffee Dripper is an on-the-go favorite, available for $24.24 from Rakuten. Read about it as a Holiday Gift idea.

6. Bring a few of the comforts of home with you. When I travel, I carry pictures by my children to help me feel closer to home—my daughter knows this and I often find drawings that she's secretly stashed in my suitcase as I unpack. Alexa says that her boyfriend's bandmate brings a small drip-coffee maker with him on long tours; it's an easy way to boost morning morale.

7. Keep your sleep as regular as possible. Going to sleep and waking up at around the same time each day helps the body maintain its circadian rhythms. Within reason, try to keep your sleep patterns within your normal range. There is no such thing as catching up on missed sleep. But if you're on a true, relaxing vacation, I recommend: sleep, nap, more sleep, repeat. For more advice, see our previous post: 10 Secrets for a Better Night's Sleep and the National Sleep Foundation's article on Jet Lag Remedies & Sleep.

Above: Photograph of the High Line Hotel's bedside table from The Gothic Getaway, NYC Edition.

8. Bring something soothing for your bedside table. As with tip No. 6, an item from home placed next to your hotel bed can signal the end of the day in a comforting way. You could pack a small candle or a framed photograph. A friend of mine even brings her own sheets for work travel—at the end of every day she plunges into her hotel bed feeling right at home.

9. Have realistic expectations for your trip: anticipate problems and delays. It's best to under promise and over deliver, right? It's all too easy to grab your boarding pass and fly out the door assuming that your flight really will take off at 8:07, but realistic expectations can change the tone of your entire trip. Anticipate the snafus, but hope for the best.

Above: A well-stocked travel bag from The New Bookstore Model: Book/Shop in Oakland, California.

10. When travel delays strike—and they will—try to use the extra time to unplug and decompress. Delays are out of your control; instead of feeling stressed, try to adopt the mindset that the extra time is a little gift. Grab a good book, slap on the noise canceling headphones, and be transported.

Looking for more tips for staying sane at home and away? See all our Happier at Home posts.

Brücke 49 Hotel Pension, a modern-rustic, four-room guest house in the alpine spa town of Vals, is exactly where we'd like to be right now. Located in a 1902 house with four guest rooms, the B & B is the work of Ruth Kramer and Thomas Schacht, a Swiss-Danish couple who traded careers in Denmark—she as a designer, he as a business developer—for mountain village living. They restored and designed the place themselves: It's not fancy," they say, "just very personal with a lot of thought going into what we think will give you a cozy feeling." From what we've seen, they got that last part exactly right. For more information, go to Brücke 49 Hotel Pension.

Above: The century-old house is painted slate gray with white shutters. Vals is a historic Alpine village with a population of 950 (mostly farmers and craftspeople, say Ruth and Thomas). It's situated in the country's largest canton, Graubünden, not far from the borders of Austria and Italy, and has a five-lift ski resort and an extraordinary thermal hot springs resort, Therme Vals, designed by architect Peter Zumthor (day visitors welcome). Read about the spa in our post Poetry in Space: Vals Thermal Spa in Switzerland.

Above: We love the B & B's glossy black front door. The house had been damaged by a fire before Ruth and Thomas took over; they've resuscitated every inch of it.

Above: Vals is famous for its limestone, and the entrance of the house has its original, locally quarried stone floor and stairs. The couple painted the walls in a charcoal gray that carries over from the exterior. We like the way they paired it with doors in a soft brown. The side chair was in the house when they bought it, and is emblematic of the way Ruth and Thomas introduced a mix of old and new: they upholstered the seat in a Paul Smith stripe from Kvadrat.

Above: All of the floors in the house, including the living room, shown here, are original wide-plank pine—"long, massive planks that came from the local woods." The couple added new panels to the walls in the old style. The rug-free room is furnished with Danish clasics, including a 1940s armchair by Finn Juhl.

Above: Guests are not only welcome in the stainless-steel-appointed kitchen but encouraged to cook if inclined. Note the apples stored in a wooden crate on the floor.

Above: A guest room under the eaves. The B & B sleeps a maximum of 10 people.

Above L: A turn-of-the-century doorknob with its original key. Above R: A bentwood chair hung on a peg rack in a bedroom.

Above: A patchwork-upholsted vintage Danish chair in a guest room.

Above: A case for the (nearly) all-white bathroom.

Above: A montage of Brücke 49 details: including tasseled towels designed by Ruth and made for the B & B by a friend in Turkey, a Royal Copehagen mug, and a window railing—"a little bent and bitten by time."

Above: Breakfast at Brücke 49 is served on Royal Copenhagen's hand-painted Multi-Colored Elements porcelain. Yes, that's the B & B's signature homemade bread and muesli with yogurt and fresh fruit. 

Above: An alpine arrangement that we plan to replicate.

Above: The 1902 knob on a bathroom window. The couple went to enormous trouble to restore the house's details—though this closure is original, "the rest is handmade new" to fit it, explains Thomas, and includes old handblown glass "which makes looking through the windows a little unsharp."

Above: Folding wooden chairs for taking in the mountain air year round. For rates and reservations, go to Brücke 49 Hotel Pension.

For more design and travel inspiration, browse our posts on standout lodgings around the world. And don't miss, For Rent: A Ski Cabin by Peter Zumthor, World-Renowned Swiss Architect.

This past week, Gardenista's issue theme was "Love Letter to the Houseplant." Erin and Michelle explored the history of indoor greenery, sussed out the best exterior green paints, visited a greenhouse restaurant in England, and discovered the new "it" plant (hint: it's not the fiddle head fig).

Above: See the nine exterior green paints that made the cut when Meredith surveyed our Architect and Designer Directory in Architects Pick the Best Exterior Green Paints.

Above: Some of us at Remodelista, when faced with gardening obstacles (read: vermin and insects), tend to give up entirely. Which is why we have Erin Boyle to help us out; see her tips on Getting Rid of Fungus Gnats. And curious what the next "It" houseplant is? See Erin's pick here.

Above: Apple Flip cocktail anyone? Kendra explored the offerings in the Ethicurean Cookbook, new from the team behind the Ethicurean restaurant in Somerset, England.

Above: "I hate houseplants. I mean, really hate them," Meredith writes in Houseplants for a Hater. So how did she learn to love houseplants?

Above: Amanda explored the evolution of indoor greenery in 5 Houseplants That Changed History.  

Above: See the Woven Hanging Pot that made Julie rethink living with a hanging plant.

It's that time of year: every evening (or every weekend, at least), there seems to be a can't-miss celebratory bash. So we hope you can join us at our upcoming events, starting with our first-ever NYC market. And before you dash out the door, here are a few things we've been obsessing over:

Above: Next week we'll be in NYC at the Park Avenue Garage Sale from November 21-23. For more information and to RSVP to our Wednesday night party, see Announcing the Remodelista Market in New York. Bonus points: Our lovely friends at Sweets & Bitters have come up with a Winter Market Citrus Punch (and they'll be leaving recipe cards for our Market shoppers to consult).

Above: On those nights we're staying in, we'll be cooking from David Tanis's new cookbook, One Good Dish—100 easy (but elevated) recipes? We're on board.

Above: Julie is looking forward to checking out the lovely-looking Dean Hotel (which opens in early January) on her next swing through Providence, RI.

We're making note of this clever staircase-turned-library idea seen on PopSugar Home.

Above: Are you (like us) a Tom Delavan fan (it even rhymes!). Good news: he's designed a line of bed linens, available at Gilt Home. We're coveting the Garment Dyed Quilt Throw ($119), available in six shades ranging from storm gray to midnight blue, and the Flatweave Rug with Tassels (prices range from $79 to $449).

Above: Another one for our "only in Japan" file: Tato Architect's dental clinic in Nakayamate, complete with a color palette based on the obligatory dentist green, via This Is Paper.

Coffee making as we've never seen it: on HuffPost Home.

Above: Alexa has been reading Annie Sloan's blog (the same Annie Sloan of Chalk Paint fame) where she dissects colors spotted all around France, Australia, and Cuba and attaches a chalk paint color to them.

Weekend recipe to try: Moroccan Carrot Soup from Country Living.

Above: Janet, a longtime aficionado of Glassybaby votives ("You have to see them to believe them"), has been dropping into their new San Francisco store at 3665 Sacramento St. in Presidio Heights.

Above: So very sad to learn of the death of Ace Hotel cofounder and design visionary Alex Calderwood. Photo by Jeffery Jones for Paper Mag.

Tasked with renovating a derelict Georgian house in Marylebone, London, architects Luke McLaren and Robert Excell of McLaren Excell approached the job with respect for the history of the structure, without preserving it in aspic. The 1820 four-story building had been converted into office space and an apartment—and then entered a decline involving squatters and roof leaks that extended to first floor. McLaren Excell's rescue approach was two pronged: Converting the setup back to a one-family house required peeling away layers of paint to reveal what was concealed, as well as repairing and replacing historic details that had been stripped out. The architects then carefully introduced contemporary interventions, a selection of natural materials that will in time attain their own texture and become part of the patina of the house. 

Images via McLaren Excell. 

Above: The kitchen was moved to the ground floor adjacent to the new dining room. It features a table and cabinetry that McLaren Excell designed with an eye to creating a careful balance between old and new. They used natural materials that will in time attain their own texture. As they explain:  "For the non-restorative designs, we selected a soft palette of materials that could sit comfortably in the refined surroundings: Italian limestone, Welsh slate, cast concrete, African wenge, and weathered zinc." 

Above: In a corner of the kitchen, the cast concrete backsplash extends past the counter and becomes a back rest for a storage bench of African wenge wood. The house's original wood shutters were freed of many layers of paint.

Above L: A pair of double doors with minimalist detailing lead from the kitchen into the dining room where the original fireplace mantel has been restored. Above R: Most of the house's baseboards, door frames, and doors had disappeared; the architects restored or replaced these features important to the history of the building.

Above: Suspended from the kitchen's tall ceilings, exposed pendant bulbs hang to dramatic effect. The counter and backsplash are made from cast concrete and the kitchen island is covered in weathered zinc, materials that will age with character.

Above L: A before shot of the living room. All the house's fireplaces had been blocked out and many of the shutters had been painted shut. Above R: The post-restoration living room. "We stripped the paintwork from the windows and discovered a near complete set of original functioning shutters throughout the house," the architects say. "We copied sections of all the surviving internal joinery and replicated their exact profiles to repair woodwork in areas where necessary; we opened up three fireplaces and re-instated chimney pieces appropriate to the period of the house; impressions were taken of the original cornice sections and reproduced in plaster to the reinstated collapsed ceilings; and all the original pine floorboards were pulled up, sanded down, and re-laid."

Above: In the stairwell between the public spaces of the first floor and bedrooms of second floor, the floor materials shift from limestone to carpeting. Many of the wood finishes, such as the window trim and stair rails, were stripped back to a natural finish and a stair wall of wood was added as a bridge.

Above: Contemporary insertions upstairs include additional storage made of African wenge wood.

Above: A textured wall behind the bathtub provides a waterproof surface and a space for plumbing and lighting.

Above: African wenge wood drawers are set within a cast-concrete double sink.

Above: On the top floor, which has an artist's studio and two bathrooms, the architects removed the low flat ceilings to expose pitched roof trusses.

Above: Dark gray Welsh slate is paired with deep brown African wenge wood in one of the top floor bathrooms.

Above L: A before shot of the other top floor bathroom shows a narrow sink pedestal next to the window. Above R: The new solution: a long trough sink.

Above: The exterior of the once derelict 1820 house.

Striking a balance between the historic and modern is always tricky. For another artful London restoration, see A Forever Home in Notting Hill by Hackett Holland, members of the Remodelista Architect and Designer Directory.

The Arctic Pear chandelier from London-based Ochre has defined glamor for the past few years (if light fixtures can achieve "it" status, this one has), so it was only a matter of time before lower-priced imitators emerged. There have been several reinterpretations of the design; the most recent one comes from the White Company in London. We talked to Andrew Corrie of Ochre a couple of days ago, and you might be surprised by his take on it all.

Above: The Arctic Pear Chandelier from Ochre, a London design studio and shop that has two New York outposts and showrooms across the country. Made of clear glass drops suspended from a bronze or nickel frame, the chandelier comes in sizes ranging from 18 inches in diameter to 48 inches in diameter, and prices start at $4,060 and go up to $11,560. How does Corrie of Ochre feel about the imitators? "We tend to get a flurry of orders when companies knock us off, especially when the imitation is low quality," he says. "People recognize the integrity of the original."

Above: The White Company's Solid Glass Orb Ceiling Light is £350. In the US, Robert Abbey's Bling Collection Large Deep Chandelier is another lookalike for $1,793.91 at Lamps Plus.

For similar discoveries, browse the 90 posts in our High/Low Design gallery. And please share your own high/low finds in our comments section. 

Meet London's latest spot in Soho for a quick bite and a G & T: Damson and Co, a modern delicatessen offering British cheeses and charcuterie, as well as a broad-ranging bar with a strict English-only policy when it comes to wine.

The restaurant was designed by Ian Haigh of London interior design company Central Design Studio. Haigh and team focused on a utilitarian aesthetic with the goal of what he describes as "a practical and unfussy atmosphere." For more information, read on and drop by Damson and Co.

Photographs by James Balson for Central Design Studio, first seen on Studio Annetta.

Above: The restaurant's sign is displayed prominently on a white awning against a windowed exterior painted charcoal gray.

Above: The bar serves everything from cocktails to fresh juice and Ozone coffee.

Above: Central Design Studio came up with creative ways to hang signage and squeeze in seating at the bar.

Above: An eye-opening fresh juice served at the bar. Photograph via Tiki Chris.

Above: Industrial lights with Edison bulbs line up along the bar.

Above: Short backed benches and small tables are nestled against painted paneled walls lit by metal sconces that match the bar lights.

Above: The menu is simply clipped together and hung from an S-hook on rope.

Above: Hound's tooth upholstery and vintage ceramics for a homey touch.

Above: The restaurant specializes in British charcuterie served with local cheeses, produce, and wine, and strives to use organic whenever possible.

Looking for more places to dine in and around London? Look through our London City Guide for a list of our favorites. And while we're on the subject of damson, take a look at Sarah's DIY: Damson Vodka and her report Cocktail on Wheels: The Traveling Gin Company.

Location of Damson & Co. in London:

One of the easiest ways to set an enticing table is to get creative with napkins. Here are some favorite ideas. No starch required.

Above: Linen napkins are knotted in the middle at an outdoor dinner hosted by Le Marché St. George in Vancouver, B.C.

Above: Tricia Rose of Rough Linen groups two layers of linen together and ties them with brown twine. The Orkney Linen and Smooth White Linen Napkins are $20-$24 each from Rough Linen.

Above: Spotted at Bar Agricole in San Francisco, the rolled napkin secured with leather. Here's how to DIY your own leather napkin ties.

Above: Last week on Gardenista, Erin grouped seeded eucalyptus, rosemary, and hypericum together for a Botanical Napkin Ring.

Above: Traditional in shape but unconventional in material: Live Wire Farm's Wooden Napkin Rings, made from Vermont hardwood; $20 each.

For a table setting filled with ideas to steal, see our post on Schoolhouse Electric's Fall Dinner With Friends.