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Architecture as Alchemy: A Cobble Hill Transformation

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"You should totally come," began the invitation. Mollie Cohen and Andrew Berman's wedding was held in a historic brick warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, on a freshly laid carpet of grass, where they celebrated by holding a giant picnic. They presented each guest with a pair of Vans, and for refreshments there was a fully constructed dive bar and cans of Bud in paper bags with the wedding monogram on them. They asked architectural designer Oliver Freundlich to apply that same playful high brow/low brow spirit to their apartment, a Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, duplex in a converted mid-19th century church rectory that Freundlich describes as "a piece of developer crap set in a basement with major light challenges." Not surprisingly, architecture (and some alchemy) comes next.

Freundlich—who the couple discovered on Remodelista—runs his own New York firm, Oliver Freundlich Design; we're longstanding fans and unveiled the glamorous eat-in kitchen he designed for actress Julianne Moore, his sister in law, in the Remodelista book. During his first meeting with Mollie and Andrew, Freundlich says he flashed a red Vola faucet he thought they'd like and the deal was sealed. "Meeting Oliver was like going on a good first date," says Mollie. She grew up in New York and is a buyer for Madewell; Andrew is a carpenter turned furniture designer from Madison, Wisconsin (they met as freshmen at CU Boulder); the couple planned their remodel with Freundlich over "burrito design sessions," and nine months of construction later, Mollie and Andrew found themselves living in the apartment equivalent of a lavish picnic, complete with a teak-paneled bedroom ceiling, his and hers trough sink, tinware-stocked custom kitchen cabinets, and a powder room with a telltale red spigot.

Photographs by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Cobble Hill kitchen by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: The most striking transformation in the duplex is the kitchen, which was formerly a gloomy landlord special tucked into a corner. Now fresh and bright, it's equipped with an island and cabinetry made of moisture-resistant MDF finished with a spray lacquer—and an overall pleasing geometry. 

Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: The dining table came from the couple's old apartment (they got it at Future Perfect six years ago) and the lights are remakes of the Dunlop factory pendant from UK firm Trainspotters. The painting, a wedding present, is part of Andrew and Mollie's flag collection, which extends to flag-festooned belt buckles and sneakers. Explains Mollie, "Andrew is a grass-fed, free-range boy from the Midwest. He has always had a hankering for Americana and the freedom it represents."

Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: For the couple's dog, Cash, a pet bowl niche was incorporated into the island. Taking his cues from the flag collection, Freundlich applied a palette of white, black, and oak throughout the duplex with artful hits of red. The new floor is plain-sawn white oak, lightened with wood bleach "in order to magnify the daylight as much as possible," says Freundlich. It's finished with Monocoat's Natural Oil Finish in Cotton White. Stay tuned: on Thursday, we'll take a closer look at the kitchen (and present Before photos) in a Rehab Diary.

Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: "The apartment completely lacked character and detail," says Freundlich. "On the main floor, we reduced a full bath to a half bath and relocated the laundry room, allowing us to create more openness between the living room and the kitchen/dining room. New baseboards, windows, and door trim were also added throughout to introduce clean lines and fresh materials in lieu of sheetrock corners and stock moldings." Cappellini's Cuba 25 sectional sofa fills the room and is the equivalent of a one-dish meal: "It was one of our biggest splurges," says Mollie, "but it's the center of the whole apartment, so we felt it was the most important piece of furniture." The rug is from Breuckelen Berber. The oak Nesting Boxes under the TV are Andrew's own design, and can be used for storage and as stools (they're available with Richlite or cushioned tops); they're available from Andrew's just-launched shop, Dane Co.

Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above:  At first designated for bike storage, the space under the stairs ended up becoming a home office. "In such an open plan, it's critical that you have a place to store all of life's junk," says Freundlich. "I realized the underside of the remodeled stair was going to create a warm and inviting space." The chair is an Eames Molded Wood classic. 

Cobble Hill duplex powder room by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: The powder room has a custom medicine cabinet made of rift-sawn white oak (which matches the apartment's new baseboards and other millwork). The wallpaper in the mirror is Flavor Paper's Dia de Dumbo design—toile-style Day of the Dead scenes of Brooklyn. The Vola HV1 faucet is the very model Freundlich pulled out during his first meeting with Mollie and Andrew; it came from New York plumbing supplier AF Supply and is paired with American Standard's Roxalyn Wall Mounted Sink—"the ultimate high meets low moment in the house," says Freundlich.

Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: The apartment's existing stairs received a total makeover: the treads and risers were reclad with rift-sawn white oak, and in place of a generic black metal railing, Freundlich installed two new railings, "one white-painted steel to match the stringer, and one in solid oak mounted to the wall. The idea was to clean up the composition of the stair, making it more of a feature within the open living area."

Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: To draw light throughout the reconfigured upstairs, Freundlich introduced double-wide doors with stippled wired glass that lead to the bedroom: "Wire glass is a favorite of mine; it makes the doors feel less slick, more utilitarian." The air vent came from Architectural Grille, a favorite Brooklyn source for patterned metalwork. All of the doorknobs are Rejuvenation's Finley model in black porcelain. 

Picture=rail-Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: A wooden Art Shelf runs along the hall; Andrew created it in collaboration with Matt Hogan of Brooklyn's Reliquary Studio (who also built the kitchen cabinets and teak ceiling, among things). The ledge hangs from a steel angle bolted to the wall. "Art has been a hard thing for us to decide on," says Mollie. "What's nice about the picture rail is that we can just keep piling on everything we collect. Instead of committing to one big piece, we're constantly adding and changing the contents of the shelf. At this point, it has a lot of nice memories." 

Master bedroom in Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: "The idea was to keep the bedroom spare and the furnishings low, and allow the wood ceiling to soar," says Freundlich. "The pendants dropping from the ceiling add some drama to the height." (There are dimmer switches next to each side for easy on and off.) The white metal bed frame is School House Electric's Hamilton Bed, an update of the classic iron bedstead, and the lights are Barn Light Electric's Ivanhoe Dino Porcelain Cord Pendant Light. Andrew built the blackened ash bedside cubes: "We didn't have side tables for a few months, so I'd put my glass of water on the floor. When I woke up, it would be empty, and then I realized our dog was drinking it," says Molie. "So I badgered Andrew for side tables. He took extra cutoffs from something else he made, and the wall-mounted shelves were his temporary-turned-permanent solution." For kindred designs, see 5 Favorite: Bedside Shelves (in Lieu of Tables).

Master bedroom in Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: The bedroom's crowning glory is its new teak ceiling: "It makes our bedroom feel like a special retreat," says Mollie. The tall peaked window, a detail dating to the building's origins as a rectory, was painted Benjamin Moore black in a satin finish, detailed with one-inch trim casing to trace its outline, and given a ledge of rift-sawn white oak. The Blackened Oak Bench and Rift-Saw Oak Peg Rack are both made by Andrew and available in custom sizes and finishes at Dane Co. "We wanted hooks to put our clothes on instead of the chair in the corner that collects your weekly wardrobe," says Mollie. (For more on the subject, see Christine's post How Shaker Peg Rails Saved My Sanity.) The credenza is from Cappellini and the standing lamp is the Flos Spun Floor Lamp.

Bathroom in Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: Freundlich kitted out the master bath with one of the most enviable details in the duplex: a custom teak medicine cabinet that has solid wood shelves and is deep enough to hold rolls of toilet paper. (It was fabricated by Tony Visco of Ivory Build, who also built the desk under the stairs.) The enameled iron double sink is the Kohler Brockway paired with Chicago Faucets. The Subway Tiles are from reproduction specialists Subway Ceramics—"we used a traditional black liner, but located it an an atypical height to try to loft the ceiling," says Oliver. "Subway Ceramics has great accessory tiles, including tile hooks, recessed toilet paper holders, and soap niches, all of which we put to use."

Wallpapered dressing room in Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: A dressing room stands between the master bedroom and bath. It's playfully wallpapered with doodles of things Mollie and Andrew like—bagels, bikes, high tops, their dog—that they had used on their wedding invitation. The wallpaper is from Flavor Paper of Brooklyn, which specializes in custom orders: "we just sent them a PDF and selected a paper type," says Mollie.

Dressing-room-detail-Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: Mollie and Andrew's mandate for Freundlich: "Clean, simple, warm, functional, and lots of shoe storage." 

Entry closet in Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: The apartment's entry originally had what Freundlich describes as "a telephone-booth-like closet facing you immediately when you walked in." He replaced it with with an open coat area at the far end of the living room defined by a "landing pad" of Pennyround Tiles in Black Matte from Nemo Tile. The yellow cabinet is from Cappellini and moved with the couple from their first apartment.

Hook and old hanger in Cobble Hill duplex | Remodelista

Above: The foldout Arrow Hanger in powder-coated aluminum by Design House Stockholm. 

Cobble Hill duplex by architect Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: "Though the renovation includes some luxury items here and there, the overall tone is meant to be low-key and not take itself too seriously," says Freundlich. Bikes are parked right by the front door under an antique framed flag that the couple brought on eBay. It's no coincidence that even the bike colors work in the apartment—Andrew and Mollie always zero in on red and white. 

Entry with Coco Mats doormat Oliver Freundlich design | Remodelista

Above: The final newlywed detail: Freundlich inset the entry with a doormat from Coco Mats 'n More affordably customized with the couple's wedding monogram.

Cobble Hill duplex by Oliver Freundlich floor plan | Remodelista

Above: A plan of the first floor. Formerly dark and lacking coherence, it's now loft-like, tightly unified, and filled with light. 

Cobble Hill duplex by Oliver Freundlich floor plan | Remodelista

Above: The fully redesigned second floor incorporates not only the master bedroom (with en suite dressing room and bathroom), but a guest room, guest bath, and laundry room.

For more of Oliver Freundlich's work, see Behind the Scenes: 5 Design Lessons from Julianne Moore and Oliver Freundlich Design.


The Ankarsrum: Sweden's Iconic Kitchen Mixer

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Designed in 1939 by Swedish inventor Alvar Lenning, the Ankarsrum Original Kitchen Mixer is a Rube Goldberg type of machine, capable of doing seemingly anything (with the right attachments). It's especially celebrated for its bread-kneading abilities and its longevity; happy owners call it a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. During WWII, it even came with a collection of "crisis recipes" for Swedish households feeling the pinch of rationing. About a year ago it came on the US market; it's available in a range of subtle pastels, with a glossy black and a glossy white finish to come.

Ankarsrum Electrolux Mixer/Remodelista

Above: The electrical motor and the diecast aluminum components are cast and assembled at the Electrolux factory in Ankarsrum, Sweden. The Ankarsrum Kitchen Assistant features a 600-watt motor and is available in 10 colors choices; $799.95 from Metro Kitchen.

Ankarsrum Gray and Navy Mixers/Remodelista

Ankarsrum Black Orange MIxers/Remodelista

Above: The Ankarsrum Kitchen Assistant is available in 10 colors, ranging from mineral white to pearl orange.

To see more kitchen gadgets we have our eyes on, have a look at our Small Appliance posts, including the Last Blender You'll Ever Buy and Dyson's Hot Cool Heater. And over on Gardenista, read Michelle's battles with her smoke detector: Why Is My Smoke Alarm So Obnoxious?

Bouli Bar in SF: Boulettes Larder Gets Brassy

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When Boulettes Larder closed its doors last summer for a remodel and an expansion, we were nervous. The small restaurant in San Francisco's Ferry Building overlooking the Bay Bridge served breakfast, lunch, and the best private dinners around, and had become a Remodelista hang out. We need not have worried. Boulettes Larder soon reopened, a smarter, reincarnated version of itself, with a larger, all-day dining offshoot, Bouli Bar, right next door.

For the renovation, restaurant chef-owners Amaryll Schwertner and Lori Regis enlisted San Francisco- and London-based architecture firm Kallos Turin. Schwertner, who trained in neuroscience before shifting to the culinary world, is known for intellectual rigor in her approach to food. “From the start of my career I wove every interest I had into food," she says. "That has allowed for a deeply personal voice to emerge in my cooking. I see all the elements of the environment I work in as critical tools in the endeavor for a distinctive voice.” Kallos Turin was able to complement Schwertner's approach with a design that employs a limited, yet elegant palette of timeless materials reduced to a simple design that adds a welcome note of glamour to the Ferry Building. 

Photography by Mariko Reed

Bouli Bar San Francisco | Remodelista

Above: A palette of American white oak, bronze, and black forms the Bouli Bar backdrop, overlaid with the rich texture of a beaded bronze curtain. 

Bouli Bar San Francisco | Remodelista

Above L: An American white oak table with a brass base stands before built-in seating with pillows of black Mongolian lamb under a black smoked mirror. Above R: The beaded bronze curtain is made from a brass ball chains; it lends a formal element to the dining room and screens it from Ferry Building shoppers.

Bouli Bar San Franciso -Tom Dixon lighting | Remodelista

Above: The dining tables, bars, cabinetry, and wainscoting were all crafted in American white oak. The black ceiling is punctuated by a selection of black and brass Tom Dixon Beat Pendant lights, providing a counterpoint to the black Hans Wegner dining chairs. The large smoked mirror adds a moody note to the space.

Bouli Bar San Francisco | Remodelista

Above L: The naval bronze wood-burning hearth is shared by both Boulette's Larder and Bouli Bar as part of a communal kitchen. Above R: The counters are made from naval bronze and terrazzo. 

Above: A dining room, organized as if it were a stage set, is located at the entry to the restaurant; its communal table is illuminated by oversized Tom Dixon Beat Pendants. For more details, visit Bouli Bar.

To discover another Bay Area chef who's a former neuropsychologist, check out our post on Sir and Star. For more of our Bay Area haunts, see our San Francisco City Guide and have a look at Gardenista's San Francisco posts here, including Go Directly to Jail to Tour the Gardens.

11 Kitchen Islands Gone Glamorous

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Is "kitchen island" the least sexy term in home design? Even "kitchen table" is better (remember that scene in The Postman Always Rings Twice?). Here's a roundup of 11 rooms with style to spare.

Joseph Dirand Paris Apartment/Remodelista

Above: An apartment in St. Germain des Pres, Paris, designed by Joseph Dirand features a pair of bronze Fingi suspension lights by Eric Schmitt and a pair of office armchairs by Pierre Jeanneret from Galerie 54; photo by Adrien Dirand via Yatzer.

Rose Uniacke Kitchen Island/Remodelista

Above: London designer Rose Uniacke's simple but luxurious kitchen is located in her restored 19th century Georgian Revival house. For similar pendant lights, consider the Dodecahedron Pendant Lanterns by Adolf Loos, available through Rose Uniacke; photo by Henry Bourne via NY Times.

Modern minimal kitchen with long concrete countertop in modern apartment in Italy

Above: An oxidized-brass-clad kitchen island by Dimore Studio in Milan is lit from within via a fluorescent strip.

Rosy Strazzeri Fridman Kitchen/Remodelista

Above: The SF kitchen of stylist Rosy Strazzeri Fridman.

Gisbert Poppler Kitchen/Remodelista

Above: In this kitchen in Germany, designer Gisbert Poppler repurposed an antique farmhouse wardrobe as a kitchen cabinet.

PIa Ulin Photographer Mirrored Kitchen Island/Remodelista

Above: A Scandinavian kitchen with mirror-clad kitchen island; photo by Pia Walin.

Claessen Rune Brass Cube Kitchen/Remodelista

Above: Stockholm-based architects Claessen Koivisto Rune added a dash of glamour to a streamlined pure white kitchen via a brass cube table.

 

slarsky kitchen

Above: In a Boston brownstone kitchen, architects Katarina Edlund and Scott Slarsky (of designLAB Architects) paired marble-topped work stations with a Poul Henningsen artichoke lamp suspended from an ornate plaster medallion.

Concrete Kitchen Island Chandelier/Remodelista

Above: A Mediterranean kitchen with concrete island and chandelier via Nosy Parker.

Julian-King-Architect-Chelsea-townhouse-white-high-ceiling-kitchen-recast moldings-white-island

Above: A minimalist kitchen in a Chelsea townhouse by Julian King of Julian King Architect, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory.

Wohnhaus B Kitchen/Remodelista

Above: A sleek white kitchen with chandelier by Steininger Wohnhaus.

For more inspiration, see Kitchen Islands and Tables on Wheels and 10 Easy Pieces: Instant Kitchen Island.

Steal This Look: The Modern Plywood Kitchen, Gold Faucet Edition

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A few weeks ago we featured designers Dan Honey and Paul Fuog's artfully remodeled apartment in Melbourne, Australia. Designed by architect Clare Cousins, the one-bedroom flat was transformed into an open living space with inexpensive materials. We especially like its kitchen and dining area, which Cousins outfitted with plywood cabinets with cutout handles, a surprise gold-plated faucet, and round pale wood table. Here, a look at the design and the elements for recreating a similar look.

Dan Honey and Paul Fuog Plywood Kitchen in Melbourne, Australia | Remodelista

Above: Cousins paired plywood with a simple white laminate counter and an electroplated gold faucet. Photography by Sean Fennessy via The Design Files.

Dan Honey and Paul Fuog Plywood Kitchen in Melbourne, Australia | Remodelista

Above: The laminate countertop extends down the side of the cabinets creating a frame.

Dan Honey and Paul Fuog Plywood Kitchen in Melbourne, Australia | Remodelista

Above: Honey and Fuog's small-space survival tip: create an instant dining room between the living and kitchen area with a round table for four and overhead pendant.

The Basics

Newport Brass East Linear Double Handle Widespread Kitchen Faucet | Remodelista

Above: Newport Brass makes a similar crooked faucet; the 9911 East Linear Double Handle Widespread Kitchen Faucet, shown here in polished gold, is $1,046.40 from Faucet Direct.

Rohl Shaws Original Fireclay Single Bowl Prep Sink | Remodelista

Above: For compact kitchens, the Shaws Original Fireclay Single Bowl Kitchen or Prep Sink can be installed as an undermount or drop-in sink and measures just 15 inches square; $629.25 from eFaucets.

Miele PureLine Built-in Steam Oven | Remodelista

Above: Cousins installed a built-in oven in the plywood cabinets. The Miele DG6401 45cmPureLine Built-In Steam Oven is £1,998 at Bohen in the UK.

Lighting and Furniture

Muuto Unfold Pendant Lamp in Gray from DWR | Remodelista

Above: The Muuto Unfold Pendant Lamp (shown in gray) is made of soft silicone rubber that packs flat and unfolds into shape. Inside the shade a frosted opal diffuser hides the bulb and softens the light; also available in black and blue and currently on sale for $160.65 at Design Within Reach.

Alvar Aalto Artek 91 Dining Table | Remodelista

Above: Alvar Aalto's classic Artek 91 Dining Table in birch veneer is $1,940 at All Modern (Honey and Fuog purchased it at Anibou in Australia). For a similar but much more affordable design, consider Ikea's Bjursta Extendable Table; $229.

Eos Armchair in Powder Coated Aluminum from DWR | Remodelista

Above: The Eos Armchair is a similar shape and style to the dining chairs Honey and Fuog found at a local flea market. The armchair is made from powder-coated aluminum in black or white; currently on sale for $204 at Design Within Reach.

Accessories

Microbasket by Doug Johnston | Remodelista

Above: A coiled Microbasket by  Brooklyn artist Doug Johnston hangs above Honey and Fuog's sink. This example is made from cotton sash cord in a variety of colors and is used to hold salt; $30 directly from Doug Johnston. The woven fruit basket near the sink was a find from Australian store After; Johnston makes a similar basket, the 100' Tray, $100.

Stelton Vacuum Thermos Jug in Mint Green | Remodelista

Above: Designed by Erik Magnussen—and awarded the Innovative Design prize by the Danish Society of Industrial Design in 1977—the EM77 Vacuum Thermos Jug in soft mint is $99 from Scandinavian House.

Molcajete Mortar and Pestle at Sur La Table | Remodelista

Above: A Molcajete, Mexican mortar and pestle, is $44.95 for an 8-inch size at Sur La Table.

Porcelain Measuring Spoons, White and Blue | Remodelista

Above: A set of simple blue tipped Porcelain Measuring Spoons is $12.95 from Fishs Eddy.

Green on Green Splatterware Charger from March in SF | Remodelista

Above: A Green on Green Splatterware Charger Plate is made in Italy from earthenware; $82 at March.

If you're partial to glam kitchen fixtures, have a look at last week's Steal This Look, A Glamorous London Kitchen from a Designer with "Shit Loads of Talent." And for more inspiration, see our post on 10 Favorites: Cutout Kitchen Cabinet Pulls. For tips on keeping kitchen houseplants alive, visit Gardenista's 6 Ways to Revive Neglected Houseplants.

The 12 Best Apps for Remodelers

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Expand your smart phone or tablet's job description with apps that turn it into a tool kit, remodeling guide, and all-around design assistant. Here are a dozen apps we've found extremely useful:

(Discovered any home design or remodeling apps you've found indespensable? Please share your finds in the comments section below.)

Design Tools

iHandy Carpenter App/Remodelista
 

Above: No need to lug measuring tools: the iHandy Carpenter App includes two types of levels, a ruler, protractor, and a plumb bob (a tool that verifies the verticality of lines or walls). The iHandy Carpenter App for iPhone and iPad and the iHandy Carpenter App for Android are both $1.99.

Photo Measures App, Remodelista  

Above: If you're like me, you pull out the measuring tape and jot down figures on a sticky note to take shopping or pass along to your contractor. Inevitably, the note gets lost or mixed in with the other crumpled notes at the bottom of your bag—or you just plain forget exactly which measurements belong to what. Instead, consider using Photomeasures, an app that allows you to take a photo of a space and draw the measurements directly on it. You can also add notes ("thinking sofa could go here"). Brilliant, eh? The Photomeasures App for Android is $4.99 (a free Photomeasures Lite for Android version is also available). The Photomeasure App for iPhone and iPad is $6.99.

Autodesk Homestyler App, Remodelista

Above: The AutoDesk Homestyler app allows you to experiment with paint colors, furnishings, and layouts using photos of your choosing. It's a great way to "try on" before making big decisions. The AutoDesk Homestyler for iPhone and iPad and the AutoDesk Homestyler for Android are both free.

Home Design 3D, Remodelista  

Above: Whether you want to rearrange your furniture or create a draft of your ideal kitchen layout before meeting with your architect, there are several apps available for creating floor plans, including the highly-rated Home Design 3D ($6.99) and Home Design DIY—Mark on Call ($2.99), both for the iPhone and iPad. 

 

Sunlit Room, Remodelista

Above: A tool for helping with the placement of lighting, artwork, work tables, and other items dependent on lighting conditions, the Sun Seeker app is recommended by architect John Maniscalco, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory. "Using the GPS in the phone, you can stand on a site, move the phone across the sky and it will show you where the sun will be located at various times of day and times of year. It's very useful for understanding site conditions and daylighting." The Sun Seeker App for Android is $5.99 and the Sun Seeker App for iPhone and iPad is $6.99. Image via Advanced Window Tint

Handyman DIY App, Remodelista

 Above: Wish you had a handyman to help figure out how much paint or carpet you need? The Handy Man DIY for iPhone and iPad ($1.99) and Handy Man Calculator for Android (free) help calculate room dimensions, square footage, and costs. The app also offers shopping and task lists, as well as DIY tutorials.

Ash Wood Floors, Remodelista  

Above: Stumble across your dream wood floors at a restaurant? Use the ID Wood App for iPhone and iPad ($4.99) to help identify the wood and find out if it's applicable to your setup.

Inspiration

Remodelista iPad and iPhone App, Remodelista  

Above: Looking for the perfect couch, stylish DIYs, or inspiration to refresh your space? Admittedly, we're biased, but the Remodelista App for iPhone and iPad ($2.99) allows you to peruse Remodelista's daily content with simple finger scrolling. The entire Remodelista archive of posts is browsable, as well as a list of all products associated with each post. The Remodelista LITE version is free. 

Pinterest App Kitchen, Remodelista
Above: Pinterest has an app that not only allows you to pin photos (onto boards of your choosing) while browsing on your mobile device, but also enables you to access your Pinterest account and all the clippings you've already saved and organized. It provides a great way to plan projects and share your image inspiration on the go—shown here, a peek at my Pinterest kitchen board. The Pinterest App for iPhone and iPad and the Pinterest App for Android are both free. 

Phaidon Design Classics App, Remodelista

Above: Phaidon Design Classics App for iPhone and iPad ($14.99) puts Phaidon's three-volume illustrated history of 1,000 timeless product designs at your fingertips in an easily navigable app. A product design encyclopedia tucked into your mobile device.

Benjamin Moore Color Capture, Remodelista

Above: Paint manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon with paint color apps that are fun and inspiring. Benjamin Moore's Color Capture App for iPhone and iPad (and Color Capture for Android) allows you to snap a photo of a color inspiration and get the match from Benjamin Moore's paint colors. Both versions are free.

A fan of Pantone colors? The myPantone App for iPhone and iPad (and myPantone for Android) lets you carry the Pantone color chart in your device; $9.99 and $7.99 respectively.

Buyer beware! Philip Reno, owner of G & R paints and creator of Philip's Perfect Colors, warns that while paint color apps can be used as an inspirational tool, their utility beyond that is limited. "None of them have the capability to accurately represent paint colors as they are in the real world," Reno says. "The difference between the emitted light from a screen display and the reflected light of paint on a wall has not been satisfactorily bridged to date. Paint color is so subtle, it's just one of those things you have to see to appreciate."

Project Organization and Management

Asana Task Management App, Remodelista  

Above: Allison Bloom of Dehn Bloom Design uses task management apps with her clients to share To-Do lists, photos, product links, and the like. The Asana Mobile App for iPhone and iPad and the Asana Mobile App for Android are free.

Wondering which gardening apps are worthwhile? See Gardenista's pick of the Top 10 Gardening Apps You Need Now and the Best Gardening Apps for iPads. Living with too many cords and gadgets? Here are 10 Ways to De-Clutter your Tech Experience. Also check out these Wood, Leather, and Stone Wireless Chargers from France.

11 German-Made Kitchen Essentials

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The BWMs and Mercedes of the precision kitchen world, courtesy of the Germans. Here's a dozen kitchen tools, storage containers, and cleaning supplies we're currently coveting.

Kitchen Tools

Famos Vegetable Peeler Remodelista

Above: The Famos Vegetable Peeler is $12 from Kiosk in NYC.

Wesco Storage Williams Sonoma/Remodelista

Above: Williams-Sonoma offers a range of storage containers from venerable German company Wesco. A set of three Wesco Canisters (top shelf left) is $99.95; available in white or red. The Wesco Cookie Box (top shelf right) is $59.95; available in white or red. The Wesco Grandy Bread Box (bottom shelf) is available in white, gray, or red; $79.95.

Red Kitchen Sheers Germany Remodelista

Above: Stainless steel Kitchen Scissors made by the 275-year-old J.A. Henckels company; $110 from Kiosk.

Wagenfeld Tea Pot/Remodelista

Above: The Wagenfeld Tea Pot, designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1931 and manufactured by Jenaer Glas, is €135.90 from Connox.

Alfi Vacuum Carafe/Remodelista

Above: A favorite with European hoteliers, the Alfi Thermal Carafe is available in three sizes from Williams-Sonoma; prices start at $179.95 for the small size.

Messermeister Knives/Remodelista

Above: Messermeister Knives are made from carbon steel alloy using the original hot-drop, hammer-forged manufacturing process. We especially like the Oliva Elite series, which feature Italian olive wood handles (prices start at $85 for the Spear Point Paring Knife).

Jenaer Glass Oil and Vinegar Cruets/Remodelista

Above: The Oil/Vinegar Drizzlers are made of laboratory glass by Jenaer Glas; €35 each from Manufactum. The design was singled out in the Remodelista book in the Remodelista 100, our roundup of favorite everyday things. Lookalike Glass Cruets are available from Chef's Planet starting at $12.50

Cleaning

Wesco Singleboy Trash Can/Remodelista

Above: The German-made Wesco Singleboy 3.4-Gallon Trash Can is $129.95 at Crate & Barrel.

Redecker Dustpan Brush/Remodelista

Above: The German-made Dustpan and Broom Set by Redecker is $68 at the Joinery.

Redecker Black Bucket Father Rabbit/Remodelista

Above: The dark galvanized metal Redecker Wash Bucket is NZ $35.50 from Father Rabbit.

Maier German Kitchen Brush/Remodelista

Above: The German-made Maier Nonstick Pan Cleaning Brush is $4.50 from Williams-Sonoma.

Are you as obsessed with everyday objects as we are? See Display-Worthy Brooms, the Last Trash Bin You'll Ever BuyCans from a Cleanliness-Obsessed Nation, and the Dustpan No. 1. And gardeners, have a look at 10 Easy Pieces: Potting Shed Brushes and our favorite Indoor/Outdoor Tool Sets.

Design Solution: Industrial Kitchen Vents as Decor

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Exposed vents are the perfect example of how to turn a remodeling obstacle into appealing decor. We like the way a basic vent can add an industrial note in the kitchen.

Kitchen in Tuscany, Italy by Giorgio Brogi | Remodelista

Above: A kitchen in Tuscany designed by Giorgio Brogi and seen on Office for Word and Image (OWI).

Levenson McDavid Architects' Kitchen, Exposed Kitchen Vent | Remodelista

Above: An exposed vent snakes across the ceiling in a Brooklyn kitchen by Levenson McDavid Architects. The kitchen's countertops are also featured in 10 Easy Pieces: Remodelista Kitchen Countertop Picks.

Shoreditch, London Loft from Interieur Magazine | Remodelista

Above: A loft in Shoreditch, London, spotted on Interièur Magazin.

Small Space Urban Kitchen from Murdock Young Architects | Remodelista

Above: A small urban kitchen with a prominently placed crooked vent by architects Murdock Young.

White Loft by Qb3 in Philadelphia | Remodelista

Above: A loft in Philadelphia by Qb3 has an exposed vent running along the ceiling between the kitchen and dining room.

Industrial Kitchen Vent in Kitchen Photographed by John Granen | Remodelista

Above: A kitchen in Seattle with a dramatic vertical vent; photograph by John Granen.

For more ideas, see 8 Rustic Wood-Clad Vent Hoods. For architecture with an industrial style, have a look at this Copper-Clad Modernist Gem in the Woods.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on June 6, 2009 as part of our Organic Appeal issue.


Remodeling 101: The U-Shaped Kitchen

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Ideal for small spaces, U-shaped kitchens (sometimes called C-shaped kitchens) can accommodate only one or two cooks, depending on the width of the U. As its name suggests, this configuration features a horseshoe-shaped work area, with cabinets and counters running around three sides with an open end for access. At its most narrow, it can be as compact as a galley kitchen. Going a bit wider (if your space allows) might seem desirable, but go too wide and you reduce efficiency, because the points of contact within the work triangle (stove, refrigerator, and sink) get too far apart. Have a look at 10 of our favorite U-shaped kitchens to see how to strike the right balance and figure out if the U is the right layout for you. 

U-shaped kitchen layout diagram | Remodelista
 

Above: A diagram illustrates how the ergonomic kitchen work triangle (stove, fridge, and sink) works in a U-shaped kitchen. Image via Kitchens Interior Dezine.

Julie Carlson U Shaped Kitchen/Remodelista

Above: Julie's horseshoe kitchen in Mill Valley, CA, is small but efficient. "Dinnertime drop-ins are a frequent occurrence, and I love to cook, so it was important to me that the kitchen be outfitted for action," she says. Her architect, Jerome Buttrick, provided well-designed storage that allows for all of the necessities to be kept on hand but out of sight. Inset open-shelving creates an eye-catching mixing bowl display. For a full tour and dissection of the kitchen, see the Remodelista bookPhotograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Kevin Dakan Kitchen/Remodelista

Above: New York architect Kevin Dakan brings texture to the back wall of this Brooklyn townhouse kitchen with glazed subway tile that runs all the way up to the ceiling. Image via Kevin Dakan Architect.

House Call, Kathleen Whitaker, Echo Park U-Shaped Kitchen | Remodelista  

Above: When jewelry designer Kathleen Whitaker remodeled her turn of the century home in Echo Park, Los Angeles, she found she liked the way the existing U-shaped kitchen formed a separate cooking area from the dining area. Whitaker's only update was to repaint the cabinets in Avocado Peel from Martha Stewart Living. Photograph by Nancy Neil. N.B.: Take a stroll through Whitaker's equally inviting garden in Tropical Paradise in LA's Echo Park.  

U-shaped white kitchen with butcher block countertops and a butler's sink | Remodelista

Above: A butler's sink and overhead open shelves provide the focus in designer and blogger Sarah Sherman Samuel's small cabin kitchen on the shores of Lake Michigan. Image via Smitten Studio. (N.B.: Have a look at Sarah's newly remodeled kitchen in LA employing what she calls "the ultimate Ikea hack": Ikea cabinets and custom doors).

U-Shaped White Kitchen with Stainless Steel Appliances | Remodelista

Above: The ceiling in this white U-shaped kitchen with stainless steel appliances has been raised to give the space more definition. Image via Sortrachen.

Erin Bennett Jenkins, U-Shaped Kitchen, Atlanta, Georgia | Remodelista

Above: Prop stylist Erin Bennet-Jenkins removed a wall between the cooking and dining area of her 1926 Craftsman house in Atlanta before installing a U-shaped peninsula. Image by Amy Herr and Tracey Brower via The Kitchn.

U-Shaped Kitchen, sink under arched window, bracketed shelsves above countertops | Remodelista

Above: Architect Tim Barber designed a U-shaped kitchen for a new house in Palisades, CA. Running beadboard behind the open shelves enhances the traditional cabinetry detailing. Image via Tim Barber Ltd Architecture.

U-shaped kitchen, white with soapstone countertops and blue subway tiled backsplash | Remodelista

Above: In the remodel of this U-shaped kitchen in Portland, Oregon, Opal Blue Tiles by Heath Ceramics create a bold backdrop. Architect Michael Howells of Howells Architecture & Design offers his insight on the essentials for a successful remodel in Rehab Diaries: An Oregon Kitchen with a Dose of Downton Abbey. Photography by Anna M. Campbell.

Kviks Bianco U-shaped peninsula kitchen in tall ceiling 19th century room | Remodelista

Above: A U-shaped peninsula kitchen brings crisp modern detailing to an ornate, tall-ceilinged 19th-century room. Image courtesty of Kvik A/S

RAAD, U-Shaped Kitchen, hand-rubbed steel, lap joined teak | Remodelista

Above: New York firm RAAD Studio introduce warmth to a modern kitchen by using hand-rubbed steel and lap-joined teak.

As the warm weather approaches, is it time to think about your outdoor kitchen? Get started with 10 Favorites: Ultimate Outdoor Kitchens. Like the look of Heath Ceramics Tiles but fear they're out of your budget? Read Tile Intel: A Budget Remodel with Heath Seconds.

10 Easy Pieces: Countertop Paper Towel Holders

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Here at Remodelista, we've put a lot of energy into sleuthing the perfect toilet paper holders, toilet brushes and receptaclesdoormats, brooms and dustpans, and dish drainers. But somehow, until now, we've overlooked the countertop paper towel holder (perhaps because the more conscientious among us have stopped using paper towels altogether). Nonetheless if, like me, you aren't blessed with a built-in paper towel niche in the kitchen, you likely have a roll standing naked on the countertop for use at least now and then. Here are our 10 favorite countertop paper towel holders to help wrangle the roll.

Ceramic and Wood Paper Towel Holder from Williams-Sonoma | Remodelista

Above: From Williams-Sonoma, the Ceramic and Wood Paper Towel Holder has a solid maple dowel and glazed white ceramic base and end knob; $19.95.

David Mellor Kitchen Paper Towel Roll | Remodelista

Above: David Mellor's Kitchen Roll Holder is made from hand-turned ash wood and is £22 at David Mellor in London.

CUSI Paper Towel Roll Holder | Remodelista

Above: The CUSI Paper Towel Roll Holder by Blomus is fabricated from stainless steel and fits a standard-size roll; $34.19 at Lumens.

West Elm Raw Wood Paper Towel Holder | Remodelista

Above: West Elm's Raw Wood Paper Towel Holder is made of acacia wood and brass-toned metal; $29.

Copper Paper Towel Holder from Williams-Sonoma | Remodelista

Above: The Copper Paper Towel Holder is made from solid recycled copper and has two brass knobs; $89.95 from Williams-Sonoma.

Holder for Tear-Off My Drap Napkins | Remodelista

Above: The Tear-Off Napkin Holder made by Algo Design pairs with their cloth My Drap napkins a paper towel alternative; €5.90 at Merci in Paris.

Scanwood Kitchenroll Holder | Remodelista

Above: From Danish company Scanwood, the Kitchenroll Holder is made from sustainably harvested beech wood; £20 at Karlsson.

French Kitchen Marble Paper Towel Roll Holder | Remodelista

Above: Crate & Barrel's French Kitchen Paper Towel Holder is made from gray-veined Carrara marble; $19.95.

Ikea Torkad Paper Towel Holder | Remodelista

Above: The very simple Torkad Papertowel Holder is made of galvanized steel; $1.99 at Ikea.

Skagerak Bollard Paper Towel Roll Holder | Remodelista

Above: Skagerak's Bollard Paper Towel Holder has a small recess in its wooden base to keep the end of the roll from unwinding. Made of teak wood and steal, the holder is $70 at Fjørn Scandinavian.

Allied Brass Polished Brass Paper Towel Holder | Remodelista

Above: The Polished Brass Kitchen Paper Holder from Allied Brass is $48.99 on Amazon.

See wall-mounted versions in our post, 10 Easy Pieces: Wall-Mounted Paper Towel Holders. And for more toilet paper holders, visit 5 Quick Fixes: Inventive Toilet Paper Storage and DIY Toilet Roll Holders. Another use for paper towels beyond the standard kitchen clean-up? Sprouting seeds (as seen on Gardenista).

Remodeling 101: The L-Shaped Kitchen

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Looking for a kitchen layout, with space for multiple cooks and onlookers? Consider the versatile L-shape, a two-walled setup that tucks neatly into a corner while remaining open to the surrounding space. The L-shaped kitchen works especially well in lofts and open-living setups where it's often wrapped around an island or dining table. Here's a look at some favorite examples:

L-Shaped Kitchen Diagram | Remodelista

Above: A diagram illustrates how the ergonomic kitchen work triangle (stove, refrigerator and sink) can work in an L-shaped kitchen. Image via Archway Construction.

Obumex L-Shaped Kitchen, dark wood cabinets, cararra marble countertops and shelves | Remodelista

Above: Shelves run across the short leg of this L-shaped kitchen, providing open storage for artwork and ceramics. Image via Obumex

O'neill Rose West Side Townhouse, L-Shaped Kitchen with island, white subway tiles | Remodelista

Above: A streamlined fireplace and island face an expansive L-shaped kitchen in a New York brownstone by architecture firm O'neill Rose, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Design Directory. A window wall at the far end provides storage and separates the working kitchen from the breakfast room. See how O'neill Rose rebuilt the house behind a landmarked 19th century facade in A Brownstone for the 21st CenturyPhotograph by Michael Moran

Nynne Rosenvinge L-Shaped Kitchen in Copenhagen | Remodelista

Above: Danish illustrator Nynne Rosenvinge's L-shaped kitchen in Copenhagen is a study in black and white with disciplined pops of color. Image via Femina.  

Kitchen Lab Linden, L-Shaped Kitchen with gray island, turquoise bar stools | Remodelista

Above: A marble-topped island is the focus of this L-shaped kitchen with subway-tiled walls. Image via Kitchen Lab Design

L-Shsped kitchen, white cabinets, butcher block countertops, wood kidney shaped dining table, Dinesen Heart Oak Floor | Remodelista

Above: Butcher block counters and a Dinesen Heart Oak Floor complement a wooden dining table in an otherwise rigorously white L-shaped kitchen in Copenhagen. Image via Archilovers

Fantastic Frank, L-Shaped Kitchen in Sweden, unfinished wood floors, open wood shelves, white subway tiles | Remodelista

Above: Black cabinets with concrete countertops anchor a light and airy—and enviably tall-ceilinged—L-shaped kitchen in Rotterdam. Image from Fantastic Frank via April and May

Clare Cousins, Flinders Lane L-Shaped Kitchen in Melbourne, Plywood Cabinets | Remodelista

Above: Plywood cabinets form an inviting L-shaped kitchen in a Melbourne apartment by architect Clare Cousins. Like to create something similar? See our Steal This Look and tour the full apartment in An Artful Makeover with Plywood

Cadeirs, Eiffel L-Shaped Kitchen, Farmhouse table with white Eames chairs | Remodelista

Above: L-shaped kitchens are often seen in farm-style country kitchens with much-used dining tables. Image via Lonny Magazine on Flickr. 

Brooklyn Home Company, L-Shaped Kitchen, Open storage shelves | Remodelista

Above: The Brooklyn Home Company created an L-shaped country kitchen with a long wood table and open shelving in a Brooklyn townhouse apartment. 

Abi Campbell L-Shaped Kitchen in London, Plain English cabinets | Remodelista  

Above: London photographer Abi Campbell's L-shaped kitchen has a Carrara-marble counter and Plain English cabinets that end in a glass-doored pantry. See more details, including the pantry layout, in a Photographer's Kitchen in London. Inspired? See Kitchen Confidential: 10 Ways to Achieve the Plain English LookPhotograph by Matt Clayton.

We'll be examining kitchen layouts all week. So far we've looked at The U-Shaped Kitchen and Kitchen Islands Gone Glamorous. If you've got your eye on a wood floor for your kitchen, see The World's Most Beautiful Wood Floors. For advice on all sorts of remodeling issues, dip into our Remodeling 101 archive.

Trend Alert: Pierre Jeanneret's Modern Classic Caned Teak Chair

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If money were no object I would live surrounded by French modern classics by Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, and Pierre Jeanneret. From Jeanneret (Swiss architect and cousin of Le Corbu), I would opt for the V-Type Armchair, recognizable by its angular teak frame and caned seat and back. It's a midcentury icon that hasn't been reissued—and yet Jeanneret's design is more ubiquitous than you might expect. Here are five examples spotted of late in the houses of notable architects and designers.

N.B.: For those on the hunt, the V-Type can be sourced on 1st Dibs and eBay for a price; West Elm's Slope Leg Dining Chair evokes the design's rakish legs.

Pierre Jeanneret Chair in Vincent Van Duysen House, David Spero for T Magazine | Remodelista

Above: Pierre Jeanneret's armchair looks very much at home in the spacioius living room of Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen (the tables are Van Duysen's own design). Photographed by David Spero for T Magazine.

Pierre Jeanneret Chairs in Joseph Dirand Apartment | Remodelista

Above: A pair of armchairs flank an island in a dramatic kitchen in St. Germain des Pres, Paris, designed by Joseph Dirand, via 11 Kitchen Islands Gone Glamorous.

Pierre Jeanneret Chairs in an English Kitchen by David Kohn | Remodelista

Above: Jeanneret's chairs dress up a rustic-modern kitchen in a converted stable in the UK by architect David Kohn. To recreate the look, visit Steal This Look: An English Kitchen with a Rustic-Modern Edge.

Pierre Jeanneret Chairs in the Dining Room of Designer Nicholas Schuybroek | Remodelista

Above: Belgian architect Nicholas Schuybroek has an ebonized version of the V-Type in his living room and teak V-Types around his dining table; photo via Coffeeklatch.

Nicholas Schuybroek Designed Hotel in Côte d'Azur | Remodelista

Above: Two of Jeanneret's caned Folding Armless Easy Chairs in the S House in Cap d'Antibes, Côte d'Azur, designed by Nicholas Schuybroek.

Dining Room Designed by Rose Tarlow | Remodelista

Above: A set of ebonized armchairs surround the dining table in a flat designed by Rose Tarlow and Richard Meier, seen on Meta Interiors.

Pierre Jeanneret Armchairs in Axel Verdoordt Book | Remodelista

Above: A pair of armchairs featured in Belgian designer Axel Vervoordt's book, Axel Vervoordt: Living with Light.

What's next in the world of interiors trends? Shiro Kuramata's Must-Have Vase of the Design Cognoscenti, Your Grandmother's Cut Crystal, Geometric Wood Floors, and Ugly Marble in the Bath. And on Gardenista, see Trend Alert: Black Fences.

One-Room Living: A Shape-Shifting Studio Apartment in London

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When a young, single Londoner set out to buy an apartment in the center of the city, she discovered she had two options: she could afford to buy a characterless one bedroom, or she could downsize to a studio and have some money leftover to make it her own.

She opted for a tiny studio—just 290 square feet—with high ceilings and charming details, and partnered with Jennifer Beningfield of Openstudio Architects (members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory) to transform it into an adaptable living, working, and cooking space tailored exactly for her. The pair co-opted half of the high ceiling as a sleeping loft—adding another 80 square feet—then created a masterful modular plan for the main room. 

There, the kitchen and office space remain hidden when not in use. Says Beningfield, "The problem with open kitchens in small spaces is that the entire space looks like a kitchen, with all the mess (or constant cleaning up) that entails." Beningfield painted the room a warm white and cleverly assigned bright colors to its customized features, so that the kitchen or office define the space when engaged, but fully retreat when not in use. "The idea was to create a room that moves and changes around the client," says Beningfield.

Photography by Richard Bryant.

Openstudio Architecture Blue Small Space Configurable Kitchen in London, Remodelista

Above: The studio's blue kitchen is tucked under the sleeping loft and, when its sliding track door and folding doors are open, it overlooks the main living space. The kitchen's leftmost wall slides away from the fixed countertop to provide extra prep space via the bread board.

Openstudio Architecture Modular Configurable Studio Apartment in London, Remodelista

Above: The kitchen is shown here half-open to the living room. Almost unbelievably, the architect managed to fit a sink, refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, oven, and induction range within the compact space.

Openstudio Architecture Small Space Blue Laminate Configurable Kitchen in London, Remodelista

Above: The kitchen's blue surface is laminate from French company Polyrey. The white cabinets are polyurethane lacquer over MDF.

Openstudio Architecture White Drawers Small Space Configurable Kitchen in London, Remodelista

Above: The kitchen drawers line up with the rise of the stairs to the sleeping loft. Says the architect, "Everything fits together like a three-dimensional puzzle. We used every inch of available storage space."

Openstudio Architecture Small Space Living Modular Configurable Kitchen and Living Room in London, Remodelista

Above: When its doors are closed, the kitchen is completely hidden from the main room.

Openstudio Architecture Turquoise Small Space Configurable Office in London, Remodelista

Above: The office space is set off in turquoise. Like the kitchen, it can be put to use or concealed behind doors as desired.

Openstudio Architecture Small Space Studio Apartment in London, Remodelista

Above: Though the apartment is small, it has height and character: its tall sash windows open onto a small balcony and communal garden.

Floor Plan of Small Space Openstudio Architecture Studio Apartment in London, Remodelista

Above: The floor plan of the 290 square-foot main room details the architect's color-coded, shape-shifting solution for the space.

Find more small-space solutions in The Architect Is In: A Tiny Live/Work Loft Made Large and, on Gardenista, Small-Scale Gardening in San Francisco. Also don't miss: Radical Downsizing: High/Low Mini Kitchens and 10 Ingenious Space-Efficient Kitchens.

Remodeling 101: The Eat-in Kitchen

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People with eat-in kitchens always describe them as the heart of the house. It's easy to see why. So much of daily life can—and does—take place in these hubs. And the more people that pack in the merrier. It's no wonder so many childhood memories take place in eat-in kitchens. Have a look at some of our favorite designs, including Julianne Moore's glamorous living room-style kitchen.

Sheila Narusawa Eat-in-Kitchen, Cape Cod | Remodelista

Above: Cape Cod architect Sheila Narusawa, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, is a firm believer in putting rooms to multiple uses. In the Cape Cod house she designed for herself and her husband, she incorporated the kitchen and dining room into one lofty setup, that, as she says, "works equally well for morning oatmeal and for dinner parties." The trestle table was a wedding gift from her husband's siblings and was built to Narusawa's exact specifications: it's 8 feet long and 30 inches wide, which, she says, are the "magic numbers if you want a design that has room for people and tableware, but still allows for intimate conversations." See more of the kitchen an tour the whole house in the Remodelista book. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista. 

Scandi Eat-in Kitchen with Mint Green cabinets | Remodelista

Above: A mirrored ball and Cararra marble backsplash (that runs the full length of the wall) add hints of luxury and glamour to Scandinavian stylist and writer Emma Persson Lagerberg's informal eat-in kitchen. Learn how to recreate the look in A Mint Green Kitchen by a Scandinavian Stylist

L-shaped Eat-In-Kitchen with White Arne Jacobsen Ant Chairs | Remodelista

Above: In a bright Sonoma, California, kitchen with a polished concrete floor, a farmhouse dining table is mixed with midcentury-inspired bentwood chairs. The house is a recent construction and its basic plan is available for $2,500; see Sonoma Farmhouse by Houseplans to learn more. 

Eat-in kitchen, Belgian Guesthouse | Remodelista

Above: The dining table in the eat-in kitchen of the Heerlijheid van Marrem guesthouse in  West Flander, Belgium, is well placed to take in views of the surrounding orchards and fields. The guesthouse accommodates 20-23 people, and is perfect for family gatherings. See Glamorous Farm for Rent, Belgian Edition for a full tour.

Sage Design Farmhouse Style Eat-in Kitchen | Remodelista

Above: The ultimage eat-in kitchen is large enough to fit a sofa—as seen in this New England kitchen by Sage Design. Photograph via Sage Design. 

Eat-in kitchen in Berlin Atrium House, Eames Chairs | Remodelista

Above: An early sixties vibe pervades the eat-in kitchen of this renovation by Bfs Design of a 1957 house in Berlin built for the International Building Exhibition. To recreate the look, see Muted Color in a Mod German Kitchen. )

Ben Pentreat Dorset Parsonage Eat-in Kitchen | Remodelista

Above: London architect and designer Ben Pentreath's eat-in kitchen in his Dorset parsonage speaks of utility as evidenced by the Sheila Maid laundry airer hanging above the AGA range. Pentreath uses the house's original cupboards for storage and display. See the whole kitchen in A Work in Progress: Ben Pentreath's Parsonage in Dorset.

Tin Ceiling Rustic Eat-In Kitchen | Remodelista

Above: A wooden table and high-back chairs lend an air of formality to a rustic kitchen with tin ceilings and a galvanized metal backsplash. Image from Homelife via Mad About the House

White Eat-in Kitchen with dark wood floors | Remdelista

Above: A modern crisp white kitchen inserted into the rear parlor of a 19th century townhouse. Photograph via Home Shopping Spy

Julianne Moore, Oliver Freundlich, Formal Eat-in Kitchen | Remodelista

Above: Actress Julianne Moore's newly finished eat-in kitchen in New York occupies the former back parlor of her historic townhouse. And with its freestanding, furniture-like cabinetry and large-scale art, the design gracefully straddles the line between kitchen and living room. It's the work of Oliver Freundlich, who happens to have designed another standout New York kitchen we're spotlighting later today: watch for Rehab Diary. For a full tour and dissection of Julianne Moore's kitchen, see the Remodelista book and our post Behind the Scenes: 5 Design Lessons from Julianne Moore. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista. 

Thinking about doing away with your dining room in favor of a formal eat-in kitchen? Read Michelle's Gardenista Domestic Dispatch: The Death of the Dining Room. We're examining kitchen layouts all week. So far we've looked at The L-Shaped Kitchen, The U-Shaped Kitchen, and Kitchen Islands Gone Glamorous. Tomorrow: the galley kitchen. For advice on all sorts of remodeling issues, dip into our Remodeling 101 archive

Required Reading: The Inspired Home, Nests of Creatives

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Rizzoli’s newly released The Inspired Home: Nests of Creatives by Kim Ficaro and Todd Nickey is one of our favorite interiors books of late (the Remodelista book notwithstanding). It's a refreshing look at a variety of approaches to living, rather than the depiction of a particular style. The book presents 17 houses belonging to creative people whose quarters telegraph personal and inspired approaches to living. 

Ficaro, a prop and interiors stylist, and Nickey, an interior designer and co-owner of Nickey Kehoe, one of our favorite design shops in LA, are in the business of helping create spaces for others. For this book, however, they stepped back and used their curatorial vision to document the work of others. They discovered an array of creative types, from designers and tastemakers to writers and musicians, whose passions and sensibilities are reflected in their surroundings. And since the book is devoted to presenting nests, the duo use avian references to categorize their subjects: fashion designer Rogan Gregory, for instance, is a Sandpiper, while architect Vincent Van Duysen is the book's Mourning Dove.

Ficaro and Nickey note that while their daily work is about lending their taste and style to projects,  The Inspired Home gave them "the opportunity to look through a different lens: it let us appreciate the beauty and composition of what's in front of us without our input.” Mission well accomplished.

Photography by Ditte Isager.

nspired Home Ditte Isager Danish house | Remodelista

Above: Interiors and lifestyle photographer Ditte Isager shot all 17 of the houses featured in the book, including her and her partner Christian Vang's own country house on the outskirts of Copenhagen. It's one of our favorites in the book; here's a preview, starting with the open living and kitchen space.

nspired Home Ditte Isager Danish living room | Remodelista

Above: A view of the garden from a cot used as a bench.

nspired Home Ditte Isager patchwork tile sink | Remodelista

Above: Tiles in shades of gray form a patchwork backsplash for the bathroom sink with brass taps. 

nspired Home Ditte Isager living room | Remodelista

Above: A wall of the living space is devoted to art and records. The rustic table and bench are made by the couple's friend Andrea Brugi.

nspired Home Ditte Isager bedroom | Remodelista

Above: A serene, large-format photograph by Isager and a chandelier hang above the bed. 

nspired Home Ditte Isager bathroom | Remodelista

Above: A claw-foot bathtub sits at the end of the bed. Next to is the loo, the only room with a door in the open living space.

Inspired Home Nests of Creatives Rizzoli Ficaro Nickey | Remodelista

Above: The Inspired Home: Nests of Creatives by Kim Ficaro and Todd Nickey, with texts by Mayer Rus and Sarah Sophie Flicker, is available from Amazon for $38.41. 

To see our posts on other worthy design books, go to Required Reading. And if you don't yet have a copy of Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home, buy it here. Getting ready to return to the garden? Have a look at Gardenista's Favorite Titles and don't miss Michelle's Domestic Dispatch: My Worst Design Decision Ever (hint: it involves getting rid of books).


Expert Advice: Coffee Tips from Alice Gao

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As you might have noticed, we're having something of a coffee moment at Gardenista. So when we kept on seeing beautifully framed shots of cappuccinos and cortados pop up on the Instagram feed of one of our favorite New York City photographers, we had to get in touch.

Alice Gao, whose work you can see in Of What Use is the Tuileries to Us? shares photos featuring her discerning taste in coffee with her 709,758 Instagram followers daily. A photographer by trade, she's also a coffee aficionado in practice. We wanted to know: what does she look for in the perfect cup of coffee, and what are her tips for brewing a cup that lives up to her high standards?

Photography by Alice Gao for Gardenista.

Above: The view from above; a morning scene in Alice's Manhattan apartment.

GD: What's your current favorite spot for drinking coffee when out and about in New York?
AG: It's hard to say because it's constantly changing. For quality of coffee, I still really enjoy Blue Bottle. The one in Chelsea has a siphon bar on the upper level, which is my favorite place to linger over a cup of excellently made drip coffee (the Belgian waffles are a bonus). For atmosphere and café design, I love Cafe OST in the East Village. Marble tabletops, Thonets, and beautiful afternoon light. Sigh. I also have a soft spot for Abraço, on East 7th Street, because it was my neighborhood shop for so long. 

Above: A cup of pour over, made at home.

GD: When looking for the perfect cup of coffee, what are your criteria? 
AG: Well, for one, the place needs to be able to consistently pump out a good cup of coffee, no matter who is behind the bar. One thing I hate is only being able to go somewhere when "that one good barista" is working. Because I am so precise at home with measuring beans and water, I look to see how the café is doing pour overs. Are they just ballparking it, or using a scale, timer, and temperature-controlled water? As for espresso drinks, it's all about taste and texture for me. I can't stand over-extracted bitter espresso, and don't even get me started on heaps of dry foam in my cappuccino. There should be a nice velvety feel to my cappuccino and a good balance of milk and espresso. 

GD: Do you order the same thing every time, or do you change it up?
AG: I do change it up depending on my mood. In the summer, I like iced cortados. Otherwise, I usually order cappuccinos or drip coffee. 

GD: What are your essential coffee making tools at home coffee?
AG:

GD: Any beans preference?
AG: I personally prefer beans of Ethiopian origin—Yirgacheffe is one of my go-to regions. (A 1-pound bag of Blue Bottle Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Gelena Abaya Natural is $24.) When I can find them, Ethiopia Nekisse and Panama Gesha beans are a real treat, but they're rare (and quite expensive). I trust Blue Bottle and Stumptown the most when it comes to a proper roast. I can always find single-origin beans that were roasted just a few days ago when I go to their locations in the city. I always, always check the roast date. If you want to get truly geeky about it, I especially like Blue Bottle's small lot roasts of Ninety Plus beans, which are really special. But, I definitely encourage trying out all sorts of regions and roasters to find your preference. 

GD: Coffee pet peeves?
AG:

  • Freezing beans. It's a misconception that this extends the life of beans. 
  • When people take so long to photograph or Instagram their cappuccino that the entire top bubbles over and really, the drink "dies."
  • Pre-ground beans. Just no. 
  • Inconsistency at cafés (as mentioned above).

What do you think? How does Alice's routine compare to your daily cup of joe?

Captivated by Chemex? See Amanda's 7 Secrets: Tips to Make Perfect Cup of Coffee. And have a look at our Coffee & Tea posts, including The Greenest Coffee Shop in the World and A Chinese Teahouse in Paris (with 125-Year-Old Tea).

Trend Alert: 10 Artful Coffee Drippers

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The slow coffee movement is all about the handmade: roast by hand, drip by hand, syphon by hand. So why not ditch the factory made for handmade when it comes to coffee makers? Here, for the pour over enthusiast, are 10 artist-made coffee drippers to complete the artful morning ritual.

Masanobu Ando Coffee Dripper | Remodelista

Above: The Masanobu Ando Coffee Dripper is made in Japan with a precisely angled design for optimal extraction; $120 CAD at Mjölk.

Paula Grief Ceramic Coffee Dripper | Remodelista

Above: Brooklyn ceramic artist Paula Grief makes a porcelain 2-cup coffee dripper with a blue striped design; contact Paula Grief to custom order one of her designs. See our visit to her handmade kitchen Paula Grief in Brooklyn.

Coffee Dripper in Black Ceramic from Alder & Co. | Remodelista

Above: Handmade in Japan, the Ceramic Coffee Dripper has an ash glaze that resembles iron; $80 at Alder & Co.

Merkleware Ceramic Drip Coffee Maker Single Serving | Remodelista

Above: Made from white stoneware, the Ceramic Coffee Dripper and Carafe by Merkleware is available through Iko Iko; contact directly for pricing and availability.

Joseph Hartley Coffee Dripper/Remodelista

Above: Manchester, UK-based Joseph Hartley's coffee system consists of a thrown jug and funnel; his Terracotta Coffee Dripper, compatible with Hario v60 filter papers, is £80 from Fao Shop.

  Beckon Coffee System/Remodelista

Above: Made in Bushwick, Jennica Johnstone's Ceramic Coffee Dripper is $35 from Beckon and comes with a glass mug and coffee filters to get you started.

  Utsuwa Coffee Dripper/Remodelista

Above: A faceted coffee dripper from Tenstone in Japan.

Elizabeth Benotti Porcelain Coffee Dripper with Design | Remodelista

Above: Artist Elizabeth Benotti's Porcelain Drip Coffee Maker has a herringbone pattern; $44 on Etsy.

Ben Mendansky Coffee Dripper | Remodelista

Above: From Silverlake, LA-based ceramicist Ben Mendansky, the Coffee Dripper includes a satin white glazed dripper and a brass stand. Available from The Primary Essentials in Brooklyn; contact for pricing and availability.

Craighton Berman Coffee Dripper/Remodelista

Above: From Craighton Berman Studio in Chicago, a Kickstarter project: the sculptural Manual Coffeemaker is made of borosilicate glass with a wooden base, and doubles as sculpture.

Still artful but not quite handmade, the Donut Coffee Dripper from Torch in Japan, which we featured in a gift guide. Also have a look at our visits to Caffé Spina in Brooklyn and The Grounds in Sydney on Gardenista.

Rehab Diary: Cobble Hill Kitchen Makeover, Before and After

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Earlier this week we toured Mollie Cohen and Andrew Berman's Brooklyn duplex masterfully remodeled by Oliver Freundlich of Oliver Freundlich Design. Today, we're investigating its rebuilt-from-scratch kitchen.

Photographs by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Before 

Cobble Hill kitchen Before shot | Remodelista

Above: With its speckled granite counters, maple cabinets, and Sheetrock-enclosed fridge, the kitchen had a 1990s upscale condo look. Oliver Freundlich's verdict: "cluttered and off balance." As he explains, "Despite being in the same physical space, the kitchen and dining area were articulated as separate. Empty soffits at the ceiling created a division between the spaces and the kitchen island had a knee wall framed behind it with a higher counter to block the view of the countertop surface from the dining table. This, along with the variety of warm-tone materials that were used, made the kitchen gloomy and generic."

After 

Cobble Hill duplex kitchen remodel designed by Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: Freundlich entirely reconceived the design, reorienting the kitchen away from the corner, lighting up the space via white cabinets and pale wood, and detailing it with a tight, visually pleasing geometry. "The first priority was to make the room feel much brighter," says Freundlich. "Since the ground floor of the apartment is built over a slab, we were relegated to using the back wall of the kitchen for all of the major appliances and fixtures." The island and cabinets are custom built of spray lacquered MDF (which also serves as camouflaging doors for the dishwasher and fridge positioned at either ends of the sink counter). "We chose white lacquer because it keeps the kitchen looking and feeling brand new," says Mollie. The island measures 32 inches by 72 inches and is fronted by shallow storage cabinets that have touch latch openings so they look invisible.

obble Hill duplex kitchen remodel designed by Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: The kitchen and dining area are now united in a compact but airy space in which everything has its place. The new floor is plain-sawn white oak, lightened with wood bleach and finished with Monocoat's Natural Oil Finish in Cotton White. Freundlich introduced baseboards of rift-sawn white oak that have the same gold tones as the island's butcher block top. The existing window and door (which leads to a small garden) were turned into dominant features; Freundlich had them trimmed and painted black; like all the windows in the apartment, this one is finished with a solid oak sill. The clock is the Fartech Retro Modern Calendar Auto Filp Desk Wall Clock, available in three sizes starting at $128 from Homeloo.com on eBay.

obble Hill duplex kitchen remodel designed by Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: Taking his cues from the couple's fondness for flags, Freundlich stuck to a palette of white, black, and red throught the apartment, kitchen included. The dining table (bought by the couple several years ago at the Future Perfect) was repainted black and is surrounded by the 111 Navy Chair in Snow White, $280 each from Emeco. (The chair is so named because each is made from 111 recycled plastic Coke bottles.)  The lights are reproductions of the Dunlop factory pendant from Trainspotters in the UK, and come suspended on chains with a choice of cord colors. The plates are Falcon Enamelware, a Remodelista favorite.

obble Hill duplex kitchen remodel designed by Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: The inside of the island is fitted with two stacking pull-out freezer drawers from Sub Zero. Tucking the freezer into the island enabled Freundlich to install a 27-inch-wide, two-drawer Sub Zero refrigerator in the narrow space next to the range. "Our only kitchen request were drawers—freezer drawers, fridge drawers, dishwasher drawers, and storage drawers," says Mollie. "We prefer drawers because things get lost in the back of cabinets. We left the planning to Oliver. He actually itemized what goes into each drawer, and we haven't deviated from his plan."

obble Hill duplex kitchen remodel designed by Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: The fridge is playfully concealed behind a bulletin board made of Forbo Marmoleum Furniture Bulletin Board 2182 in light gray to match the backsplash tile grout. Andrew is the one who created the parade of tomato sauce cans on top of the fridge: "He always points out how much he likes the design when we're at the market. Now we have a little collection," says Mollie. "It's the cheapest way to spice up the kitchen."

The couple are new cooks—they swear by the recipes and ingredients delivered by Blue Apron—and like storing spices over the stove, even if the containers get a bit greasy. The stainless steel shelves were custom fabricated to continue the line of the upper cabinetry. The milk glass backsplash tiles are Freundlich's homage to Pierre Chareau's 1932 Maison de Verre in Paris. "The tile is unique because it has imperfect edges and a slightly rustic quality that offsets the otherwise pristine white kitchen," he says. It's finished with a contrasting gray industrial grout—"to match the Pierre Chareau inspiration." (Scroll below for the tile source.)

obble Hill duplex kitchen remodel designed by Oliver Freundlich | Remodelista

Above: No dog bowls to trip over—Freundlich thoughtfully inserted a niche at the end of the island and painted it Christian Louboutin red, a nod to Mollie's "shoe thing" (to replicate the shade, Freundlich suggests color matching a pair, or photo, of Louboutin pumps).  For those interested in more of the kitchen's specs, we've gone deep into the design details below.

Materials

Cobble Hill kitchen remodel by Oliver Freundlich materials | Remodelista  

PAINT: The kitchen walls and cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore Glacier White OC-37 (Above L).

TILES: The backsplash is tiled with Italian white milk glass squares, Casa 3/4 Mosaico Blanco Vetro tiles (Above R), from United Tiles, purchased from Town & Country Flooring

CABINETS: The island and cabinets are made of MR (moisture-resistant) MDF that's spray lacquered. Of his choice, Freundlich explains, "MR board is totally flat and smooth, which makes for excellent spray finishing. Moisture resistance is important for avoiding damage when moisture from spills and splashes accidentally sits on the surface. Additionally, slightly rounding the edges of each door, instead of using sharp square edges, prevents damage and chipping." A downside is that the finish is not as forgiving to touchups as a brushed finishes are; repairs to chips and scratches often require refinishing the whole door for an even look. 

COUNTERTOP: The sink counter is indestructible Corian in Glacier White that's 3/4-inch thick: "1 1/4-inch thick is standard; I went with 3/4-inch because it's thin and light and complements the scale of the kitchen," says Freundlich.  

BUTCHER BLOCK: The island's rock maple butcher block top was custom made by Matt Hogan of Reliquary Studio in Brooklyn (who also built the cabinets). Freundlich recommends products from John Boos, such as Hard Rock Maple Kitchen Counter Top, as a good readymade option.  

Appliances and Hardware

KWC Supremo faucet and Sagatsune pull | Remodelista

SINK AND FAUCET: A Franke KBX11028 stainless steel undermount sink, $821 from Faucet Direct, is paired with a KWC Suprimo faucet with black rubber pull-out spray (Above L), $763-$833 from eFaucets. Freundlich notes that there's a minimum of 18 inches of clear counter space on either side of every fixture: "Less than that is impractical."

STOVE: The 30-inch Wolf gas range and companion hood are the only elements from the original kitchen that were preserved. 

REFRIGERATOR: The Sub Zero 700 TR is an an unusually narrow (27-inch-wide) fridge-only model with two drawers; it's been discontinued, but is available from AJ Madison.

FREEZER: Sub Zero 700 BF(I) Freezer Drawers are a compact design that consists of two stacking drawers; like the fridge, this model has been discontinued, but is available from AJ Madison.

DISHWASHER: Fisher & Paykel's Dish Drawer Tall Series is situated next to the sink and concealed behind moisture-resistant MDF panels that match the cabinets. "Mollie and Andrew wanted drawers," says Freundlich,"and compositionally, they work well with the lower cabinet drawers." 

CABINET AND DRAWER HANDLES: Sagatsune FT Classic Style Small Pulls (Above R) are simple classics, available from a wide range of sources, including Lowe's for $23.80 each. They're combined with a slightly larger version of the pull on the appliances.

LIGHT SWITCHES: Lutron's Ariadni/Toggle Dimmer in white metal with exposed screws—"elsewhere, we also used them in black; they keep our palette consistent and pepper the space with utilitarian touches," says Freundlich.

If you like Mollie and Andrew's kitchen, tour the rest of the apartment at Architectural Alchemy: A Cobble Hill Transformation.  And don't miss today's roundup of Eat-In Kitchens, featuring Freundllich's glamorous design for his sister-in-law, Julianne Moore. Thinking about doing away with your dining room in favor of an all-in-one kitchen? Read Michelle's Gardenista Domestic Dispatch: The Death of the Dining Room.

Happier at Home: The Zero-Waste Challenge, Kitchen Edition

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Several months ago, when I posted about Bea Johnson and her Zero Waste Home (in which she and her family of four essentially live waste free), there was a stream of comments from readers both embracing and questioning the idea. The concept of zero-waste living struck a nerve. It also resonated heavily with me and I kept coming back to the idea—which is why last month at the dinner table I suggested to my husband and two kids that we try living zero-waste-free for a week—that's right, create no trash for seven days. My almost-teen daughter, Imogen, and teenager son, Conrad, gave me one of their are-we-really-going-to-do-this looks. Fortunately, my husband, David, who happens not to be a big consumer (with the exception of outdoor gear), proved game, and once we all started talking about it, everyone got on board.

Armed with good intentions and tips from Bea's site Zero Waste Home (printed out on paper, ironically), we wondered, how hard could it be? Well, let’s just say the project was an epic fail. But we did manage one very low (if not zero) waste day, and we learned some lasting lessons along the way. Here’s what happened on that memorable day:

Sarah and family | Remodelista

Above: At home around the dining table with David and our two children. Photograph by Mathew Williams for Remodelista.

Breakfast: homemade granola. Having finally managed to banish large cereal boxes from the house after a ten-year campaign, I thought I had earned a few brownie points with the granola. But then I realized that all the contents with the exception of the oats had come from packaged nuts, fruit, and honey. David has hot cereal (bought in bulk in a reusable bag) with milk. The latter came in a refundable bottle, so we're feeling good about that. Imogen has yogurt from a large plastic container (sending us back three spaces on the Zero Waste Home gameboard). Solution? Switch to Saint Benoît yogurt in recyclable pots (made locally, but more expensive). 

We all have water—four glasses filled to the brim and not all finished when cleared away. We realize that we're pouring away perfectly good water daily. Solution? Each of us picks a different cup/glass/bottle that we've started keeping on the kitchen counter and now use throughout the day, vastly reducing the dishwasher load. The newspaper is delivered in a plastic wrap with an elastic band even though it’s not raining. Time to go electronic.

Saint Benoit recyclable pots at the Stable Cafe

Above: Ceramic yogurt pots from Sonoma Creamery Saint Benoît repurposed as coffee cups at the Stable Cafe in San Francisco.

Showers: I have the kids time themselves and discover they spend way too long preening in the mornings. Having grown up in the UK, I am trying to persuade them that maybe they don’t need to wash their hair daily (it’s better for the hair). And while we're waiting for the shower to heat up, Bea suggests collecting water in a bucket and using it for watering the plants. That one remains on the To Do list. Bea, our role model, is also big on bulk shampoos and conditioners like Dr. Bronners Castlle Soap and suggests making your own toothpaste. A recent clampdown on water usage in our town has all of us aware that running water is a waste, so we're mindful on the toothbrushing front. 

Shiva Rose homemade toothpaste | Remodelista

Above: I like this recipe from naturalist Shiva Rose for toothpaste. The Local Rose is Shiva's blog devoted to healthy, holistic living with lots of good tips.

Caffeine: I pick up a late morning coffee at my local coffee shop and use my ten-ounce We Are Happy to Serve You ceramic cup (see below). I've been doing this for years, always with my own cup, and have managed to master the art of riding a bike and holding coffee in one hand, while only occasionally spilling (proof that plastic lids are highly overrated). I no longer like the taste of coffee in paper cups (that are invariably lined with plastic), and I'm always amazed by how many people can be found sitting in a coffee shop with to-go cups with lids and cup wraps. I’m also a fan of the Kleen Kanteen, which can be used for both hot and cold liquids. For my brew at home, I like Blue Bottle and other companies that use compostable bags instead of ones lined with plastic. 

We are happy to serve you coffee cup | remodelista

Above: My ceramic Greek Coffee Cup: $12 from Uncommon Goods.

Lunch: Imogen packs her lunch (mostly leftovers) in metal containers. Water is in a metal bottle from Sigg, but I note that this one was a freebie and is probably lined with plastic (still, at some point you have to let go). Conrad buys his lunch off campus. He says it’s impossible not to get some sort of wrapping with to-go food, whether it’s a burrito or a slice of pizza. It turns out that he drinks water out of plastic cups at school. He says he’s willing to switch to a metal bottle.

White Sigg metal lunch box | Remodelista

Above: Our favorite lunch tote is the Aluminum Box Mini from Sigg; $31.99.

I have a lunch meeting and order a ginormous kale salad; I end up taking half if it to go, generating a box. One of the Zero Waste Home tenets: bring your own container for leftovers. Why didn't I think of that? (Moving backward on the board again). David picks up a sandwich for lunch served in-store on a paper plate with excessive paper napkins. He puts back most of the napkins. He returns home to find the mail, most of it junk. Even though I get us removed from mailing lists, catalogs keep reappearing. Time to sign up for the National Do Not Mail List.

Errands: In the afternoon, I pick up our bimonthly CSA veggie cardboard box and realize that all of the produce comes in a large plastic bag with a layer of paper on top. I head to the bakery for a loaf of bread and forgo the paper bag, but have to drop it in my cloth bag that has a pen and a couple of coins floating around the bottom (not exactly ideal). Solution: bring the furoshiki I usually keep the bread in on the kitchen counter. (I get mine from Ambatalia.)

Ambatalia furoshiki | Remodelista

Above: A linen furoshiki, a giant dish towel of cotton hemp, made by Ambatalia and ideal for storing bread. Available from the Green Tree General Store for $34.

I drive to Whole Foods equipped: I have my baggies for grains, net bags for produce, and cloth bags for the lot. I even reuse the paper tie tags that you have to write the product number on for bulk purchases (I do this really because I can’t be bothered to write out the numbers on each visit). I buy fennel and head for the cauliflower, but note they it's wrapped in plastic— abandon the latter. The bananas and apples come with stickers—oh well. I need to buy pasta. It only comes in packages at this locale (is plastic worse than paper boxes?). Need to find a bulk source. So much to think about.

Recycled bags for zero-waste-home living | remodelista

Above: A variety of the bags I arm myself with for a trip to the store. Eco-bags sells bags in all sizes for every shopping need.

Feta cheese is next on the list; it comes wrapped in clear plastic. I never use cling wrap at home, but here I am buying cheese wrapped in it. Can’t possibly be good for the cheese. Opt for feta in a plastic container (not sure if this is better or worse). I need some meat and have remembered to bring a glass jar as per Bea’s recommendation. I note that the meat is still placed on a piece of plastic on the scale before it's popped into my jar and a label is slapped on. The butcher doesn't bat an eye—It turns out there's another customer who brings in several jars for her weekly meat supplies. The lady beside me says it’s a great idea and she might give it a try.

Last on the list are tomatoes. I had finally moved on from buying tomatoes in cans to tomatoes in jars (because of the BPA from the plastic liners in cans; see Treehugger on the topic). Do I buy off-season tomatoes from the produce section and make my own sauce or just grab a bottle? For my sanity's sake, I grab a bottle that will get tossed into recycling. I'm amazed, and exhausted, by the endless decisions that need to be made. I'm given a receipt at checkout, another bit of waste (and now that many receipts are found to have BPA on them, another thing to avoid). Solution: ask for receipt to be emailed whenever possible.

Le Parfait glass jar | Remodelista

Above: Bea favors Le Parfait jars for buying meat (and ice cream). The jars are available from Crate and Barrel for $9.95.

Dinner: I make a fennel sausage sugo. Bea suggests foregoing serving platters and placing food straight onto dinner plates to save the water required for extra cleaning. Scraps are composted. She also advocates skipping garbage liners altogether. Leftovers are put into the fridge with the cotton Bowl Over covers that I got awhile back. Heidi Swanson sells some nicer linen versions (see below).

Bedtime: I start removing my makeup with cotton pads and realize I’m generating waste yet again. Bea suggests Reusable Cotton Make Rounds (which she happens to sell); I could be persuaded.

ambatalia linen covers Quitokeeto } remodelista.

Above: Linen Dish Covers made by Ambatalia are available at Quitokeeto; $58 for a set of five.

Recap: At the end of our first (and only) day, our heads are spinning, but we alI have gotten the point. I had naively thought that by making my own cleaning solution, repurposing rags for cleaning, and drying laundry on a line that we were ahead of the game. I could not have been more wrong. Yes, all those steps help, but to purposefully consider every bit of waste you generate on a daily basis is a true exercise in conscious consumerism. The takeaway? Zero waste is a daunting goal, but refusing more packaging, using less water, and consuming carefully is doable and worthwhile. And all four of us will certainly be more mindful. If you want to try the zero waste challenge yourself, Bea's tips are hugely helpful. And if you decide to go hardcore, you can hire her for a full lifestyle consultation.

We would love to hear your suggestions for consuming less (fill us in below).

See our original interview with Bea Johnson: 10 Ways to Live with Less from Zero Waste Home. For other ideas on living with a small imprint, check out Small Space Living posts, including Erin Boyle's Survival Guide to Life in a Tiny Brooklyn Apartment. And Bea, naturally, is an avid gardener. On Gardenista, see her 10 tips for a Simplified Garden, to Grow More with Less.

Trending on Gardenista: Growing a Kitchen Garden

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While we've been in the kitchen all week on Remodelista, Gardenista has gone deep into Mr. McGregor territory, exploring the no-dig vegetable patch, trugs and harvest baskets, herb markers, and how to grow the vegetable known as "the honey underground."  Here's a look at the most popular posts of the week:

Shopper's Diary: Blueberry Café in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands of South Africa

Above: Yet another reason to book a flight to South Africa: Blueberry Cafe, in the ZwaZulu-Natal Midlands, a combination general store, cafe, and reception hall—with newly redesigned interiors and dramatic indoor plant displays that we hope to replicate (thanks, Erin).

Ask The Expert: Sarah Raven's 10 Tips for Growing a Kitchen Garden on Gardenista

Above: Like the idea of the busy person's abundant (yet organized) kitchen garden?  British gardening and cooking expert Sarah Raven has 10 Tips to show you the way. (We plan to follow her suggestion that "green and purple kale look great in flower arrangements.")

Charles Dowding's No-Dig (And No Weed) Garden in Somerset on Gardenista

Above: Gardener Charles Dowding's radically laissez-faire approach to gardening yields plentiful results. Is it too good to be true? Find out in Charles Dowding's No Dig (And No Weed) Garden in Somerset.

Field Guide: Carrots on Gardenista

Above: Soak up more beta-carotene, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, with this cheat sheet on how to grow your own carrots, aka "the honey underground," spotlighted in the latest Gardenista Field Guide.

Hardscaping 101: Asphalt Roof Shingles on Gardenista

Above: When Ellen Jenkins was deciding how to finish the roof of her new house on a budget, she turned to asphalt. In Hardscaping 101: Asphalt Roof Singles, Ellen provides the lowdown on types, colors, and costs. 

No space for a windowsill herb garden? Have a look at this ingenious option.

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