We're kicking back for one more week and celebrating warm-weather living, with plenty of remodeling and DIY ideas included. After all, some of the most appealing elements of summer—from beach finds to coastal blues—are worth incorporating into rooms year-round.

Above: Designer Corinne Gilbert lines up simple bouquets on a sideboard made from a vintage wallpaper table. Photograph by Matthew Williams from Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.

Monday

Above: Later today, watch for Justine's Tabletop & Dinnerware discovery: subtly colored bowls made by a Swedish ceramic artist with a background as an interior designer.

Tuesday

Above: In our weekly Tuesday Steal This Look, Michelle details how to re-create this postage-stamp-size Ikea kitchen. (You might want to copy the whole setup: It's a garage transformed into a guest cottage, aka a "grottage.")

Above: Also on Tuesday, in Palette & Paints, Meredith rounds up our favorite coastal blues. 

Wednesday

Above: "Any project that starts with 'Step 1: Head to the Beach' is A-OK with me," Justine writes. In Wednesday's DIY: Pressed Seaweed Prints, she shows us how to distill a bit of summer. 

Thursday

Above: Presenting the nearly instant vacation house—a modular design by a Danish architecture firm, (Note the way the exterior door opens to create a windbreak.) Take a tour in Thursday's Architecture & Interiors post.

Friday

Above: Friday's Rental House is a 1962 Shasta camper converted into a backyard guest room—it's in Nashville and listed on Airbnb.

We're not the only ones holding on to summer—see what's sprouting on Gardenista this week.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Current Obsessions: Back to School
• High/Low: Leather Sling Chair
• Made in America: Classic Porcelain Enameled Lighting from Barn Light Electric

A2BC Architects merged ancient and modern in their overhaul of a crumbling farmhouse on the terraced hillside of Cinque Terre, in Liguria, Italy. They shored up the existing structure, plastered the interiors, replaced the flooring with polished concrete throughout, and added black steel windows to frame the views.

Photographs by Giovanna Silva, courtesy of A2BC Architects.

Above: Steel windows add a note of modernity to the old stone building.

Above: Polished concrete floors are a cohesive thread throughout the interior.

Above: A minimalist fireplace and bentwood chairs add warmth to the dining area.

Above: The only dash of color in the living areas comes via a pair of persimmon-upholstered armchairs.

Above: A sanctuary in the summer months: a pale bedroom with white linens.

Above: Light green closet doors add a note of color.

Above: In another bedroom, more persimmon, via bed linens.

Above: An original stone wall contrasts with the new structural elements.

Above: A view of the sloping hillside.

For another skillfully updated Italian farmhouse, see House Tour: Pastels Go Rustic in a 17th-Century Masseria. And Gardenista presents One More Reason to Visit Italy: The World's Biggest Vertical Garden.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on September 6, 2013, as part of our Low-Key Fashion issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Steal This Look: Guest Cottage Kitchenette by Ikea
• The Soulful Side of Old Cape Cod: Justine's Family Cottage
• Architect Visit: A Kiwi Beach Compound, Cross-Cultural Edition

The winner of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards Best Amateur-Designed Kitchen is Maya Ivanir of Los Angeles.  

Her project was chosen as a finalist by guest judges John and Juli Baker, who said: "The tile work in this kitchen is really impressive—it becomes more of a textured wall than just a backsplash. We also like the repurposed island with drawers; it was a nice solution to have some additional closed space available in an open kitchen."

Take a look at the project and read what Ivanir has to say about planning the kitchen around her entertaining needs, and working with her designer/contractor dream team. 

N.B.: This is one of a series of posts spotlighting the winners of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards. We're featuring the final three projects this week. Go to the 2014 Considered Design Awards to see all the entries, finalists, and winners. And have a look at the winners of the Gardenista Considered Design Awards.

Photographs by Itay Gross. 

Maya Ivanir's Design Statement: The kitchen is the center of our home and our family life. When the Realtor showed us what was then a two-unit fixer-upper, the first thing I imagined was the dining table. The rest of the house came together based on that.

Q: Where do you live?
A:  In Silver Lake, in Los Angeles, with my husband, Mark, and our kids, Daniella, 13, and Sasha, 9, and our dog, Anita. I truly love Silver Lake—it has a small-town feel, surrounded by everything you could ever want in a big city. People are eclectic and creative. I often walk into someone's store, studio, or house and feel positive creative envy.

Our house sits on one of the Silver Lake hills overlooking the Hollywood sign, the observatory, Griffith Park, Burbank, Glendale, Mount Washington, Eagle Rock, and Pasadena. Before the drought, we could even see snowy mountains from afar. With this kind of view, all you need are big windows. Any design element is secondary.

Q: What were your practical goals for the project?
A: The kitchen was part of a much bigger renovation project in which we gutted a duplex and turned it into one house. We kept only the exterior walls, wonderful windows, and what was left of the original hardwood floors. We basically started with a blank canvas. I was blessed with a dream team for this project. Contractor Yehuda Arad and his wife, Varda Stern, held our hands every step of the way. They introduced us to architect Ronni Levy, who was open to a nontraditional way of doing things, leaving the design and planning parts to us, and supporting us with drafting, structural engineering, and permits. Much of the designing happened “on the job" and got worked out by Yehuda and me. It's rare to find a contractor who is a creative partner and is as generous and skillful as Yehuda and his crew.

Q: What solutions did you find to your design problems?
A: The first thing I knew about the house was that the kitchen and all the public areas had to be open, allowing unobstructed views to the outside. I wanted a big, long dining table in the middle of the space, and I wanted a kitchen where I could really cook. Since I'm not a very tidy person—I'm a collector of kitchen gadgets and tableware, and am constantly cooking and entertaining—an open plan is actually not ideal for me. I don't think a kitchen needs to always look like it’s been staged for a magazine, but I do feel that this level of openness requires some type of minimalism and mega-organization.

The first solution was a big pantry—almost a service kitchen—where I keep an extra fridge and everything that's not in use daily. I do regret not having room for an extra sink in there, but I recently added one outside by the barbecue that serves a similar purpose. The second solution was spending a lot of time planning storage and work surfaces so everything would have a place. For instance, I made sure our coffee-making area is near where spoons and mugs are stored. Who sets the table for dinner? Plates should be stored where that person can easily reach them. When having a party, where will drinks be served? That's where wine glasses should be. Where will the dessert be served? Where's a good place for a buffet? The more questions asked, the better. I think this is even more relevant to low-budget small kitchens. Good planning is one of the most affordable ways to make your kitchen great.

Q: What was your biggest splurge?
A: The yellow BlueStar range. It was a gift for my fortieth birthday. I'm not big on pricey things—I like quality, but it doesn't have to be pricey. I'm obsessed with finding deals, though I'm happy to spend money on things that are handmade and you can see and feel the love and imagination that went into producing them.

Q: What advice do you have for someone else undertaking a similar project?
A: If you don't have the budget for your "dream whatever," still let yourself dream it, plan your dream, and then, based on that plan, do what you can afford. Spend on structure and infrastructure: floors, tile, cabinets, work surfaces, and fixtures. Worry less about furniture, appliances, and decoration—those are easy to replace or do gradually. Things don't have to be perfect on move-in day. There are advantages to "making" a space while living in it. 

Q: What is your day job?
A: I'm a full-time mom and homemaker (I've literally made every home we ever owned). But it's an ever-changing, very dynamic job description. Recently, as our family needs change, I've been "moonlighting" doing other things. I'm ready for the next step.

I'm excited to be making homes for other people. I've also started, with my partner, Noran Wolfson, a community-based flower studio, and we're happy to be able to collaborate with the wonderful nonprofit Enrich LA, which builds edible gardens in schools and underserved LA neighborhoods.

Q: Which architects or designers do you admire?

A: I have very eclectic taste, which is why I love Los Angeles. I admire Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Locally, I like Neutra and Schindler, along with the more contemporary works of Barbara Bestor.

Q: Where do you get your design inspiration?
A: Everywhere. I make notes or take pictures of spaces that make me happy and calm—museums, yoga studios, treehouses, a certain temple we visited on our trip to Thailand, etc.—and then I try to re-create the feeling in my spaces. It doesn't, and sometimes shouldn't, look similar; it’s just the feeling. 

Q: What projects would you tackle if you had an unlimited budget?
A: If I could, I would live in more than one home and constantly be changing something. I'm one of those crazy people who loves having handy-women/men around all the time. I love the sounds of tools and the smell of paint and wood. I wish I had the skills to do those things myself, but unfortunately, I don't have it in me. I like watching the concrete being poured, the wood being sanded, and imagining what could be next.

Q: What is your favorite local shop?
A: The Los Feliz–Silver Lake–Echo Park area is booming with small shops. I make a point to shop locally and support small businesses in my community. Small businesses can dare to imagine and be creative, and they inspire a fresh and local lifestyle.

It's hard to choose one favorite shop. I love Skylight Books in Los Feliz for inspiration. Cookbook in Echo Park and McCall's in Los Feliz for food. Reform School and Yolk in Silver Lake for crafty design stuff and just the brightness. Well's Antique Tile in Echo Park for unique handcrafted vintage tiles. I went there for my kitchen and found the triangle tiles in gray and yellow that became the color scheme for my kitchen. 

Q: What is your best secret design source?
A: Thrift and architectural salvage stores. We also travel a lot as a family, so I always have my phone full of photos of things I like. Then I look for them at thrift stores. I like found things with a history and a story way more than expensive designer objects.

Q: What is your next project?
A: I'm about to start a renovation project in Eagle Rock and I can't wait to be working with my dream team again. I'm excited for the opportunity to create practical, fun, and bright spaces for other people—I hope next time I submit a space to the Remodelista contest, it will be in the professional category.

Congratulations to Maya Ivanir! See all of the winners of the 2014 Remodelista Considered Design Awards here:

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: The Pastel Enamel Pot
• Steal This Look: The Well-Equipped Kitchen
• Steal This Look: Instant Camp-Style Kitchen

Kajsa Cramer is a Swedish ceramic artist with a background as an interior designer. We particularly admire the washed pastels and trim patterns of her delicate tableware.

Above: Kajsa Cramer's Dots and Stripes Bowls are available in four different patterns; bowls are 249 SEK ($36) each,

Above: Kajsa keeps her glazes soft so as not to obscure the texture of the fine porcelain. Shown here are pastel-colored bowls from a previous collection.

Above: Kajsa's tactile Mugs, 225 SEK ($32.40), and Bowls, 249 SEK ($36), invite you to cup them in your hands.

Above: Kajsa's patterns coordinate, as shown in this set of black-and-white dishes. See the full collection at Kajsa Cramer Ceramics.

 Ready to see more of our handmade tableware finds? Get started with these posts:
     • A Philosopher Turned Ceramicist, Quebec Edition
     • Soft Touch: Pastel Pottery by Lenneke Wispelwey
     • Ceramics that Once Lived in the White House
     • Painterly Pottery by a New York City Chef
     • All the Freshness of New York: Katakana Ceramics

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on July 14, 2012, as part of our Scandi Summerhouse issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Steal This Look: A Bright Green Dining Room in Amsterdam

Are you ready to increase your kitchen's IQ? Whether your kitchen is modern or vintage, tiny or expansive, the same ingredients are a winning combination: state-of-the-art appliances and a few well-selected accessories. For appliances that combine style and the latest technology—such as a fridge with a Wi-Fi-enabled LCD display as capable as a smartphone—Best Buy is a good source. Here's a standout, clean-lined kitchen and how to get the look.

Above: This fresh-looking Brooklyn loft kitchen was designed by architect-developers Alloy, with shelving and furnishings by Marco Pasanella and Rebecca Robertson. It pairs high-tech appliances with whimsical touches, including a wall of café au lait bowls. See A Whimsical Family Loft in Brooklyn: Whale Wallpaper Included for a full tour of the loft. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Appliances

Above: Making the most of the latest technological advancements, the Bosch 800-Series 24-inch Tall Tub Built-in Dishwasher offers increased energy efficiency and is quieter than its previous models, plus a larger tub design with increased loading capacity. It's available in stainless steel (shown), white, black, and a custom wood panel; prices range from $854.99 to $899.99 at Best Buy, depending on finish.

Above: The Whirlpool 30-Inch Built-in Single Electric Convention Wall Oven comes with Whirlpool's most advanced temperature-management system. Built-in sensors help monitor precise oven temperatures and ensure even heat—no more partly baked cookies. The oven comes in stainless steel (shown), white, and black, and starts at $1,549.99 from Best Buy.

Above: The Samsung Four-Door French Door Smart Refrigerator features an eight-inch, Wi-Fi-enabled LCD display that brings smartphone features to your fridge: Call your grandmother, check your Tweets, watch your favorite TV show, and track down your misplaced phone, all from your fridge. And with its 28-cubic-feet capacity, the refrigerator has enough room to fit up to 28 bags of groceries. It also has a counter-height, flexible refrigerator drawer to organize as you please. It's on sale for $2,499.99 at Best Buy. 

Furniture and Accessories

Above: The Bay Counter Stool from Room & Board is a timeless design in solid walnut made by Newport Furniture, in Vermont. It's also available in maple, cherry, and maple with a charcoal stain; $369 from Room & Board.

Above: Porcelain Inside Out Bowls are dishwasher- and microwave-safe and made in Japan. Available in four patterns, they're $8 each at Anthropologie.

Above: A stoneware crock can hold kitchen tools you want to keep within reach or double as a vase (as shown on the kitchen island above). The large Rhodes Kitchen Crock is $39 and the medium (at left) is $24 at Pottery Barn.

Above: These Cherry Wood Salad Bowls from Williams-Sonoma are made in Wisconsin using traditional butcher-block construction. They start at $65 for a 12-inch bowl.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: The Pastel Enamel Pot
• Best Amateur-Designed Kitchen: Maya Ivanir
• Steal This Look: Instant Camp-Style Kitchen

Rusticity achieved: 11 bedrooms with simple wood walls that do double-duty as headboards.

Above: A bedroom in Northern California by designer Erin Martin.

Above: A rustic wall at the Ace Hotel in Portland, OR (for a similar look, consider PIet Hein Eek's Scrapwood Wallpaper).

Above: In a North Carolina barn, designers Briggs Edward Solomon paneled a bedroom wall in reclaimed wood.

Above: A dark-stained wall in a Swedish bedroom spotted at Matter.

Above: A DIY plywood bedroom by Daniel and Valeria of Hindsvik.

Above: A paneled wall in the bedroom Alex Kennedy via The Design Files.

Above: A bedroom discovered via Kitka Toronto. 

Above: John and Juli Baker of Mjolk paneled a wall in plywood in their cabin by the shores of Lake Huron; see the whole project at Juli and John Baker in Canada.

Above: A bedroom at the Fjall Lodge, in Victoria, Australia.

Above: At The Graham & Co., a Catskills hotel, bedrooms feature rustic paneled walls; see the whole project at A New Catskills Getaway, Croquet Included.

Above: Tara and Percy of the Jersey Ice Cream Co. created a paneled wall using lath (see DIY: Lath Wall by Jersey Ice Cream Co.).

For more inspiration, browse hundreds of Beds and Bedrooms in our photo gallery, and zero in on Headboards, including several easy DIY versions. On Gardenista, read Pillow Talk: 7 Secrets to Making a Perfect Bed. 

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on July 26, 2010, as part of our Into the Woods issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Best Professionally Designed Bedroom: Hyde Evans Design
• Best Amateur-Designed Bedroom Space: Anne S. Holtermann
• Happier at Home: 7 Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep in Summer

Why does the word "kitchenette" sound so retro? When we recently featured a tiny 186-square-foot summer cottage as our Outbuilding of the Week on Gardenista, we admired the way it relies heavily on Ikea to make modern use of every inch of space (giving houseguests an excuse to stay out of sight till after breakfast). Here's how to re-create the look.

Above: Furnishings first. The secret to making a 186-square-foot cottage look spacious is diminutive furniture. A 30-inch wooden Tripod Table ($199 from West Elm) seats two comfortably. Ikea's birch plywood Frosta Stool (£8 in Great Britain, not available in the US) is a copy of the Alvar Aalto original and extremely versatile; it doubles as side table or nightstand as needed. Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

Above: The back wall is covered in four-by-eight-foot Wainscot Panels ($19.75 each) from Home Depot. Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.  

Above: On the shelves, Everyday Restaurant Salad Plates ($17.99 for a set of six) and Everyday Restaurant Mugs ($17.99 for a set of six) are available from Williams-Sonoma.

Above: Before we get started on the fixtures, let's fix ourselves a nice pot of tea. From Staub, an Enameled Cast Iron Round Tea Kettle in basil green is $159.99 from Big Kitchen. 

Above: Bellocq's 3.5-ounce reusable travel caddy filled with Majorelle Mint Tea is $32 from Sundance.

Above: Guests can boil water in the microwave and then pour it into the kettle to brew. A GE 1,200-Watt Black Countertop Microwave sits on its own recessed shelf; $179 from Lowe's. 

Above: Braced to deal with the plumbing? An Edsvik chrome faucet is $49.99 and a Fyndig Single Bowl Sink is $26.98, both from Ikea. They're mounted on a 1 1/2-inch-thick beechwood Numerär Countertop ($195 for a 73 1/4-inch length from Ikea).

Above: Made of recycled glass, the Copper Soap Dispenser holds 13.5 ounces; $30 from Terrain.

Above: A nickel-plated Fintorp dish drainer ($14.99 from Ikea) attaches to the wall with two screws and holds a removable tray.

Above: Ikea's freestanding two-door Akurum Base Cabinet Faced with Rubrik Stainless Steel is 30 inches wide; $245.

Are you looking for inexpensive and stylish ideas to kit out a summer guest cottage? See Steal This Look: A Finnish Cottage Kitchen and Dining Room and Steal This Look: Beach Cottage on the Dutch Coast.

More Stories from Remodelista

• A Whitewashed Italian Farmhouse with Just a Dash of Color
• The Soulful Side of Old Cape Cod: Justine's Family Cottage
• Architect Visit: A Kiwi Beach Compound, Cross-Cultural Edition

How to bottle up the ocean's cool, tranquil blues and bring them home with us? Consider painting a ceiling, accent wall, or whole room. Here are several of our favorites, plus a few recommendations from members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory.

Above: Top row, from left: Valspar Sea Salt Blue, Benjamin Moore Buxton Blue, and Valspar Royal Gray. Bottom row: Benjamin Moore Blue Nose, Farrow & Ball Skylight, and Benjamin Moore Horizon.

Above: Sea Salt Blue from Valspar is very similar to Farrow & Ball's Skylight, shown second to last (Sea Salt Blue is slightly greener).

Above: Benjamin Moore's Buxton Blue is part of the paint line's Historical Collection and is a favorite of New York interior designers Joan and Jayne Michaels of 2Michaels.

Above: Valspar's Royal Gray is dark and gray enough to be serious, but blue enough to please color lovers. It also has a beautiful chalky finish that photos can't convey.

Above: Benjamin Moore's Blue Nose lives in the same cool, dark vein as Valspar's Royal Gray, but is bluer and lighter.

Above: Farrow & Ball Skylight is the pick of Portland, Oregon, designer Carole Magness of Magness Interiors, who considers it the most beautiful and flexible blue she knows. She says it's ideal on an accent wall, ceiling, or trim.

Above: Benjamin Moore's Horizon is another tip from the 2Michaels, who used the hue on the master bedroom walls of their Abingdon project.

Choosing paint colors can be daunting; browse the designer-vetted colors in our Palette & Paints series, which includes:
     • Happiness-Inducing Colors
     • Moody Paints Picks
     • Metallic Wall Paints
     • 10 Best Pink Paints
     • Celadon Greens

Go to Gardenista for advice on Exterior Paints.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on March 18, 2014, as part of our British Isles issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Cabinet Knobs in Splashy Colors
• Remodeling 101: Engineered Quartz Countertops
• DIY: Vintage Paper Cutout Wall Clock

Spotted on SF Girl by Bay: Cheerful knobs, good for adding a dash of color to a child's dresser or affixing to a wall as coat hooks.

The knobs are the creation of London designer Margarita Lorenzo of Chocolate Creative, which specializes in handmade, sustainable goods for the home.

Above: A classic set of drawers imagined with Chocolate Creative's Landscape Design Knobs; £15 each.

Above: The English Romantic Wall Hook (far left) is inspired by the English countryside and vintage embroidery; £15 each. See below for information on the solid-colored knobs.

Above: A trio of knobs serve as coat hooks.

Above: Wooden Knobs are available in a range of colors, including red, pale green, pink, gray, turquoise, and yellow; £9 each. Made from plywood, each knob is finished with a water-based paint and varnish.

Looking for more hardware solutions? Sift through over 200 posts on cabinet knobs and more in the Hardware section of our archive, and for more pastel knobs, see Easiest Cabinet Upgrade Ever, Pastel Edition.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 12, 2012.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Palette & Paints: Coastline-Inspired Blues
• Remodeling 101: Engineered Quartz Countertops
• DIY: Vintage Paper Cutout Wall Clock

The winner of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards Best Professionally Designed Living/Dining Space is Massim Design Studio of Brooklyn.

The firm's project was chosen as a finalist by Remodelista editor in chief Julie Carlson, who said: "I love the crisp, geometric exposed-steel detailing and the clever under-stair storage cabinets and wine rack. Genius."

Take a look at the project and read what firm principal Jennifer Massim has to say about transforming a soulless space into a "machine for living." 

N.B.: This is one of a series of posts spotlighting the winners of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards. We're featuring the final projects this week. Go to the 2014 Considered Design Awards to see all the entries, finalists, and winners. And have a look at the winners of the Gardenista Considered Design Awards.

Massim Design Studio's Design Statement: This unusual property, a modest, three-story, single-family house, is quietly set back from the street in Brooklyn's family-friendly Cobble Hill neighborhood. Nestled among a multitude of converted residential factory buildings, the house is an urban oasis. Our use of exposed steel detailing and a muted palette with infrequent punctuations of color—for example, the red stair rail—was inspired by the property’s proximity to the working docklands of the East River and its industrial landscape, as well as by the owner’s desire for a simple, durable solution. The design draws inspiration from the colorful and industrial history of the area, balanced with the modern needs of a family home.

Q: What were your practical goals for the project?
A: One of our goals (which we apply to most of our residential projects) comes from the Corbusian proclamation: "The house is a machine for living." We take this seriously, and endeavor to make a home into a machine for living by maximizing space and storage and introducing überefficiency.

Other practical goals for us are maximizing natural light and achieving the perfect balance between open space and private space—the right balance is different for each client.

Q: What solutions did you find to your design problems?
A: Entirely removing and replacing the existing stair was the solution to transforming the soulless vanilla box that we were confronted with at the start of the project.

Q: What are your favorite features of the project?
A: I love the tunnel-like stair, the open kitchen with its black base cabinets, the massive industrial ceiling fan, and the exposed structural steel elements that speak to the nearby working waterfront in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Q: Where did you cut corners?
A: We reused the existing kitchen cabinets and rather than replacing them, we had new flat doors fabricated and painted. We reused the existing honed black granite countertop and undermounted sink and the stone fabricator was able to cut out part of the countertop to make way for a larger professional range and then infill an adjacent area of countertop where the previous range existed. I was surprised at the clean lines of the final product. 

Q: What advice do you have for someone else undertaking a similar project? 
A: Always hire a design professional when you are planning to do construction. And if you can get the design professional involved during the early phase of property due diligence, this is ideal in order to maximize your end results. On this project, we looked at the property with the owner and discussed its potential prior to contract signing and purchase.

Q: Who worked on the winning project?
A: Architecture and design: Jennifer Massim, principal, Massim Design Studio. Structural engineer: Paul Bailey, Bailey's Engineering, New York City. General contractor: John Palanca, Design Tech Construction Corp., Brooklyn. Photography: Amy Barkow, Barkow Photo.

Q: What does your firm specialize in?
A: We specialize in residential architecture and interiors.

Q: Where do you get your design inspiration?
A: My inspirations often come from city walks, nature walks, textiles and art, and, of course, from our clients.

Q: What is your dream project? 
A: Adaptive reuse. I’d love to get our hands on a historic factory building with architectural details. We'd strip the building back to its elements and then proceed with an addition onto the existing building form. I like projects where we're able to strike a balance between that which is brutal versus that which is delicate.

Q: Which architects or designers do you admire?
A: Barkow Leibenger, Linda Bo Bardi, and Marcel Breuer.

Q: What is your favorite local shop?
A: My favorite shops are in flux. I miss Bark, which used to be on Atlantic Avenue, but I love Greenhouse, City Foundry, and GRDN, all in Brooklyn.

Congratulations to Massim Design Studio! See all of the winners of the 2014 Remodelista Considered Design Awards here:

More Stories from Remodelista

• Best Amateur-Designed Living/Dining Space: Theresa di Scianni
• Sleep and Storage from Father Rabbit, in Auckland
• A Modern Daybed Sofa, Hand-Dyed Shibori Included

Several ancient cultures lay claim to the invention of enamel, but the Austrians and Germans can be credited for taking this brightly colored, crushed-glass surface out of the jewelry box and into the kitchen. It was discovered that when vitreous or "porcelain" enamel is bonded by high heat to metal, the resulting nonporous, nontoxic, and nonstick surface is not only an excellent heat conductor but also very durable when applied to pots, buckets, ovens, kitchen utensils—just about anything of a utilitarian nature.

In the foothills of the Austrian Alps, the Riess family has been making kitchen utensils for nine generations. The Riess company's factory went hydroelectric in the 1930s, and all its electricity has since been powered by the local water source. In the town of Ybbsitz, Riess produces enamel-coated pots and pans fabricated from single sheets of steel, which makes them much lighter than cast iron. The choice of color is lighter too: Many of Reiss's pots haven't altered at all since the 1950s. Perhaps a founding father asked his frau what colors she'd like to cook with, and she replied, "rose, blau, grün, und gelb." Riess interpreted these as soft deep pink, very delicate blue, palest green, and powdery yellow, all finished off with a clotted cream interior. The Riess palette continues to appeal today; here are some notable examples.

Five to Buy 

Above: The Yellow Omelette Pan, 8.5 inches across and 1.75 inches deep, is available for $50 at Ancient Industries, my own shop. Various pieces of Riess enamelware in white are also for sale online at Rodale's and Potager.

Above: The half liter Green Milk Pot is $48 at Provisions via Ancient Industries. It's sold out, but will be restocked as soon as next week.

Above: A more recent design from Riess, the Stackable Canister comes with an airtight ash wood lid and is made in four sizes and five colors. This example is 2.5 inches tall and 3 inches wide; $44 at Rodale's, which also offers Riess Aromapots, loaf pans, and ladles.

Above: The Blue Roaster, 13 inches long and 8 inches wide, is £40 from Objects of Use, in Oxford, England.

Above: The Blue Enamel Porridge Pot, 5.5 inches across and 2.75 inches deep, is $48 at Provisions. It's currently out of stock, but will be available soon.

Object Lessons columnist Megan Wilson is the owner of Ancient Industries and curator of the Remodelista 100, a collection of essential everyday objects presented in the Remodelista book. Watch for her column every Tuesday, and have a look at her past lessons on summer staples, including the Adirondack Chair, the Hurricane Lantern, and the Classic Canvas Tote. We featured her Connecticut shop in our post Purveyor of the Practical and the Timeless.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on April 15, 2014, as part of our Shades of Pastel issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Steal This Look: The Well-Equipped Kitchen
• Best Amateur-Designed Kitchen: Maya Ivanir
• Steal This Look: Instant Camp-Style Kitchen

White porcelain doorknobs—popular from the Civil War to the 1930s— have a classic, summery appeal that works year-round. Here are some favorite options.

Above: Classic and clean, the White Porcelain Doorknob is $35 at Rejuvenation Hardware.

Above: Thomas Hoof Produkt in Germany offers a Porcelain Door Set that includes two knobs and two key rosettes for €33.50.

Above: High-end hardware purveyor Nanz of New York is the holy grail of hardware; locate a dealer and peruse the offerings at Nanz.

Above: The Classic Rosette Door Set in white porcelain and polished chrome is $83.22 from Amazon.

Above: This Pair of White Porcelain Doorknobs has a solid brass shank and polished chrome base and is $40.99 at Amazon.

Above: Emtek's Ice White Doorknob Set is $96 from Low Price Doorknobs.

Above: Nostalgic Warehouse's White Porcelain Knob is designed for indoor/outdoor use and available in six different metal finishes; $36.54 from Knobs and Hardware.

Above: Emtek's Almond Knob is $96 at Emtek Hardware.

Above: The Doorknob Passageway Set in white porcelain is $73 each, $67 each for a set of three, and $49 each for a set of 10 at the Renovator's Supply.

At Remodelista, Hardware is one of our passions. You too? Have a look at our posts on Nautical Cleats for Home Use, Floor Outlets, The Ultimate Bathroom Hook, and DIY Braided Drawer Pulls for $1.25 Each.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on May 1, 2013, as part of our Renovation and Reclamation issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• DIY: Pressed Seaweed Prints
• Cabinet Knobs in Splashy Colors
• Palette & Paints: Coastline-Inspired Blues

As a native Cape Codder, I've always been fond of seaweed. So when I ran across designer Karen Robertson's pressed seaweed DIY on Garden Design, I had to give it a try.

Above: Any project that starts with "Step 1: Head to the beach," is going to be A-OK with me. Here I employed my little helpers, Oliver and Solvi, to assist in finding seaweed specimens. We carried them home in a bucket of clean seawater.

Materials

• Seaweed
• Bucket of seawater
• 140 lb. watercolor paper
• Cardboard sized to cover your paper
• Weed cloth or other mesh fabric sized to cover your paper
• A medium-size artist's paintbrush
•Two pieces of wood sized to cover your paper
• Something heavy, such as books, to use as weights 

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Gather your specimens and then place them in your sink or a bucket filled with clean seawater.

Step 2: Fill another bucket with two inches of water. (Instead, I used the other half of my double sink.) Then slide a piece of watercolor paper into the tub and arrange the seaweed on top, keeping both paper and seaweed submerged.

Step 3: Carefully lift the paper out of the water, tilting it this way and that so the water drains away but you still maintain your design (more or less). Using a small brush, reposition the seaweed into the desired composition and brush away any unwanted bits of seaweed and sand. 

Step 4: Carefully place your arrangement on a piece of corrugated cardboard and gently place a piece of mesh fabric on top. You can layer several prints this way.

Step 5: Place your stack of prints between the two flat boards and put something heavy on top, such as a brick or your Introduction to World Art books. Wait several days, depending on the relative dryness of your climate. A fan also helps.

Step 6: After several days, remove the weights and layers to reveal your prints. (If they're not fully dry, it's fine to put them back under the weight.) Using Google, I looked up the names of my specimens and wrote them in pencil.

The Results

Above: Two framed prints now grace my mantel. The most delicate specimens and simple compositions turned out to be my favorites.

Above: After trying this project, I have one note to add to Karen's tutorial: More translucent and delicate seaweeds make better (and less messy) prints. 

Intrigued by Justine's mantel? Tour her family cottage in our post The Soulful Side of Old Cape Cod. For two more projects that are fun to do with kids, see her DIY Leaf Prints on Gardenista and her Homemade Bayberry Candles.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on June 13, 2013, as part of our Nautical Notes issue.

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The winner of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards Best Amateur-Designed Bath Space is Deborah Bowman of Calistoga, California.

Bowman's project was chosen as a finalist by guest judge Gesa Hansen, who said: "It's a real masculine design without being cold. I love the bathtub's mix of materials. The gray linen curtain also adds so much coziness, and I love the tile pattern on the shower floor. Good choice of wall lamps next to the mirror—that is something so hard to find!"

Take a look at the project below, and read what Bowman has to say about choosing low-maintenance materials and getting the oversized bath she always wanted. 

N.B.: This is the final in our series of posts spotlighting the winners of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards. Our huge thanks to all who participated. Go to the 2014 Considered Design Awards to see all the entries, finalists, and winners. And have a look at the winners of the Gardenista Considered Design Awards too. 

Deborah Bowman's Design Statement: Two years ago my husband and I completed a total remodel of our 1960s weekend house outside of Calistoga, California. This included a 500-square-foot master suite addition. Having a background in graphic design, I drew the preliminary plans for the house using Adobe Illustrator, and although an architect drew the final plans, I specified and ordered all finishes, materials, cabinetry, and fixtures. I wanted a generously sized bathroom, and that’s what I got. It’s almost too big in relation to the master bedroom. The ceilings are very high and one whole side of the room opens to the outdoors. It's my favorite room in the house! In the morning it's flooded with light from the southeast-facing windows. And at night I can pull down the hidden window screens and feel like I’m bathing outside. I chose natural materials that are classic and practical: fumed white oak floors, a honed Carrera marble tub deck, a carved basalt stone surround that mimics corrugated metal, and ceramic shower wall tiles that look like stone and don’t show any rust stains from our well water. I also played with pattern and texture: the hexagonal tiles on the shower floor, the veins in the marble, the carved basalt, the striped rug, and the Turkish towels all help to create visual interest.

Q: Where do you live? 
A: Most of the time, I live in Berkeley, California, with my husband and two dogs. About seven years ago, my husband and I bought an eight-acre property in the wine country outside of Calistoga. The property was a mess, but it had the rare combination we sought: peace, privacy, and raw beauty. The house was built in the 1960s and was essentially a stucco box with tiny aluminum windows and cottage cheese ceilings. We did a temporary remodel on the cheap and lived in the place for five years. Then, two years ago, we embarked on a total remodel, keeping the original footprint but adding an additional 500-square-foot master bedroom and bathroom. We wanted something completely different in style from our main house (a 1920s Mediterranean); we also wanted it to be in keeping with the other buildings on the property, and in-step with the farmhouse vernacular of the area. What we ended up with is a midcentury-inspired industrial/farmhouse mash-up.

Q: What are your favorite features of the project? 
A: The luxurious size of the room, the awning windows and door that open to a private garden area, and the combination of materials: fumed oak, carved basalt, Carrara marble, and patterned hexagonal tiles.

Q: What solutions did you find to your design problems?
A: I didn't want to worry about maintenance of the wood floors and grout. The white oak floors are fumed instead of polished and are essentially the same color as the dirt outside, so every footprint isn't visible. And I chose a dark tile and grout that wouldn't show any rust stains from our well water.

Q: What advice do you have for anyone undertaking a similar project? 
A: Find a contractor who you like! My husband and I had heard contractor horror stories and were warned that a major remodel could lead to divorce. We actually found the process to be fairly painless and we attribute that, in large part, to our contractor. Aside from being a super nice, conscientious, honest guy, he always answered our calls and was willing to put up with my need to see mockups of every detail before it was installed. 

Q: Where do you get your design inspiration?
A: From Remodelista, of course! No kidding.

Q: What is your day job? 
A: I am a former graphic designer. I stopped working when we bought our Calistoga property and have not gone back. The remodel, restoration, and maintenance of the property has been more time-consuming than I could have imagined. What we bought as a weekend place has become a semi-full-time job—unpaid but rewarding.

Q: Which architects or designers do you admire? 
A: Architect Howard Backen and designer Erin Martin.

Q: What are your favorite local shops? 
A: Shed in Healdsburg, in Sonoma, California; Erica Tanov in Berkeley and Marin; and Urban Ore in Berkeley.

Q: What projects would you tackle if you had unlimited funds?
A: I have a long list, at the top of which would be to redo my Berkeley kitchen and master bathroom; both are almost entirely original to the house built in 1927. I would also love to remodel the guesthouse on our Calistoga property. And, what the heck, if we're talking unlimited funds, I'd love to buy houses, remodel them, and sell them for fun (and profit?).

Congratulations to Deborah Bowman! See all winners of the 2014 Remodelista Considered Design Awards here: 

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Remember life before the Internet? Long afternoons loitering outdoors, indoors, and over extended meals, when it felt like there was just more time available. Three siblings from South Africa were looking to re-create that feeling when they opened Nelson the Seagull, in Gastown, Vancouver. "We wanted to make a space where every meal feels like a lazy summer day spent with friends, leisurely snacking on simple but delicious food," owner Jodie Balfour says.

Jodie and his brother and sister, Jonathan and Lee, serve up organic food, freshly baked bread, and coffee. Their coffee credo is, "No destroyed decaf coffee," and their name references Dawn & Des Lindbergh's 1971 cover of Peter E. Bennett's song "The Seagull's Name Was Nelson," written during Nelson Mandela's 27 years in prison and a reminder of their home country. Another reason to take time out of your day? Instructor Ally Mazerolle teaches yoga at Nelson on Monday and Wednesday evenings followed by an organic meal, all for CA $25 (approximately $23).

Above: Nelson the Seagull is located at 315 Carrall Street, in Vancouver's Gastown neighborhood. Photograph via Follow Me Foodie. 

Above: The Balfours worked with designer Zoë Pawlak, who preserved the building's original mosaic floors and filled gaps with buffed and polished cement. Photograph by Natsumi of Sokokashiko. 

Above: A multidrawer sideboard and a table surrounded by vintage Tolix Marais A Chairs. Photograph via Jess in Vancouver.

Above: South African flora on display in eclectic glass vases: leaves pulled from banksia plants and pincushion protea. Photograph by Natsumi of Sokokashiko. 

Above: Bunting and the menu board. (See Festive Bunting for 10 options.) Photograph by Natsumi of Sokokashiko.

Above: Nelson the Seagull's ornithological theme carries over onto the coffee cups. Photograph by Natsumi of Sokokashiko.

Above: Behind the counter, a wall featuring Nelson Mandela as a young boxer. Photograph by Mia Hansen.

Above: Natural light is supplemented by amber pendant lights. Photograph by Mia Hansen.

Above: Dried thistle branches. Photograph via Smoky Sweet.

Above: The cafe is, in the Balfours' words, "about sun-stained afternoons and the best espresso we can pull." Photograph via Singularis.

Above: A hearty loaf of bread made for a pop-up supper with Pick & Sprout. Photograph via Scout Magazine in Canada.

Above: Lounge sofas and a rough palette table on wheels. Photograph by Vincent Lee for designer Zoë Pawlak.

The cafe is in Vancouver's Gastown. For more, visit Nelson the Seagull and read about the cafe in Scout Magazine. 

View Larger Map

For three other Vancouver restaurant finds, see Marche St. George, Bestie Currywurst, and Bao Bei Brasserie. And between meals, browse at the Old Faithful Shop.

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Traditionally used by fishermen and farmers, and in factories and schools, baskets made from thin, pliable wire have long been recognized for their utilitarian value. More recently, designers have latched on to these lithe vessels as a way to introduce a rustic or industrial touch.

Wire baskets of all shapes and sizes—both vintage and modern—are widely available; they add dimension to a room while providing some very handy storage. 

Above: Fog Linen Work's Large Grey Round Basket is $75 NZD ($62.75) from Father Rabbit, in Auckland, New Zealand.

Above: A Vintage Industrial Primitive Two Handle Wire Basket from Vagabonds and Caravans on Etsy; $85.

Above: Available in many shapes and sizes, farmhouse egg baskets are among the most versatile: You can hang them from the ceiling, place them on the counter, and even use them, as my friend does, as a salad spinner. (Whipping the lettuce around outside is so much fun.) When not in use, these baskets collapse flat for easy storage. Image via Vintage by Alex Keller.

Above: Fog Linen offers several stylish wire storage options, including this delicate Wire Mesh Oval Tray from Shelf Life; $25.

Above: Large egg baskets and their cousin the clam basket are generous enough to hold books, towels, or kindling, and they often come in jolly colors. Image via All Things Home.

Above: Vintage-style Pool Locker Baskets like these from Restoration Hardware are useful for storing everything from toys to linens; $39 to $59.

Above: Olive Manna sells a changing array of vintage and vintage-style wire baskets. 

Above: Brook Farm General Store offers a line of rustic wire containers made in India, including this Wire Wastepaper Bin; $45.

Above: Wire baskets even make great DIY Lamp Shades. This one, via Hruskka on Etsy, is sold out, but a similar Wire Pendant Shade is available for $69 AU (approximately $64) from Holy Funk of Melbourne.

Ready to get organized for fall? See all our Baskets & Bins posts, including 5 Favorites: Leather Baskets too Pretty to Hide and Baskets as Wall-Mounted Storage.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on June 27, 2012, as part of our Farmhouse Style issue.

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This is the fun part of every remodel: the life-enhancing frills. 

In our book, Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home, we partnered with members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory to come up with a list of extras well worth the splurge. True, these frills aren't inexpensive, but they're often money well spent. We have lived with many of these details ourselves and are eyeing several more for future remodels.

Here, 11 worth considering:

A fireplace or woodstove

Fireplaces can have enormous impact as architectural details, and woodstoves are significant and efficient heat sources, point out Seattle architects Malbouef Bowie. "You can have a really simple interior," architect Tiffany Bowie says, "and if you add a focal point, it really grabs people’s attention and interest."

Pictured above is a minimalist fireplace in a house remodeled by Napa, California, designer Carolyn Leonhardt, who recommends making "at least one spectacular change" per remodel. Read more of Leonhardt's tips in Expert Advice: 15 Secrets for Saving Money on a Remodel. 

Pull-out shelving in kitchen cabinets

For storing appliances and pantry items, architect Sheila Narusawa suggests installing pull-out shelves. They bring all of the hidden items at the back into the light, making them easy to reach—and easy to put away.

Pictured above, a floor-to-ceiling cabinet with pullout shelves in a Boston remodel by Chris Greenawalt of Bunker Workshop. See the rest of the project in Rehab Diaries: Tales from the Hood.

Double dishwashers

Have a large family or love entertaining? BAR Architects of San Francisco suggest adding a second dishwasher to handle overload. Photograph via Pure Style Home.

Antifog bathroom mirrors

Architect Jordan Parnass of Brooklyn, New York, recommends installing antifog bathroom mirrors; they'll save time and irritation in the morning, especially if two or more showers need to be taken. Shown above, a San Francisco bath designed by bathroom expert Malcolm Davis. He shares his tips with us in Expert Advice: 10 Essential Tips for Designing the Bathroom.

Acoustic insulation for bathrooms

As charming as open-plan loft spaces are, it's not always charming to use the bathroom in one. Ditto for Victorians or anywhere where sound carries well, such as a powder room next to a dining room.

According to architects Specht Harpman of Austin, Texas, the job of an architect is to consider things like "solar position at different times of day, reflectivity of materials, acoustics, and many other items owners might not be thinking about." We're all for that, and think acoustic insulation, especially in the overhaul of an old space, is a smart move. 

Pictured above, the powder room in A Hardworking Brooklyn Kitchen by Architect Annabelle Selldorf. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Dimmers on the light switches

Sheila Narusawa suggests adding dimmers to all light switches. And you needn't wait to be installing new lights—introducing dimmers can be a simple home improvement project that combats harsh overhead lighting. 

Shown here, a Meljac dimmer, which we've designated The World's Most Beautiful Light Switch.

Self-closing cabinet drawers

Brooklyn architects Made LLC suggest installing self-closing cabinet drawers. Kitchens and baths look their tidiest when drawers are closed; if you live with a messy crew, spring for cabinets that close themselves.

Pictured above is a Dublin kitchen by architect Peter Legge, who used self-closing drawers with rectangular cutouts in lieu of drawer handles. Find this project and more in 10 Favorites: Cutout Kitchen Cabinet Pulls.

An electronics charging station

Bay Area architect Jennifer Weiss is proactive about suggesting details that clients don't think to ask for, such as charging stations for laptops and cell phones. Virtually everyone building or remodeling a house has tech gadgets to charge and corral, and having built-in solutions adds ease and order.

Shown here is an electronics charging station incorporated into a Henrybuilt closet system.

Interior shutters

Averse to curtains or shades? Old-fashioned wooden shutters are a great alternative, says San Francisco designer Kriste Michelini. We like the way they filter light in unexpected ways.

Shown above, a cottage bedroom from Here Comes the Sun: 10 Bedrooms with Yellow Accents. For more inspiration, see our posts Indoor Shutters and Black Interior Shutters. 

A designated area for your pets' things

Another tip from Made LLC: "Factor your pets and the way they live into your design plans." If you don't want a cat scratcher in the middle of your hallway or a dog bed on your living room floor, take the time to think this through during your remodel.

Find the cat hideaway shown above in our post In a Modern London Addition, Books Come First. And for canine ideas, see Remodeling 101: How To Build A Dog-Friendly House. For an ingenious drawer for pet food, see 15 Life-Changing Storage Ideas for the Kitchen.

A waist-high dog-washing tub

We had one of these in my house growing up. (Actually, we had an entire room dedicated to grooming our dogs.) And it didn't feel like a luxury: If you bathe your dog(s) a lot, a waist-high tub will spare your back—and double as a utility sink.

Explore the dog-centric setup shown here in Only in Japan: An Architect-Designed House that Doubles as a Dog Salon.

Embarking on a house project? Be sure to peruse all our Remodeling 101 posts, including:
     • How to Choose a Kitchen Counter 
     • Architects' White Paint Picks
     • All You Need to Know about VOCs in Paint
     • How To Choose an Overhead Light Fixture
     • Solar-Paneling Primer

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on February 5, 2014, as part of our Small Space Living issue.

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My kids' bathroom is short on storage space, especially around the tub and shower. Where to stash clean washcloths and bottles of shampoo (my teens, it turns out, need a different shampoo for every occasion)?  I found the answer at a marine supply store.

Above: A cotton canvas water bucket (designed to draw up water over the side of boats) hangs on a hook adjacent to the tub and shower, putting washcloths within arm's reach. It works equally well for storing hairbrushes and shampoo. Photograph by Janet Hall. 

Above: I sourced the practical—and washable—Cotton Canvas Water Bucket from Hamilton Marine. It's 9.5-inches high and 8.5-inches in diameter, and has a padded rim that keeps the opening from collapsing shut, making it easy to grab things from the bucket with one hand; $35.99. Photograph by Janet Hall.

Above: Also used in camps in the Civil War-era, this Canvas Water Bucket has appealing rope handles; $25.99 at C&C Sutlery.

Above: Looking to add a dash of color? The Dartmouth Canvas Factory Water Bucket is available in 11 colors (including orange, shown here). It stands just over nine inches tall; £24.00 from the Dartmouth Canvas Factory in the UK.

Above: The Marine Tote from Clare Vivier is $165.

Discover more uses for our favorite everyday fabric: See all of our Canvas posts, including the Object Lessons: The Classic Canvas Tote, Canvas Storage Containers, a DIY Painted Canvas Tissue Cover, and Gardenista's Canvas Weekend Bags.

Go to Nautical Style for more seaworthy design ideas. And take a look at Gardenista's recent discovery: Collapsing Linen Buckets Made in the 1950s for the French Army.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on April 9, 2009, as part of our issue The Color of Spring.

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Danish architecture firm Lykke + Nielsen launched a side business designing modular cottages for summer living. Created from a simple modular template, the houses can be ready within six months of ordering and can be configured to fit different needs: There's a bedroom module, a kitchen/bath module, a living room module, and a connecting breezeway module. Here are two examples from Lykke + Nielsen's portfolio that caught our eye. We just need an architect in the US to riff off this idea and we'll be all set.

Photographs via Small House Bliss.

Above: A breezeway connects two living areas in the Længehus modular cottage in the countryside south of Copenhagen. We like the way the exterior door opens to create a windbreak.

 Above: The cottage with the door closed. The siding is tar-treated larch.

Above: This version is larger than the one above it; it's located in a forest an hour north of Copenhagen. The summer cabin is made of two modules that sit at right angles; a deck adjoins the space between and extends the length of the living area.

Above: The black metal windows and iron wood-burning stove provide a visual contrast to the all-white interior.

Above: Floor-to-ceiling windows run the length of the living room allowing for plenty of light.

Above: A view from the loft bedroom.

Above: The streamlined white kitchen with black accents.

Above: The downstairs bedroom opens to the outdoors.

Above: The wall-mounted sink vanity gives the small bathroom a more spacious feel.

Above: The attic bedroom is accessed by a ladder with skylights.

To learn more about Lykke + Nielsen's modular designs, go to Moen Huset.

Browse our archive of Scandinavian finds, such as a Bohemian Island Cabin in Sweden and Rhapsody in Blue: Stylist Tiina Laakonen's Hamptons House and her Finnish Midsummer Table.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 29, 2013, as part of our Into the Wild issue.

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Whenever I catch a whiff of citronella, I’m taken back to family camping trips. We had an oily bug repellent in a sticky brown bottle that we’d pass around—usually well after we’d suffered our first bites—and we'd slather it on until our skin shone. While the citronella oil in the bottle did keep the mosquitoes away, it was repellent to us humans as well. 

As an adult, I’m still interested in keeping mosquitoes at bay (see my post-bite efforts in Stop the Itch: Natural Mosquito Bite Remedies), but less keen on covering my skin with something that smelly. Instead, I like to take a tip from Michelle and surround myself with candles, which sets a mood and deters the bugs.

Most insect-repellent candles on the market are filled with deet or other toxins and reek of citronella. So I decided to make my own scented tea lights that keep pests away without sending dinner guests running. I settled on a woodsy combination of rosemary, geranium, and lavender oils—three scents known for repelling mosquitoes and other insects. Here's how to make my candles.

Photographs by Erin Boyle for Gardenista.

Materials

• ½ lb beeswax (1 lb Raw Settled Beeswax; $6 from Brushy Mountain Bee Farm)
• Rosemary Essential Oil; $8.29 for 0.25 fluid ounces from Aura Cacia
• Geranium Essential Oil; $20.79 for 0.25 fluid ounces from Aura Cacia
• Lavender Essential Oil; $14.65 for 0.25 fluid ounces from Aura Cacia
• Double boiler (or use a pan and metal bowl)
• 6 Fluted Dessert Cups; $1.99 each at New York Cake 
• Pre-Assembled Tea Light Wicks; 100 for $5.95 from Brushy Mountain Bee Farm

Above: Use an old knife to break half a pound of beeswax into small pieces that will melt evenly. Fill the bottom pan of your double boiler with water and place the wax in the top pan. Heat until the wax melts. If you’re a stickler for details, use a thermometer; the wax is ready when it reaches about 160°F. A 12-inch Wax and Honey Thermometer is $14.50 from Brushy Mountain Bee Farm.

Above: Add several drops of each essential oil to the melted wax. I used a wooden chopstick to stir in rosemary, geranium, and lavender oils. Beeswax has a distinctive smell, so add more than you think you need to make sure your candles are scented enough to repel insects. (If you prefer citronella or another bug-deterring essential oils, swap it in.) 

Above: Pour the scented wax into the tart tins. (If the pan you’re using doesn't have a pour spout, consider putting the hot wax into a glass measuring cup or other spouted vessel to help with pouring.) I filled each tin until almost full. N.B.: If you don’t have aluminum molds, you can use glass instead. To avoid shattering the glass, start with a small amount of wax and let it cool a bit before pouring in the rest. 

Above: Let the wax cool slightly until a skin starts to form. Then place a pre-assembled tea-light wick (see below) in the center of each mold. The wax will smooth out around the wick as it hardens.

Above: Pre-assembled wicks come already primed (i.e., coated in wax). If yours aren't coated, you can prime them yourself by dipping them in wax. This ensures a longer burn time.

Above: Let the wax harden, then trim the exposed wick to a quarter inch. Use your tea lights during your next outdoor cocktail hour or dinner party under the stars.

Above: Each tea light burns four to six hours.

Speaking of dinner parties, see Gardenista's Steal This Look: The Last Outdoor Dinner of the Season and A Starlit Greenhouse Dinner. Then get on with hosting one of your own.

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• DIY: Pressed Seaweed Prints
• 10 Easy Pieces: White Porcelain Doorknobs
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