Moody and glamorous: We're coveting the entire lighting line from Parisian designer Philippe Daney (best of all, they're LEDs). Here are some examples:

Above: The Twisted Glass Globe Lamp is €179 ($228.58) from Merci in Paris.

Above: Daney was inspired by industrial trouble lights in his design for the Lamp Phy.

Above: The Lamp Phy by Philippe Daney is €103.23 ($131.83) from La Redoute.

Looking for more options? See our posts on Pendant Lighting, including 10 Glamorous Pendant Lights for Under $200. And for inspiration, browse the hundreds of Lighting picks in our Photo Gallery.

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The broom, enemy of spiders and friend to witches, has been aiding household cleaning since the dawn of domestic history. Initially made of anything on hand, from reeds to corn husks, the broom as we know it has evolved thanks to the early Anglo Saxons, who turned the craft into an organized trade. Besom squires, as these tradesmen were known, gathered the brushlike twigs of birch trees and bound them with willow wisps around a thicker tree branch, often made of hazel. This gave us the broom associated with witches, complete with crooked stick and untrimmed dark twigs.

The modern straw broom emerged in Massachusetts at the end of the 18th century with the discovery of sorghum grass, a local crop previously grown exclusively for animal feed. Long and strong, sorghum was soft enough to be trimmed to a uniform length, which made it perfectly suited for sweeping up fine particles of dust. About 30 years later, the Shakers, with their ever-inquiring minds, took the broom and improved its efficiency by flattening the broomcorn (as the grass became known) to give a wider and more precise sweep. All three styles have their uses today: the besom is preferred for outdoors; the round and flat brooms for indoors. In recent decades, the rise of synthetics put the broom industry into a sharp decline. But of late, the artisanal broom, particularly the Shaker version, has been muscling its way back into our broom closets; here are some notable examples.

Five to Buy

Above: These three corn husk Barn Brooms, in black, "tipped," and natural, are made in Pennsylvania by Lostine; $60 each from Minam. 

Above: The students at Berea College Crafts, in Kentucky, are trained in Appalachian arts, including broom making; the school doesn't charge tuition and is funded by sales of its creations. The Cottage Broom is available from Berea College for $43; it's also sold by Kurasukoto of Japan for ¥7,000.

Above: With its untrimmed ends, the Cobwebber (an unwelcome sight for Charlotte, the spider) is most similar to the besom-style broom. These are $29 each at Brenwood Forge & Brooms, in West Virginia. 

Above: The Chinese Bamboo Outdoor Broom is made in the Shaker style of whole and split bamboo; £14.50 ($23.43 USD) at Objects of Use in the UK. 

Above: The Shaker Broom has a broomcorn head and a pine handle; $40 from Haydenville Broomworks, in Massachusetts.

Object Lessons columnist Megan Wilson is the owner of Ancient Industries and the curator of the Remodelista 100, a collection of everyday essential objects presented in the Remodelista book. Watch for her column every Tuesday, and have a look at her past lessons on iconic designs, including Shaker Storage Designs and the Humble Cotton Cleaning Cloth.

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Last winter, Julie bought a black area rug for her bright and neutral living room, and the decision, she reports, was life altering: "The black rug anchors the seating area in a really interesting way; it's like looking into a pool of dark water." For those ready to make the bold step, here are 10 area rugs in range of blacks. 

N.B.: All prices listed are for the 8-by-10-foot size, unless otherwise noted.

Above: Julie's Mill Valley, California, living room, photographed by Matthew Williams for Remodelista: A Sourcebook for the Considered Home.

Above: Designed by Ben Soleimani for Restoration Hardware, the Lina Rug is a plush linen and viscose blend in dark black; $2,625. For more from the designer, see our post Expert Advice: Q & A with Ben Soleimani, the Rug King.

Above: The Golran Decolorized Rug is a hand-knotted vintage rug that is overdyed in a monochromatic vegetable dye. It measures 10 by 7 feet; $8,304 at The Future Perfect.

Above: Ikea's Almsted Rug is a low-pile black rug woven with a cotton warp (lengthwise fibers) and thick wool weft (widthwise fibers); $299 for the 5-foot-7-inch by 7-foot-10-inch size.

Above: Design Within Reach's Strata Rug in charcoal is New Zealand wool that is hand-knotted using a technique inspired by Tibetan knots; quarter-inch pile height, the rug is currently on sale for $1,020 (marked down from $1,200) for the nine-by-six-foot size.

Above: The Cable & Aran Wool Rug in heather black is currently on sale; prices start at $350 (marked down from $750) for the three-by-five-foot size at ABC Home.

Above: The Jute Boucle Rug in Iron is handwoven in Southern India from dark-colored jute fibers; $349 at West Elm.

Above: Julie's choice is the Distressed Wool Rug in Black, currently on sale for $1,035 (marked down from $1,295) at Restoration Hardware.

Above: Created by Dutch artist Christien Meindertsma for Thomas Eyck, the Cable Aran Rug is made of texcel (a coarse fleece suited to rugs and flooring) and wool derived from 18 Merino sheep breeds. The dark gray rug measures 7.5 by 10.5 feet and is $11,520 at Loft Modern. For more on the designer, see our post Christien Meindertsma's Artistic Aran Rugs.

Above: Restoration Hardware's Basket Weave Hemp Rug is a loose, open weave made of charcoal-colored hemp; $445.99.

Above: Available at Lost & Found, in Los Angeles, the Private Black Rug is a vintage, one-of-a-kind woven and patched hemp rug; $1,850.

For the lighter side of area rugs see our post 10 Easy Pieces: Neutral Wool Area Rugs and 7 Handwoven Rugs in Pretty Pastels. And sift through all of our posts on Rugs and other flooring options for more.

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Remodelista contributing editor Justine Hand became an instant fan of Mister Finch when she discovered his work on Etsy a while back. The two struck up a mutual admiration, and when Finch embarked on his first book project, Mister Finch: Living in a Fairytale World (just published by Glitterati in the UK), he asked her to contribute the preface. "Sometimes stained, at others bejeweled, Finch’s creations constantly walk the knife’s edge between extremes: life and death, melancholy and mirth, the beautiful and the bizarre," she writes. "Never falling to one side, they hold us in a place that is precarious but tantalizing.”

And who is Mister Finch? A British textile artist who stitches stuffed animals, insects, and flowers from leftover scraps, the mysterious Mister Finch works out of a studio in Yorkshire, England, that's "full of books, glass jars, and naughty cats. I've called my business Mister Finch so it's clear from the start that I'm a man and one that sews." Finch taps into the fantasy of fairytales and folklore, and, on first viewing, his one-of-a-kind creatures seem a tad sinister, but move in closer and you’ll find beautifully hand-sewn details that are poetic and achingly beautiful. 

Here's a look at some highlights from the book.

Above: An owl made from recycled materials. Mister Finch favors timeworn fabrics "not only as an ethical statement," he says, "but because I believe they add more authenticity and charm. Velvet curtains from an old hotel, a threadbare wedding dress, and a vintage apron become birds and beasts looking for new owners and adventures to have."

Above: Finch's addition of clothing adds a human element to his creatures: "I like to imagine them coming alive at night. Getting dressed or helping an elderly shoemaker or the tired housewife."

Above: Butterflies and moths are a longstanding Mister Finch obsession.

Above: Three mice in ruffles.

Above: Mister Finch wearing one of his own creations attached to his coat. 

Above: Mister Finch: Living in a Fairytale World is available for $45 from Amazon. To see more of his work, go to Mister Finch.

See Mister Finch's leather creations in our post An Edgy Textile Artist. And for another textile artist we admire, meet Jess Brown, Accidental Doll Maker.

More books? Go to Required Reading for our latest recommendations, and have a look at Gardenista's selections, too. 

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One of the Loire Valley's great landmarks, the 12th-century Fontevraud Abbey, burial place of Richard the Lionhart and Eleanor of Aquitaine, has played many roles over the years, from monastery to prison. It's now a cultural center with a priory transformed into an ascetically luxurious new hotel and restaurant. 

The conversion is the work of Canadian-born architect Sanit Manku and French designer Patrick Jouin of Jouin Manku. Their greatest challenge? They weren't permitted to touch the ceilings and walls of the UNESCO World Heritage site—"everything is built from chalky, white limestone, and when I say everything I mean everything," says Manku. Take a look at how they employed what they call "microarchitecture" and their own minimalist furniture to create a setting that gracefully celebrates past and present, simplicity and grandeur. Wool monk robes available for those who want the full-immersion experience.

Photographs by Nicolas Mathéus.

Above: Fontevraud L'Hôtel is located in the abbey's Saint-Lazare priory. The lobby, with its minimalist oak-paneled desk amid original stonework, sets the hushed and hallowed tone that permeates throughout. The glass-and-metal front door borrows its geometric pattern from stained glass. "We quietly slipped into the Saint-Lazare priory, immersing ourselves in its history," write the designers. "We tried to capture its essence, from its monastic simplicity to its prison austerity. Then we had to fine-tune our approach to give life to a contemporary vision that would respect and preserve the spirit of the building. We don't want the visitor to forget where they are."

Above: A place for contemplation—and perhaps a cognac. The designers used alter-like freestanding black screens to create intimate spaces within the vast chapel, a meeting place intended as a combination bar and "digital mediatheque." They warmed the chilly space with furniture built from old beams, some of which have touchscreen tabletops and built-in tablets. There's also radiant heat flooring—and for further warmth, those monk robes hang nearby on wall hooks.

Above: The simple benches and stools reference traditional ecclesiastical design. The standing screens are made of oak covered with a stretch-knit fabric by Innofa.

Above: The 54 rooms are simple yet sybaritic. Located in three parts of the priory, each has its own shape defined by the existing architecture: Some are tall-ceilinged duplexes, others sloping attic rooms, and this one has its own arched window wall and entrance to the garden.

Above: All of the furniture and accessories, down to the wastebaskets, were custom made for the project. Padded walls, with built-in angled headrests, help soundproof the rooms.

 Above: Discreet bedside lighting and detailing, including notebook holder, worth copying at home.

Above: Art, lighting, and coat hooks hang from steel rails that pay homage to what Manku terms "monk tech": "The monks didn't have a big budget, but they were incredibly crafty," he told the New York Times. "They wouldn't have six light sources in the same room. They'd have one and a little mirror that reflected the light. And the mirror would also be something you could hang your coat on. We said we need to do the same thing."

Above: Modern-day torches, the steel hanging lights are designed to be easily portable.

Above: Guest rooms have shuttered windows and sinks with incorporated towel rails.

Above: Like all great abbeys, Fontevraud comes complete with winding stairs, which the designers illuminate with a contemporary light tree.

Above: Fontevraud Le Restaurant is furnished much like the hotel—"inviting one to consider life's essentials," Manku says.

Above: Herb-enhanced water in a beaker.

Above: Padded seating and monumental lighting lend the dining room comfort and drama (and good acoustics).

Above: A modern monastic dining experience—with 130 LED candles running down its center. When it was an abbey, Manku explained to the New York Times, "you'd go in as an individual and become part of the community. We're trying to do subtle things to get people to understand a little bit of what it was like to live here." Extra folding chairs hang from church-style stalls (which also hide heating and lighting elements and Wi-Fi terminals) along the perimeter of the banquet hall.

Above: Throughout, the designers adhered to a palette of pale, natural colors, which extends to the soft blue, glazed stoneware made by ceramicist Charles Hair, whose workshop is near the abbey. The bread plates double as covers for the bowls. 

Above: Italian-made beechwood and leather seating designed by Patrick Jouin in the cloister.

Above: There are plenty of tranquil places to get down to work at Fontevraud.

Above: Manicured gardens and an apple orchard surround Fontevraud, which was founded in 1101 by iconoclastic preacher Robert d'Abrissel, who welcomed men and women to his monastic community—36 abbesses went on to run the abbey. In the 19th century, Napoleon had Fontevraud converted to a prison, inadvertently saving it from destruction.

Above: The hotel's courtyard surrounds an 18th-century physic garden devoted to the cultivation of medicinal plants.

Fontevraud Abbey is located in the heart of the Loire Valley, between Touraine an Anjou. For more details and reservations, go to Fontevraud L'Hôtel and Fontevraud Le Restaurant, and for visitor information, see Fontevraud.

Looking for a getaway? See our Hotel & Lodging recommendations around the world, and for something closer to home, consider New York's Gothic High Line Hotel, designed by Roman & Williams and located in a former seminary.

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Turn off the lights. These updates of the classic portable chamberstick are made for guiding your way in the dark from drawing room to bedchamber. They also, of course, work well on windowsills, tables, and nightstands. Perfect if you live in a castle—or, like us, want to pretend you do. Nightcap optional.

Above: A modern take on Wee Willie Winkie's chamberstick, the Danish KiBiSi Weight Here Candleholder, $48, from A + R Store, is made of Polystone, a compound of powdered stone and polyurethane resin, topped with a looped cast-iron rim.

Above: The Tower Light Chamberstick by Kristina Kjaer is available in dark green (shown here) and Zinfandel, a deep red; 99 DKK ($15.10 USD) from Danish shop Bolia.

Above: Another Country's Another Ceramic Candlesticks have turned-oak bases that conceal storage compartments; they come in three sizes starting at £39 ($62.88 USD), the set of three is £140 ($225.73 USD). See more by the London furniture company in Shopper's Diary: Another Country in Marylebone.

Above: Ferm Living's powder-coated metal Half Candleholders come in three designs and a range of colors; €20.80 ($26.48 USD) each.

Above: The polished Brass Candle Holder by Sigurd Persson presents a dressy, minimalist version of the form; 950 SEK ($131.43 USD) from Svensk Tenn, in Stockholm.

Above: German designer Patrick Frey's Spike candleholders are made from meat hooks welded to metal plates. They come in a range of colors; €18 ($22.91 USD) each.

Above: Collection Lights, an aluminum candleholder by French design house Eno, is £26 ($41.93 USD) at the Goodhood Store, London. 

Above: From Danish design company Hay, the skeletal Lup Candle Holder by Shane Schneck is $45 in copper (shown here) and $38 in black from the Dwell Store. Photograph via Mister President.

Above: Ikea's simple, classic Ryssby Candlestick is made of glazed porcelain; $14.99.

Above: Greek designer Yiannis Ghikas designed the Candlehandle for the opening of the Industrial Gas Museum of Athens as a salute to an old-fashioned source of light; inquire about pricing at the Industrial Gas Museum Shop. 

Ready to live in candlelight? For Candle Sources, browse our Shop section. And see two minimalist takes on the chamberstick in High/Low: Isle Crawford Metallic Candleholder. On Gardenista, read about holiday decorations with old-fashioned Clip-On Candleholders.

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We have a not-so-secret obsession with Halloween and moody seasonal decor at Remodelista. Our go-to Master of the Dark Arts? That would be Claudia Schwartz—proprietor of San Francisco's Bell'occhio—a sought-after SF stylist and shop owner who counts Martha Stewart among her fans. Claudia is a lover of the offbeat, and her last-century style (the way she spells Hallowe'en, for instance) has us entranced. Read on for her advice on creating a spooky yet soulful Halloween party; mastermix included. 

Photography by Tom Kubik for Remodelista.

Above: Claudia in a dress and a shrug from Pip-Squeak Chapeau, in Brooklyn. Her usual daily uniform is a vintage hemp work dress, but here she is dressed as a Halloween hostess. Her pearl earrings are by her husband, Tom, who designs and makes the jewelry the couple sells at Bell'occhio.

Remodelista: Do you have any cardinal rules for a good theme party?

Claudia Schwartz: Create an atmosphere in which all the carefully edited elements support one another, from food and decor to music and scent. But exercise restraint; using every good idea that comes along can result in a mess.

RM: What are some Halloween decor ideas our readers can re-create at home? 

CS: Start with a black table covering—whether it's blackboard oilcloth or black linen—it makes a nice backdrop. For arrangements, I like oak leaves and acorns; if they are not available, seasonal leaves and herbs from a farmer's market are nice. You could also do an all-orange theme, contrasted with dark chocolate cosmos, shiny black berries, small black calla lilies, and other very dark flora. The tableware can become the decor, too: serve soup in hollowed-out pumpkins, for example, as they do in Provence.

Above: Claudia uses Blackboard Oilcloth for the tablecloth; $16.50 per yard at Bell'occhio. She thinks it looks too informal when just draped over the table, so she had the tablecloth corners mitered and the edges scalloped. (I was impressed at how durable this material is: The oilcloth shown above has served atop Bell'occhio's shipping table for at least four years; it doesn't show scratches and it wipes clean.)

Above: Claudia sketched a white bat on the oilcloth using a piece of Reform Schule Chalk, very opaque and white, made in Germany; $5 at Bell'occhio. Next to the bats sits a Woodsie Votive, made in the workshop next door to the shop. The Woodsie votives, vases, "loglets," and more are stocked in white, cream, and brown, but can also be painted to order. All the twigs jutting out from the Woodsie pieces were gathered from Brady Street in front of the store and workshop. The Woodsie line starts at $12 at Bell'occhio. 

RM: How do you like to display name cards? 

CS: Designating places with place cards makes seating less awkward for guests. I used lyre-shaped holders for a recent party, but you can improvise using twigs, moss clumplets, and other natural materials.

Above: Claudia wrapped a wine bottle in strips of black tissue paper that she ruffled using fringing scissors—she called this "dressing a bottle in a costume." 

RM: What tools and materials do you keep at the ready for making DIY party decor? 

CS: A variety of scissors: fringing scissors (like our Fringe Benefits, $30, which can be used to mince herbs, too), pinking shears, and small sharp scissors—one pair for paper and one pair for fabric. And I always keep on hand Aleene's Tacky Glue, little sticks for applying the glue, carpet tape, glue dots, and a circle cutter.

Above: Claudia uses Fringe Benefits scissors ($30 at Bell'occhio) to create a ruffled edge on a stack of black tissue paper for her DIY "costumed bottle" shown above.

RM: What are good Halloween decorations for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot? 

CS: Mother Nature's materials cost nothing. Plus, twigs, flowers, and moss can be composted after the party.

Above: Claudia enlisted a friend who was setting out for a weekend in Lake Tahoe to collect eerie-looking specimens during his ambles in the wilderness. He returned with a stash of dried treasures such as moss-covered bark and sugar pine needles. Several of his finds still sport their roots (Claudia asked him to pull out dead flora carefully, to keep their roots intact). To style these, Claudia suggests laying them out flat against a black background or incorporating them into arrangements alongside fresh flora.

Above: To create a centerpiece, Claudia arranged dried green moss in antique French rose vases that she found in a flower market in Paris punctuated with vintage French gaming pieces made of carved bone.

Above: A green kabocha squash from the San Francisco Ferry Building Farmer's Market, and a pair of Little Owl Scissors—"because they're cute" ($16 at Bell'occhio).

Above: Claudia filled black Woodsie Vases with oak leaves, acorns, and arbutus berries collected from nearby trees and the San Francisco Flower Mart. She didn't bother using floral foam to anchor the arrangements; instead, she just cut the branches to size so they can stand up. "It looks better if they're sort of wild and random," she says.

Above: Claudia at work in her studio, next door to the Bell'occhio shop, in San Francisco.

Above: Claudia's bewitching black shoes are from Emma Hope, in London. 

RM: How do you approach music for a party? 

CS: Music is essential for evoking atmosphere at a party—if it doesn't interfere with conversation, and if it's seamless and you're not jumping up and down to change the record. At a Japanese-themed birthday dinner for my husband, I found obscure recordings of Japanese court music, samisen, Buddhist chants—and a friend brought a Japanese nature CD that included the sounds of cracking ice at a shrine. At store parties, we've had music as diverse at Dennis James playing the glass harmonica and a trio of musicians playing alpenhorns and small alpine accordions.

RM: What would you suggest for a Halloween party playlist?

CS: I’m always in search of unusual music for the shop and for parties. The first thing that comes to mind for Halloween is the sound of the theremin, an instrument that produces wavering, eerie, otherworldy sound. That would be perfect. I'd find recordings or a theremin musician. I'd also look for unexpected music such as the following:

• "Mr. Ghost Goes to Town" by the 5 Jones Boys, which we play every Halloween.
• I'm fond of classical music, so I'd include pipe organ music often featured in horror movies—Bach's "Toccata and Fugue for Organ"—a là Boris Karloff.
• Because a little of this goes a long way, I'd interject some humor via Spike Jones: "You Always Hurt the One You Love" and "My Old Flame," a parody of horror film actor Peter Lorre.
• Nature recordings in forests are great—maybe a touch of beating batwings or sounds of thunder and rain.

RM: What would you serve for a Halloween dinner party dessert?

CS: I’m crazy about soufflés—I'd probably make pumpkin soufflés in individual ramekins, or maybe oeufs a la neige (snow egg meringues). The meringues are ghostlike, light and ethereal, served in little pumpkins or classic black espresso cups. With all that candy around, a heavy dessert isn't so appealing.

Above: Claudia's dramatic black iron table base is actually the base of an antique cardboard box folding machine. She acquired it from a friend, owner of now-shuttered The Everything Shop, in San Francisco. The proprietor wasn't initially keen on parting with the table, but once he came to understand Claudia's aesthetic sensibilities, he knew it would be a perfect fit for Bell'occhio. 

RM: Last question: What is your favorite holiday?

CS: Christmas.

Read more about Bell'occhio in Paris by the Bay: Bell'occhio in San Francisco, and seek and find more advice in Expert Advice: How to Achieve a Low-Key Luxe Look at Home; 21 Tips: How to Save Water at Home, One Drop at a Time; and Expert Advice: Coffee Tips from Alice Gao.

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Who would live in a moody house with charcoal-painted walls? Maybe a daring young bachelor? A hip couple of a certain age? Certainly not a family with two young children—unless you're the Atkins-Hugheses.

Photographer Graham Atkins-Hughes and his wife, stylist Jo Atkins-Hughes, together run a business called Seven & Eight. It's named for their house, Location 78, which the couple rents out as studio space for photo shoots and filming. The house is dramatically styled and ready to shoot—but it's also lived in full-time by Graham, Jo, and their two young boys. 

How do they pull it off? Earlier this year, The Telegraph published a short video on the family called "The Good Life: Having a Work and Family Space." In the video, Graham explains the family's live/work thinking: "We spend a lot of time going in and out of studios and doing our jobs, so it seemed like the logical thing to do. It means that we can spend a lot more quality time with our children, which enhances our lifestyle. And it makes financial sense."

Photography by Graham Atkins-Hughes. 

Above: The Atkins-Hugheses found their East London house in 2001 and began renovating immediately. ("It was pretty tired," says Jo.) Over the years they decorated and redecorated, and then they completely restyled it in 2010 with a sharp turn toward the dark side.

Above: They painted the walls, ceiling, and floor of the living room black. "We feel this is the most exciting of all the new developments," Graham wrote on his blog. A dark green velvet sofa dominates the back walls of the room.

Above L: The paint color is actually a very dark gray, which the couple appreciates for being such a good foil to the brighter colors of their furniture and artwork. Above R: The bright red kitchen stands out against dark olive walls.

Above: The master bedroom. The couple sourced decor on eBay and in London vintage shops. Jo describes how the family compromises with the live/work house: "Quite often you'll get a phone call in the morning saying, 'We've got a team in the area. Can they come in an hour to recce the house?' I guess we do have to compromise slightly the way we live, but it's more than payoff for the quality we get from the lifestyle that we've chosen."

Above: Jo found a pair of yellow chairs on the street in Hackney after collecting her boys from school one day. She and Graham found affordable cotton velvet from Foy & Co., near Cowbridge, and a friend of Jo's parents made new cushions for them. 

Above: A still life on the marble mantel stands out against the dark gray walls.

Above: A sideways glance into the living room and at the chandelier above.

Above: Red and green velvet chairs and stools look alive against the black walls and floors. 

Above: The hallway, painted dark teal with glossy black stairs.

Keep finding your way in the dark:

• 11 Traditional Houses Gone to the Dark Side
• 10 Black-Accented Children's Rooms for Goths in Training
• Black Magic: Architects' 8 Top Paint Picks

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• Glamour Within Reach: Abigail Ahern's New Designs for Sofa.com
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London designer and tastemaker Abigail Ahern likes her interiors to be “glamorous, laid back, and a little bit moody and edgy.” We’re currently eyeing her recent collaboration with Sofa.com, a UK company that prides itself on affordability. The capsule collection includes a sofa, a retro swivel chair, and two versatile X benches, all upholstered in glam—and yes, moody—velvets.

Photography by Graham Atkins Hughes.

Above: The Stanley, covered in Hudson Roosevelt Velvet, was inspired by the swivel chairs of the Mad Men era: "I wanted something that shouts pure seduction," says Ahern. "It envelops you as you sink in and cocoons you from the outside world." Prices start at £610 ($979).

Above: Ahern envisioned the eponymous Abigail design as a versatile piece, equally right for "sipping a martini with friends or watching TV with the family." It's upholstered in Baltic Roosevelt Velvet, and prices start at £1,310 ($2,103).

Above: Inspired by her time spent in the States, Ahern designed two X benches, including the Maud Footstool, shown here in Dusty Rose Pure Cotton Matte Velvet; from £225 ($361.25). "X benches are the most multitalented pieces of furniture you can own," says Ahern. "They're perfect to put your feet on, prop at the foot of a bed, and use as an impromptu perch for guests." 

Above: Another X bench, the Celeste Footstool, shown here in Prussian Blue Velvet, works well as a bedside table; prices start at £225 ($361.25).

More comfortable luxury? See 10 Easy Pieces: The Blue Velvet Sofa, Luxe Edition and explore our Velvet Underground issue.

On Gardenista, take stealth luxury outside with Black Beauties: 10 Film Noir Flowers for a Glamorous Garden.

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A little bit of black goes a long way, especially when paired with white. Here are 13 favorite black and white bathrooms that are just on the right side of noirish—even the superstitious will approve.

Above: An antique black-framed mirror and a black plant stand (with matching pot) adds interest to the bath of a black and white apartment in Antwerp that's available for short-term rentals. See Where to Sleep (and Shop) in Antwerp.

Above: A dramatic tiled bath in Olatz Schnabel's SoHo house, featured in 5 Favorites: Black and White Bathrooms. (See her glam linen designs in our post Olatz in New York.) Photograph by Jason Schmidt for the New York Times.

Above: A black claw-foot tub by Whiting Architects, in Melbourne, stands on black-and-white patterned tiles. For more tile ideas, see Trend Alert: Patterned Tiled Bathroom Floors, Black and White Edition.

Above: A pair of dark-edged German utility sinks—learn about them in Design Sleuth: The Alape Bucket Sink. Photograph via Merci, Paris.

Above: In a Notting Hill marble bathroom by Charles Mellersh, an ebony-stained mirror and window frame (plus picture rail) coordinate with a black Stool One by Another Country. Tour the house in The Designer Is In: An Optimist at Home.

Above: A retro Scandi bathroom in Finland features a black wall-mounted shower and a curtain rod put together from old metal fittings. See Steal This Look: Black and White Shower in Finland for the details.

Above: In a bathroom remodel in Portland, Oregon, by Jessica Helgerson, the black-painted claw-foot tub and black curtain rods stand out against white walls and gray tiled floors. Learn how to re-create the look in Classic Black and White Bath Remodel.

Above: London- and Barcelona-based blogger Patricia Goijens used Dornbracht Tara Fixtures with a black finish in her renovated bathroom. Learn about the line in our post Dornbracht Tara Black and White Edition Faucets. Photograph by No Glitter No Glory.

Above: At the Wythe Hotel, in Brooklyn, white subway tiles line the walls, while black-and-white patterned tiles from Popham match up with the black-framed mirror and metal sink legs. Go to White Heat in Brooklyn for a tour of the hotel.

Above: Black bathroom accessories match the architecture of the black door and its frame at the Amansara Resort in Cambodia, as featured in Architect Visit: Modern Black and White Baths. Photograph by Richard Powers.

Above: In this Black and White Bathroom with a Gothic Edge, traditional fittings and pharmacy-inspired cabinets mix with a modern 224D Double Octopus Chandelier by Autoban and a pair of Tolomeo Classic Wall Lamps by Artemide. Photograph via Hanna's Room.

Above: Commune used blackened metal factory windows to delineate the bathrooms from the bedrooms at the Ace Hotel in LA.

Above: Black canvas curtains envelop the bathing area at the Ace Hotel in Portland. See Steal This Look: Ace Hotel Bath for sourcing.

For more ways to bring black into your house, see 10 Easy Pieces: Black Low-Pile Area Rugs and 10 Favorites: Spooky Black Pianos.

On Gardenista, we channel the Salem Witch House in Steal This Look: The Dark Side of New England.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 5 Favorites: Fringed Towel Roundup
• 8 Water-Saving Showerheads
• Before & After: The Two-Week Bath Remodel for Less Than $5,000

It's not something you think about until you have to: funerary urns (also known as cremation urns). Here's a roundup of options for the aesthetically inclined.

Above: Designed by Seattle architect Tom Kundig, the blackened steel Final Turn funerary urn is $3,300 from Lundgren Monuments.

Above: The cube-shaped C-6 Black Powder Coat Urn is $1,700 from Capsule Urn, a company that specializes in US-made "premium cremation urns and keepsakes."

Above: Made from Maine fieldstone, the Stone Keepsake Urn is $100 from Forgotten Stoneworks of Manchester, Maine, via Etsy.

Above: A custom Simple Modern Pottery Pet Cremation Urn is $80 from Vitrified Studio, in Portland, Oregon (custom sizes available).

Trees and plants are a nice way to remember someone. On Gardenista, see 10 Easy Pieces: Garden Urns and 10 Landscapes Designed Around a Single Tree.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 12 Armoires as Linen Closets
• Glamour Within Reach: Abigail Ahern's New Designs for Sofa.com
• A Moody London House (Fit for the Addams Family)

British-born, LA-based designer Jane Hallworth is fabulously droll and witty, rigorously versed in the world of architecture and design, and completely tight-lipped when it comes to talking about her well-heeled Hollywood clients (rumor has it that Ellen Degeneres and Kristen Dunst are on her roster.)

If only my father had known of her future success, he may not have worried so much. You see, in one of those small-world coincidences, Jane (who I recently met for the first time through work) was an architecture student of my father's when she was at Newcastle University. My father was a champion of those not achieving their full potential, and Jane was part of that flock. (He once referred to her as a "dilettante," something she had taken as a compliment at the time, the true meaning only sinking in later.) What my father was oblivious to, however, was the fact that as a student, Jane was already running a business of sorts: She and a student friend tag-teamed, trading lecture attendance with shopping at an auction house, where the pair bought antique jewelry boxes, gentlemen’s ephemera, and the like. After spiffing up these goods and hauling them to the States in a suitcase, Jane sold them to the likes of Ralph Lauren, effectively funding her whole education. And so Jane had actually already launched her career. 

Recently I paid a visit to Hallworth at her small gallery-cum-office tucked down a side alley away from the large vitrined showrooms on LA's La Cienega. Both moody and refined, romantic and a touch Gothic, Jane's operation central is deeply layered with period furnishings and finds rich with secret histories. She shared with us a few ideas on how we, too, can add a dash of dastardly to our own homes. 

Photography by Jessica Commingore for Remodelista.

Above: Hallworth's showroom is set up as a seductively lit, out-of-time hideaway. (She avows that the look is a tad less edited than in her clients' homes.)

Use a lot of dim lighting. "I recommend excessive lighting from multiple sources, but with low-ambient light. I like to cross reference ages. If you just do all modern lighting, it’s hard, but mix Italian 1940s with some turn-of-the-century Arts and Crafts, and then add something else, and you have layers, scale, and history that creates a moodiness."

Above: A bronze lantern festooned with moths, a collaboration between Hallworth and artist Leslie Yagar. Hallworth's line of lighting and decorative objects is available from Blackman Cruz. 

Above: Hallworth says she favors "muddy colors and earth tones like tobacco and ink, and absolutes as in black and white. I am a little obsessed with spectrum over color."

Manipulate color to convey a feeling. "My own space is dark and saturated and moody, but I have just done a house for a client that's all white and light. Everything from the upholstery to the lacquered floor is white except for a classic Chesterfield and a few dark, edgy leather pieces. In the day the tone is quite sweet, but at night it’s very moody and sinister…a little dastardly." 

Above: A woven camel hair window panel with an embroidered bird.

Above: Tables and shelves are layered with curiosities. What looks like a small dagger is a Victorian silver letter opener with an agate handle.

Above: A vintage leather wingback chair and ottoman by Swedish designer Carl Malmsten sits on a faded carpet.

Introduce textiles to create texture and back story. "I am a textile junkie and, if you ask me, there is nothing better than a faded, threadbare carpet. It’s the ghost of a carpet, something you would see in a British stately home."

Above: Pillows by Daniel Pontius are layered on a chair made by Swedish architect Kerstin Horlin Holmquist. Hallworth explains, "I seek out really interesting textile artists. Daniel Pontius does amazing embroidery. He takes fragments of material and augments them with stitching. It's a very textured approach. He also does embroidered pillows with sly, witty sayings. A lot of them are quotes from British snuff boxes, very camp and dark."

Combine textures. "I love layer upon layer of textiles, especially interesting textiles that have been labored and worked upon. It’s the idea of craft. It’s a Gothic sensibility, a time and place where the wife was at home creating craft-based art."

Above: A handworked piece by artist Leslie Yagar of Huntington Beach, California.

Above: Natural materials, such as this bird's nest and branch, are mixed in with a display of objects.

Above: A mobile hung with dark dried pods is by botanical artist Kevin Inkwich, who Hallworth explains, "weaves floral elements into his work and makes these amazing mobiles that have a kinetic sensibility yet are organic. It’s very Day of the Triffids."

Above: A small lamp inside a bookcase illuminates a painting. 

Above: The unorthodox mix includes a 1989 Swedish Mats Theselius Fatolj Chair in polished aluminum and black leather. "I don't need to edit here. It's contemplative; if it were light and bright, I would daydream," Jane says. "In my showroom I surround myself with things that even if they don’t sell make me incredibly happy. I am my biggest client."

For more of our finds in Hallworth's La Cienega Design Quarter neighborhood, see:

• RTH, René Holguin's Cult Clothing and Leathergoods Shop
• An LA Creative Unleashed: RTH Shop 2 
• Furniture Care Tips from an LA Antiques Maestro

More Stories from Remodelista

• Fontevraud Abbey in France: The Ultimate Haunted Hotel
• The Lovely Bones: A Stripped-Down Bistro in Paris
• The Remodelista Market Comes to London

Good Halloween decor should always evoke a ghost story. Mine captures a ladies' luncheon gone on waaaay too long. 

Every October my husband and children run around bedecking the exterior of our house with ghouls and pumpkins. But the interior is my domain. I like to honor All Hallows' Eve with a more subtle, grown-up approach—something that is only vaguely sinister or decayed.

Last year I paid homage to Miss Havisham in my hall. (See Justine's Haunted Hall.) This year I wanted to serve up a spectral supper in the dining room. Using little more than floating black leaves and bone white porcelain, I've conjured a Halloween setting that is, I like to think, equally haunting and beautiful. Here's how I did it.

Photography by Justine Hand for Remodelista.

Above: The inspiration for my Halloween table came from two sources: an old issue of Kinfolk that featured an autumnal setting with colorful leaves floating over a table, and a recent Martha Stewart DIY, in which she preserved fall leaves in wax. Step one: Gather leaves. While my daughter, Solvi, searched for sunset yellows and oranges, I hunted for noirish reds and browns, the more desiccated and moth-eaten, the better.

Materials

Above: All you need for this project is:

• Approximately 35 leaves in dark colors. I allowed my leaves to dry overnight so that the edges would curl.
• 1/3 pound wax. I used beeswax from Ruhl Bee Supply; $8.50 for 1 pound.
• Black candle dye. I used Liquid Eco-friendly Candle Dye, also from Ruhl Bee Supply; $7.95.
• A double boiler.
• Any fine thread.

Instructions

Above: Melt wax in a double boiler over medium heat. Once the wax is entirely melted, add several drops of coloring. Stir and do a test dip with your leaves. Add more color until you reach the desired shade. You also can re-dip your leaves if you want a richer hue.

Above: Reduce the temperature of the wax to low. Holding the stem, quickly dip each leaf in the wax, letting the excess drip back into the pot. Place leaves on parchment paper to dry. 

Above: Now much more noir, my wax-dipped leaves will also last for a long time.

You may be wondering, Why I didn't just paint the leaves? You could, but I wanted the depth of the translucent wax. Also, for the paint to adhere, you'd have to use something pretty heavy-duty, like household paint. That seemed to require at least as much effort as dipping leaves in wax. (Plus, I plan to use the excess wax and dye to make black candles. Stay tuned.)

Above: If necessary, use a hammer and nail to poke holes in your leaves. Or simply tie a thread to the stems. Be sure to give yourself extra string, so you can adjust the height of your hanging leaves.

Above: Solvi and I also found some wonderfully twisted locust pods.

Above: Suspend your leaves at staggered lengths. I used matte Scotch tape to affix them to the ceiling.

Above: Once the leaves are hung, it's time to consider your tablescape. I wanted a stark contrast to the black leaves, so I employed alabaster porcelain from White Forest Pottery, dried straw flowers, pale gourds, and several layers of creamy linens to create a ghostlike shroud.

Above: Voila! My finished table.

Above: For a centerpiece I gathered more black leaves as a backdrop for two white gourds set on an antique pedestal.

Above: I love the lacy effect of the tattered leaves. Here also you can see that I added one red leaf, like a pinprick on my tableau.

Above: Elderberry Cordial from Caledonia Spirits makes a perfect Halloween aperitif for adults. And note, you don't need to polish the silver.

Above: More haphazardly placed linens add an air of neglect to the side bar.

Above: A wider view of the dining room.

Above: Solvi walked through the completed space this morning. "Mom, Is that room supposed to be creepy?" she asked. "Yes," I said. "Did I do a good job?" "Yeah," she replied with a shiver.

Get fully spooky with us and Gardenista:

• Expert Advice: Halloween Decor Tips from the Master of the Dark Arts
• DIY: Pumpkin Carving Ideas, Milky Way Edition
• Instant Black Cat Halloween Lights
• Curb Appeal: 15 Halloween Ideas to Steal from Brooklyn
• 5 Quick Fixes: Instant Halloween Decor, Black Matte Edition
• Pumpkin Soup with an Unexpected Twist

More Stories from Remodelista

• Dark Wood: Shou Sugi Ban Torched Lumber
• DIY Project: A $38 Pot Rack That's Perfect for Compact Kitchens
• Remodeling 101: Where to Locate Electrical Outlets, Home Office and Storage Edition

For those of us lacking a proper linen closet, the armoire, scaled to house a full wardrobe, substitutes nicely. Here are a dozen examples of armoires used as linen closets in bedrooms, bathrooms, and even living rooms.

Above: A vintage French armoire in the SoHo loft of Ochre owners Andrew Corrie and Harriet Maxwell, in New York; to see more, go to House Call: Ochre in NYC. Photograph by Jonny Valiant.

Above: Justine Hand sourced a cedar-lined armoire from Etsy seller Solstice Home and uses it primarily as a linen closet in her Cape Cod family cottage. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Above: A look inside a white-painted vintage armoire in a house featured on Light Locations.

Above: In a room designed by Tricia Foley, an antique armoire holds extra pillows and quilts for quick access.

Above: A screened armoire in the home of French Essence blogger Vicki Archer is neatly stocked with white towels and sheets. Photograph via The Enchanted Home.

Above: Linen closet meets utility room in an armoire photographed by Mari Eriksson of An Angel at My Table.

Above: A white towel-filled armoire in a bathroom photographed by Peter Margonelli.

Above: Perfectly folded antique French linens spotted on Bestefars Verksted.

Above: A dark wood armoire with pure white contents, via CharHadas.

Above: White towels in and out of baskets are stored in the living room armoire of a house featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.

Above: A gray armoire houses stacks of gray bath towels, via Decorology.

Above: A single-door armoire in a bathroom seen on Interior Magasinet.

Looking for a clean-lined armoire? See our post 10 Easy Pieces: Modern Wood Armoires. And for towels to stock inside, visit 10 Easy Pieces: Basic White Towels. Go to Storage & Organization for more of our favorite ideas.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Ashes to Ashes: 5 Mantel-Worthy Urns
• Glamour Within Reach: Abigail Ahern's New Designs for Sofa.com
• A Moody London House (Fit for the Addams Family)

Cue the spooky music and take a look at the dark and wild ways in which Gardenista has been getting into the Halloween spirit—visits to the Salem Witch House and Grey Gardens (plus an appearance by a white rabbit) included. 

Above: A wild grapevine found withering by the side of the road inspired Sophia's DIY Bouquet of the Week: Celebrating Decay for Halloween. And in fact, her creation, with its air plants and long-lasting leucadendron, is designed to linger.  

Above: The all-time most memorable Gardenista Before and After story? The tale of Grey Gardens and Jackie Onassis's relatives Big and Little Edie Beale, subject of a famous documentary (as well as a movie and Broadway play). See the estate's resurrection under of ownership of star journalists Ben Bradlee, who died this week at 93, and Sally Quinn.

Above: "I like to punctuate a garden bed with velvety darkness," says Michelle. "Nothing cuts the sweetness faster than a black flower." Her recommendation? 10 Film Noir Flowers, including these hairy-stemmed black peony poppies.

Above: Dark shadows forever: The Salem Witch House is the star of this week's Steal This Look. Meredith details how to replicate its somber New England beauty, from black stain and paint color to birch wreath.

Above: In Garden Visit, Lindsey shows us around photographer Maria Robledo and artist Holton Rower's lush Brooklyn Heights, New York, yard, which she helped design. It's most appreciated by resident rabbit, Cornelius, Maria's famous bunny (whose antics she chronicles on her Instagram feed @MariaRobledo).

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trending on Gardenista: Orange Is the New Black
• Trending on Gardenista: The DIY Mudroom and More
• Trending on Gardenista: Garden Ideas to Steal from Belgium

Afraid of the dark? It's time to overcome that fear. One of the secrets to a better night's sleep is a pitch-black setting. Here's why, plus a guide to making your bedroom a nighttime light-free zone.

Above: A serene bedroom in a 200-year-old chalet remodeled by Zurich's Bergdorf Agency for Concepts and Communication. Learn about the bedside lights in Design Sleuth: The Tolomeo Light Takes a Turn.

How does darkness effect sleep?

Darkness is the primary cue that tells our bodies it's time to slumber. Chief controller? The internal clock tucked in our hypothalmus that keeps us on a 24-hour wake/sleep schedule. Light triggers all kinds of internal chemical events, including the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. According to the National Sleep Foundation, "As evening approaches and the light in our environment dwindles, the hormone melatonin begins to rise and body temperature falls—both of which help us to become less alert and more likely to welcome sleep. With the help of morning light, melatonin levels are low, body temperature begins to rise, and other chemical shifts, such as an uptick in the activating hormone cortisol, occur to help us feel alert and ready for the day."

Above: Shut out the light (and create a sleep cocoon) with a Curtained Bed. Photograph via Skona Hem.

Does artificial light count?

Our internal clocks aren't sensitive only to the rising and setting of the sun. Research shows that artificial light has a major impact on circadian rhythm—our body's natural 24-hour wake/sleep cycle—and the production of sleep hormones. The thinking part of our brain that differentiates fake light from natural light isn't able to pass that tip along to the hypothalamus. Scientists at Tulane University studied melatonin production and found that sleeping in rooms with even dim lights caused melatonin levels to drop, affecting not only the ability to fall asleep but also to stay asleep. "In total darkness," they note, "even if you can't sleep, your melatonin levels will increase normally."

A study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism concludes that exposure to room light before bedtime "exerts a profound suppressive effect on melatonin levels and shortens the body's internal representation of night duration. Hence, chronically exposing oneself to electrical lighting in the late evening disrupts melatonin signaling and could therefore potentially impact sleep, thermoregulation, blood pressure, and glucose homeostasis." Convinced? 

Above: A bedroom with a blackout roller blind and soothing dark wall. Photograph via Mrs. Jones blog.

How to achieve total darkness in the bedroom

The first step is to survey your room for interior and exterior sources of artificial and natural light. You may be surprised. Keep a list and take action. Here are some ideas.

1. Dim the lights before bedtime.

Above: Consider using low-wattage incandescent lamps at your bedside (and turn off overhead lights as you get ready for bed). The key is to wind down with lighting at a lower level than normal, signaling to your body that darkness is setting in. Learn about this bedside light in Design Sleuth: Le Klint Wooden Accordion Lamp. Photograph via Kitka Design.

2. Eliminate electronics.

Researchers have found that the circadian rhythm is especially sensitive to light with short wavelengths, in particular the blue light given off by electronics, such as computers and cell phones, and also by energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs. “Blue light preferentially alerts the brain, suppresses the melatonin, and shifts your body clock all at the same time. Your brain is more alert now and thinks it’s daytime because we have evolved to only see bright light during the day,” says Harvard sleep researcher Steven Lockely (via the Chicago Tribune). 

What to do with those annoying LED indicator lights on gadgets that can't leave your room (such as the wireless port plugged into an outlet in my own bedroom)? Discover LED dimming sheets; made by LightDims and others, these plastic dots and strips stick (without adhesive) on top of the indicator light to either black it out or dim it. 

3. Avoid fluorescent lights in the bedroom. 

Caught in a lightbulb conundrum? See our earlier post The Great Lightbulb Debate. 

4. Forget night lights.

Even dim lighting can suppress melatonin production. If you need a light to guide you for middle-of-the-night peramubulations, consider a motion-activated night light.

Above: A motion-activated night-light. "Getting to the bathroom at night is important for some of us. Haven't we all staggered out of bed, one eye closed, the other cracked open just enough to find our way?" says lighting designer Thomas Paterson, founder of London- and Mexico City-based Lux Populi. "New technologies make it easy to hide a soft light under a bed, a table, or a skirting, softly lighting the floor—and then, thanks to a motion sensor directed away from the bed (so it doesn't turn on when you move in bed), you have soft light to find your way whenever you get up." 

5. Ditch the digital clock.

The first thing I do when entering a hotel room is unplug or hide the bedside digital clock. At home, consider the good old analog clock. (And if you need to check the time while it's still dark, consider a clock with an illumination button rather than one that stays lit all night long.)

Above: An analog classic, the Big Ben Alarm Clock, originally designed in 1931, has a push-button back light for nighttime viewing; $39.95 at LL Bean.

6. Use blackout shades

Light-blocking shades, blinds, and curtain liners used solo or in tandem keep street lights and car lights out of your bedroom. They also keep early morning light from waking you. It's best to have window coverings that block the light at night, but can be drawn to bathe the room in sunlight during the day. 

Above: Window covering averse like me? I use simple blackout roller blinds that blend with white window frames—much like the ones shown here in designer Jane Cumberbatch's London Home. Photograph via Light Locations.

Above: On a double roller blind, two rollers can accommodate two different fabrics, allowing sheer and blackout options: During the day, sheer blinds filter and diffuse the light coming in; at night, blackout blinds cloak the room in darkness. Photograph via Sunlight. 

For all you need to know about roller blinds, see Christine's Remodeling 101: Simple Roller Blinds. 

Above: Blackout Curtain Liner Fabric can be used as backing on drapes and fabric blinds. 

Above: Consider solid-panel shutters, like the ones shown here in designer Martin Raffone's Marrakech Escape that shut out light and wind at night and fold open during the day.

7. Use an eye mask

Above: Take a tip from Holly Golightly—to fully vanquish nighttime light, an eye mask may be the answer (and it's ideal for travel too). Consider the Muji Eye Mask ($7.50), which comes with its own pouch.

Other sleep-inducing ideas?

Get some sun during the day. Exposing your body to sunlight not only helps alert the brain to produce the activating hormone cortisol but also helps you sleep better at night because it keeps your circadian rhythm on schedule.

Read: 10 Secrets for a Better Night's Sleep from our wellness expert Jackie Ashton. 

Does all this talk of sleep have you thinking about bedrooms? Get inspired by our posts:

• Serenity Now: A No-Drama Bedroom in Berkeley (hint: two famous authors involved)

• Steal This Look: A Budget Bedroom in Brooklyn

• Editors' Picks: 10 Favorite Luxury Bed Linens

• Pillow Talk: 7 Secrets to Making a Perfect Bed

More Stories from Remodelista

• 10 Favorites: Modern Chambersticks for Making Your Way in the Dark
• 10 Easy Pieces: Modern Wood Armoires
• 11 Clever Storage Ideas for the Closet

Take a look at what's on our radar right now.

• Above: Next week we'll be exploring Lessons from Japan—we love this young family's house by Harantsu Architects, in Izumo. Photograph by Kai Nakamura. 
• We're on board with new Halloween traditions. 
• What do Switzerland, Germany, and Singapore have in common? They're among the best places to live abroad. 

• Above: Watch a time-lapse video showcasing the start-to-finish renovation of Donna's Cocktail Lounge, a new hangout in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Photograph courtesy of Lonny. 
• Feeling moody? Enjoy a roundup of black rooms. 
• See to believe: Halloween ghoul lights on a house in Chicago are synced to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." 

• Above: Tour Idun, an adventurous new women's clothing store in Minneapolis. Photograph by 2nd Truth. 
• Six ways to expand the look of a small space.

• Above: Heading to Turtle + Hare in Oakland, California, this weekend for more Japanese design inspiration (owners/designers Mónica Reskala and Christopher Weiss scoured Gifu and their shop is filled with their spoils.)
• We're remembering Oscar de la Renta in a 2011 interview with Nowness.  

• Above: On our wish list: string lights from Terrain. 
• Tour a Brooklyn loft located in a former T-shirt factory. 
• Step-by-step instructions for painting over Ikea particle board furniture.

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

• SF lifestyle photographer Aubrie Pick—@aubriepick on Instagram—chronicles interiors, cats and dogs, and SF's new Marlowe, a favorite Remodelista hangout.  
• French fashion photographer Garance Doré's Studio board is inspiring us to consider a workspace revamp. 

Get spooked with more posts from our week of Dark Shadows, and don't miss Gardenista's ode to Ghoulish Gardens. 

More Stories from Remodelista

• 12 Armoires as Linen Closets
• Ashes to Ashes: 5 Mantel-Worthy Urns
• Glamour Within Reach: Abigail Ahern's New Designs for Sofa.com

As we prepare our Lessons from Japan issue, we're appreciating neutrals, and we always appreciate stairs. Here are 10 standouts—in black, white, and natural wood—from members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory.

Above: A dramatic wood staircase in a new three-story house by Seattle's Heliotrope Architects; the top floor contains the social spaces to take advantage of sweeping Puget Sound views. See more from Heliotrope in The Architect Is In: A Low-Impact Summer House on Orcas Island, Multiple Views Included. Photograph by Mark Woods.

Above: A modern stair with ebonized oak treads and steel rails hangs in a three-story vertical space designed by Alterstudio Architecture of Austin. The stair is backed by a wall of etched glass, with shadowy suggestions of the landscape beyond. Alterstudio was a recent finalist in our Considered Design Awards; read more in Vote for the Best Office in the Remodelista Design Awards.

Above: McInturff Architects of Bethesda, Maryland, added a guest house to a 1930s estate in King George, Virginia. The architects echoed the facade's white brick in the stairwell. For more from McInturff, see A Forest of Wood in Northern Virginia. 

Above: Architects Qb3 designed a new open-plan house on a vacant Philadelphia lot next to a span of traditional brick row houses. The building uses a steel ribbon stair to connect spaces from the entry to the roof garden, four tiers in all. See Architect Visit: Qb3 Hoeber Loft in Philadelphia for more from the firm. Photograph by Todd Mason.

Above: This Cobble Hill home by Massim Design Studio in Brooklyn was the winner of our 2014 Considered Design Awards Best Living/Dining Space designed by a professional. The architect removed and replaced an existing stair to transform the "soulless vanilla box" she was presented with at the start. Get the project details in Best Professionally Designed Living/Dining Space: Massim Design Studio.

Above: In Brooklyn, Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture brightened a historic Park Slope townhouse by replacing the dark original staircase with a lighter version that has openings to reveal each floor. See more from the firm in 10 Ingenious Space-Efficient Kitchens. 

Above: In a San Francisco townhouse remodeled by Feldman Architecture, the main living spaces were isolated from the rest of the house by dark stairs and hallways. A new wood, steel, and glass staircase, flooded with daytime light, encourages residents to travel upward from the first-floor entry to the top-floor living space. Hear from Feldman in The Architect Is In: A Kitchen Expert Answers Your Queries. Photograph by Joe Fletcher.

Above: In another San Francisco design by Feldman Architecture, metal-screened staircases connect three floors while remaining open enough to allow parents to keep an ear on their three rowdy boys. A top-floor diagonal stair leads to a floating office and roof deck. 

Above: Elizabeth Roberts Design/Ensemble Architecture  of Brooklyn removed a non-original stair on the bottom floor of a Park Slope townhouse and exposed the original brick wall lining the period staircase on the top floor. Hear from Roberts in The Architect Is In: Elizabeth Roberts Adds Value in Brooklyn. 

Above: An ethereal, all-cream staircase by Deborah Berke & Partners in a Manhattan interior renovation. See more from Berke in Architect Visit: Deborah Berke in Litchfield County. 

Keep browsing for inspiration: 

• 10 Outdoor Pools from Members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory
• 10 Favorites: Marble Baths from the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory
• 10 Favorites: Warm Wood from Members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory

More Stories from Remodelista

• American Gothic: A Hudson Valley Home Reborn
• The Architect Is In: Reviving a Family Flat on Riverside Drive
• Small-Space Living: A 410-Square-Foot Family Flat in Sydney

At Remodelista, Japanese design is one of our touchstones: It's our reminder that simplicity requires rigor, that tranquillity is attainable, and that it's high time we did some decluttering. This week, we're shining a light on our favorite work being created right now in Japan and beyond—and learning by example.

Above: Rustic style at Eatrip, the Chez Panisse of Tokyo. Photograph by Aya Brackett.

Monday

Above: In today's Candles post, Julie presents a line she considers "too beautiful to actually light." Also look for her roundup of our 10 Favorite online sources for Japanese design.

Tuesday

Above: In Tuesday's Furniture roundup, Christine explores the George Nakashima legacy: live-edge wood applied to a range of wabi-sabi designs, including this dining table by Nakashima's daughter, Mira. Intrigued by the room? See Life on the Edge: Architect David Ling's NYC Loft. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Wednesday

Above: Atelier Dion of the Bay Area specializes in Japanese-style mugs and teacups that SF's baristas are clamoring for. Stay tuned for Wednesday's Studio Visit.

Thursday

Above: Momoko Suzuki of cult fashion label Black Crane lives in a Japanese-style house in LA that mirrors the minimalist-modern clothing she designs with her husband. We'll be paying them a call in Thursday's Designer Visit. Photograph by Kikuko Usuyama.

Friday

Above: Some of the nicest and simplest lighting we've come across is being designed by a tiny outfit in Kobe, Japan. Watch for Margot's Lighting post. 

More? Over at Gardenista they're also saluting Japanese design this week.

More Stories from Remodelista

• World's Most Beautiful Candles, via Japan
• Current Obsessions: Headed to Japan
• 12 Armoires as Linen Closets

A retired couple bids farewell to life in the city and moves to Mount Yatsugatake on the island of Honshū with a desire to spend the remainder of their lives farming their own vegetables surrounded by mountains. They buy a plot of land to build their new house at an elevation with a harsh and tricky climate, too hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Carrying forth the Japanese tradition of coexisting harmoniously with nature, Tokyo architects MDS design a structure oriented to capitalize on the prevailing winds, optimal sun angles, and best mountain views—with not an air conditioner in sight. Let’s have a look.

Photography by Toshiyuki Yano via ArchDaily.

Above: A detail of the living room looking toward the combination kitchen/dining room. The charred wall is a Japanese tradition known as shou sugi ban. In Dark Wood: Shou Sugi Ban Torched Lumber, we explore where to source charred wood.

Above: In the living room, sliding glass doors detailed with shoji screens slide open to allow in breezes, while the overhang is designed to keep out the high angle of the summer sun. The low angle of the sun during the winter, however, means the house can be warmed when it's cold outside. The exposed beams hide the tracks for the shoji screens and the sliding glass doors.

Above: A woodstove keeps the rooms warm during the winter.

Above: The kitchen and dining area opens to a washitsu, a Japanese room furnished with tatami mats.

Above: In the kitchen, housecleaning tools and utensils hang in the space under the stairs.

Above: A view back toward the dining area from the washitsu. The continuous shoji screens give the house a traditional feel.

Above: The second floor is an open loftlike space with a sleeping and office area. The door leads into the walk-in closet.

Above: The work area with shoji screens runs the entire length of the room.

Above: When the shōji screens are closed, the bedroom becomes a sanctuary.

Above: During the summer months, the north- and south-facing windows are opened for optimum breeze ventilation and mountain gazing.

Above: The wood details are an updated version of traditional Japanese wood architecture.

Above: A detail of a wooden screen.

Above: One is never far from nature, even in the bath.

Above: The house is oriented south in a fan shape to maximize the amount of winter sun that reaches the rooms.

Above: A plan and diagram of the first floor illustrates all of the considerations that went into the siting of the house.

Above: A plan and diagram of the second floor.

Above: A fully noted section of the house illustrating sun angles and breezes.

Above: The living room and veranda.

Two French architects find design inspiration on a trip to Japan in Before and After: A Charred Wood Cottage on a $45K Budget.

See more interpretations of the Japanese shoji screen from around the world:

• Urban Alchemy in Toronto by Studio Junction
• Suyama Peterson Deguchi Architects in Seattle
• A Traditional Japanese Inn Made Modern

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