The nicest thing I can say about the faux-walnut credenza that once stood in my living room is that each of its three small doors locked—so when I shoved my kitchenware into one of its cubbies, at least all my junk wouldn't come tumbling out behind me.

Well, actually that's not the nicest thing; the nicest thing is that it belonged to my grandmother. It still pains me that she's no longer with us, which is why I long delayed my decision to swap out her credenza for something more practical. Before you balk, know that my grandma was as pragmatic as they come and not in the least sentimental. I know that if I could ask her if she'd mind, "Heavens, no!" she would say.

My biggest problem with the credenza was that it was heavy on bulk and light on storage. So I swapped it for a bookcase, baskets, and a bench that quadrupled my space to store baking tins, cookie cutters, and a handmade French rolling pin, all of which my grandmother gave me.

Photography by Tom Kubik for Remodelista. 

Above: My new storage wall at the back of my living room, next to the kitchen. 

Above: The first new piece I added was a Kameron Bookcase with walnut-stained mango wood shelves on an industrial metal frame; currently on sale for $539 at Home Decorators Collection. For holiday cheer, I hung a Champagne Glitter Wood Curl Wreath, 22 inches in diameter and found at my local Home Depot store; $24.49. 

Above: To the right of the shelves, I had space to tuck in an Alondra Storage Bench. In addition to providing seating, at almost four feet wide, it offers generous storage inside; $249 at Home Decorators Collection. 

Above: To contain my kitchen wares, I used a set of three Caleb Metal Baskets—two shown here on the bottom row. Inside, I tucked two beer steins from a recent trip, a waffle iron I can never seem to find a home for, and my unattractive-but-efficient ice cream maker wrapped in a spare piece of cotton. A set of three Caleb Baskets is currently on sale for $125 at Home Decorators Collection. 

Above: My baking pans occupied two of the three cubbies in my credenza. But I managed to fit all of them inside a large Anderson Tray made of iron with a pine liner. They're currently on sale for $98 for a set of two at Home Decorators Collection. 

Above: I filled the smaller of the Anderson Trays with my table linens. 

Above: For stowing things I don't want to display, I found Eco-Natural Wool Baskets. They hold, among other things, my hand mixer, and extra parts to my stand mixer and food processor—and they also herd cats. They come in natural (shown here), brown, and gray, and are currently on sale for $80 each at Home Decorators Collection.

Above: An Eco-Natural Wool Basket next to a set of German glassware—from my grandmother.

Above: To pull everything together, I rolled out a Charisma Butter Pecan Area Rugbeneath my dining table and next to the storage wall. Available in several sizes, the rug is $257 for the 8-by-10-foot size shown here. 

Above: My living room has survived several configurations; in this early version, the sofa sat where the dining table now lives. At the right is the credenza.

Above: Yet another layout, with the sofa facing the credenza (and the World Cup). I'm happy to report that the imposing piece found a new home.

-Meredith Swinehart

More Stories from Remodelista

• Steal This Look: A Laid-Back Living Room with Spirit
• Remodelista LA Market Spotlight: Wrk-Shp

Man's thirst for cocktails can be traced back to 7000 B.C. South America, where gourds were hollowed out and used as closed containers for mixing drinks. The Egyptians and 16th-century Mexicans enjoyed a few cocktails, too, but drink culture didn't really get off the ground until the mid 19th century with the Boston shaker. This simple device was created by someone (presumably in Boston) who joined together a tin cup and a glass—then shook the liquid contents with ice and poured the elixir into a fresh glass using a strainer.

The French admired American cocktail culture decades before F. Scott Fitzgerald got there, and in the 1870s created the Parisian shaker, urn shaped and accompanied by a strainer. The cobbler shaker commonly in use today was born in Brooklyn in 1884 and named after a popular cocktail of the day. It improved upon its predecessors thanks to two added conveniences: a built-in strainer and a cap that doubles as a liquid measure. The cocktail shaker reached new heights of popularity during Prohibition and, despite competition from blender drinks in recent decades, continues its merry reign. 

Five to Buy

Above: Designed in the 1960s by midcentury Danish designer Arne Jacobsen, this nine-inch-tall, stainless-steel Cocktail Shaker is $199 at Huset.

Above: The stainless steel Cocktail Shaker by Cuisinox is $29.99 from All Modern.

Above: The Pewter Cocktail Shaker from Match is made by metalsmiths in the Lombardia region of Italy; $349 from Kaufmann Mercantile.

Above: The stainless steel Alessi Cocktail Shaker with mirror finish is $128 at Barneys.

Above: The stainless steel Insulated Cocktail Shaker is $44.95 from Williams-Sonoma.

Object Lessons columnist Megan Wilson is the owner of Ancient Industries and the 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 iconic designs, including the Indispensable Desk Stapler and Iconic Cafe Ware from Duralex.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Trend Alert: Peasant Chair Roundup (Plus 5 to Buy)
• Table of Contents: Winter's Tale
• Current Obsessions: Holiday Countdown

A few days ago, when the two creative 10-year-olds who live next door came home with a giant paper swan, it immediately gave me an idea: paper cranes as holiday decor.

In Japan, origami cranes represent good fortune, hope, and peace—the perfect symbol to take us through the holidays and into the New Year. And to make them for hanging over my table, I supersized them.

Photography by Justine Hand for Remodelista.

Above: If you already know how to fold an origami crane, this project is easy. But it involves quite a few steps, so I thought I'd give you a glimpse of the results at the beginning.

Above: Handmade, decorative papers are readily available at art supply and paper stores, such as Paper Source.

Materials

• Fine paper that is pliable, but not too flimsy
• Ribbon or twine
• Skewers or long toothpicks for hanging the cranes

Basic Crane Instructions 

Step 1: Unless you're already proficient at origami, I suggest you begin by practicing with a small square of origami or other paper. First fold in half, then unfold. Turn and fold in half the other way to divide your paper into four equal squares.

Step 2: Fold the paper diagonally in half to form a triangle. Unfold and repeat in the other direction.

Above: Unfold and you will see that your paper is divided into eight equal parts.

Step 3: Collapse the form into a square base by bringing two opposite corners towards each into the center and  reversing the inside fold.

Above: A complete square base. The bottom should be open and the top closed.

Step 4: Fold in the two horizontal points to meet in the middle. Turn the form over and repeat on the other side. Your completed form should look like a kite.

Step 5: Fold the top of triangle down over your two folded sides. Unfold the kite form back to the square base.

Step 6: Lift the outermost bottom flat of the square base and gently pull it up to form a long diamond. Repeat on the other side.

Above: A completed bird base should have two separated points at the bottom.

Step 7: At the bottom where the two sides remain open, fold each side over to meet in the center. Repeat on the opposite side. Then turn the form over and repeat on both ends.

Above: When all the sides are folded in, this is what the form looks like.

Step 8: Perform a reverse fold on each bottom point to bring it up to the wings.

Above: Almost there!

Step 9: Fold the tip of one of the smaller ends down to form the head. Gently pull the wings slightly down and you have an origami crane. It may sound complicated, but rest assured that the crane is one of the beginner favorites of origami. Once you get the hang of all the steps, you can easily turn out a flock.

Above: Ready to begin working with a larger piece of paper? First cut it into a square—to form a perfect square, simply fold the paper along the diagonal and cut off the excess.

Above: Once you have a large square, repeat the basic crane instructions above. 

Above: To hang your finished work, use a long sharp object strung with twine or ribbon to pierce the top of the body of the crane. (I used metal skewers.)

The Finished Look

Above: The cranes are light enough to affix to the ceiling with a piece of tape. Air currents cause them to gently turn as if in flight.

N.B. Here are more ways to usher in the New Year in style:

• Raise the Red Lantern: 10 Chinese Paper Lanterns for the New Year
• Objects Lesson: Calendars with Design Pedigree
• 5 Favorites: Champagne Flutes

More Stories from Remodelista

• Last-Minute DIY: Holiday Garlands Made of Star Anise
• DIY: God's Eye Ornaments with a Scandi Twist
• Remodeling 101: Hotel-Inspired Bedroom Lighting

We've covered wool camp blankets, heavy bed blankets, summer cotton blankets, and military blankets. Yes, we like blankets, but we have yet to fully explore one of the most inviting categories: chunky knit and textural woven throws. Here are 10 that you can really cocoon in on a cold day. And don't forget: A blanket, a good book, and a cup of tea are the equation for happiness.

Above: From New Zealand–based designer Amy Tenant of Milo and Mitzy, Chunky Knit Throws made of local wool in natural fawn (shown), black, and navy blue. The throws measure about 40 by 60 inches and are $480 NZD ($371.36 USD); they ship anywhere directly from Milo and Mitzy.

Above: The 32-by-42-inch Cashmere Blanket from Nepal is $275 from Makie.

Above: The natural-colored cashmere-and-silk-weave Harare Blanket measures 220 by 260 cm and is £750 ($1,170) from Rose Uniacke.

Above: The Sabana Throw is made in Colombia of 100 percent virgin wool; $279 from Someware in Los Angeles.

Above: The thick mohair Lena Rewell Blanket in stone is $1,150 from Tiina the Store.

Above: The baby alpaca Heathered Knit Throw, made in Peru, is $198 from Serena & Lily. 

Above: Made in Peru, the 40-by-70-inch Eileen Fisher Baby Alpaca Knit Throw is $348 at Garnet Hill.

Above: Measuring 72 by 57 inches, the Mohair Blanket works well as a large sofa throw or an extra bed blanket. It's made of brushed angora mohair (vegetable-dyed to a color called Barn Owl) at a mill in County Wicklow, Ireland; $170 from Design Within Reach.

Above: The Italian Wool & Alpaca Ribbed Knit Throw comes in five colors (four of which are shown here, plus one in garnet on special for $119); $169 at Restoration Hardware.

Looking for those other blankets? See:

• 10 Easy Pieces: Camp Blankets
• 10 Winter Wool Blankets for the Bedroom
• 5 Patriot's Blankets: Loomed in the USA
  
• Or knit your own DIY Dutch-Style Knit Throw

N.B.: This post is an update; the original ran on October 2, 2013, as part of our Happier at Home issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Rehab Diary: A Living Room Update Just in Time for the Holidays
• Steal This Look: A Laid-Back Living Room with Spirit
• Remodelista LA Market Spotlight: Wrk-Shp

I live in Riverdale, a hidden bucolic corner of the Bronx, and it's a tradition in my neighborhood to leave little surprises on each other's doorsteps during the holidays. Attempting to stand out in the crowd, I've tried something new every year: homemade marshmallows, birdseed and suet stars (that got mistaken for sesame candy), a calendar of local dog portraits taken by my daughter, a fireworks Chinese lantern. And then three years ago, I made orange-spiced wine and was told I had finally come up with the perfect present. It's ridiculously easy—and delicious. It perfumes our house every year at Christmastime.

Photography by Margot Guralnick for Remodelista.

Above: Naval oranges ready for this season's batch. Only the peel goes into the wine—we eat the leftover oranges for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (when we tire of them on their own, they're especially good in a fennel salad with mint).

Above: The recipe came from Gourmet magazine—it appeared in a 2012 special-edition collection of Gourmet Holiday Recipes that I helped compile. Bay leaves and cloves are two of the crucial ingredients.

Above: Remove the peel in a single spiral, one per bottle (don't worry; if it breaks, it works equally well and looks just as good). 

Above: In addition to white wine—Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc are good choices—the secret ingredients are Grand Marnier, Pernod, and sugar. Heat the liquid ingredients plus some sugar, bay leaves, and cloves for a few minutes. When the sugar dissolves, decant the wine into the empty bottles, each filled with an orange peel spiral, plus a bay leaf and a clove or two.

Above: I add my own Petit Chateau Margot labels (at first I made the labels by hand, decorating them with a stamp that my artist sister designed. Eventually, my husband scanned a label, and now we just update the year and print them out).

To my surprise, several recipients have asked if I make the wine from scratch—and I'm happy to be known as the neighborhood vintner. Here's the recipe, which I multiply as needed. The results are a perfect holiday aperitif, sweeter, a little stronger, and much more magical than most glasses of white wine

Orange-Spiced Wine 

Adapted from Gourmet magazine. Makes 2 filled (750 ml) bottles, plus at least a cup extra.

Ingredients:

• 2 bottles dry white wine (you needn't spring for anything fancy; the other ingredients dominate)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
• 1/4 cup anise liqueur, such as Pernod or Sambuca
•  2 whole cloves
• 2 bay leaves (note that some are stronger flavored and prettier than others; I prefer a mild bay leaf that's long and elegant—and intact)
• 2 naval oranges

In a stockpot, bring all ingredients except oranges to a gentle boil (reserve the wine bottles and corks). Stir until sugar has dissolved. 

Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from the oranges in a spiral (the original recipe suggests cutting away the white pith with a paring knife, but I usually skip that step). 

Stuff a zest spiral into each bottle (and save the oranges for another use).

Completely fill the bottles with wine, and add a clove or two and a bay leaf from the pot to each bottle. You'll have a tall glass left over—cook's treat.

Leave bottles, uncorked, to cool for an hour or so. 

Cork or cap the bottles and chill for a few hours. 

The wine should be kept refrigerated and Gourmet says it's good for one week—but, truth be known, we continue swigging ours all winter.

 Garden-to-table cocktails, anyone? On Gardenista, see:

• Basil's Last Stand: A Frozen Cocktail Recipe
• Thanksgiving Cocktails (also Ideal for Winter Entertaining)
• Shrubs: An Old-Fashioned Drink for Modern Times

More Stories from Remodelista

• DIY: Giant Origami Cranes as Holiday Decor
• Last-Minute DIY: Holiday Garlands Made of Star Anise
• DIY: God's Eye Ornaments with a Scandi Twist

Thanks to all our lovely readers for supporting us in 2014; here's to another year filled with health, happiness, and good design!

Above: Photograph via Studio Oink of Wiesbaden, Germany.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Object Lessons: The Classic Cocktail Shaker (Plus 5 to Buy)
• Trend Alert: Peasant Chair Roundup (Plus 5 to Buy)
• Table of Contents: Winter's Tale

Care to stay in the home of internationally renowned Swiss architect (and Pritzker Prize winner) Peter Zumthor? Architectural enthusiasts are in luck: a few years ago, Zumthor started renting out Unterhus, one of two vacation cabins he built on a mountainside in the tiny Swiss hamlet of Leis. The adjacent second house, the Oberhus, is Zumthor's own retreat where he lives with his wife, Annalisa, who grew up in the area and had long pined for a mountain home.

His light, airy, narrow wooden structures are a modern take on the surrounding traditional architecture, the antithesis of Zumthor's most revered works, the Hotel Thermes Vals, located on the valley floor below and built from gray quartzite and concrete (stay tuned: we're featuring the spa later today).

N.B.: Zumthor has recently completed a third cabin nearby, Türmlihus, that's available for rent. For more information, go to Zumthor Ferien Haeuser.

Photography by Hélène Binet.

Above: Zumthor's cabins are sited on a snowy incline. There's great skiing—and hiking—directly from the doorsteps; click here for info on winter sports in the area.

Above: Large windows open up to panoramic views and extend almost the width of the house.

Above: The walls are constructed of tongue-and-groove pine boards.

Above: In the living room, a small low window with a sliding shutter reveals the view outside.

Above: Zumthor's work is minimalist but rich with detail with great attention paid to the woodwork (his father was a cabinetmaker).

Above: A sliding panoramic window in the bedroom.

Above: The wood detailing extends to the bathroom, which even has a wooden sink. Another small window with a sliding shutter can be seen on the far wall.

Above: An outdoor seating area on a stone terrace for dining al fresco in warmer weather. Zumthor supplies guests with backpacks, thermos flasks, binoculars, hiking sticks, a local map, and the Handbuch Schweizer Alpen with detailed information on Alpine flora and fauna and geology.

Above: The village of Leis has just 20 inhabitants, and, at 5,125 feet above sea level, is the highest hamlet in the Vals area that's inhabited year round.

Above: Zumthor used wood beam construction; the roof is clad in local granite slabs required by building code. In lieu of a central beam, he used steel rods to pull together the wood-framed walls, leaving a space between the roof and the top of the house.

Above: The houses viewed from across the valley. For rental information, go to Zumthor Ferien Haeuser.

If, like us, you can't get enough of Peter Zumthor, take a look at his book Thinking Architecture. The ultimate Swiss vacation? Combine a stay in one of Zumthor's cabins with a visit to Vals Thermal Spa, his monumental resort design.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on February 6, 2013 as part of our On the Mountain issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Chesa Wazzau: A Restored Farmhouse Near St. Moritz
• A Swiss Chalet Reborn (with Rooms to Rent)
• Winter Cocktails and a $400 Gift Card Giveaway from Healdsburg SHED

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

Kitchen Tools

Above: The Famos Vegetable Peeler is $12 from Kiosk in NYC. N.B.: It's currently out of stock but expected back in. 

Above: From venerable German company Wesco, the Wesco Grandy Bread Box (bottom shelf) is available in red for $79.95 at Williams-Sonoma. (The Wesco Grandy Bread Bin is also at Amara in a range of colors for $129.). A Glass and Stainless Steel Bread Box (not shown) is $99.95 at Williams-Sonoma. UPDATE: A sharp-eyed reader pointed out that while these products are designed in Germany, they are manufactured in China.

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

Above: The Wagenfeld Tea Pot, designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1931 and manufactured by Jenaer Glas, is €135.90 ($166) from Connox.

Above: A favorite with European hoteliers, the Alfi Thermal Carafe is available in three sizes from Williams-Sonoma; prices start at $199.95 for the small size.

Above: Messermeister Knives are made of carbon steel alloy using the original hot-drop, hammer-forged manufacturing process. We especially like the knives in the Oliva Elite series, which feature Italian olive wood handles (prices start at $74.95 for the Spear Point Paring Knife).

Above: The Oil/Vinegar Drizzlers are made of laboratory glass by Jenaer Glas; €31 ($38) for the small and €36 ($44) for the large from Manufactum. The design was singled out in the Remodelista book in the Remodelista 100, our roundup of favorite everyday things. Lookalike Glass Cruets are available from Chef's Planet starting at $12.50

Cleaning

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

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

Above: The dark galvanized metal Redecker Wash Bucket is £12.50 ($19.95) for the large size from Pentreath & Hall.

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

Are you as obsessed with everyday objects as we are? See:

• Display-Worthy Brooms and Object Lessons: Classic Brooms
• The Last Trash Bin You'll Ever Buy
• Cans from a Cleanliness-Obsessed Nation
• Dustpan No. 1
• The Humble Cleaning Cloth
• 10 Easy Pieces: Countertop Paper-Towel Holders

And gardeners, have a look at 10 Easy Pieces: Potting Shed Brushes and our favorite Indoor/Outdoor Tool Sets.

This post is an update. The original ran in March 2014 as part of our Kitchen Composition issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 11 Kitchen Islands Gone Glamorous
• 5 Favorites: The Indispensable Grill Pan
• The World's Most Beautiful Dutch Oven (by Way of SF)

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

Above: An apartment in St. Germain des Pres, Paris, designed by Joseph Dirand features a pair of bronze Fingi suspension lights by Eric Schmitt and office armchairs by Pierre Jeanneret from Galerie 54. Learn more in Trend Alert: Pierre Jeanneret's Modern Classic Caned Teak Chair. Photograph by Adrien Dirand via Yatzer.

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

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

Above: The San Francisco kitchen of stylist Rosy Strazzeri-Fridman.

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

Above: A Scandinavian kitchen with a mirror-clad island. Photograph by Pia Ulin.

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

Above: In a Boston brownstone kitchen, architects Katarina Edlund and Scott Slarsky of designLAB Architects paired marble-topped workstations with a Poul Henningsen artichoke lamp suspended from an ornate plaster medallion. (Like the light? See High/Low: The Iconic Artichoke Lamp.)

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

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

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

For more inspiration, go to our Kitchen Island posts and see:

• 11 Great Italian Kitchen Designs
• 10 Stellar Scandinavian Kitchens
• 12 Favorite Kitchens in the UK
• The White Album: 13 Favorite US Kitchens

N.B.: This post is an update. The original ran on March 10, 2014, as part of our Kitchen Composition issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 12 German-Made Kitchen Essentials
• 5 Favorites: The Indispensable Grill Pan
• The World's Most Beautiful Dutch Oven (by Way of SF)

The Romans had the Baths of Caracalla, we have Swiss architect Peter Zumthor’s Thermal Baths Vals. Built into the hillside of Graubünden, Switzerland, the quarry-like spa was named a national monument two years after its completion in 1996 (talk about fast-tracked). Let's go there—now.

When the town of Vals, a canton of Graubünden, hired Zumthor to design their thermal baths, he was an undiscovered talent with experience in conservation architecture. The project put the architect and the baths on the map. Zumthor achieved cult status (he won the Pritzker Prize in 2009), and the baths became a mecca for architects around the world. Zumthor used his knowledge of rustic building materials to create a tactile and sensory series of modern spaces organized around the primal ritual of bathing, and the results are pure poetry in space.

For information about hotel accommodations, go to Therme Vals.

Above: A relaxation area overlooks the hills of Graubünden. Photograph via Flickr.

Above: The building was constructed of local Valser quartzite and concrete. Photograph via Open House.

Above: The spa has several bathing areas, both inside and outside. Photograph via Arch1101.

Above: Zumthor's architecture provides a dramatic interface between nature and man. Photograph via ArchDaily.

Above: After undressing, the bather enters the baths ceremoniously by descending a perfectly proportioned stairway. Photograph via Velux Stiftung.

Above: The waters beckon. Photograph via Velux Stiftung.

Above: The building is organized around a series of cubic volumes that hold baths of different temperatures, showers, and places for sweating, drinking, and resting. Photograph via StudioEm.

Above: Swimming in the water brings the bather from one cubic volume to another. After arriving in the central bath, the bather can move on to the outdoor bath and then to the outdoor swimming areas. Photograph via Architizer.

Above: Daylight filters in through slits open to the sky. Photograph via Velux Stiftung.

Above: The outdoor bath, with a green roof, emerges out of the hillside. Photograph via ArqPres. For more information on the baths, go to Therme 7132.

More spas to add to your bucket list:

• The Springs: A New LA Health Complex by Design Bitches
• A Finnish Spa by Way of Portland, OR
• Super Sense Spa in Shanghai

To see hundreds of Spa Baths at Home, go to the Remodelista gallery. Also check out:

•  10 Architect-Designed Spa Baths at Home 
•  A Simple Trick to Turn Your Shower into a Spa
• The World's Tiniest Spa Bath

This post is an update. The original ran in June 2012 as part of our Bath & Spa Style issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• For Rent: A Ski Cabin by a World-Renowned Swiss Architect
• Chesa Wazzau: A Restored Farmhouse Near St. Moritz
• A Swiss Chalet Reborn (with Rooms to Rent)

The one-story brick Victorian in Prahran, a suburb of Melbourne, had been extensively remodeled in the 1980s and was a jumble of small spaces that lacked light, access to the outdoors, and a logical floor plan. Enter Studio Four, a Melbourne architecture and design studio that righted all those wrongs by restructuring the internal flow and introducing a new kitchen and second story living quarters. Designed so that everything has its place—and to withstand a daily pounding from its young occupants—the house exudes practicality and good cheer.

Photography by Shannon McGrath via Est Magazine, unless otherwise noted.

Above: The new kitchen viewed from an outdoor dining area with concrete pavers and a freshly painted brick exterior wall. Concealed sliding doors link the two spaces.

Above: The floors, island, and stools were custom-built of American oak that was selected, Sarah Henry of Studio Four told Dezeen, "because of its soft color and uniform grain." Svelte steel open shelves run along the main kitchen wall, providing storage and display space, and, notes Henry, "minimal visual bulk."

Above: The island extends into a dining table surrounded by a set of Ch20 Elbow Chairs by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen & Sons.

Above: The seamless counter run has beveled-edge cabinet openings. Learn about Invisible Cabinet Hardware in Remodeling 101. The room in the back contains a butler's pantry and laundry. Photograph via Arch Daily. 

Above: The kitchen is open to the living room but raised on an oak plinth to separate the two. As Studio Four explains, "With subtle changes in floor and ceiling levels, and the introduction of new joinery elements and controlled openings, each space becomes further defined." Photograph via Arch Daily.

Above: Built-in shelves frame a wall in the living room, which is at the heart of the original house. 

Above: A slatted wood chimney wall rises above a black steel hearth. The architects say they tied together the room by introducing a series of horizontal and vertical elements. The side table is the Around Table by Muuto.

Above: The living room overlooks an internal courtyard that provides a green backdrop and, as Studio Four points out, "an apparent extension of space." Photograph via Dezeen.

Above: Original Victorian detailing has been preserved in a hall off the living room that leads to the front door, the master bedroom, and a study.

Above: The master bedroom has a platform bed that introduces the only color in the room. For similar wire-framed cotton lights, see today's post on Pierre + Charlotte's designs, and our earlier feature on the Koushi Lamp by Mark Eden Schooley. 

Above: A Jielde Loft Floor Lamp serves as a bedside light.

Above: The clean-lined master bath overlooks one end of the courtyard. Photograph via Dezeen.

Above: A crisp, white, Scandi-inspired palette extends to every room and fills the house with light.

Above: Two children's rooms and a bath occupy the new second story. This one has a Jielde Loft Floor Lamp and a dandelion vinyl wall mural. Like the cheery look? See Here Comes the Sun: 10 Bedrooms with Yellow Accents and Trend Alert: 8 Yellow-Painted Floors.

Above: A longitudinal sectional study of the house presents the tidy new room arrangement. The second story is stepped back and barely visible from the exterior. Notes Studio Four: "In contrast to the existing Victorian spaces in the front of the dwelling, which provide enclosure and a sense of seclusion, the new living areas to the rear promote openness and interaction." Image via Studio Four.

Above: A cross section of the remodel. Image via Studio Four.

Above: A plan of the first floor shows the kitchen addition, the courtyard off the living room, and the master suite discreetly sectioned off at the front of the house. Image via Studio Four.

Above: The new second floor has two children's bedrooms and a shared bath. Image via Studio Four.

For hundreds of Children's Room ideas, peruse our photo gallery, including 24 Built-In Bunk Beds. And for another Victorian remodel with a Scandi twist, see House Call: Endless Summer, plus The Designer Is In: An All-White Kitchen in London.

This post is an update; the original ran on August 11, 2014, as part of our Down Under issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Apartment Transformation: Brotherly Love in Barcelona
• Steal This Look: A Library Loft in Barcelona
• In the Kitchen with Skye Gyngell, London's Chef du Jour

If a quality cup of coffee is what you're after, you must visit Melbourne. Named the Coffee Capital of Australia, Melbourne, in our book, might just be the coffee capital of the world.

Ever heard of Holy Belly in Paris? The owner was inspired to start his own coffee bar by a visit to Melbourne. And Little Collins in New York, named after a street in Melbourne, brings the Australian-quality coffee to Lexington Avenue. If we visit the new branch of Market Lane Coffee in Melbourne the first thing to notice is the text on our coffee cup: "We love to make coffee for the city who loves to drink it." Welcome to Melbourne! Although a strong brew plays a major role in this city, just about every coffee shop has more to offer than its menu. Here is a look at my top five spots (admittedly, they all serve good coffee) for drinking and dining in Melbourne.

Photography by Pauline Egge.

Best Brunch Spot

Above: Tall Timber, in Prahran near Chapel Street, is owned by Steve Rowley and Matt Vero who earned their stripes in Melbourne's hospitality scene with their other successful projects: Coin Laundry, Station Street Trading & Co., and Touchwood. Tall Timber is praised for their brunch; don't miss the pumpkin bruschetta. But you can go here for a house roasted coffee or a nourishing juice. Photograph via Tall Timber on Petite Passport.

Pin-Worthy Cafe

Above: Chef Pia Hambour and baker Georgina March opened Tomboy in Collingwood with the purpose of serving quality gluten-free baked goods. If you're a Pinterest addict like myself, you've likely come across photos of this well-designed cafe already: The interior is wildly industrial with raw iron chairs, reclaimed pendant lights, and drywall that looks as if it's been torn off by hand to reveal the exposed brick underneath. Photograph via Tomboy on Petite Passport.

Best Industrial Cafe for All-Day Breakfast

Above: Designed by Techné Architects, Barry in Melbourne's Northcote neighborhood is the best spot for an extended brekkie, as locals would say. Custom shelving created by the firm is reminiscent of wooden shipping crates housed in a raw steel frame. The dining area is made up of white painted brick walls, Windsor chairs, and monochromatic polka dots that are seen on the floor and the aprons of the staff (they are subtle and best seen in person). Photograph via Barry on Petite Passport.

Good for an Afternoon Coffee

Above: Brothers Trevor and Steven Simmons run Industry Beans in Fitzroy, the Brooklyn of Melbourne. The two are incredibly enthusiastic about coffee and show me around the roaster and lab where they develop new brew techniques and pairings; think cold-drip and caviar. My favorite thing about the space itself? The terrace is modeled after a shipping container—boxy with an open, slatted roof where you can bask in the sun with just enough coverage. Photograph via Industry Beans on Petite Passport.

The Perfect Japanese-Style Lunch

Above: Mina-no-Ie is owned by Zenta and Megumi Tanaka, who converted an old warehouse into a welcoming environment. ("Mina-no-Ie" is Japanese for "Everyone's Home"). The Tanakas can be seen prepping dishes in the large open kitchen that looks out into the dining area, which is chock-full of communal tables and hanging plant life. There is also a home goods shop inside the restaurant space. The restaurant is located in Melbourne's Collingwood neighborhood, an area known as a hub for architects, designers, and other Melbourne-based creatives. Photograph via Mina-no-Ie on Petite Passport.

Our new Weekend Guide columnist, Pauline Egge, is the founder and editor of the travel site Petite Passport. Pauline divides her time between the Netherlands and Spain, and spends much of her time crisscrossing the globe. For Remodelista, she'll be sharing her favorite addresses, city by city.

For more places to eat, drink, and sleep, see our Melbourne City Guide.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Poetry in Space: Vals Thermal Spa in Switzerland
• For Rent: A Ski Cabin by a World-Renowned Swiss Architect
• Chesa Wazzau: A Restored Farmhouse Near St. Moritz

Thank the Australians for reintroducing a design classic from Italy: the Sorrentina espresso maker, designed by Giordano Robbiati, and otherwise known as The Atomic.

Milanese-born Robbiati created the iconic Atomic coffee maker in the late 1940s; his machine produces up to six espresso shots and steams and froths milk. Australian company Ikon Exports recently came out with a premium reproduction of Robbiati's patented coffee machine, manufactured to the same dimensions and standards. In the US, Taylor & Ng is the exclusive retailer.

Above: Made of polished alloy and Bakelite, the Sorrentina is $449 AU (approximately $413 US) and ships to the US.

Above: Detail of the espresso maker.

Above: In the US, the Sorrentina Atomic Coffee Maker is $399.99 from Taylor & Ng.

Go to Coffee & Tea for more of our find, including 10 Easy Pieces: Coffee Grinders and 7 Secrets to Make a Perfect Cup of Coffee.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original ran on July 24, 2013, as part of our Australia by Design issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• 11 Kitchen Islands Gone Glamorous
• 12 German-Made Kitchen Essentials
• 5 Favorites: The Indispensable Grill Pan

Romance as business: Pierre, a Parisian, met Charlotte, an Australian, in Tokyo when they were teenagers. After living in Paris (where he played in a rock band and she worked in film), they moved to Melbourne and started their bespoke furniture company. The couple's influences range from Japan to Scandinavia and France; to see the full line, go to Pierre + Charlotte, or if you're in Melbourne, visit their showroom at 15 Purcell Street.

Above: The Pye Dining Table features an oval top fixed to a pedestal base. Price available on request.

Above: The Kokeshi Sideboard is made of American oak.

Above: The M15 Lounge Chair has a removable cotton cover that comes in 48 colors. 

Above: The Pacman Table Light is AU $440.

Above: A view of the shop with the rectangular Pierre + Charlotte Butler's Coffee Table in the center. Available in a range of finishes, it's shown here in bleached and limed oak.

Above: The Pacman Pendant Light is AU $440.

Above: On a trip to Japan, the couple met a master dyer in Kyoto who uses a natural fermentation process to dye cotton with indigo. Their indigo wall sconce (shown above) makes use of his fabric wrapped on a steel frame (it's also available in white linen).

Above: The wall-mounted indigo sconce is AU $330.

Looking for small furniture workshops? See our Furniture posts, and take a look at Another Country in London, and Sawkille Co. in upstate New York.

This post is an update; the original ran on August 11, 2014.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Last-Minute Holiday Gift: Homemade Orange-Spiced Wine
• DIY: Giant Origami Cranes as Holiday Decor
• Last-Minute DIY: Holiday Garlands Made of Star Anise

The last time I was in an Aesop store, I felt a sudden onset of calm that I'm still trying to pinpoint. It could have been the vetiver in the air, or the sensation of washing my hands in a great porcelain basin, or the hand soap itself of "petitgrain exfoliant." The Australian apothecary line was founded in Melbourne in 1987 and ever since has advocated the use of its formulations as "part of a balanced life that includes a healthy diet, sensible exercise, a moderate intake of red wine, and a regular dose of stimulating literature." There's that calm feeling again.

To drive home the Aesop ethos, each store—across 11 countries—has a site-specific design set up for browsing and lingering. And our favorite element in just about every location is the prominent wash basin. Here are 19 of the most memorable.

Australia

Above: Designed in collaboration with Melbourne architect Rodney Eggleston of March Studio, the North Melbourne store is housed in a former Victorian manor. Eggleston preserved the copper-framed windows and trio of Venetian fountains with brass garden faucets.

Above: The work of Kerstin Thompson Architects, the Emporium shop in Melbourne has a sink, register island, and perforated screen of spotted gum, a native Australian hardwood. 

Above: The store in Balmain, a suburb just west of Sydney, was created in collaboration with furniture and lighting designer Henry Wilson, who exposed the raw sandstone walls. The white industrial shelves and sink are made of Australian woods and powder-coated metal.

United States

Above: Aesop's San Francisco store features reclaimed timber box shelving and was designed by NADAAA.

Above: Aesop's Chelsea location in New York City has a trough sink and walls collaged with back issues of The Paris Review, the shop's neighbor on Ninth Street.

Above: The Nolita location in New York City was designed by Jeremy Barbour of Tacklebox Architecture. Barbour used the New York Times as a building material—2,800 copies of the newspaper were cut into 400,000 strips and then stacked and bound, and offset by oak detailing. The store is equipped with a deep farmhouse sink for washing hands.

Above: The B Is for Brooklyn location, inside the Invisible Dog Art Center, in South Brooklyn has a rotating visual art installation and simple shelving. Lacking plumbing in the center of the store, the long, antique wash basin is equipped with its own water and refuse supply.

Above: The West End store in Portland, Oregon, was designed in collaboration with John Randolph, who sourced shou-sugi-ban-treated Douglas fir and a large antique wash basin that he set up in the center of the store. Intrigued? See our post on Shou Sugi Ban as Siding and Flooring.

United Kingdom

Above: Ilse Crawford of Studioilse designed Aesop's Mayfair store in London, located in a Victorian mansion. Crawford restored the interior, adding a wash of dark mint green, modern lighting, and industrial shelving. The large round wash basin is a restored antique as well.

Above: In London, the Marylebone location was a maternity clothing store before Paris architects Studio KO stripped the interior, spray-painting the brick a reddish putty color. The wash basin is made of cast concrete and has an unfinished oak board as a sink caddie.

France

Above: Designed by Paris firm Cigue, the Marais store in Paris has walls of polished concrete with a central island of polished marble. The large wash basin was made from a plumbing lid, a former piece of Paris infrastructure.

Above: The Aesop Montmartre store, also by Cigue, features a sink of powder-coated black sheet steel set into an oak countertop. For more on the architects, see our post A Nonconformist Kitchen in Paris.

Above: The work of Italian firm Dimore Studio, the Saint-Sulpice store in Paris has a large brass vanity that stretches across one side of the room, a black-and-white marble floor, vintage mirrors, and pink velvet walls. See more by the architects in our posts Ancient Meets Modern in a Milan Apartment and Luxury Redux at the Grand Hotel in Milan.

Germany

Above: With its floor-to-ceiling concrete tiles in the style of Gerhard Richter, the Mitte store in Berlin, by architects Weiss-heiten Design, is an homage to the city's Bauhaus. The sink was salvaged from a 1950s farm and stands in contrast to the otherwise modern interior.

Above: The Karlspassage store in Stuttgart was designed by Einszu33 in a palette of charcoal gray. The central sinks are Nero Assoluto black granite with faucets made from galvanized metal plumbing parts.

Hong Kong

Above: Piping reappears in the copper faucets of the Aesop Hong Kong Elements store. The triangular wash basin sits in a wood-clad island in the center of the store.

Japan

Above: The Aesop Kyoto store was designed by Shinichiro Ogata of the Simplicity team who drew inspiration from Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s essay "In Praise of Shadows" and the vertical alignment of Japanese script, among other things. The island sink is made from copper plumbing.

Above: Designed by Torafu Architects, the Kawaramachi store, on Kawaramachi Street in Kyoto, is made of concrete and a porous stone called Ōya with accents of bright mint. The same green was used for the wash basins, which are paired with brass faucets.

Above: In Ginza, Tokyo, the Aesop store was designed by Jo Nagasaka of Schemata Architects, who kitted out the storefront in brick and concrete. The sink is inset in a brick countertop with a brass wash basin and taps. Photograph by Alessio Guarino via Arch Daily.

For more design-worthy shops to visit all over the world, have a look through our City Guides. And to see Aesop products featured on Remodelista, visit our Shop section and our post A Hong Kong Apothecary Made from Reclaimed Ship's Wood.

This post is an update; the original ran on August 8, 2014, as part of our Down Under issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Glamorous Soap Dishes from France
• Steal This Look: A Low-Key Luxe Bath in Los Angeles
• Wash Up: 8 Children's Bathrooms with Multiple Sinks

Located in a former carpet warehouse built more than a century ago, this light-flooded loft in Barcelona features a library corner with steel shelves, banker's chairs, and a vintage telephone. For sourcing ideas, read on:

Photography by Jordi Miralles via Shoot 115.

Above: A classic Eames conference table is paired with traditional banker's chairs.

Above: Translucent window shades cut the glare but allow light to filter the room; the Shade Store has a good selection.

Above: A Ray Pendant light and vintage phone.

Above: A trio of simple Vintage Industrial Bookcases from Restoration Hardware would create a similar shelving unit ($1,040 each, marked down from $1,095). Alternatively, the 108-inch-wide French Library Double Shelving unit starts at $1,325.

Above: The Eames Rectangular Table with laminate top and segmented base is $1,369 at Y Living.

Above: For a similar vase, consider the Heath Cearmics' Multi-Stem Vase; $92-$102 at Didrik's.

Above: The 1940s Banker's Chair in antiqued black is $495 at Restoration Hardware. See eBay for a range of options.

Above: The spun aluminum Metalarte Ray Pendant Light was designed by Jordi Veciana; it's available in two sizes (small is $630 and medium is $992) and in either black or white finish from Y Lighting. Another option is Tom Dixon's Cone Light Large (shown above); $1,406 CAD ($1,210 USD) at GR Shop.  

Above: The Crosley 302 Desk Phone is $45.09 at Target.

Our Steal This Look column recently won a Folio Eddie Award.

Instant library? See 10 Favorites: Book-Printed Wallpaper. Go to Libraries for more ideas, including In a Modern London Addition, Books Come First.

This post is an update; the original ran on August 13, 2013, as part of our Travels with an Editor: Barcelona issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Apartment Transformation: Brotherly Love in Barcelona
• Sunny Side Up: A Victorian Makeover in Melbourne
• In the Kitchen with Skye Gyngell, London's Chef du Jour

Two brothers living halfway around the world from each another, one in Hong Kong and the other in London, wanted to create a shared vacation house in Barcelona, the city where they grew up. They bought a tall ceilinged piano nobile apartment in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona with a distinctive—and challenging—design feature: a triangular floor plan. In need of a solution that would make the most of their apartment's geometry, they hired David Kohn Architects of London. The firm responded with a big move: They removed all the interior walls to create one large corner room as a shared living space. But the brothers still needed separate bedrooms and bathroom areas. Nonplussed, the architects maximized the double-height space and fit these in efficiently along the perimeter of the room. And to avoid confusion, they created a complex, 25-color triangular tile pattern on the floor that maps out private as well as shared space, thereby mitigating any sibling rivalry.

Photographs by Jose Hevia Blach via Yatzer.

Above: After removing the interior walls of the apartment, the architects created separate bedrooms in furniture-like boxes in each leg of the triangular space. At this end, the box houses two bedrooms—a guest bedroom on the lower level and a bedroom for one of the brothers on the upper level. The encaustic floor tiles were manufactured by Mosaics Martí, supplier of tiles to Antoni Gaudí, and are predominantly green in this section of the apartment.

Above: The bedrooms are just big enough for sleeping.

Above: Built-in wooden louvers can be opened or closed according to sleep requirements.

Above: The apartment's front door opens onto a brass-glazed entry with a balcony on top. The upper bedroom and its accompanying bathroom behind the gray door are accessed from the balcony.

Above: To differentiate the brothers' private spaces, the tile pattern is graded in color from green at one end to red at the other.

Above: The two-story wooden bedroom unit works like a miniature building within the apartment.

Above: The wood-lined interiors create cozy sleeping chambers.

Above: An overall look at the apartment, viewed from the balcony. (The third leg of the triangle is reflected in the mirror at the apex of the room, where the dining table sits.) Metal shelving extends from the balcony, providing library-like storage for books.

Above: The other brother's bedroom sits above the kitchen, and it too has a balcony that leads to its own bathroom. The floor tiles in this area are predominantly red. For more ideas on tiled backsplashes, see Patchwork Tiles: 11 Mix-and-Match Ideas.

Above: The moveable stairs to this bedroom also function as library stairs.

Above: The dining room table, placed at the apex of the apartment, appears to be twice as long in the mirror's reflection.

Above: In the shared spaces, the reds and greens in the floor tiles are more evenly mixed.

Above: The distinctive triangular form of the apartment building recalls the Flatiron building in New York City.

Above: A diagrammatic sketch of how the colors in the tile floor change gradually across the apartment. Image by David Kohn Architects.

For more Catalan design, see Midcentury Modern in Barcelona and Let There Be Light: A Pair of Flats in Barcelona Transformed. And on Gardenista, visit A Tiny Glass Studio in Barcelona.

N.B: This post is an update; the original appeared on September 4, 2014 as part of The Organized Life issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Steal This Look: A Library Loft in Barcelona
• Sunny Side Up: A Victorian Makeover in Melbourne
• In the Kitchen with Skye Gyngell, London's Chef du Jour

If you ask me, Barcelona is one of the best cities in the world, but as a part-time resident, I'm admittedly biased. Like Sydney and Cape Town, Barcelona is a city by the beach with a laid-back attitude and big-time cultural attractions. Beyond the familiar draws—the works of Antoni Gaudì, late-night tapas, chiringuitos (beach clubs), boutique hotels—there's so much more to be discovered design-wise. Here are some of my favorites that have yet to make it into the guidebooks.

Photography by Pauline Egge. 

Best Menu del Dia

Above: A few friends opened Lando in a former garage, converting it into a bright, glittering restaurant with hanging pendant bulbs and exposed ventilation along the ceiling. Located in hipster district Sant Antoni, the canteen serves up an ever-changing, three-course menu, while the bar offers light tapas in a stylish setting. Photograph via Lando on Petite Passport.

Best Family Stay

Above: Yök Casa + Cultura is the creation of Petz Scholtus and Mari Rodríguez Marañís, who transformed a floor in a typical Barcelona residential building into three eco-friendly apartments available for short-term rent. Two of the setups sleep four each; the third has room for eight—perfect for a family or group of friends on vacation. Yök Casa is just on the edge of El Born, a popular district full of slim alleyways and winding streets. Photograph via Yök Casa on Petite Passport.

A Hotel and Bakery in One

Above: Currently there are five Praktik Hotels in Spain: one in Madrid and four in Barcelona, each with its own theme. The most recently opened, Praktik Vinoteca, as the name suggests is all about wine, while Praktik Garden is designed with plenty of houseplants. Interior designer Lázaro Rosa Violán is responsible for all the hotels. My favorite is Praktik Bakery, where the ground floor of the hotel features a large bakery open to guests and anyone walking in off the street. A bonus: Praktik Bakery is situated near La Pedrera, one of Gaudí's famous works, and close to Vinçon, the popular interiors shop, so you can plan a morning or afternoon around a pilgrimage to all three. Photograph via Praktik Bakery on Petite Passport.

Favorite Spot for Afternoon Tea

Above: A cultural space designed by Lázaro Rosa Violán (of the aforementioned Praktik Hotels), Artte is filled with shops and restaurants. lt's located in a former parking garage and the only natural light filters through the roof and the entrance. Head to the middle to find one of my favorite tea shops for buying bagged and loose tea, and plan to sit for a cup while you're there. Photograph via Artte on Petite Passport.

Where to Go for a Leisurely Dinner

Above: Albert Adrià, brother of Ferran Adrià of El Bulli fame, opened Niño Viejo in August with chef Paco Méndez. The homey-industrial interior is the work of Pilar Líbano, who commissioned a former Disney cartoonist to draw illustrations on a few of the walls. The menu is new-style Mexican taqueria (I recommend the ceviche with cactus). Photograph via Niño Viejo on Petite Passport.

Our new Weekend Guide columnist, Pauline Egge, is the founder and editor of the travel site Petite Passport. Pauline lives in Barcelona and the Netherlands, and spends much of her time crisscrossing the globe. For Remodelista, she'll be sharing her favorite design addresses, city by city.

For more places to eat, drink, and sleep, see our Spain City Guides.

Read Pauline Egge's guide to one of the World's Great Coffee Capitals.

More Stories from Remodelista

• A Japanese Lighting Company Embraces the Dark Side
• A Weekend Guide with Petite Passport: Melbourne, Australia
• Poetry in Space: Vals Thermal Spa in Switzerland

Before the advent of the stapler, documents were held together with thread, string, ribbons, and, in the case of legal documents, red tape. In 1879, American inventor George McGill came up with the McGill Single-Stroke Staple Press, which closely resembled a Singer sewing machine and loaded one staple at a time. But it did manage to drive that single quarter-inch length of wire through several sheets of paper before folding the wire at both ends with a thump-like push of the machine. By the 1920s, the stapler had been reduced greatly in size and with a spring-load action was able to hold many staples. As the 20th century progressed, the stapler took on more streamlined curves, which have given it an even greater air of efficiency as it continues to corral the papers on our desks. 

Five to Buy

Above: The Ace Pilot Stapler was introduced in 1938 by Chicago company Ace Fastener. This retro model, made of aluminum, is 6.6 inches long and 3.5 inches tall; $38 at Schoolhouse Electric. 

Above: The Folle 26 Stapler was designed in 1977 by noted Danish designer Henning Andreasen and is in the collections at the Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York. Made of lacquered steel and iron, the stapler is 6 inches long and a mere 1.75 inches tall; $78 at Craft & Caro.

Above: The Zenith Stapler was designed in Italy in 1943 and took its inspiration from cars of the time. It's made of steel and enamel and is 10.5 centimeters long and 8.5 centimeters tall; £38 ($63), including a box of 1,000 staples, at Labour and Wait in the UK.

Above: Spanish company El Casco made its name in the manufacture of revolvers, but during the Depression it decided to add desktop accessories to its arsenal. Precision-made of chrome-plated steel, the El Casco Small Desk Stapler is featured in the Remodelista 100 in the Remodelista book. It's 4 inches long and 4 inches tall, and available in red or white at Kaufmann Mercantile for $109 (though it's temporarily out of stock). The El Casco Stapler in black and chrome is $116 via Trade Concepts on Amazon.

Above: Made in Sweden, this Stapler is Kiosk's choice for good-looking office efficiency. It's provenance is a bit of a mystery, but the duo behind Kiosk say that "based on our research, we would guess 1940s." Made of steel with rubber feet, the stapler is 7 inches long and 3.75 inches tall; $52.

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 iconic designs, including two office favorites: the IBM Wall Clock and the Trusty Stainless Steel Tiffin Box. We featured her Connecticut shop in our post Purveyor of the Practical and the Timeless.

N.B.: This post is an update. The original appeared on September 2, 2014, as part of The Organized Life issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Gift Guide: For the Tech-Obsessed
• Studio Visit: At Work with Two Downtown LA Pioneers

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.

This post is an update; the original ran on October 27, 2014, as part of our Lessons from Japan issue.

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

More Stories from Remodelista

• Apartment Transformation: Brotherly Love in Barcelona
• Steal This Look: A Library Loft in Barcelona
• Sunny Side Up: A Victorian Makeover in Melbourne