Here's a genius idea from Norwegian blog Brigg, spotted on La Maison de Anna G.: a simple Ikea Bondis wall clock suspended from a hanger made from H&M leather belts. Jacques Adnet would be impressed.

Above: Image via Maison de Anna G. 

Above: Another view of the clock, paired with an antique bench and mirror.

Above: The Bondis Wall Clock in black is $19.99.

Above: The premium quality Leather Belt from H & M is available in three colors (black, brown, and beige); $12.95. You'll need two for this project.

Above: For a higher-end look; consider Billykirk's line of belts, including the No. 177 Double Collar Button ($150).

See another easy clock DIY at DIY: A Color-Blocked Clock for $25.

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Every May, a consortium of designers and showrooms in LA splash out a three-day design event called LCDQ Legends (for La Cienega Design Quarter). Julie and I made the pilgrimage a week ago to take in the parties, panel discussions, and shop window vignettes—and we're only just now coming up for air. Here's a look at a few of the things we admired along the way.

It's a tradition at Legends to invite designers to create showroom windows around a theme. This year's topic: Where Muses Dwell inspired odes to everyone from David Bowie to Edit Piaf. Memorable moments from the week:

Photos by Julie and Margot, unless otherwise noted.

Above: At Woven Accents' vast showroom, husband-and-wife duo Scott Jarrell and Kristan Cunningham of Hammer and Spear created a fantasy loft space that included a kitchen backsplash made out of carpeting. Photograph via LA Times.

Above: Marble as headboard? Another inventive use of materials at Hammer and Spear's Woven Accents installation.

Above: UK wallpaper company de Gournay, longstanding makers of hand-painted Chinoiserie designs, branches out with a new pattern by Kelly Wearstler, available at Nicky Rising. 

Above: Lee Stanton hosted opening-night cocktails at his eponymous antiques shop and set up a photo booth using some of his own inventory with a backdrop by Codor Design. (Lee also makes a line of natural furniture polishing creams; see Furniture Care: Tips from an LA Antiques Maestro.)

Above L: Elizabeth Dinkel's tribute to Julia Morgan, California's First Lady of architecture, in the window of wallpaper and fabric specialist Nicky Rising. Above R: Fabrics by Australian designer Walter G. at Nicky Rising.

Above: Remains Lighting has a new line designed by Commune, including this Table Lantern. Photograph via Remains.

Above L to R: Lads from London: Legendary international designer Nicky Haslam made the trip, as did Will Taylor of Bright Bazaar—a self-described "young chap from the UK who is unashamedly hooked on hue." Photograph of Nicky Haslam at a party for his new book, A Designer's Life, by JL Photographers 

Above: Artist Valerie Sobel joined us for a courtyard lunch at Jonas, makers of memorably comfortable upholstered furniture.

Above: For Hollywood at Home, Todd Nicky and Amy Kehoe of Nicky Kehoe, members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, built a Wes Anderson-style work bench vignette, vintage model mansion and Italian Plexiglas lamp included. "We applaud Anderson's ability to express the quirky greatness of mankind in beautifully humorous ways," they say.

Above: It was an extremely well-groomed crowd. 

Above: Meeting of the minds: with LA interior design duo Brandon Quattrone (L) and Mat Sanders (R) of Consort (Mat is also a creative director at My Domaine). 

See more at Legends 2015 LCDQ.

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Sarah Trotter, principal of Melbourne interior architecture firm Hearth, is the mastermind behind her team's artful conversion of an old garage into a studio apartment—take a tour of the project on Gardenista. We particularly like the brick-walled, tropical bathroom, which embraces the building's past and present. Here's how to get the look.

Photography by Lauren Bamford.

Above: Hearth paired the weathered brick wall with a romantic clawfoot tub (sourced secondhand and painted green) and a large-leafed Monstera deliciosa that together lend the space a tropical vibe.

Above: Sink and storage are tidily combined in a built-in wooden vanity that serves as a room divider: tub on one side, toilet on the other. The large round mirror visually enlarges the spaces. Wooden pegs are used throughout the room for hanging towels. 

Above: The vanity extends to the ceiling beams and offers cabinets as well as shelving. 

Above: A white stool adds extra seating (plus a way to reach high storage). Note the leather pull—and learn how to make your own here. 

Key Elements 

Above: UK bathroom fittings specialists Drummonds makes cast-iron tubs by hand using traditional techniques. They can be ordered in four finishes: raw, primed, polished, or painted with a choice of Sophie Conran paint colors; prices for the Spey Tub start at £2,825 ($4,424). For more ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Freestanding Bathtubs. 

Above: Turn the tub into a shower using a ceiling-mounted Oval Shower Curtain Ring, available in three finishes and eight sizes starting at $249.95 from Signature Hardware. 

Above: The Cifial Asbury Double Handle 8-Inch Rain Shower Head and Hand Shower in nickel finish is $2,080.65 from Build. 

Above: The Rondo Pendant by Eglo is made of frosted opal glass; $96 from Lumens.

Above: Ikea's round stainless-steel Grundtal Mirror measures 23 5/8 inches in diameter; $39.99.

Above: A White Canvas Shower Curtain is $44.95 from Crate and Barrel. 

Above: This reclaimed oak Tub Caddy comes in a natural and an ebonized finish; $145 from Peg and Awl. For more tub plank inspiration, see our post Makeshift Bath Trays. And read about Peg and Awl in Frontier Goods for the 21st Century.

Accessories

Above: From Japan, the Evam Eva Sumi Towel, 70 by 28 inches, is made of plant-dyed organic cotton; $95 at Lost and Found in LA.

Above: Molo's Cork Peg Hooks work with a magnetic mounting system and have a weight-bearing capacity that ranges from 2.7 pounds (when an item is hung from the end) to 4.8 pounds (when an item is hung from the middle); $65 for a set of two at the Molo Store. 

Above: The Case Study Planter With Plinth in White comes in two sizes, starting at $149 from Horne.

Above: The Moroccan Bath Mat in a gray (shown) or blue stripe is $64 from the Nickey Kehoe Shop in LA. 

Above: A white Linen Bathrobe is $34.95 from the H&M online store. 

Above: Add a rustic element with this Natural Tree Stump Side Table; $249 from West Elm. 

Above: The Aesop Resurrection Hand Wash is $39 from Need Supply Co. 

Above: The Kartell Prince AHA Stool by Philippe Starck works as a table or stool (and works equally well upside down). Made of plastic, it also comes in gray and orange; $130 at DWR. 

Browse our weekly Steal This Look posts for more inspiration, including A Beach-Themed Bath by Jacques Grange and a Bohemian Bathroom on Mykonos.

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Spotted on Dezeen and unveiled at this year's Salone del Mobile in Milan: a new four-piece bath ensemble by Norm Architects of Copenhagen, featuring a tub, washbasin, modular wall unit, and pendant light designed through a process of subtraction. The collection was created for Ex.t, a Florence-based home furnishings manufacturer that contracts with family-owned factories throughout Tuscany to produce all of its wares in Italy.  

Above: Norm designers Kasper Ronn and Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen say they set out to invent a light and airy collection in a field of bathroom designs that "tend to be dominated by visually heavy furnishing elements." 

Above: The Felt customizable wall unit is made of matte black metal and can store towels and bath accessories. Customizable features include solid shelves, hanging bars, cubbies with doors, and a circular or square mirror. The piece starts at €318.51 ($359.82) from Ex.t, which ships worldwide.

Above: The Stand Washstand was inspired by plant stands from the 1920s and 1930s once used in "luxuriant, thriving winter gardens"; €1,125 ($1,271). 

Above: Norm's Stand Bathtub is a reinterpretation of Victorian clawfoot tubs, stripped of "decorative excesses to reach the point where there is nothing more to add or take away in order to make the product better"; €6,440 ($7,275).

Above: Wanting a simple light that's both sculptural and nostalgic, the designers created the Hat, which takes its shape from vintage hat molds. Available in natural oak (shown) and ash with a gray/black finish, it's approximately 7.5 inches wide and 4.5 inches tall; €132 (about $149.12).

See more of our favorites from the prolific Norm duo: 

• New Bath Hardware from Norm Architects: The Towel Ladder and More
• The Modern Bath: New Essentials from Copenhagen
• Clever Kitchen Lighting from Copenhagen
• Design Sleuth: Milk Light from Norm Architecture

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• Steal This Look: A Brick Bathroom, Romantic Green Tub Included
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Confession: When I first saw the floral-patterned tile in my friend Michelle's London bath a couple of years ago, I wasn't entirely sold. Now I'm thinking she was ahead of the curve; here are five examples of romantic florals in the bath.

Above: In her London master bath shower, Michelle McKenna used Chinoiserie tiles from the Chelsworth Collection at Fired Earth. (See the whole house in The Power of Pastels: A London House Reimagined and in the first chapter of the Remodelista book.) Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.

Above A bath wrapped in sepia florals via Elle Decor Espana.

Above: Birds and butterflies in a tiled shower via Fine and Country in the UK.

Above: A tiled bath in a downtown New York loft by AP Design.

Above: Chinese Wallpaper Tiles via Rep Tiles in the UK.

See more ideas for the bath at 10 Easy Pieces: Handmade Patterned Tiles and, on Gardenista, 5 Favorites: Plants for the Bath.

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Pale wood and pale leather: The combination is popping up everywhere. Here are 10 lounge chairs we're currently coveting.

Above: The folding Saxe Chair by Mogens Lassen has an oak frame and a natural leather seat; $1,799 from Kontrast.

Above: Workstead's Sling Chair is available in cherry, white oak, and walnut with a choice of black, brown, or nude leather; $2,950. (See more by Workstead, members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, here.)

Above: The beechwood Toro Chair—here in a leather shade called Day—is $1,299 from Blu Dot.

Above: The Folding Leather Campaign Chair has a guindo wood frame and a leather cover (shown here in natural leather); $795 AUD from Small Spaces. In the US, the Citizenry offers the Tripolina Chair from the Palermo Leather Workshop in cognac leather for $650 (natural leather available by custom order).

Above: The Paco Chair by Brooklyn-based Friends & Family has a natural leather seat and brass hardware; $3,620. Contact Friends & Family directly for ordering information.

Above: The Mads Chair by Family & Friends is $3,200; contact Friends & Family directly for ordering information.

Above: The blush leather Smith Dining Chair is made of recycled teak and natural leather; $849 AUD ($673 USD) from Barnaby Lane in Melbourne.

Above: The Roseneath Butterfly Chair from Barnaby Lane has a steel frame and blush leather cover; $949 AUD ($751.89 USD) from Barnaby Lane in Melbourne. (Read a nutshell history of the butterfly chair and source more examples in Megan Wilson's Object Lesson.)

Above: The Ovis Lounge Chair from Ladies & Gentlemen is $3,300.

Above: The Sunset Safari Chair from Chairtastic in SF has a leather sling seat; contact Chairtastic directly for pricing.

Also see 10 Easy Pieces: South American-Style Leather Chairs and High/Low: Modern Leather Sling Chairs.

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If you watched the last episode of Mad Men and/or groovy is a word you're ready to put back into play, you're likely in the perfect mood for Cafe Gratitude's latest branch in Downtown LA. As the signs in the windows of the organic, vegetarian, plant-based mini-chain say: "I am present" and "I am cool." And the same can be said for Wendy Haworth's inviting, decades-bridging design. 

Photography by Nicole LaMotte.

Above: Haworth, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, was presented with a brand-new shell—the cafe is in the just-finished One Santa Fe building—and asked to telegraph "the community-minded values of the Cafe Gratitude concept, which include authenticity and respect for nature and others." (And the cafe does its part: "Approximately 75 percent of the food is grown at the restaurant's own Be Love organic farm," Haworth tells us.) In response, she reached out to a number of local artisans, who happen to be in the midst of their own sixties-tinged groove. As a backdrop, Haworth inserted a brick veneer to the bar wall: "Typically, I prefer real materials, but to counter the austere newness, I liked the idea of having a perimeter that feels solid."

Above: Haworth collaborated on the overall concept with architect Victor Corona of VMC Architecture, who focused on the layout and kitchen design.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the cafe offers a range of vibes courtesy of seating, from bar stools to banquettes (and there's also an outdoor terrace). The wood floors are cerused engineered oak from Universal Hardwood. The beamed ceiling is modeled after Haworth's own 1920s apartment in West Hollywood. The brass pendant lights and sconces are by Remodelista favorite Atelier de Troupe of LA.

Above L: LA ceramicist Heather Levine made the bar's custom stoneware pendant lights. (See more of her work in our recent post The Bohemian Life: Designer Lauren Soloff at Home in LA.) Above R: The macramé wall hangings on driftwood—priced on Etsy at $65 and $70—are by Marisa of Free Creatures.

Above: White Thonet Armchairs from DWR surround a marble-topped cafe table. Haworth had the brass bar shelving made by Eric Beneker Design, and the stools are her own design of powder-coated steel with paper-cord seating and footrests.

Above L: The hanging-screen room dividers are the work of The California Workshop, specialists in lightweight, laser-cut wood designs. Above R: Hollyflora supplied the plants and hanging planters. (For those old enough to remember: Is macramé better the second time around? We think so.)

Above: Haworth inserted a touch of color with mustard-colored fiberglass Eiffel Shell Chairs from Modernica that stand under a raked plaster wall.

Above: Stacks of yellow and white dishes add a graphic element.

Above L: The yellow dishes are Fiesta (the updated Fiestaware) in Sunflower. Above R: Words of "gratitude and optimism" are etched on the water bottles—aka Affirmation Bottles—from a company called Spoken Glass.

Above: A fiddle leaf fig stands guard—and, Haworth reports, so far is thriving. Read all about the finicky favorite on Gardenista, including The Fig and I: Tips for Caring for a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree. For more, go to Cafe Gratitude and Wendy Haworth Design Studio.

Consult our LA City Guide for more of our LA recommendations, including The Malibu Farm Cafe. And for a touch of Cafe Gratitude in your own home, consider Bohemian Modern Ceramic Bells.

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I spent the first 18 years of my life occupying Harry Potter–size quarters in an otherwise spacious house—and feeling as if I was the lucky one. And though I've since gained a bit more elbow room, I've been gratified to watch the tiny house movement mushroom in the past decade. (And yet frequently let down by the twee hippie-gnome lairs that await beyond so many downsized front doors.) More architects ought to join the downsizing crusade—but, fortunately, enough have that the seeds of first-rate minuscule design have been planted. Here are some standouts, many of them from Remodelista and Gardenista's own greatest-hits archive.

N.B.: One man's hut is another's palace. We tend to be generous in our definition of tiny: Our selections here range in size but most are under 300 square feet.

Above: From South Africa, the POD Idladla is a prefabricated tiny house—each unit is 17 square meters (roughly 183 square feet) and several can be joined. The design is a collaboration between architect Clara da Cruz Almeida and interior and production designers Dokter and Misses.

Above: A Monopoly-house-inspired, 290-square-foot prefab for two designed by Madrid architect Camino Alonso. Starting price: $24,000. See more of it here.

Above: One-room Rustic Living on the Beach in Uruguay, sleeping loft included. Photograph via Espacio Living.

Above: The Poplar Garden House, architect Haiko Meijer's design for his own family, is situated in a community garden in the Netherlands. 

Above: A Bohemian 120-Square-Foot Surf Shack in Topanga Canyon, a weekend project created by designer/builder/surfer Mason St. Peter and his artist wife, Serena Mitnik-Miller.

Above: Auckland architects Crosson Clark Carnachan designed this Small Beach Cabin known in New Zealand as a bach. This one happens to also be portable, courtesy of two steel sleds that anchor the structure. 

Above: The Shipping Container Port-a-Bach, a prototype by New Zealand architecture firm Atelier Workshop, is another Gardenista discovery. Michelle notes that it "folds open, Barbie Dream House–style, to reveal a patio."

Above: A Fisherman's Cabin Recycled into a Beachside Cabana in Portugal. The good news: It's within easy striking distance of Lisbon and is available for rent by the night. Photograph by Nelson Garrido.

Above: A 323-Square-Foot Guest House and Storage Shed in Bussum, Holland, by Serge Schoemaker Architects from Gardenista.

Above: A favorite Outbuilding of the Week: a Backyard Writer's Shed in London (woodstove and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves included) by Weston Surman & Deane Architects. Photograph by Wai Ming Ng.

Above: A 150-Square-Foot Finnish Cabin, Verstas Architects' updated answer to the traditional Scandinavian getaway hut.

Above: A steel-and-concrete one-room dwelling on Salt Island in British Columbia by Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig Architects in Seattle. See the outdoor shower and more in A Master Architect Builds a Tiny Cabin in the Pacific Northwest. Photograph by Tim Bies.

Above: Little Scandi A-frame in the woods. Photograph via Bolig Magasinet DK.

The downsizing continues: Take a look at 10 Houses Made from Shipping Containers and learn 10 Ways to Live with Less from Zero Waste Home.

Just looking to make a dent in your spring cleaning? See The No-Cost Remodel: Carmella's 7-Step Plan to Clutter-Free Living.

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Lots of Hollywood offices have movie-star swagger, but few are as stylishly original as the Epoch Films setup in a 1940s Beverly Hills warehouse that had been a brass foundry. Originally designed back in 2000 by architect Finn Kappe and Pamela Shamshiri of Commune, the space recently received a refresh, and what stopped us in our tracks is the newly overhauled kitchen. The work of Frances Merrill of Reath Design—who Shamshiri recommended for the update—it makes the most of the existing concrete backdrop while introducing a wood-accented warmth that Merrill labels "friendly industrial." We say: Rush to see it.

Photography by Laure Joliet.

Above: The new kitchen replaces a space with a half fridge and, in Epoch executive producer Melissa Culligan's words, "white laminate cabinets where boxes of half-eaten office snacks got lost." (Scroll down for a Before shot.) Since the renovation, she tells us, "It's now the heart of the office. We all cook and eat together: Eggs, oatmeal, therapy, it all goes down in the kitchen."

Our favorite element, the two-toned vintage cupboard, was the first piece of furniture bought for the space (from Nicky Kehoe), and became the inspiration for everything. "It had age, character, and color, all things we wanted to introduce," says Merrill. "Blending the vibe of that cupboard with the industrial feel of the room was the crux of the design. And it also allowed us to demo all the closed storage on the main wall, since it supplied a place to store the less appealing looking necessities." 

The walls and steel window are original, as are the beams—after much testing of colors, the beams and back door were painted Benjamin Moore Caldwell Green ("It feels light and somehow inherently California," says Merrill). The floor is epoxy; originally in a bright blue that got very beat up, it's refinished in a neutral gray. All else is newly introduced. The custom maple table is by LA cult furniture maker Shin Okuda—see more of his work in our post Tiny Altars. 

Above: The warehouse window supplies the perfect spot for the inset sink, which has a Kohler Deck-Mounted Chrome Faucet. The counters are paint-grade maple, also used for the cabinets and shelves.

Above: The simple open shelving holds tableware in a carefully selected neutral palette: a Tom Dixon brass Form Jug, ceramics from Heath (the Mugs are from the Coupe Line), and a wood and melamine Joseph Joseph White Bread Bin.

Above: The cabinets were custom built (and along with the table, the biggest splurges of the project). "To save on cost, we used paint-grade maple," says Merrill. "We painted the cabinets in Benjamin Moore Black in a satin finish, and ending up deciding to leave some sections unpainted—they're oiled in a satin finish." The unpainted wood forms the counters and continues as a frame around the French-door fridge, lending it a custom look. All the appliances are by Jenn-Air; as a space saver, the wall oven is mounted under the cook top.

Merrill sourced the artwork from Etsy and Nicky Kehoe.

Above: Are well-designed, fully loaded kitchens the answer to office happiness? "We all spend so much time at the office, but so much time thinking about what our houses look like," says Culligan. "This remodel has done so much for the culture of the company."

Before

Above: The kitchen was a place for grabbing coffee and meetings (and storing extra chairs).

See more of Merrill's work at Reath Design. And take a look at more of our Kitchen of the Week posts, including The Ultimate Indoor/Outdoor Kitchen.

For another LA office kitchen that we adore, see Biscuit Film Works in the Remodelista book and Steal This Look.

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We’re on an eternal quest for that home design Holy Grail: the perfect white paint. And given that spaces, lighting, moods, and personal personal preferences all vary, there are many factors to be considered—and also many right answers. 

For guidance, we turned to members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory. Their advice from the trenches confirmed our hunch: As architect Amy Alper says, “It really pays to take the time to find the right white.” Here's how:

Above: A white wall and stone fireplace mantel in A Fairy-Tale Castle in Belgium: The Architects' Version.

1. Get to know the nuances in white.

Artists and others who work with color know that white isn't one hue but many—and that some are whiter than others.

“White paints can come with bluish, reddish, yellowish, and even greenish undertones,” says Amy Alper. To see the variety, head to your local paint shop and ask for help spotting whites with a variety of undertones and compare them side by side. Or take interior designer Ellen Hamilton's suggestion and hold the samples against a sheet of white paper. The complexity of each color will reveal itself to you. 

Above: The San Francisco office of interior designer Alison Davin of Jute. 

2. Size up what's in the room.

Before selecting a paint shade, size up the palette of everything that will be in the space. “Are the colors cool or warm?” asks Alper. If they’re warm, you’ll want to lean toward whites with warm-colored undertones (pink, orange, red, yellow). If they’re cool, consider cool-inflected whites (with undertones of blue, purple, or green). 

What if the furnishings are neutral? “If neutral, I go with a warmer white," says Alison Davin of Jute. "If there is a lot of color, a cooler white."

Keep in mind that your furnishings will affect your perception of any paint. Says architect Ian Read of Medium Plenty in San Francisco: “Sometimes getting a 'warm' white doesn’t actually come from the paint, it comes from the entire assembly of the space.”

Above: A living room play space in An LA Cliffhanger: Go High or Stay Low? 

3. Assess the lighting.

Because color is a phenomenon of light, the amount of natural and artificial light in the room impacts the tone of the walls. Says Alison Davin: “A pure white looks best with a lot of natural light. With less natural light, the white can have a base with more of a pigment. 

Note that geography affects light as well. According to interior designer Ellen Hamilton, “In New York, the light tends to be gray and warm. This means the best white is sympathetic to a warm gray. Ideally, it would have warm gray as the undertone.” However, “in Miami the same color may look like it has an orange cast. This is because the light in Miami has pure blue filtering through it. The blue in the light will make the warm gray paint look pink.” 

Above: Swatches of favorite paints in 10 Easy Pieces: Architects' White Exterior Paint Picks. 

4. Choose several whites that you like.

Take what you’ve learned about the furnishings and light in your room and choose a few whites. When selecting, consider these tips from the pros.

• A pure white reads more modern than one with some color in the mix. (Interior designer Alison Davin)
• The best whites aren’t really white at all. In most cases, bright white needs some tempering with color. (Architect Michael Howells)
• If struggling, err on the side of a neutral white, in between what you can clearly read as "warm" and "cool." (Interior designer Ellen Hamilton)

Above: An office space in the home of a graphic designer in Past Meets Present: Roel Vaessen in the Netherlands. 

5. Put your favorite shades to the test. 

All our designers insisted on testing the paint at home. Says Gretchen Krebs of Medium Plenty, “A white that seemed warm on a smaller paint chip may suddenly look too pink or sallow. Or a white that looked crisp and modern may feel way too cold in a larger application.”

However, our designers were divided on whether to paint a sample directly on the wall or use a moveable swatch: 

Why paint on the wall? Ian Reed suggests painting swatches "as big as you can and in several places. Colors shift from ceiling to wall, wall to wall, room to room. It is all about direction of exposure, proximity to windows, and artificial light." If you're working with a designer or contractor, he says, make sure that these tests are required as part of your contract, and even specify how many. 

Why use a moveable swatch? Says Amy Alper, "It makes more sense to paint a large panel so you can move it around. The same color will appear differently on different walls in the same room depending on the amount of light on that particular wall. Take note of the paint during the day and evening, in natural light and artificial light." Or, says Alison Davin, use the paint line's largest sample cards and tape them up. 

Above: A study in white in Inner Sanctum: Maximum Calm in a London Townhouse.

6. What if I still can’t figure it out? 

There are a handful of whites we hear about over and over again, all from Benjamin Moore. Here's our cheat sheet.

• Swiss Coffee OC-45 (recommended by Ian Reed, Tim Barber, and Nicole Hollis)
• Simply White 2143-70 (recommended by Alison Davin, 2Michaels, and Kriste Michelini)
• Super White PM-1 (recommended by Delson or Sherman, Carole Magness, Erica Tanov, and Materia Designs)
• White Dove OC-17 (recommended by Cary Bernstein, John DeForest, and Robbins Architecture)

Alison Davin suggests Farrow & Ball and C2 Paints for rooms without much natural light. “Their mixes have more depth to them, adding dimension without having to add windows,” she says. 

Also take a look at our previous primers on white: 10 Easy Pieces: Architects' White Paint Picks and 10 Easy Pieces: Architects' White Exterior Paint Picks.

Find even more paint advice in:

• Remodeling 101: All You Need to Know About VOCs in Paint
• Remodeling 101: Limewash Paint
• Design Sleuth: The Perfect Gold Paint
• Black Magic: Architects' 8 Top Paint Picks

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• Small-Space Living: 13 Radical Tiny Cottages
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In a cheery palette lifted from the makeup counter, Paris design company Colonel's new furniture collection is detailed with summery rattan.

Above: Isabelle Gilles and Yann Poncelet are the design duo behind Colonel, a Paris showroom and online shop. Shown here, Straw, Colonel's just-introduced line of beech and cane furniture, all of it fabricated in France.

Above: Colonel's Straw Pendant Lamps have lacquered metal frames inset with woven cane. They come in three shapes and in coral, yellow, and black; inquire about pricing.

Above: The Straw Sideboard is made of natural beech with sliding rattan doors. It's available in dark gray, vermillion, and indigo.

Above: The Hills Armchair has a white-lacquered metal frame, blue or green cushions in Kvadrat fabric, and leather-wrapped arms. 

Above: The Straw Closet is solid beech with cane doors, and comes in light gray, coral, and yellow. See more of the collection at Colonel.

On the hunt for inspired uses of rattan? We are too. Take a look at:

• 6 Favorites: Summery Natural Fiber Pendant Lights
• Fantastic Plastic: Lamps Made from Soda Bottles and High/Low: Hat-Shaped Lights
• The Gardenista 100: Best Rattan Lounge Chairs
• 10 Easy Pieces: Hanging Chairs

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• The West Coast Sofa by Way of Japan

How do you link good design, smart business practices, and a social conscience? James and Chelsea Minola have been having this discussion since they met as RISD industrial design students on a winter-session class in Guatemala almost 10 years ago. Just out of school, they introduced Ty, a durable and recyclable, PVC-free shower curtain, and their company, Grain, was launched. Not long after that, they followed both of their family's leads and moved to Bainbridge Island outside Seattle, where they settled in a 1901 craftsman-style farmhouse (and were joined last summer by their baby daughter, Ada). A rental last touched several decades earlier—"think avocado ceilings and cantaloupe walls," says Chelsea—they spent a month painting every inch of the place, and then put it to work as their living quarters, test lab, and factory.

Photography by Ben Blood, except where noted.

Above: Chelsea and James in their living room, home to Grain's customer service desk. The house is approximately 2,000 square feet and furnished with inherited pieces, hand-me-downs, and the couple's own designs—"it's an ever-changing mix," says Chelsea, "but we rarely purchase something new."

Grain makes almost all of its goods in the Pacific Northwest, whether downstairs in the basement workroom or in collaboration with area craftspeople. 

Above: The couple painted the living room their go-to white, Benjamin Moore Decorator's White, and the mantle is in an Ace Paint color called Khaki Shorts. The pillows and rug are examples of Grain's small textiles collection, which is made by a number of artisan groups in Guatemala, several of whom Chelsea and James were introduced to during that fateful RISD class. The pillows are their Jaspé design, a pattern created "by working with a Guatemalan jaspé master to tie-dye threads that are then handwoven," they explain in their online shop. The grid-patterned wool rug is a version of their El Prado design. The table is their African-stool-inspired Dish Coffee Table, made in Seattle of FSC-certified American ash, and, like all of their wood pieces, hand-assembled and finished in their home workshop.

Above L: The couple use their basement lathe to hand-turn their beeswax Totem Candles—"we don't use a pattern, we just do it by eye, so they're all a bit different," James told us. They're shown here in a Grail Dish, part of Grain's hieroglyphics-patterned terracotta collection made for them by a potter on Bainbridge Island. Above R: The dining room's Windsor chairs were in the house. (See more Windsor Chairs here.)

Above: The room overlooks a jungly backyard that backs up to a park.

Above L: The period kitchen, with its linoleum floor, Formica counter, and metal cabinets, was largely left untouched. The walls are Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue from the Natura line. Photograph by Grain. Above: The table is Grain's stained-ash Dish Desk on a variation of the Zacapa Rug.

Above: The upstairs consists of two dormered bedrooms, neither with closets, so chests of drawers (this one came with the room) are put to maximum use. The couple's bed frame is the Malm from Ikea and the rug is a Grain prototype for the Momostenango pattern.

Above: Set in a paneled niche, the bed is flanked by Grain's Dish Side Tables and Circlet Single Sconces of FSC-certified ash with handblown glass shades made by Seattle artist John Hogan. (The Circlet collection has LED lighting components hidden in each canopy, so there's no visible bulb.)

Above: The vintage dresser pairs well with the Stitch Nonagan Mirror, a hemp-twine-embellished design backed with apple ply—"excess wood from the apple farming industry," explains James.

Above: A bedroom window seat with a Danish cord chair prototype. (At ICFF in New York, Grain just introduced the similarly shaped Circlet Chair.)

Above L and R: The upstairs landing showcases more of the couple's work, including the Hung Mirror, inspired by James's pre-RISD experience as a boat builder in Maine, and an etched-glass Circlet Triplet Sconce.

Above: Ada's room has an Ikea crib—read about it here. It's decorated with a garland made by a RISD textile designer friend and a custom Aura Chime by Ladies & Gentlemen studio. Photograph by Grain.

Above: The house has dark green shingles and wood-framed windows. ("We have to do some trim repairs and replace the roof this summer, so we're currently discussing whether to change the exterior color," says Chelsea.)

It's within walking distance of town and ferry, a 30-minute ride to Seattle, and on overcast days, they can hear the foghorn blowing.

Above: The couple converted a neglected backyard shed into a custom chicken coup with a slatted facade and walk-in ramp. They sell their work directly as well as through stores across the country and on commission. See more at Grain.

For more inspiration, browse our Creatives at Home issue and take a look at a DIY Remodel in LA by fashion designers Black Crane.

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• Remodeling 101: How to Choose the Perfect White Paint
• Small-Space Living: 13 Radical Tiny Cottages
• At Home with LA's Ahead-of-the-Curve Jewelry Designer

Looking for budget-friendly backyard updates? How about garden ideas to steal from Wolf Hall—or the 2015 Chelsea Flower Show (which opens its door today)? This week's Gardenista covers a lot of fertile territory.

Above: Life After Life: The Unexpected Resurrection of Mrs. Boer's Garden.

Above: Wolf Hall: 12 Garden Ideas to Steal from Henry VIII's England—knot gardens, wattle fencing, and enclosed gardens included. Also read the Pros and Cons of Homemade Weed Killer.

Above: Sneak Peek: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the 2015 Chelsea Flower Show. Don't miss the ode to Vita Sackville-West, created by Remodelista and Gardenista's own Megan and Kendra Wilson.

Above: GROW London: A Contemporary Garden Fair Returns to Hampstead Heath. Among the offerings, traditional table mats by Rush Matters.

Above: 9 Foolproof Ways to Add Color to a Flower Garden.

Above: Prefab in Paris: Chic in Suburbia with a Modern Family House.

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• Trending on Gardenista: Backyard Celebrations
• Trending on Gardenista: Exclusive Deals at the Remodelista & Gardenista Market on May 9
• Trending on Gardenista: Colorful Coops and Tiny Houses

As a former New Yorker and current owner of a wee Cape Cod cottage, I am quite familiar with both the charm and challenges of small spaces. When done well, they can feel like cozy, zen-like retreats. But often when you have to cram all your worldly possessions into one tiny space, the results can feel cramped, claustrophobic, and anything but restful. Achieving the former instead of the latter takes some conscious effort.

The good news is that the key to successful small-space living might be easier than you think. It all boils down to tricking the eye into perceiving more space by employing three simple concepts: scale, light, and movement. 

Photography by Matthew Williams for Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home, unless otherwise noted.

1. Scale it down.

Above: At Harbor Cottage in Maine, all the furniture, even the woodstove, has been downsized to fit the small living area.

Furniture for the small space is all about proportions. Simply put, if a piece brushes up against the boundaries of the room, either up and down or sideways, it's too large. To create a sense of roominess, always leave a little air in between the sides of your furniture and the walls. (The one exception is a bed; a queen placed between two walls, for instance, creates a cozy sleeping cave.)

Also avoid heavy, weighty pieces that eat up too much of the usable space in the room. For example, a sleek sofa or chair will give you as much sitting room as its overstuffed cousin but will take up much less of your room. If you long for a large, statement piece, hang it on the wall (a piece of art and mirror). Don't consume valuable living space by putting it on the floor.  

2. Keep a low profile.

Above: Designer Corinne Gilbert uses low-slung pieces to create an open feel in her living room. Also, notice that the mirrors are hung low so that they "relate" to the sofa. 

Furniture that is lower to the ground will create a feeling of openness in a room simply by the fact that they leave more space above them. In the bedroom, choose a loft bed or even try placing a mattress directly on the floor. In the living room, embrace your inner Mad Men style with low-to-the-ground midcentury pieces. Or, if your tastes run more toward the romantic and ornate, 19th-century furniture also has a low profile.

Above: Designer Michaela Scherrer's bed feels spacious even though the bed takes up most to the room. That's because both her bed and the art on the walls are positioned toward the lower half of the room, leaving the upper half virtually empty. The single bulb hanging from the ceiling also serves to emphasize the height of the room. 

3. Show a little leg with lithe furniture.

Above: The Hudson Valley retreat of Workstead's Robert Highsmith and Stefanie Brechbuehler is short on space and long on charm. To maximize the sense of light and air, the design duo employed leggy and lithe furniture and fixtures. 

Again, creating the illusion of more space is all about creating a sense of openness and movement. Furniture that is streamlined allows light and air to flow not just over, but also under and around it, so that it appears to float in space. Again, think midcentury modern pieces which are both low and "leggy". Or consider the perfect piece of soaring furniture: the butterfly chair. (See Object Lesson: The Classic Butterfly Chair.)

Above: In her London living room, Remodelista's Christine Chang Hanway creates an open feel by employing midcentury furniture that allows light from the generous windows to flow through the room. Photograph by Kristen Perers for Remodelista.

4. Mirror, mirror on the wall…

Above: In her small bedroom in Brooklyn, architectural designer Elizabeth Roberts cleverly positions a mirror so that it actually looks like another window.

Any discussion of small spaces needs to include the idea of using mirrors to create a greater sense of openness. Not only do they reflect light, they also reflect the view, thereby tricking the eye into perceiving more space.

5. Ditch the drapes (and rugs).

Above: In their Hudson Valley living room, Robert Highsmith and Stefanie Brechbuehler of Workstead maximize a sense of space by using leggy, low-profile furniture and fixtures as well as a mirror over the couch. They also keep the space looking uncluttered by ditching the drapes and the rug.

As we saw with mirrors, it's all about tricking the eye. Curtains stop the eye from taking in the view outside, even if they don't cover the whole window. And drapes and curtains just add more "stuff" to the room. Eliminating them keeps the space simple. If you want privacy, consider shutters or lightweight mesh or cloth blinds. Or if curtains are a must for you, use a bar that extends far beyond the window frame, so you can fully expose the window.

Ditto rugs. Cast your eye over all the small spaces in this article. Note how few have rugs or, if they do, how simple and minimal they are.

Above: In my own Cape Cod cottage, note how with the absence of curtains, the eye is drawn right through several rooms and out the window beyond.

6. White it out.

Above: Author Sara Emslie promotes the reflective power of white in her book, Beautifully Small.

We all know of white's reflective qualities. It opens up a room, making it feel airy and light, calm and serene. Painting the walls and ceiling the same shade of white only enhances this cloud-like effect. And it serves to blur the boundaries between wall and celling, causing your eye to travel up, essentially making the ceiling seem higher. Finally, in small spaces that can quickly become cluttered looking, white is a good choice because it simplifies a space and emphasizes the architecture. (That's why architects love it so much. See 10 Easy Pieces: Architect's White Paint Picks.)

If you're worried that an all-white space will feel too cold, then pair it with warming elements like wood, or textured elements, such as a shaggy wool throw. And remember that you don't have choose a stark white. (See Remodeling 101: How to Choose the Perfect White Paint.)

7. Emphasize the vertical.

Above: Sydney-based architect Christopher Polly used vertical shiplap to emphasize the height of this small living/dining/kitchen area. Note also the small-scale furniture and feeling of movement as your eye travels all over the room.

Whether it's a tall shelf, some vertical shiplap, or the bare hanging bulb we saw in Michaela Scherrer's bedroom above, employing one element that emphasizes the vertical space in the room will increase the sense of openness. It also enhances the feeling of movement and flow. 

Above: In her wee bath, clothing designer Dagmar Daley ditched her curtains, used all white to maximize the sense of light and air, and she used vertical elements, wainscoting and a shower curtain, to emphasize the height of the room.

8. Emphasize the horizontal.

Above: In this bedroom, designer Tiina Laakonen ran horizontal shiplap right up the walls and ceiling. The effect is a seamless transition from wall to ceiling that emphasizes the height and the width of the room. Note also that the curtains are pushed to the side to frame the view.

It all boils down to creating a sense of movement. Like the leggy furniture that creates a sense of dynamism, or the mirrors that reflect light and a view back into the room, anything that causes your eye to travel around a room in an intentional and orderly fashion will make it feel larger. (I say "international and orderly" because a cluttered room with lots of distracting elements will also cause your eye to travel, but in a haphazard fashion.

Above: In this small dining space, both the horizontal and the vertical are emphasized by the horizontal color band that divides the space in half. Note also how the large photo above the table acts as a window drawing your eye into the "view" beyond. Photograph by Nikolas Koenig via Desire to Inspire.

9. Clear a pathway.

Above: In her Napa Valley bungalow, Remodelista's Sarah Lonsdale cleared a path in her dining room by stetting the table to one side rather than at the center of the room.

When dealing with a small room, one naturally whats to maximize the space by pushing all the pieces to the edges. But if this causes you to bump into things, it can enhance a claustrophobic feel. Sometimes it is better to group the furniture on one side of the room, so people can pass through unhindered.

10. Use breezy fabrics.

Above: To maximize the open, airy feeling of this cozy Berlin apartment, Lea Korzeczek and Matthias Hiller of Studio Oink employed the reflective power of white coupled with breezy, lightweight fabrics.

If possible, avoid heavy materials and fabrics that absorb light and weigh your room down. Linen is a perfect example of a lightweight material that will increase the sense of airiness in the room.

11. Above all, keep it simple.

Above: As demonstrated in Workstead's Brooklyn home, keeping your palette and furniture to a minimum serves to create an open feel. A few choice pieces (in this case, a midcentury Eames lounge chair and Jean Prouve Potence lamp) go a long way to adding personality to a room.

Small spaces are all about editing. The more pieces, possessions, and patterns you have in a room, the more cluttered it will feel. Avoid too many knickknacks or at least group them so they read as an installation. Ditto with art; concentrate your framed pieces on one or two walls. Avoid busy patterns and overwhelming colors. Or, if you absolutely must have that William Morris-esque wallpaper, consider placing it on one accent wall. Same with color, try painting just one wall or a door and stick to a single shade. Now is not the time to embrace the whole spectrum.

The bottom line is you need to be strict with yourself (actually, this concept applies to all spaces) and intentional about everything that goes into the room. If you go for the wallpaper accent wall, then keep the rest of the room simple. If you need that huge oil painting in your living room, try having it be the only art in the room. 

Above: The bare bones treatment of this bedroom by Father Rabbit Limited turns a small space into a restful retreat. 

N.B. Looking for more small space and other design solutions? See:

• Expert Advice: 10 Secrets for Living in a Small Space
• Christine's House: Living Small in London
• Survival Guide: Life in a Tiny Apartment: Brooklyn Edition
• 11 Zero-Cost Room-Changing Ideas

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• 10 Easy Pieces: The New Pale Leather Lounge Chair
• Rustic and Refined: Chadhaus Furniture in Seattle
• Table of Contents: Spring Awakenings

Here's what's been piquing our interest this week.

• Above: Next week, we're exploring the life aquatic. First stop: an Amsterdam houseboat, wallpaper included.
• The future of sustainable materials.

• Above: Mixed media—new brass and porcelain lighting from Apparatus.
• Dinner with Jackson Pollock.
• Luxe living on a budget.

• Above: A minimal white flat with chevron floors in Paris.
• One of our favorite British sculptors comes to Bergdorf Goodman.
• Covering the home front with Cupcakes and Cashmere.

• Above: On our wish list: marbled silk pillows.
• Ten questions to ask a decorator before you hire him/her.
• Vacation ideas for loners.

• Above: A floating barn in Latvia.
• The new Kansas City Soda Fountain.
• Moooi makes its NYC entrance.

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

• Above: We love graphic designer Kristen Cesiro's (@kristencesiro) clean-lined images.

• Above: Where to? We've been poring over Cereal magazine's travel-inspired board.

For more Remodelista, see our Spring Awakenings issue. And head over to Gardenista for Landscaping 101 (Prince Harry included).

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• Macramé Revisted: Cafe Gratitude in Downtown LA
• Report from LA: Legends of La Cienega Recap
• A Rooftop Oasis in Downtown LA

Now that it's unofficially summer, we're heading straight for the water. Join us for a week of nautical chic, hammocks and houseboats included.

Above: On-the-lake living in Victoria, Australia (see Thursday's Designer Visit). Photograph by Christine Francis.

Monday

Above: In Devon, England, this off-the-grid rental cabin overlooks the River Teign. And yes, the furniture is for sale. Take a look in today's Cabins & Cottages post.

Tuesday

Above: So out it's in? In Tuesday's Trend Alert, Julie makes a case for the return of the captain's chair. Photograph via Garden Visit: The Little House at No. 24a Dorset Road.

Wednesday

Above: Let there be air (without air conditioning)—in this week's 10 Easy Pieces, Izabella presents the best ceiling fans. 

Thursday

Above: On Thursday, join us aboard a mod houseboat that's the work of a just-launched young design firm. Photograph by Christine Francis.

Friday

Above: Looking for an instant daybed for summer? The simple canvas cot is being recruited for bigger things—watch for Friday's 5 Favorites. Photograph from from our post on Hedgehouse in LA, Makers of Striped Bedrolls.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Expert Advice: 11 Tips for Making a Room Look Bigger
• 10 Easy Pieces: The New Pale Leather Lounge Chair
• Rustic and Refined: Chadhaus Furniture in Seattle

With a sleight of hand, London architect Alex Cochrane transformed a Victorian boathouse overlooking a lake in Great Windsor Park in Windsor, England—and rumored to have once housed royal pages—into a modern day writer’s retreat.

By its very nature and function, the shape of any boathouse is long and narrow. After completely gutting the interiors of this two-story timber structure, Cochrane created an open plan of three interlocking living zones that take full advantage of the structure's shape. Inserting his modern box-like interventions in the middle of the boathouse, the architect was able to maintain uninterrupted views down the length of the entire boathouse. The result? A modern day retreat that pays homage to its humble origins with great respect.

Photography courtesy of Alex Cochrane Architects; project first spotted on Dezeen. 

Above: Cochrane opened up both ends of the boat house with new windows to allow light to penetrate into the darkest reaches. The steps lead to the second-story living quarters. 

Above: Located at the entry of the boathouse, the first of the three interlocking living areas consists of the writer-owner's study area with desk and built-in seating.

Above: The second of the living areas houses the kitchen and bath, the wet zones.

Above: An uninterrupted view down the side of the kitchen zone.

Above: The original A-frame structure of the boathouse, originally completely hidden from view, was revealed when the interior fabric got stripped away.

Above: Cochrane introduced a ribbon of storage and seating along the other continuous length of the boathouse.

Above: The third of living area comprises two beds that double as lounge seating.

Above: The ribbon of storage includes a reclining bench with a recess for books and firewood. 

Above: A dressing table at the end is illuminated by cage lights with bronze bulb holders.

Above: The exposed A-frame structure was sandblasted because of damage from nesting birds. The resulting lighter color has a more modern aesthetic matched by the wide widths and long lengths of the Douglas fir floorboards from Danish company Dinesen.

Above: Cochrane added a cantilevered balcony for exterior appreciation of the lake and its view. This required tying back a series of steel beams to the original framework at the center of the boathouse.

Like the look for the pale wood floor? Read World's Most Beautiful Wood Floors.

Above: Cochrane applied oak veneer panels throughout the interior.

Above: Sliding doors offer privacy in the bathroom and shower.

Above: The ground floor still houses boats; the two large wooden doors open outward onto the lake.

 Above: The long and narrow plan of the boathouse. 

Are we all now lusting after boathouses? See a Boathouse and Screened Porch in Austin and LA Designer Faye McAuliffe's Boathouse Nuptials. 

This post is an update; the original ran on June 10, 2013 as part of our Nautical Notes issue.

More Stories from Remodelista

• The New Homesteaders: Chelsea and James Minola's Craftsman Quarters on Bainbridge Island
• Remodeling 101: How to Choose the Perfect White Paint
• Small-Space Living: 13 Radical Tiny Cottages

When Christopher Columbus set out to find Japan in 1492, he might have discovered futons, but instead he found the Bahamas and hammocks. The name came from a word meaning "fish net," and the West Indians made their hammocks out of sisal, suspending them between trees to avoid being bitten by snakes and other creatures that like to chomp on humans and spread disease. Columbus brought several examples back to Europe, and eventually the Royal Navy did away with traditional berths in favor of this new kind of bed. The naval hammock was made of canvas with enough fabric to wrap the sailor in a cocoon as he slept, preventing him from falling out. The hammock rocked with the movement of the ship, and was easily stowed during the day. 

From here, the story takes a Huckleberry Finn turn: Cap'n Josh was a riverboat captain in 19th century South Carolina. He found the canvas hammock too hot for the sultry Southern nights, and the rope hammock too scratchy, so he set about improving the details. Using a smooth cotton rope, he devised a double lattice, and then he plucked some slats from an oak barrel and created a spreader bar. This changed the shape of the hammock entirely and gave us the Pawleys Island Hammock, a classic American design still woven on Pawleys Island. These days, it's one of many notable options for use indoors or out, on land and sea, made of rope or cotton. Here are five favorites:

Above: The classic American cotton rope hammock, created by Cap' Josh and available from the company he founded, Pawleys Island Hammocks, for $159.99.

 Above: The Maritime Brazil Cotton Hammock resembles the unstructured hammock adopted by the Royal Navy. It's available at Novica for $67.49.

Above: A rope hammock remains pristine when kept indoors. This one is off the coast of Sicily; photograph via The Travel Files.

Above: A striped Cotton Hammock with Spreader Bar made in Austria; €206 ($226.20) at Manufactum.  

Above: A Le Beanock Hammock, $570, in a Swedish country house. To make a facsimile from a drop cloth, see Gardenista's DIY: Instant Summer Hammock.

Object Lessons columnist Megan Wilson is the owner of Ancient Industries and curator of the Remodelista 100 presented in the Remodelista book. Have a look at her past lessons on the Eames Lounge Chair, Atlas Pepper Mill, and Sheila Maid Clothes Drying Rack.

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• Trending on Gardenista: Landscaping 101 (and a Chelsea Flower Show Sneak Peek)
• Trending on Gardenista: Backyard Celebrations
• Trending on Gardenista: Exclusive Deals at the Remodelista & Gardenista Market on May 9

After decamping from London for life in the country, designer-maker Rupert McKelvie established Out of the Valley, his Devon, England, workshop devoted to building sustainable, off-the-grid, "efficient yet aesthetic" cabins. His model design on the banks of the River Teign happens to be available for rent by the night.

Photography via Out of the Valley.

Above: McKelvie's little cabin in the woods is solar powered and perfectly sized for two. It has a shou sugi ban exterior—read about the Japanese technique in Torched Lumber. 

Trained as a classical wood boat builder, 31-year-old McKelvie went on to study 3-D design and sustainability at Falmouth University and then worked in London as a product and furniture designer. He moved to Devon to start his own practice with a focus on off-the-grid living.

Above: The oak deck is furnished with Net Chairs by Mark Product of Cornwall and a McKelvie burned-wood table inspired by a Kaspar Hamacher design: "After seeing it, I wanted to have a go at making one."

Above: The deck has a canvas shade stitched by a sailmaker and a corrugated black metal roof (see more on metal roofs here). The cabin is heated by woodstove and has solar-powered lighting.

Above: A king-size bed is tucked into an alcove off the open living space. The kitchen comes complete with cooker and gas hob. "For the next cabin, I'd like to incorporate gray water recycling and not use any gas," says McKelvie.

Above: All the furniture and built-ins are McKelvie's own designs in ash and oak, which he and his small crew fabricate (and make on commission). "I wanted to use a minimal material and color palette, three at most," says McKelvie. "Less is so much more when it comes to the architecture of small spaces; each material allows the next to have room to breathe." (For more tips, go to Expert Advice: 11 Tips for Making a Room Look Bigger.)

The wood print over the banquette is made from an ash tree on the property felled in a storm. It's by McKelvie's friend illustrator Bea Forshall. The conical wood hanging lights are by Secto Design of Finland.

Above: A sliding door off the kitchen opens to the compact bathroom. The glass-and-concrete Leimu table lamp is by London-based designer Magnus Pettersen for Iittala.

Above: The bathroom is detailed with Carrara marble tiles and has a brass monsoon showerhead (plus a compost toilet).

Above: The sink is kitted out with reconditioned old brass taps. (If you're looking to source your own old-fashioned hot-and-cold spouts, see Objects Lessons: The British Cloakroom Basin Tap.)

Above: At last week's Clerkenwell Design Week in London, McKelvie launched Out of the Valley's first furniture collection, which includes cabin-inspired sinks with surface-mounted copper pipes and vintage taps.

Above: The cabin overlooks a former farm field that slopes down to the river, where guests can fly-fish and skinny-dip. Bluebells and foxgloves bloom around the property in early summer, and McElvie reports seeing wagtails, wood warblers, herons, and kingfishers near the water.

Above: The field is surrounded by National Trust woodland.

Above: Stargazing from the deck is the main nighttime activity. 

The Out of the Valley cabin rents for £130 ($193) to £160 ($237.63) per night, depending on the season. It's located on the northern edge of Dartmoor in Devon's Teign Valley. Two castles—Drogo and Bovey—are nearby, as is the Devon coast.

Explore more cabins in the woods in our Outbuildings of the Week posts, including a Tree Cocoon.

For more examples of shou sugi ban, see:

• Before and After: A Charred Wood Cottage, on a $45K Budget.
• Hardscaping 101: Charred Wood Siding.
• Architect Visit: A Teahouse, Charred and Blackened (on Purpose).
• Outbuilding of the Week: A Styliish Swedish Outhouse.

More Stories from Remodelista

• Westward Ho in Seattle
• Current Obsessions: A View of One's Own
• Macramé Revisted: Cafe Gratitude in Downtown LA

Channeling Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic mixed with a dash of vintage yacht club, chef Josh Henderson and designer Matthew Parker of the Huxley Wallace Collective have created Westward, a restaurant and oyster bar on Seattle's Lake Union with views across the water to downtown. The duo relied on a coterie of local designers to finesse the nautical notes. 

Abvoe: The 25-feet-bar was created from a slice of a ship and anchors (no pun intended) the restaurant. Created by local art fabricators Electric Coffin, several of the compartments are crafted into a quirky diorama. The drum lighting shades are made of recycled sailcloth, and the white ceramic lights in the shape of buoys are from local firm Fleet Objects. 

Above: Restaurant staff wear St. James boat shirts and other marine attire.

Above: The food served is Northwest-meets-the-Med.

Above: In the oyster bar, pilings are used as pillars with brightly painted cleats for hanging coats.

Above: The Little Gull Grocery in the oyster bar has shelving suspended by rope.

Above: Strung rope serves as a screen of sorts.

Above: Portraits of various captains in history decorate the restaurant (Captain Kirk and Bill Murray as Captain Steve Zissou, included).

Above: Adirondack chairs line the shore of Lake Union, and diners gather around a large fire pit surrounded by a ring of oyster shells. Downtown Seattle rises in the distance.  

Above: Nautical rope is used as outside decor.

Above: The restaurant has a 150-foot dock for boaters to drop by.

Inspired by the maritime look? See our Steal This Look on another Seattle favorite, The Walrus and the Carpenter.  For more of our Seattle stops, consult our City Guide. And take a look at life on nearby Bainbridge Island in The New Homesteaders.

More Stories from Remodelista

• The Off-the-Grid Riverside Cabin, Rental Edition
• Current Obsessions: A View of One's Own
• Macramé Revisted: Cafe Gratitude in Downtown LA