Kitchen: Space-Saving Dish Racks

January 27, 2011, 6:30 am

≫ Next: Lighting: New Jelly Mould Lights from Re-Found Objects in the UK

≪ Previous: Storage: Kitchens Under the Stairs

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A roundup of solutions for freeing up counter space (especially important in urban kitchens).

Above: Red Dishrack in stainless steel from Terence Conran's Well Considered Collection; $36 at the Conran Shop.

Above: Tse & Tse in Paris offers the medium Wall-Mounted Steel Plate Rack (shown above L; it's also available in a small and a large size) for €283. In the US, the medium Wall-Mounted Plate Rack can be special ordered from Horne for $415); contact Horne at (877) 404-6763 for more information.

Above: A well-priced wall-mounted option from Ikea is the aluminum Asker Dish Drainer; $29.99.

Above: The Wall-Mounted Dish Rack from UK kitchen shop David Mellor is made of beech with birch dowels; £58 for the smaller size (50 centimeters wide, 44.5 centimeters high) and £72 for the larger (82 centimeters wide, 44.5 centimeters wide). In the US, Iowa-based Woodform makes a similar style Plate Rack that accommodates a dozen plates; $80 at Stacks and Stacks.

Above: The Polder Compact Stainless-Steel Dish Rack measures 14 inches long and 6.5 inches wide; $19.53 at Amazon.

Above: Danish company Kingfisher offers the Stainless Dish Rack in a range of colors (including turquoise, red, and white; go to Kingfisher for retailers.

Above: The stainless steel Ordning Dish Drainer measures 20 inches long and 11 inches high and is $19.99 at Ikea.

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Lighting: New Jelly Mould Lights from Re-Found Objects in the UK

January 27, 2011, 8:30 am

≫ Next: Shopper's Diary: Dille & Kamille in Bruges

≪ Previous: Kitchen: Space-Saving Dish Racks

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We like this updated take on the traditional jelly mould light: the New Jelly Mould Light from Re-Found Objects in Northumberland comes with jelly mould roses and one meter of silk flex.

Above (L to R): Ancoa, Biella, Roma, and Verona, all £48 (except Roma, which is £68).

Above: The lights come with silver-colored flex cord.

Shopper's Diary: Dille & Kamille in Bruges

January 27, 2011, 11:08 am

≫ Next: Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Room National in Antwerp

≪ Previous: Lighting: New Jelly Mould Lights from Re-Found Objects in the UK

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Our friend Dale Saylor, a NY-based designer, clued us in to Belgian store Dille & Kamille, which he discovered on a recent trip. "Home gadget/tool shop Dille & Kamille is Belgium's version of a hardware/kitchen store—utilitarian stuff for the home—but being Belgium, everything is beautiful. We bought linens, bowls, tons of wooden spoons. Nothing was very expensive. They have stores all over Belgium and the Netherlands—all are well worth checking out." There's an online shop as well; go to Dille & Kamille to browse the wares.

N.B. If you've discovered a housewares or home design shop you think we should know about, please drop us a line at Remodelista.

Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Room National in Antwerp

January 27, 2011, 1:30 pm

≫ Next: Designer Visit: Anouk B in the Netherlands

≪ Previous: Shopper's Diary: Dille & Kamille in Bruges

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Located in the heart of Antwerp, next door to a 19th century building that houses Antwerp's Fashion Museum, Room National was created by two fashion designing sisters, Violetta and Vera Pepa, who had their own clothing store on the ground floor. They have since moved on, but the three suites they designed in this small B & B remain. Each unit has a theme: O1 is a white tableau, 69 is the smallest and is decked out in gold, while 70 is a homage to that decade. For further information, visit Room National.

Above three photos: Room 01 is a suite entirely done up in white.

Above two photos: Room 70 features dark gray accents.

Above: Room 69 is an homage to the disco era.

Designer Visit: Anouk B in the Netherlands

January 28, 2011, 3:45 am

≫ Next: Giveaway: Last Call to Win $3,000 Environment Dresser

≪ Previous: Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Room National in Antwerp

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Discovered on Emma's Design Blogg (and seen again on Vosges Paris): the work of Netherlands stylist Anouk B., we especially like this pristine white space punctuated by touches of dark (the linen window shades, the doors painted black). Go to Anouk B. to see more.

Giveaway: Last Call to Win $3,000 Environment Dresser

January 28, 2011, 6:15 am

≫ Next: Tabletop: New Duncan Carafe at DWR

≪ Previous: Designer Visit: Anouk B in the Netherlands

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Deadline reminder: January 31 is the last day to enter to win a $3,000 Curve Dresser from LA-based Environment Furniture. Included in Time Magazine's 2009 Green Design 100 issue, Environment's motto is "Create beauty, respect the planet." The company uses materials like vintage military canvas, exotic wood beams salvaged from the maritime shipping industry, and responsibly harvested plantation mahogany in its sleek-lined pieces (fans include Hollywood eco boosters like Leonardo DiCaprio and Julia Roberts).

Environment is offering Remodelista readers an opportunity to win a Curve Dresser made from reclaimed Peroba Rosa (a warm, honey-colored Brazilian wood) with elegant bronze pulls. To register, go to Environment; all entries must be received by January 31, 2011.

Tabletop: New Duncan Carafe at DWR

January 28, 2011, 8:30 am

≫ Next: Storage: Birch Storage Boxes at CB2

≪ Previous: Giveaway: Last Call to Win $3,000 Environment Dresser

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A recent addition to Design Within Reach's barware offerings: the Duncan Carafe, mouth-blown of lead-free glass; $50 at DWR.

Storage: Birch Storage Boxes at CB2

January 28, 2011, 11:00 am

≫ Next: Design Sleuth: Lalanne-Style Sheep as Decor

≪ Previous: Tabletop: New Duncan Carafe at DWR

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We like the Scandinavian vibe of these Birch Storage Boxes at CB2; $29.95 for set of four. The wood boxes are flex envelope-style in a wrap of natural birch veneer with solid pine sides and feature a wood button and elastic loop.

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Design Sleuth: Lalanne-Style Sheep as Decor

January 28, 2011, 1:00 pm

≫ Next: Design Sleuth: Lalannes-Style Sheep as Decor

≪ Previous: Storage: Birch Storage Boxes at CB2

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Especially appealing during the long, dark winter months: sheep sculptures and stools as decor. Northern Europeans have been making life-size sheep toys for children for decades, which work well in both adult and children spaces. On another level altogether, the sheep sculptures of famed French surrealists François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne are favored by design luminaries like Marc Jacobs and Reed Krakoff and fetch tens of thousands of dollars at auction (read a short history of the work of Les Lalannes in the NY Times). Here are a couple of sourcing ideas.

Above: Photo via the Living Agency.

Above: The handcrafted sheep stools by Hans-Peter Krafft for German toy company Meier are made of wood covered with sheepskin and feature leather ears and glass eyes; the Madonna Sheep (31.5 inches high) is $1,200 at Moss in New York. The Krafft Sheep can also be found at 14feet in Healdsburg, California.

Above: German toy company Hansa makes nearly life-size sheep; the Hansa Ride-On Sheep is 36 inches tall and is made from hand-sewn leather and sheepskin, with a lightweight steel frame; $395 at Pucci Manuli.

Above: Whimsical Rocking Sheep by Danish designer Povl Kjer is made of varnished pine with lambskin and can be sourced from Mjolk in Toronto for CA$550. The sheep are available with white, dark brown, bright pink, or bright green lambskin.

Above: Made by hand on the Isle of Wight, Sheep Stools by Sam Brown feature New Zealand sheep seats with wood bases; prices start at £275 at Leigh Harmer in the UK.

Design Sleuth: Lalannes-Style Sheep as Decor

January 28, 2011, 1:00 pm

≫ Next: Office Visit: Q & A with Commune in LA

≪ Previous: Design Sleuth: Lalanne-Style Sheep as Decor

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Especially appealing during the long, dark winter months: sheep sculptures and stools as decor. Northern Europeans have been making life-size sheep toys for children for decades, which work well in both adult and children spaces. On another level altogether, the sheep sculptures of famed French surrealists François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne are favored by design luminaries like Marc Jacobs and Reed Krakoff and fetch tens of thousands of dollars at auction (read a short history of the work of Les Lalannes in the NY Times). Here are a couple of sourcing ideas.

Above: Photo via the Living Agency.

Above: The handcrafted sheep stools by Hans-Peter Krafft for German toy company Meier are made of wood covered with sheepskin and feature leather ears and glass eyes; the Madonna Sheep (31.5 inches high) is $1,200 at Moss in New York. The Krafft Sheep can also be found at 14feet in Healdsburg, California.

Above: German toy company Hansa makes nearly life-size sheep; the Hansa Ride-On Sheep is 36 inches tall and is made from hand-sewn leather and sheepskin, with a lightweight steel frame; $395 at Pucci Manuli.

Above: Whimsical Rocking Sheep by Danish designer Povl Kjer is made of varnished pine with lambskin and can be sourced from Mjolk in Toronto for CA$550. The sheep are available with white, dark brown, bright pink, or bright green lambskin.

Above: Made by hand on the Isle of Wight, Sheep Stools by Sam Brown feature New Zealand sheep seats with wood bases; prices start at £275 at Leigh Harmer in the UK.

Office Visit: Q & A with Commune in LA

January 30, 2011, 9:20 am

≫ Next: Designer Visit: Antonio Martins in Sonoma

≪ Previous: Design Sleuth: Lalannes-Style Sheep as Decor

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If you've visited the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, or the Farmshop in Brentwood, or Heath Ceramics in Los Angeles, or the retail shop at the Standard Hotel in New York, you've experienced the eclectic, edgy work of LA design firm Commune. Commune was founded in 2004 by four partners—Roman Alonso, Steven Johanknecht, Pamela Shamshiri, and Ramin Shamshiri—with varied backgrounds, who are focused on enhancing life through design. The designers come from all over the world but share a common vision and aesthetic sensibility; their interests range from chocolate (they designed a special edition of chocolates modeled after Byzantine tiles for Valerie Confections) to the work of Donald Judd. We recently had the opportunity to ask the partners a few design questions; go to Commune to see more of the firm's work.

RM: What are the most important lessons you've learned as designers?
Commune: Ask the right questions, listen carefully, and collaborate, collaborate, collaborate.

RM: When you're embarking on a project, what do you keep in mind?
Commune: The client (above, residential projects by Commune).

RM: What do you collect?
Commune: Books, ceramics, and textiles (Commune-designed linen napkins for Farmshop, shown above).

RM: What are your favorite restaurants?
Commune: The Old Axe in Venice Beach, Farmshop in Brentwood (shown above), AMMO in LA, and Asanebo in Studio City.

RM: Who are your design idols?
Commune: Peter Zumthor, Billy Haines, Rei Kawakubo, and Steve Jobs.

RM: Who would you like to have a drink with?
Commune: Never drink with your heroes.

RM: What is your dream bicycle?
Commune: A Free City Classic by Mission Bicycle Company. This bike (shown above) has the partners at Commune green with envy.

RM: Where have you traveled recently?
Commune: Collectively, we've been to Miami Beach, Paris; Portland, OR; Stockholm; Tehran; and Vals, Switzerland (above, the Therme Vals by Peter Zumthor).

RM: What do you never leave home without?
Commune: Our iPhones.

RM: What's on your wish list?
Commune: A vegetable garden and an in-house cook for our studio.

RM: Who are your favorite artists?
Commune: Donald Judd, Josef Albers, Cy Twombly, Patti Smith, Andy Warhol, Pina Bausch.

RM: What inspires you?
Commune: Travel, music, great food—the smallest detail and the greatest gesture (above, the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, CA, by Commune).

RM: What piece of furniture do you covet?
Commune: A Frits Henningsen wingback armchair, designed in the 1930s.

RM: What are your favorite hardware items?
Commune: Wood pegs as hooks, ceramic light bulb sockets, anything by E. R. Butler (above, Totem Candle Holders in bronze or nickel, by Commune for E. R. Butler).

Designer Visit: Antonio Martins in Sonoma

January 31, 2011, 3:12 am

≫ Next: Design Sleuth: Framed Kuba Cloth as Decor

≪ Previous: Office Visit: Q & A with Commune in LA

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First spotted in California Home + Design magazine: a renovated 1937 cottage in Sonoma, with interiors designed by Brazilian-born, Swiss-schooled, San Francisco-based Antonio Martins. Martins has lived and worked in Hong Kong, Argentina, and Bangkok, and his international approach is evident throughout the interiors. "I had worked with the clients before, on their residence in the city," he says. "We started fresh on this project and kept to a budget; most of the interior furnishings are from vintage stores, flea markets (I got up at 6 am to go to the Alameda market), and pieces from Brazil, Portugal, and Asia that I've collected over the years." To see more of the designer's work, go to Antonio Martins.

Photos by Drew Kelly.

Above: Drought-resistant foliage lines the entrance path.

Above: Scott Adkins of Redwood City’s Profab Metal Design created the custom gate.

Above: Martins stripped the oak floors and stained them ebony; he commissioned the hand-forged steel fireplace surround (which is bolted to the wall and conceals the original brick fireplace) from Scott Adkins of Redwood City’s Profab Metal Design. Sliding barn doors in the hallway reference the region's agriculture history.

Above: Martins sourced the Breuer cantilevered steel tube and wicker dining chairs from 1st Dibs. The Roost Halo Chandelier is available from Velocity Art & Design.

Above: In the kitchen, Martins created an accent wall by attaching sheets of raw steel to the wall with screws.

Above: Vintage wooden silk bobbins found in a Petaluma vintage shop function as supports for the reclaimed-wood shelving in the kitchen.

Above: A vintage carpenter's work bench work table functions as bar; Martins sourced a vintage propeller for the table lamp, which was made by SF shop Dogfork Lamp Arts in San Francisco.

Above: In the bedroom, Martins sourced a pendant light fixture made from an old bullet cap from Artefact Design & Salvage in Sonoma; the hair-on-hide rug is from Brazil.

Above: A vintage metal cabinet from Big Daddy serves as linen closet; Martins found the wooden shoe molds on a trip to Lisbon.

Above: A salvaged piece of machinery with a thick marble top functions as sink base. The round Grundtal mirror is from Ikea.

Design Sleuth: Framed Kuba Cloth as Decor

January 31, 2011, 6:30 am

≫ Next: Accessories: Rope Cloche at Haus Interior

≪ Previous: Designer Visit: Antonio Martins in Sonoma

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Spotted at You Are the River: a strip of kuba cloth, displayed in a minimalist frame.

Above: Wisteria's Framed Kuba Cloth is made from woven strips of raffia cloth and measures 29 inches square; $299.

Accessories: Rope Cloche at Haus Interior

January 31, 2011, 8:30 am

≫ Next: Fabrics & Linens: Coral Stephens Handweaving in Swaziland

≪ Previous: Design Sleuth: Framed Kuba Cloth as Decor

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An appealing combination: rustic rope and clear glass. The Rope Cloche stands 12.5 inches tall and 8.5 inches in diameter; $98 at Haus Interior.

Fabrics & Linens: Coral Stephens Handweaving in Swaziland

January 31, 2011, 11:50 am

≫ Next: Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Babylonstoren in South Africa

≪ Previous: Accessories: Rope Cloche at Haus Interior

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Founded by "serene English rose" Coral Stephens in 1949, Coral Stephens Handweaving is located in Piggs Peak, Northern Swaziland. Stephens focuses mainly on mohair curtaining (she supplies many of the region's top bush lodges and is a favorite with interior designers), but also produces rugs, throws, and blankets from spun mohair, silk, cotton, and raffia. Most of her production is to order; however, her cotton and wool blankets can be purchased online from Coral Stephens.

Above: A fringed bed throw.

Above: Mixed fiber Rasta cushion made from mohair, calico, and cotton in different thicknesses.

Above: A chair covered in a cotton throw

Above: A color wheel showing available shades.

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Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Babylonstoren in South Africa

January 31, 2011, 1:54 pm

≫ Next: Steal This Look: Camp-Style Bath in South Africa

≪ Previous: Fabrics & Linens: Coral Stephens Handweaving in Swaziland

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It's never-ending winter in New York, but in South Africa summer is in full swing at the newly opened Babylonstoren, a resort in the Cape Winelands outside Franschhoek. A three-year restoration project of design doyenne Karen Roos (the former editor of Elle Decoration), Babylonstoren is a classic Cape Dutch farm dating back to 1690. Roos enlisted French landscape designer Patrice Taravella to oversee the vast gardens, which are inspired by the original Cape Town Company Gardens established by the Dutch East India Co. in the 17th century. The eight-acre formal gardens feature more than 300 varieties of edible plants, with areas devoted to fruits, vegetables, berries, indigenous plants, bees—even a prickly pear maze. Go to Babylonstoren for more information.

Above: The original Cape Dutch structures were restored over a three-year period.

Above: Roos worked with architect Trevor Thorold on the original outbuildings, which serve as guest quarters; the modern kitchens are located in glass box additions.

Above: Roos kept the furnishings sleek and chic; seating consists of Steelwood chairs and Alcove sofas by the Bouroullec brothers.

Above: The gleaming tiled baths feature traditional fixtures and fixtures.

Above: Each guest house features its own private vegetable and herb garden.

Steal This Look: Camp-Style Bath in South Africa

February 1, 2011, 3:15 am

≫ Next: DIY: Instant Wall-Mounted Soap Dish

≪ Previous: Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Babylonstoren in South Africa

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We like the Old World colonial look and feel of this bathroom, which features a classic clawfoot tub, rows of iron hooks, and a campaign chair. Recreate the look with the elements below.

Above: Clawfoot Tub, 72 inches: $1,299.95 from Vintage Tub and Bath.

Above: Recycled Jersey Bath Mat; $29 from West Elm.

Above: Dutch Coffeehouse Mirror from the Netherlands (circa 1920s); 25 inches high; $410 at Modern 50.

Above: American Standard Wall Mount Kitchen Faucet: $1622.44 from Amazon.

Above: Kraus White Round Ceramic Sink KCV-141; $128 from Faucet Direct.

Above: Lloyd Loom Belvoir Small Tea Table, handmade in the UK, is £375 from Home Interiors and is available in several finishes and with an optional glass top. In the US, Llyod Loom is represented by Beckham & Issa.

Above: Campaign Chair made from kikar wood and distressed buffalo leather; $445 at Carmel Bay Company.

Above: Black Harness Hook; iron painted black with a 6.5 inch-projection; $15 at the Hook Lady.

DIY: Instant Wall-Mounted Soap Dish

February 1, 2011, 6:30 am

≫ Next: Bedroom: New Fringed Bed Throws from Les Indiennes

≪ Previous: Steal This Look: Camp-Style Bath in South Africa

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Spotted on English ceramicist Caroline Swift's website: delicate bone china bowls mounted on black nails, a nice contrast between rough and refined.

Above: Swift's Bone China Bowls start at £44 for the small size (12.5 cm).

Bedroom: New Fringed Bed Throws from Les Indiennes

February 1, 2011, 8:30 am

≫ Next: Furniture: Splayer Sofa by Casamento at Anthropologie

≪ Previous: DIY: Instant Wall-Mounted Soap Dish

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New at Les Indiennes (in anticipation of warmer weather): Lightweight Fringe Bed Throws, currently available in three distinctive Les Indiennes prints. The hand-woven bed throws feature hand-knotted fringe at both ends and come in three sizes: twin (70 by 96 inches), full/queen (94 by 96 inches), and king (102 by 96 inches) and are priced at $166, $176, and $186, respectively.

Above: Royale Chocolate Fringe Bed Throw.

Above L: Brigitte Gray Fringe Bed Throw. Above R: Carnation Gray Fringe Bed Throw.

Furniture: Splayer Sofa by Casamento at Anthropologie

February 1, 2011, 11:30 am

≫ Next: Required Reading: Hot Afro: Interiors from South Africa

≪ Previous: Bedroom: New Fringed Bed Throws from Les Indiennes

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Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Casamento makes what they call "expressionist furniture," using natural materials like raw wool, cotton, coir, and recycled fabrics. Anthropologie currently has a couple of their pieces on offer, including the Splayer Sofa, which combines cotton, burlap, silk, and linen upholstery and features long twine ties, for a "decidedly undone" look.

Above: The Splayer Sofa is $6,498 at Anthropologie.

Above: Detailing includes twine ties and handstitched buttons.