New at Brook Farm General Store: the Teak Cutlery Set, featuring rounded handles combined with stainless; a five-piece place setting is $55 at Brook Farm General Store.
Tabletop: Teak Cutlery Set
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Design Sleuth: Wicker Bull Heads
Experiencing antler fatigue? Consider a wall-mounted wicker bull head, as seen in the Danish summer house of Cristina Olsen and Bjorn Bunch, via the Guardian.
Above: In the UK, Abode Living stocks similar wicker Bulls Heads, handwoven in Portugal; the small size is £65 and the larger is £115 (Abode also offers wicker Deer Heads).
Above: Ballard Designs' handmade wicker Bull Heads are based on originals from the south of France; the Small Bull Head is available in black or honey wicker as well as seagrass for $49 and the Large Bull Head is available in natural or honey wicker for $99.
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10 Easy Pieces: Kitchen Flooring
For this installment of Ten Easy Pieces, we consulted the experts—architects from the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory—for their top kitchen flooring picks. Have an experience you'd like to share? Please let us know in the comments section below.
WOOD
Wood is an obvious choice for its timeless, classic look; it's also easier on the feet than stone or tile.
Above: Jennifer Weiss of San Francisco's J. Weiss Design chose to stain the floors in this kitchen remodel. "I love that adjusting the stain can make a wood floor seem more—or less—dramatic and modern," says Weiss.
Above: In this beach house, Celeste Robbins of Robbins Architecture in Illinois used an engineered wood floor by DuChateau Floors, which comes prefinished in a driftwood color with a hard wax-oiled finish.
Above: When it comes to remodels, Jonathan Feldman of Feldman Architecture in San Francisco likes to match the kitchen floor with the flooring in the rest of the house. "When we are retaining the existing floors in a house, we stain both the original surfaces and any newly installed floors the same shade to unify the palette."
Above: For remodels of historic homes in San Antonio, Texas, Jim Poteet of Poteet Architects favors salvaged local longleaf pine, "which holds up well to kitchen traffic."
CORK
A renewable material, cork provides a springy cushioned surface (important if you're standing for long periods of time). Modern cork flooring is sealed against water, so it is no longer uncommon to see it in the kitchen.
Above: Celeste Robbins of Robbins Architecture favors 12-by-12-inch cork tiles from Expanko in traditional dark. "Lighter colors fade too much if the room gets much direct sunlight."
Above: Cork flooring is a favorite of San Francisco's Butler Armsden Architects; they favor 1-by-3-foot cork tiles from Globus Cork or Wicanders.
Above: In modern homes with concrete floors, Jonathan Feldman occasionally will switch to Versacork penny tiles in the kitchen. "When we use a cork mosaic, we make sure that the grout color matches the color of the concrete floor in the rest of the house. That way, the seam between the cork floor and the concrete floor disappears."
STONE/CONCRETE
Above: "Polished concrete—with no added color—makes a great low-maintenance kitchen floor," says Jim Poteet of Poteet Architects. In loft interiors, Poteet likes to polish the concrete floor of the entire space to a reflective sheen.
Above: Matte honed concrete is a favorite kitchen flooring surface of San Francisco-based CCS Architecture's kitchens.
Above: Butler Armsden Architects favor stone for its natural elegance; one favorite is black slate. "We like to use stone slab or tiles in the kitchen," says the firm's Caitlin Stuart.
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Kitchen: Built-In Paper Towel Holder
Here's a genius idea from Southern Living Magazine: remove a drawer and fit the recessed space with a wooden dowel (store spare rolls to the rear of the cubby).
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Domestic Science: Westco Kickmaster Trash Can at Williams-Sonoma
Currently coveting: the Wesco Kickmaster Trash Can, newly available in the US at Williams-Sonoma. Made in Germany of powder-coated sheet steel, the can features a retro profile and is outfitted with a step-pedal opening mechanism and recessed side handles.
Above: The Westco Kickmaster Trash Can is available in white, gray, or red for $279.95 at Williams-Sonoma
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Domestic Science: Wesco Kickmaster Trash Can at Williams-Sonoma
Currently coveting: the Wesco Kickmaster Trash Can (made by a German company founded in 1867), newly available in the US at Williams-Sonoma. Made of powder-coated sheet steel, the can features a retro profile and is outfitted with a step-pedal opening mechanism and recessed side handles.
Above: The Westco Kickmaster Trash Can is available in white, gray, or red for $279.95 at Williams-Sonoma
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Kitchen: Scandinavian Iron Spice Grinder from Canoe
At a recent dinner party, I observed our hostess grind spices using a fascinating iron spice grinder. A little sleuthing turned up the Cast Iron Spice Grinder, crafted by the last remaining iron foundry in Scandinavia and available from Canoe in Portland, Oregon. Small in size (only 3 inches high) but weighty, it is quite the industrial object and makes a satisfyingly noisy grinding sound. You simply put whole spices into the lower chamber and grind them by twisting the upper chamber. The top then functions as the dispenser, with a natural cork lid to keep the contents fresh.
Above: The Cast Iron Spice Grinder is $65 from Canoe.
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Accessories: Sibella Court for Anthropologie
The brilliant Australian stylist Sibella Court has collaborated on a line of drawer and cabinet pulls for Anthropologie, using rustic materials like jute twine and cast iron and featuring her trademark vintage mod style. To see the full line of offerings (including iron nails, metal clips, and wood clothespins), go to Sibella Court at Anthropology.
Above: The Pliant Rope Handle consists of a 7-inch length of knotted jute twine that attach to a drawer or cabinet with two sturdy bolts; $12 at Anthropologie.
Above: Rectangular Luggage Drawer Pull; $6 at Anthropologie (the Round Luggage Drawer Pull is also available for $6).
Above: Library Pull of cast iron with a copper finish; $8 at Anthropologie.
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Architect Visit: Orchard House by Nachazel Architects in Czechoslovaia
Spotted on Arch Daily, the Orchard House in Czechoslovakia by Nacházel Architects speaks to our desires to live more simply (who wouldn't want to escape to this tranquil farmhouse)? The architects reclaimed the structure for a vacation retreat, retaining its original stone/brick walls and painting the exterior a uniform white; inside, they covered the stone walls in white stucco and added a ceiling of birch plywood and sliding partitions, creating a more modern arrangement. To see more, go to Nacházel Architects.
Photography by Jakub Vlček.
Above: The architects painted the rough stone/brick facade white and added new windows and doors.
Above: The architects describe their design philosophy thus: "A walk through the house becomes a tour through the family life; this idea is supported by a different use of material in almost every section."
Above: Inside, the house is organized around a single long corridor.
Above: Sliding doors add a sense of flexibility.
Above: Birch plywood walls are used as partitions.
Above: The clean white tiled bath is utterly straightforward.
Above: The concrete slab floor extends outside to create a simple patio area.
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Architect Visit: Orchard House by Nachazel Architects
Spotted on Arch Daily, the Orchard House in the Czech Republic by Nacházel Architects speaks to our desires to live more simply (who wouldn't want to escape to this tranquil farmhouse)? The architects reclaimed the structure for a vacation retreat, retaining its original stone/brick walls and painting the exterior a uniform white; inside, they covered the stone walls in white stucco and added a ceiling of birch plywood and sliding partitions, creating a more modern arrangement. To see more, go to Nacházel Architects.
Photography by Jakub Vlček.
Above: The architects painted the rough stone/brick facade white and added new windows and doors.
Above: The architects describe their design philosophy thus: "A walk through the house becomes a tour through the family life; this idea is supported by a different use of material in almost every section."
Above: Inside, the house is organized around a single long corridor.
Above: Sliding doors add a sense of flexibility.
Above: Birch plywood walls are used as partitions.
Above: The clean white tiled bath is utterly straightforward.
Above: The concrete slab floor extends outside to create a simple patio area.
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Bath: High/Low Campaign-Style Bath Mirror
Spotted on Danish company Gubi's site (worth a visit to see the exceptional staging and styling): the classic leather campaign mirror from Art Deco master Jacques Adnet, used in a white tiled bath. Here are two options: high and low.
Above: Gubi has just reissued the Adnet Mirror; it's available in several sizes and finishes; prices start at €499.
Above: The Round Leather Mirror starts at $362 for the small size at 17th and Riggs.
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Walls, Windows & Floors: Phenomenon Tiles by Tokujin Yoshioka for Mutina
Before opening his own studio in 2000, Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka designed many of Issey Miyake's shop interiors and displays. Yoshioka recently collaborated with Italian tile maker Mutina to create a line called Phenomenon, with a goal of bringing "the sensation of beauty and form of nature into design." The tiles, named Snow, Rain, Rock, and Honeycomb for their sources of inspiration, feature subtle textures and patterns derived from nature (honeycombs, snow crystals, icicle formations, and plant cells). For more information, go to Mutina.
Above: Phenomenon Honeycomb tiles.
Above: A closer look at Phenomenon Honeycomb.
Above: Phenomenon Rock tiles.
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Design Sleuth: Glass Wall Vase by Sarah Winward
An answer to the perennial question of what to hang over the bed (and for city dwellers, how to integrate a bit of nature into urban life): a wall-hung vase with a few branches of whatever is growing in the garden or is on offer at the greengrocers, via Sarah Windward of Honey of a Thousand Flowers.
Above two photos via Sarah Windward of Honey of a Thousand Flowers.
Above: The Wall-Mounted Teardrop Vase is $4.95 at CB2.
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Shopper's Diary: Arxe in Barcelona
Founded by Gloria Margenat in Barcelona in 2008, Arxe is a design studio focused on creating furniture and one-of-a-kind textiles for the home out of salvaged industrial materials. The principals "search across Europe to find antique furniture and old industrial materials—wood, leather, iron, steel, and textiles," which they bring back to their Barcelona warehouse to be refashioned into one-off or limited-edition pieces (such as the Double Duty Beach Towel, available at Anthropologie). To see more of the studio's work, go to Arxe; a small selection of their work is offered for sale in Barcelona at the Woki Organic Market, which the studio also designed.
Above: Arxe's small shop annex in Barcelona, located on the premises of the Woki Organic Market.
Above: Drawers made from salvaged office furniture.
Above: A wall-mountable utensil holder.
Above: Bags made from vintage flour sacks.
Above: Clipboards serve as signage in the market.
Above: The cafe seating area features shelving made from salvaged wood and factory-style lighting.
Above: Vintage metal baskets lined in reclaimed linen.
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Architect Visit: Gus Wustemann in Barcelona
Spotted on Dezeen: Swiss architect Gus Wüstemann's own apartment, located in a historic building in Barcelona. Wüstemann added modern elements to the old shell in a particularly striking way; he named the project "White Cross" for a cross-shaped addition at the back, which contains the new kitchen and bath. "It’s the feeling of not finishing, keeping it urban, and letting the process and time be visible that gives a feeling of freedom," says Wüstemann. Interesting sidenote: Wüstemann was a professional snowboarder before he took up architecture.
Photography by Bruno Helbling.
Above: The original stone walls were left intact, with their raw plaster finishes and the remnants of a plaster fresco.
Above: Cove lighting around the perimeter is a subtle but glamorous touch.
Above: The new "cross" within the shell of the building.
Above: The minimalist kitchen hides its appliances behind white cabinetry.
Above: A countertop lifts to reveal the kitchen range.
Above: The cross is further defined by a white epoxy floor.
Above: Perimeter lighting doubles as a headboard.
Above: A Bertoia stool holds a stack of bath towels.
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Walls, Windows & Floors: Tactile Wonderland Wallpaper in the UK
Founded by Rebecca Otero and Ninette van Kamp (friends who studied textile design at Central St. Martins), Tactile Wonderland is a line of sustainable fabric "wall couture": the duo's custom wall coverings pay homage to Britain's textile heritage, sometimes referencing more traditional patterns, while in other designs honoring the country's more psychedelic past. All styles are made in Britain, and are available in 30 colors and two finishes: the Sateen Range, made of woven rayon laminated onto recycled paper backing (for further texture, the Sateen Range can also be ordered with laser cut detailing), and the Paper Range, which is a combination of sustainably sourced pulp and polyester. To read more about the line, go to Design Skool.
N.B. Tactile Wonderland wall coverings are currently on view at 100 Percent Design in London, until September 25.
Above: Pala.
Above: Garis.
Above: Jalan.
Above: Deciduously Mirrored.
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Tabletop: Vintage Indian Enamelware at Layla
Our friend Alayne, proprietor of Layla in Brooklyn, has brought back a collection of vintage enamelware from her most recent trip to India. Indian merchants brought the colorful pieces back from their journeys through Europe and other parts of Asia; upon return they would etch their family names into the pieces and display them as status symbols and keepsakes. Prices range from $10 for soup spoons to $80 for basins; Layla is located at 86 Hoyt Street in Brooklyn.
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Fabrics & Linens: Raksha Bella in Berkeley
Carrie Peters of Berkeley-based Raksha Bella was a decorative painter in a former life; after a trip to India, she shifted her aesthetic focus to fabrics. Peters commissions underprivileged women in Jaipur, India, to create hand-block prints on 100 percent certified-organic cotton sateen. The company's name is also its creed; Raksha means protection in Sanskrit, and Bella is Latin for beautiful. "Raksha Bella's philosophy is to protect what is beautiful with our devotion to hand-made organic textiles," Peters says. To see the full line of offerings, go to Raksha Bella.
Above: The Peonie Duvet Cover in Beaujolais is $375 to $415, depending on size.
Above: The Svetamrita Reversible Quilt, with the Svetamrita print on top and Peonie in teak on the reverse, is $469.
Above: The king-size Peonie Duvet Cover in cress green is $415.
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Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Hotel Daniel in Paris
SPONSORED POST
The Right Bank of Paris can be—dare we say it?—a bit impersonal (the grand hotels of the arrondissment, while lovely, have a feeling of could-be-anywhereness). Travelers looking for a bit of low-key, intimate luxury near the Champs Elysees have been alighting on the 26-room Hotel Daniel for a while now, especially since the interiors were overhauled by Lebanese-born, London-based designer Tarfa Salam. The public spaces feature a comfortable Silk Road exoticism (hand-painted wallpaper featuring flowers and birds, silver trays from Turkey, silk-upholstered overstuffed sofas), while the spacious rooms and suites feature coordinating Toile de Jouy wallpapers, curtains, and bed coverings. Good to know: the Hotel Daniel is the only Relais & Chateaux property in the center of Paris; it's also part of the Mr & Mrs Smith collection of anonymously reviewed stylish boutique hotels and vacation rentals.
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Office Visit: Found Associates in London
This Notting Hill townhouse remodel by London-based Found Associates (Remodelista Directory members) involved stripping the house's interior back to a mere shell and lowering the basement floor (at one point, the architects say, one could stand in the mud at the bottom of the house and look straight up to the roof). The owner of the house happens to be Jamie Theakston, a UK media personality described by the London Times as an "aspiring interiorista"; working closely with Found, Theakston created warm, personality-filled interiors outfitted mostly with midcentury finds from eBay. To see more, go to Found Associates.
Above: The exterior of the classic five-story London terraced house retains its traditional charm.
Above: A Venini chandelier adds a romantic note in the stairwell.
Above: A series of Vladimir Tretchikoff-style 1970s portraits complement the Danish modern furniture.
Above: The floor in the basement was lowered in order to accommodate the kitchen; the rough-hewn wood cabinetry contrasts with the polished stainless steel island unit from Boffi and the concrete floors.
Above: Subway tiles emphasize the hearth-like aspect of the Aga.
Above: Commemorative royal plates purchased on eBay add a quirky decorative touch.
Above: Walls are painted pale gray wall to complement the rustic wood surfaces.
Above: Black shutters diffuse light and accent an otherwise neutral palette in the bedroom.
Above: The classic tiled bath was inspired by men's club bathrooms.
Above: In a children's room, the fireplace surround is painted the same shade as the walls, creating a seamless backdrop.
Above: Photography by Found Associates and Paul Massey for Living Etc.
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More Pages to Explore .....
