Keep your New Year's resolution with the help of a traditional bathroom scale designed by UK company Salter, the oldest manufacturer of fine scales.
Made of steel, it features a large seven-inch dial and a non-slip surface.
Above: The Salter Academy Professional Mechanical Scale is $54.99 at Amazon. (It is also available through Balineum in the UK for £65.)
Designer Ebba Thott of Sigmar creates a distinctively cosmopolitan vibe in this Victorian flat in Notting Hill.
Originally from Sweden, Thott lived in New York before settling in London ten years ago. She's the cofounder (with furniture specialist Nina Hertig) of Sigmar, an interior design consultancy and shop located on King's Road. For this project, a Victorian flat in the fashionable neighborhood of Notting Hill, Thott used a blend of Scandinavian modernism and English eclecticism in the interiors—an apt reflection of the far-flung travels of both designer and client (who is an American in London).
Photography by Petr Krejci.
Above: Thott brings an Old World feel to the entrance hall (reminiscent of those in prewar New York apartment buildings) with a traditional Thonet bench and coat hook.
Above: The floor in the entrance hall is inset with stone; the change in texture signifies arrival.
Above: Reclaimed oak floors throughout the flat introduce a relaxed warmth.
Above: A painting from the owner's contemporary art collection hangs in the hallway.
Above: Thott designed the custom shelving; the library ladder is from Sigmar.
Above: Thott used London Cloud from the Damo Collection (her own line of paints) on the lounge walls. "The green on the lampshade and cushion is a lovely pea green," Thott says. "I was inspired by the green in some of the paintings in the client's beautiful and quirky art collection and used it to tie the room together.
Above: Thott used a dark brown paint shade (Cocoa from the Damo Collection by Sigmar) for the trim and baseboard.
Above: A steel four-poster bed adds a modern note to the wallpapered bedroom.
Above: A steel bookshelf hovers against the hand-blocked Oak Leaf wallpaper by Marthe Armitage for Hamilton Weston.
Above: The bath is enlivened by an installation of Blueware tiles, patterned with photographic-negative images of pressed weeds from London streets.
Even a tiny guest bathroom can be an aesthetic oasis; case in point, this powder room in a turn-of-the-century house outside of Stockholm.
When Julia of Julias via Drömmar (Julia's White Dreams, an online shop in Sweden) and her family first moved into their home, they lived through the bone-cold winter months by wearing jackets, hats, and gloves indoors. They have slowly renovated the home, one room at a time, including this small bathroom tucked under the stairs, which is Julia's favorite place to rinse muddy boots.
Above: A potted olive tree adds a dash of green to the black and white space.
Above: A French enamel door sign (for a similar sign, see Steal This Look: Classic Shower in Finland).
Above: The porcelain sink is by Gustavsberg.
Above: Rose-scented L:a Bruket Liquid Soap is made from certified organic components and is produced in Sweden.
Above: An antique botanical poster hangs on the inside of the bathroom door.
Above: Towels hang from hand-forged nails (for something similar, see Storage: Iron Nail Hooks from Brook Farm General Store).
Above: Bathroom necessities are stored behind a striped curtain. An antique wood stool helps Julia's children reach the sink.
Above: The original wood walls contrast with the sleek new tiling.
Above: A silver bell lets Julia's children ring for assistance.
Currently coveting: unglazed organic porcelain vases by Portuguese ceramicist Paula Valentim of Otchipotchi, molded from natural stones.
Valentim was a librarian in London, until she "reviewed life and turned direction," as she says, and took up ceramics. Today, she works out of her home in a small Portuguese town.
Above: The Small Table Vase measures 2 inches wide; €12.50 each.
Above: The Large Table Vase measures four inches wide; €13.20.
Above: The Wall Vase is about 4 inches tall; €12.50 each.
Above: The vases are perfect for displaying delicate arrangements.
Textile artist Sally England takes macramé to a new level with her hand-knotted ceiling-to-floor hangings.
England, who is based in Portland, Oregon, consults vintage macramé books from thrift stores for ideas; she applies techniques from the past to her own hand-knotted pieces, which have a distinctly modern appeal. England's oversized pieces can serve as room dividers, wall decor, or even as headboards (our preference). For more information, visit Sally England; her pieces can be ordered through Relish. in Portland; England also accepts private commissions.
Above: One of England's hangings makes an unexpected headboard; photo via Palace Store.
Above: England embellished this wall hanging with wooden beads; image via Sally England.
Above: A wall hanging on view at Relish in Portland.
I've been having a moment with leather laces, using them in all sorts of ways: as Christmas present ties, napkin rings, drawer pulls, and now the latest iteration, shower curtain rings.
I am forever tinkering with my home, making small edits along the way; since my guest bath is almost entirely white (tiles, walls, fixtures), I added texture and a bit of color to the space by replacing the standard chrome curtain rings with leather ties.
Above: You can source leather laces at your local hardware store, or order online (Tandy Rawhide Lace is $19.99 for a 20-yard spool at Amazon). Since the shower is rarely used, I haven't run into any problems with leather dye running onto the shower curtain, but I would probably not use the ties in a heavily used shower. I replaced the standard rings with 16-inch lengths of leather cord, knotted together.
Above: Source a Sturdy Duck Shower Curtain ($36.99) from Amazon.
Morning regulars on the No. 2 subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan just may spot Stephanie Housely drawing designs for her embroidered textile company, Coral & Tusk.
A sledding hedgehog, a fox in striped socks, and other storybook creatures are her embellishments for pillows, dish towels, housewares, and kids' accessories. Housely co-owns the company with husband Chris Lacinak, and much of the goods are produced right in the couple's Prospect Heights apartment in Brooklyn using a high-tech embroidery machine. The handmade effect, however, is very much preserved, thanks to Stephanie's careful stitch-by-stitch programming—which happens late at night, after those fruitful subway sessions.
Above: Coral & Tusk's Very Hungry Whale Pillow ($80) and Ship in a Bottle Pillow ($80).
Above: Tied Artwork features embroidery on cotton; $30 unframed ($70 framed).
Above: Arrows Artwork ($40 unframed, $80 framed) sits above a collection of pillows: Large Feathers Pillow ($80), Vulpine Pillow ($70), and Small Feathers Pillow ($80).
Our friend Elizabeth Roberts recently clued us in to her favorite winter escape: Hix Island House, a wabi-sabi, eco-friendly hotel in Vieques. Here's her account:
"Designed by Toronto-based architect John Hix, the Hix Island House is a perfect blank slate for viewing the surrounding nature; the contrast of the rugged, natural landscape with the geometric forms of the hotel is simply lovely. Until recently, Vieques (a small island off the east coast of mainland Puerto Rico) was a US Navy testing site for bombs and missiles; now, the beaches are wildlife refuges. I suggest renting a jeep to explore the undeveloped beaches that surround the island; the bioluminescent bays and the beaches are a must."
For more information, go to Hix Island House.
Above: The hotel is set on a verdant 13-acre parcel; image via Luxist.
Above: "The buildings are made of block and reinforced concrete and surfaced with plaster; the exteriors are clad in chain-link fencing, which allows vines to climb up the sides of the buildings," says Roberts.
Above: "The bedrooms feature Marimekko bed linens and custom furniture."
Above: "There is no need for air conditioning or heat—the concrete radiates the sun's warmth during the night and the winds keep the rooms feeling cool and practically bug-free. I especially love sitting on the room's private terrace at dusk and listening to the transition from bird calls to insects and frogs after the sun sets."
Above: "Each room has its own kitchen; it's a nice change to cook simple meals while on vacation. I might stop for a few provisions at one of the bodegas on my way to or from the beach, but aside from that, there's no need to shop."
Above: "The windows are free of glass and are situated to align with the prevailing winds and the sun's path of travel."
Above: "The hotel's cotton robes are available for purchase; when it's snowing and miserably cold in New York, we're reminded of tropical evenings spent on the hammock at Hix."
Above: "Among the many design details I admire: The custom wood furniture. I love the contrast of the rough-hewn, natural wood against the smooth, polished concrete."
Above: "Early-morning yoga in the open studio is a good way to start the day, followed by an outdoor shower."
Above: "The simple modernist pool is defined by a slab concrete wall."
Sometimes a tangled web is a good thing, as in these knotted macrame installations spotted recently, which feature an appealing spontaneity.
Above: A macrame installation by Smalltown at Avido Restaurant and Wine Garden in Australia.
Above: Smalltown used double-braid polyester for the installation.
Above: A macrame installation by SL Design for the Postcard Inn in Florida.
Above: A knotted rope curtain at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs by Michael Schmidt Studios. For another approach to macrame as decor, see Macrame by Sally England in Portland, Oregon.
Noticed (and admired) recently: carved stone sinks that function as sculpture.
Above: A polished marble cube in a house by Italian architect Maurizio Belli, with interiors by Domenico Mula. Photo by Gianni Basso via Kikette.
Above: A sink in a duplex designed by Paris-based architect Antonio Virga.
Above: A cylindrical sink in the Hotel Americano.
Above: We like the juxtaposition of the square and oval in a bath by UK architect Gavin Jackson; photo by Simon Watson.
Above: A large double sink from Italian architect Arturo Montanelli.
A perennial issue: How to incorporate the unglamorous toilet brush holder into an otherwise stylish bath. Here are three we like:
Above: For three generations, the German company Redecker has been making brushes and household items out of natural materials: the Redecker Toilet Brush features an oiled-beech handle and plant-fiber bristles and the Redecker WC Toilet Brush Holder is made of galvanized metal. They are available only in Germany; go to Redecker for ordering information.
Above: Iris Hantverk's brushes are handmade in Sweden by the visually impaired. The Round Bath Brush is made with horsehair, £12.50; and the Loo Brush comes with a small concrete pot, £34.95.
Above: Julie and I are fans of UK company Labour and Wait's Toilet Brush and Holder; £18.
Things have come a long way since the oldest Finnish saunas, which date back hundreds of years and were essentially holes dug into the ground. Here is a roundup of inviting saunas worldwide.
Above: In Montreal, Bota Bota is an old ferryboat from the 1950s that Sid Lee Architecture renovated into a Scandinavian spa.
Above: “Our team set out to re-create an environment reminiscent of an ocean-liner voyage, even though the ship would remain at dock, contemplating the Montreal skyline and the river,” says project design architect Jean Pelland of Sid Lee Architecture.
Above: Sauna in Wingårdhs Mill House in Västra Karup, Sweden.
Above: Klafs Sauna in Hotel Cervo Zermatt in Switzerland.
Above: The sauna at the Herb House Spa at the Limewood Hotel in Hampshire, England.
Above: Six Senses Spas at Hotel Arts Barcelona, overlooking the Mediterranean.
Above: Salt & Sill, a floating hotel located off the west coast of Sweden, has 6 buildings, including its own sauna boat.
Above: The sauna boat is available for rent in case you want to throw a private sauna party.
Above: The sauna of a private home, located on the Stockholm archipelago, by local architects Widjedal Racki Bergerhoff.
Above: The view from within the sauna.
Above: The Floating Sauna in Norway was designed by Finnish architects Casagrande Laboratory and Rintala Eggertsson in cooperation with the Västlands Art Academy. You get to the sauna by rowboat.
Above: Simple seating made of pine.
Above: In early saunas, rocks were heated in a fireplace and water was thrown on the rocks to create steam; here, a small wood-burning stove heats things up.
Designing New York loft spaces is a whole art unto itself, and SchappacherWhite (a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory) is well-versed in making the most of this very limited, valuable square footage.
Steve Schappacher is an architect and Rhea White is an interior designer; over the last fifteen years, they've tackled some three dozen loft projects (as well as their own renovation of a fisherman's cottage; see Architect Visit: Shelter Island House by SchappacherWhite). In this case, they worked with a young family from New Zealand who had a loft in the Dietz Lantern Building, one of Tribeca's many warehouses. Schappacher and White created a very contemporary space, pulling together both sleek and rustic elements under a unified palette of black and white.
Photography by Jason Lindberg.
Above: The entrance to the loft takes you into a long hallway, with a long row of columns. The floor is white oak, sanded, bleached, and stained gray. SchappacherWhite worked with lighting company O'Lampia to customize one of their sconces for the space. To the right is a sliding door, modeled after classic loft doors, built by Gunnar Design. "When you design a large open space, you look for ways to make it private as well," says Schappacher.
Above: "I always put a dark wall in every project, they add so much depth to any room," says Rhea White. The small guest room doubles as a playroom when the grandparents aren't visiting from New Zealand; a Murphy bed is concealed behind the chalkboard wall. The white padded chair can be turned on its side and used as a bedside table. The built-in beneath the window is covered in an acoustical material from McMaster-Carr, which serves as a tack board for art projects.
Above: The floating walnut headboard is by Marsia Holzer, who also supplied a bracket system for mounting the heavy headboard.
Above: "One thing that we really worked hard to do in the kitchen and with all the rest of the cabinetry is to frame them, so they became objects in themselves," says Schappacher. "We didn't want them to be big huge built-ins, in order to retain the open feeling of the loft."
Above: For the dining room fixture, the firm worked with Roll & Hill to modify one of its existing lights, which is now in production as the Modo Chandelier, Diamond, 13 Globes. The dining room and chairs are from Soho furniture company Desiron.
Paris-based Italian architect Antonio Virga is known for his work for fashionable clients such as Chloe, Dior, and Ungaro; however, his residential projects are equally glamorous, but in an understated sort of way.
Shown below: two of Virga's Parisian apartments, both exhibiting his pared-back sensibility. Although his look is spare, Virga is keen to point out that is design is not strictly minimalist. "It's about creating what is essential," he says. "Everything has a purpose. It's a cliché, I know, but less really is more."
TURENNE APARTMENT
Above: In this Parisian apartment, Virga created an open, light-filled space; the cupboards on either side of the fireplace were an original feature that the client wished to preserve.
Above: Virga opened up the wall of the dining room and exposed an original stone wall as well as the beams ("Italians really like rustic wooden beams," he says), which he treated with to reveal the original color. The table is by Antonio Cittero and the white chairs by Eames.
Above: Metal-framed glass doors lead to the kitchen. Virga uses glass doors in his projects to create a feeling of space and fluidity between rooms.
Above: Brushed oak floors contrast with the exposed original ceiling beams.
LOFT MARTEL
Above: The Martel loft is located in a former garment factory in the 10th arrondissement. The steel-framed windows were sandblasted and repainted and the original floors were refinished.
Above: An orange rug anchors the living area, adding a dash of color to the black and white palette.
Above: The galley kitchen overlooks the dining area.
Above: Virga installed a wall of dark-stained oak cabinetry in the bedroom.
Above: A traditional double pedestal sink and tub contrast with the dark cabinetry.
Add a Gallic note to the dining table with pieces from Astier de Villatte's Tricolore line, a collaboration with French fashion house Commune de Paris. For information, go to Astier de Villatte.
Above: Astier de Villatte's Tricolore line on view at Maison & Objet in Paris.
Above: The Astier de Villatte Tricolore Tea Cup is $125 at Sue Fisher King; in Europe, the Astier de Villatte Tricolore Tea Cup is €73 from Studio Homme.
Above L: Astier de Villatte Tricolore Soup Bowl; above R: Astier de Villatte Tricolore Dessert Plate; both available from Commune de Paris.
Add instant drama to the first dinner parties of the New Year with statuesque tapers from Slowlight in Belgium.
Handmade in the company's Bruges candle factory and available in a variety of colors, Slowlight candles have a long burn time of twenty hours (as the name suggests).
Above: Pompeuse Candles, available in anthracite or champagne; a set of two are currently on sale for £23.40 at Cox & Cox. "These fascinating candles of our own design represent the halfway point between art and candle and will fit perfectly in any candlestick," according to Slowlight.
Above: Pompeuse Candles in a whole range of colors (shown here in anthracite and green) are available directly from Slowlight; €30 for a set of two.
Above: Slowlight's Cena candles are currently on sale at Barneys; a box of eight Cena Candles in Mouse is $22 (down from $54) and a box of eight Cena Candles in Anthracite is $22 (down from $54).
Admiring Australian designer Kate Stokes' organic modern Coco Pendant? We found a stand-in for a fraction of the price.
Above: The Coco Pendant, featuring a turned-ash cap with a powder-coated spun aluminum shade, is available in two sizes (and in black or white); $1,800 (15.75 inches in diameter) and $2,100 (23.5 inches in diameter) from Merchant No. 4 (see Lighting: Coco Pendant at Merchant No. 4).
Above: The Noir Pendant from CB2 is made of beech wood and powder-coated aluminum; $249.
Il Buco in Athens reminds us how refreshing the simple contrast of black and white can be.
Discovered via our Athens-based friend Lydia Chroni, the restaurant was designed by Dionisis+Kirki of Workshop and SOTOVIKIS + B. Working together, the architects created a light-filled, gallery-like space, where a collection of mismatched chairs sourced from local antiques markets function as an art installation. "The high ceilings of the neoclassical architecture and a collection of antique wooden chairs reveal traces of prewar Athens," Lydia says. "The black and white modern interior is a perfect blend of old and new—a reflection of my city."
Photography by Vassilis Makris. Images via Yatzer.
Above: The restaurant is located on the third floor of a neoclassical building in the fashionable neighborhood of Psiri.
Above: The design emphasizes the building's tall ceilings; black door trim heightens the sense of entry.
Above: Droog's 85 Lamps and drapey white gauze curtains add a soft note.
Above: Mismatched chairs (a mix of antique and midcentury) add texture and warmth.
Above: Artist and designer Dionisis Sotovikis created art for the walls by folding and twisting tracing paper.
Above: The curvaceous forms of the chairs stand out vividly in the white space.
Is there a design enthusiast out there who hasn't admired (and coveted) the Brooklyn bath of J. Crew's creative director, Jenna Lyons?
Lyons' style has been much discussed: New York Magazine calls her 1880s Park Slope townhouse a "merry (but careful) assemblage of fur throws, drooping roses, and worn staircases." Her ensuite bath, not surprisingly, features all the qualities of a well-styled outfit; she begins with an iconic foundation (basic black), then layers it with distinct pieces (antique brass fixtures, dashes of color, and a black-painted clawfoot bathtub) to personalize the space. Re-create the look with the following elements.
Above: Since the bath is ensuite, the bathtub and fixtures are significant elements in the design of the master suite.
Above: The rustic herringbone floor adds to the imperfect appeal of the space.
Above: The thermostatic brass TG Shower Column is $495 from Modern Spa.
Above: Drummonds' cast-iron Spey Tub can be ordered with a primed finish or painted with a choice of Sophie Conran paint colors; prices start at £2,825. For US sources, see 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Freestanding Bathtubs.
Above: The Solitaire Pendant by Niche Modern in smoke; $475 from Lumens.
Above: The 5-Bar Heated Towel Rail can be floor- or wall-mounted and is available in three different finishes; £1,985 from Drummonds. For US sources, see Appliances: Towel Warmers.
Above: Pitch Black No. 256 paint; $125 per gallon from Farrow & Ball.
Above: Olatz Palermo Bedding is available in Italian linen or Egyptian cotton percale and in many different colors; queen pillow sham, $220; queen duvet cover, $1,120. Read more about the line at Fabrics & Linens: Olatz in New York.
Above: Waterworks' Cotton Bath Towel in white (shown), oatmeal, or muslin; $70.
Above: The Caspian Plateau Rug is a vintage rug overdyed in red; the 4-by-6-feet size is $998 at Anthropologie.
Now that we're in the midst of winter, here are five easy ways to decorate in a seasonally appropriate way: using dried foliage.
Even though I live in California, it seems counterintuitive to accent the house with fresh flowers during the winter season (especially when there are so many lovely alternatives). Here is a roundup of some inspirational spaces that make use of leaves and branches, for arrangements that can work year-round.
Above: Branches of dried leaves hang in the hallway of Pensao Favorita, which we covered previously in Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Pensao Favorita in Portugal.
Above: A tumbleweed on the mantelpiece, from 2 or 3 Things I Know.
Above: Australian-based artist Tiel Seivl-Keever's collection of local foliage, from The Design Files.
Above: A bough suspended above the dining room at the Lloyd Hotel, which we wrote about in Hotels, Lodging & Restaurants: Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam.
Above: Silver-dollar eucalyptus displayed to great effect against a white wall, via Cupcakes and Cashmere.
