"Last night I dreamt I was having dinner at a long table that seemed to go on forever into the forest. Trees were growing out of it and there were singing birds, flying from branch to branch."

A surreal dream for some, perhaps, but for guests (including Jean Paul Gaultier and other design luminaries) at a dinner hosted by Belgian designer Charles Kaisin’s during the Art Brussels fair (spotted in Domus), this was hardly a dream. Seated at a 36-seat table made of trees, Kaisin's guests spent an enchanted evening under the magic spell of his bird-filled forest. For those of you who fancy your own surreal forest, the tables are adaptable in width and in length to fit any room. “The table evolves with the season, as you decorate it with candles or garlands,” says Kaisin. Something tells us that turkeys do not play a big part in his vision.

Photos via Domus.

Above: The tables can be customized to specific dimensions and materials. For more information, see Charles Kaisin.

Above: Birds flew from branch to branch serenading the guests with their song.

Above: A lengthwise view of the table.

Above: La Folie de Charles, sa table et ses hôtes (The fantasy of Charles, his table, and his guests).

Above: The meal, which was divided between "terrestrial" and "spiritual" foods, was interrupted at intervals by performances of music and readings.

Above: The designer Charles Kaisin with one of his guests. Each guest donned the surrealist outfit of his or her choice.

N.B. Thinking about Thanksgiving? See 1059 back posts on Table Settings.

Some of our favorite interior spaces feature birds perched in unlikely spots (above a dining table, in a stairwell, or soaring overhead in a hallway). Here are five spaces enlivened by an avian presence:

Above L: The dining room in the Solbrinken Ordinary House by Stockholm architecture firm In Praise of Shadows. Above R: A cockatoo perched in the hallway in Aunt Stephanie's house, via Design Skool.

Above: The bar at the Hotel St. Cecilia in Austin, Texas; photo by Michael A. Muller.

Above: Birds in flight in designer Tanja Janicke's home in Helsinki, Finland; images via Bolig Magasinet.

Above: A bird surveys the scene at Bar & Co. in Helsinki, Finland, designed by Joanna Laajisto; photo by Mikko Ryhanen via Yatzer.

Above: A crow is perched in the Stockholm kitchen of Mats Gustafson (see Glamor in Stockholm); photo by Jacob Hertzell for T Magazine.

Decaying glamor with a heady mix of industrial and vintage is the look that Debra Cronin achieves in her Woollahra home, or as she describes it, "Alice in Wonderland meets The Addams Family."

When Cronin returned to her native Australia after several years in London, the onetime hair and make-up artist turned her talents to interior design, renovating a ramshackle 1885 Victorian terraced house in Sydney's leafy suburbs of Woollahra. The dilapidated building was falling apart, but Cronin has painstakingly restored the interiors, peeling back the layers, brushing the walls, and, in some cases, applying Bond Crete as a finish. The result is a mix of the unexpected (clearly embraced by Cronin), with furniture from different periods and collections of flea market finds put together to create an eclectic mix. The home serves a myriad of uses, doubling as a location venue for shoots and also as a supper club. For more details on her work, go to Debra Cronin Design.

Photography via Debra Cronin (except where noted).

Above: Another of Cronin's unexpected vignettes: against the backdrop of a multi-layered wall, a mantlepiece with a collection of silver candle holders with blue candles.

Above: Cronin is an inveterate collector of objects and loves to make groupings out of her finds, in this case tea pots. Reflected in the mirror, her "decantelier," a light fixture made from a collection of decanters.

Above: A chandelier created from glass vases hangs above the dining table. Mismatched chairs are painted black. Wine is stored in a vintage armoire.

Above: The kitchen features a collection of industrial finds. Cronin paired up with chef David Speck to create the Bite Club, a supper club with Cronin's Woollahra house as a venue.

Above: A vintage sofa-cum-daybed overlooks the garden flanked by two metal pots to create a modern take on a Victorian tableau.

Above: A collection of food covers displayed on the wall in the sun room.

Above: Cronin mixes a hide rug with hand-printed wallpaper by Deborah Bowness.

Above: A bedroom with shutters as decor on the wall.

Above: A collection of gray-painted medicine cabinets above the sink.

Above: A Victorian black fringe lampshade (L) and rustic hallway (R).

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on May 31, 2012.

We've finally come to a point in our house remodel where we are ready to install light fixtures (I never thought we would actually get there!). My husband collects angling books (more specifically, fly fishing titles) and is currently designing a library to house his obsession. Here are a few bookcase lighting options we're considering:

Above: The cast aluminum Mr. Ed Bookend by Dutch designer Roderick Vos is €198 via Functionals.

Above: Ikea also offers a budget version: Lagra Spotlight for $4.99.

Above: Tolomeo Clip Spot is $165 from Design Within Reach.

Above: Ikea Stockholm Cabinet Lighting; $19.99.

Miss'Opo Guest House, located in the center of Porto, Portugal, likes to think of itself as a home; a happy home where creativity and an interactive community are encouraged through design.

With flexibility in mind, Miss’Opo's multifunction rooms include a collection of studio guest rooms upstairs, which have played host to many a cultural activity from exhibitions to performances. Just a hunch, but we’re guessing that the café/bar, with its warm mix of midcentury industrial chic pieces, is the place to be when you next visit to Porto. For more information, see Miss'Opo.

Photography by Shanna Jones Photography via Yatzer, unless otherwise noted.

Above: Port, anyone?

Above: A bookcase filled with books gives the room a cozy and domestic feel.

Above: Exposed pipes against the rough concrete walls gives the dining room an industrial feel.

Above: A rustic wood storage unit complements the tiled bar.

Above: Potted plants add a green note to the space.

Above: The wine menu is written on the wall with chalk. Photo via Miss'Opo.

Above: The bar area is designated by a structure within the space.

Above: The globe on the reception desk represents Miss'Opo's eagerness to welcome the world to Porto.

Above: A black and white photo of a cat sets the tone in the minimalist stair hall.

Above: The bedrooms display an inventive use of materials with corrugated siding as partitions. The plywood bed frame has been built to reach from wall to wall and the mattress has been dropped in the center. The exposed end acts as convenient storage.

Above: A bookshelf becomes a dress with the inventive application of pleated curtains.

Above: A mirror with a decorative frame adds interest to the stark bathroom.

Above: One of the studio guest rooms becomes a performance space. Photo via Miss'Opo.

N.B. Planning a visit to Portugal? Have a look at our favorite places to visit in Portugal in our City Guides.

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Earlier this week, we launched our new video series, "Remodelista in Conversation with Design Innovators," featuring some of the most exciting design luminaries (architects, interior designers, artisans) working today. Today, we hear from Nilus De Matran of Nilus Designs in San Francisco; join us as we sit down for coffee with De Matran, courtesy of our friends at Starbucks, and learn what design innovations he's excited about.

De Matran studied with internationally known architect Zaha Hadid in London before moving to San Francisco; one of his first projects was Cafe deStijl, named after the Dutch art movement espousing geometric, abstract art and style as a way of life. Since then, he's designed some of the city's edgiest domestic and commercial spaces. What's he excited about? The new accessibility of 3-D printing, for one (watch our video to find out why). And let us know what design innovations you're excited about; we'd love to hear from our readers on this topic.

Above: Remodelista's Sarah Lonsdale in conversation with De Matran.

Above: A modular kitchen for Design Within Reach, designed by De Matran.

Above: Join us as we sit down for coffee with De Matran, courtesy of our friends at Starbucks.

Above: Lauren Geremia of Geremia Design in Emeryville, CA, is the visionary behind some of the Bay Area's most innovative spaces.

Above: Geremia studied painting at RISD before segueing into interior design (she got her start decorating bars and restaurants on a budget), and her inventive approach got her noticed by the local tech community. Her clients include some of the Bay Area's most happening companies—think Dropbox and Instagram—and she's done domestic interiors for leading tech innovators as well.

Above: What's Geremia most excited about? New frontiers in LED lighting, for one (watch our video to find out why).

Black is not the first color that comes to mind when planning a palette for a child's room, but we like it as an accent color in this roundup of kids bedrooms.

Above: A child's bed painted glossy black; photo via French by Design.

Above L: A black painted wall in a Brooklyn bedroom inhabited by Jenna Lyons' son; photo by Melanie Acevedo. Above R: Jan Eleni's solution to her client's son's obsession with Batman includes a spooky photo mural.

Above: A half-black wall in a boys room via A Merry Mishap.

Above: A crib painted black; photo via Boo and the Boy (L) and an eclectic bedroom also via Boo and the Boy (R)

Above: A lofted kids room with a black-painted floor via Ideas to Steal.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on October 27, 2011.

My quest for an entirely maintenance-free house plant continues, but this new vertical garden from Flora Grubb comes close:

Above: A lightweight Airplant Frame made of powder-coated aluminum won't rust, so it's suitable for indoor or outdoor use; 19 inches high by 11.5 inches wide and available from $195 from Flora Grubb.

Above: Designed by Landscape Architect Josh Rosen, the airplant frame can be removed from the wall with tillandsias still attached. Submerge the whole thing to water your air plants.

It takes a bit of daring to paint a ceiling black; if we lived in a space with lofty ceilings and intricate mouldings, we'd be tempted.

Color experts say a dark ceiling helps make a cavernous space feel more intimate; if you're not ready for a full-on noirish effect, charcoal gray is another moody shade to consider.

Above: Black floors and ceilings from 47 Park Avenue.

Above: A wood ceiling stained black in the loft of Dutch designer Paula Leen.

Above: Details are painted black on the ceiling of the Sankt Oberholz Hotel in Berlin.

Above: Anna of Door Sixteen was a trailblazer when she painted her bath ceiling black a few years ago (she used Olympic Knights Armor eggshell); "By painting the upper portion of the walls and ceiling black, I was able to give the room a greater feeling of width and space," she says.

Above: A black ceiling the bathroom of Maliin Stoor via Emma's Design Blogg.

Above: A black painted ceiling and medallion from 47 Park Avenue.

Above: An otherwise white, bright kitchen with a contrasting black ceiling in a Madrid loft; photo via Kikette.

Above: A warehouse transformed into a living space, via OWI.

Above: An antler chandelier topped with red lampshades makes a dramatic counterpoint to the black ceiling; photo via OWI.

Above: A Noguchi Akari lantern and a pitch-dark ceiling add a modern note to this dining room by the McGill Design Group.

N.B.: This post is an udpate; the original story ran on October 13, 2011.

Inspired by Shakespeare's political intrigues and passions, Dutch-born, Sausalito-based artist Hanneke Steenmetz of Studio H created a line of tiles featuring iconic images on limestone.

Steenmetz calls this group of designs the Shakespeare Collection; she's individually silkscreened five iconic images onto tumbled stone tile. The line is part of a group of work for Clé, a newly launched online gallery for artisan tile founded by Deborah Osburn, whose Hearst Castle Collection we featured last year. Each tile is $90. For more, go to Clé.

Above: A skull and crow. Each image is approximately 4 1/2 inches high or wide and is centered on a 12-inch square stone tile.

Above: The cross tile and the Venetian crest tile. The printed tile is sealed with a proprietary finish to protect the image from the elements.

Above: A crown and cross. The images can be printed in four different colors: black, white, gold, or platinum.

Explore More: Tile

Jamie Kidson's grand hacienda-style home in Oakland is possessed by a spirit. But it's not what you think.

The house was built in 1935 by a woman named Grace Bush, who was inspired by the 1917 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego (she had always longed for a Mission Revival-style home, a style popularized in Southern California in the 1930s). The Oakland house she built was a labor of love: she brought in artisans, woodworkers, and ironworkers to design details throughout the interiors. In the garden, Bush's name is spelled out in stones set in the concrete courtyard.

Jamie Kidson, co-owner of Oakland store Atomic Garden, is only the second owner of the home. When she moved in with her family, she was careful to maintain the original fixtures; everything from the dog head door handles to the celestial-themed light fixtures to the details referencing marine navigation. Kidson never met Grace Bush, but after inhabiting her home, she feels a strong connection.

For a look at Jamie's garden, see our post on Gardenista: A Simple Garden in Oakland, Chickens and Bees Included.

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Remodelista.

Above: Kidson in the formal dining room.

Above: "I love portraits," says Kidson, who has been collecting large and small format painting for years.

Above: A portrait above an antique telephone in the living room.

Above: The living room features rich red velvet sofas and dark-stained wood furniture.

Above: An original fixture (Kidson kept all the original lighting throughout the house) hangs above a leather and velvet sofa.

Above: An 18th century painting from the school of Van Dyck that fell out of the high-end auctions: "I picked it up at the second tier collections," Kidson says, "she's the grand dame of the house."

Above: The second part of the kitchen is the working kitchen, where the cooking and large refrigerator live. Former owner Bush had a live-in cook and would take her meals in the breakfast room in the morning, and dinners in the dining room.

Above: The part of the kitchen that traditionally served as the breakfast room was renovated by Kidson. The original room had a large butler pantry sep decided to open it up in order to make the kitchen functional for a family.

Above: A Shaw's Original apron sink and a traditional kitchen faucet.

Above: The breakfast room is where Kidson and her family gather for everyday meals.

Above: Family photos and drawings above the original dining nook.

Above: A clever DIY solution: long leather ties function as curtain pulls in the kitchen.

Above: A telephone nook connects the working kitchen to the hallway.

Above: Original stained glass windows filter light into the stairwell.

Above: A large antique mirror and original torch-inspired lighting in the foyer.

Above: Above the entryway is custom woodwork on the underside of the staircase. Shown here is one of two shepherd sculptures that sit next to their flock of sheep.

Above: A sock monkey sits on an antique chair along the stairwell.

Above: A half-painted chalkboard wall in Kidson's youngest daughter's room.

Above: A basement-level room that maintains its original function as an art room for Kidson's daughters. Former owner Bush designed the room like a cabin; it was where she tumbled rocks and precious stones. The house was built with lightwells on the side to bring natural light into the basement.

Above: A simple sunroom sits just off the master bedroom upstairs.

Above: An Anatolian woven rug hangs from a bed frame that is flanked by antiques: "I have a few things that are my favorite objects – you don't need a lot of furniture—it's the simple things that make me happy."

Above: Layers of textures come from Kidson's collection of antique rugs from local flea markets and eBay.

Above: Kidson preferred to maintain the original bathrooms by rechroming the mercury glass fixtures and hiring skilled plumbers to update the older pipes.

Above: A Mexican blanket covers an outdoor bench in the courtyard, just off the breakfast room.

N.B.: Like Jamie's hacienda-style home? See 70 Spanish-Inspired Homes in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

First and foremost, thinking about the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and about the looming election:

• Here are two ways to donate to victims of Sandy, courtesy of Brownstoner.

• Sarah and Julie got a preview of these quilts, on view at MARCH SF though January 7th.

Above: Admiring the house visit of Dutch knitwear designer Nanna van Blaaderen from Freunde von Freunden; photographed by Mathieu Garnier.

• We're thinking ahead: Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas.

• Christine has been contemplating Old Is New Again.

• Trying to decide if we like the design of Steve Jobs' yacht.

Above: The change in weather has us thinking about knitting; photograph by Rosa Pomar on Flickr.

• Checking out photos of Reese Witherspoon's Ojai home, currently for sale.

• Alexa has been mixing Triple Crown Blackberry Jam by Inna Jam into yogurt almost daily this week.

• Inspired by Christine's post, our friend Adam sent us these images of cats' paws in the bricks of his 1890s Arts and Crafts house. Ancestors of Mr. Finch's cat Sydney?

• For those in Austin, Texas, Synonym Journal and Domy Books is holding an event on Saturday, November 10.

Meanwhile, on Gardenista:

Above: Janet's obsessed with potting benches—guess what "10 Easy Pieces" we're going to feature next week?

Above: Michelle went to painter Duncan Hannah's new show, The Infatuationist, at Modernism in San Francisco, and admired the artist's work up close. Lost Moorings (L) is one of Hannah's series of imagined book covers. Chabrol (R) offers a compellingly intimate glimpse into strangers' lives. The exhibit runs through Dec. 21. For more, see A Painter at Home: Duncan Hannah in Manhattan.

Above: We're getting a jump on the holiday season with our Winter Gardens Pinboard. Follow us, and we'll repin one or more of your images.

Since we launched our Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory a couple of years ago, our listings have grown to include more than 150 members, including these five new architects and designers:

Above: London firm Stiff + Trevillion renovated Sam Roddick's darkly glamorous house set on the side of Hampstead Heath; see more at Architect Visit: Stiff + Trevillion in Hampstead.

Above: NYC-based Kimberly Peck Architect is a one-woman show with a diverse portfolio. She had the especially tough challenge of turning this 19th-century Catskills barn into an energy-efficient home. For Peck's own insights on the project, see The Architect is In: A Rural Barn Transformed for Modern Living.

Above: San Francisco-based Boor Bridges Architecture designed the new Dropbox office (Lauren Geremia oversaw the interior design). See more Boor Bridges work in Architect Visit: Sightglass by Boor Bridges Architecture.

Above: Rundell Associates was tasked with turning this 10,000 square foot classical building into a contemporary family home. The kitchen is an especially good example of how the thoroughly modern update still capitalizes on the home's original features. Based in London, Rundell is currently opening a second office in St. Petersburg, Russia. For another Rundell update to a period building, see Back to the Future: An Art Deco House in London.

Above: Principal Nils Finne of Seattle-based FINNE Architects was raised in Norway and the United States, and his designs reflect his Scandinavian heritage and Pacific Northwest locale. FINNE renovated this 1950s contemporary house in Seattle to capitalize on the forest views. See more of FINNE Architects' work in our image gallery.

For more inspiration from our roster of architects and designers, visit the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory.

In my starving architecture student days, I worked out that dressing in black was the best way to stretch my hard-earned summer dollars. Cheap clothes invariably looked not so cheap, everything matched, and the added bonus? I managed to pull off a nonchalant elegance (or at least I thought I did). Architecture firm Estudio BaBO shows us it’s no different when it comes to choosing a palette for a house in Patagonia.

Hired by town planners to design high-density housing without an urban feel, Estudio BaBO architects worked within a strict set of planning guidelines that dictated materials, use of color in exterior, and the angles of the roof. By staggering the three individual houses, the architects ensured that each unit enjoys the same level of natural light and garden privacy. The coup de grâce was to clad the wooden houses in black-stained cypress, giving the houses an imposing unified presence. Row housing never looked so good.

Images via Dezeen.

Above: The architects aimed to replicate the effect of the traditional houses in the area, which are painted black.

Above: From window frames to walls, the houses are all built out of wood, except the roof, which is metal.

Above: The architects, who spent time working and living in Norway, are familiar with all-wood construction.

Above: A natural finish cypress is used on the interior trims and stairs.

Above: The angles of the roof required by the planners allow equal access to light.

Above: Upstairs, bedrooms and bathroom sit beneath the slanted ceilings required by the planners. They are lined with with particle board.

Above: Each house has a private garden.

Above: The black-painted cypress wraps around the three houses uniting them into one structure.

Above: An axonometric drawing illustrates the staggered massing of the three houses.

N.B. It's no secret that we're obsessed with black houses. Want to see more? See 10 Modern Houses Gone to the Dark Side.

I've been weaving fabric for some time, but it wasn't until I took a course in basketry from a professional weaver from the Klamath River region that I understood how to weave with wood and reeds. Basketry is one of those skills that is best learned visually, so today, we're offering a video guide to weaving your own basket (in time for the holidays).

If you happen to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, the best resource for basketry materials is The Caning Shop in Berkeley, where you'll find ash wood of varying qualities, plus skilled artists who will recane your wicker chairs and more. You can weave this piece with ash strips (see measurements below) or a less-expensive Reed Splint as well. I chose to paint my basket black (inspired by Jonathan Kline's Blackash Basket for March in SF) , but you can certainly stain it or paint it a different shade.

Want to give the project a try? See my DIY video for step-by-step instructions (you'll need to source the materials outlined below).

Above: The finished basket painted in a black, high-gloss finish.

Above: The weaving process.

Above: A sharp pair of scissors is a necessity.

Here's what you need:

• 28 strips of ash wood, measuring 24 inches long and a 1/2-inch wide.
• Four longer strips of ash, measuring 60 inches (or alternatively, eight 30-inch pieces).
• Ikebana Scissors ($31.95 from Amazon), or standard gardening shears.
• High Gloss Black Paint.
• Paint Brushes; $1.15 each at Home Depot.
• A Galvanized Tub for soaking the ash wood; $17.32 from Amazon.

Additional Instructions:

• Soak the strips of ash in a tub of water for about 10 minutes prior to weaving (note: soaking time may vary, depending on the quality of the wood).
• To start, line up five strips of ash wood in one direction, and weave over-under, one at a time, with another five strips (see the video above).
• Continue weaving in an even fashion until you have 14 strips lengthwise woven with 14 strips crosswise. My basket measured 14 inches before I began to turn up the sides; this should leave you with five inches of additional length on all four sides.
• Dip your basket in the water to keep it flexible as you continue weaving; you'll need to keep the wood well-soaked (but not over-soaked) in order to turn up the sides.
• When you are ready to weave the edges, began to shape the wood by very gently folding it upwards. Take one of your four 60-inch strips and weave over-under around the edges. This is where you'll want to tightly weave the ash together (as opposed to the open weave of the basket's base).
• Keep turning and strongly manipulating your basket: this is the point when the project requires patience and perseverance.
• To finish the basket (this is my approach, but there are many different methods), tuck each excess strip under and trim with your scissors.

For more instructions and information on basketry, I recommend Willow Basketry for the Very Beginner ($19.65) and The Ultimate Basket Book ($19.95); both available through The Caning Shop and also through Amazon.

N.B.: Looking for more projects? See all of our DIY videos.

Four female designers with similar design DNA (all 2009 Design Academy Eindhoven graduates) decide to share a studio and work together under the name De Intuïtifabriek. Their first project, launched at DMY Berlin, was to combine their individual already existing works into a "Metropolis" of tableware where “vases become buildings, flowers become bridges, bowls become valleys, and spoons become ladders.”

N.B. De Intuïtifabriek recently launched their first collection of slipcast porcelain cups, bowl, and plates at the 2012 Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven; go to De Intuïtifabriek for more information.

Photography by Ine van den Elsen.

Above: The members of De Intuïtiefabriek (L to R); Amba Molly, Carolina Wilcke, Eefiene Bolhuis, and Eva Gevaert.

Above: "We create a pure, precise, and almost fragile feeling, taking the observer into a beautiful new world," the designers say.

Above: "Materials and techniques are a great source of inspiration to us. Designing is all about craftsmanship, the touch of material, and the actual act of making things."

Above: "Our aim is to create perfectly crafted products, from which you can feel the love with which they were made," the designers say.

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Above: Metropolis, a brave new world spread across a landscape of concrete pavement.

N.B. For more tableware ideas, see 267 backposts of Ceramics.

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What's the key to throwing a party with ease? We believe it's having all the essentials stocked and ready. With the holidays approaching, we partnered with our friends at Dyson to bring you these five simple ways to get prepared for the uncoming entertaining season, from cleaning tools to DIY decor.

Above: Add some festive glimmer to your party space by wrapping a large object with holiday string lights. Above L: As seen on Annaleena's Hem, a silvery branch is instantly illuminated. Above R: A gold mirror is glows, as seen on Olof Jakobina. To recreate the look, consider the Starry String Lights; $15 at Restoration Hardware.

Above: Make drinks easily available by setting up a designated bar area with the necessary acoutrements and ice. This Stainless Steel Shiny Ice Bucket will add a glamorous note to any party space; $34.95 at CB2.

Above: If you entertain frequently, consider investing in an extra supply of simple dishes. It's more economical than renting and will ensure you'll have an ample supply in case unexpected guests arrive. The white Caterer's 12-Piece Dinnerware Set includes a dozen dinner plates; $49 from Pottery Barn. For stemware, consider the All-Purpose Wine Glasses from Sur La Table, which can be used for both red and white wines; $39.99 for a set of 12.

Above: It's likely that you'll need some additional seating to accommodate all of your guests. For a quick fix, opt for neutral foldaway chairs that can be taken out and stored according to your needs. The Italian-made Alston Buiani Folding Chair comes in a natural finish; $99 for a set of four from Chairs Fun Store. Another option is the Beechwood Folding Chair, which comes with a festive green half linen seat and back; €98 from Manufactum.

Above: With any party comes the cleanup; keep a few cotton towels handy to wipe up spills and crumbs. The Provencal style Classic Dishtowel is made of natural material sourced in the US; $14 at Raw Materials Design. To avoid stains when serving dishes, consider the classic French Waiter's Apron; $38 at Raw Materials Design.

N.B.: For more ideas on entertaining, see 5 Favorites: Industrial Bar Carts and 10 Easy Pieces: Entertaining Essentials.

Copenhagen restaurant Noma gets a subtle makeover (or maybe we should say makeunder); Danish designers Space Copenhagen have given the interiors a moodier look, with a palette that edges toward black and white.

The renovation took place while the Noma team was in London for the Olympics, so the designers had exactly three weeks to rework the interiors. By introducing new pieces from J.L Molller and a new custom-designed Ren chair and sofa (part of a new collection for Stellarworks), Space moved the look of the interiors "1,000 kilometers north," as owner Rene Redzepi says.

N.B. Go to Restaurant Visit: Noma in Copenhagen to see the restaurant's previous incarnation.

Above: Space introduced new chairs and tables of their own design.

Above: The designers aimed to "protect the honest, earthy feel of the restaurant."

Above: Rough-hewn beams contrast with the new sleek counters and surfaces.

Above: A new pale oak floor runs throughout the restaurant.

Above: Fur pelts and dark fabric drapes provide a softening element.

Above: The understated decor in the dining room allows the food to take center stage.

Above: Reservations must be booked months in advance; flaming torches signify that this will be no ordinary dining experience.

Drawing on the heritage of the surrounding Hudson Valley, Rhinebeck-based Sawkille Co. creates a line of handmade furniture they describe as Rural American Design.

We just got word of the latest additions to their line of enduring modern classics. For information on ordering, contact Sawkille Co. directly.

Above: The Rabbit Bench, Sawkille Co's first backed bench, is made from oxidized cherry with a hand-rubbed oil finish; $3,200.

Above: The Senate Chair boasts a generous and comfortable seat. The seat is 18 inches high and can be used as a dining chair or at a desk; $1,800.

Above: The Senate Chair is Sawkille Co's first arm chair.

Above: The Spindle Table is made from oxidized cherry with a hand-rubbed oil finish. The design is an expansion of Sawkille Co's popular three leg stools; it comes in two heights: the High Spindle Table is $3,100 and the Low Spindle Table is $2,400.

Above: The Low Back Rabbit Chair is a new rendition of what has become a signature Sawkille piece. Here it's shown in solid maple with a blue dye treatment for $1,300.

View more Furniture.

We felt it was appropriate to start off our gift guides by focusing on the caffeinated individual, as holiday preparations require full vigilance.

We have something for the drip coffee devotees, espresso lovers, and siphon coffee fanatics on your list this year.

N.B.: To make sure we've got everyone on your list covered, we're running a new gift guide every weekday from now until Christmas. You can see all of our gift guides to date in our House Gifts section.

Above: Spotted at Bar Jules in San Francisco, the Frieling Polished Stainless Steel French Press has a double-wall construction to keep coffee and hot drinks warm after brewing; $79.95 for the 23-ounce and $94.95 for the 42-ounce from Amazon.

Above: The Hoganas Keramik Coffee Mug with Wooden Saucer is made of stoneware and available in five different colors for £12.95 from The Lollipop Shoppe.

Above: Popularized in the US in the 1960s, the siphon brewing method has made a recent comeback. The Hario Siphon Set is sized for two servings (about 14 ounces of coffee) and includes the stand, filter, bamboo paddle, and Yama bunson burner; $161.99 from Amazon and also available at Blue Bottle Coffee. For more siphon coffee, see our recent post on 5 Favorites: Siphon Coffee Brewers for the Cogniscenti.

Above: The Espresso Maker, at Manufactum in Germany, is made with a stainless steel filter and water holder and porcelain pot. The design boasts thermal and hygienic advantages and the espresso stays hot for longer due to the porcelain's insulation; £72.