Viewed from the road in Accord, New York, a shadowy dark house is both austere and mysterious; behind the black facade is a great story.

In 1981, just a year before his death, famed ballet choreographer Eugene Loring was looking to complete his bi-coastal existence with a house in the Catskills (he was seeking a counterpoint to his white Richard Neutra modernist pavilion in California). That's when Tom Pritchard of Madderlake Designs suggested a completely abstracted wood-construction form with a controversial exterior cladding material: neoprene.

Loring wanted a house that would feel like "living in a work of art," so Pritchard pared down the design to its purest form, with no distinction between the roof and walls and without any trim or frames. The Rubber House has little separation from nature: the side exposed to the surrounding forest features floor-to-ceiling glass. Years after Loring passed away, actor Willem Defoe was attracted to the building; as he once told Architectural Digest, "One of the best features of the house is that nature has a a dialogue with it. The inside looks out, and the outside looks in."

Above: The Rubber House is located on a seven-acre parcel in Accord, New York. Photograph by Nikolas Koenig.

Above: The living room offers expansive views of the surrounding forest.

Above: An expansive window in the kitchen allows dish washers to contemplate nature (according to Dafoe, "the windows frame the landscape like a living diorama").

Above: The back of the house (L) and the double-height kitchen (R).

Above: A bedroom with Rietveld chair.

Above: A well of light illuminates the black-tiled bathroom. Photograph via Luxist.

Above: Windows in the rear of the house. Photograph via Luxist.

Above: Pritchard, who was working with a limited budget, designed the house from a wood construction that was then sheathed in plywood and coated in a gray-black neoprene sheetskin.

Above: The stark black exterior of the house mimics the energy of the winter months upstate.

Above: Filtered light from surrounding trees projects shadows on the neoprene exterior.

Above: Photograph by Nikolas Koenig.

N.B.: Looking for more shadowy houses? See 39 images of Black Houses in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

Every wonder why female legends from Cleopatra to Elizabeth I bathed in milk?

Science says that the lactic acid (a member of the AHA family) in milk breaks down the binding of dead skin cells; leaving your skin exfoliated and completely validating our proclivity to Hudson Made’s Fancy Black Soap which is made from Nubian goat milk and volcanic clay. And to think we were happy to use it for its color alone.

Above: Hudson Made's Fancy Black Soap is made from pasture-raised Nubian goat milk and mineral-rich volcanic clay from just north of the Catskill Mountains. Each bar is hand-poured and cut as well as being slow cured to ensure quality and performance; a four-ounce bar is $16.50.

Above: The Nubian goats who provide their milk for the soap.

Above: The soap's exfoliating properties are helpful to those suffering from eczema, psoriasis, and other dry skin conditions.

Above: The mineral bentonite found in volcanic clay is known to rid the body of unwanted toxins, while also naturally exfoliating the skin. The soap is good for shaving because of its foaming and soothing properties.

N.B. See 92 back posts of Soap for holiday gift giving ideas.

Casey Dzierlenga produces a line of quiet, austere pieces (her influences range from Scandinavian to Shaker) in her downtown Los Angeles woodworking studio using reclaimed dunnage wood, the cargo-protecting material used to line ships.

To see more, go to Dzierlenga F+U.

Above: The Austfonna Bleached Maple Rocker is a sparse Nordic-inspired piece that takes its name from a Scandinavian ice-cap. Hand-carved maple spindles, back, and seat, and reclaimed oak rockers; $1,400.

Above: The Shake Niskayuna Tripod Table is a Shaker-inspired three-legged side table made of reclaimed oak dunnage. The hand-carved legs pass through the table top, and are held in place with traditional wedges. The leg tops are dipped in milk paint, and the piece is finished with rubbed tung oil; $700.

Above: A side view of the Austfonna Bleached Maple Rocker.

Above: The Thunder Thunder Coffee Table is "a wilder shout-out to a traditional mid-century design. Traditional hand-cut dovetails, and carved legs. Made entirely of reclaimed black walnut. The leg plates attach to the top with brass screws. Hand-rubbed tung oil finish; $1,100.

For a while now we've been mildly obsessed with classic rope banisters, which add a nautical note to the stairwell. Here are 10 we like (covet):

N.B. Canadian House & Home offers a good DIY tutorial on making your own rope stair banister. Our favorite source for ropes is Stair Ropes, a UK company that makes made-to-measure stair ropes, banister rope, rope handrails, and barrier ropes.

Above: A simple stairway in a Rhinebeck with rope handrail, Photography by Richard Powers for Tsao & McKown Architects via Home Life. N.B. Want to recreate this look? Go to Steal This Look: Danish Modern in Upstate New York.

Above L: A stairwell in London by Remodelista Architect/Designer member Stiff + Trevillion. Above R: Black and white nautical stairs; via Laurie's Projects.

Above: A staircase in a project by Italian architect Sabrina Bignami of b-arch Studio.

Above: A curving stairwell by Vicente Wolf Associates.

Above: A clever use of rope: photo by Sean Fennessy.

Above: A stairwell wallpapered in a Les Indiennes pattern; photo via Les Indiennes.

Above L: A staircase painted in shades of blue by Jonathan Adler. Above R: Stenciled numbered stairs and a rope hand rail by Bockman + Forbes Design.

Above: A dramatic staircase in a beach house by Pursley Dixon Architecture.

Alice Ogden caned her first chair at age twelve, supported herself through college with weaving commissions, and found her perfect medium in basket making.

Today Ogden lives in rural Salisbury, New Hampshire ,where she's been making black ash baskets for more than thirty years. She sources her basket materials from nearby swamps and woods, with supplementary black ash and white oak supplied by her husband, who spends his time as a professional logger. Ogden has an eye for perfection, individually whittling handles identical to one another and refining each splint before weaving the piece together. A selection of her baskets are currently available at Studio Koto Koto; see more about her weaving process at Alice Ogden Black Ash Baskets.

Above: A round basket; for something similar, consider the rectangular Ash Lily Basket is $260 at Studio KotoKoto.

Above: A basket filled with Ogden's carved white oak basket handles.

Above: Two baskets in a hex weave pattern, the Onion Basket with Swing Handle (L) is $275 at Studio KotoKoto.

Above: Ogden at her home in Salisbury carving basket rims and handles from white oak.

N.B.: Looking for more baskets? See 279 Boxes, Baskets, and Bins in our Shop section.

When Dena Moran moved to the Hudson Valley, she had a difficult time sourcing specific ingredients she regularly cooked with. So she decided to become the resource herself and opened up Olde Hudson, a neighborhood market, charcuterie, and cheese board.

With a mix of locally grown produce and pantry goods from domestic and European sources, Moran has created a strong community in her market for the past ten years. For more information on the market and Moran's newly opened butcher shop, visit Olde Hudson.

Photography by Nicole Franzen (except where noted).

Above: The shelves are stocked with olives and a variety of oils and spices, while the deli is filled with heritage Berkshire pork pate and freshly caught fish from the Boston auctions.

Above: Potatoes, peppers, white asparagus, and Rieme blood orange soda.

Above: Locally grown red onions, garlic, and shallots are displayed in butcher paper-covered baskets.

Above: Olde Hudson is located at 421 Warren Street. Photograph via Choosing Raw.

Above: The surrounding neighborhood in Hudson.

N.B.: Looking for more shops nearby? See 33 of our favorite locations in our New York State City Guide.

Discovered on The Common Pursuit: the William Brown cabin in Roscoe, New York, a self-catering weekend retreat for urbanites available for rent.

To see more, go to The Common Pursuit or the William Brown Project.

Above: The cabin is located on 130 acres in Rosecoe, NY, with fishing and swimming ponds.

Above: A cheerful Coleman cooler provides refrigeration.

Above: The interior is lined in knotty pine.

Above: Hudson Bay blankets and sheepskin throws warm the interiors.

Above: A view of the nearby barn.

Above: A simple but functional bathroom.

Above: Plein-air showering is available.

Architects are a discerning bunch and that can make it tricky when it comes to buying them gifts (I know, I have two in my family). Here are four ideas that should pass muster.

Above: Elevating the humble nail, these Equilateral Nails are hand cast in bronze and come in a pack of four; $28 from Winsome Brave.

Above: We might be forever tapping on our iPhones, but Google calendar will never replace the Typography Calendar by Kit Hinrichs, the Holy Grail for font lovers. The 365 Typography Calendar 2013 Edition is available from DWR, the desktop version is $28 and the wall version is $48.

Above: Les Briques Lacquered are wooden lacquered brick blocks that come in the five colors shown. Perfect for desk storage; $45 each from Neo-Utility.

Above: This limited edition box set of books from London's School of Life is edited by Alain de Botton and seems to have every topic covered. As they put it: "six intelligent, rigorous, well-written self-help books, put together by some of the leading minds in the field. In these, we systematically examine some of the great issues of life: work, sex, money, emotional maturity, digital life, and changing the world." Toolkit for Life; £60 from The School of Life.

Looking for an easy DIY advent calendar? Here are a few options to consider for the Christmas countdown.

Above: A Mini Tree Advent Calendar by Oh Happy Day blog writer Jordan Ferney.

Above: Merry Mishap's blog writer Jennifer Hagler 2012 calendar contribution: A Brown Bag Calendar with numbered sheet metal tags hung on an antlers rack.

Above: A Recycled Advent Calendar made from cardboard boxes spotted on Elle Decoration South Africa.

Above: A White Paper Sack Calendar by A Merry Mishap from 2011.

Above: A branch made into an advent calendar from Flex Inredning.

Above: A Modern Christmas Calendar by Riikka via her blog Weekday Carnival. The calendar is made from plywood board, nails, printed paper, and a thin black rubber string.

N.B.: Looking for more holiday decor ideas? See our Holiday board on Pinterest.

Here at Remodelista we often joke that sliding barn doors are the crack cocaine of architectural elements: people are addicted to using them indoors and out. Here are several suggestions for exterior use in a range of materials.

Above: A renovated 19th century Michigan barn by architectural firm Northworks sports aluminum crank operated panels that slide open like traditional barn doors revealing 15-feet-tall windows.

Above: A 13-foot-wide zinc sliding door conceals a window on the side of this Renovated Shed in the Sydney suburb of Randwick designed by Richard Peters Associates.

Above: A modern sliding door hides an outdoor shower at the Otama Beach House in New Zealand by David Berridge.

Above: The large sliding doors on Hill Plain House in Metcalf, Victoria designed by Wolveridge Associates keep the searing summer heat at bay while creating a filtered internal light.

Above: Canadian architects Yiacouvakis Hamelin designed this summer retreat, NB20°5 in Canada's maritime province of New Brunswick. The cedar sliding barn doors conceal large garage doors that open up in the summer months.

Above: A Rhode Island home by architects Estes/Twombly with more traditional sliding barn doors.

Above: Interior designer Barbara Colvin's Napa Valley home with two sets of sliding barn doors leading to a courtyard.

Above: Designed by Seattle architects Bosworth Hoedemaker, these plywood clad doors slide apart on extended rails opening up this Hood Canal Boathouse to the outdoors.

Above: Traditional sliding barn doors, spotted in Architectural Digest, in this upstate New York property designed by architect Paul F. Shurtleff and interior designer Thad Hayes

Explore More: Sliding Barn Doors

Described by many, including the New York Times, as a "master woodworker," Thomas Ryan Beckman creates everything from kinetic sculptures to fine homes. But it is his collection of new American furniture for Canvas that has long been the apple of our eyes.

Beginning his career as an apprentice to a cabinet maker, Thomas Ryan Barkman further honed his skills and artistry under the tutelage of Rosanne Somerson of RISD as well as woodworker Matthias Pleisnig at the Haystack Mountain School. Since then he has gone on to prestigious collaborations with other artists and brands, including an exclusive collection for Canvas.

Streamlined and modern, Barkman's pieces none-the-less pay homage to early American design. In keeping with Canvas' sustainable mission, the collection is all made from local and recycled materials—including pieces of the New York Skyline.

Above: Sleek and contemporary, yet with an old-world soul, Barkman's White Cedar Table and Bench are made from pieces of New York water towers that Thomas salvaged himself; $2,850. Contact Canvas for availability.

Above: Fashioned from rough-sawn pine, Canvas' Shelter Island Bench is a new modern classic; $790.

Above: An homage to Shaker style, Barkman's Four-Post Bed is available in white wash or sumi black finish; a queen is $2,950 and king is $3,250.

Above: Made from solid pine, the Corkscrew Collection features adjustable seats and table tops; the bistro table is $695, and the side table is $540. Contact Thomas Ryan Barkman for information about the stool.

You can see more of Barkman's furniture collection on his website.

N.B. Looking for more inspired furniture? See 643 sustainable pieces in our Furniture Section.

In late 2000, the '80s New Wave musician couple Dini Lamot and Windle Davis moved from Hollywood to the Hudson Valley. Occasionally dressing in drag and always clad in silver spikes, Lamot and Davis were drawn to a 1906 Dutch-Jacobean building by Albany architect Marcus Reynolds that, by 2000, had become an abandoned nursing home.

Lamot and Davis restored the interior of the mansion to reflect its old world, palatial nature. Bedrooms at the inn are named by their paint color and each room is lavishly outfitted with Victorian and Mission furniture, 18th century prints, and the occasional reference to Lamot and Davis' former band. Read more about the early days of the inn at The New York Timesand at The Inn at Hudson.

Photography by Nicole Franzen.

Above: The Inn at Hudson is 317 Allen Street in Hudson, New York.

Above: The downstairs sitting room is full of eclectic lighting and furniture.

Above: A look to the outdoor courtyard.

Above: The "White Room" is available for $200 per night.

Above: A private patio at the inn.

Above: A perfectly weathered screen door in the back of the inn.

N.B.: Looking for more nearby locations to visit? See 34 hotels, restaurants, and shops in our New York State City Guide.

UK designer and architect Ben Pentreath demonstrates his holiday table setting.

Whether he's in residence at his Dorset parsonage or his London flat, Ben Pentreath (a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory )likes to entertain in color. Sensitized to the soft gray light of English winter, Pentreath works into its muted tones in the country and turns it up few notches with bright contrasting and intense accents in the city. And of course, breaking out the silver is a fail safe strategy for upping the ante.

Want to see more of Ben Pentreath's ideas for holiday entertaining? Check out his mood board on Pinterest.

Above: Pentreath's inner country mouse brings out all of his favorite things. "Curwen paper, Christmas crackers, William Morris napkins, Josef Frank chair coverings, all designed in the mid-century; keep your eyes peeled and pick them up when you can," he says.

Above: "The kitchen’s Welsh dresser not only holds the daily china but also rather satisfyingly appeals to my aesthetic values tonally in my more reflective moments," Pentreath says.

Above: The aftermath of a dinner in Pentreath's parsonage kitchen.

Above: Meanwhile, back in London, Pentreath's city cousin has also been busy. "Edible table decorations are far easier to clear away at the end of a dinner party, and everybody knows the symbol of hospitality is a pineapple," Pentreath says.

Above: "Brass candlesticks are a mainstay for any occasion along with good simple glassware," Pentreath advises.

Above: "City table settings sometimes need to simply be a little smarter," Pentreath says. "Breaking out the silver solves the solution."

Above: "Brightly colored glassware is a passion, particularly Victorian. But I’d happily pick up anything that makes me smile"; Blue Etched Tumbler, £6.50; Amber Hobnail Pitcher, £60.

Above: "Technicolor tableware against a monochrome backdrop is the most effective way to make a statement with color," Pentreath says.

Above: "You needn't even light these to make an impact," Pentreath says: Clementine Dinner Candles, £6.60 for a set of six.

Above: "Marianna Kennedy designs lighting and mirrors like no other: her abilities with color are unparalleled," Pentreath enthuses.

Looking for more holiday table setting ideas? See A Holiday Table with Soul where New York designer Brad Ford shares his holiday entertaining ideas.

Here's a roundup of what's piquing our interest this week:

Above: Coming to our Holiday Market in SF next Saturday, December 8th? Be sure to RSVP to our Facebook event page. Need an incentive? We're giving away a Remodelista Holiday Gift Box (shown here) to one randomly selected winner from the list of attendees. Look for the announcement on the Facebook event page by 6pm on Friday and pick up the box in person the next day. Can't join us in SF? Stay tuned as we will be giving away another Holiday Gift Box online in the next couple of weeks.

Above: While pinning ideas to Remodelista's Holiday Pinboard, Alexa came across this Mulled Red Wine recipe and is making it this weekend.

• Stacey is rereading The House on First Street, Julia Reed's account of purchasing and renovating a 19th century Greek Revival in the New Orleans Garden District—just one year prior to Hurricane Katrina's devastating hit.

Above: Sarah's stocking up on a few of these remnants from Fog Linen to use for wrapping gifts.

• After our week posting on architecture and artists from the Hudson Valley, we're checking out at The Upstater's guest post on Brownstoner.

Above: Justine spent her Thanksgiving holiday in Coast Guard Beach in Eastham.

• We've been admiring white and silver decor for a wintry look this December.

Above: Alexa is dying to try Byredo's newest Black Saffron eau (a very possible Christmas list candidate).

• Checking out these vintage holiday magazine covers dating back to the 1920s.

Above: Christine is admiring the pale blue walls in this art exhibition which took place in Caserma XXIV Maggio, a former military bakery Milan and example of industrial architecture from the late 19th century.

• Sarah just pinned this bag.

• This week's Guest Pinner, UK designer Ben Pentreath reassesses his own decor after happening upon this website.

Above: We want to hear from you: what's your all-time favorite gardening store?

Houses, like many things, look best during the blue hour. Here, five modern twilit homes from the newest members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory.

Above: This Oakland Hills house by architecture/interiors firm Medium Plenty is the first LEED-H Platinum certified home (the highest rating) in Northern California. Sustainable features include photovoltaic energy generation and a planted roof. Photo by Mariko Reed.

Above: Ireland-born, LA-based Oonagh Ryan Architect reconfigured the kitchen, living, and dining rooms of her 850-square foot midcentury home to maximize limited space. Read about the kitchen she designed for her husband, a professional chef, in Rehab Diaries: A Chef and an Architect Remodel an LA Kitchen. Photo by Stuart Gow.

Above: San Francisco architect Sarah Willmer modernized this traditional home with a light-filled, three-story addition and garden. (You would never know the home has a Tudor facade.) Photo by Sharon Risedorph.

Above: Architects Malboeuf Bowie used floor-to-ceiling windows in this modern family home to maximize light during gray Seattle winters. For summer months, oversized sliding doors open onto an outdoor room. Photo by Joseph Malboeuf.

Above: San Francisco architects Charlie Barnett Associates flipped the traditional hierarchy of spaces by placing shared living quarters on the top of this three-story addition and bedrooms on the bottom, in order to maximize access to sweeping city views. Photo by Mark Darley.

Looking for more modern exteriors? See 141 images of Modern Exteriors and Facades in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

Is London-based Faye Toogood one of the most daring designers working today? Toogood (even her name is out of the ordinary) "disregards convention in favor of creating something altogether more brave, joyous, and impulsive," as she says.

Toogood, a magazine editor turned stylist and designer (Ilse Crawford, another of our favorite designers, has a similar career trajectory), used a mix of unexpected elements in this Notting Hill house. To see more, go to Studio Toogood.

Above: The living room is anchored by Toogood's Element Table.; throughout the house, Toogood designed rugs using The Rug Company's bespoke services.

Above: Elements of style: a round Jacques Adnet-style mirror and a mounted zebra head anchor two distinct spaces.

Above: A simple chair becomes fascinating when painted erratically in black and white

Above: The living room features a mix of elements: a Prouvé chair (L), traditional leather armchairs (R), a yellow knit pouf from Christien Meindertsma.

Above L: The kitchen features a herringbone tiled floor and a Tube Chandelier by Michael Anastassiades. Above R: Toogood's color palette for the project.

Above: A dining banquette overlooking the garden.

Above: The study features paneled walls, ceilings, and floors painted a uniform shade of creamy white.

Above: Closet doors painted in shades of violet, ochre, and pale gray.

Above: Herringbone tiles create a madcap aspect to the bath.

Above: Even the entryway is slightly off-kilter (note the disparately sized house numbers).

Looking for a bit of glitz to give these holidays? We've found four shiny gifts that we love (three of which will be on sale at our Remodelista Holiday Market this coming Saturday).

Above: The SyuRo Rectangular Tin Cans are made in Japan and come in copper and brass. Available in three sizes, from $56 to $92 depending upon size from Muhs Home,

Above: The Erica Tanov Clutch is a long portfolio wallet that comes in platinum; $184 at Erica Tanov.

Above: Brass Key Fob; $18 from Good Worth & Co.

Above: Children's handmade metallic lambskin boots; $98 (L) and metallic gold baby shoes; $42 (R) available from MINT. Contact directly to purchase; or come to our market on Saturday.

File this under: holiday gift for the 1 percent, but these sculptural candelabras are so seductive that anyone can admire them, even from afar.

Designed by Brooklyn-based Fort Standard, the candelabras are made from sprue, also known as gating wax, a material used in casting to direct the flow of molten metals. In the process of creating each candelabra, the molds are destroyed so each piece is shaped unique to itself. Below are some of the regal-looking candelabras, priced from high (brace yourself) to low.

Above: The Sprue Candelabra 4 is $3,600 at Matter in New York.

Above: The Sprue Candelabra 2 is $3,000 from Matter in New York.

Above: The Sprue Candelabra 3 is $3,000 at Matter in New York.

Above: The Sprue Candelabra SCP Edition is a collaboration a collaboration between London-based SCP and Fort Standard. The candelabra retains the rough texture of the sand casting process; £530 available directly from SCP.

Above: The Sprue Candlesticks are made in Woolwich and also available in gunmetal and aluminum; £135 each from SCP in the UK.

N.B.: Looking for more from Fort Standard? See our posts on their Building Blocks, Wooden Magnets, and Marble Trivets.

We've been admiring our favorite fashion designer's line of wildly pattered woven chairs for a while now; if you're heading to Miami for Art Basel this week, you'll be able to see (and purchase) the chairs at the Marni store for $300 each.

The limited edition line of chairs is part of an exhibit called L'Arte del Ritratto, a collaboration with photographer Francesco Jodice. Produced in Colombia by ex-convicts re-assimilating into social and professional life, the chairs feature Marni's distinctive and sometimes radical color blocking palettes. The collection of arm, side, lounge, and rocking chairs (there are side tables as well) features a metal frame covered by an intricate latticework of multi-colored PVC threading. The chairs are common in traditional Colombian households, but Marni has reinterpreted them through the use of a new weaving process and color combinations.

N.B.: The chairs will be sold in Marni’s Miami store and the funds raised from the sales will be donated to the Service Network for Children of Inmates. Go to Art Basel for more information.

Above: A trio of chairs in the Milan home of Carolina Castiglione, daughter of Marni designer Consuelo Castiglione; to see more of her house, go to the NY Times. Photo by Emma Hardy.

Above: A settee from the line.

Above: The chairs feature Marni's distinctive colorblock patterning.

Silver bells, jingle or sleigh: these are holiday classics. But we have a new bell to add to this season's favorites: the humble cow bell.

Want to DIY your own bell display? Vintage Cow Bells abound on Etsy.

Above: My new go-to site for bells, Irona Works, has every size and shape of rustic bell. This charming Silver Wind Chime is hand forged from recycled metal; $18.50 each from Irona Works on Etsy.

Above: A generous 6-inch Moksha Nana Bell is one of many you'll find at Lost and Found; $16.

Above: Reminiscent of Dickensian Christmases past, Toast's Cowbell Garland is a timeless classic; £22.

Above: Walnut-sized Noah Bells from Alder & Co. are perfect for creating myriad holiday displays; $6 each, contact Alder & Co. for availability.

Above: For a slightly more modern interpretation, try Oji Masanori's Tsubomi Chime. Little balls of cotton catch the wind to ring the bell all year round; $57 at Mjölk.

N.B.: Looking for more ideas this year? Explore our Holiday Decor seciton.