I love the idea of making gifts for the holidays, but I usually end up taking on more than I can handle: "I'll just weave a quick rug for my sister, pickle cauliflower for my stepdad, and knit socks for my aunt." The result? Everyone gets a nice journal from the bookstore. This year is different, because I'm making easy wooden bead trivet sets for everyone on my list.

This easy and cost-efficient project will set you back about $7 per two-tiered trivet and takes minutes once you have the materials assembled. Want to give it a try? See my DIY video below for step-by-step instructions (you'll need to source the materials outlined below).

Above: Wooden beads and a coil of thin leather cord.

Above: After stringing the beads, cut each end at a desired length to knot together.

Above: The smaller trivet nests inside of the larger one to make an even sturdier resting spot for heavy cast iron pots.

Here's What You'll Need:

• For the larger trivet, source 25 1/2-Inch Wooden Beads (about 3 cents each from Craft Parts) and 20 inches of Greek Leather Cord ($9.58 for a pack of 192 feet at Amazon).
• For the smaller trivet, you'll only need 18 1/2-Inch Wooden Beads and 13 inches of Greek Leather Cord.

N.B.: Looking for a garland to go with that wreath? Find it along with 18 other DIY Videos.

Furniture designer Ariele Alasko moved to Brooklyn seven years ago to study sculpture, but shortly after graduation she found herself more interested in the interior spaces that would house her sculptures than in the sculptures themselves. An inveterate DIYer with a strong eye for design, she had already removed the tile from her kitchen, put new wallpaper in the apartment, and removed the carpeting from the stairway.

Giving in to the urge to build objects people could use in their everyday lives, she started building smaller pieces of furniture out of reclaimed wood, all in a 100-square-foot studio area right in the middle of her apartment. As Alasko’s business grew and the commissions began mounting, she realized she would need a much bigger space to work in. After months of hunting she found the perfect space; an open, loft-like studio in Brooklyn. She and a friend spent over three weeks building dividing walls, sheet-rocking the entire studio, and installing doors to create their separate spaces.

For more information or to order custom furniture, contact Ariele Alasko.

Above: Alasko's work desk, pet friend included. The move to a new studio has allowed Alasko to expand her business; not only in volume but also in the size of the pieces she creates.

Above: Patternmaking in progress (L) and a wooden desk built into the corner of Alasko's studio (R).

Above: Custom build wall hangings behind a reclaimed yellow pendant lamp in the studio.

Above: A rectangular-shaped tabletop in progress leans against the wall.

Above: Ariele in the early stages of building the ten by six foot custom table, before installing the wooden pattern.

Above: Having moved into her new studio, Alasko recently completed her largest project to date: a custom-built, ten by six foot long table that just barely fit into the building’s elevator.

N.B.: Looking for more furniture? Find 211 more Dining Tables in our Shop section.

Producers of limited-edition Irish linen made in Ireland, 31 Chapel Lane use simple graphic images to celebrate the winter activity of foddering on the farm.

Above: Winter Fodder Tea Towels are made from 100 percent organic Irish linen; £12.

Above: Irish linen is highly absorbent and durable and becomes softer and stronger with age.

Above: "When the cattle go in for winter, it’s time to crack open the bales. Individually wrapped for freshness,
like a massive chocolate kimberly for cows, they’ve sat in the field since late Summer and with any luck the peckish birds haven’t broken the seal yet."

N.B. See 478 back posts of Irish Linen.

Sometimes simple is best: here are five examples of interiors made holiday-ready with a couple of strands of lights, nothing more.

Above: A simple hallway draped with a strand of lights; via VT Wonen.

Above: A sting of lights strung along a rafter adds a holiday note to an austere cabin interior; photo via Like Logs.

Above: A strand of oversized globe lights; image via Decouvrir Design.

Above: A vintage bottle drying rack looks festive when draped in fairy lights; image via Esprit Champetre.

Above: A whitewashed bedroom lit with string lights; image via House to Home.

We're all cat lovers at Remodelista (well, except for Sarah). Julie collects images on her Cats, Etc. pinboard and several us can frequently be caught "checking up" on Maru. For this gift guide, we decided to consult Janine Kahn, Editor-in-Chief of Catster. Here are her suggestions:

I have a confession to make. I am the editor of both Catster and Dogster magazines, but I'm more entrenched in the canine camp as a staunch dog lady (indeed, my license plate reads "DOGLADY").

I am horridly allergic to cats on top of that, but admire their grace and form from a safe distance. I may in fact have converted my sister into a cat lady, having introduced her to the rescue that brought her first two cats into her home. She now has three: a plush Russian Blue named Earl Grey, a squirrely Maine Coon named Theodore, and a scrappy tabby called Warren. I have the pleasure of playing godmother to each.

Here's what I'd love to get them this holiday season:

Above: This felted Cat Bed/Cave/Vessel is made entirely of natural wool, attracting cats to the lanolin in the fabric; $59 from Vaivanat on Etsy.

Above: Loving cats often means living with cat hair. Help the cat fancier in your life with the Pet and Lint Brush by Redecker, which may be odd looking but will pick pet hair from furniture, cars, blankets and clothing with ease; $60 from The Laundress.

Above: A well-loved product by cat and small dog parents alike, the Sleepypod is the only way to travel. The interior is plush and comfortable, and the mesh dome top allows kitty to get a view as you ferry her through the airport; $179 each.

Above: At any given cat home, vertical space counts just as much as horizontal. Put those walls to work for your cat with the Itch Wall Scratcher by Square; prices start around $30 each.

Above: Mungo & Maud's Cat Toys are made of colored rope (shown here in red and pink); $10 each.

Above: Ah, the litter pan: such a necessary evil. But it needn't be an eyesore when you can stow it away in a modern piece of furniture like the Circa50 ($599) by Modernist cat. My dog actually uses a litter box (don't tell all the other dogs!) so I may have to consider this one myself.

N.B.: To make sure we've got everyone on your list covered, see all of our gift guides to date in our House Gifts section.

From the overcrowded busy print studios of London, Kate and Ben Lawrence have created an oasis in Norfolk for artists as well as shoppers in the Cold Press Studio and Gallery.

With backgrounds in the London art world, the empathetic Lawrences wanted to give artists time and space to explore intaglio printmaking. First they provided the artists with a studio in which to work and a cottage in which to stay. It soon became apparent that the artists needed a space in which to exhibit, and the congenial couple created a gallery where the work being produced in the studio could be showed alongside exhibitions of invited artists and makers. In November of this year, they moved the gallery into its new home—an old Methodist meeting hall in the Georgian market town of Holt. "I suppose our main aim is collaboration—we like putting people together who might not have worked together otherwise, and this extends to the shop, where we display work that fits together," Lawrence says. For more information, go to Cold Press.

Above: Portraits by Californian artist Kai Samuels-Davis sit on the mantelpiece. "With two young children, and living in the depths of North Norfolk, several of our relationships with these artists have almost entirely been conducted through email. Kai Samuels-Davis, who is based on the west coast of America and has been showing with us for several years, is a perfect example of this—it's almost like having an old fashioned correspondence," Lawrence says.

Above: The proportions of the early 1800s Methodist Hall provide a simple and austere background to the objects on display. The glazes of the ceramic bowls by Brickett Davda are inspired by the English light.

Above: Ceramics by Potomak Studios sit on a Sebastian Cox vitrine as well as the floor.

Above: A pebble shaped mirror from Brooklyn's Mc & Co hangs in the office of Cold Press (also see Revisiting Mc & Co. in Brooklyn).

Above L: Artists Chair 1 & 2 designed and built out of hazel by coppice master Sebastian Cox with commissioned fabric from Richard Saja (hanging) and Susie Cowie. Above R: The faceted brass pendant light is designed by Japanese architect Oji Masanori and produced by Futagami. N.B.: See London Design Week: Hazel Pendant Lighting to see more about Sebastian Cox and coppicing.

Above: A "Small Leaf" sculpture by Mari Andrews hangs above ceramic vessels by London artist Kaori Tatebayashi.

Above :. Local Norfolk artist Tim Willey makes charred sycamore vessels from his own 12 acres of woodland, which provide him with a continuous supply of sustainable materials. Above R. Brass trivets by Oji Masanouri are produced by Futagami in Japan.

Above: Vessels by London-based ceramicist Akiko Hirai are a personal favorite. My burgeoning collection of two sits on my desk at home, providing me with continuous inspiration.

Above: A collection of available ceramics at Cold Press.

Above: The Methodist meeting hall where Cold Press has recently moved was built in the early 1800s and originally had to be disguised as a town house from the exterior, due to the apparent unpopularity of the religion at that time.

N.B.: Visiting the Georgian market town of Holt, Norfolk, can feel like a step back in time. To see a decidedly old-fashioned clothing business in the same town, see Old Town in Holt, Norfolk.

Last week, we invited readers to submit pinboards titled "Remodelista Holiday Decor" with a mix of favorite winter holiday DIYs and decor ideas for a chance to win a Remodelista Holiday Gift Box. And the winner is...

Julia Smith, whose Holiday Decor pinboard in full of inspired holiday decor ideas (we're even planning to make a few of her greenery projects). Thank you to all our readers who submitted their holiday boards; see links to the submissions in the comments section below Pin to Win: Remodelista Holiday Gift Box. Below are a few our favorite images from Julia's pinboard:

Above: Windchimes by Irona Works, featured on 5 Favorites: Rustic Holiday Bells.

Above: A cedar and kumquat holiday wreath by Saipua in Brooklyn.

Above: Stamped gift wrap by Tiny Happy on Flickr.

N.B.: Looking for more holiday decor? Check out our own Holiday board on Pinterest.

Yesterday we featured Workstead's remodel of a Brooklyn Heights flat; today we're sourcing some of the key elements of the kitchen and living room based around a color palette inspired by the antique wood floorboards in the kitchen.

See more at An Urban Cabin Made in Brooklyn and visit Workstead in the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory.

Above: The antique pine floors determined the palette of the kitchen.

Above: The Brooklyn Heights living room features a Workstead black steel wall lamp.

Above: Kallista's For Town Kitchen Faucet with Lever Handles and Side Spray, designed by Michael Smith, is $3,028 for the chrome finish (shown above); it's also available in nickel silver and brushed nickel. For more options, see our post High/Low Bridge Faucets.

Above: Source similar shelves from CB2; the Hyde Oak Vaneer Wall Mounted Cabinet is currently on sale for $49.95.

Above: Nightwood's Quarry Dining Table is made from honed limestone and reclaimed butternut and poplar wood for $915. Contact Nightwood for custom orders and more information.

Above: Handmade in Portland, OR, the Notary Candlestick is $35 at Portland's Own.

Above: The Tolix Marais A Chairs in galvanized steel are $250 each from Design Within Reach.

Above: Workstead's Bent Wall Lamp is made from bent steel arms, O.C. White articulated pieces, and brass for $1,250 at Horne.

Above: Craig Bassam's Tray Rack Side Table features two removable trays and is made of walnut; $1,200 from Design Within Reach.

Above: The Tourne Wool Blanket in Natural (shown) is made in Canada from soft virgin wool; $245 from Brook Farm General Store.

Above: Restoration Hardware's Belgian Track Arm Slipcovered Sofa ranges from $1,195 to $4,190, depending on size and fabric.

Above: Reclaimed Wood Shelf with Black Basic Brackets are $58 for the 2-foot size from West Elm.

N.B.: Leave the sourcing to us: see 217 more Steal This Look posts.

Old doors as decor? We've been noticing repurposed vintage doors used in a variety of ways; here are five examples we like:

Above: A wall paneled in reclaimed doors via the master of reclamation Piet Hein Eek.

Above: A table made from a reclaimed door with a rope-wrapped base; via Woodnote Photography.

Above: A pair of vintage shutters from New Orleans in the apartment of designer Rachel Krauskopf; photo by Jacob Snavely for Design Sponge.

Above: A table made from a vintage door, with metal fasteners intact; via Fork and Flower.

Above: Vintage doors make an impromptu headboard; photo via Hus & Hem.

Above: Artist Robin Luciano Beaty's art studio; photo by Eric Piasecki for Martha Stewart Whole Living.

On a quick visit to NYC a couple of weeks ago, a group of us were desperate to dine at Fat Radish on the Lower East Side. No luck. Instead, we headed across the street to Silkstone's new venture, Leadbelly, an oyster bar with nightly live music and an urban clam shack vibe.

The interiors have a stripped-down, perfectly-imperfect look (similar to Fat Radish) as well as a long copper-covered bar reminiscent of Parisian grand cafes; the oyster list features picks from suppliers like Naked Cowboy, and the cocktail list is full of options like the Dirty Lemonade (jalapenos are involved). For more information, go to Leadbelly.

Above: Vintage fifties furniture and distressed walls.

Above: A mix of midcentury elements, with gaming opportunities.

Above: The copper covered bar evokes a Euro feel.

Above: Drink offerings include Moo Thunder Stout and Brew Free or Die IPA.

Above: The curved bar anchors the space and adds a touch of glamor.

Above: Vintage suitcases and vinyl.

Above: A vintage dart board.

Above: A custom concrete sink with copper piping in the restaurant loo.

Surfer and inveterate beachcomber/paddlerboarder Linda Fahey lives in foggy Pacifica, just south of San Francisco; on her beach walks she collects driftwood, which she uses in her ceramic creations.

Above: The Driftwood Cheese Spreader/Knife is made from sanded, mineral-oil treated driftwood with a hand-shaped porcelain knife blade; $28 from LJF Ceramics on Etsy.

Above: The Porcelain Driftwood Spoon is $24 from LJF Ceramics on Etsy.

A roundup of our favorite ornaments for the tree, including one that benefits a special fund set up for the families of Sandy Hook.

Above: Short Dutch Mill ornament; $8 at Anthropologie.

Above: The 2012 Slow Love Life Ornament from Frances Palmer is $25 (shipping is included); 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the United Way Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

Above: Finnish Birch Bird; $16 (down from $20) at Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.

Above: Handmade in Nepal, the 100 percent wool Felt Mistletoe is $4 (down from $9) at West Elm.

Above: Gold Temple Bells; prices range from $19 to $98 from Viva Terra.

How do you add 250 square feet to a 1,400-square-foot house without compromising the purity of its midcentury box form? Simple: hire the original architect to enlarge the box.

After purchasing their “cypress box” in Amagansett, Long Island, the owners faced a challenge familiar to Eichler owners across the country in California. Built in 1967, the house required an update to accommodate 21st century living. In this case, an awkwardly placed stair (which had replaced the original space-saving spiral stair) was landing right in the middle of the living area, eating up valuable space.

Conscientious about preserving the essence and integrity of the original house, the owners found a sympathetic architect; the original architect of the house, Harry Bates, who, along with Paul Masi, had since become Bates Masi (a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory). Their solution was simple and sweet. They pushed the south-facing wall out five feet to accommodate a new stair, which left the living area free of encumbrances while keeping the box intact.

Unless otherwise noted, photography by Raimund Koch via Dwell.

Above: A blue sandstone counter with a glossy polished finish sits on top of glossy red cabinets from Ikea.

Above: Blue sandstone tiles are used on the floor of the kitchen.

A

Above: The living area is now one complete rectangular space.

Above: A change of floor material indicates the landing of the new staircase.

Above: The open loft in a double-height space is a modern spatial concept.

Above: The blue stone tiles used in the kitchen extend out onto the back patio. Photograph by Christopher Wesnofske.

Above: The staircase no longer protrudes into the living area. Instead, it slots in between the line of the old wall and the new wall which has been pushed out five feet. A slatted wall that refers to an existing detail throughout the house replaces the old wall and allows the light from the skylights in the ceiling to come through to the living area. Photograph by Christopher Wesnofske.

Above: The slatted wood that wraps the corner of the extension references the slatted wood balcony. Photograph by Christopher Wesnofske.

Above: The box has been extended five feet and the back of the new slatted wall is visible through the new glass bay. Photograph by Christopher Wesnofske.

Above: The cypress boards from the original wall were reused on the new wall, allowing for the wood finish to remain the same. Photograph by Christopher Wesnofske

N.B.: Thinking about updating your mid century home? See A Respectful Eichler Remodel in Marin and Techbuilt House Renovation by Ogawa Depardon for useful ideas.

Ever since we spotted this statement-making red espresso maker in an Italian kitchen, we've been on the hunt for a similar pot. Anthropologie to the rescue.

N.B.: See more kitchens featuring a similar palette at Kitchen: Black/White/Red Roundup.

Above: A black and white kitchen designed by Lavinia Fici Pasquina.

Above: The Color Pop Coffee Pot from Gnali & Zani is $38 at Anthropologie and is available in several colors.

See more Design Sleuth.

Fireplace tools and screens are surprisingly hard to source (well, good ones are), so when we spotted these from Commune, we took note. The five-piece fire place set is hand made from steel finished in a bronze patina, then oiled. Like any bespoke product, the set comes at a price, but if you're looking for a lifetime investment, this one is worth it.

Above: The Commune Fireplace Tools set consists of a shovel, broom, poker and a pair of tongs housed in a steel stand; $2,250.

Above: The set is made to order.

Above: The Commune Circle Fireplace Screen is a single-panel handmade fireplace screen made from steel. Each piece is hand finished in a bronze patina, then oiled; $1,900.

Six hundred miles north of Stockholm, on a remote hunting estate near Jarpen, Magnus Nilsson mans the kitchens at a restaurant straight out of ancient agrarian times.

"We do things as they have always been done at Jämtland mountain farms," he says. "We follow seasonal variations and our existing traditions." Everything on the 12-course tasting menu at Faviken is made with just-foraged ingredients: local garden produce, locally raised meat, wild game, herbs, and mushrooms from the estate, cheese and other dairy from the surrounding region of Jämtland, and seafood from the neighboring region of Trøndelag, Norway. During the summer, the chefs build up their stores for the dark winter months: "We dry, salt, jelly, pickle, and bottle."

N.B. If you're not planning a trip to the northern edges of Sweden anytime soon, Phaidon has just published Faviken, a cookbook by Nilsson. All photos via Faviken unless otherwise noted.

Above: Swedish chef Magnus Nilsson in his trademark furs. Photo by Howard Sooley via Nowness.

Above: The dining room accommodates just 12 diners.

Above: Local scallops.

Above: Dried herbs function as decor.

Above: A single log serves as a side table. . Photo by Howard Sooley via Nowness.

Above: Scenes from the dining room; hanging cured meats add a medieval touch.

Above: Illumination by fire: candles and a wood-burning stove.

Above: Nilsson's furs, at the ready. . Photo by Howard Sooley via Nowness.

Above: A view of the snowy landscape.

Above: Faviken, by Magnus Nilsson, is $32.97 from Amazon.

Certain things are just better oversized, one of which is a Christmas stocking.

Noticed recently on Seventeen Doors, the black-and-white printed socks are made from 100 percent cotton by By Nord. Danish designer Hanne Berzant started her company in 2008 when she was first inspired by the Nordic interiors at Noma. In addition to the kids' stockings, By Nord sells ceramics and other printed fabrics and linens.

Above: A photo of the stockings in the house of Daniella Witte; shown above is the Oversized Deer Sock contact for pricing and availability.

Above: The Oversize Wolf Sock is €94 from By Nord.

Above: The oversized stockings measure about 32 inches long and 16 inches wide. Shown above is the Oversized Moose Sock; contact for pricing and availability.

Above: Photograph via Seventeen Doors.

N.B.: Looking for more hearth accessories? Shop 32 ideas for Fireplaces & Hearths.

Perhaps the most exciting part of Christmas for me is filling stockings with a myriad of treats. It all harkens back to childhood memories of waking early and my siblings and I feeling and guessing the contents of the misshapen stocking before seeing what was inside.

Here's a round-up of some stocking stuffers for an older crowd that will keep people guessing.

Above: A tin of Jacobsen Hand-Harvested Oregon Salt is $3.50 from Jacobsen.

Above: Geranium Leaf Body Balm; $35 from Aesop.

Above: Candied Citrus Peel; $8 from June Taylor.

Above: The 2013 Desktop Mini Calendar; $4.25 from Muji.

Above: Noble Handcrafted Vinegar made in small batches; $22.95 at West Elm.

Above: Ace Leather Coasters; a pack of five is $20.

Above: Swedish Bike Light Set; $29 from Poketo.

Above: Pencil Pack from Jayson Home and Garden; $10.

Above: Meow Meow Tweet Scented Candle in Cedar Fir; $18 (currently on sale for $14) from West Elm.

Above: Message Washi Tape; $12.25 for a set of two from Cute Tape.

N.B.: To make sure we've got everyone on your list covered, see all of our gift guides to date in our House Gifts section.

Explore More: House Gift

Here's a novel concept: an über-modern Scandi hotel whose proprietors are so fixated on reconnecting guests with nature that they lament having to charge a fee. (But, yes, you still have to pay for it.)

Located in a forest outside of Alesund, Norway, the Juvet Landscape Hotel is sited on a gorge of the river Valldøla. ("Juvet" means "gorge" in Norwegian.) Owner Knut Slinning is a local, and his earnest desire to help people experience the natural beauty of his region is admirable: “I would love our guests to have a feeling that this is a fantastic place, that they had been visiting friends and that they had a very, very nice time. And that I am sorry that they had to pay for it.”

Slinning commissioned Oslo architects Jensen & Skodvin to design seven small cabins, each with at least one entire wall made of glass. The results are minimal cubes of wood and concrete whose interiors are dark and truly spare; the structures are designed to focus guests solely on the outdoors while inside. Each cabin's massive glass wall frames a view of the forest and river gorge, unobstructed by so much as a curtain.

One interesting note: The hotel's design was aided in part by a Norwegian public works project investing in rural infrastructure. The project had a rule that developments were barred from copying ancestral Norwegian architecture, with the aim of demonstrating ingenuity in engineering and design as a hallmark of modern Norway.

For booking information, visit Juvet Landscape Hotel.

Above: With the ethic of being a guest in nature, the hotel's cabins are built on stilts; when they've lived their useful lives they can easily be removed.

Above: A porthole window in one of the cabin bathrooms offers its own unique view. The hotel spa sits so close to the gorge that guests are meant to "feel" the spray from the river during treatments.

Above: All view rooms, like the hotel sauna above, are intended to give the impression of being inside a camera.

Above: Occasional walls of bold color break concrete monotony in the spa. There are no curtains in the stark bedrooms and the natural light is bright in summer months. The hotel owners considered adding drapes, but guests urged them not to, saying that waking in the cabins is like waking outdoors.

Above: Bathrooms are among the few rooms with color. The cabins were first planned without bathrooms or showers to emphasize simplicity in nature, but in the end a few modern comforts were added.

Above: Walking into a cabin is meant to be a dramatic experience, as if nature is rushing in through the massive panoramic windows to greet you.

Above: The hotel owners didn't want the architecture to stand in the way of guests' experience of nature; they in fact want guests to realize that life in Norway has been a struggle for survival.

Looking for more inspiration? See 33 images of Minimalist Hotels in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

Graphic designer Noma Barr has a gift for manipulating negative space (the term used for describing the space around an object or a figure). A recent visit to his studio in North London reveals that his talent works as well in three dimensions as it does in two.

For his studio in the back garden of his London home, Barr worked with Eco Space Studios to create a clever workspace. But as one might suspect for the Israeli-born Barr, who is the author of a book titled Negative Space, the story of his studio doesn’t end in his garden. His real office, he claims, is the woods across the street from his house, where he walks, thinks, and sketches for several hours a day. “The studio is just where I come to execute my ideas,” Barr says.

Unless otherwise noted, photography by Christine Hanway for Remodelista.

Above: When he's not rambling in the woods, Barr can be found at work at his desk. His view from the studio window is straight into the kitchen window of his family's ground floor flat. Barr and his wife have devised a communication system involving light switches.

Above: On one of his walks around Highgate Wood, Barr witnessed a pair of dogs communing; and from that experience he carved out a dog's face from the negative space around the dog's tail and leg.

Above: The cover of Barr's book, Negative Space.

Above: A series of illustrations commissioned by The Guardian. Each illustration was created to a line of text provided by the newspaper. Look carefully and you might see Shakespeare. Go to The Guardian Collection to see more.

Above L: Barr has a continual supply of sketch paper on a roller. Above R: Barr plays with negative space using different ink colors.

Above: Eco Space Studios devised a flexible shelving system at Barr's request. While the horizontal shelves are fixed, the vertical dividers can move. Image via Eco Space Studios.

Above: Barr explores the spatial relationship of the traditional shape of a clothes pin.

Above: The placement of plants in the remaining garden space continues to alter the space.

N.B.: Looking for extra space? See 391 images of Garden Sheds in our Gallery of Rooms and Spaces.