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

Above: Ever since we posted on Dramatic Floor Stencils, we've been spotting more DIYs like this one from Alvhem Makleri & Interior.

Above: We're all looking forward to the new denim pieces in Margaret Howell's S/S 2013 collection. Photograph by Vanessa Jackman.

Above: As we head into our "Roman Holiday" week, Julie is taking a look at Brit-born, Italy-based Sam Orlando Miller's work.

Above: Get on with it already: check out of January Garden Chores pinboard.

• Checking out a whole slew of kitchen reorganizing ideas.

• A restaurant in Edinburgh, Scotland, with a design devoted to dogs.

• We're flattered: Jessica Alba included us on her 10 Blogs You Should Follow in 2013 over at the Honesty Company.

• Christine enjoyed this article on 10 Modern Buildings That Make Good Neighbors.

• Sarah wants to hole up on Lonely Island for a while.

Above: Checking out Ottolenghi's new online store, Sarah wants to try these dried barberries.

• Stacey has become obsessed with SF-based Art of Sport's new line of posters. The two designers/soccer fans who started the company were looking to create a sophisticated line of team prints that are "living-room worthy." US teams are in the works. Stacey is an Argentina fan (they don't offer this yet) and a Swansea fan.

Above: Alexa has been admiring the overgrown wall of vines at Todai Moto Kurashi, shot by Anders Edstrom for Apartamento last year.

Above: A calm winter project: Static Quarry by Ikimono Architects.

N.B.: Looking for more of our obsessions? See all our Current Obsessions post in the Design News section of our archive.

We're enjoying the increasing number of marble boards on offer; not only are they good for rolling out dough, the heavy white marble adds a good contrasting note to a wooden or metal countertop. Here's our latest finds:

Above: White Marble Pastry Board; $31.96 from Sur La Table; the Marble Rolling Pin is $19.96.

Above: Fort Standard's White Marble Trivet is cut in simple geometric shapes and finished with a leather bottom to protect countertops; $84 from The Future Perfect.

Above: Antique Farm House offers a selection of boards in different shapes and sizes, including this large Round Marble Cheese Board with a hand-polished finish; $32 from Antique Farm House.

Above: A square marble slab with gray veining the French Kitchen Square Board is $24.95 from Crate & Barrel.

Above: Made from carrara with a matte finish, the Marble Cheese Board is $79 from Williams Sonoma.

Enzo Mari, the Italian furniture designer and artist, created his La Mela and La Pera print in 1963 for Danese Milano; the graphic images have become part of the international design vocabulary. Here's a roundup of rooms around the world featuring Mari's iconic silkscreen prints in black:

Above: A framed Mari print In a London flat designed by Charles Mellersch.

Above: A Scandinavian dining room featuring the print; spotted on Bloesem.

Above: An unframed print in a home in Japan, via Zozo People.

Above: A Scandinavian living room spotted on Bloesem.

Above: Mari's print in a London office; image via Ambient Direct.

Above: Another view of the y Charles Mellersch-designed flat in London.

We like this concept: oversized lanterns with rustic raw linen shades, spotted in an Italian interior designed by Orietta Marcon.

The Lampade Bigger by Vicenza-based Orietta Marcon of Oggetti measures about 20 to 24 inches in diameter and is made from hand-finished linen fabric. Interested in something similar as a DIY project? See our sources and instructions below for making a 20-inch-sized lamp.

Above: Marcon's installation in an open stairwell. See more of her work at Designer Visit: Civico Quattro in Vicenze.

Above: The natural linen filters bright light from naked pendant bulbs.

Above: Imperfections are welcome; note the slightly lopsided hem.

Above: Detail of the red hem on the Lampade Bigger shown with a painted iron base.

Here's What You'll Need:

• 60 inches of thick, silver wire: 16-Gauge Silver Plated Wire; $3.81 for 9.8 feet from Amazon.
• Wire cutters, pliers, strong tape.
• 2 yards of rough, organic linen sold by the yard: Linen Gifts' Lithuanian Linen on Etsy ($19.49 for a 55-by 39-inch piece; you can also order custom lengths).
• A sturdy cotton thread like Gutermann Red Cotton Thread for $8.89 from Amazon.
• A white or black Ikea Hemma Cord Set ($5 each) or the Khaki Houndstooth Extension Cord for $39 from Schoolhouse Electric.
• A bulb such as Schoolhouse Electric's A19 Silver Tip Bulb 60 Watt for $5.
• At least 26 inches of cotton string: White Cotton 10-Ply Medium String for $4.16 from Amazon.

Instructions:

• Cut the length of wire to 60 inches, make a circle by overlapping the ends just a bit and taping them together (you can use electrical, floral, or duct tape for this).
• From your 2 yards of linen, you'll need about 64 inches: 60 to 61 inches to cover the circumference, and 2 to 3 inches for a healthy seam allowance. Moving slowly around the wire, hand-stitch the fabric until the two ends meet up.
• Using a sewing machine, sew the hem (using the red thread) down the side (you can even go with a French seam if you're savvy with sewing), leaving about an inch open at the bottom for a little movement. Then finish the bottom of your fabric with another red hem.
• Center your pendant cord (Ikea's has instructions for proper centering) and tie your string from the cord through the diameter of the circle, attaching on both sides. Hang the cord from a ceiling hook or as desired.

N.B.: For more DIY lighting see all our DIY posts in our archive.

A stay at Arco dei Tolomei includes velvet furniture passed down through generations, charming floral-wallpapered rooms, and a dapper Italian hotelier.

At least that's what Design Tripper's Meghan McEwen had to say when she stayed at the guest house a while back. Longtime owners Marco and Gianna remodeled their old family house into a B&B comprised of six bedrooms. Marco has designed the house with a classically Roman flair in line with his own demeanor. McEwen describes him as, "a true Italian gentleman, who wears button-down shirts under sweaters and looks absolutely dashing at all times."

Arco dei Tolomei is located at Via Dell'Arco de Tolomei in Rome's laid-back Trastevere neighborhood; for more information, visit them online.

Photography by Design Tripper (except where noted).

Above: The breakfast room is decorated with portrait paintings and antique furniture and lighting.

Above: A marble-topped buffet decked with silver serving ware and a potted rhododendron.

Above: Each room is named after Rome's Great Consular Roads: the Appia, Salaria, Flaminia, Nomentana, Cassia, and the Aurelia. Shown here is the Appia room; photography courtesy of Arco dei Tolomei.

Above: A number of room feature a tiny terrace overlooking cobblestone streets and terra cotta roof tiles below.

N.B.: Looking for more places to stay in Italy? See our Italy City Guide for 23 more locations.

One of our favorite SF design haunts is the Mission District restaurant Farina, designed by Brett Terpeluk (his design credits include a decade spent working with Renzo Piano in Italy) and Monica Viarengo. So much so that we've put together a Steal This Look on the space, which features classic modern Italian lighting and a distinctive marble bar.

The Louise Nevelson–inspired marble counter (pieced together from vintage sink basins) is by Nathan Hunt of Hunt Studios in San Francisco; the round tables feature tops repurposed from the establishment's former signage. Read about the project in the SF Chronicle and see Cesar Rubio's photos at SF Gate.

Photos by Cesar Rubio and Joe Fletcher, courtesy of Studio Terpeluk.

Above: The red Double Octopus Chandeliers are by Turkish design firm, Autoban, and are available at Hive Modern for $1,565.

Above: Tolomeo Mega Wall Light; $650 at Y Lighting.

Above: Acquatinta Suspension Lamp made of mouth-blown Murano glass; $760 at Horne.

Above L: Emeco Nine-O Stacking Chair; $535 at Design Public.

Above: The new 111 Navy Chair is made from recycled plastic Coke bottles; $270 at Design Within Reach.

For more well-designed restaurants with ideas to steal from, see 57 Steal This Look: Dining Room posts in our archive.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on October 27, 2010.

I read recently of a restaurant in Italy famed for its beans cooked slowly in a glass jar. I love the idea of slow cooking with glass, but realized a heat diffuser would be in order, particularly as my gas range has a dodgy, inconsistent simmer mode.

My plan? I have my eye on the Frabosk Heat Diffuser Plate, which works equally well for gas and electric stovetops for evenly distributing heat and can be used with any cooking pots as well as with glass and terra cotta. For those with an induction stove, it renders non-induction friendly pots (such as aluminum or copper) into stovetop-compatible pieces. In addition, it also works as a trivet for smaller stovetop espresso pots and tiny milk frothers.

Above: The Frabosk Heat Diffuser Plate is $57 from Kauffman Mercantile. The two holes at the disk's edge are to insert the removable athermic handle for transporting the induction diffuser plate to and from the stovetop.

Above: The etched disk is made from brushed steel in Italy.

This Milan apartment requires a careful look; blink and you'll miss the juxtaposition of a 1950s lamp next to an 18th-century door frame. Why is it such a challenge to take it all in? Because it blends together so flawlessly.

Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci of Dimore Studio, who live in the space (their studio is on the ground floor), describe their mission as "crossing over boundaries momentarily in vogue; creating interiors evocative of far-off and distant times." Clearly they're onto something; their fans include Ian Schrager, who commissioned them to bring the Pump Room at the Public Hotel in Chicago back to life. To see more of their work, go to Dimore Studio.

Photography by Emanuele Zamponi via Yatzer:

Above: In the living room, ceramic jugs and vases flaunt a cheerful cluster of ranunculus.

Above: On the wall is a Rotating Sconce by French designer Serge Mouille; designed in the 1950s, the lights are still manufactured in France.

Above: Among the apartment's many furnishings from the 1940s and 1950s is a Diamond Chair by Harry Bertoia (in the back corner). On the coffee table lies The World of Ornament by David Batterham, published by Taschen. (I recognize the massive volume because it is sitting next to me on my desk as I type.)

Above: A glass chandelier, evocative of a honeycomb, hangs in the foyer. (Would this be a real Milano flat without an oversized chandelier?)

Above: An elegant juxtaposition of styles in the kitchen includes a distressed cupboard wall unit installed with modern uplighting to highlight the artwork sitting atop it.

Above: A perfect pairing of old and new: paint is falling away from the settee and radiator, but the velvet cushions and concrete floor look brand new.

Above: Another modern insertion: a marble Tulip Table by Eero Saarinen.

Above: A kitchen island clad in oxidized metal is lit from within via fluorescent strip.

Above: An antique trifold mirror turns a corner of the bedroom into a dressing room (and hides an aging radiator).

Above: The calming bedroom repeats a small handful of colors: mainly blue, ivory, brown, and brass.

Above: An antique framed textile hangs over a pair of dressers.

Above: More of the same palette in a vintage bedroom fan (joined by antique-pink peonies).

Above: In the blue-velvet sitting room, note a modern detail used throughout the home: two bands of inky black paint to mimic decorative baseboards.

Above: The sitting room walls' ethereal gray paint stops sharply at the ceiling, emphasizing its dramatic height. Note another modern design icon, Castiglioni's Arco Floor Lamp, at left.

Looking for more Italian style? See 159 images of design in Italy in our gallery of rooms and spaces.

The ultimate high/low? We love the mix of rough (raw burlap headboard) and refined (antique velvet bedspread, Fortuny light) in this luxe bedroom in Marseilles, spotted on The Design Vote.

Above: Fabienne Collombel's bedroom in Marseilles, photo via Marie Claire Maison (via The Design Vote).

Above: Jute Burlap Fabric by the Yard s $20 per yard from Ballard Designs.

N.B. See more ideas for instant headboards at 5 Favorites: Textiles as Headboards.

Discovered via Farmhouse Modern: the work of Aldo Bernardi, a lighting designer located in Paderno del Grappo, just northwest of Venice, Italy.

Bernardi produces classically detailed, hand-finished lighting for indoors and outdoors, using porcelain, brass, and copper parts; we especially like Bernardi's cast brass switches, connectors, and boxes that evoke lighting from an earlier era. To find a dealer in the US, go to Ollier Distributors (the line is also available at Lunaria in Northern California).

Above: Fiati 6800 A Scones feature one light, a triple arm, and two wall canopies.

Above: The Duse 2115 has a height adjustable ceramic pendant with counterweight and a pleated shade.

Above: The Art 50/40 Toggle Switch is a brass and ceramic surface mounted toggle switch with four openings fitting a 16mm conduit.

Above: The Schedar Luna Lar 96/00/B is a white glazed ceramic wall mount Luna shade and wooden back plate.

Above: The Sunset Sun4/A is a brass outdoor sconce with an aged copper shade and silver finish.

Above: The Vivetta Sconce is made from a pleated brass shade and available in a variety of sizes.

Looking for more lighting? See 205 Living Room Lighting posts in our archive.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on March 29, 2010.

Once a holiday home; always a holiday home? In 1485, the House of Malatesta, the ruling family of Rimini, built their country house in the Italian inland town of what is now known as Pergola and welcomed visitors through the ages. Or should we say the house kept welcoming visitors (the Malatestas were expelled in the early 1500s).

Five centuries later, after a short period of abandonment, this rustic country house has been lovingly restored into a family-run hotel and home; and the Malatesta Maison continues its destiny of welcoming visitors who are looking for peaceful repose in the valley of The Marches.

Images via Malatesta Maison.

Above: An impromptu cafe table and chairs offer a sunny respite to visiting guests who come to stay at this B&B, which offers seven rooms. For rates, see Malatesta-Maison.

Above: The obligatory "wellies" are always ready for that walk in the countryside.

Above: The common room is shared by all the visitors.

Above: The personal style of the owners runs throughout the house. For more, see their lifestyle blog Malatesta; La Nostra Maison de Charme.

Above: All-white interiors provide an elegant background for the modern furnishings and natural palette.

Above: Visitors pull Tolix stools up to the island and take breakfast in the working kitchen.

Above: In the 21st century, visitors to Malatesta Maison dine on Eames chairs.

Above: Every bedroom is furnished by the owners from their travels abroad or their finds from secret Italian markets.

Above: A simple wardrobe with a nod to a traditional profile is painted gray to blend in with the walls of the smallest room.

Above: Black accents are used throughout, offering contrast to the natural palette.

Above: Malatesta Maison is a complex of three buildings including a spa for those in search of deep repose.

N.B.: Planning a trip to Italy? See City Guides - Italy.

I have enjoyed a long- term monogamous relationship with the classic stovetop Bialetti, which is fabulously dependable. Here's a roundup of our favorite stovetop espresso makers; alll are made from stainless steel and have a six-cup capacity unless otherwise noted. No surprise, they are mostly Italian.

Above: The Ilsa Stovetop Espresso Maker; $66 for a four cup from Amazon.

Above: The Sorrentina Atomic Coffee Maker (otherwise known as the Atomic) comes with a milk frother. Originally designed by Milanese-born Giordano Robbiati in the late 1940s, it is now in reproduction. Available in the US for $438 from Taylor and Ng and overseas at Sorrentina Coffee.

Above:The Pina Espresso Coffee Maker designed by Piero Lissoni for Alessi. $118 for the six cup, $95 for the smaller three cup.

Above: The Alessi Espresso Coffee Maker by Richard Sapper; $184 from All Modern.

Above: Designed by London and Bologna-based Sebastian Bergne, the Maillard Espresso Machine is $160 from DWR.

Above: The Neopolitan Stovetop Espresso Maker works by the drip method. Once the water boils, the pot is turned upside down and the water drips into the pot below. Available in either aluminum or stainless steel; $62.95 from Vieco Kitchen.

Above: The industry workhorse: the Bialetti Stovetop Espresso Maker was invented in 1933 in Italy and is made from cast aluminum; $28.95 form Peet's Coffee.

Above: The Chambord Stovetop Espresso Maker from Bodum; $44.99 from Chef Central.

Above: Designed in 1968, the classic Giannini Espresso Coffee Maker; $170.99 from Amazon.

Above: La Cupola Espresso Coffee Maker designed by Aldo Rossi; $102 from Y Living.

Check out more related posts on Coffee.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on February 4, 2009.

Faced with the challenge of how to transform an open loft into a flexible space that served as both a venue for small events as well as more intimate accommodations for guests, some Florentines came up with an ingenious solutions: pallets.

Discovered via One Kind Design, the Pallet Loft is the work of Florence-based design firm studio q-bic. In order to transform the 1,937-square-foot loft into a poly-functional entertainment/accommodation space, the firm devised a system of smaller partitioned areas connected by generous openings. Modular surfaces comprised of recycled pallets increase the flexibility of the space.

Photos by Lorenzo Nencioni.

Above: In addition to providing mobile surfaces and plenty of storage, the pallets echo the beamed ceiling and enhance the industrial feel.

Above: Almost like a cathedral of design, the stony concrete interior, topped by ribbed ceilings pierced with celestial light, echoes the many churches of this Renaissance city.

Above: At each end of the loft, sleeping areas can be separated from the living/entertaining sections by sliding iron walls.

Above: To give the loft a contemporary feel, studio q-bic peppered the space with design classics by Eames, Saarinen, and LeCorbusier. Here, a Saarinen pedestal table provides a more intimate dining space in one of the side alcoves.

Above: Seen from the opposite end, the partitions create a dramatic enfilade.

Above: The beds too, made from pallets, can be easily moved.

Above: His and hers sinks stand bathed in natural light from the skylights above.

N.B. Looking for more soaring spaces? Take a tour of other inspired lofts in our gallery.

Milan-based Pave Bakery offers more than your typical Italian biscotti. The owners, four friends who share a love of sweets, wanted to offer their guests a place that feels as comfortable as their own living rooms.

For more information visit Pave online and in person at Via Felice Casati, 27 in Milan.

Above: Owner Diego Bamberghi preparing a glass of coffee.

Above: Pave pastry shop. Photo by Andrea Ruggeri.

Above: Reading lamps encourage lingering.

Above: All the furniture is handmade from reclaimed materials.

Above: Pastry and coffee served on a carrara marble table top.

Above: Pave makes their own chocolates wrapped in decorative paper.

Above: The stenciled drawers add a decorative element to the reclaimed furniture.

N.B.: Looking for more cafes to visit? See 192 other Restaurants around the world.

Years ago, I borrowed an Alpha Romeo from a friend and was loath to return it. I was smitten—not with the engine power (there was a lot) but with the tiny design details of the interior handles and knobs. I feel the very same way about Italian ranges; while they might fire up with gusto, it's the knobs and levers that have me enamored. They're well designed as opposed to being mere functional additions. Here's a round up of some good looking Italian ranges.

Above:The Smeg 30 inch Free Standing Range with five heavy duty burners; $2,490 from West Elm. Also available in 24 inch and 36 inch sizes for $2,000 and $2,599 respectively.

Above: The 30-inch Bertazzoni Professional Series X304GGVRO is a pro-style gas range with four sealed burners; shown in red for $3,849 from AJ Madison. Pricing starts at $2,949 for a stainless steel model.

Above: The Fratelli Onofri Pinnacle All Gas Range with five burners is available in stainless or anthracite and is $2,299 at AJ Madison (the anthracite is $3,449).

Above: The FratelliOnofri Royal Chiantishire Giant Ovenis available in four colors plus stainless steel; prices start at $2,499 for the stainless and black models.

Above: A cheaper option with five sealed burners is the Bertazzoni Master Series 36 Pro-Style Gas Range; $3,049 from Amazon. If space is a constraint, the 24 inch Bertazzoni Professional Series X244GGV pro-style gas range with four sealed Burners is $2,299 from AJ Madison.

Above: The grande dame: a traditional style dual fuel range, the 60 inch Ilve Majestic Collection UM150FS has five semi-sealed burners and additional options such as defrost function and convection oven. Available in a choice of colors, it is shown here in green with chrome trim for $15,398 from AJ Madison.

See more stovetops and ranges.

Milan-based artist Antonino Sciortino, a former dancer, expresses his lyrical side in his iron works.

Sciortino, who was born in Palermo, began working in his father's shop at the age of eight. His passion for dance led him to Rome, where he worked as a choreographer (his clients included Ricky Martin); during his spare time, he continued to design works in iron that "mix experiences and emotions," as he says. "Depending on the piece, it takes up to three weeks for me to finish. I work alone and all pieces are made by hand." To see more of his work, go to Antonino Sciortino.

N.B.: Belgian company Serax offers an array of designs by Sciortino; go to Serax to see the range.

Above: A trio of Kufu Tondo tables.

Above L: Antonino Sciortino, posing in a chair of his own design. Above R: Sciortino's bowls for Serax.

Above: La Palla pendant light.

Above: The Bingo side table.

Above: The Lumen light.

Above: The Lunga lounge chair.

Above:

Above: The Paolina chair.

N.B. This post is an update; the original ran on July 26, 2010.

We have a style crush on Italian firm b-arch, headed by Prato-based Sabrina Bignami and Alessandro Capellaro; the duo creates projects featuring a mix of vintage (rustic marble sinks, leather trunks) and modern elements (Vola faucets, midcentury lights), as in this family house in Prato.

To see more of the firm's work, go to b-arch.

Above: An all white kitchen with white Vola faucet.

Above: Throughout the house, b-arch used midcentury classics; in the dining area, a Saarinen Tulip Table is surrounded by Tulip Dining Chairs.

Above: Vintage pieces contrast with the sleek Saarinen dining set.

Above: Old meets new: a vintage piano and stool mixed with a Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer chair and a Tolomeo Mega Lamp with parchment shade.

Above: A bottle lamp by Martin Margiela (see our DIY: Maison Martin Margiela Bottle Lamps post).

Above: A rope stair rail (see more at 10 Favorite: Simple Rope Stair Rails).

Above: The stairway is cleverly illuminated by niche lighting.

Above: A half-painted wall creates a headboard effect in a guest bedroom/study.

Above: A pink Panton chair in a girl's study area.

Above: A recessed bed in in girl's bedroom.

Above: A trio of ceramic lights in the master bedroom.

Above: The architects hewed to an all-white palette throughout the house.

Above: A vintage grain sack and a metal filing cabinet add an unexpected note in the master bath.

Above: A reclaimed vintage marble sink adds a note of rusticity.

Above: A vintage leather trunk serves as a table in the bathroom.

Above: A laundry room with curtained sink.

A small apartment in Mantova, Italy, uses an interplay of textures—all in neutral colors—to striking effect.

Designed by Mantova-based multidisciplinary design firm Archiplan Studio, the project investigates the relationship between precise and rustic, natural and artificial. The apartment's broad spectrum of materials includes original rough-hewn beamed ceilings—some painted white and some left au natural—along with aging brick walls and primitive wood furniture. But shutters are brand-new and perfectly symmetrical, sheetrock walls end with precise knife-edge finishes, and a built-in wood cabinet sports a mirror-finish brass facade. Though the materials vary wildly in texture, they share a neutral color palette that ties them all together and keeps the emphasis on texture—which is what the architects intended.

Photography by Martina Mambrin via ArchDaily.

Above: Lighting is minimal, with only carefully directed spotlights and one simple chandelier.

Above: The only interruption of this concrete wall is an electrical outlet and a perfectly cut nook for the refrigerator to reside.

Above: The dining table and chairs are from Ikea, and the wall cabinet was designed by Ghiroldi and clad in polished brass.

Above: Stairs leading to the bedroom employ a knife-edge finish, juxtaposing a modern design against an aging wall.

Above: Bricks installed on a slant in alternating directions make the brick wall look like a permanent, worn bookshelf.

Above: Spotlights directed at the wall emphasize the bedroom's height and suggest decorative archways.

Above: Slatted wood shutters and vaulted ceilings add to the ecclesiastical feel of the space.

Above: Bathroom fixtures are from Italian company Agape.

Above: The apartment's color palette is narrow, but the variations on white, ivory, and wood tones ensure that the neutrals play off one other.

Looking for more neutral spaces? See 551 images of cream-colored spaces in our image gallery.

Possibly the largest floor map ever? Italian company Area Pavimenti uses digital processing to transpose images onto wool carpeting. In this case, a map of Africa, perfect for edification.

Is Puglia the new Tuscany (and not just because Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel staged a wedding celebration there recently)? After paging through Rizzoli's "Masseria: The Italian Farmhouses of Puglia," we're beginning to think so.

The houses of Puglia, called "masseria," are fortified structures of brick, stone, and concrete dating from the Middle Ages and surrounded by verdant vineyards and groves of olive trees; many have been renovated to serve as private residences or boutique hotels (see Paradise in Puglia: Pensione to the Stars). You can admire the local architecture in Masseria: The Italian Farmhouses of Puglia (Rizzoli).

Above: Masseria: The Italian Farmhouses of Puglia; $38.50 from Amazon.

Above: A classic stone-floored bedroom with whitewashed walls (insider tip: a good source for luxe villa rentals is Think Puglia).

Above: A fanciful headboard in a stone-walled villa.

Above: Bunches of peppers add a dash of color to a whitewashed restaurant interior.