Home Inspiration With Remodelista Team
We're hosting our first Remodelista & Gardenista Market of the year on May 9—the day before Mother's Day—at the Marin Country Mart in Larkspur Landing, California, just 30 minutes from San Francisco. (It's a lovely drive over the Golden Gate Bridge.)
More than 40 favorite local designers and creators will be there, and we've rounded up gifts from them that we have in mind for our moms. (For pricier items, we say go in with your siblings.)
See our Markets page for details, including a full list of vendors. Hope to see you there!
Above: Furniture designer Alice Tacheny's Flax designs are pyramid-shaped brass wall sculptures (ideal for air plant display). Tacheny offers a small, closed version for $60, and large, open pyramid, shown here, for $120.
Above: Petel Design of SF makes Zip Pouches out of vintage textiles from Mauritania paired with suede from Brazil, France, and California; $80.
Above: Glassybaby, Seattle purveyor of glass votives in a dazzling array of colors, now offers Drinker cups, shown here in Bubbles (L) and Bellini (R). They're $55 each.
Above: For mothers who are serious cooks, we like the 5-Inch Walnut Chef Knife by Million and Clark, made by hand on California's northern coast; $175.
Above: Nourishing Organic Olive Oil Soap contains 85-percent organic ingredients and is made in Northern California by natural beauty products line Heliotrope; $9 each.
Above: LA cult jeweler Kathleen Whitaker offers her solid-gold Tube Rings in three thicknesses. The small ring, shown here in 14-karat rose gold, is $150.
Above: We have our eyes on the block-printed silk-cotton Zipper Scarf in charcoal and "Rajasthani-sunset orange" from sisters Lily and Hopi Stockman of Block Shop; $120.
Go to our Markets page and the Marin Country Mart for the May 9 Remodelista & Gardenista Market details and directions.
Can't make it to the market? We've still got you covered:
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Home Inspiration With Margot Guralnick
Just as colors evoke places, paints from around the world speak in irresistible foreign accents. At least we think so—which explains why admiring the offerings from stylish, far-away paint companies is a favorite pastime around here. True, we're unlikely to be able to bring a quart home, but we love looking. Join the club: Here are some of our favorites from the Remodelista greatest hits archive (and several have US vendors).
England
Above: Konig Colours: A New Line of Eco Paints from England's First Family of Design.
Above: 5 Favorites: British Boutique Paint Companies.
Above: Back to Nature: The Appeal of Linseed Paints.
Above: Instant Patina: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.
Above: Marston-Langinger's Luxe Line of 84 Exterior Colors.
Above: From Plain English: Bespoke Color Created by an Accidental Decorator.
Australia
Above: 5 Boutique Paint Lines from Down Under.
Above: Sydney Harbour Paint Company—founded as Porter's Paints in Australia, the company has showrooms in New York and California. (LA designer Amanda Pays swears by Sydney Harbour Paints—take a look at it in her LA Laundry Room.)
Above: DIY: Paint Chip Mural from Murobond.
France
Above: The Unbuttoned Palette: Ressource's Sexy Paint Colors from Paris.
The Netherlands
Above: Replicate the Glossy Doors of Amsterdam Using Fine Paints of Europe. The company's imported-from-Holland paints are available in the US; after reading our post about its Dutch Door Paint Kit, I used it on my own front door and love the results.
Sweden
Above: Remodeling 101: Limewash Paint. These, too, are imported to the US—see Justine's recent DIY Project: Limewashed Walls for Modern Times.
Go to Palette & Paints to explore more of our favorites, including:
Need to paint your house? Go to Gardenista for help choosing the right color.
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Kitchens With Meredith Swinehart
The time has come to look beyond icebox white and stainless steel. For a bold focal point in the kitchen, consider the colorful refrigerator. Here are 10 notable examples.
Red
Above: A bright red refrigerator in the micro apartment of Brazilian architect Alan Chu. Photograph via Dezeen.
Above: A kitchen in Australia by Tom Mark Henry.
Above: A crimson refrigerator/freezer Ice Chest from Meneghini of Longino, Italy, available from The Barn in the UK.
Above: West Elm is currently offering Smeg Refrigerators in 11 colors, including red shown here.
Green
Above: A green vintage Philco refrigerator in a 700-square-foot 1920s cottage in the Catskills. Read more in the New York Times.
Above: A pale green fridge from repro specialists Big Chill in the LA home of graphic designer Megan Garrett. Photograph via Design Sponge.
Above: A mint green Smeg refrigerator in a whitewashed villa in the Greek Cyclades. See the rest of the house in An Aegean Idyll on a Greek Island.
Yellow
Above: Pastel yellow in a kitchen via Arq Design.
Above: An Original Fridge by Big Chill, shown here in Buttercup Yellow and available in seven other colors. Photograph via Big Chill supplier Mission West Kitchen & Bath.
Pink
Above: A cranberry option in a contemporary addition to a Kent, England, farmhouse. See more in Kitchen of the Week.
Above: A pink Smeg fridge at home in an industrial apartment. Photograph via Decoration et Design.
Blue
Above: A cobalt blue Smeg refrigerator in a photo by Sylvie Becquet from our post Accessories: Plates as Wall Decor.
Above: A blue fridge by Slovenian manufacturer Gorenje in the birch kitchen of a Berlin research scientist with a knack for design. Photograph via Decor8.
Keep exploring color in the kitchen and beyond:
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DIY & Remodeling With Meredith Swinehart
An easy DIY with a big return on investment: swapping out your standard-issue hardware for hand-painted wooden knobs.
Spotted on Lushlee, these painted pastel knobs could be used to match or stylishly mismatch a dresser.
Above: The inspiration: hand-painted knobs by Finnish designer and stylist Riikka Kantinkoski of Weekday Carnival and RK Design.
Above: For a similar rough-hewn look, don't bother sanding or priming first. (But do for a smooth, opaque finish.) Use painter's tape to block the top while painting the base.
Top: The 1 1/4-inch Natural Wood Mushroom Knobs are $3.30 on Amazon. Many paint suppliers sell eight-ounce samples of their wall paints, an easy way to match a color you already have at home. Above Bottom: Glidden offers two-ounce Paint Testers—brush included—for about $1.
Go to our Hardware archive for more ideas. And find your next easy project by perusing our DIY collection:
This post is an update; the original ran on March 29, 2012, as part of our Rite of Spring issue.
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DIY & Remodeling With Janet Hall
Drawn to natural stone but also a fan of color? Until recently, the options in the countertop world were limited, but of late, lava stone has been gaining traction—and introducing an eye-opening new palette to the kitchen. Is this a countertop to consider? Read on to find out.
Above: Glazed lava stone has advantages that raw stones, such as marble and granite, lack: color, for starters. Photograph via Made a Mano.
What is lava stone?
Lava stone is a natural volcanic rock that is quarried, cut into slabs, topped with an enamel glaze, and fired at a very high heat. The fact that it's volcanic lends it a toughness: Lava stone can withstand high temperatures, offers even heat distribution, and can be glazed, which sets it apart from other stone countertops.
Above: Cut slabs of lava stone await glazing. Lava stone is sourced primarily from quarries in France (from the crater of an inactive volcano in Auvergne) and Italy (at the foot of the active volcano Mount Etna in Sicily). Photograph via Made a Mano.
Above: Lava stone's surface is typically patterned with crazing—a web of lines and cracks—that appears in the glazing during the cooling process and, according to fans, lends character. Photograph via Low Impact Ltd.
What are the benefits of using lava stone countertops?
- Resistant to heat, cold, and temperature fluctuations. Lava stone has a natural ability to dissipate heat very well, meaning that hot pans can be placed directly on the surface without damage.
- Extremely durable. The firing process creates an exceptionally hard surface that can withstand corrosive chemicals and UV exposure (no fading!). It doesn't chip or scratch easily, but watch out for knife edges—use a cutting board.
- Nonporous. The material is impervious to water, won't harbor bacteria, and is stain resistant.
- Appropriate for indoor and outdoor applications. For all of the reasons listed above, lava stone can withstand everything that outdoor life throws its way. Fun fact: Thanks to its strength and permanence, lava stone has been used for road signs in France for most of the past century. (The famous Art Nouveau metro signs in Paris? Lava stone.)
- The finish is beautiful and available in a wide range of colors.
- Sustainable. A naturally occurring resource, lava stone is also environmentally friendly because it's so indestructable (reducing the waste involved in having to replace less durable countertops). Just be sure to love the material; it's like a long marriage.
What colors and finishes are available?
The enameled glaze that tops the stone slabs is available in nearly any color you can imagine, from vivid blues and greens, to clean whites, metallics, and even neutral shades. Most lava stone manufacturers (and there are only a few) offer a number of standard colors, but custom, made-to-order colors are limited only by your imagination. Glossy and matte finishes are also available, but the mattes are limited to a narrow range of more subdued colors.
Above: The leading manufacturer of lava stone is the French company Pyrolave, which offers a palette of 32 colors, 16 in glossy and 16 in matte.
Above: Danish company Made a Mano offers glazed lava stone countertops in two color collections: Ossido (15 neutral and metallic shades) and Cristalli (16 vibrant hues). This kitchen backsplash features lava stone in three shades from the Ossido color group.
Above: Until recently, all lava stone was manufactured in Europe. Now the material is making inroads in the US, thanks to MGO Stone Classics, which fabricates its LavArte glazed lava stone in New York State. MGO brings raw stone from Sicily and then custom cuts, fires, and glazes it for each project.
How do you clean and maintain lava stone?
Lava stone's best attributes include its lack of maintenance. It doesn't require a sealant or treatment with any special cleaners because it doesn't stain or harbor bacteria. A wipe with something mild, like soap and water, is about all it requires. The only recommendation is to use cutting boards on the surface to protect the countertop and your knives (which also makes cleanup easier).
Above: A lava stone counter from LavArte in antique white.
How much do lava stone countertops cost?
Lava stone's biggest deterrent is its price. At $250 to $350 per square foot, it's one of the most expensive countertop materials around, comparable to, or even exceeding, high-end marble. Most of the expense is due to the cost of shipping the stone. This is exacerbated by the low number of suppliers and the handwork required in the fabrication and glazing process.
Above: Glazed lava stone tabletops, such as this Blue French Lava Stone Tabletop available to order through Sue Fisher King in San Francisco, are great for outdoor use and are offered in a range of sizes and colors.
Lava Stone Countertop Recap
Pros
- Durable and long-lasting
- Nonporous
- Heat and cold resistant
- Available in a huge range of colors
- Fresh-looking because it's relatively new to the market
- Can be used indoors and out
- Maintenance free
- A natural resource
Cons
- Very expensive
- Cannot be refinished if you tire of the color
Above: A blue-glazed lava stone counter tops an island in a San Francisco kitchen by Martha Angus.
Researching new countertops? Read Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Kitchen Countertops. And for more specifics on the subject, see our Remodeling 101 posts:
This post is an update; it originally ran on January 15, 2015, as part of our Kitchen Secrets issue.
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