Required Reading: Tile Makes the Room: Good Design from Heath Ceramics - Remodelista 09/30/15

In Today's Remodelista Daily Required Reading: Tile Makes the Room: Good Design from Heath Ceramics Find what you are looking for on Remodelista.com Become a Fan on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Instagram   Architecture & Interiors With Sarah Lonsdale Required Reading: Tile Makes the Room: Good Design from Heath Ceramics When industrial designer Catherine Bailey and product designer Robin Petravic took over the reins at Heath Ceramics in 2003, the company was most noted for its iconic dinnerware. Since then, the Sausalito-based company has helped put tile firmly on the map, taking what was once considered mostly a functional material and helping it become a major element in interior design today. We sat down and discussed the merits of tile.  Photography copyright by Mariko Reed. Above: Catherine Bailey, Robin Petravic, and their dog, Oliver, in the Heath Ceramics factory in Sausalito. Remodelista: When you bought Heath in 2003, what was your general perception of tile? Catherine Bailey: I was already interested in tiles before Heath. When I lived in Portland, OR, I would go to Pratt & Larson and there was a room full of tables with tiles and I'd mill around and buy tile with no place to put it, just thinking someday I'd like to do something with it.  Robin Petravic: Prior to Heath, I never really thought about tile too much. It was this functional thing then, and I wondered why people weren't doing anything more with tile.   Above: A wall of Heath's copper green tiles at Farmshop Restaurant in Marin, designed by Commune Design. RM: When did your perception of tile change? CB: A lot of tile was happening in the eighties with everything in a grid and that got stuck in people's heads. We saw the shaped tiles that we make at Heath with such wonderful depth and texture—while they were different, those shaped tiles felt right and represented tile as a very clear design element. Focusing on that was a way to open people's mind to the possibilities of tile and that became more interesting to us. RP: This was an amazing installation at the Maritime hotel in New York, the Matsuri restaurant [now closed] with green Heath oval tiles that covered a massive wall that spanned the space from end to end. It was part of the architecture. CB: Also the Pasadena Norton Simon Museum built in 1973, which used Heath tiles with a really unique lava-like glaze. No other material would be as wonderful, and it's aged so well. From far away it's great, but when close up it's an amazing glaze and you can really see it's a handmade material.   Above: Three-dimensional diamond and bow tie Heath tiles define the kitchen in classic midcentury style in this Southern California home designed by Maurice McKenzie and Stacey Chapman Paton. RM: What should people know about tile? CB: You have to realize it's not wallpaper. You're putting it in for life or at least 20 years so you should think of it differently. It should meld in with the architecture of the space, it's not a covering. You should really consider if you are doing something too showy or too of-the-moment. It's not a fashion statement. It should become part of the building. In the book we have tried to show examples of older tiled buildings that have aged. Good quality tile will age well and can patina nicely. RM: How do you think the tile industry has changed over the past decade? RP: There's been a shift in tile. The only choice used to be Home Depot or depressing tile show rooms that were really undesigned and uninspiring and overwhelming. Now there is so much access to inspiration of what you can do with tile such as on websites like Remodelista.   Above: Yellow tile around a farmhouse sink in the upstate New York home of Alan Wanzenberg. RM: How has the use of tile changed in recent years? RP: Tile used to be used to make an environment antiseptic. Everything would be covered in a bathroom and all the corners would be rounded in bullnose and it would look a little soul-less. In the book we show a lot of ways to use tile. For example, New York architect Alan Wanzenberg uses wood trim around the tile in his laundry room. Using bullnose there would have ruined it.   Above: The tile in this shower designed by San Francisco–based John Maniscalco Architecture uses pattern to define the space.  RM: The importance of grout? CB: Grout is a serious decision and there is a much broader way to look at it. It's a major part of the design, whereas it's still often treated as the afterthought of the installation. If you do it wrong it's hard to fix it. RP: Think about the spacing of the tile. Do you want it to be about the shape of the tile and the texture of the tile? What do you want to accentuate? Do you want the grout to recede or stand out in the background? When you have such a range of color and glazes, you don't want too many elements. CB: It's important to think of lifestyle, too. For our lifestyle we could never think of using a light colored grout on floors as we have these giant slobbery dogs, so we went with the darkest grout we could find.  RM: Unlike paint you can't really test grout and tile, right? CB: On some big jobs we might suggest a client make a board with grout and tile and they'll test it in the space. That's a bit much on a residential job, but you can take the actual grout powder and wet it a little—grout gets slightly darker when applied—and put it right on an extra tile. You can hold it up and see them together.   Above: A fully tiled wall in the salvaged kitchen of the Roddick's London home by Maria Speake of Retrouvius. RM: Observations on how European and American tile differs? RP: We've basically noticed that with American houses, the approach is often to gut it all and do everything new—make it all straight, pristine, and clean. In Europe we saw that people worked with the inconsistencies of the building. The Roddick house in London [featured in the book] has so much character. The walls aren't straight and there's character in the way the tile layers with the old wood cabinetry in the kitchen. In current American design there seems to be less interest to work with elements that are old, and sometimes that can mean some of the soul and character of a building is lost.  RM: Thoughts on the future of tile? CB: There's a lot of technical, mass-produced stuff going on with tile that's aesthetically interesting, pristine, and precise, and technology has given rise to a lot of cool stuff like print. Right now there's a lot of engineering in imperfections to make it look like it's handcrafted, but it's fakery. It looks pretty good until you get close. That's not as interesting to us. What we love and appreciate is the lack of control in the process of firing glazes and embracing that. It is expensive to make tile the way we do it at Heath—but with our approach, tile has more character, richness, and depth, which can do wonders for the larger design of a space. The world of inexpensive tile will continue to grow, but there's also a renewed appreciation for the tile we make and how we make it. Above: Barbara Bestor of Bestor Architecture juxtposes bright yellow tiles in a geometric pattern with a clean white interior in this Los Angeles bathroom. RM: From your travels, what has been your most blow-away tile experience? CB: Portugal in general is so exciting. Robin said it best when he wrote on Instagram, "The Portuguese use tile the way stucco is used in LA." They love to tile every little crazy place on the exterior with patterns. It's fun. Also the tile museum in Lisbon is super-thoughtful and inspiring, and we never tire of the Eastern building and Union Station in downtown LA. And Gaudi in Spain…there's so much good stuff. RM: What do you wish people would understand about tile? CB: Tile is one of these elements of design that you can make yours. There are so many options from variations in colors, shapes, and finishes. It can be overwhelming, but you can really make it yours. Above: Tile Makes the Room: Good Design from Heath Ceramics by Catherine Bailey and Robin Petravic, published by Ten Speed Press is available from Amazon for $22.  For more on the interiors featured in the book, see these posts: A Simple Bathroom from Bestor Architecture A Glamorous Barbican Flat from Retrouvius Read more about our previous Heath Ceramics features More Stories from Remodelista Reader Rehab: A Chic Fixer-Upper A-Frame on Fire Island Top 5 in Design News: London Design Recap, Jony Ive's First Store, and a Good Week for Women in Architecture How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets: 5 Tips from a Master Painter Forward to a friend  |   Share on Facebook   |   Share on Twitter   View email in browser |  Update your profile | Forward to a friend | Subscribe to Remodelista Daily This is the part of the daily email newsletter from Remodelista & Gardenista. You have opted to receive this email but you can always Unsubscribe. 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Laden Cafe: Food, Wine, and Design in Berlin - Remodelista 09/29/15

In Today's Remodelista Daily Laden Cafe: Food, Wine, and Design in Berlin Owen Wall: London's Ceramicist to the Culinary Stars Steal This Look: An English Kitchen with a Rustic-Modern Edge True Nature Botanicals: Nontoxic, Science-First Skin Care Trend Alert: 17 Deconstructed Kitchens High/Low: Dot Wall Hooks Reader Rehab: A Chic Fixer-Upper A-Frame on Fire Island Find what you are looking for on Remodelista.com Become a Fan on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Instagram   Design Travel With Julie Carlson Laden Cafe: Food, Wine, and Design in Berlin Proof that it pays to wander: This past June, on the last day of a quick trip to Berlin, I rounded a corner in the Mitte and made my favorite discovery of the week: Laden, a just opened (that morning) cafe and furniture showroom with a lush vegetable garden out back. A collaboration between the Lokal restaurant team and furniture makers Buchholz Berlin, Laden is a showroom for Buchholz's rustic tables, stools, cutting boards, and wooden bowls, as well as a cafe serving flatbreads, wine, and afternoon coffee.  Katja Buchholz, the architect and designer behind Buchholz Berlin (she's also worked in the Berlin office of David Chipperfield), had been on the hunt for a location to showcase her line of furniture and accessories made from "regionally available materials," as she says, when she discovered the space. "Our wood is sourced locally and we use bio-tanned leather from the Bavarian alps and recycled metal from a local metal worker." Pieces are available to buy right off the floor or to order; see the range at Buchholz Berlin.  Photography by Dirk Lange, unless otherwise noted. Restaurant Above: The cafe is located in a 1780-listed building; the design team unearthed original wall murals of the Ballhaus during the renovation. Above (L to R): A simple counter where lunch is served; a rustic tabletop; photographs via Anne Li West. Above: A table set for lunch. Above: A vintage copper trough serves as a wine cooler. Above: Double doors open directly onto the vegetable garden. Above: The rustic outdoor dining table is surrounded by a suite of folding Piana chairs, designed by David Chipperfield for Alessi; $225 each at Design Within Reach. Photograph via AnneLiWest Berlin. Above: Five raised garden beds made from domestic oak planks are planted with kohlrabi, kale, cabbage, chard, and fennel, which appear on the daily menu. Above: Vegetable harvesting. Photograph via AnneLiWest Berlin. Shop Above: The Sauener Forestry Table starts at €2,590 ($2,902). Above: The Tripod Stools are €90 ($101) each; buy three or more and you get a discount.  Above: Prices for the Ash Trays start at €59 ($66). Above: The Cedar Board-a-Porter is €49 ($55).   Above: Prices for Beech Wood Bowls start at €9 ($10). Laden, located at 20 Joachim Strasse, in the Mitte district of Berlin, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, noon until 8 p.m. For more ideas, see our Insider's Guide: 14 Don't-Miss Restaurants, Coffee Shops, and Cocktail Bars in Berlin. More Stories from Remodelista Pretty in Pink: Brunette Wine Bar in the Hudson Valley Urban Sanctuary: The Margot House in Barcelona Modern Mayberry: One Girl Cookies' Newest Brooklyn Outpost Forward to a friend  |   Share on Facebook   |   Share on Twitter   Dining Rooms With Julie Carlson Owen Wall: London's Ceramicist to the Culinary Stars East London–based Owen Wall, an honors ceramics graduate of the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, got his start producing tableware for Michelin-starred Shoreditch restaurant the Clove Club. He's gone on to work with Lyle's, Bao, and other favorite dining spots (and he's poised to make a splash across the pond; recently, the Future Perfect in NYC picked up his line).  Above: Ceramic plates for Elliot's Cafe. "I'm inspired by the modern crafted looks of Japan, Sweden, and Denmark," Wall told the Financial Times.  Above: Stacking plates for the Clove Club. Above: James Lowe, chef and co-owner of Lyle's, told the FT: "The plates Owen has made for us are plain but interesting upon closer inspection. Which is similar to our food. It looks simple, but if you delve a little deeper, you'll find there's a lot to it." Above: The Future Perfect in NYC has recently started carrying Wall's Greenware Line. The Shallow Bowl is $56 and the Green Plate is $64. The Koya Pouring Bowl is $51 and the Moon Plate is $68.  More Stories from Remodelista 10 Easy Pieces: Quirky Glassware, Stemmed Edition 10 Easy Pieces: Quirky Glassware Pared Down Simplicity: New Furniture from a Cult Woodworker Forward to a friend  |   Share on Facebook   |   Share on Twitter   Kitchens With Alexa Hotz Steal This Look: An English Kitchen with a Rustic-Modern Edge One of our favorite projects of all time is London architect David Kohn's conversion of a former stable into a house that seamlessly blends past and present, rustic and clean-lined. Today we're spotlighting the stable's compact eat-in kitchen, a soulful layering of wood and white bricks that also has a sense of modernism (thanks in part to a highly covetable midcentury table and set of chairs by Pierre Jeanneret). We've sourced a checklist of products—from a compact refrigerator to a Swedish broom—to achieve a similar look. Above: Kohn's kitchen is evidence that rustic and modern can happily coexist in a compact space. For a full tour of the project, see A Stable Reborn in Rural Norfolk. The Basics Above: Benjamin Moore's Steam Paint is a color that appears quite yellow on a swatch, but on the wall is a very neutral white: not too yellow, not too blue. It's the white that was used at couture kitchen store March in San Francisco and is a close match to the white paint on the stable's brick walls; $36.99 per gallon of Ben Interior Paint. Above: The Viking Professional Series Pro-Style 30-Inch Induction Range is $8,059 from Elite Appliance. For more Kitchen Range options, visit our Shop section. Above: The small kitchen features a compact under-counter refrigerator; the Avanti Built-In Outdoor Refrigerator works inside and out and has an extra-long power cord and casters for portability; $689 at Best Buy. For more ideas, see our recent post 10 Easy Pieces: Compact Refrigerators. Above: The traditional Churchman's Kitchen Pillar Taps are £112 ($170) at Bath Shop 321. Tap Shop 321 has the Churchman's High Neck Kitchen Pillar Taps faucet for £58 ($88). Above: The Universal Fireclay Farmhouse Kitchen Sink features a convenient offset drain; $1,475 from Waterworks. For more ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: White Kitchen Farmhouse Sinks. Furniture Above: A highlight of the kitchen is the pair of vintage V-Type Chairs designed by Pierre Jeanneret in 1958-59. The chairs have a black-stained teak frame and a caned seat and back. They're available in the armchair version for (gulp) $10,000 each through midcentury dealer 1950 and many other sellers on 1st Dibs. Above: We found a vastly less pricey stand-in at West Elm; the Upton Dining Chair with an upholstered seat and caned seat back; $254. Above: The kitchen table is another Jeanneret teak design, the PGI University Dining Table, from 1950. It's hard to come by, and pricey, but an alternative period piece, minus the tapered legs, can easily be sourced from a flea market or vintage dealer, such as Midcentury LA, whose restored vintage Danish Teak Dining Table, shown here, is $900. Accessories Above: Large and Small Suede Pot Holders in English Toast are $22 and $18.50 at March. Above: From Fern Handcrafted Furniture in New York's Hudson Valley, the Amoeba Cutting Boards are a set of three boards made from locally sourced slabs of maple, black walnut, and cherry in three different sizes; for pricing and information, contact Fern. Above: The classic Bialetti 6800 Monka Express Stovetop Percolator is $20.25 for the three-cup size from Amazon. For more options, see 10 Easy Pieces: Stovetop Espresso Makers. Above: From World Kitchen, the classic Revere 2 1/3-Quart Copper Bottom Kettle is $23.51 on Amazon. Above: A set of six small glass Weck Jars is $27 at Heath Ceramics. The jars are also available from Schoolhouse Electric, starting at $4 per jar. Above: Cleaning products from Australian company Murchison-Hume are now widely available in the US. The Heirloom Dishwashing Liquid, in a large amber glass bottle, is an eco-friendly solution said to improve the condition of your wastewater as it drains; $21 from The Line. Above: A variety of antique Wooden Serving Trays and Bowls are available at Galerie Half in LA; contact for pricing and availability. Above: Featured in the Remodelista 100, the Model One Radio, designed by Henry Kloss for Tivoli Audio, is $149.99 from Lumens. Above: From Swedish company Iris Hantwerk, which employs visually impaired craftspeople, the Swedish Broom has a birch handle and palmyra fiber brush; £18.50 ($27) at Objects of Use. Our Steal This Look column appears every Tuesday morning; click here to browse past posts. For another kitchen featuring white-painted bricks, see An Architect-Designed Compound in Shanghai. For more rustic cutting boards, have a look at British Roots: Hampson Woods' Curvy Handled Serving Boards. N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on February 25, 2014, as part of our Winter Break issue. More Stories from Remodelista Trend Alert: 17 Deconstructed Kitchens Blenheim Forge: Grassroots Kitchen Knives from South London Kitchen of the Week: The Dinesen Wood Kitchen Forward to a friend  |   Share on Facebook   |   Share on Twitter   Personal Style With Remodelista Team True Nature Botanicals: Nontoxic, Science-First Skin Care Here at Remodelista, we've had the pleasure of getting to know Hillary Peterson and her stellar line of natural skin care, perfumes, and hair care. Through her Mill Valley, California-based company—True Nature Botanicals—she's joined us for Remodelista Markets, sponsored a Gardenista giveaway, and has always let us pick her brain about her line—why she created it, how it works, and more. If you could chat with Hillary in person like we have, you'd notice two convincing things straight away: her glowing skin and her in-depth knowledge of the science of skin care. Here's a little about how we got so hooked. (Take note: Now through October 4, Remodelista readers get 15 percent off at checkout with code REMODELISTA.) How True Nature Botanicals Is Different  "What goes on your skin, goes into your body." That's one of Hillary's sayings, and one of the reasons she founded True Nature Botanicals—to keep toxins out of her skin care, and therefore out of her body, without exception. On equal par with True Nature's "no toxins" rule is a mandate for superior results for skin. According to Hillary, using a nontoxic regimen doesn't have to mean sacrificing results or forgoing potent antiaging ingredients. Above: Pacific Face Oil is True Nature Botanicals' most beloved product. ("We've had maybe one return in three years," says Hillary.) It's an everyday moisturizing serum suited for all skin types, packed with kiwi, chia, and rosehip seed oils, all rich in antioxidants and the essential fatty acids that strengthen cell membranes. The overarching concept here is to moisturize from within: "When your cells are healthy, your skin glows," says Hillary; $110. Why Safety First As a melanoma survivor, Hillary has a deep appreciation for the need to protect skin from the sun. And as a survivor of thyroid cancer, she doesn't lose sight of the health of the overall body. If you're using toxic sunscreen, she reasons, why protect yourself from one kind of cancer while potentially increasing your risk for another? Following her cancers, Hillary knew there must be a better way. Today she's on an unrelenting quest for the safest, most effective skincare ingredients known—and not-yet-known—to man.  Above: Pacific Soothing Face Oil is True Nature's daily moisturizer for sensitive skin (including skin prone to rosacea). Pomegranate seed oil calms sensitive skin, blue chamomile oil has skin-healing properties, and grape seed oil is naturally hypoallergenic and rich in vitamin F, crucial for healing wounds and calming irritated skin; $110.  The Ingredients True Nature Botanicals is rightly proud of the fact that they spend up to five times as much on their ingredients as the leading luxury skin-care and fragrance lines. Take seed oils as an example: It is labor-intensive to extract the beneficial oils from tiny seeds such as chia, kiwi, and papaya, but they are loaded with the antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamins your skin needs—so True Nature Botanicals uses as much seed oils as required. On True Nature's ingredients lists, you'll notice these highest-caliber ingredients at the top: "Ingredients are listed on any package in order of quantity," says Hillary. "We use as much of the best ingredients as we need to make the most effective products. Here, those ingredients are for results, not for marketing." Above: Pacific Balancing Face Oil is the daily moisturizing oil for blemish-prone skin that is in need of antiaging care. Helichrysum oil fights infection and heals scarring, and black cumin seed oil is a natural antibacterial. Avocado and sunflower oils help limit production of sebum, the oil whose overabundance is implicated in acne. Vogue magazine called this formulation "one of the most coveted in the United States." $110.  Does It Work?  True Nature Botanicals tested its flagship product—Pacific Face Oil—against the world-famous Crème de La Mer. Pacific Face Oil outperformed La Mer in every category, from wrinkle reduction to pore size and facial smoothness. And La Mer users showed a 29 percent increase in clogged pores while using the cream versus no increased congestion with Pacific Face Oil. (Read the results of the clinical trial here.) True Nature Botanicals doesn't pull any punches when it comes to antiaging. According to Hillary, retinol is one of the few proven antiaging ingredients, and its safe, non-irritating potency is packed in True Nature Botanicals' Pacific Night Serum with Retinol.  One of the most intriguing things we learned from Hillary is that the need to protect against sun damage—both skin aging and skin cancer—doesn't stop once you're out of the sun. A February 2015 Yale University study demonstrates that "UV light can continue to harm the skin and inflict cancer-causing damage hours after exposure and even in the dark." A potential remedy? Applying antioxidants directly to the skin following time in the sun, like those contained in True Nature's Pacific Body Oil. (Read more on the science here.) Above: Pacific Mist is a lightweight skin freshener that provides moisturizing marine extracts to the topmost layers of the skin. It's made of antiaging white and green tea extracts and antioxidants sea kelp and sea fennel. The results are plumper, dewy skin—which makes wrinkles harder to see; $48.  The People Behind It One of the most convincing elements of the True Nature Botanicals approach is the company's all-star advisory board—industry leaders who put their knowledge to work for the True Nature Botanicals cause. Among the product advisors are a Carnegie Mellon professor of green chemistry; a Beverly Hills dermatologist (and UCLA Medical School faculty member) who specializes in the prevention of melanoma and other skin cancers; and the director of spas at world-renowned Auberge Resorts. These advisers aren't figureheads—Hillary has them on speed dial and is quick to ask questions about ingredients, studies, and ideas.   Above: Pacific Exfoliating Moisture Mask provides gentle exfoliation using alpha-hydroxy acids, while avocado butter's vitamins and fatty acids calm and moisturize the skin; $90.  What We Love Several of us at Remodelista are True Nature Botanicals devotees. Here are some thoughts on a few of our favorite products.  Remodelista editor in chief Julie Carlson relies on True Nature Botanicals' entire skin care range: "I'm a skeptic when it comes to skin-care products. I've never been one to spring for faddish formulations (the Crème de la Mer craze of a few years ago completely baffled me) or to pay much attention to ingredients. So I wasn't expecting to fall in love with True Nature Botanicals, but after a few weeks of using the line, I found myself a convert. We first discovered the products when Hillary brought the line to our first-ever Remodelista Holiday Market in Mill Valley a few years ago. I started out using the Pacific Face Oil and was so pleased with the results that I added the Night Serum with Retinol to my regime. The emphasis on organic, botanical ingredients combined with the efficacy of the products has me convinced (and I've converted more than a few of my friends as well)." Gardenista editor in chief Michelle Slatalla is a fan of Pacific Night Serum with Retinol: "My entire daily skin-care regimen consisted of splashing water on my face in the morning—until the day a few months ago when Julie dragged me into a little shop in Mill Valley to meet Hillary Peterson. I left with a bottle of Night Serum with Retinol. After a few days and a few pea-size dabs, I noticed a marked improvement—smoother skin, a better complexion, fewer blemishes. And the other day at one of our editorial meetings, Margot said, 'You look so rested.'" Remodelista features editor Meredith Swinehart loves Pacific Exfoliating Moisture Mask and Pacific Mist: "My skin is clear but tends toward dry and dull—I've come to rely on Pacific Exfoliating Moisture Mask when I need to hit the 'reset' button. I don't know how it manages to be both exfoliating and moisturizing, but it does—and leaves my skin feeling rested, not stripped of nutrients. And for my dry, sensitive skin, Pacific Mist is a godsend. A quick spray provides lasting moisture and leaves my skin looking brighter than any makeup ever could—not to mention that it smells amazing."  Above: The three True Nature Botanicals Moisturizers, from left, for regular skin, acne-prone skin, and sensitive skin; $110 each.  Where to Start?  The Pacific Anti-Aging Essentials Duet includes two favorite products—a simple cleanser and moisturizer combination to get you started; $145. The Pacific Anti-Aging Essentials Kit adds the Pacific Mist and Everyday Sheer Coverage SPF 20 for $245.  Or visit True Nature Botanicals and click for a skin-care consult; you can call, email, or complete a short questionnaire for guidance on the perfect nontoxic, antiaging skin-care regimen. And now through October 4, Remodelista readers receive 15 percent off at checkout using code REMODELISTA. Above: A snapshot of the broader True Nature Botanicals line, from left: Pacific Exfoliating Cleanser ($48), Pacific Body Oil ($95), Pacific Mist ($48), Pacific Everyday Sheer Coverage SPF 20 ($58), Pacific Face Oil ($110), Pacific Night Serum with Retinol ($150), Pacific Exfoliating Moisture Mask ($90), Pacific Topical Vitamin C Treatment ($65), and Pacific Lip Treatment ($68).  For more, click to browse the entire True Nature Botanicals Skincare, Hair Care, and Fragrance collections online, and follow True Nature Botanicals on Facebook and Instagram. Don't forget to use code REMODELISTA for 15 percent off at checkout, valid now through October 4.  More Stories from Remodelista Forward to a friend  |   Share on Facebook   |   Share on Twitter   Kitchens With Julie Carlson Trend Alert: 17 Deconstructed Kitchens Throw out all the rules; here are 17 examples of the next wave in kitchen design, which we pegged as an emerging trend in last week's post 15 Interiors Trends for Autumn 2015 (a reader agreed with us: "I'm all over this trend. Perfect looks suburban."). Above: The kitchen at The Apartment in SoHo, NYC, is composed of stainless steel restaurant components. Photo by Thomas Welch via Selectism. Above: A Stockholm kitchen with a workbench kitchen, via Stadshem via Ems Design Blogg. Above: A kitchen in Japan by Heft Design. Above: In Sweden, a modular Bulthaup kitchen via Bolig Magasinet Above: A kitchen in Japan with a mix of concrete and wood by Naruse Inokuma Architects. Above: The kitchen in the Fujimidai house in Hujimidai by Snark Architecture. Above: A modular kitchen from a Berlin company; see more at The New Old-World Kitchen from Noodles, Noodles & Noodles Corp. Above L: Tyler Hays of BDDW was an early adopter of the trend (photo by Ngoc Minh Ngo), as was Ted Muehling (R); photo by Christoph Kicherer via Automatism.  Above: An airy cooking space in Scandinavian Simplicity: A Reimagined Swedish Summerhouse. Above: An open kitchen in a simple, economical 1950s cottage in the Gothenburg archipelago by Johannes Norlander Architects. Above: A stainless steel open kitchen in Japan by Naruse Inokuma. Above: A kitchen in Todos Santos, Mexico, photographed by Laure Joliet.   Above: In his own kitchen, Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, a partner in the Copenhagen firm Norm Architects, installed a cooktop set into a workbench for a sense of airiness. Above: Belgian architect Hans Verstuyft opted for open shelving in a kitchen in Antwerp; see more at Sober Luxury in Downtown Antwerp. Above: A farmhouse kitchen from the portfolio of UK photographer David Charbit. Above: Two examples of sinks on pedestals or counters via Boro. See more Trend Alerts here and head over to Gardenista to see a deconstructed outdoor kitchen in Outbuilding of the Week: A Cookhouse at Kurtwood Farm on Vashon Island. More Stories from Remodelista Steal This Look: An English Kitchen with a Rustic-Modern Edge Blenheim Forge: Grassroots Kitchen Knives from South London Kitchen of the Week: The Dinesen Wood Kitchen Forward to a friend  |   Share on Facebook   |   Share on Twitter   DIY & Remodeling With Izabella Simmons High/Low: Dot Wall Hooks A high and low version of Coatrack Dot Hooks, designed by Tveit and Tornoe for Muuto (and yours for $149 at Design Within Reach) or $9.95 at CB2.   Above: The Dots shown in natural oak. They come in a set of five hooks. Above: A set of three Dot Coat Hooks is $9.95 from CB2. Above: Muuto's dots painted in black and green. N.B.: Looking for more comparison posts? See more of our 76 High/Low posts. More Stories from Remodelista DIY: Upgraded Ikea Wood Countertops New Tile Designs by Neisha Crosland for Fired Earth Heavy Metal: Buster & Punch in London Forward to a friend  |   Share on Facebook   |   Share on Twitter   Architecture & Interiors With Margot Guralnick Reader Rehab: A Chic Fixer-Upper A-Frame on Fire Island Gaining a toehold in New York is hard enough, but how to find an affordable way out? After more than a decade in their East Village studio, Ann Stephenson and her girlfriend Lori Scacco decided they'd be staying for the long haul and went looking for a weekend place—without a car. Ann is a poet and director of sales in the home division of Aesthetic Movement, Lori is a composer/musician (see Lori Scacco) who by day runs the design gallery Donzella 20th Century. Their search didn't take long: They sunk their savings into Far House, an A-frame on the western end of Fire Island that they bought from the family that built it in 1945 from a Gimbel's prefab kit. Working with an island contractor and crew—"a neighbor hooked us up with an amazing team"—and keeping a careful tally to stay on budget, they turned it into the ultimate no-fuss seaside retreat. And it's only a train- and ferry-ride away.  Photography by Kate Sears. Above: A raised wooden walkway leads to the house, which is positioned in a lush, two-block-wide community of winding boardwalks with views of ocean on one side and bay on the other. The 32-mile-long island has no paved roads and is car-free other than official vehicles. Ann had been part of a classic Fire Island group share 20 years ago and hadn't been back since. "When a friend conjured up an old summer memory," she says, "I was viscerally reminded of what a magical place it is and set out to see what was possible now. Lori and I quickly saw that seasonal rental prices are like down payments on a house, so we shifted gears. We looked at only two properties for sale—as cliche as it may be, when we saw the listing for our A-frame, we knew it was the one. We love its off-kilter roofline, old-school salty rusticity, history (the couple who built it met as children on the island), and even its size."  Above: Ann and Lori closed on the house last December and were moving in by May. "All it needed was some updating and love," Ann tells us, ticking off a long list of improvements, including removing extraneous crossbeams, introducing a ductless heating and cooling unit in place of old in-the-wall ACs, replacing some windows, and pressure-washing and patching the exterior shingles. Though not winterized, the place—about 410 square feet, including the sleeping loft—is livable from March to November. The previous owners had already given the raw wood on the interior a coat of white paint, and the couple completed the process by repainting the entire space down to the raw plywood floor in Benjamin Moore China White (matte finish on the walls, eggshell on the floor). The daybed is a longstanding Remodelista favorite by Mc & Co, and the white linen pillow shams and sheets are from Matteo. Above: A vintage Byer cot—see our recent Camp Cot Trend Alert for sourcing ideas—is paired with a safari chair and ottoman, hand-me-downs from Ann's family with new leather covers. "Getting furniture to Fire Island requires that it be freighted over (or carried by us on the ferry), so this defined many of our decisions," says Ann. "We wanted simple, modular furnishings for ease of transport as well as for seasonal living." The cot and daybed double as the house's guest beds. The rug is an African palm front mat from John Derian. Above L: Votives at the ready. Above R: Ann and Lori collected vintage Alvar Aalto Stacking Stools from eBay and Etsy—"some Danish, some Swedish from various years"—and use them inside and outside. (See our post on Ikea's Frosta Stool for an affordable lookalike.) Above: The living room opens to a galley kitchen. "Small as it may be, it's where we spent the majority of our budget," Ann tells us. A honed Carrara marble counter with a stainless sink and simple curtained base now stands in place of peeling veneer and an orange sink. The fridge is a Smeg. The marble came from Stone World Imports of Farmingdale, New York, and was fabricated and installed by Gran Marble of West Babylon, New York. Above: The Swing Gooseneck Spout is a Chicago Faucets classic (since Chicago's handles are interchangeable, the couple chose three-inch Cross-Tapered Square Handles instead of the standard levers). The compact oven—a mere 20 inches wide—is the Summit WEM 110. "The range allows for maximum counter space and because it was affordable, the savings went directly into the Smeg purchase." Above: The kitchen's three banks of shelves are built from Ikea $4 Ekby Valter birch brackets painted Benjamin Moore China White. The dishes are a collection of current and vintage Coupe Line pottery from Heath Ceramics. The utensil container is a Michelle Quan Firefly Vase. The brass trivets and coasters and the pitcher (shown in the previous photo) are new designs from Sir/Madam, Aesthetic Movement's tableware line.  Above: Opposite the kitchen counter, the couple made use of narrow available space by introducing an Ikea hack—the $129 Rekarne pine console is painted Benjamin Moore China White and fitted with a honed Carrara marble top. To extend sight lines, the existing front door was replaced with a glass-fronted design. Above: In several spots in the A-frame, the couple hung poplar Shaker Peg Rails that they ordered to size from NH Woodworking—"we provided the Benjamin Moore paint code and they even painted them for us." Above: Who knew that peg rails could be so useful in a kitchen? The Hanging Cutting Boards are by Lostine. Above: Ann and Lori in their entry. The kitchen ladder leads to the sleeping loft. Above: An Aalto stool serves as a bedside table. The lamp is a vintage Christian Dell for Molitor design—Donzella sells a similar version. Above L and R: The tasseled cotton bedspread is by Indian boutique line Injiri; contact Aesthetic Movement for retailers. The Wool Rug is by MexChic—see more in High-Style Design from South of the Border. Above: Peg rails line the paneled wall outside the house's single closet and bathroom. The White Porcelain Doorknob is from House of Antique Hardware. Above: The bath was updated with paint. The windows throughout have Belgian linen custom covers with tabs that hang from hidden hooks. "Traditional curtain hardware felt heavy and out of place, particularly since the house gets such immense and beautiful light. The curtain panels can go up with ease, or rest on nearby pegs when not in use, or be put away entirely." Above: Built-in over-the-toilet shelving. Above: The house's outdoor space includes a newly shored-up outdoor shower. The towel hooks are Galvanized Dock Cleats from Carolina Boat Outfitters. For more ideas, go to Nautical Hardware: 7 Cleats for Home Use. Above: A shed with a replaced roof holds a washer/dryer and provides crucial storage. The Steel Wagon is used to transport supplies and luggage to and from the ferry. Above: Much of life at the A-frame take place on the deck. Ann and Lori's Roost Biergarten Table and Benches are collapsible for easy stowing at the end of the season. "We can't see the water from our house," says Ann, "but we hear the waves breaking from our deck as loud as can be; it's beyond magical."  To see another artful—and budget-conscious—escape from the city, take a look at The Ultimate Houseboat in NYC. More Stories from Remodelista Top 5 in Design News: London Design Recap, Jony Ive's First Store, and a Good Week for Women in Architecture How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets: 5 Tips from a Master Painter A Minimalist Intervention: Casa Errepi by Archiplan Studio Forward to a friend  |   Share on Facebook   |   Share on Twitter   View email in browser |  Update your profile | Forward to a friend | Subscribe to Remodelista Daily This is the part of the daily email newsletter from Remodelista & Gardenista. You have opted to receive this email but you can always Unsubscribe. 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