Living Rooms With Remodelista Team
Boston-based home furnishings store Lekker Home has long been a Remodelista source for some of our favorites brands, including Urbancase, 8Knots, and MUD Australia. It's also the primary US source for a furniture line we've long loved—Ethnicraft, out of Belgium (Remodelista contributing editor Francesca Connolly has an Ethnicraft sideboard in her summer home on Cape Cod, and we've cited Ethnicraft in our furniture hits lists time and again; click to shop Ethnicraft on Remodelista).
Why the infatuation? Handmade of eco-friendly woods in simple designs that will stand the test of time, Ethnicraft furniture is as durable as it is beautiful—and comes at a reasonable price.
Ethnicraft furniture is made in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Serbia with woods responsibly sourced from Java, France, Serbia, and the US. The company cites a "moral obligation" to carefully consider the impacts of its operations, from the origin of materials to factory waste. And all wood waste, from sawdust to woodcuts, is reused for nonfurniture functions.
To purchase, follow the product links below or explore Ethnicraft at Lekker Home.
Above: A brand-new design, Ethnicraft's Teak Skelet Rack comes in two sizes: the five-shelf version shown here and a shorter three-shelf version. Both are made of FSC-certified 100 percent recycled wood, reclaimed from neglected Javanese buildings without cultural significance. The rack is perfect in an entryway, as a bookcase, or for kitchen storage, and is also available in oak; $900 for the three-shelf version and $1,600 for the five-shelf version shown here.
Above: Ethnicraft's Teak Stretch Table redefines the expandable table—jerky mechanisms and pinched fingers begone. A one-handed pull reveals extra leaves, and a smooth-glide butterfly mechanism flips them out into place. The table is made of cross-laminated solid teak wood for maximum durability; unlike lesser laminates, any scratches the table might earn during its lifetime can be gently sanded out. The Stretch Table is available in three sizes, starting at $2,600 for the 55-inch (when closed) rectangular table.
Above: The shelves of the Teak M Rack Small are made of visually slim yet durable three-quarter-inch solid teak, maximizing space for books and other objects while minimizing bulk. The bookcase can rest on both its long and short sides for maximum flexibility, and is also available in solid oak; $1,600.
Above: The Oak Shadow Cupboard is made of solid oak brushed with white oil for a slightly pale, matte finish—accentuating the natural grains of the wood. Both sets of doors open to shelves that can be adjusted or removed, and are engineered to hold the heaviest of items—including weighty ceramic dinnerware; $3,300.
Above: The solid-wood Oak Nordic Console is made by hand in Serbia of sustainably harvested Serbian oak. (Ethnicraft's oak comes from partner plantations in France and Serbia.) Featuring box joint details, two deep, soft-close drawers, and a large open hull, the piece is the epitome of Ethnicraft's functional, clean lines; starting at $1,200.
Above: The apron-less design of Ethnicraft's Oak Apron Table gives the sturdy table an airy appearance—the top seems to float in space. Available in five rectangular sizes ranging from 63 to 94 inches long, the simple, farmhouse-style piece ranges in price from $1,700 to $2,600. The coordinating Oak Straight Bench starts at $700.
Above: Ethnicraft's Walnut line is the newest addition to its collection of solid woods, and the Walnut Nordic Rack is one of our favorites. It comes in two sizes with four or six sliding doors for adjustable, concealed storage, and it's made of solid American black walnut—sourced from the US and Europe—finished with natural oil. Prices start at $2,800 for the six-door rack shown here.
Above: The wide open space beneath Ethnicraft's Walnut U Desk suits minimalists as well as those in need of extra space. The desk comes in three sizes, starting at $2,100 for the 55-inch desk, and is also available in oak.
Above: The Walnut Slice Expandable Table has a distinctive angled "slice" around the perimeter—a modern detail softened by the warmth of its highest-quality wood. The smooth-gliding expansion mechanism is hidden inside the table (you'd never know by looking at it that the table expands). Also available in oak, teak, and non-expanding versions in oak and teak; starting at $2,900.
For more from Lekker Home, follow the store on Pinterest and Instagram.
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DIY & Remodeling With Julie Carlson
Noticed lately in high-end projects: appealing dark wood countertops, finished with a sheen. Here's how to get the look for less.
The Inspiration
There's a lot to like about this kitchen by UK designer Patrick Williams of Berdoulat; the polished dark wood countertops, the wall-mounted dish rack painted white, and the sparkly glass pendant lights.
Above: A kitchen by Patrick Williams of Berdoulat in London has a pleasing mix of warm and cool, glossy and matte surfaces.
Above: The dark wood countertops contrast with the pale walls and the clear glass light fixtures.
Above: The space is traditional yet feels modern in its pared-down simplicity.
A Trio of DIY Projects
Three design bloggers document their experiences creating low-cost, high-impact polished wood countertops using Ikea components and a bit of elbow grease.
Above: Erin of Stillwater Story shares a DIY tutorial on staining Ikea butcher block countertops; she used low-VOC Miniwax Dark Walnut 2716 Wood Stain. Go to Stillwater Story for step-by-step instructions.
Above: Vanessa of This and That used Beech Butcher Block from Ikea, prepped with Minwax Water-Based Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner and finished with Minwax Special Walnut 224. Go to This and That for full instructions (Vanessa says, "Warning: This is a really long post that is not that interesting unless you want to know how we stained our butcher block countertops and installed an undermount sink").
Above: Catherine of In the Fields, a blog documenting one family's adventures in remodeling, spent $240 on countertop materials in her kitchen, including an $80 slab of Ikea butcher block finished with a Safecoat food-safe stain in cedar; for more info, go to In the Fields.
Interested in more low-cost remodeling projects? See A DIY Kitchen Overhaul for Under $500 and 15 Secrets for Saving Money on a Remodel. Trying to decide if wood is the best surface choice for your kitchen? Go to Remodeling 101: Butcher Block Countertops.
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Home Inspiration With Margot Guralnick
For her latest collection, global designer Laura Aviva of L'Aviva Home collaborated with a women's craft collective in Hazaribagh, in northeastern India, transforming their temporary murals painted on the exterior of their mud houses into wallpaper and textiles.
"The mural painting is part of a matrimonial ritual for the women that takes place in the spring. Every year, the murals are washed away by the monsoons and then started anew," Laura tell us. "Drawn to the exaggerated scale and the boldness of the designs, we commissioned women in the villages to make paintings for us that we've translated into our Khovar Collection. There's something so profound and beautiful about art that is intentionally impermanent. I love the fact that this collection respects that tradition while extracting some permanence from it."
Above: Khovar Collection Flower Wallpaper is $12.50 per square foot and each order is custom printed on clay-coated paper to fit the project dimensions.
"It's digitally printed here in the US," says Laura. "We had looked at silk screening in India, but found that the best way to keep the integrity of the original paintings and carry through the detailed brushstrokes was by digital printing—not as sexy as silk screening but a more authentic representation."
Above: The collection features three designs, Leaf, Flower, and Vine, and each is also printed on heavyweight natural linen and available as pillows and yardage.
Laura commissioned the designs from TWAC, the Tribal Women Artists Cooperative. "It was started by an incredible man named Bulu Iman. One of the motivations behind the formation of TWAC was to help give the women a sense of pride in their tribal identity and their art, and to incentivize them to preserve traditions."
Above: The Pillows are 22 by 22 inches with one-inch flanges and come with feather/down-filled cushions; $310 each. Custom sizes can be stitched.
Above: A detail of the Vine pattern. The fabric in this collection is printed on 54-inch-wide, 100 percent linen; it's $150 per yard.
Above: A L'Aviva Home design in progress. Like the murals that inspired them, the patterns are created on a dark background. As Laura explains: "A canvas of charcoal earth is laid down and then covered with pale kaolin clay. Before the top layer dries, the artist brushes away the lighter layer with a comb or fingers to create lyrical silhouettes."
See the full collection at L'Aviva Home. And also take a look at the company's Moroccan Pom-Pom Blankets, Colombian Poufs, and Sisal-Alternative Rugs.
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Kitchens With Alexa Hotz
To begin my investigation into the world of compact countertop appliances, I thought I'd first measure my own countertop. The verdict: 18 inches wide with a depth of 15 inches. My kitchen is small—not suburbia small, but city small—with a tiny refrigerator, an oven that barely fits a small baking sheet, and flatware drawers of odd dimensions. Since I need every inch of the countertop as prep space, my kitchen cannot afford a single stationary countertop appliance; they all go back into cupboards and drawers and anywhere I can shove them.
Here is our selection of countertop appliances, where no single dimension breaches my own 18-inch requirement. Have a favorite small countertop appliance to share? We want to hear your suggestions in the Comments section below.
Toasters & Toaster Ovens
Above: As thick as an average cookbook, Japanese company Plus Minus Zero's 1-Slice Toaster in white is 6.6 by 8.8 by 3.1 inches; $67.79 at Amazon.
Above: The Breville Bit More 2-Slice Toaster is one of the smallest among two-slice toasters, measuring 7.75 by 11.25 by 8 inches. The electrical cord stores up inside the toaster from below, which could prove useful if it can't live on the counter full time; $79.95 at Williams-Sonoma.
Above: While difficult to source, the Plus Minus Zero Vertical Toaster Oven, from Naoto Fukasawa, is as slim as they come (8.8 by 9.5 by 11.7 inches). It can be found in both black and white (shown) through various dealers on eBay in the range of $275 to $320.
Above: A great two-in-one appliance, especially for kitchens lacking a proper or functional oven, is Cuisinart's Compact Toaster Oven Broiler; it measures 8 by 15 by 13 inches and is $49.99 at Amazon.
Above: Naoto Fukasawa's pop-up toaster will retail for $95 at Muji in Palo Alto, California, and other Muji locations this fall. Contact Muji for more information.
Blenders & Juicers
Above: Available in as many colors as a Birkin handbag, the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor has a three-cup capacity and measures 5.9 by 10.2 by 8.4 inches; $35.99 at Amazon.
Above: As someone whose large Vitamix is dissected into parts and stored in various cupboards (in the interest of space), I wish I had purchased the Vitamix S55 Personal Blender instead. It measures 6 by 9 by 16 inches and includes two containers (both a 20- and 40-fluid-ounce size); $449.95 at Williams-Sonoma.
Above: The L'Equip Mini Pulp Ejection Juicer has a funny, nostalgic look—like the juicer your great aunt passed down to your mother or the sort of kitchen appliance you'd see in a 1970s-era French film. Nonetheless, it measures 7.5 by 13.5 by 11.5 inches; small proportions for a decent juicer with a 480-watt motor; $109.99 at Sears. For more, see our post 10 Easy Pieces: Juicers.
Microwave Ovens
Above: The smallest microwave we're able to source is the iWavecube Personal Desktop Microwave Oven (10 by 10.5 by 12 inches) for $129.99 at Amazon.
Above: Whirlpool's 0.5 Cubic Foot Countertop Microwave is a compact 13.75 by 15.38 by 14.13 inches and is available in black, silver, and white (shown) for $139 at Home Depot.
Above: LG's 0.7 Cubic Foot Compact Microwave is a little wider than the largest MacBook Pro; it's 10.13 by 17.9 by 12.25 inches and costs $99.99 at Syn Mart.
Other Appliances
Above: The Zojirushi Micom Rice Warmer and Cooker has compact dimensions of 9.88 by 13.25 by 8.5 inches; $99.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond.
Above: The Naoto Fukasawa–designed rice cooker is 7.3 inches tall and 8.2 inches wide; $195, bamboo paddle included, available at Muji in Palo Alto, California. Contact Muji for more information.
Above: For the avid tea drinker, an electric kettle is a countertop essential. The Universal Expert Electric Kettle is an appealing option at 7.8 by 6.6 by 10.3 inches; $90 at West Elm.
Looking for major appliances for a small space? See 10 Easy Pieces: Favorite Appliances for Small Kitchens for a set of ranges, refrigerators, and more. For more functional inspiration, sift through all our Small-Space Living posts.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on April 29, 2015, as part of our issue The Organized Kitchen.
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