Anyone who has spent time at the much-admired housewares and culinary cult shop MARCH in San Francisco knows that the space is anchored by a long work table. The latter also doubles as a dining table when owner Sam Hamilton pulls together one of her in-store dinner parties, but during the day, it typically serves as a backdrop to display a mix of kitchen tools and other well-crafted utilitarian objects. Hamilton created the tables in conjunction with local designer Matt Bear of Union Studio in Berkeley as a solution to the ubiquitous kitchen island. Each table is fully customizable. For pricing or to order, contact MARCH.

Photography by Mark Johann except where noted.

Above: The March Kitchen Work Table combines the lines and lightness of a kitchen table with optional accessories for tools and storage. “Matt makes the tables himself in his workshop in the East Bay. It's wonderful to work locally on these pieces for a number of reasons: we can be nimble with custom orders and walk through design decisions with clients in a truly hands-on way; our quality control couldn't be any more exacting—Matt works on and approves all pieces before they leave his shop; and finally, we are proud and happy to support a network of artisans here in the States.” Photograph by & Angie Silvy.

Above: The work table with white oak butcher block top and steel frame with a gun metal patina.

Above: The table is designed to incorporate storage elements such as shelves slatted (for circulation) that fit in the metal base, zinc bins, boxes, baskets, and hanging leather components.

Above (top): Knife sheath accessory made from saddle leather designed to hang from the table's towel rod; shown beneath is a three bay leather hanging caddy for kitchen tools.

Above: In the foreground is the Turned Leg table in white oak painted in Farrow and Ball with a Carrara marble top with honed finish. The Parson's Table behind features white oak end-grain butcher block. The tables were modeled after traditional butcher shop fixtures. Photograph by & Angie Silvy.

See our Shopper's Diary on MARCH.

When New York architects Messana O'Rorke approached the renovation of this mid-19th-century town house, their "design intent was to respect and restore the surviving existing detailing, but introduce simple, modern solutions as required." The architects located the kitchen in what had been a large Victorian dining room on the parlor floor of the house; recreate the look of the kitchen with the main features sourced below:

Above: The Victorian room is modernized with open stainless steel shelves for storage and maple cabinetry offset by stainless steel countertops and appliances.

Above: Stainless steel shelves above a farmhouse sink.

Above: A new door and stair leads to the garden, linking the kitchen to the back yard, and a vintage cast iron fireplace was refinished and installed in the chimney area, creating a focal point for the room.

Above: The Philippe Starck–designed Romeo Moon S2 Pendant Light for Flos features a pressed-glass shade; $795 at Ylighting.

Above: The Distillery Dining Table made with recycled pine flooring is available in 6-, 7-, or 8-foot lengths; $1,495 for the 7-foot-long size at Sundance.

Above: Emeco Navy Side Chair; $470 at Design Within Reach.

Above: The Universal Fireclay Farmhouse Kitchen Sink (WWSK51) measures 29 3/4 by 17 7/8 by 10 inches and features an offset drain; $1,431 at Waterworks.

Above: Blanco Polished Chrome Two-Handle Widespread Kitchen Faucet; $341 at eFaucets.

Above: The cabinet pulls are Sugatsune's SN-70/S-Satin Pull; $7.48 each at Alema Hardware.

Above: Viking Professional Custom Series, 30-inch, four-burner, dual-fuel range; $4,999 at AJ Madison.

Above: The John Boos Stainless Shelf with Pot Rack and Hooks is available in three lengths: the 24-inch size is $329, the 36-inch size is $376, and the 48-inch size is $423 at Kitchen Source.

Above: Stainless Steel Bracket Shelves by Frigo are 8 inches deep and come in a variety of lengths; prices range from $301.61 to $511.29, depending on size, at Kitchen Source.

Above: Displayed on open shelves, the Kartio Tumbler (designed by Kaj Franck) in light turquoise adds a dose of color; $17.16 for a set of 2 at Amazon.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on November 10, 2009.

I spotted designer Björn Rust's colorful wire framed coffee maker at Dwell on Design over a year ago. Last month he was back on the West Coast again with his pour-over coffee maker, this time curating Tastemakers LA, an exhibition featuring more than 15 of Australia’s happening brands in conjunction with Quench, a Queensland design collective.

Rust, who is based in Queensland, used cork, wire, steel, and a glass filter to create his solution for preparing the perfect single serving of coffee. Sold in small production runs, Rust is currently in the process of refining the Pour Over to improve extraction properties and reduce the unit cost. Stay tuned for the next iteration. For more information, go to Björn Rust.

Above: The colored wire frames sit atop a cork base.

Above: The Pour Over Coffee Maker accommodates existing filter holders, and while the funnel can take a range of papers, Rust recommends the Chemex and Hario papers for the best results.

Above: The wire frame with cork base, glass filter, steel ring, and pitcher.

For more Australian coffee insights, check out our post on Slowpoke Espresso.

If an oversize oven is not your style—but efficiency is—Fisher & Paykel's next generation 60cm Built-in Oven range has a 77 litre usable internal capacity and offers more useable space than almost any 60cm oven on the Australian market.

While its design is sleek (finished in black reflective glass and stainless steel) its function is even more appealing, using the ActiveVent™ System (available in select models only) to manage the removal or retention of moisture in the oven and featuring up to 11 different cooking functions; all to optimize the balance between cooking performance, condensation management, and energy consumption. Tried and tested, the 60cm Built-in Oven range received the prestigious Red Dot Award at the annual event in Germany in March and a Good Design Award in the 2013 Australian International Design Awards. For more information, visit Fisher & Paykel.

Above: The 60cm Built-in Oven is available in five different models with varying cooking functions, with prices ranging from $1,299 AUD to $2,699 AUD.

Above: To add to the oven, a Fisher & Paykel Warming Drawer (available in black glass or stainless steel) can be installed underneath or above the 60cm Built-in Oven with temperatures varying from 45 to 65 degrees Celcius; $1,099 AUD.

Above: The 11 different pre-set cooking functions available on the OB 60SL11 ovens are: Bake, Vent Bake, Fan Bake, Classic Bake, Pastry Bake, Fan Forced, Roast, Grill, Fan Grill, Rotisserie, Warm and Self-Clean. If 11 functions are too many, the range also offers a choice of nine or seven functions—so you can choose the model that caters best to your culinary needs. To learn more about each cooking function's purpose, visit Fisher & Paykel. 

Above: The oven features a pyrolytic self-cleaning function in the OB60SL11 models, while the non-pyrolytic OB60SL9 model has catalytic liners to break down oil and fat for effortless cleaning.

Above: The oven features a cooling system that allows for a three-pane glass door (rather than a heavier four-pane door) to achieve cool touch status for safety in the kitchen (excludes the OB60SL11DCPX1 oven).

Thank the Australians for reintroducing a design classic from Italy: the Sorrentina espresso maker, designed by Giordano Robbiati, and otherwise known as The Atomic.

Milanese-born Robbiati created the iconic Atomic coffee maker in the late 1940s; his machine produces up to six espresso shots and steams and froths milk. Australian company Ikon Exports recently came out with a premium reproduction of Robbiati's patented coffee machine, manufactured to the same dimensions and standards. In the US, Taylor & Ng is the exclusive retailer.

Above: Made of polished alloy and Bakelite, the Sorrentina is $449 AU (approximately $413 US) and ships to the US.

Above: Detail of the espresso maker.

Above: In the US, the Sorrentina Atomic Coffee Maker is $395 from Taylor & Ng.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original ran on April 1, 2008

A good knife is hard to come by. Ideally a knife is functional foremost, but I hope you can forgive me when I say that I also want my knives to be pretty. We can't have ugly knives marring our perfectly styled cheeseboards, now can we?

Above: Chelsea Miller, the maker of these beauties, sources the wood from her family's property in Vermont's Northern Kingdom and forges the high carbon steel blades from discarded files and tools.

Above: As the daughter of a blacksmith, Chelsea learned to make knives in her father's shop. You can read the full story on Madesmith.

Above: In a collection made exclusively for Madesmith, Chelsea offers a Small Multipurpose Knife, $135; a Medium Multipurpose Knife, $145; and a Cheese Tool Knife, $125. I'd gladly take all three. 

To watch a short film on Chelsea, head to her website. 

For more tabletop ideas, head here.

Over lunch last week at the very wonderful Honey & Co. in London's Fitzrovia with Julie and Christine, we cooled off with glasses of orange-blossom iced tea. Very sweet, no ice. And delicious, but like a cocktail at noon, there are just so many of these that you can drink before feeling "unusual."

It got us to talking about iced-tea recipes and Julie asked me to share the version I always make. On really hot days like the ones we've been experiencing, my first thoughts in the morning turn toward this tea. The absence of sweetener and caffeine makes my blend all the more quaffable. It works like an icy slow drip throughout the day. 

Photographs by Jim Powell.

Above: Start the morning with a three-teabag infusion, each a different variety of tea. My vital ingredient is red bush tea (also known as rooibos). Made from the leaves of a South African herb, Aspalthus linearis, it's decaf and isn't even related to traditional tea, but serves as a great substitute with a subtly sweet taste and less than half the tannin of regular tea. And unlike wan fruit tea, it still has a kick to it, essential when avoiding caffeine. African red bush tea can be found of late in most supermarkets; Tazo and Celestial Seasonings both offer versions. 

With red bush as a base note, add another strong flavor, such as rose hips tea, for a rosy drink, or ginger tea, which is what I used here.

The third bag can be as flowery or fruity as you like. I chose green tea with cranberry.

Fill a two-quart heavy glass pitcher to about a third with boiling water to make a strong infusion. (You can also use a teapot, of course, but I skip that step by using a pitcher that can stand up to hot water.)

Above: After steeping for long enough to let the liquid cool down (say 20 minutes), fill up the jug with cold water and stir. Then add citrus slices—lemons are fine but limes give more depth. If you are craving some natural sweetness, sliced orange or clementine make a good addition. 

Above: The inclusion of mint is a must, especially if it is dominating the herb bed by the back door. Mint loves a morning trim.

Above: I like ice as much as the next person but feel that the quantities added to drinks in the US waste valuable space in a glass. Like the people at Honey & Co., I prefer my summer tea to be "iced" not "ice." It may be all in the spelling.

For a floral variation on iced tea, see Summer Goddess Sun Tea with Chamomile Syrup.

Our friends at Makers & Brothers, Jonathan and Mark Legge, like to keep things in the family. But they've generously shared their mother's recipe for elderflower cordial syrup, the basis for a delicate, old-fashioned floral drink beloved in Europe but little-known in the US. The Legges have also agreed to reveal their secret source for elderflowers (word of warning: you may have to travel to Dublin for the full experience).

"Elderflower cordial has always been a favorite in our family; everybody from our granny to our dad loves the stuff. We learned from our mum, who has been making it for us since we were tiny," the brothers say. "To us it is the taste of carefree, long summer days."

Makers & Brothers' Elderflower Cordial

• 25 flower heads (be sure to use elderflowers; they grow in large clusters and each constitutes a head)*

• 3 lbs cane sugar

• 2 oz lemon juice

• 1 1/4 quarts boiling water

• 2 lemons (zest and slice)

*Elderflowers are white blossoms that bloom in June on elderberry tree shrubs also known as elders. They grow in temperate to subtropical regions, and are commonly found in the UK and Europe, as well as just about all over the US; this USDA map shows where elderberries thrive stateside.

To see how it all comes together, follow the instructions below.

Photos via Makers & Brothers. 

Above: Begin by finding elderflowers in bloom. 

Above: The Legges' source unveiled: "We climb the walls into our local ruined abbey." For more clues, visit the Makers & Brothers' Shed, the Legges' shop in Abbey Court, in Blackrock County, Dublin, and they'll point the way to the abbey.

Above: Elder branches against the blue skies of Dublin. 

Above: The elderberry's flowers grow in large heads; each of the individual flowers has five petals.

Above: An Oval Willow Basket woven by Kathleen McCormick gently holds the elderflowers.

Above: Domino, the Legge family dog, guards the day's pickings.

Above: The ingredients are ready to go.

Above: It's a good idea to shake out the elderflower heads, in case there are any little creatures hiding inside. Base stems can be left in place.

Above: Add sugar and lemon juice to a large mixing bowl, and pour in the boiling water.

Above: Stir until the sugar dissolves.

Above: Drop in the lemon slices and zest.

Above: Add the elderflower heads.

Above: Gently stir it all together with a wooden spoon. Then cover and allow to steep for 24 hours. 

Above: Strain the infusion through a fine sieve and pour the liquid into a decanter—shown here, a Carafe and Glass Set by Jerpoint Glass. To serve, dilute the cordial to taste with flat or sparkling water and lemon slices. Or add to a gin and tonic, a vodka and soda, or even Champagne. Then raise a toast to the delights of summer.

Homemade cordial is, of course, the ideal (as is clambering around ruins to gather the flowers), but you can also buy a 500 ml bottle of Belvoir Elderflower Cordial for $8.50 from Jolly Grub.

We've got more easy summer drinks recipes to try, including a Hibiscus and Lime thirst quencher, Lavender Soda, and Summer Goddess Sun Tea with Chamomile Syrup. 

Stateside, Tama Matsuoka Wong forages for elderflowers, too. See: Foraging for Dessert.

The winner in our Considered Design Awards, Reader-Submitted Kitchen Space category is Jan Hammock, a design novice who created a spacious and functional kitchen in her family's 1925 Edwardian San Francisco home.

When Jan and her husband purchased their flat in Noe Valley 14 years ago, they liked everything about it—everything, that is, but the kitchen. They delayed renovating it, however, because they weren't sure how long they would be in one place. Several years (and two children) later, they decided it was time to reorganize the space if they were going to make 1,400 square feet work for a family of four.

Jan wanted the kitchen to function as the center of their home, but it was separated from the living and dining rooms. The existing late-1970s kitchen cabinets were missing doors, drawers were missing fronts, and the tile countertop was falling apart. The stove was isolated from the counters and sink, and the refrigerator was smack in the middle of the kitchen, interrupting any useful workflow. 

Jan developed a budget and compiled her team: architect Ben Frombgen of bcooperative, general contractor Greig Neilson, and specialist Adam Vanderwaard from Vanderwaard Custom. The team took the kitchen down to the studs and added clerestory windows to bring light into the space. They removed a load-bearing wall that defined the breakfast nook and incorporated a hallway into the kitchen, opening it up to the living and dining rooms. 

The kitchen is now an airy, functional space that is central to the flow of the home, and the family even managed to stick to their budget. "It provided a framework for prioritizing important aspects of the project and led to some creative problem-solving," Jan says.

Photography by Jan Hammock Photography.

Above: Jan wanted a serene space comprised of clean, modern lines. In her design research, she was drawn to the juxtaposition of dark wood and white. Though she has no design training, Jan worked on the business side of several San Francisco architecture firms when she moved to the city in the 1990s, and gleaned an informal education from the projects. "I try to surround myself with beautiful and well-designed things," she says. 

Above: LED strips on the shelves and LED cans above make the shelves appear to be floating. Frombgen sourced the douglas fir shelving from Leland Stanford's Victorian home on the Stanford University campus ("I love telling that story," she says). 

Above: When it seemed that custom redwood cabinets were too pricey for Hammock's budget, Vanderwaard made it work: He cut the reclaimed boards in half so he could clad the fronts of less expensive ply cabinets using half the quantity of redwood (he also covered both the Leibherr refrigerator and Miele dishwasher). On the left above the counter are Ikea cabinets in glossy white, which were an affordable counterpoint to the custom redwood cabinets. 

Above: The redwood cladding was reclaimed from a hundred-year-old chicken coop. 

Above: Frombgen designed a 26-foot-long shelf mounted above the kitchen island that extends from a load-bearing beam. It visually defines the upper edge of the kitchen while providing extra storage.

Above: Hammock's young son Branch gets credit for the hole in the wall. He wanted to be able to see his brand-new kitchen from his bedroom, so Vanderwaard built a coated-glass window with a peep hole; light from his bedroom glows in the kitchen, and the open cabinet serves as a bar when the family entertains. 

Above: Jan had always wanted to use Heath tile in her home but was priced out. She fell in love with a blue-gray mix and inquired about seconds every week until 20 boxes of her desired color arrived in a larger size. Hammock seized the opportunity and loves how the color mimics the San Francisco weather, be it blue sky or the "inescapable" fog. 

Above: Tearing down the breakfast nook wall opened the kitchen to the dining and living rooms. 

Above: Frombgen designed the nine-foot-long kitchen island, which seats six (to replace the breakfast nook) and also houses the dishwasher. All countertops are Caesarstone and the range is from Bertazzoni with a Zephyr hood.

Above: Before the remodel, the kitchen, dining room, living room, and hallway were all distinct spaces. 

Above: Jan's Nelson pendant light once hung above the breakfast nook and now lives over the kitchen island. The family was reluctant to give up the "much-loved" nook, which limited their ability to change the space (an architect friend finally convinced them to let it go). 

See all 11 winners of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards and watch for individual project profiles as they publish over the next several weeks. 

The market tote's more compact sibling? The Parisian-style netted cotton grocery bag. While it seems to me that the bags had some popularity in the 1990s, lately we've been noticing a resurgence—and some modern versions including leather handles.

Leather

Above: French fashion house Carven has designed the Fishnet Bag with adjustable leather straps and with an orange, mint green, or pink thread; $150 at Maryam Nassir Zadeh. Also available directly from Carven and at Ron Herman.

Above: So It Goes' Small Basket Tote is made from thick cotton rope, using traditional net making techniques; $70 from Need Supply.

Above: À Detacher's Macrame Bag has a slouchy, open weave in palm fiber. It is handmade in Peru and finished with leather handles; $230 from Anaise.

Vegan

Above: Jennilee Marigomen's Yukon Gold Potatoes, 2011 features a purple cotton string bag similar to the lavender bag in EcoBag's Reusable Pastel String Bag Set of 5 ($32 from Amazon). Photographed for Montecristo Magazine in collaboration with Elicia Di Fonzo.

Above: The Natural Cotton String Shopping Bag is made in France and is $10.95 from Amazon.

Above: Green in color and in ethos, the Reusable Shopping String Bag is designed to carry up to 20 kilograms in weight and is $12.60 from Eco Net on Etsy.

Above: The dark purple 100-Percent SKAL Certified Organic Cotton String Bag is $9.99 from Green Please For You.

Above: The 100 percent cotton French Cotton Net Bag in black is $10.95 at Kaufmann Mercantile.

Above: The French String Shopping Bag in an off white cotton is $18 from French Vintage Home.

Above: A dark green Cotton Net Shopping Bag from Better Houseware is $7.15 from Amazon (and also available in Blue).

Above: Made by Kham tribe villagers, the Kincyaku Mini String Bag is made from kuzu fiber and knotted by hand. Each bag is labor intensive and one of a kind; $39.50 from Habu Textiles.

For a sturdier option, see ten of our favorites in our recent post: 10 Easy Pieces: French Market Totes.

I'm a skeptic when it comes to outdoor kitchens (who needs anything more than a grill and a set of tongs?). I'm revising my thinking, however, after spotting—and swooning over—the ultimate setup from the Netherlands.

From WWOO Outdoor Kitchens comes the perfect combination of stylish design and Dutch practicality. Composed of modular components, WWOO kitchens offer systems that range from barely-beyond-basic to well equipped. Add-ons include a pizza oven, a steel fireplace, and a stainless firebox. WWOO Showrooms are located throughout the Netherlands, as well as in Paris, Stuttgart, and Prague.

Those of us who live in the US can recreate the look using a contractor and the products we've sourced below:

Above: The WWOO accessories range from wood storage boxes to cutting boards and Green Egg ceramic grills.

Above: The designer behind WWOO Kitchens is Piet Jan van den Kommer, who feels that many of the outdoor kitchens on the market are expensive, poorly designed, and require a lot of maintenance. His kitchen system is built for endurance.

Above: WWOO Kitchens are made of durable concrete requiring next to no maintenance. The concrete components are available in gray or anthracite (shown).

Above: The stainless steel sink is topped with a stainless faucet connected to a "fire tap."

Above: A modern version of a Japanese kamado cooker—a wood- or charcoal-fired earthen vessel capable of achieving both high and low temperatures for greater control—the Big Green Egg comes in five sizes, from mini to extra large. The Medium Big Green Egg is $850. No countertop to nest the egg? The Big Green Egg with a Compact Cypress Table on wheels starts at $1,175. Both at Big Green Egg Chicago.

Above: Pair a Key Stop and Waste Valve with female inlet ($41.03 at Wayfair) with a Chicago Faucets Rigid Gooseneck Spout with a male outlet and the necessary plumbing fittings (contact your plumber) to attach to the water supply.

Above: Simple 15-inch stainless steel Lenova Rim Series Single Basin Sink; $392 at Fixture Universe.

Above: For a flush counter grill, consider the Fire Master Classic Drop-In Countertop Charcoal Grill; from $137.70 to $681.70 depending on size from Seattle Luxe.

Above: For a countertop option, the stainless steel Kavkaz Mini Grill measures 16 inches wide and 12 inches deep (larger sizes available); $144.99 through BAS Metal. An optional top grate is available.

Above: Lodge Logic 6-Quart Camp Dutch Oven for campfire or fireplace cooking; $59.99 at Amazon.

Above: The Ratskeller Crate from Cenzo Design is crafted of pine and sized to fit 24 glass bottles, and is sturdy enough to carry them. Contact Cenzo Design for pricing and availability. Vintage wooden crates offered through a variety of Etsy sellers are another good option.

For more on outdoor kitchens, see "5 Favorites: Ultimate Outdoor Kitchens."

Inspired to fire up the grill? See our earlier post: World's Best Barbecue Grills.

N.B.: This is an update of a post published on August 14, 2012.

The winner in our Considered Design Awards, Best Design Professional-Submitted Kitchen Space category is Mark Reilly Architecture, a San Francisco-based firm that modernized the floor plan of a Victorian house by bringing the kitchen upstairs. 

When Mark Reilly Architecture came on board to renovate this vintage house with lots of historic charm and stunning views, there was one fundamental problem. The kitchen and dining room, the center and heart of most modern homes, were located in small and viewless rooms downstairs. (Fun fact: The kitchens of these vintage homes in the Marin County town of Belvedere, a former island, were typically located downslope to be closer to the shore and to the boats that delivered the food.) Mark Reilly Architecture’s solution was to flip the floor plan. The firm demolished the two small bedrooms on the upper level and transformed the space into a kitchen, dining room, and powder room (the lower level is now a modern master retreat). 

Some of the greatest challenges in converting the space into a kitchen were the low sills of the historic windows, which fell below counter height. On preservation order from the city, Reilly had no choice but to keep the windows intact. He resolved the challenge by floating the prep and clean-up sinks in front of the windows, and continued the theme by anchoring shelves above the countertops, maximizing storage and connecting to the light and views. “My favorite part of the project is the modern floating shelf detail in front of the vintage windows and trim,” Reilly says. “To me, they clearly illustrate what this project is about—striking the right balance between vintage and modern.”

Above: "The main challenge in inserting a modern kitchen into a Victorian home is striking the right balance between vintage and modern materials and details so that it feels seamless, intentional, and timeless," Reilly says. 

Above: Creating a sense of openness in a Victorian house was another challenge. "In this project, we had to remove dividing walls and closets to get the feeling of open space we desired," Reilly says. "Locating a wall of appliances and pantry at the back of the kitchen further contributed to the openness and also created a functional space."

Above: The countertops are made of honed Caesarstone in Pebble. To give the countertops heft, the architect added a 1 1/2-inch mitered edge on the front face.

Above: The modern shelves float in front of the historic window and the backsplash made of 6-by-12-inch Carrara Bianca marble tile. "The large tile size fit well with the stately hood and industrial fixtures," Reilly says. 

Above: "The underside of the sink, disposal, and drainpipe were left exposed for a modern and yet utilitarian, Victorian detail," Reilly says. "Of course, this meant we had to specify attractive and simply designed sinks and disposals."

Above: A secondary goal of the project was to create a home for the clients' collection of vintage San Francisco etchings, acquired over 20 years. Created by San Francisco art school students, many of the etchings are by John Winkler, who is known as "The Master of the Line." The wall color is Nantucket Fog by Benjamin Moore.

Above: To improve the visual flow between the spaces, doorways between the new kitchen and existing living room were widened and new oak flooring was installed to match the original flooring. 

Above: The door frames and trims have been rebuilt with a more modern profile.

Above: Redwood paneling with a wire brushed gray stain wraps around the living room area. 

Above: A space for after-dinner board games and taking in the spectacular views was created in the corner of what was formerly a wraparound porch. 

N.B.: Mark Reilly Architecture worked with Neill & Lee Contractors on this project. 

See The Architect Is In: A Renovation with Respect in Palo Alto to see another historic renovation from Mark Reilly Architecture.

Just when we thought we'd had our fill of minimalist white ceramics, along comes Brooklyn-based Clam Lab, a line of handcrafted pieces from designer Clair Catillaz. Clam Lab focuses on "elegant, form-focused objects that are made to be touched and used" and are produced in small batches on a human-powered kick wheel or cast from handmade molds.

Above: Infinity Bowls, sold in sets of seven nesting bowls, are made from mixed porcelain and stoneware in a range of whites; $300 for the set.

Above: Stacks of the studio's Pasta/Entrée Bowl in wheel-thrown white stoneware and finished with a gloss white interior and satin/matte exterior, the two blending at the rim; $50 each.

Above: The Teapot is small (holding about 20 ounces and measuring six inches tall) and made from raw, smooth chocolate stoneware with a texture of beach rock. It's lined in satin white and includes a wire mesh tea strainer for loose tea; $200.

Above: The Clam Lab line is "sparked by an obsession with 20th century dishware, and guided by ten years of study in studio ceramics." 

Above: Glazes at Clam Lab are formulated in small runs, resulting in a subtle spectrum of color. Shown above are Soup Bowls made from wheel thrown stoneware and a hand-mixed oatmeal glaze; $84 for a set of two.

For some of our other favorite small scale ceramics studios, see our previous posts on: Rachel Dormor's Farm-to-Table Ceramics, Soulful Ceramics from Janaki Larsen, and A City of Ceramics by Four Dutch Designers.

No traditional Spanish kitchen is complete without a paella pan, said to be one of the keys to creating Spain's beloved dish. The best paella pans are shallow (for efficient evaporation of liquids), have a broad surface (for sauteing and browning), sloped sides (to increase the surface area while still allowing enough volume to add necessary liquids), and are made of quality materials (for even heat distribution). Plus, the signature double handles of paella pans are great for carrying and table serving. 

Our selections feature 13-to-17-inch diameter pans that serve between six and ten people, and which work on most stovetops (including induction), ovens, barbecues, and even over open fires. Not in a Spanish state-of-mind? Paella pans are perfect for jambalayas, stir-frys, and pastas as well. 

For a fun take on Paella and a few good recipes, see the New York Times piece: Paella, by Land and Sea. Grab a glass of sangria and read on.

Above: The classic Spanish Garcima Traditional Steel 17-Inch Paella Pan features a dimpled surface for even heat distribution. Economical and effective, it requires some maintenance: hand-washing and seasoning with oil to prevent rust. Available for $34 at La Tienda (smaller and larger size options are available).

Above: Garcima offers the same traditional pan in a professional version that is made of double gauge steel that resists warping and stands up to heavy use. The 18-inch Garcima Pata Negra Paella Pan is $52 at La Tienda.

Above: The Paderno World Cuisine 15.75-inch Paella Pan is made of black steel and offers upturned handles and sides that are a bit higher than the classic Spanish paella pan; $46.90 at Amazon.

Above: The 15-Inch Lodge Paella Pan is made of heavy gauge carbon steel that heats rapidly and adjusts quickly to changing cooking temperatures. Made in the US, the pan comes factory seasoned with natural soy bean oil; $75.71 at Amazon.

Above: Enameled pans are favored for their rust resistance and ease of care. The Spanish-made Enameled Steel Paella Pan is available in many sizes, including the 17-inch version (the largest that will fit into a standard oven) priced at $34 at the Spanish Table.

Above: The enameled cast iron Staub Paella Pan works equally well indoors or out.  Made in France, it measures 15.5 inches in diameter; $199.95 at Williams Sonoma.

Above: All-Clad offers a slightly smaller paella pan with a lid.  The All-Clad Stainless Steel 13-Inch Paella Pan is $209.95 at Wayfair. 

Above: The most handsome in the stovetop-to-tabletop category, the Mauviel Professional Copper Paella Pan is made of heavy gauge 2.5mm-thick copper lined with stainless steel. This professional-grade pan is made in France and features riveted cast-iron handles; 16 inches in diameter; $530 at Williams Sonoma. A thinner gauge home-grade 1.5mm-thick copper Mauviel Copper 15-Inch Paella Pan is available for $410. 

Above: New from Mauviel is the hammered-steel Mauviel M'elite Paella Pan that is dishwasher safe; $199.95 for the 15.7-inch size at Sur La Table. 

Above: Inspired? Let Alberto Herraiz' Paella Cookbook be your guide; $26.63 at Amazon.

Portland, OR-based designer Jessica Helgerson overhauls a kitchen in a 1926 Mediterranean-style building, called, appropriately enough, the Alhambra. "The original kitchen was a narrow galley with one window," according to Helgerson. "In order to create the new space, we removed a wall between the old kitchen and an adjacent family room. We also opened up the connection between the kitchen and dining room with a large arched opening; in order to keep the family room function, we installed a built-in sofa at one end of the kitchen and hid the TV behind custom cabinetry).

See more at Jessica Helgerson. Photos by Lincoln Barbour.

Above: Industrial steel casement windows overlook the Portland streetscape.

Above: Helgerson hewed to a black/white/brass palette in her design for the kitchen. The center island is custom, designed "in a style reminiscent of a traditional Spanish table but higher for counter use," she says.

Above: The dark wood beams tie together the black and white palette.

Above: Helgerson created a built-in seating area for lounging and TV watching (it's concealed behind custom cabinetry).

Above: Brass light fixtures add a note of warmth to the otherwise rigorously black and white palette.

Above: Lacanche's Cluny 1400 Kitchen Range (shown above) features an ambient temperature cabinet or a warming oven along with the choice of gas or electric rings, a steam cooker, deep fryer, flat-top or standard grill. Available in a range of sizes and models; for a local stockist visit Lacanache.

Above: Helgerson spec'ed the Karbon Faucet by Kohler (see another use of the faucet in The Architect Is In: Medium Plenty in San Francisco).

Above: The Reclaimed Wood Spindle Table is $1,695 from Hudson Goods.

Above: Brass Shade Pendant Lamp with black cloth-covered cord with white ceiling canopy; $75 from One Forty Three.

Above: Ceramica Bianca Glazed Tiles from Italian tile company Mutina are designed by architect Silvia Giacobazzi, available at Stone Source. Blue Slide Art Tile in Point Reyes, CA, makes characterful glazed brick tile; another good source for glazed brick tile is Clé Tile in Sausalito, CA.

Above: The floors are clad in Badajoz encaustic cement tiles from LA-based Grenada Tile.

Above: Ralph Lauren's industrial-style Ashcroft Sconce is $440 from Circa Lighting.

Above: The Plain Round Cabinet Knob is made of hand-polished, unlacquered brass; $10 each from Rejuvenation. For more see our post, 10 Easy Pieces: Brass Cabinet Knobs.

Above: To avoid the over-shiny look, the key is to source unlacquered brass fixture, such as the hot-forged brass Lewis Double Coverplate from Rejuvenation; $24.

Above: Similar indigo-dyed cushions are available from Brooklyn-based textile artist and former Anthropologie designer Rebecca Atwood's; her handpainted Spots Pillow is $175 and her Grid Shibori Pillow is $200. For more on Atwood, see Pattern Language: Textiles from a Native Cape Codder.

Kitchen crazed? Sift through a gallery of over 2,000 Kitchens and filter by color palette, materials, style and more in our Room Gallery

Before traveling to a new city or any destination, the inner shopper in me does a quick mental scan through the list of purchasable items (call them souvenirs) that are endemic to said location. I know I'm not alone in this, and earlier this week Gardenista editor Michelle, having come back from Barcelona with that enviable post-vacation glow, mentioned she had picked up a few olive oil cruets on her trip. The cruet is definitely at the top of the list of must-haves from Barcelona, but if you can't wait until your next visit, we've discovered one of the best, and it's available online.

Designed in 1961 by Catalan architect and designer Rafael Marquina, his olive oil cruet is revolutionary for its non-drip and sanitary features. And according to Olive Oil Times (my new favorite news source), the European Union has been working to ban the use of tabletop cruets in public restaurants. One reason for this is a very French style, AOC-like approach that prevents serving olive oil that has been cut with cheaper varieties; the other reason is for sanitary purposes—if only every restaurant served authentic oils in Marquina's cruet.

Above: The Marquina Olive Oil Cruet is made from glass with a detachable spout and measures 4.7 inches high; $30 from Ancient Industries.

Looking for more items to serve with? Shop everything from cutting boards to barware in the Tabletop section of our Shop.

I'd like to think I would have noticed sangria's sudden surge in summer popularity even if I hadn't just spent eight thirsty days in Barcelona in the height of the heat. Do you like yours fizzy? I'm a convert after spotting this easy recipe for Sangria Soda via Luxirare:

Photographs via Luxirare.

Above: What kind of wine should you use to make Sangria Soda? "Anything over $10 a bottle for this and you're just being excessive," says Luxirare.

Above: Ah, the fruit. Oranges, apples, pomegranate, lime, and lemon. For step-by-step instructions, see Luxirare.

Above: Carbonated water gives Sangria Soda its fizz.

Headed to Barcelona (or just throwing a theme cocktail party)? Check out our new Travels with an Editor series; this week we'll be posting stories about our favorite Gardens, Shops, Lodging, and Restaurants in Barcelona.

Imagine a trunk full of premium kitchen essentials compiled to represent the best kitchen tools a cook could ever desire. This is exactly what Isabelle Mathez and Frederic Winkler set out to do, after their daughter threatened to poach their heirloom kitchen utensils prior to leaving home. Each product was curated for its exceptional quality, functionality, and beauty. Are any of your favorite kitchen items part of the Malle W. Trousseau kitchen set? For more information, visit Malle W. Trousseau. 

Above: The Malle W. Trousseau Kitchen Set is $5,800 from the MoMA store ($5,220 for members).

Above: The set includes 43 kitchen essentials (for cutting, cooking, and storage). The apron is designed by Malle W. Trousseau (inspired by a blacksmith apron) and is made from calf leather in France.

Above: The cast iron casserole with the signature wooden handle (designed by Timo Sarpaneva) made the cut.

Above: The mixing bowls are made in Denmark (since 1941) and are famous for their functionality (designed by Sigvard Bernadotte in 1949).

Can you spot the Iron Spice Grinder in the second photo? Learn more about it in one of our Kitchen posts.

What you don't see can be as important as what you do see. Case in point: electrical outlets. This is especially true in kitchens, where space is tight and power needs are great. Reduce visual clutter by hiding your outlets in an unused spot: under the cabinets.

Are you as obsessed with hiding outlets as we are? Share your clever hiding spots in the comment section below.

Above:  Eric Pike, the Creative Director at Martha Stewart Living, wanted to keep the counters of his small Manhattan kitchen as clear as possible. He keeps appliances behind doors and concealed the electrical outlets under the upper cabinets. Image via Martha Stewart. (See Alexa's Steal This Look: Eric Pike's Glamorous NYC Bath for another glimpse inside his space.)

Above:  In a small kitchen remodel in Seattle, NW Homeworks removed all outlets from the backsplash and hid them under the cabinets to create a clean, uncluttered feel.

Above: Created for residential use, Wiremold offers a variety of options including the Plugmold Hard Wired Tamper-Resistent Kit that comes complete with all the fittings, connectors and mounting hardware needed for full installation. It measures 36-inches in length and has six tamper-resistent outlets ideal for kitchen applications including under-cabinet, backsplash, islands, or work counters; $129.97 for the stainless steel kit at Amazon. Plugmold Tamper Resistent Multi-Outlet Strips are available in several sizes and finishes (including stainless, aluminum, white, black, ivory and gray) at Crescent Electical Supply.

Above: Don't have upper cabinets? Multi outlet strips can be places discreetly under counter overhangs or open shelving. Here outlet strips are installed at the end of a kitchen island.  Image via Leite's Culinaria.

Above: Even if you are not undertaking a renovation soon, multi-power outlets are an easy solution if you are short on outlets. No hardwiring required with the WIremold 52-inch Multi-Power Outlet System with Cord that features 8 Outlets and a 6-foot cord. Simply mount, plug into an existing power source, and you're done; $44.97 at Amazon.

Above: Some favor angled power strips that are placed at the intersection of the upper cabinets and the backsplash. While not completely hidden, they are easy to access and still create a clutter-free backsplash. The Task Lighting Angled Power Strip is $174.99 at Lighting Universe. Available in several finish options.

Above: Combine under cabinet power with a light source. The Plugmold Power Light features four outlets and a light; $40.76 at Home Depot.

For more solutions to unslightly sockets, see our earlier features on Recessed Outlets and Pop-up Outlets.

Shortly after Abby Weintraub and Matt Manfredi bought their 1941 Hancock Park house, they watched it gobble up their savings: new roof, furnace, pipes, wiring, and air conditioning. Faced with a cramped kitchen last touched in 1984 by Laura Ashley-loving former owners, they waved an SOS sign and architect Barbara Bestor came to their rescue.

Bestor didn't flinch at the couple's request for a total transformation on a relative shoe string. Instead, she took a look around the house, which the couple term "Hollywood Georgian," and made some masterful room reassignments. She designated the unneeded formal dining room the family room—the couple has two young kids and a casual, all ages approach to entertaining.

Meanwhile, a small den morphed into the dining room, and by taking down a wall between it and the kitchen, Bestor created an open-plan cooking and eating setup that makes both spaces feel bigger and brighter.

Lastly, she oversaw a gut renovation of the kitchen itself, mindful of the couple's desire for a clean, high-functioning setup that looks entirely at home in a period house: "We took the elements of a lovely 1940s kitchen and rebuilt them for now," says Barbara. The couple—she's a graphic designer specializing in books; he's a screen writer and an avid cook—are East Coast transplants who thoroughly appreciated the new old-fashioned details and practicality. "Barbara is known for her California look, but she grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and she has a real New England sensibility," says Abby. 

 Photographs for Remodelista by Jessica Comingore

 Above: Barbara Bestor preserved the kitchen's original steel-framed casement windows and added more. This one is new—it came from Torrance Steel Window Co.—and opens up views to the expansive backyard. "It's true that steel windows are more expensive than wood," says Barbara, "but they offer a very different effect in important ways: size of mullions, flat profile, and continuity with the period of the house." As for the kitchen faucet, after a long hunt for the right design that wouldn't take months to arrive, Abby found their Axor Montreaux bridge model by Hansgrohe on Amazon. 

 Above: Instead of a space-hogging island, the new kitchen has a Carrara-marble-topped peninsula that serves as a breakfast counter and holds a six-burner Aga stove (surprisingly less expensive, the couple found, than the equivalent from Viking or Wolf.) The pendant light is a 1969 Verner Panton design from LA's A + R Store that comes in 10 colors.

Above: The kitchen is open to the dining room carved out of what had been a tiny den clogged with deep bookshelves and too many doors (some were closed up and all remaining door frames got streamlined). The bentwood Bento Chairs are by Swedish group Form Us With Love and came from the A + R Store.

 Above: On a dining room wall, Bestor inserted a porthole window that frames the dining room's Tom Dixon bronze copper shade pendant, and provides a glimpse of the backyard from the front foyer. "I wanted to have a visual connection with the outside but a traditional window would have looked like a mistake," says Bestor. "The circle reads like a mirror and preserves a sense of privacy. It's more Magic Castle than Barcelona Pavilion."

 Above: A detail of a ship painting by Duncan Hannah on the mantel, the den's lone feature that was preserved.

 Above: White painted poplar cabinets were designed to look, as Bestor puts it, "sort of old-new." The upper cabinets have glass fronts that lend a lightness and prevent the tight space from feeling crowded. In keeping with the traditional look, the counter is polished Carrara marble. 

 Above: Faceted craftsman-style wooden cabinet pulls were sourced from Nice Knobs.

 Above: The steel framed windows are painted Black Bean from LA company Dunn-Edwards Paints.

 Above: A washer and dryer are sequestered at the far end of the kitchen, where they're on hand but not visible from most views. The oak flooring matches the original floors in the rest of the house. Barbara and Abby both credit the overall success of the remodel to a first-rate crew headed up by contractor, David King of DTK Builders in Los Angeles.

 Above: Whenever anything was deemed too expensive, Barbara pulled a new trick out of her bag. This desk is made from Ikea dark butcher block sanded and stained to look like teak. "It's one of the most commented-on features in the kitchen," says Abby. "Everyone loves the wood and asks what it is."  The cabinet above it has a built-in nook for a microwave.

 Above: The walls are tiled in outsized subway tiles—6"-by-12" Northern Lights tiles in Dover White from Mission Tile West.

Above: The peninsula that extends from the counter is detailed with a handy bookshelf for cookbooks.

Above: The fridge—a 48" Kitchen Aid—stands discreetly at the back of the kitchen.

Above: A gloomy glimpse of the setup B.B.B.—Before Barbara Bestor.

 Above: Formerly sectioned off behind closed doors, Bestor opened up the backstairs. They're painted a glossy black and outfitted with a pole bannister in Benjamin Moore Bumble Bee Yellow—no nonsense New England, points out Abby, with a hit of sunny California.

More easy kitchen takeaway? Check out our ideas-packed kitchen gallery.