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Steal This Look: A Finnish Cottage Kitchen and Dining Room

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Since we first posted on designers Saana and Olli (of Sanna ja Olli), we've been curious about their cottage and working studio in Padasjoki, Finland. As it turns out, thanks to a sneak peak into Finnish magazine Deko's feature on their home, it's as infectiously charming as the couple themselves. The kitchen and dining room are full of design ideas to take away from so we've sourced the key elements (and hard-to-find light fixture) below. 

For more on Saana and Olli's textile designs see our previous post, Hemp Textiles with a Nordic Edge.

Saana Ja Olli House Call in Finland, Remodelista

Above: Nordic fabrics include a tea towel from the couple's own line as well as eclectic cookware and accessories. Photograph via Deko Magazine.

Saana Ja Olli House Call in Finland, Remodelista

Above: Over the midcentury picnic table hangs a glass pendant and a himmeli mobile. Photograph via Deko Magazine.

Enamel Pottle from Saikai Toki, Remodelista

Above: Saikai Toki's Enamel Pot is coated in a blue, heat-resistant enamel with a large rectangular handle, removable top lid and holds 50 ounces; $135 from Steven Alan Home.

Kuksa Camping Mugs from Lapland, Finland, Remodelista

Above: A pair of Kuksa Finnish Camping Mugs hang near the stove in Saana and Olli's kitchen. The Kuksas are hand carved from Arctic birch burl and boiled in salt water for 12 hours (to treat the wood); each mug comes with a reindeer leather handle. Currently available through Nordic Art Store on Amazon for $29.99 each. We first wrote about the mugs during the holidays in 2011.

Black and White Triangle Tea Towel from Ferm Living, Remodelista

Above: Ferm Living's Triangle Tea Towel in black and white are handprinted on 100 percent organic cotton for €8.80 each.

Kitchen Cleaning Pot Brush from West Elm Market, Remodelista

Above: West Elm Market's Kitchen Cleaning Pot Brush is made from beechwood and synthetic fibers and is currently on sale; $4 each.

Ferm Living House Shaped Cutting Board Number 4, Remodelista

Above: Ferm Living's house-shaped Cutting Board 4 is modeled after the view seen from Rundetårn, Copenhagen, and made from oiled oak wood; $66.76 from Ferm Living.

Rosendahl Copenhagen City Hall Clock, Remodelista

Above: Rosendahl Copenhagen's City Hall Clock was designed in 1955 by Arne Jacobsen and measures 11.4 inches in diameter; $440 at Ameico. Photo from Scandinavia Design. For more, see 10 Easy Pieces: Simple Kitchen Wall Clocks.

Yki Nummi Skyflyer Pendant Light, Remodelista

Above: Designed by Yki Nummi in 1960, the Skyflyer Lamp is also known in Finland by the name of Lokki (Seagull) and is made from white acrylic and a steel chair; the shade measures a width of 70cm and height of 32cm; €395 from Finnish Design Shop.

Saana ja Olli Blue Tablerunner, Remodelista

Above: From their Maailman Synty collection, Saana and Olli's Yö Metsässä Table Runner measure 45 by 45 centimeters and is made from European 100 percent hemp fabric manufactured in Finland; €45 each and ships worldwide from Sanna ja Olli.

Midcentury Picnic Table from Amsterdam Modern, Remodelista

Above: You can sleuth out a Midcentury Teak Picnic Table like this one from Amsterdam Modern at online retailers like Midcentury LA and 1st Dibs. We first posted on indoor picnic tables when we spotted the ideas in the home stylist Nikole Harriott's house in Design Sleuth: Indoor Picnic Table.

Cotton Herringbone Blanket from Alder & Co., Remodelista

Above: Brahms Mount's Cotton Herringbone Throw is made in Maine from slate gray or navy cotton thread and measures 50 by 72 inches; $220 each from Alder & Co. in Portland, Oregon. For more options, see 10 Easy Pieces: Lightweight Cotton Blankets and for colder months, Winter Wool Blankets.

Looking for more Scandi kitchen inspiration? See our previous posts on Annaleena's Swedish Kitchen and Emma Persson Lagerberg's Mint Green Kitchen.


The Ultimate Dishwasher?

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Years ago, Bosch set a new standard for American dishwashers. Slowly but surely, other manufacturers caught on and caught up, offering consumers several options in the high-end dish cleaning department. Now, with a complete redesign of their dishwasher line, Bosch may have us considering a replacement of that aging and inefficient dishwasher. Or, at least putting their new models high on the kitchen remodel list. 

Upgrades across the Bosch 300-, 500-, and 800-series models include technological advancements that increase quietness, a larger tub design with increased loading capacity, rack enhancements, and improved energy efficiency. The dishwashers are manufactured in New Bern, North Carolina (for more home-grown appliance options, see our earlier feature: 13 American-Made Appliances).  

Are you attached to your dishwasher? Please weigh in with your experience in the comments section below. 

Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher, Remodelista

Above: Bosch completely redesigned their dishwasher's interior with a larger stainless tub and concave interior door, allowing for larger racks that increase the loading space by 3 inches with the same standard exterior size. This improvement applies to all the Bosch models from the 300 series and up. They also made the second rack adjustable to accommodate stemware and increase flexibility in loading.

Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher, Remodelista  

Above: The exterior redesign includes three new handle options (shown L to R): recessed handle with angled controls, flush handle with hidden controls, and bar handle with hidden controls. They are also available custom-panel ready with hidden controls. Offered in white, black, and stainless, the Bosch 300 Series Fully Integrated Dishwasher features two racks and four wash cycle options; $759.60 for the stainless model with bar handle (shown above R) at AJ Madison.

 

 

Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher, Remodelista

Above:  Bosch has added a third rack to its 500-series and 800-series dishwashers, which increases the loading capability by 30 percent. The Bosch 500 DLX Series Dishwasher with a bar handle and in stainless finish (also offered in white and black) is $849.60 at AJ Madison.

Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher, Remodelista

Above: The third rack in the 500- and 800-series Bosch dishwashers has a v-shape that enables you to place long-stemmed glasses on the rack below. It can be used as a cutlery tray for your everyday silverware, or you can use the Duo Flex silverware basket on the first rack while using the third rack for larger cooking utensils, shallow pans, and other items that have been traditionally awkward to place in the dishwasher.

Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher, Remodelista

Above: At the top of the Bosch dishwasher pyramid is the Bosch 800-Plus Fully Integrated Dishwasher. Its claim to fame is that it is rated the quietest dishwasher in North America (38dBA) thanks to engineering that includes technology for keeping interior spray from hitting the inside of the door and two motors to eliminate drain noise. It includes a third rack, an interior light, and six wash cycles. It's $1,449 to $2,099m depending on finish and handle selections. Available at AJ Madison or a dealer near you.

Explore more Dishwasher Options.

Kitchen Art Installation: 8 Display-Worthy Wooden Spoons

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When I first fell for Joshua Vogel's hand-carved spoons, a friend said, "But you can't actually use them." I dismissed this with a breezy, "Of course I can." Since then, I've bought three from the collection, and guess what? I don't use them for cooking; instead they hang on my wall as art. And I couldn't be happier.

The spoons are meant for utilitarian purpose, but for me, they double as just the sort of art I want on my wall. We've noticed the influx of wooden spoons before, but worshiping the new art objects has left us wondering how to display them when they're not in use.

Margaret Oomen's DIY Chalkboard Pegboard, Remodelista

Above: Toronto-based blogger Margaret Oomen designed a chalkboard pegboard to display the variety of wooden spoons she owns in her kitchen; noticed over at Dwell Magazine.

Arielle Alasko Walnut Hanging Spoon, Remodelista

Above: Brooklyn-based woodworker Ariele Alasko hangs a hand-carved, sanded ,and beeswax-finished Walnut Hanging Spoon in her studio; contact Alasko for ordering information. And see her workplace at A Sculptor Turned Furniture Maker in Brooklyn.

Hand Carved Spoons by Barnaby Carder, Remodelista

Above: On display in Spitalfields (sitting in the window carving for eight hour stretches) is spoon carver Barnaby Carder who made this custom rack to display his wares; for more see our post A Spoon Carver in Spitalfields.

Blackcreek Mercantile Spoons in Alexa Hotz's House, Remodelista

Above: A trio of objects hand carved by Joshua Vogel at Blackcreek Mercantile. The individual pieces (a Turkish-style flatbread tool and two spoons from the 365 collection) present a variety of unexpected forms; available at March in San Francisco.

Hand Carved Spoons on the Bedroom Wall, Remodelista

Above: Six spoons arranged by size in the Balcombe house in West Sussex from Shoot Factory.

June Schwarcz Hanging Spoons in Sausalito, Remodelista

Above: Spoons hang from heavy thread in the home of artist June Schwarcz's home in Sausalito visited by Catherine Bailey of Heath Ceramics via AT.

Persphone Bakery in Jackson, Remodelista

Above: Sets of wooden spoons hang in geometric patterns on the wall at Persephone Bakery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, photographed by Blair Friedeman of Delight by Design.

Nikole Harriot Hand Carved Spoons, Remodelista

Above: When searching for soulful kitchen items, one cannot pass up stylist Nikole Harriot's Harriot Grace, her online shop stocking items like her hand carved spoons shown here.

If wood is not your prefered medium, see all our Tableware items ranging from enamel to ceramic in our Shop section.

Ironman: Artisan-Made Skillets from Upstate New York

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A Remodelista reader clued us in to Borough Furnace, a Sycracuse, NY-based blacksmith that makes hand-forged cast iron skillets. Founded in 2011 by cousins John Truex and Jason Connelly, the company began with the backing of 193 Kickstarter investors.

Using their windfall, John and Jason built the custom Skilletron, a barrel-sized metal melting furnace that burns waste vegetable oil at 3000°F to melt scrap iron. "By using old fryer grease to fuel our furnace, we eliminate the massive energy consumption of a typical metal casting operation," the cousins say. "We only use recycled iron as source material, in keeping with our mission to consume as little as possible." It doesn't hurt that the skillets are minor works of art, life-lasting kitchen implements worthy of display. To check availability, go to Borough Furnace.

Bourough Furnace Skillet Remodelista

Above: The Frying Skillet is preseasoned with flaxseed oil; $280.

Bourough Skillet Remodelista

Above: A detail of the frying skillet. Photo via Serious Eats.

Borough Furnace Braising Skillet Remodelista

Above: The Braising Skillet is $180. Photo via Serious Eats.

10 Easy Pieces: Electric Kettles

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For those who prefer a rapid boil for tea and pour-over coffee, we've combed through all the electric tea kettles on the market to find the 10 best (and most attractive).

Krups BW600 Silver Edition Electric Tea Kettle, Remodelista

Above: Designed with aesthetics in mind, Krups' Silver Art Collection features high gloss chrome and contrasting natural wood elements. The BW600 2-Quart Electric Kettle with Stainless Steel Silver Housing has a 360-degree rotational cordless base and the kettle has an outside water level indicator, an automatic and manual shut-off, and anti-scale water filter; $71.99 from Amazon.

Alessi MG32 Electric Kettle, Remodelista

Above: Designed by Wiel Arets for Alessi, the Hot.It WA09 Electric Kettle is made from 18/10 polished mirror stainless steel; the inside, handle, and lid are made of thermoplastic resin. Available in white (shown) or black for $205 from Alessi.

Hario Buono Power Kettle, Remodelista  

Above: The go-to kettle for San Francisco coffee shops Blue Bottle and Ritual Coffee is the Hario. It's electric counterpart, the Hario Buono V60 Power Kettle, has the same design but comes with an electric burner: the long, narrow spout assures precise pouring, has a removable cord, 18/8 stainless steel kettle, and boil-dry protection; $84.95 from Crate & Barrel. Made in Japan.

Bodum Bistro Electric Tea Pot, Remodelista

Above: Bodum's Bistro Electric Kettle, available in cream (shown), lime green, red, or black, has transparent, double-walled glass that is both heat- and acid-resistant borosilicate glass (a.k.a lab glass); €129 from Connox. Alternatively, the Bodum 11451-913US 17-Ounce Electric Water Kettle is made from BPA-free plastic and stainless steel with a similar shape for $39.95 from Amazon.

Cuisinart Traditional Stainless Steel Electric Kettle, Remodelista

Above: For a classic look, Cuisinart's RK-17 Traditional Electric Kettle is cordless and finished in stainless steel with a nonslip handle and anti-splatter spout. While the model is discontinued through Cuisinart, you can still secure a few from Overstock (link above) or Amazon for $59.99.

Breville Variable Temperature Electric Kettle, Remodelista

Above: The Breville Variable-Temperature Electric Kettle has five preset brewing temperatures (green, white, black, and ooling tea, French press, and boil) and a "hold temperature" feature to keep water at the selected temperature for 20 minutes. The kettle is brushed stainless steel, has a safety shut-off feature and removable scale filter; $129.95 from Sur La Table.

Dualit Electric Jug Kettle, Remodelista

Above: Dualit's Cordless Jug Kettle (shown in white) has a rapid boil concealed element and laser-cut lime scale filter inside and water indicator outside; made from stainless steel with plastic handle and design elements; $109.99 from Target.

Cuisinart PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle, Remodelista

Above: The Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTempt 1.7-Liter Electric Kettle is cordless with a concealed heating element, made from stainless steel, and has a blue backlit water window; $83.99 from Amazon.

Dualit Architect Electric Water Jug, Remodelista

Above: The Dualit Architect Jug Kettle is of commercial quality with a stainless steel body and interchangeable, screw-on colored panels to customize the kettle with. The kettle has a cordless, 360-degree base and a blue water level indicator light on the side; £79 from Lakeland.

Braun Electric Tea Kettle, Remodelista

Above: The Breville Crystal Clear Water Boiler is made from German Schott glass for durability, is BPA free, and has a safety auto shut-off and boil dry protection for unwatched pots; $99.99 from Zappos.

Prefer the stovetop method? Shop our previous post: 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Tea Kettles for more.

An Herb-Drying Rack with Medieval Appeal

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Think of all the households with McCormick spices sitting on the shelves. That's not you; you're going to grow your own herbs and dry them for future use. How? With a wrought-iron herb dryer (similar to the Cox & Cox Herb and Flower Dryer) from Burgon & Ball:

Burgon & Ball Hanging Herb Dryer, Remodelista

Above: The Harvest Herb Dryer is made from hand-forged steel that is powder-coated in matte black; £10.95 directly from Burgon & Ball; also available through Tinder.

Burgon & Ball Hanging Herb Dryer, Remodelista

Above: The dryer comes with six hooks.

Burgon & Ball Hanging Herb Dryer, Remodelista

Above: For drying herbs from the garden or the market, the herb dryer can hang from wall bracket or an S hook (included).

For more herbal solutions, see our other posts on Gardenista: An Herb Dryer Rack for Harvest Season, A Clever Kitchen Herb Rack from Austria, and a DIY Video on Rehabbing Your Herb Garden

6 Favorites: Display-Worthy French Rolling Pins

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In an episode of The French Chef, Julia Child famously called American rolling pins "toys" and tossed one to the back of the set. She proceeded to introduce her audience to real French rolling pins. Favored by pasty chefs for their precise control and ease of applying even pressure, French rolling pins have no handles and are tapered on the ends. The tapered shape allows you to easily pivot the pin to create a nearly perfect round shape. 

Available in a variety of hardwoods, French rolling pins are not something you need to hide. Like Julia, you can store these display-worthy pins out in the open (hers were kept in a copper stock pot on top of a counter). Here are a few of our favorites:

Michael Robbins Rolling Pins, Remodelista

Above: Furniture maker Michael Robbins offers a collection of rolling pins that he makes by hand in an old barn in the Hudson Valley. Available in a range of hardwoods including cherry, ash, white oak, black walnut, sycamore, and maple, the Michael Robbins Small Tapered Pin is 18 inches long and 1.25 inches in diameter. The Michael Robbins Large Tapered Pin is 20 inches long and 1.75 inches in diameter; $62 and $72 respectively.

French Rolling Pin, Remodlista

Above: Crafted in their studio in Burlington, Vermont, the Vermont Farm Table French Taper Rolling Pin is 19 inches long and 1.75 inches diameter in the center. Available in maple, cherry (as shown), walnut, and tiger maple, the solid wood pin is dipped in food-grade mineral oil; $30 to $40 depending on wood.

Herriott Grace French Rolling Pin, Remodelista

Above: From the Canadian father-daughter woodworking team of Herriott Grace, the hand-turned Oak Fine Rolling Pin has slightly tapered ends and is $80.

Whetstone Woodenware French Rolling Pin, Remodelista

Above: Hand crafted of kiln-dried maple wood, grown and milled 10 miles from the Indiana factory where the pins are made, the Whetstone Woodenware French Rolling Pin is a generous 22 inches long and 1.75 inches in diameter; $23.95. 

Jordon Tomnuk French Rolling Pin, Remodelista

Above: Designed and crafted by Jordon Tomnuk out of his Edmonton, Alberta, shop, the Tomnuk French Rolling Pin is available in FSC-certified walnut or maple, and features a brass tube insert for hanging; CAD$84 at On Our Table (ships to Canada, the US, and international destinations).

French Tapered Rolling Pin, Remodelista

Above: Made in Maine of rock maple, the long and slender Williams Sonoma Tapered Rolling Pin measures 20 inches long and 1.25 inches in diameter; $14.95.

For more display-worthy wooden kitchen tools, see Alexa's Favorite Wooden Spoons

A Viennese-Inspired Line of Coffee Accessories

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David Freud founded his coffee empire in 1986, inspired by stories of his father's inter-war life spent in the coffee houses of Central Europe, "where coffee, beer, culture, and conversation flowed hand in hand." With his two cafes—one on Shaftesbury Avenue at the top of Monmouth Street in London and the other in Oxford—he aims to "recreate the bustle and chatter of his father's treasured Viennese hangouts." And luckily for us, he's now selling his line of coffee and tea accoutrements (including Latin inscribed mugs and tea towels, perfect for the erudite).

Freud Coffee Maker Remodelista

Above: The Freud Tea Ball is CA $110 from Le Marche St. George in Vancouver. You can also order directly from Freud.

Freud Espresso Maker Remodelista

Above: The Stovetop Espresso Maker is CA $145 from Le Marche St. George in Vancouver. You can also order directly from Freud.

Freud Latin Tea Towel Remodelista

Above: The Alphabet Tea Towel is £10.80 from Freud.

Latin Alphabet Mugs Freud Remodelista

Above: The bone china Alphabet Mugs are hand cast and decorated in Stoke-on-Trent; £15 each. The Latin alphabet graphics are based on a 1523 Venetian woodcut. Also available: Hebrew, Cyrillic, Arabic, Greek, and Ancient Hebrew mugs based on 1540 Roman woodcut.

Freud Cafe Oxford Exterior Remodelista

Above: The Freud Cafe in Oxford is located on Walton Street in the former St. Paul's Church, a Greek Revival structure with "hauntingly high ceilings and decadent stained glass."

  Freud Cafe Oxford England Remodelista

Above: How civilized: Students and members of the Oxford University Press get a discount on cocktails.

 


Modern Italian Rusticity from Valcucine

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High-end Italian kitchens can be so sleek and soulless (do you agree?). That's why we took note when we came across the Sine Tempore kitchen from Valcucine, which evokes a modern farmhouse spirit. See more at Valcucine.

Valcucine Sine Tempore Remodelista

Above: The Sine Tempore cabinetry is made of solid elm.

Valcucine Sine Tempore Remodelista Cabinets

 Above: The chef of the house at work.

  Valcucine Sine Tempore Drawers Remodelista

Above: A wall display of vintage farm tools telegraphs the agrarian inspiration for the kitchen.

Valcucine Sine Tempore Remodelista Shelving

Above: The kitchen components are modular; the backsplash is bushhammered to create a rustic look.

Valcucine Sine Tempore Remodelista Cutlery Drawer

Above: Drawers for utensil storage.

Valcucine Sine Tempore Remodelista 4

Above: Of course: Wine storage.

Valcucine Sine Tempore Remodelista 2

Above: A clever dish draining system.

 

Summery Ice Cream Cups from Brooklyn

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Confession: we're of two minds when it comes to Brooklyn ceramicist Virginia Sin's ice cream cups designed to look like wafer cones. I love the idea, but Alexa hates it ("corny," she said). What do you think?

Brook Farm Ice Cream Bowls Remodelista

Above: The Porcelain Ice Cream Cone by Brooklyn ceramicist Virginia Sin is 3 inches tall and is $18 from Brookfarm General Store.

french ice cream dish shaped like a cone

Above: The Ice Cream Cone is from Sin's Gluttony Collection (she also makes ceramic plates that look like paper plates).

10 Genius Double Sinks, Utility Edition

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In an ideal world, I'd love to have a pair of sinks in my summer kitchen (all those guests and all those dishes!). Here are 10 examples of kitchens with double sinks for stowing dishes and washing produce.

In Praise of Shadows Architecture's Double Sinks, Remodelista

Above: Double sinks in a house in Sweden by architecture firm In Praise of Shadows.

Double Kitchen Sinks Remodelista

Above: A pair of farmhouse sinks in a kitchen via My Paradissi.

10 Genius Double Sinks, Remodelista

Above: Double sinks in London via Naver.

10 Genius Double Sinks, Remodelista

Above: A pair of sinks in a kitchen by LA-based Stelle Architects.

10 Genius Double Sinks, Remodelista

Above: Double farmhouse sinks in a project by NY architects Messana O'Rorke.

10 Genius Double Sinks, Remodelista

Above: A restaurant size sink with two faucets, one for rinsing dishes. Designed by Gregory Saldana in the kitchen of his and his wife's home via Boston Magazine.

10 Genius Double Sinks, Remodelista

Above: A kitchen in London by Stiff + Trevillion Architects.

10 Genius Double Sinks, Remodelista

Above: A kitchen in London by Woollacott Gilmartin.

10 Genius Double Sinks, Remodelista

Above: Double restaurant-style sinks in a NY kitchen via House Beautiful.

10 Genius Double Sinks, Remodelista

Above: Dar Amane, a riad in Marrakech, via Style Files.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 5, 2010.

5 Favorites: Baskets as Wall-Mounted Storage

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Here's an idea we like: wall-mounted baskets as entryway or kitchen storage (think wooden spoons, etc.).

Wall Mounted Storage Baskets Remodelista

Above L: A set of two Woodchip Wall Baskets is £24 from Rockett St. George. Above R: The Market & Fruit Picking Pack from Kaufmann Mercantile would work well for wall-mounted storage; $104.

Martha Stewart Wall-Mounted Basket Remodelista

Above: Wall-mounted baskets via Martha Stewart.

Wicker Basket Rope Handle Remodelista

Above: A Wicker Basket with Rope Handle is on sale for $7 (down from $19) at Save on Crafts.

Martha Stewart Wall Mounted Bicycle Basket Remodelista

Above: Another good idea from Martha Stewart; a wall-mounted bicycle basket for garden tool storage. The Nantucket-Style Front Handlebar Wicker Bike Basket is $20 from After School.

 

DIY: Picnic Table for a Crowd

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Here's an idea we haven't seen before: two picnic tables pushed together to form one large square table surrounded by benches.

Double Picnic Table Remodelista

Above: For a Kinfolk dinner in Northern Michigan, Megan Gilger collaborated with Nathan Williams and  Photo via The Fresh Exchange.

Picnic Table with Black Legs Remodelista

Above: The Classic Picnic Table with Black Legs is AUD $426 through Etsy (ships to US from Oregon).

Square Picnic Table Remodelista

Above: The Pine Wide Picnic Table with Traditional Benches is available in sizes up to 96 inches square; prices start at $399 at All Picnic Tables.

Design Sleuth: Rope Pendant Lights in a Summer Cottage

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Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference, as in the case of these nautical/industrial pendant lights in today's Before & After: A Summer Cottage Reborn on the Connecticut Coast

Photography by Elizabeth Watsky

Green industrial pendants light hung with nautical rope | Remodelista

Above: A mix of materials from reclaimed wood shelves, concrete countertops, stainless steel appliances, and white tile create a modern rustic kitchen in this seaside cottage in Connecticut

Green industrial pendants light hung with nautical rope | Remodelista

Above: Charlotte Tracy, the owner of the house, spotted something similar on Pinterest and became obsessed. "I didn't want a lot of color in the house and wanted to use green and blue as accents," she says. "I found these at Cisco Home in Hayes Valley, SF, and they're even better than the ones I had in mind because of the rope detail."

DIY Rope Lamp Remodelista

Above: For something similar, consider stylist Raina Kattelson's DIY Knotted Lamp Cord project on Design Sponge featuring an Ikea Foto lamp and a length of sisal rope.

See our catalog of hand picked lighting for your home.

High/Low: Dornbracht vs. Grohe Kitchen Faucet

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It's a challenge picking the perfect kitchen faucet. Who knew? We were exposed to endless options during our recent remodel. We narrowed down the choices and ultimately went with a German-made Grohe faucet. If money weren't an issue, my top choice would have been a Dornbracht Tara faucet (also German, but four times the price). After all, the products are almost identical.

Grohe Concetto Faucet in Izabella's Kitchen

Above: We installed a Grohe Concetto Faucet in our kitchen; $376.35 from eFaucets. It is available in super steel (our choice) and in polished chrome.

Tara Logic Faucet, Remodelista

Above: My top choice (if money were no object), would be the Tara Logic Single-Level Basin Mixer, a modern classic; $1,656 at Faucet Supply. 

Are you looking for the perfect kitchen faucet? See Janet's 10 Easy Pieces: Editors' Favorite Faucets, featuring some of our top picks. If you care for German engineered products (like me), check out Why I Love My Miele Vacuum.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on May 2, 2013.


Rustic Suede Pot Holders, Made in Upstate New York

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Life-enhancing Classic Suede Potholders, handmade in upstate New York for Dar Gitane. The only hitch? Deciding on a color.

Leather Pot Holders Remodelista

Above: The Classic Suede Potholder comes in eight colors; $24 each at Dar Gitane.

Classic Suede Potholder Dar Gitane Remodelista

Above: The potholders feature a grommeted hanging loop.

Dar Gitane Suede Potholder Remodelista

Above: The potholders are double stitched with a pocket interior; use double layered for hotter pots and single layer for other tasks.

 

10 Easy Pieces: Display-Worthy Wooden Cutting Boards

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When did the utilitarian wood cutting board become the kitchen accoutrement du jour? Here are 10 that we're currently coveting:

wood board

Above: Raw Wood Boards made from mango wood at West Elm. Prices range from $39 to $89, depending on size.

Wooden board

Above: Vintage Wine Barrel Cutting Board; $168 from Terrain.

Wood Board

Above: The egg-shaped La Planche a Decouper is €44 by French designer Caroline Gomez.

wood board

Above: Maple Cutting Board with leather strap from Jayson Home; $72.

wood board

Above: Color Blocked Balloon Cutting Board handmade in Philadelphia by Lostine, using Pennsylvania-grown sycamore and food-safe milk paint; $248 From Anthropologie (currently on sale for $149.95).

Bec-boards  

Above: Chopping Blocks made from solid American ash by New Zealand-based Douglas and Bec in three shapes; NZ $65.

JK Adams Board

Above: JK Adams Driftwood Rectangular Cutting Board is made in Vermont from planks of ash; $69.95 from WIlliams-Sonoma

Wooden board

Above: Ash Wood Cutting Boards made from Minnesota hardwood at Terrain; prices range from $20 to $56.

  Wood board

Above: Bird's Eye Maple Cutting Board from Heath Ceramics made by master woodworker Edward Wohl; $170.

wooden boards

Above: Handmade Blonde Cutting Board crafted by Amish woodworkers; $48 from Canvas.

Check out our post on wooden Rolling Pins, the latest kitchen contender to the cutting board.

 

Expert Advice: 15 Things to Know About Knives

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When it comes to knives, there's really only one place to go in San Francisco: Town Cutler. Many of the city's famed chefs and serious foodies come to Galen Garretson's store to keep their knives sharp and up to snuff. Garretson worked in several of the city's restaurant kitchens as a butcher until he burned out and left to set up his own knife business a couple of years ago. I swung by his store the other day and asked him to tell me everything there is to know about knives.

Galen Garretson Town Cutler

Above: Galen Garretson at his Nob Hill shop, Town Cutler.

RM: What to look for when purchasing a knife?
GG: There are two classes of steel—carbon and stainless steel. Carbon oxidizes, can rust, and changes color with moisture while stainless always stays shiny. The most important thing with a knife is the heat-treating process. You can't tell by looking, so that's why you need to do research or come to people like us who pick steel that's treated properly.

RM: How do you know which knife is right for you?
GG: A lot of knives are sold online, but you need to feel the weight of the knife and the balance; how it feels in the hand. You want all the weight to fall on the heel as it's easier on the wrist and also better for balance and control.

RM: Which steel do you recommend?
GG: I prefer carbon, it's the real deal. The grain strut has a finer edge than stainless and is easier to sharpen.

Town Cutler

Above: A Wilburn Forge Knife.

RM: Your favorite carbon knife?
GG: Aaron Wilburn of Wilburn Forge in Redding, California, makes the best knives. He's a Master Smith (one of 114 bestowed by the American Bladesmith Society). He's taken techniques from Japanese hardening of steel and gone further to make the steel sharper and more durable. I like how sharp his knives are, the durability, how they cut, and how easy they are to sharpen. They're expensive, but they're the best.

RM: More affordable options?
GG: I like Zanmai from Japan. They use VG 10, a new stainless steel, and it's the one I recommend. Shosui Takeda and Dietrich Podmajersky of Podforge from Seattle are also good.

Town Cutler

Above: Gyuto Knife by Zanmai; $230.

RM: What are the essential knives to own in the kitchen?
GG: All you really need are the basics. I don't believe in a full set of 12 knives. A good 8-inch all-purpose chef's knife. A 5-to-6-inch utility for a second knife and a paring knife for handheld work.

Town Cutler

Above: Knife Roll Case made by Town Cutler.

RM: Care for a knife?
GG: You need to keep it dry and keep it clean. Use dry warm soapy water after proteins and don't use heavy abrasive wash. And never put your knives in the dishwasher. If the knife is carbon, the steel needs to be oiled often. It's good to oil a stainless blade sometimes as it helps the edge.

RM: What oil do you recommend?
GG: We use a camellia oil and have one that we bottle here in the store.

Town Cutler

Above: Magnetic Knife Bar by William Ullman; $95 from Canoe.

RM: Knife storage?
GG: Magnetic bars are the best because they keep the knives within easy reach. You can see them and they look good. Magnetic strip with non-exposed steel or magnets are best. There isn't a current brand that I like, so I'm in the process of making my own out of cherry wood and rose wood. But those won't be ready until the end of the year.

RM: Wood blocks for storage?
GG: No. You can ding the edge when you put the knife in a wood block—it's not breathing in there—any moisture needs to evaporate.

RM: Tips on sharpening a knife?
GG: If you use one of those trucks which use a machine, the heat will the change the grain structure in the steel. Any belt sanding is to be avoided with knives. Use a water stone. It's a type of stone lubricated by water, not oil. For basic sharpening, I recommend a three-step process. Starting with the coarser stone (Bester #1200) to create the bevel, then moving to a smoother stone (Arashiyama +6000) to polish the edge, then finishing on a leather strop, like you'd see in an old barber shop.

RM: Sharpening rods?
GG: A steel honing rod is for maintaining the edge, and it'sonly good for softer steel. It's triage to give an edge a quick fix. Good for the likes of Henkels.

Town Cutler

Above: An Oval Maple End Grain Up Cutting Board; $70 at Custom Made.

RM: What sort of cutting boards do you recommend?
GG: End-grain boards in hardwoods like maples and walnut; they're hard, but not too hard. Plastic harvests bacteria, but wood has a lot more antibacterial qualities.

RM: What to avoid?
GG: Don't use your knives for cutting bones and frozen foods. Avoid heat; with carbon knives, stay away from acidity.

RM: Pet peeve?
GG: People who bring in dirty, greasy knives for sharpening. Keep them clean.

See more insights from those in-the-know in our Expert Advice posts.

Wooden Kitchen Accessories from a Dutch Design Duo

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Dutch designer Daphna Isaacs Burggraaf and Laurence Manders are the designers behind Daphna Laurens, a multidisciplinary studio in Eindhoven. The two met as students ("We found that while working together—or, as we prefer to say, working as one designer—our work was far more fruitful and artistically rich," they say) and have designed shelving for Cappellini and the C chair concept for Poltrona Frau. We are especially drawn to their functional, straightforward pieces for the kitchen. To see more, go to Daphna Laurens.

Book Shelf Daphne Laurens Remodelista

Above: The oak LookShelf is designed to allow you to display books as art (or, in the kitchen, to hold your cookbooks or your iPad); contact VijS for ordering information.

Lookbook Shelf Detail Remodelista

Above: A detail of the LookShelf.

Daphna Laurens Cutting Board Remodelista

Above: The cut and serve Grid Planks are available in four different shapes.

Daphna Laurens Cutting Board 2 Remodelista

Above: A detail of a grid plank.

 

 

5 Favorites: Before/After Kitchen Renovations

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Though we love to dream about our someday remodels, the fact is that all remodels come with constraints. Sometimes they're squeezed by time (see a full kitchen remodel on a six-week deadline, below). More often, pennies must be pinched (Justine's $3,000 kitchen remodel awaits). In all cases, homeowners and their designers must work within the confines of the space at hand. Here, five kitchen remodels we think handled the challenges with aplomb. 

Before

"Before" Photo in Modern Kitchen Renovation, Remodelista

Above: When Remodelista's Justine Hand was house hunting in New England, she intentionally looked for a kitchen in need of a remodel, dreaming of making it her own. She thought she could bear any existing kitchen until she had the funds for her dream remodel, but once she was faced with "oppressively orange" wood cabinetry, she made her modest budget work. For all the details, see Rehab Diary: Dream Kitchen for Under $3,000.

After

"After" Photo in Modern Kitchen Renovation, Remodelista

Above: Justine worked with the designers at Jersey Ice Cream Co. to remodel her kitchen for a total cost of $3,000. The team worked their magic with white paint, wood countertops from Ikea, new open shelving, and brass drawer hardware, turning Justine's kitchen into an open, airy space.

Before

"Before" Photo in Modern Kitchen Renovation, Remodelista

Above: Owned by a designer and a photographer, this kitchen is located in a home by midcentury California architect Joseph Eichler; the mahogany cabinet paneling was a classic Eichler finish. To learn more, see Reader Rehab: A Respectful Eichler Remodel in Marin.

After

"After" Photo in Modern Kitchen Renovation, Remodelista

Above: The owners made the floating reclaimed oak shelves themselves. They wanted to offset the slick surfaces of new Caesarstone countertops and white lacquer cabinets with something rough and hand-hewn.

Before

"Before" Photo in Modern Kitchen Renovation, Remodelista

Above: Like many kitchens in older homes, this one had undergone an unfortunate renovation in the 1970s. The existing kitchen was in disrepair, so nothing was suitable for reuse. For the full story, see Rehab Diaries: An Oregon Kitchen with a Dose of Downton Abbey.

After

"After" Photo in Modern Kitchen Renovation, Remodelista

Above: This kitchen by Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory member Howells Architecture + Design is the architect's take on a classic English scullery. The original 1920s Portland home had an English influence, so that was the designer's starting point.

Before

"Before" Photo in Modern Kitchen Renovation, Remodelista

Above: Believe it or not, Remodelista editor Christine Chang Hanway's kitchen remodel involved only repainting the vertical surfaces, extending the kitchen island, and replacing a few dated appliances. Get the whole story in The Architects Are In: Minimal Moves for Maximum Impact in Christine's Connecticut House.

After

"After" Photo in Modern Kitchen Renovation, Remodelista

Above: Christine extended the existing kitchen island in her Connecticut home and added some pops of color after painting everything white. Learn more about her kitchen island extension in House Call: Christine's Best Remodeling Decision.

Before

"Before" Photo in Modern Kitchen Renovation, Remodelista

Above: This kitchen hadn't been updated in 20 years and featured a 5-foot-long empty space at the end of the counter cabinetry, where a washer and dryer once stood. Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory member Amy Alper made good use of the wasted space. Read all about it in Reader Rehab: A Sonoma Kitchen Remodel with a Six-Week Deadline.

After

"After" Photo in Modern Kitchen Renovation, Remodelista

Above: Alper remodeled this 13-foot-long Sonoma galley kitchen in a mere six weeks, in time for the owners' first harvest of their new kitchen garden. 

Presented by Scotiabank®

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