Visit the kitchen of any Remodelista editor and you'll likely find at least one prized piece by Joshua Vogel, the designer behind Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co. (I myself made a pilgrimage to March the last time I was in San Francisco to get one of his spoons.) Hand-carved to enhance the natural form of the wood, each of his designs has a wonky grace that makes it as satisfying to hold as to behold.
Blackline is the latest collection from this architect turned maker, who works out of a small studio in Kingston, New York. Rather than adding pigments, Josh relies on a natural "reactive" process that makes use of the tannic acid within white oak. The resulting serving boards, spatula, and stool are in a rich—and food-safe—shade of black that will develop a patina over time. In other words, the more you use them, the better they'll get.
Above: The Blackline boards come in small, large, and paddle-size. The small board, shown here, an 8-by-16-inch square, is $150 from Blackcreek Mercantile. It and other Blackline designs are also available at The Commons in Charleston, South Carolina, and will soon be at March.
Above: The Blackline paddle, 5 inches wide and 24 inches long, is ideal for serving cheese; $200.
Above: The finish of Blackline wares is relatively resilient, but highly acidic foods will affect the natural dye. To maintain your board, Josh recommends cleaning it with soap and hot water and regularly applying Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co.'s Cutting Board Oil.
Above: Bent Spatulas are a generous 15.5 inches long; $60.
Above: The Step Stool is $350. Blackline bowls, mortar and pestles, mallets, spoons, and trays will also be available later this year. See Blackcreek Mercantile's stock list to find other online vendors or a store near you.
To see more of Joshua Vogel's work, go to Studio Visit: Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co. in the Hudson Valley, and take a look at:
Like the idea of living with more black? See 11 Best Industrial-Style Sconces for the Kitchen and Trend Alert: Black Tapware Roundup.More Stories from Remodelista