An Urban Hut in London by Jonathan Tuckey for an Under-the-Radar Design Doyenne
If you happen to be in London, strolling through Belgravia, and find yourself on narrow and winding Kinnerton Street, you might spot a group of frock-wearing women racing bikes, taking afternoon tea, and lunching in the shade of a potted bamboo plant. They’re the women of Egg, a 25-year-run shop by Maureen Doherty that sells simple and functional clothing. Located...
A Bucolic Shepherd’s Hut in France
A rustic shepherd’s hut, once used to make cheese, has been restored into a simple, bucolic mountain retreat. In 2004, Austrian Frederick Pfeffer purchased this 300-year-old stone hut in Cantal’s volcanic Central Massif region, an area noted for its fromage. The mountain sides were once scattered with such huts (known as buron); until the 1950s, shepherds would spend their summers...
Expert Advice: 10 Tips for Transforming a Rental Bath
The challenges of the bathroom in my family’s rented house in Northern California ran the gamut from fusty glass lampshades and a heavy wrought-iron curtain rail to limp, musty curtains and a bold green-and-white striped shower curtain. The solution was pretty straightforward: Strip the place down to its bare elements, make everything white, and add layers of texture to prevent...
Remodeling 101: Romance in the Bath: Built-In vs. Freestanding Bathtubs
Freestanding baths have long been prized as the ultimate romantic statement: The big claw-foot tubs of yore can hold two people at once (cue the scented candles and bath oil). But we’ve heard some complaints: They’re harder to clean around, and they don’t keep the bathwater hot for very long. Then again, the other option—built-in baths—gets a bad rap for...
Atelier Vime in Brittany: An 18th-Century Childhood Home Lovingly Updated
Our story begins in the early 1960s with a hot tip in a doctor’s office: “My father was a dentist in Paris and a patient told him to have a look at this little hamlet lost in the valley—he had heard from his Breton family that the farmer wanted to sell,” Benoît Rauzy tells us. The hamlet in question is...
Weekend Spotlight: Indoor/Outdoor Living with Chambers + Chambers Architects
When Chambers + Chambers Architects, members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, won the Remodelista Considered Design Award 2013 for Best Professional Bath Space, we made a note to see more of the 2,800-square-foot house in Mill Valley, California. We were pleased to discover an indoor/outdoor design where space flows freely. Photography by John Merkl for Chambers + Chambers Architects. Above: In...
Steal This Look: A Penny Tile Bath in Australia
In this project from Kennedy Nolan architects in Melbourne, Australia, the team initially set out to restore the midcentury house designed by designers Chancellor and Patrick, but structural issues meant a new build was in order instead. But the architects still honored the original midcentury design—as seen in the main bathroom, complete with penny round wall tiles, quality fixtures, and...
Best Japanese Bath Towels: 5 Favorites for Luxury & Comfort
Soft but not aggressively fluffy. Sized to fit in a washer and dryer with room to spare. And designed with care and subtlety. There is something just right about the best Japanese cotton bath towels. Above: The Lana Towel by Kontex has a gauzy texture that looks like wool but is 100 percent cotton. Available in gray, shown, or brown in...
Before & After: Stunning Yard Sale Makeover Using Budget-Friendly Cabinet Hardware
Think you need a big budget to refresh your cabinets? Think again — here’s how a $20 yard sale find got a whole new life.Looking for affordable cabinet hardware? Here are some of my favorite cabinet drawer and door pulls by category.Do you remember this chair?The one with the cute pillow of Buddy that I talked about on Monday?I got...
10 Beautiful Embroidered Pillows That Instantly Elevate Your Home Decor
A simple embroidered pillow can turn an ordinary couch into a cozy, designer-looking space.”Happy Monday.I’m so glad you are here.(totals aside: Hello from the Carribean. I worked on the posts for this week and had them scheduled before I left so if you have a question or comment I will answer everything next week. We are having the most amazing...