Beagle Restaurant (named after an old locomotive that once chugged along the original Northern line) is situated by the Hoxton overground railway station in the London borough of Hackney. Co-owners (and brothers) Danny and Kieran Clancy hired London-based design collective Fabled Studio to restore the three railway arches and turn the space into a 52-seat dining area, bar, cafe, and large outdoor patio. To learn more, go to Beagle.

Photography by Beagle, except where noted. 

Above: Each arch represents a different seating area (the steel straps that arc across the restaurant ceiling was inspired by Victorian railway cars, which were framed in metal hoops). Photo via The Telegraph. 

Above: The exposed brickwork is original and the flooring is made from reclaimed railway sleepers. Photo via Retail Design Blog.

Above: The lighting was inspired by Adolf Loos chandeliers and old Fresnel lens lamps. Photo by Retail Design Blog. 

Above: With chef James Ferguson at the helm, staff prepares the dishes in an open kitchen.

Above: The bar is clad in a green marble slab. 

Above: Retro-inspired cocktails are served at the deep green marble bar.

Above: Located in the third arch is an Italian-inspired cafe.

Above: The outdoor terrace features wooden planters and furniture made from old railway sleepers. Photo by Retail Design Blog.

Looking for crêpes in London? Make sure to check out The Lost Art of the Buckwheat Crêpe: La Petite Bretagne in London.  

Our favorite recent London culinary discovery? PipsDish in Hoxton Square, a lunch and dinner popup located on the lower level of the British Standard Showroom. Philip Dundas, a former BBC-producer-turned-kitchen-entrepreneur and his cooking partner, Mary Doherty, create improvised meals in their below-stairs kitchen, driven by their highly honed instincts and what they've found at the market that morning.

Philip came to restaurant entrepreurship in a roundabout way; a former BBC producer and food writer for the Guardian and The Scotsman, he started his blog, PipsDish, as a way to share "ideas about great cooking—mine and others." In 2010, he was inspired to write his first book, Cooking Without Recipes, by his father’s late-life discovery and passion for cooking. Next, he began hosting supper clubs in his East London apartment and, after a residency in a London pub kitchen, Philip is now setting up pop-up kitchens across London to promote community through food and is working on a new restaurant in Covent Garden.

Unless otherwise noted, photography by Simon Bevan.

Above: PipsDish in Hoxton Square can be booked for private lunches and dinners for 10 people; it's also open as a lunch club on Thursdays and Fridays, with two sittings:12pm and 1:30pm; £20 per person. Private events can be scheduled for £35 per person. To make a reservation, call 07503 293 438 or email bookings@pipsdish.co.uk. Photo by Julie Carlson.

Above: Typical in many London houses, the kitchen is in the basement, with a service stair leading to the street. British Standard kitchen designs are on display on the first floor (for a peek, go to A Kitchen for the People, Courtesy of Prince Charles).

Above: Philip and Mary set the table with china from an old Scottish country house.

Above: "What we cook is informed too by the weather and the mood of the day," Mary says. "French breakfast radishes always look so fresh and perky on the table, inviting you to their peppery crunch. And having bought some amazing English goat's cheese that morning, we thought the combination of its freshness with a goats' cheese and herb tzatziki would stir the palate into action on a hot day."

Above: Glasses from La Rochère, a French company that has been making glassware since 1475, add a rustic continental flair. Philip sources his cutlery in second-hand shops and antique fairs; the vases are from Ikea.

Above: "We're always tempted by colors and textures when we're shopping; we want the kitchen to come alive with the ingredients we are cooking," Philip says. "Mackerel from Cornwall are firm-fleshed with their silvery skins, and they roast quickly in our Everhot range; we served them with Sicilian breadcrumbs, pine nuts, sultanas, lemon, and parsley with sautéed red chard and lentils." N.B.: Desert was well suited to the hot sultry weather, an apricot, raspberry meringue parfait.

Above: Mary and Philip; photo via The London Luxe.

Above: Cooking Without Recipes, with a forward by Simon Callow, is $13.08 via Amazon and £9.99 via Amazon.co.uk. Philip wrote the book for "all those people who are fed up with lists and measurements and want to learn to cook what they like to eat, from the heart." Photo by Christine Chang Hanway. 

And after lunch, we went around the corner and visited the Goodhood Lifestore, Hoxton's latest in home ware and lifestyle goods. 

See map below for location of PipsDish Hoxton in the British Standard Showroom. 

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Not your usual guest house: Fiona Atkins, an antiques dealer, began renting rooms over her shop in Spitalfields so that travelers could experience her beloved neighborhood, "an area of London that is like no other," she says. "Spitalfields is a vibrant area for all ages and cultures; for centuries, immigrants have arrived here to begin their new lives in a strange country. Each wave has left its own mark on the area: the French Huguenots and the Jews from eastern Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries and more recently the Bangladeshis."

When Atkins bought her early 18th century weaver's house on Fournier Street, it was "virtually derelict. It had never been plumbed or wired, and almost all of the original paneling had been boarded over. But fortunately, this had preserved the original detailing. "It's a somewhat quirky place to stay," she says. "Some floors may slope, the interiors can be drafty, and windows have shutters rather than curtains."

For booking information, go to Spitalfields Town House.

Above: The living room is decorated with antiques collected by Atkins over the years.

Above: The living room overlooks the vibrant Spitalfields streetscape.

Above: A wood-burning stove warms the "sometimes drafty" interior.

Above: A vignette by Atkins.

Above: The table set for dining.

Above: Atkins has added a modern kitchen to the premises.

Above: An original stairwell leads to the rooms upstairs.

Above: A bedroom under the eaves.

Above: A new bathroom.

Above: An elaborately draped four poster bed.

To see more Spitalfields life, see A Visit with Marianna Kennedy, London's Sorceress of Color or visit her rooftop garden in A Secret Roof Garden in Spitalfields. 

See map below to find location of Spitalfields Town House. 

Let's be honest: Marin County is fab in many ways. World's most beautiful landscape? Check. Birthplace of the mountain bike and the hot tub? Check. Stomping ground of the Grateful Dead? Check. But the restaurant scene has been lackluster. Until now.

LA import Farmshop (located in the newly revamped Marin Country Mart) has upped the ante. The food is noteworthy, but we're more interested in the interiors, designed by Commune.

Photos by Mariko Reed, unless otherwise noted.

Above: A lounge area exudes midcentury cool.

Above: Another view of the private dining area.

Above: The main dining room features Commune's trademark (and hard-to-pin-down) sense of cool.

Above: School chairs against an agrarian photo mural. Photo by Katie Newburn.

Above: Teal velvet banquettes. Photo by Katie Newburn.

Above: Cool polished concrete floors.

Above: Tiling courtesy of Heath Ceramics in Sausalito.

Above: A view of the bar seating. Photo by Katie Newburn.

Above: The wood-burning hearth. Photo by Katie Newburn.

Above: A view of the precision detailing.

Above: Fire cooking in action. Photo by Katie Newburn.

Above: Photo by Katie Newburn.

Add eco-chic hotelier to the list of titles bestowed on Lady Bamford, the founder and inspiration behind Daylesford, the UK's most glamorous and more importantly, organic farmshop. Lady B has applied the same rigorous attention to detail in her newly opened The Wild Rabbit, a small hotel with pub and restaurant in nearby Kingham, Oxfordshire. The original building, formerly the Tollgate Inn features chalky white interiors, typical of the stone in the area, and dates back to 1750. Renovated by Lady Bamford, the inn was opened in September and was renamed The Wild Rabbit.

Above: A collection of Windsor chairs around a dining table.

Above: Table settings feature fruity floral arrangements and rustic linens.

Above: The restaurant is a modern take on a traditional pub restaurant.

Above L: Hams hanging from hooks. Above R: Organic and often locally sourced produce is a mainstay of the restaurant menu which features handmade bread.

Above: The pub with wooden stools at the bar and an open fireplace, one of three.

Above: One of 12 bedrooms, each featuring a handmade bed with organic linens.

Above: An oak dresser with pewter jugs and ceramic pots on display.

For more on Daylesford, see our original post on the Farmshop.

Last spring, I took a train to Brussels from France, arriving on an exceptionally rainy afternoon (it always seems to be raining in Belgium, but the truth is the rain only adds to the city's charm, and if you get yourself a waffle while walking it, it's a major bonus). I was armed with a full list of suggestions from trusted sources: Clarisse Demory and Marianne Evennou, two Parisian designers who frequent Belgian cities.

First on my list was a visit to Viva M'Boma (meaning "long live my grandmother"), a sparkling white-tiled restaurant located in a former butcher's shop. Owners Katia and Brice Ruebens are on a mission to keep the traditional delicacies of Brussels alive, and Chef Olivier van Klemput explores cooking with just about every part of the animal (as Katia's great-grandmother had done). N.B. Go on a day when you're feeling adventurous (and carnivorous).

Photography by Alexa Hotz for Remodelista and Marianne Envennou (where noted).

Above: The exterior is painted in a deep blue with tile to match and a bold, graphic sign you can't miss.

Above: Rainy day streets reflect in the front windows.

Above: A mounted pig's head guards the cellar door. Photograph by Marianne Envennou.

Above: Marble tables and white wooden chairs in the front room.

Above: A sheep is flanked by two pendant lamps with vintage x-ray light shades. Photograph by Marianne Envennou.

Above: A chalkboard sits on top of the black painted radiator and is moved from table to table to describe the specials of the day.

Above: A row of classic gooseneck barn lights keeps the lighting low throughout the restaurant. Photograph by Marianne Envennou.

Looking for more to do in and around Brussels (or for an excuse to travel there)? See our favorite places to shop, eat and stay in Brussels and other locations in Belgium in our City Guides.

Location of Viva M'Boma in Brussels:

This week on Gardenista, Michelle and Erin show us how to make a floral chandelier, whip up some quick string bean pickles, pick the best watercolor travel set, prolong the life of your winter vegetables—and take us on a tour of London's hippest flower shop.

Above: Is this the ultimate dinner party chandelier? Michelle thinks so; learn how to make one at DIY: A Chandelier of Fresh Flowers.

Above: London's "It" florist just moved her That Flower Shop into new quarters in the Ace Hotel in Shoreditch.

Above: Izabella sleuthed out the five best Travel Watercolor Sets.

Above: Is there anything Erin can't do? This week she whips up some quick Pickled Dilly Beans.

Above: Strange but true: prolong the life of your winter vegetables by storing them in sand; Erin shows you how at Roots in the Sand: Winter Vegetable Storage.

One of the beauties of yoga is that it can be practiced just about anywhere. But how much nicer to do it in an exalted setting. One Hot Yoga in the Melbourne, Australia, suburb of South Yarra, has one of the most inviting, cooly disciplined looking setups we've ever seen. Stateside copycats, please take note. Designed by Robert Mills Architects, it occupies a 1960's brick factory space now fitted with minimalist pale wood furniture, concrete floors (with radiant heating), a soothing pale palette, and an energy-efficient fresh-air system. From clothes hooks to water fountain, every element is well considered.

Photographs unless noted by Earl Carter via Desire to Inspire.

Above: A long table of recycled oak and bench seating by Melbourne craftsman Andrew Lowe anchor the reception area. The painting is by Aboriginal artist Ningura Napurrula.

Above: Pyramids of rolled towels are tidily stored in inset wooden shelves.

Photo via Contemporist.

Above: For filling up water bottles: a fountain made from a Japanese stone grain bowl.

Above: The yoga principles of tranquility and balance extend to all  the details. 

Above: Heavy white curtains and a large wicker laundry basket from Ireland in the dressing area.

Photo via Contemporist.

Above: Two types and temperatures of hot yoga are practiced at the studio. The room that's kept at a balmy 80 degrees, shown here, has a pale wood floor and a platform for the teacher. An easy-to-clean polished concrete floor covers the 98-degree studio.

Above: Benches of recycled oak and handmade bronze hooks. 

Above: Calmness prevails.

We're passionate about the intersection of design and well being. You, too? See 10 Secrets for a Better Night's Sleep and 10 Secrets for Happy Housekeeping.

We've been admiring New Zealand-based stylist and designer Katie Lockhart via her online shop, Everyday Needs and her art direction for hotels like The Oyster Inn.  Lockhart has played a key role in putting Auckland on the design map, and her newly opened storefront is just another reason to get down there.

It was Lockhart's styling background that led her to open Everyday Needs, out of a need for, well, everyday objects, those time-tested household goods that are "well-designed, well-made, and that I hope our customers will have in their lives for many years," she says. We love the idea of getting a non-virtual look at Lockhart's curation in her new store in Ponsonby, Auckland. For more information, visit Everyday Needs.

Photographs by Neeve Woodward for Everyday Needs.

Above: In the window: a one-of-a-kind vintage Afghan Cushion ($225 NZD) woven by the Taimani tribe and sourced by Lockhart during her travel, a row of Russel Wright American Modern Pitchers ($144 NZD), and the Margaret Howell edition of the Anglepoise Type 75 Mini Desk Lamp ($315 NZD)

Above: Lockhart sources some of her best finds from small Japanese companies, including Kaikado whose Tea Caddy and quick-to-boil Copper Kettle are among the Japanese wares shown here.

Above: Reaching for a Lambswool Blanket by Forestry Home in a design inspired by the beaches on the East Coast of New Zealand; $225 NZD.

Above: Hard-to-find accessories and offbeat vintage pieces are mixed among crowd pleasers like Kaico's enamelware.

Above: Hanging baskets and a Martino Gamper Cedar Wedge table made from reclaimed wood, formica, fiberboard, and wood edging.

Above: Takashi Endo Mugs ($67 NZD) and earthenware Cocel Rice Cookers from the Mie Pefecture in Japan ($165 NZD).

For more on Everyday Needs, see our posts on the online store and its Martino Gamper furniture. Traveling to the region? See our other essential stops in our New Zealand City Guides.

Location of Everyday Needs in Ponsonby:

Löyly is the Finnish word for the steam that rises up when water is poured over hot sauna rocks—it's also the apt name of a stylish spa located in southeast Portland, Oregon.

Owner Jessica Kelso was inspired by the sauna culture of Scandinavia when she created Löyly; working with architect Brendon Farrell, Kelso created a serene sanctuary featuring a polished concrete floor, simple red lockers, and stainless sinks. Prices are reasonable, massages and facials are available by appointment, and there's a tiny adjacent bar offering tea as well as wine and beer; go to Löyly for more information.

Above: Bare bulb pendant lights and benches made from compacted plywood in the dressing area.

Above: Repeating circular mirrors and sconces over an industrial trough sink.

Above: An open-air rinse-off shower outside the saunas. Löyly's motto is "Better living through radiance!"

Above L: The industrial shower fixture mimics a rain shower. Above R: Reminders to relax are painted along the hallway walls.

Above L: Rediscovered basics: red lockers and a galvanized tin trash can. Above R: Dr. Hauschka skin care products are used in treatments, and add ons, such as face masks and body salts, are available for sauna visitors.

Above: Facilities include a cedar sauna (shown), wet steam room, relaxation area, showers, and a locker room.

Above: Locker padlocks and bench seating in the relaxation area. 

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 2, 2010.

For more sauna inspiration, see A Modern Spa in Finland. And explore how you can bring the aesthetic home at 10 Architect-Designed Spa Bathrooms.

Vienna is apparently in the throes of pizza madness. To make a new establishment Disco Volante (or Flying Disc) that much more fun than the rest, the owners hired architect Lukas Galehr of cutting-edge design collective Madame Mohr. They asked for a restaurant that evokes an Italian trattoria but "also transports the lightness of the Italo-Disco era of the 1970's and 80s." Galehr's genius solution: a center-of-the-action pizza oven that doubles as a disco ball. One that spins.

Photographs by Lucas Schaller via Dezeen.

Above: By day, the oven looks like a silver igloo. By night, when the colored spotlights are switched on, it becomes the disco ball that fell to earth and sends thousands of reflections dancing across the walls, floor, and ceiling.

Above: The duel purpose disco ball was created by encasing a wood-fired pizza oven in heat-resistant concrete (Madame Mohr studio fabricated this themselves using CNC milling technology; the turning mechanism is tucked under the baking surface). Some 7,500 mirrored tiles were later applied on site; they shine against a backdrop of black mosaic tiles. Anchored by the stove's central chimney, the disco ball fully rotates about once a minute.

 Above: The rest of the canteen is kept to a clean-lined black and white palette brightened with touches of green and silver. Tile-work used to demarcate areas and an opened-up ceiling (excavated from the space's former use as a grocery) lend a crisp look.

 Above: We like the way the windows (and doors, too) are framed in green.

 Above: True, you may not want to transform your own oven into a disco ball. But there's a lesson to be learned here about the power of a bold design move in a simple setting. Call it doing the bump.

We get some of our freshest (and even most economical) kitchen design ideas from restaurants. Browse our favorite spots, and also don't miss our kitchen gallery.

A find from LA designer and world traveler, Cynthia Carlson: Lokal in Mitte, Berlin.

Maren Thimm and her partner, Gary Hoopengardner, an American, initially set up a temporary restaurant called Kantine in the courtyard of British architect David Chipperfield's Berlin office (with the promise that he could always get a seat when he was in town). Last year, when Chipperfield received permission to build on the lot, the couple took Kantine's floorboards with them and opened Lokal, a permanent cantine serving locally sourced ingredients. 

Photography by Cynthia Carlson, except where noted. For more information, go to Lokal.

Above: Mismatched chairs at a table made from recycled wood by German architect Katja Buchholz. Photograph via Lost In Cheeseland.

Above: The painted tabletop. For more, see our recent post Five Favorites: Tables Transformed by Stencils.

Above: Tapered glass pendant lights hangs over more tables designed by Buchholz. Hoopengardner himself finished the white-washed walls and stone flooring.

Above: Lokal's preserves on display behind the counter.

Above: Live piano music was a popular feature at Kantine carried over at Lokal. Here, an alcove for an upright.

Above: Mismatched chairs add a casual note. Photograph via Foodie in Berlin.

Above: Fur throws and candles add warmth. Photograph via Foodie in Berlin. 

For more, go to Lokal.

Heading to Germany? Allow our City Guides to lead the way.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on October 11, 2012 in our Octoberfest issue.

We've looked into reclaimed doors as decor before (see 5 Quick Fixes: Repurposed Doors as Decor). Bon, a large, atmospheric bistro in Bucharest, Romania, takes the concept to a new level in its interior, which is completely paneled in old doors. 

Above: The exterior channels classic French restaurant design.

Above: More than 200 salvaged doors (as well as shutters and windows) were used as paneling. The restaurant is the work of Corvin Christian and Vlad Vieru, two Bucharest-based architects who often collaborate, and, not coincidentally, also work as film production designers. "Central Bucharest and Romania in general is going through a craze of demolishing old buildings, unfortunately, " says Christian. "Our approach is an attempt to keep some memories of the disappearing past." 

Above L: Doors with glass windows were used to create a temperature-controlled wine room. Above R: The original paint on the doors was largely preserved: "We left most as we found them, while shades of a few were altered to [work with] the discreet three-tone color scheme (white, blue, and red)," says Christian.

Above: Wine is showcased behind old windows and glass-paneled doors. More than 50 wines are served by the glass. 

Above: To delineate sections in the long main room, the floor shifts from parquet to cement tiles. It's furnished with chairs as varied as its doors.

Above: Glass-paneled doors create privacy screens around some of the tables.

Above: The Orangerie is lined with old louvered doors in tropical shades.

For more details, see Bon. 

Here's another inventive cafe in Bucharest. And don't miss our gallery of door posts.

La Soup Populaire recently opened its doors in a former brewery building in Berlin that's possibly the most dramatically raw industrial space we've come across. With two Michelin-star chef (and owner) Tim Raue at the helm, the restaurant offers traditional German food (he refers to it as "people's cuisine") and a revolving display of contemporary art. The menu—which is limited to four appetizers and main courses and two desserts—is created in response to the art; shows take place in the lower level Studio Room, which is open for dining. The space is windowless but warmly lit and furnished simply to "direct the focus to the exhibited artworks," says Raue, "and, of course, to that which is being served."

La Soupe Populaire is open Thursdays through Sundays, from noon to midnight. To learn more, go to La Soupe Populaire.

Above: The restaurant unfolds in a preserved industrial setting that was once a brewery.

Above: Tables and stools built from salvaged wood. 

Above: An idea to borrow at home—plates and glassware stacked in a vintage metal office rack.

Above: Old factory lights hang over a wood table surrounded by wicker chairs and bench seating. Note the topiaries in trophy planters.

Above: The windowless space is lit by a combination of industrial pendants and spotlights.

Above: On-going contemporary art shows take place in the Studio Room at the lower level. To learn more about the exhibits, go to Bötzow Berlin.  

See map below for location of La Soupe Populaire. 

Heading to Berlin? See our City Guide for more visit-worthy places. 
View Larger Map

Named for the water ferns that grow along the Vistula River, Salvinia Lodge is located on the Vistula Spit in Poland, a Baltic coast resort area 30 kilometers from Gdansk. Built in 1789, the timber-framed lodge is one of the oldest surviving arcaded houses in the region. The interior has been modernized and features a mix of new and old furniture, with modern baths and kitchen. Three guest suites await. Visit Salvinia Lodge for more information.

Above: The house is located in the flats of the Weichsel river delta, between Gdansk, the Malbork Castle, and Masuria—and not far from the white beaches of the Baltic.

Above: A preserved 18th century door.

Above: The three guest suites or apartments are set up with living areas for group lounging.

Above: One of the apartments has a contemporary fireplace.

Above: Preserved woodwork is integrated with new wood floors and furniture. There's a fruit grove outside and surrounding grounds boast an abundance of plantlife.

Above: Salvinia Lodge is ideal for large families with small children and for groups of friends.

Above: Coverlets for two. 

Above: Artemide Tolomeo clip lights and old-fashioned bed curtains.

Above: A wood-topped stainless steel island and hanging utensils in the plaster-walled kitchen.

Above: A bath under the rafters.

Above: The fixtures are fully modern.

Above: The house was artfully restored and updated from 2005 to 2007.

Above: Felted wool clogs for indoors.

Above: The classic half-timbered facade. 

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on October 11, 2010.

Looking for a getaway closer to home? Browse our curated collection of lodgings the world over.

Founded in 2002 by Jakub Berdych and Maxim Velcovsky, Qubus is Prague's must-visit design shop, offering the owners' designs as well as pieces by fellow Eastern Europeans. The duo—who met as students at the High School of Applied Arts and Glassmaking in Zelezny Brod—also put on special exhibits like "Ornament and Crime," and "Kafkanistan White." Their shop is in the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, a five-year-old museum in a happening corner of Prague conveniently close to the city center.

Qubus's online shop is scheduled to debut soon.

Above: A Qubus window-front installation in a liquor store.

Above: Like the museum that it's part of, the Qubus shop presents a revolving array of Czech and international art and design.

Above: Prisoner's Set, a porcelain reinvention of the basics by Jakup Berdych.

Above: Maxim Velcovsky's Matroska Set, a glass play on the stacking matryoshka doll. 

Above: Designed by Vaclav Rezac, Braille glasses are made in a traditional Czech glass factory and decorated with Braille symbols (Rezec's goal is to "interconnect the world of the blind with the world of the sighted"). Note the off-kilter positioning of the stem.

Above: Barrock, a standing candle by Jakub Berdych.

Jakub Berdych's handblown glass Saturn pitcher and ringed glasses, available from Generate; $160 for the set.

 Above: Cross vases by Jakub Berdych. 

Been to Prague lately? Please fill us in on your design discoveries—workshops, galleries, hotels, and restaurants included. 

In Hungary's bustling capital, the latest foodie hot spot is creating a stir, not just with its original menu, but also its old-world-meets-new design. Located on the banks of the Pest, Zona (discovered via Yatzer) is a new bistro and wine bar featuring chef Krisztián Huszár's signature "zone" cuisine (small plates that combine traditional Hungarian with Eastern and Basque flavors). The interiors, a collaborative effort between interior stylist Heni Kiss and Hungarian design firm POS1T1ON, likewise reference the zone concept. The result is fusion of traditional and modern that pays equal homage to Budapest's historic grandeur and its cosmopolitan present.

Photos by Georgij Merjas.

Above: By day, blue-greens mixed with warm wood creates a cooly modernist atmosphere.

Above: Zona's bar and dining "zones" are clearly demarcated but complementary. Here, a dark steel floor and walls shift to pale parquet and paneling.

Above: At night, in the glow of amber lights, the distinction between the areas begins to blur. 

Above: The space's original details like the parquet floor and paneling are illuminated by 80 hanging globes.

Above: The moody bar area is cloaked in hot-rolled steel, which extends from the walls, floor, and ceiling to the bar itself. It's softened and warmed by a wooden counter and bar stools.

Above: Photographed in black in white, Zona has a throwback look.

Above: Towering windows offer a spectacular view of the city lights and the Pest.

Above: Cocktails and sparkle.

Above: A vast mirrored wall captures the whole scene, city lights and river included.

N.B. Looking to experience more grandeur made modern? Visit A Glamorous Retreat for Modern Mad Men.

At Lacrimi Si Sfinti, or Tears and Saints, in Bucharest, Romanian wood relics share the dining room with Scandinavian designs (Legos constructions, included). It's an unexpected coupling that somehow works. 

Architect Cristian Corvin used old windows, doors, beams, and barn planks gathered from all over the Romanian countryside. He collaborated with managers Michael Pepper and Claudiu and Denise Leonte to create a restaurant that's all about dusting off—and reinterpreting—native favorite recipes. The design itself, white walls sprinkled with a witty mix of Romanian folkloric motifs, telegraphs the old meets new approach. The name Tears and Saints, by the way, comes from a classic book by Romanian philosopher Emil Cioran—but might also apply to all of the restaurant's the behind-the-scene's elbow grease. To learn more, visit Lacrimi Si Sfinti.

Photography by Alex Boghian.

Above: Modern chairs (made using traditional woodworking techniques) were designed by Suto Elek. Twenty white-painted beams were reconditioned to withstand the weight of the ceiling.

Above: An eye-catching wall of stacked firewood. 

Above: Window frames salvaged from an abandoned cottage add a playful old-world note.

Above: Folksy Romanian motifs decorate the walls and old tapestry fabric was used to make pillows for a painted church bench.

Above: A wall is dotted with enameled red pot lids (they're held up by strong wall magnets). 

Above: Seen thoughout the space: Legos made into figurines and wall art that evoke traditional Romanian motifs. A total of 16,000 Lego pieces were flown in from Denmark.

Above: A carpenter table is used as bar seating. The stools are by Tom Dixon. Green enamel vintage pendant lights from the fifties were sourced in the UK. 

Above: Vintage tools, a wooden moose, and other curiosities adorn the walls.

Above: The coat hanger is made by Swedish company Swedese and adds yet another Nordic touch. 

Above: Vintage mirrors adorn the rustic bathroom.  

Above: Though the restaurant's vaulted brick ceilings and plasterwork walls look as if they've always been there, they're all new additions.

Above: The bar area was ingeniously built from wooden planks.  

Above: The clean white exterior is paired with 19th century doors that came from a house in Transylvania.

The restaurant's architect, Cristian Corvin, also designed Bon, another standout Bucharest restaurant filled with ideas worth replicating in your own house; see In Bucharest, Doors as Decor. 

Explore more of Europe by checking out our City Guides for visit-worthy restaurants. 

Prague stationery store and paper workshop Papelote is the result of graduate thesis work done by graphic designer Kateřina Šachová during her time at the city's Academy of Arts Architecture and Design. Šachová is serious about paper; she explains that Papelote is "where paper is not a simple base for writing, but a material full of flavor, scent, sound, and color."

Šachová, along with husband, Filip Šach, and friend Denisa Havrdová, were looking to revive the Czech Republic's lagging stationery market by improving the quality of existing products and also keeping responsible manufacturing top of mind. After building a small collection of their own paper goods made within the country, the trio enlisted A1 Architects to help design a store, which they opened in the summer of 2010. For more information, visit Papelote.

Photographs courtesy of Papelote (unless otherwise noted).

Above: The store is housed in an old residential building where the walls were scraped to reveal layers of colored plaster. Removed carpets uncovered a lucky discovery: herringbone oak wood floors that were then polished and waxed.

Above: Referencing old schoolhouses, A1 Architects designed an entire wall as an oversized bulletin board using a grid of metal pins and paper clips. Photograph via A1 Architects.

Above: The board now functions as a small exhibition space on constant rotation. Photograph via A1 Architects.

Above: Strings of paper stars from an origami workshop held at Papelote.

Above: Echoing the schoolhouse feel, a large rectangular blackboard hangs on the back wall. Overhead are nine milk glass globe lights that cast a warm glow.

Above: A customized stationery workshop in progress.

Above: All of Papelote products are made in the Czech Republic from environmentally-friendly or recycled materials. Shown here are Czech Centres, Papelote's version of the standard envelope used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These are Tyvek, a material combining paper, foil, and fabric that is 100-percent recyclable.

Above: A series of open and closed plywood boxes form a shelving system behind the sales counter. In the foreground, plywood tables on wheels allow the owners to easily rearrange the store for events and workshops. Photograph via A1 Architects.

Location of Papelote in Prague:

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For another stationery shop we love, see our previous post Present & Correct: Now Present in London, and check out other design destinations in Eastern Europe in our City Guides section.

When Studio Bertjan Pot was invited to design an installation at the Grand Cafe Wenneker in Schiedam, near Rotterdam, inspiration struck in the form of a safety ladder and a set of carnival lights, which were delivered to the studio at the same time (to be used on different projects). "When they arrived, it suddenly seemed like the perfect illogical combination—rawness and glitter," Pot says. To learn more, go to Studio Bertjan Pot.

Above: Studio Bertjan Pot's Downstairs Light is available from Den Herder Production House (DH PH) by special order in sizes ranging from four steps to eight steps or more.

Above: The bar features tiled graphics.

Above: The melting disco ball installation, "Quelle Fete," is by Rotganzen.

Above: The reclaimed refectory tables are by Onno Donkers-Vormgeving.

Disco-inspired design: trending now? Check out Disco Inferno, Pizza Edition.