Every May, a consortium of designers and showrooms in LA splash out a three-day design event called LCDQ Legends (for La Cienega Design Quarter). Julie and I made the pilgrimage a week ago to take in the parties, panel discussions, and shop window vignettes—and we're only just now coming up for air. Here's a look at a few of the things we admired along the way.

It's a tradition at Legends to invite designers to create showroom windows around a theme. This year's topic: Where Muses Dwell inspired odes to everyone from David Bowie to Edit Piaf. Memorable moments from the week:

Photos by Julie and Margot, unless otherwise noted.

Above: At Woven Accents' vast showroom, husband-and-wife duo Scott Jarrell and Kristan Cunningham of Hammer and Spear created a fantasy loft space that included a kitchen backsplash made out of carpeting. Photograph via LA Times.

Above: Marble as headboard? Another inventive use of materials at Hammer and Spear's Woven Accents installation.

Above: UK wallpaper company de Gournay, longstanding makers of hand-painted Chinoiserie designs, branches out with a new pattern by Kelly Wearstler, available at Nicky Rising. 

Above: Lee Stanton hosted opening-night cocktails at his eponymous antiques shop and set up a photo booth using some of his own inventory with a backdrop by Codor Design. (Lee also makes a line of natural furniture polishing creams; see Furniture Care: Tips from an LA Antiques Maestro.)

Above L: Elizabeth Dinkel's tribute to Julia Morgan, California's First Lady of architecture, in the window of wallpaper and fabric specialist Nicky Rising. Above R: Fabrics by Australian designer Walter G. at Nicky Rising.

Above: Remains Lighting has a new line designed by Commune, including this Table Lantern. Photograph via Remains.

Above L to R: Lads from London: Legendary international designer Nicky Haslam made the trip, as did Will Taylor of Bright Bazaar—a self-described "young chap from the UK who is unashamedly hooked on hue." Photograph of Nicky Haslam at a party for his new book, A Designer's Life, by JL Photographers 

Above: Artist Valerie Sobel joined us for a courtyard lunch at Jonas, makers of memorably comfortable upholstered furniture.

Above: For Hollywood at Home, Todd Nicky and Amy Kehoe of Nicky Kehoe, members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, built a Wes Anderson-style work bench vignette, vintage model mansion and Italian Plexiglas lamp included. "We applaud Anderson's ability to express the quirky greatness of mankind in beautifully humorous ways," they say.

Above: It was an extremely well-groomed crowd. 

Above: Meeting of the minds: with LA interior design duo Brandon Quattrone (L) and Mat Sanders (R) of Consort (Mat is also a creative director at My Domaine). 

See more at Legends 2015 LCDQ.

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If you watched the last episode of Mad Men and/or groovy is a word you're ready to put back into play, you're likely in the perfect mood for Cafe Gratitude's latest branch in Downtown LA. As the signs in the windows of the organic, vegetarian, plant-based mini-chain say: "I am present" and "I am cool." And the same can be said for Wendy Haworth's inviting, decades-bridging design. 

Photography by Nicole LaMotte.

Above: Haworth, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, was presented with a brand-new shell—the cafe is in the just-finished One Santa Fe building—and asked to telegraph "the community-minded values of the Cafe Gratitude concept, which include authenticity and respect for nature and others." (And the cafe does its part: "Approximately 75 percent of the food is grown at the restaurant's own Be Love organic farm," Haworth tells us.) In response, she reached out to a number of local artisans, who happen to be in the midst of their own sixties-tinged groove. As a backdrop, Haworth inserted a brick veneer to the bar wall: "Typically, I prefer real materials, but to counter the austere newness, I liked the idea of having a perimeter that feels solid."

Above: Haworth collaborated on the overall concept with architect Victor Corona of VMC Architecture, who focused on the layout and kitchen design.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the cafe offers a range of vibes courtesy of seating, from bar stools to banquettes (and there's also an outdoor terrace). The wood floors are cerused engineered oak from Universal Hardwood. The beamed ceiling is modeled after Haworth's own 1920s apartment in West Hollywood. The brass pendant lights and sconces are by Remodelista favorite Atelier de Troupe of LA.

Above L: LA ceramicist Heather Levine made the bar's custom stoneware pendant lights. (See more of her work in our recent post The Bohemian Life: Designer Lauren Soloff at Home in LA.) Above R: The macramé wall hangings on driftwood—priced on Etsy at $65 and $70—are by Marisa of Free Creatures.

Above: White Thonet Armchairs from DWR surround a marble-topped cafe table. Haworth had the brass bar shelving made by Eric Beneker Design, and the stools are her own design of powder-coated steel with paper-cord seating and footrests.

Above L: The hanging-screen room dividers are the work of The California Workshop, specialists in lightweight, laser-cut wood designs. Above R: Hollyflora supplied the plants and hanging planters. (For those old enough to remember: Is macramé better the second time around? We think so.)

Above: Haworth inserted a touch of color with mustard-colored fiberglass Eiffel Shell Chairs from Modernica that stand under a raked plaster wall.

Above: Stacks of yellow and white dishes add a graphic element.

Above L: The yellow dishes are Fiesta (the updated Fiestaware) in Sunflower. Above R: Words of "gratitude and optimism" are etched on the water bottles—aka Affirmation Bottles—from a company called Spoken Glass.

Above: A fiddle leaf fig stands guard—and, Haworth reports, so far is thriving. Read all about the finicky favorite on Gardenista, including The Fig and I: Tips for Caring for a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree. For more, go to Cafe Gratitude and Wendy Haworth Design Studio.

Consult our LA City Guide for more of our LA recommendations, including The Malibu Farm Cafe. And for a touch of Cafe Gratitude in your own home, consider Bohemian Modern Ceramic Bells.

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Here's what's been piquing our interest this week.

• Above: Next week, we're exploring the life aquatic. First stop: an Amsterdam houseboat, wallpaper included.
• The future of sustainable materials.

• Above: Mixed media—new brass and porcelain lighting from Apparatus.
• Dinner with Jackson Pollock.
• Luxe living on a budget.

• Above: A minimal white flat with chevron floors in Paris.
• One of our favorite British sculptors comes to Bergdorf Goodman.
• Covering the home front with Cupcakes and Cashmere.

• Above: On our wish list: marbled silk pillows.
• Ten questions to ask a decorator before you hire him/her.
• Vacation ideas for loners.

• Above: A floating barn in Latvia.
• The new Kansas City Soda Fountain.
• Moooi makes its NYC entrance.

Instagram and Pinterest Picks of the Week

• Above: We love graphic designer Kristen Cesiro's (@kristencesiro) clean-lined images.

• Above: Where to? We've been poring over Cereal magazine's travel-inspired board.

For more Remodelista, see our Spring Awakenings issue. And head over to Gardenista for Landscaping 101 (Prince Harry included).

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After decamping from London for life in the country, designer-maker Rupert McKelvie established Out of the Valley, his Devon, England, workshop devoted to building sustainable, off-the-grid, "efficient yet aesthetic" cabins. His model design on the banks of the River Teign happens to be available for rent by the night.

Photography via Out of the Valley.

Above: McKelvie's little cabin in the woods is solar powered and perfectly sized for two. It has a shou sugi ban exterior—read about the Japanese technique in Torched Lumber. 

Trained as a classical wood boat builder, 31-year-old McKelvie went on to study 3-D design and sustainability at Falmouth University and then worked in London as a product and furniture designer. He moved to Devon to start his own practice with a focus on off-the-grid living.

Above: The oak deck is furnished with Net Chairs by Mark Product of Cornwall and a McKelvie burned-wood table inspired by a Kaspar Hamacher design: "After seeing it, I wanted to have a go at making one."

Above: The deck has a canvas shade stitched by a sailmaker and a corrugated black metal roof (see more on metal roofs here). The cabin is heated by woodstove and has solar-powered lighting.

Above: A king-size bed is tucked into an alcove off the open living space. The kitchen comes complete with cooker and gas hob. "For the next cabin, I'd like to incorporate gray water recycling and not use any gas," says McKelvie.

Above: All the furniture and built-ins are McKelvie's own designs in ash and oak, which he and his small crew fabricate (and make on commission). "I wanted to use a minimal material and color palette, three at most," says McKelvie. "Less is so much more when it comes to the architecture of small spaces; each material allows the next to have room to breathe." (For more tips, go to Expert Advice: 11 Tips for Making a Room Look Bigger.)

The wood print over the banquette is made from an ash tree on the property felled in a storm. It's by McKelvie's friend illustrator Bea Forshall. The conical wood hanging lights are by Secto Design of Finland.

Above: A sliding door off the kitchen opens to the compact bathroom. The glass-and-concrete Leimu table lamp is by London-based designer Magnus Pettersen for Iittala.

Above: The bathroom is detailed with Carrara marble tiles and has a brass monsoon showerhead (plus a compost toilet).

Above: The sink is kitted out with reconditioned old brass taps. (If you're looking to source your own old-fashioned hot-and-cold spouts, see Objects Lessons: The British Cloakroom Basin Tap.)

Above: At last week's Clerkenwell Design Week in London, McKelvie launched Out of the Valley's first furniture collection, which includes cabin-inspired sinks with surface-mounted copper pipes and vintage taps.

Above: The cabin overlooks a former farm field that slopes down to the river, where guests can fly-fish and skinny-dip. Bluebells and foxgloves bloom around the property in early summer, and McElvie reports seeing wagtails, wood warblers, herons, and kingfishers near the water.

Above: The field is surrounded by National Trust woodland.

Above: Stargazing from the deck is the main nighttime activity. 

The Out of the Valley cabin rents for £130 ($193) to £160 ($237.63) per night, depending on the season. It's located on the northern edge of Dartmoor in Devon's Teign Valley. Two castles—Drogo and Bovey—are nearby, as is the Devon coast.

Explore more cabins in the woods in our Outbuildings of the Week posts, including a Tree Cocoon.

For more examples of shou sugi ban, see:

• Before and After: A Charred Wood Cottage, on a $45K Budget.
• Hardscaping 101: Charred Wood Siding.
• Architect Visit: A Teahouse, Charred and Blackened (on Purpose).
• Outbuilding of the Week: A Styliish Swedish Outhouse.

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Channeling Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic mixed with a dash of vintage yacht club, chef Josh Henderson and designer Matthew Parker of the Huxley Wallace Collective have created Westward, a restaurant and oyster bar on Seattle's Lake Union with views across the water to downtown. The duo relied on a coterie of local designers to finesse the nautical notes. 

Abvoe: The 25-feet-bar was created from a slice of a ship and anchors (no pun intended) the restaurant. Created by local art fabricators Electric Coffin, several of the compartments are crafted into a quirky diorama. The drum lighting shades are made of recycled sailcloth, and the white ceramic lights in the shape of buoys are from local firm Fleet Objects. 

Above: Restaurant staff wear St. James boat shirts and other marine attire.

Above: The food served is Northwest-meets-the-Med.

Above: In the oyster bar, pilings are used as pillars with brightly painted cleats for hanging coats.

Above: The Little Gull Grocery in the oyster bar has shelving suspended by rope.

Above: Strung rope serves as a screen of sorts.

Above: Portraits of various captains in history decorate the restaurant (Captain Kirk and Bill Murray as Captain Steve Zissou, included).

Above: Adirondack chairs line the shore of Lake Union, and diners gather around a large fire pit surrounded by a ring of oyster shells. Downtown Seattle rises in the distance.  

Above: Nautical rope is used as outside decor.

Above: The restaurant has a 150-foot dock for boaters to drop by.

Inspired by the maritime look? See our Steal This Look on another Seattle favorite, The Walrus and the Carpenter.  For more of our Seattle stops, consult our City Guide. And take a look at life on nearby Bainbridge Island in The New Homesteaders.

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Almost exactly two years ago, Magnus Ek and Agneta Green opened Oaxen Krog & Slip, their twin restaurants on the island of Djurgården in the center of Stockholm. Since then, both establishments have won awards for food and design: Krog is, as of February, a Michelin two-starred dining room, and Slip, a casual bistro (and Bib Gourmand pick, Michelin's designation for standout value). Both establishments specialize in locally sourced and seasonal Nordic cooking. 

The couple's adventures in the food world began 17 years ago at Oaxen Krog, a small restaurant on the island of Oaxen in Stockholm’s archipelago. Magnus ran the kitchen and Agneta was a waitress (and later got her sommelier certification). They served inventive dishes using island produce and herbs, and together created a menu and an ambiance that brought guests from near and far to experience one of Sweden's most sophisticated restaurants.

The island's harsh weather, however, kept Oaxen Krog closed for much of the year, and so Magnus and Agneta decided to relocate closer to Stockholm. Their search for a site eventually led them to Gamla Djurgårdsvarvet, a crumbling shipyard on the island of Djurgården. With the help of architect Mats Fahlander, interior designer/architect Agneta Pettersson, and general contractor Einar Mattsson, they entirely rebuilt the shipyard, constructing the new on the footprint of the old—and seeing to it that the nautical spirit remains intact.

Photography by Lindman Photography, unless noted. 

Above: The Oaxen Krog & Slip is housed inside a new corrugated metal building. A 30-foot-tall wall-to-wall window faces the marina. The exterior and interior were given a shipyard appearance. 

Above: The exterior is painted a bright yellow.

Above: The interior of Slip, also known as the bistro, is filled with marine references, including boats hanging from the rafters. The turquoise-bottomed Tova, a Swedish wooden craft called a plymsnäcka, was built in 1905; the single scull at the restaurant's far end dates to 1920. Pettersson detailed the space with vintage furniture, porcelain, cutlery, and accessories. The community tables are old school desks from southern Sweden; the chairs come from a theater and are fixed to the floor. 

Above: The table settings are simple and informal. The bar stools date to the 1920s and were sourced from a Copenhagen restaurant. The angled wall lights are vintage Triplex lamps by Johan Petter Johansson.

Above: At one end of the Slip, a red leather sofa made for the dining room of a food supply company stands against a white corrugated metal wall. Vintage Thonet bentwood chairs are matched with Roll Tables by Tom Dixon that have cast-iron bases with wheels. The hanging industrial pendant lamps are from the 1950s. 

Above: The wooden stairs have a cube-like pattern and a steel railing designed by Fahlander. Photograph via Oaxen.

Above: Oaxen Krog, the more formal dining room, seats 35 and serves six- and 10-course menus paired with wines from small European ecological vineyards. All ingredients are sourced in Scandinavia and during the summer season, the kitchen staff picks wild herbs and plants on Djurgården island. 

Above: The dining room walls and ceiling are covered in slatted oak panels. The built-in sofa is made of oak and leather. Local shipyard carpenters fabricated the custom tables, which are paired with a 1950s chair design that's still in production by Swedish furniture maker Wigells. Socket lamps hang from fabric cords over the tables.

Above: The Club Room, located above the restaurant, offers private events and dinners—and impressive views from a balcony of Saltsjön Bay and the island of Beckholmen. The paneled walls and ceiling are painted in a linseed oil and the glass ceiling lamps are by Massimo Vignelli for Venini. The chairs are Arne Jacobsen's Grand Prix design for Fritz Hansen, first introduced in 1957.

Above: The white-and-black-tiled bathroom has an industrial feel. It's detailed with classic porcelain Belfast sinks and faucets made from exposed copper piping. The tiles are handmade by Spanish company Decorativa. 

 
Above: Owners Magnus and Agneta also operate a hotel ship called the Prince van Orangiën. It was built in 1935 in Holland as a combination home and office for its original owner. Photograph via Oaxen.

Above: The newly renovated ship has six guest cabins and is moored off Beckholmen island, a short distance from the restaurant. For more information and reservations, go to Oaxen Krog & Slip. Photograph via Oaxen. 

Check out our Stockholm City Guide for more visit-worthy places, including Restaurant Museet (which has its own Siberian tiger). Gardenista takes you to one of Stockholm's most beautiful flower shops: Landet Järna. And for a place to stay, consider the Miss Clara and Ett Hem hotels.

This post is an update. It originally ran on June 23, 2014, as part of our Life Aquatic issue.

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Andrew Glenn and Jonathan Rutherfurd Best are two Brits who, fed up with their careers in marketing and event management, escaped to Waiheke Island in New Zealand to open a boutique hotel.

Glenn and Best enlisted the help of stylist and designer Katie Lockhart for the interiors and Special Group for graphics and branding. The result is the Oyster Inn, made up of just three guest rooms, a restaurant that seats 80, and a beach boutique. True to form, Lockhart's calm and minimalist interiors highlight some of our shared favorite designers, including furniture by Another Country and Falcon Enamelware in the guest rooms.

Above: The 80-seat restaurant offers veranda dining under the shade of surrounding palms, where worn metal chairs give a sense of the saltwater air of the island.

Above: Lockhart opted for cane seating in the main dining room with vintage Thonet Era Chairs and a few shelves displaying groupings of objects sourced from the sea: abalone shells, white coral, and seaweed.

Above: Era Barstools surround the bar where guests of the inn and wanderers from beyond can find sangria, lemonade, and a selection of wine chosen by sommelier Clare Dunleavy.

Above: A 20-seat private room called The Pearl is available for special events catered by chef Cristian Hossack (former head chef at London's Providores). True to its name, the Oyster Inn is the spot to find local Te Matuku oysters.

Above: Room One (of three) has a super king bed and a daybed from Another Country that can be converted to a child's bed.

Above: In the guest bath, white square tiles set into dark grout contrast with a large circular mirror and accompanying shaving mirror.

Above: Next to the apron sink, guests find white enamel Falcon tumblers and products from Aesop.

Above: Rattan ottomans and wicker furniture sit beneath a black barn pendant lamp and a wall-mounted Marlin.

Above: Graphics from Special Group add a whimsical note.

Above: The Shop at the inn is stocked with clothing and accessories for the beachgoer, including shirts from New York's Saturdays Surf, white-and-yellow Havaianas sandals exclusive to the inn.

Above: The Oyster Inn on Waiheke Island is located just 40 minutes from Auckland by ferry. 

For more of Lockhart's work, see our post on her shop, Everyday Needs. On the hunt for more antipodean design? Find our other favorite places to visit in New Zealand and Australia in our City Guide section.

This post is an update; the original ran on April 22, 2013, as part of our Clean Sweep issue.

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I'm a professional browser, and if you ask me, Stockholm is the best shopping city in Europe. Why? Chalk it up to notable fashion brands that have their roots in Sweden (among them, Acne, Hope, and &Other Stories) and a slew of inspired interiors shops. And they're located in some of Stockholm's most interesting historic buildings. Here are five spots where old mingles with edgy.

A Customs House-Turned-Photography Museum

Above: Every time I'm in Stockholm, I have to see what's on at Fotografiska, one of the leading photography museums in Europe. Located in a vast brick structure that once was a customs house, it's worth visiting for the building alone, not to mention its views over Stockholm. Photograph via Standing Ovation.

A Hotel in a Former School for Girls 

Above: The Miss Clara Hotel was once a school for girls, and Miss Clara was the principal. The Art Nouveau building's original steel staircase is preserved, and one of the suites was once a room where students went to pray. The rooms are decorated with elegant restraint—the conversion is the work of Swedish architect Gert Wingårdh—bentwood valets at the ends of the beds included. See more in our post Glamorous Comfort in Stockholm. Photograph via Miss Clara.

Jeans for Sale in a Bank

Above: The Acne flagship store is housed in a former bank—a famous one: The Kreditbanken became known worldwide after a 1973 robbery in which the hostages developed a bond with their captors, hence the term Stockholm syndrome. While checking out the clothes, you get a firsthand look at the bank's big safe and steel bars. Photograph via Behance.

A Garage-Turned-Vintage Shop

Above: Dusty Deco, a wonderful place for vintage Scandi modern finds, outgrew its original location in Stockholm's Sodermalm. The owners found the space they were after in a former garage in up-and-coming Hornstull. It's open on Saturdays and Sundays only and filled with not only great finds but charming room vignettes. Photograph via HD.

A Restaurant in a Restored Electrical Building

Above: The owners of Farang arrived in Stockholm last year after opening a trio of very good restaurants in Helsinki (Farang, Gajin, and Boulevard Social). Farang focuses on food from South East Asia and encourages guests to dine family style. The space is divided into a bar and a restaurant area, all located in an old electricity building. Photograph via Arch Daily.

Our Weekend Guide columnist, Pauline Egge, is the founder and editor of the travel site Petite Passport. Pauline divides her time between the Netherlands and Spain, and spends much of the year crisscrossing the globe. She shares her favorite addresses with us city by city; have a look at some of her other guides:

• Madrid Design Spots in Happening Las Salesas
• The Best Coffee in Melbourne, World Coffee Capital 
• The Not-Yet-in-the-Guidebooks Guide to Barcelona

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We've been following Swedish interior designer Richard Lindvall's work since he concocted a Stockholm Bistro that Doubles as a Museum. His latest trick? Usine, a modern French restaurant invented in a Stockholm building that had been occupied by the Swedish Tax Agency, and prior to that a sausage factory. Lindvall took the space back to its origins—usine means "factory" in French—playing with a vocabulary of humble materials recast as a luxe new rendition of industrial chic.

Photography by Mikael Axelsson; styling by Em Fexeus.

Above: The 2,000-square-foot space, formerly a warren of tiny rooms, underwent a yearlong transformation. It's now a combination bistro, bar, and cafe. Shown here, the main restaurant with marble-topped tables, bistro chairs, and industrial pendant lighting. (Find industrial lighting sources here, including Rubn of Sweden and Trainspotters in the UK.)

Above: A corner that Lindvall describes as having "an orangerie feeling" features old garden furniture, an olive tree, and an outsized industrial pendant light.

Above: Usine showcases a high/low materials palette, from galvanized steel to cognac leather and custom maple millwork.

Above L: Stoneware plates with a textured glaze. Above R: Lindvall reports that 48 tons of concrete were used in the remodel—"not only for the floors but also to construct the two bars, reception desk, a large sofa table, and more." 

Above: The bar area is lit by steel pendant lights and neon bars that draw the eye in. The footrests are made of iron piping. 

Above: Cage-like perforated steel sheeting is used as a cornice over the bar. See 7 Favorites: Minimalist Brass Lights for similar hat-shaped pendants.

Above: A niche next to the bar is put to work as intimate seating: a custom raised leather banquette and Tolix stools.

Above: The water station and shelf are built from Valcromat, a colored MDF, detailed with a vintage copper sink and modern copper tap.

Above: An expansive concrete trough sink in a multi-doored black-and-white bathroom. For more details, go to Usine.

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Some of my fondest memories of growing up in southern Sweden include visits to my best friend's summer cottage in Skummeslövsstrand, on the coastline of southern Sweden. The red cottage has an open living area with a stand-alone fireplace, two sheepskin-covered lounge chairs, a small but high functioning galley kitchen, and a bedroom with two sets of bunk beds.

Now that I live in the US, I understand why the Nordic summer escape is the envy of the rest of the world. But, in truth, you don't have to head to the archipelago to capture the experience: plenty of the best areas are simple and easy to translate.

Dare to Go Dark

Above: Until recently red was the de facto cottage house color, but lately we've been noticing a trend of summer houses painted or stained in shades of black. Why? Because greenery looks especially great against a dark curtain. So does outdoor furniture. Black is becoming.

See more of the design shown here in A Modular Danish Summer House and go to Gardenista for Dark Shadows: The Pros and Cons of Painting a House Black and Trend Alert: Black Fences.

Let Life Revolve Around the Hearth

Above: A very popular feature in Scandi summer homes is a freestanding fireplace that heats the entire living area. Not your grandmother's stove, the latest generation of wood heaters offer fuel efficiency and lower emissions, making them both powerful and environmentally responsible. For ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding Wood Stoves and Design Sleuth: The Camp Stove for Home and Wilderness.

Create a Shipshape Look with Paneling

Above: White-painted shiplap paneling is common in Scandi woodland cabins and coastal cottages as a clean-lined and cozy finishing touch. To learn more, see Expert Advice: The Enduring Appeal of Shiplap and tour Tiina Laakonen's Hamptons House.

Join the Sheepskin Brigade

Above: Scandi summer nights get chilly. Layering beds and chairs with sheepskins, that longstanding Scandi touch, adds warmth and lends the austere rooms a vitality.

Build Beds Wherever You Can 

Above: A setup that saves a lot of space and works well for visiting crowds, bunks (with under the bed storage) are another Nordic cottage staple: See 24 Built-In Bunks for Summer Sleepovers. This Danish summer house was designed by Norwegian JVA Architects via Archdaily. 

Use Shelves in Place of Furniture

Above: Summer cottages are typically tiny with little wiggle room in the bedrooms. Skip the bedside tables and instead use a favorite Scandi device: wall shelving as storage. 

Bathe with a View  

Above: Once summer finally reaches the Nordic countries, Scandinavians do as much living out in the open as possible. This Danish house features the ultimate summer detail: an outdoor shower and tub combo. For more plein-air bathing, see our roundup of 29 Outdoor Summer Showers. Photograph via Bo Bedre by Andreas Mikkel Hansen.

Let It All Hang Out

Above: Dryers are unusual and unthinkable in Scandi summer places. Shown here, Tine Kjeldsen, founder of Tine K Home, follows tradition and hangs all her clothes to dry on lines. Photograph by Morten Holtum.

Find more Ideas to Steal: 

• 15 Ideas to Steal from Vintage Kitchens
• 7 DIY Bathroom Ideas to Steal from Nautical Design
• 15 Storage Ideas to Steal from High-End Kitchen Systems
• 13 New Landscape Design Ideas to Steal in 2015

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All our friends in LA's Echo Park are abuzz about their new favorite hangout, Ostrich Farm, chef Jaime Turrey's restaurant debut (he formerly manned the popular Monsieur Egg pushcart). Turrey specializes in cooking over a live fire, and his results have been earning rave reviews, but what grabbed our attention is his wife Brooke Fruchtman's homemade dining room design.

Photography by Bri Emery of DesignLoveFest, unless otherwise noted.

Above: "We were looking for a space for many years—even, I think, before we really took the idea of opening our own restaurant seriously," says Brooke, shown here, with Jaime (the two met when she sold him a pair of boxing gloves at a yard sale in SF) and their kids. Brooke left her longstanding job as an associate vice president at LACMA to design the restaurant and run the front of the house. Located on West Sunset, Ostrich Farm is named for a railway that once ran down the boulevard. Photograph by Sally Peterson.

Above: The restaurant occupies a long-vacant space formerly occupied by a pupuseria: "It was painted many, many shades of purple with an abandoned lot in back, windows that had been covered up, and a disco ball dangling from the ceiling. I actually regret not keeping that disco ball," says Brooke.

Envisioning a bright neighborhood restaurant, "something cool and casual," she turned to friends who own fabrication studio/vintage house Style de Vie for the custom work, including the tufted banquettes and wood-topped tables. "It was so comforting to have a team we trusted because this process was totally new to us and we were working on an extremely tight budget." Photograph by Elizabeth Daniels.

Above: The bar stools and marble bar are also the work of Style de Vie. The Thonet Era Armchairs are from DWR: "I’m obsessed with rounded back chairs," says Brooke. "Even though these are so wide we probably sacrificed a seat or two in an already small space, it was worth it. In fact, I love them so much, I bought them in white for our house. I think they're a great deal."

As for the wall hangings, they're Indian block-printed cotton scarves by Remodelista favorite Block Shop (see Lily and Hopie Stockman's Wearable Paintings). Brooke says she extemporaneously tacked them up the day Ostrich Farm debuted "and now cannot imagine our space without them." Photograph by Elizabeth Daniels.

Above L: The restaurant's lights are the work of Doug Newton of Nightwood in New York: "I was searching for an embarrassingly long time for the perfect brass sconces that have a handmade quality," says Brooke. Above R: The restaurant's Fiddle Leaf has a snake-charmer-style DIY coiled rope container: "It's just a lot of rope hot glued together." (Learn all about the Fiddle Leaf Fig at Gardenista.)

Above: The tables have a soft wax finish and are set with simple glassware (which the couple sourced on Remodelista). For similar tumblers, see 10 Easy Pieces: Basic Drinking Glasses.

Above L: "Our stemless wine glasses evoke the casual vibe we're going for," says Brooke. Above R: The heavy linen napkins—all 300 of them—were stitched by the family's nanny.

Above: Ostrich Farm is at 1525 W. Sunset Blvd in Echo Park, LA. See more at @ostrichfarmla on Instagram.

Check out more local favorites in our LA City Guide, including the Covell Hotel and LA's Best Source for 20th-Century Antiques.

And take a look at An LA Cliffhanger, a house owned by Cleo and McShane Murnane of Project M+ design, who are Ostrich Farm regulars.

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Nicole Hollis drew upon Seattle’s rich history of lumber, gold, and sea trading for inspiration in her design for the interiors of the new Palladian Hotel. Housed in a 1910 landmark in happening Belltown, the building provided Hollis and team with an ideal backdrop for her layerings of natural materials such as marble and wood accented with velvet upholstery and metallic touches. The results? A decidedly gritty-glam look befitting the city. 

Photography by Laure Joliet. 

Above: The landmark building offers iconic views across the Puget Sound.

Above: Hollis cloaked the lobby in the deep blues and greens of Puget Sound. The restored terrazzo floors are original to the building.

Above: In the moody library, the fireplace is stacked with antique books.

Above: Reclaimed marble from Seattle's old King Street Station lines the stairway walls. 

Above: Glimmers of gold can be spotted throughout the hotel. 

Above: Hollis furnished the rooms like lofts, mixing antique area rugs with leather-bound books and old-fashioned telephones. The leather sling chair is by Sit and Read.

Above: The custom lighting throughout the hotel is the work of Ladies & Gentlemen Studio (a Seattle duo who recently decamped to Brooklyn). On the wall is a crocheted Mega Doily Rug made of oversized cotton rope, also by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio.

Above: Brass accents are a staple throughout the hotel, including this kitchen suite. 

Above: The custom platform beds have reclaimed wood headboards with brass rivets and inset shelving. Celebrity portrait throw pillows (of David Bowie and Bill Murray, among others) introduce interesting bedmates.

Above: Vintage city maps and pieces by local artists decorate the walls.

Above: The bathrooms feature custom vanity stands with brass fixtures and vintage-inspired mirrors. 

Above: Bathroom floors are lined with classic hexagonal marble tiles, and the larger suites have clawfoot tubs.

For more details, go to the Palladian Hotel.

Nicole Hollis is based in San Francisco and a member of the Remodelista Designer/Architect Directory. To see more work by Nicole Hollis in our posts Old World Meets New World in the Napa Valley and A Serene Sonoma Guest Retreat.

See more lighting by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio.

If you're coveting a leather chair, check out these options: 5 Favorites: Modern Leather Sling Chairs.

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Designers Kristin Hein and Philip Cozzi of Hein+Cozzi "dumped our sandbox upside down," as they say, and "moved life and studio from the Hamptons to Provincetown, Massachusetts" not too long ago. Growing up, Philip worked summers at Ciro and Sals, a legendary P-Town restaurant co-owned by Ciro Cozzi, an artist and restaurateur. "Everyone, I mean everyone, came—from John Wayne to John Waters, from Robert Motherwell to Norman Mailer," he says. "Provincetown is America's oldest active art colony and we love the sense of community. People pop by and wave, there are impromptu cocktail parties, we ride our bikes out to dinner, to the bank, to the grocery store." 

When the Old Homestead, a guest house and local landmark in the East End of town, hit the market, the couple took the plunge. Built in 1850 for Captain Frank Rich, a sea captain and sexton of the Church of Saint Mary of the Harbor, "the property was dilapidated and yet wonderfully untouched," Kristin says. "Through every window there was an idyllic view. We kept the history of the place intact, preserving the original beams, the pine floors, and the brick chimney." The Old Homestead is now a luxe two-bedroom, two-bath rental available by the week, stocked fridge, bikes, and paddleboards included. 

Photography by Paul Freehof.

Above: The veranda overlooks Provincetown Harbor and Cape Cod Bay in the distance. The Paul 13 Lantern is from Remains Lighting, the early American farm table is from Nellie's of Amagansett, and the caned Thonet chairs are from 1stdibs.

Above: In the living area, vintage club chairs mingle with an African bench from Juan Montoya in NYC, carved Chinese stools, and a Fortuny fixture from Ralph Pucci (Philip is the former design director of the studio), and the vintage Khotan and Tibetan rugs are from Galerie Shabab in NYC.

Above: The shiplap walls are painted a gray-violet shade from the Guggenheim Collection by Fine Paints of Europe (G020 to be precise). "It feels like the moment before nautical twilight as you gaze out onto the bay," Kristin says.

Above: Kristin and Philip retained the original brick chimney, pine floors, and wood beams. "We did add the shiplap to unify the space," they say.

Above: The oak Cutter Wardrobe by Skagerak is $699 from Horne. Have a look at 11 Display-Worthy Clothes Hangers.

Above: The kitchen includes a Bertazzoni range, a narrow Active Smart Fisher Paykel Refrigerator with Bottom Freezer (see our post on the company's dishwasher drawers here), and Tolix Marais stools. (Designing your own compact kitchen? See Skinny Refrigerators and Best Appliances for Small Kitchens for ideas.)

Above: Glassware from Reidel is stored overhead.

Above: Throughout the house Apartment Pendants with Clear Glass Shades from Schoolhouse Electric are casually wrapped around the existing beams.

Above: The carved Chinese fertility bed is from Julie Hodgess in London (Kristin worked for her design company for a few years before forming Hein+Cozzi with Philip).

Above: The bathrooms have Duravit Vero Washbasins and Waterworks Highgate taps and fixtures. The hex tiles are from Oak Park Tile.

Above: Guest rooms are outfitted with organic Saatva mattresses and Society bed linens sourced from ABC Carpet & Home.

Above: Sliding doors open onto the main living space.

Above: A shiplap-paneled bath with a Mini Cutter Wardrobe by Skagerak for towels and Fresnel adjustable wall/ceiling lights designed by Joe Colombo for Oluce.

Above: "We are 60 miles out into the ocean, the tides rise and fall 11 feet twice a day, the light rivals Greece, the sense of adventure and freedom is palpable," Kristin says. The house rents by the week; for booking information, go to the Old Homestead Provincetown. 

We also recommend the Salt House Inn in Provincetown. And for another old Cape Cod house that we love, see Justine's Soulful Family Cottage (and learn how to make her Cape Cod Beach Plum Jam).

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Admired in the heart of Helsinki's newly revived Old Market Hall: Story, a trim cafe-restaurant with waterfront views and a surprise overhead installation of fish trap lights. The design is the work of Joanna Laajisto, a master at combining Scandi rigor with a playful touch.

Photography via Joanna Laajisto Creative Studio.

Above: The 1889 market, Vanha Kauppahalli, a landmark protected by the National Board of Antiquities, reopened last summer. It's filled with food stalls, and Story is situated in the heart of the hall in the spot once used for loading horse carriages.

"The challenge was to get the high-ceilinged space to feel intimate instead of a space to pass through," says Laajisto, who responded by creating three discreet seating areas. The chalkboards that front the kitchen/bar, shown here, are painted in a custom-mixed navy.

Above: Herbs in white ceramic pots bring the orderly oak shelving to life. Cooking is done on the premises using ingredients gathered from the market and seafood is a specialty

Above: An elevated section overlooking the harbor offers leather-upholstered oak booths lit by a customized versions of Laajisto's Edit Wall Lamp.

Above: Muted two-toned walls are paired with Danish design studio Hay's colorful Copenhague Chairs. Note the bouquets of flatware on the tables. 

Above: Story is owned by four of the city's best-known restaurateurs, Anders Westerholm, Matti Sarkkinen, Teemu Aura and Markus Hurskainen, and the fishing traps came out of one of their summer houses. Laajisto used them to solve a problem posed by the hall's building restrictions: Lights aren't allowed to be suspended from the nearly 33-foot-high ceilings, so she created wall-hung sculptures.

The tables are the custom work of local designer Tebian and the seats are Copenhague Stools from Hay.

Above: A closer look at the nautical construction.

Above: The bar is faced with composite stone tile in a herringbone pattern.

Below: The market has a prime location overlooking the harbor. For more details, go to Story.

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A few years ago, San Francisco–based design aficionado Charlotte Tracy needed an architect for the renovation of her summer house (see Before & After: A Summer Cottage on the Connecticut Coast). She went to her friend and local architect John Allee of Allee Architecture and Design, whom she met at boarding school in upstate New York 30 years ago. He’s inclined toward modernism, and she channels an organic Californian vibe. Drawn to the overlaps between the two, they opened Meta44, selling furniture designed by Allee, artwork by friends, and home design goods from small brands on both coasts. “We love finding well-crafted objects where modern design and natural style intersect,” Tracy says.

Above: Warm modern design components typical of the Meta44 aesthetic are set against the lush green backdrop of the Hudson Valley.

Above: Meta44 is on North Elm Avenue, an extension of the main street of Millerton, NY (Budget Travel named it "one of the 10 coolest small towns in America").

Above: A sample of Meta44's small brand wares include a Ferro Brass Dot Wire Bowl, Crudo Jugs, Spalted Napkin Rings, and Fog Linen Trays and Napkins. The drawing on the wall is by San Francisco artist Alex Zecca.

Above: Designed in San Francisco, Peace Industry Choobs are chemical free and made of 100 percent carpet-grade lamb's wool and natural dyes.

Above: The 44a Finn Dining Table, designed by John Allee, combines the warmth of white oak with steel. Custom sizing and materials are available upon request.

Above: The 44a Stone Credenza, designed by John Allee, can be wrapped in a variety of stone options. Brazilian onyx is shown here. Door and drawer fronts can be waxed, mill-finish steel, or a wood species that works with the stone "shell."

Above: Peace Industry Area Rugs are designed in San Francisco and made from 100 percent carpet grade lamb's wool and natural dyes. They are chemical free, reversible, have no backing, and do not require a rug pad.

Above: The Meta44 shop is next door to John Allee's architecture practice, Allee Architecture and Design.

Above: Meta44's cofounders, John Allee and Charlotte Tracy, have been friends for 30 years.

In Reader Roundtable: Would You Hire a Friend (or Work for One)?, Tracy, Allee, and another friend, interior designer Hannah Childs, talk about what it's like when friends work together.

Below: Meta44 is located in central Millerton, NY.

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It was during a weekend in London with his fiancé that Olivier Gampel decided someone ought to bring fish-and-chips to Paris. An interior designer with a background in fashion retail, Gampel, though an unlikely candidate, took on the mission himself. Not surprisingly, it's the playfully suave design of Fich, his new 20-seat seafood cafe in the 3ème, that caught our attention.

Photography via Olivier Gampel, unless otherwise noted.

Above: The restaurant is located at 83 Boulevard Beaumarchais in the Marais. Fich is Gampel's shorthand for fish-and-chips. Photograph via Play Like a Girl.

Above: Gampel, whose Paris design firm is known as Les Nouveaux Decorateurs, outfitted his tiny space with hardwearing natural materials: terrazzo-topped cafe tables that evoke the bottom of the sea (or a fish tank), wooden bench seating, low-backed chairs, and marine-blue concrete floor tiles.

The tile, he told us, comes from Portugal—it's uncannily like the Marrakech Design hexagonal cement Dandelion Blue Tile in McShane and Cleo Murname's LA master bath that we spotlighted in Steal This Look.

Above: One-time-use wood utensils are paired with black napkins. The menu graphics are the work of Paris- and London-based illustrator Yesonme, who Gampel discovered online. Photograph via Miam Paris.

Above: Terrazzo is also applied to several of the walls. Marble-patterned ceramic dishes organize small offerings, including My Crazy Pop popcorn. Photograph via Play Like a Girl.

Above: Gampel serves mashed peas as a fish-and-chips accompaniment, but draws the line at newspaper wrapping. Fich's tableware is blue-edged enamelware—go to our Enamelware posts for sourcing ideas, including Made in the U.S. Enamel Plates, Cups, and Bowls. Shown here, lemons for the house "citronnade détox," fresh lemonade with mint.

For more details, go to Fich. And see more Paris restaurants—including The Lovely Bones, a stripped-down bistro, and Clamato, another seafood hotspot—in our Paris City Guide. For an affordable and stylish place to stay in Paris, take a look at the Hotel Henriette.

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The ultimate job for a Francophile? Laurie Furber, Bay Area–based founder of online housewares emporium Elsie Green, travels to Lyon, France, three times a year to scout for vintage wares. Lyon, the country's third-largest city, is "a bit more low key than Paris and has a great design scene," she says. "The color palette of the city is beautiful, and it's filled with dramatic sculptures, churches, hand-painted frescoes, a Roman amphitheater, and a mix of medieval, Renaissance, and modern architecture. There's a great blend of old and new (the city is 2,000 years old), a vibrant food scene (it's where Paul Bocuse and Daniel Boulud got their starts), and a rich silk production history dating from the 1800s." Here's a roundup of Laurie's favorite haunts.

Favorite Hotels

Above: "The most design-y option is the Hotel Collège; the owners spent three years searching for vintage school desks and benches to create a classroom and dorm atmosphere. I often stay at the bare-bones Hotel Saint Vincent on the river. It's not fancy in the least, but the owner serves the best breakfast and is warm and welcoming. It's like staying with your favorite old uncle." 

Favorite Restaurants

Above: "Le Bistrot du Potager has a great bar and wine list; perfect for a casual lunch or dinner."

Above: "L'Institution is an iconic Lyon establishment, built in 1864 and overhauled in 2013 by Jacques Garcia. Another old-school classic is Brasserie Georges, which has the largest dining room in Europe and was established in 1839. They have two seatings, you have to be on time, sit down like a civilized person, and eat what they bring."

Above: "Le Gourmand de Saint Jean: Lyonnaise specialities served at a sidewalk cafe."

Favorite Shops

Above: "Hyggelig is a high-end concept store with a Scandinavian twist. Simple silhouettes, playful patterns and colors."

Above: "Pop and Shoes is the best clothing/shoe shop in Lyon, and the best place to spot home design trends. It's also a great place for a quick café crème." 

Above: "Bensimon, the French fashion brand, has a nice home collection. Sort of a cool West Elm."

Above: "August et Cocotte has a nice blend of vintage and new housewares."

Above: "Terreaux Bricolage, a Lyonnaise hardware store, has cloth lamp cord in a range of colors and cool furniture."

Above: "Galerie du Desordre is a very well curated and quirky little gallery of finds from around Europe. The color palette will make you swoon."

Above: "Le Village des Containers Les Puces du Canal is on the outskirts of town; each tiny antiques shop occupies its own shipping container."

For a guide to Paris's most happening restaurants, go to Expert Advice: 11 Under-the-Radar Parisian Dining Spots.

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Douglas McMaster, a veteran of forward-thinking international kitchens such as Greenhouse by Joost in Melbourne, Australia, and St. John in London, is on a crusade to create the world's most sustainable restaurant. "I want to completely cut out the middleman and go directly to the suppliers, only buying or producing what is naturally in season," he says in an interview with Vice. "I call it a pre-industrial food system. It's a way of producing, sourcing, and respecting food like we did 100 years ago. The production of waste has been eliminated by simply choosing to trade directly with farmers, using reusable delivery vessels, and choosing local ingredients that themselves generate no waste."

The extreme environmentalism carries over in the interior. McMaster enlisted local firm Baines & Fricker, a husband/wife team, to design the restaurant's dining room. 

Above: The restaurant's exterior has a giant sliding barn door. "Their waste-avoiding initiatives are exhaustive and startling," says The Guardian. "They cultivate their own mushrooms in discarded coffee grounds. If you want a receipt, it's emailed."

Above: A view of the dining area.

Above: The cafe's composting machine, which is front and center in the dining room, turns 60 kilos of organic waste into compost in 24 hours, eliminating the need for bins. Local businesses are encouraged to bring in their waste to be composted and extra compost is available free to members of the community.

Above: The tabletops are made out of reclaimed industrial floor tiles.

Above L: A magnetic utility wall serves as a pot rack. Above R: Plates are made from recycled plastic bags.

Above: An array of baked goods on offer.

Above: Repurposed drain pipes (planted with wheatgrass) are mounted haphazardly on the white painted brick walls. 

Above: Laser-cut coasters by Jim Wilson of Brighton Arts College are made from building material offcuts. 

Above: Designers Baines & Fricker used legs from unwanted school tables for the dining tables. The seating is made from pulped wood waste. Photograph by David Charbit.

Above L: McMaster has named his wooden flour mill from Austria "Gertrude." Above R: A freshly baked loaf.

Above: The mission statement.

For more information, go to Silo Cafe. 

Check out another European cafe with a noble mission: Restaurant as Social Experiment: 28 Posti in Milan.

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Husband/wife owners Rupert and Carrie Blease (he's a Brit, she's a Californian) met in the kitchen of Michelin two-star restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, England, more than a decade ago. They spent a few years in NYC (he in the kitchen at Per Se and she at Blue Hill) and then moved to San Francisco, where they worked in local establishments before striking out on their own.

Their newly opened restaurant, named after the couple's favorite UK pub (and Rupert's father Stanley), has "British and European influences," the chefs say, and interiors by Boor Bridges Architecture (a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory). Artisan-made flourishes include a felted wool wall hanging by Ashley Helvey, black ceramic lights by SF potter Mel Rice Ceramica, and birch tables made in Los Angeles by Brandon Munoz. 

Above: The light-flooded dining room has a poured and polished concrete floor. The Nordmyra Birch Dining Chairs are from Ikea.

Above: A view of the lofty dining room from the mezzanine level.

Above: An accent wall is painted pale gray; the tables were custom made by Monkwood Studio of LA.

Above: Small plates and cocktails are served at the standup bar, including lemon verbena olives in cut-glass bowls (see No. 2 in Remodelista's Top 15 Interiors Trends of 2015).

Above: Industrial materials such as raw steel contrast with clean Scandinavian-looking elements.

Above: A plasterwork detail.

Above: Black ceramic lamps by SF's Mel Rice Ceramica. 

Above: A custom concierge desk by Boor Bridges.

Above: The communal table on the mezzanine level. 

Above: The Felted Wool Wall Hanging by Ashley Helvey is made from wool sourced from Decatur Island wild sheep shorn by Nich Hance McElry. 

Lord Stanley is in SF's Russian Hill.

 See more of our favorite Boor Bridges restaurant projects at Architect Visit: Sightglass by Boor Bridges Architecture and The Mill: A "Bright and Messy" SF Cafe. 

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Melbourne, Australia's former Pentridge Prison is now Pentridge Village, a housing and shopping complex with a cafe that's a celebration of economy—and design freedom.

Photography by Martina Gemmola via Biasol Design Studio.

Above: The restaurant is the work of Biasol Design Studio of Melbourne, who told us: "We wanted to bring life to the site and allow it to move on from its dark past." Working with a tight budget, they channeled that life by using plywood paneling and structural timbers inset here and there with playful triangles of color.

Above: The triangular fretwork continues on the ceiling, which is hung with Nud Collection pendant lights with Plumen bulbs: see World's Most Stylish Light Bulb.

Above: The custom tables and stools are also made of plywood. Greenery added throughout softens the angularity.

Above: DIY idea: a wall pendant created with wooden pegs and extra-long cloth cording ending in a simple socket. (For more pendants sources, see our Design Sleuth posts on the Color Cord Company and Wrk-Shp.)

Three of the walls are concrete—the designers used an Australian product called Rockcote

Above: The pastel palette is peppered with touches of black.

Above: The restaurant sign is made of CNC-milled plywood backlit with LED lights. 

Jury is in the Melbourne suburb of Coburg.

Go to Social Experiment: 28 Posti in Milan to see an architect-designed restaurant fitted out by inmates. And, on Gardenista, go to Orange is the New Green to see a prison garden on Rikers Island.

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