Bathroom Breakthrough

As if the world wasn't upended enough—we now have a pocket door for shower enclosures. [At least this is good news!] A clever combination of drain and door track, the hardware sits flush to the floor, ensuring easy access for all. With no space-eating door swing or bypass requirements, it's great for small baths. And the soft-close mechanism is a true gift to the noise-averse among us. Available in lengths up to 48 inches. scrigno.net

BOOtiful Design, Day Three

While the design of the Sesel cabinet pulls is based on granite formations in the Seychelles, at this time of year I see them as amoeba-like creatures, stealthily creeping across the surfaces of doors and drawers. Hand-brushed cast bronze, they can be installed in any orientation—shape-shifting of a benign sort. laurameroni.com

BOOtiful Design

In this week's run-up to All Hallows' Eve, I'll be featuring kitchen and bath items that are a bit on the dark side—such as this high Gothic range hood. Let's hope that the insert draws well, because cleaning any grease off this ornately carved piece would otherwise require some devilishly good help.

Points of Light

Applying its expertise in illuminated door handles to a smaller scale, Martin Pierce is developing a collection of LED-powered drawer and cupboard pulls. The Morphic collection is lit with a tiny, high density light strip. Dimmable, it provides accurate color renderings—an important consideration when cabinets are literally in the spot light. martinpierce.com

Coming to Grips

A delightful cabinet detail, this. A small, simple finger pull is amplified by a top layer of surfacing material. The effect calls attention to the shape, depth, and strata of the drawer front, all done in a surprising way. nicolajbo.dk

Material Meaning

How instructive to compare the natural patterns of two materials in this kitchen. Both the grain of the wood and the veining of the stone express the passage of time—perhaps hundreds of years. For me, that's a profound thought that goes beyond a mere surface treatment. tellointeriors.com

Handles, With Care

The design and craftsmanship of the Aero door pull is impressive. When it comes to installation, its precise geometry requires some extra care on the part of a cabinet maker or carpenter—a worthy effort, I think. Designed by R. Christensen. berensonhardware.com

Cheers [Not Exactly]

Tomorrow in the US, there will be a sudden and completely explicable spike in the consumption of wine. For some, it will be a celebratory experience, while approximately three million more citizens [myself among them] will be imbibing for a far different reason. Personally, I'd find it rather healing to be partaking in this serene New Zealand spot, with its perforated concrete wall holding several cases of the good stuff. maparchitects.dk

Live Wire

I think the Line door handle demonstrates that minimalism can have richness and soul. According to its creator, an alum of the Design Academy Eindhoven, the 28-inch length of sinuous brass represents a pulse of movement in an otherwise static stripe. jeroenvandegruiter.nl

Progressive Palette

When—or if—we tire of our lovely all-grey kitchens, this design offers a low-commitment exit strategy. Not only does the parquet-inspired pattern comprise a chromatic jumping-off point for just about any color scheme imaginable, it does so in a fun and focused way. [And it would be simple to revert to the original scheme, should you choose.] camillearchitectures.com

Top This

I see this week's posts are setting a spontaneous theme....

Surely the gallery-white design of this kitchen is no accident. The wooden countertop is a work of natural and man-made art. It's a shame the cooktop isn't compatible with the composition. Perhaps the slab would be better displayed as a backsplash? sachsenkuechen.de

On and Of the Edge

Susceptible to fire, disease, and a certain red-headed bird, wood is a vulnerable natural material. Perhaps that's at the root of its appeal to me—unlike stone, it is not permanent. This thick slab, with its subtle imperfections of texture and pattern, is a wonderful contrast to the uniformity of the concrete-coated cabinet doors. leicht.com

Thanks + Giving, Day 3

And what, you might ask, do rectangular aluminum containers have to do with Thanksgiving? There is, of course, an answer to the question. They're a dishwasher accessory, designed to protect sterling silverware flatware from damaging oxidation; using them, it's possible to skip hand-washing the countless place settings that will cover tomorrow's table. thermador.com

Haunting Design, Day 3

If one wanted to put tricksters in their place during this scare-filled season, switching out the familiar front door hardware for this bony lever would do the job. Imagine the horror of standing on a stranger's porch, grasping Faye Toogood's skeletal door handle design in the dark.

The stuff of nightmares, indeed. ize.info

A Real Floor Show

Continuing on the topic of mixing wood with stone, this floor would elevate any bathroom or kitchen. No, it's not encaustic tiles or herringbone parquet—but there are times when beauty and craftsmanship win out over fashion. parchettificiotoscano.it

Counter Point

I love stone counters, but sometimes the slab looks like an afterthought on top of the cabinets; the physical connection is there, but the pieces don't relate to one another very well. Here's a clever way around that. Framing the stone in the same wood as the cabinets not only shows off the slab's beauty, but when viewed from across the room, there's no stone datum line to complicate the composition. grattarola.it

Room to Grow

I don't think that I'm alone when I admit to using the cooktop as a countertop when things get busy in the kitchen. But this idea—a slab of gorgeous wood that bridges the burners and slides over the appliance—is both a more beautiful and practical approach to the problem of scarce set-down space. Not to mention that it provides a more secure base for the miscellany of bowls and plates that I'm inclined to annex to the hobs. ernestomeda.com

Branching Out

Perhaps you heard: The northeast got a bit of snow today. In my neck of the woods, that translates into about eight inches. The world has been transformed yet again into a frosty chiaroscuro with the upper halves of tree branches coated in white, while the bottom halves remain brown. It's all very picturesque—until one needs to walk, drive, or, of course, shovel. In my opinion, it's time for something a little different. From the Aspen II collection, these chromed Twig cabinet pulls are much more uplifting than their natural counterparts. topknobs.com

Warm Thoughts

Under ordinary circumstances, I'd be lining up posts on alfresco kitchens and floral-patterned tile, but winter has obviously no intention of making way for such spring-like concerns. As I write, a wretched mix of snow and rain is pounding down on us. So—with sincere apologies for the sad lighting and propping situation [Furry hides on birch stumps? Really?]—here's a still-seasonal item. Incorporated into a cooking island or dining table, the Firetube promises to keep things toasty during those long chilly nights—whenever they occur. firetube.de

A Light in the Night

Because there isn't a marketing department on earth that doesn't love consumer surveys, we are in a position to know a lot about little things. For example: The most popular use of a range hood is as a nightlight—who knew? These illuminated door handles may offer an option to that behavior. In a boon for midnight snackers, LEDs embedded in the cabinet fronts can be switched on to add a glow to the perimeter of the kitchen. composit.it