That's a Wrap

The foil/wrap organizers on the market are commonly more hindrance than help in a busy kitchen; they're often flimsy, they take up more room than the narrow rectangular boxes themselves occupy, and the rare cutting device is clumsy—I'm thinking about round-tipped scissors here—to operate. This Orga-Line accessory is the way to go. Plastic wrap sticks to the metal dispenser rod, so it pulls out cleanly and evenly. A simple slide of the cutter and all is done. Afterwards, the rod keeps the free edge of the plastic from reattaching itself [grrr!] to the roll. If this isn't genius, it's mighty close. blum.com

A Heavy Light

Carved from Calacatta marble, the Lambda pendant is a sleek combo of classic material and contemporary form. About 15 inches in diameter, the shade is thin enough to be translucent when the lamp is lit, and its coloration changes—from golden to quite white—depending on what type of bulb is used. vandenweghe.be

Growing Up

It's a disciplined use of materials paired with a modern stance on storage that lifts this kitchen above being just another polygonal place. An energizing spear of black steel ties the ceiling to the floor in a scale-preserving move. I like how it interrupts the window. On the island, the mirror-finish induction cooktop blends into the stainless surface—impossible with a typical black-glass appliance. While the ductwork in this room doesn't allow for any upward expansion, the rest of the Shell House, with its two-story open ceilings, is meant to allow the eventual insertion of a second floor. fedl.jp

If I can go off-topic for a moment, and indulge in a minor gripe: This project has been posted in various places online; well and good, as it [hopefully] fosters a broader discussion of the design. But it's dismaying to me to read comments—in the guise of editorial—that are just unthoughtful rephrasings of each other. Why pass up an opportunity to exercise one's own critical faculties and deliberately choose to parrot another person's point of view? I sadly suspect the answer can be found in the intellectual cul de sac at the end of the path of least resistance, if you catch my drift. Thanks for hearing me out, dear readers.

Color Forms

Is color in the bathroom on a comeback, or is Alessandro Mendini's updating of the classic Monowash pedestal sink a mere flirtation? From his vibrant contributions to the hyper-designs of the Memphis group and Alessi tableware, he's proven his personal commitment to making the world a brighter place. ceramicaflaminia.it

...Borne Back Ceaselessly Into the Past

Today is F. Scott Fitzgerald's birthday. If Daisy and Gatsby ever shopped for refrigerators—of the Surpassing Beauty type, of course—I imagine it would be in such a rarified environment as this colonnaded space, the West Egg equivalent of a Home Depot.

Slate, but Hardly Blank

A welcome break from the sleek-and-shiny school of range hood design, this cleft-stone model would make a statement—a subtle one—whether set amongst wooden or lacquered cabinets. The gooseneck accent light can be positioned as you like; I'd rake it across the face of the stone, to show off its texture, but there's no reason why you couldn't aim it towards the cooktop, supplementing the hood's three halogen task lights. The angle of the panel can be adjusted, either for aesthetic effect or to spare the taller chef from undue head-bumps. elica.com

The Great Outdoors...Goodbye, Summer

A somewhat elegiac image for the calendric—but not psychological—end of a season. The Sundeck tub can be installed indoors or out; I'd be quite content with this dockside location, thank you. The integral headrests fold down to form a sturdy, weatherproof cover for the jetted tub, allowing it to be used by sunbathers as well as soakers. It was designed by EOOS. duravit.com