Back to Basics

Used with intelligence and restraint, a limited materials palette can make a vivid impression. A sensitive combination of lacquer, stone and wood gives this simple kitchen character beyond generic modern. While the design wouldn't be mistaken for being cutting-edge, it's hardly ordinary. My favorite detail: the dense, omni-directional swirls of the stone, which keep the eye moving around the otherwise boxy space. gregnatale.com

Ambidextrous Appliance

The chevron-shaped lever that controls the direction of the door swing on this 1954 fridge shares some traits with an airplane's emergency-exit handle; not only do you need to possess a certain amount of brute strength to operate it, but once you make the commitment to open it, there's no choice but to follow through. The need for a quick deplaning is clear, but it's hard for me to say the same for a two-way refrigerator. Passing off Philco's 'new miracle of convenience' as capable of 'saving you hundreds of steps each day' strains credulity...but it's certainly an amusing feature in its own right, isn't it?

Nature Calls

Seeing this image, my heart melted [would that the avalanche outside our door do the same]. Thassos and Calacatta marbles are combined in the Marabel pattern, which in this photograph reminds me of the tracings left by a skater on a slightly snowy rink. newravenna.com

Channeling Summer

Posting this picture is a purely defensive move on my part; I'm trying to maintain my sanity as we brace for yet another nor'easter. Ciao, cold reality: I am going to focus on the soft sunlight brightening this kitchen. Designed by Steven Gambrel, the room itself is pretty tame, but those glass doors and windows [dig the 20-over-1 configuration] are getting the atmospheric job done. srgambrel.com

A Perfect Fit[ting]

I got up close and personal with the Culina faucet last week at LivingKitchen, the new, über-trade show for the kitchen industry. It impresses on two fronts. One, the closed coil of the hose is a welcome and refined change from the usual loosely-wound style; not only has the latter become a cliché in modern kitchens, but its open wire cage is a grime grabber par excellence. Two, there's no awkward fiddling around when trying to dock the head of the sprayer back into place, because a magnetic catch eliminates that tiresome struggle. blancoamerica.com

Stone, Cold

It's been a tough winter in the Northeast. There's nearly three feet of snow outside, and the eaves of our home have been festooned with icicles for weeks, now. Little wonder that this carved marble wall panel, designed by Patricia Urquiola, has lodged in my consciousness; it's a flurry of cool forms. budri.com

Lost in Translation

After a week of reacquainting myself with the grammatical hydra that is the German language—an exhilarating but nonetheless exhausting experience—I wouldn't mind stepping out for a relaxing evening, like this schöne mädchen. The text of the 1928 ad translates as "In the meantime, the Protos does the washing", signaling the advent of a new, electrified era of appliances.