...And the Livin' is Easy

Summer: Days filled with sunning, sandcastling, and swimming. The Stilla outdoor shower gives each of those pastimes a clean finish. ceadesign.it

Quaint It Ain't

To the relief of the gingham-averse [I count myself among that lot], there's ample stylistic latitude within the country genre of design. Thanks to an un-cutesy use of color and form, this bath is both easy-going and aesthetically pleasing. Even the quilt-inspired floor treatment gets a pass from me; it puts me in mind of a Robert Indiana work, 'USA 666'. bestorarchitecture.com

More Than Monochrome

Mixing cool and warm tones—I count five of them—keeps the visual boredom of the all-white kitchen at bay while preserving the essential color palette. Subtle shading isn't the only design tactic that gives this space character, though. There's some unorthodox geometry at work, too. The range hood has a curious shed-roof-like look to it, and the sink pops right out of the cabinet frontage. dica.es

Tending the Home Fires

No franks-n-beans, s'mores, or other campfire standards here; this honorable, dutiful, and helpful Cub Scout is earning his 'Bachelor Cooking' award under more domestic conditions. This flashback dates from 1945, and I suspect that, in the wartime context of G.I.s returning home, Norge was looking for a message that not only emphasized civic service but also sought to build a bridge between the generations of new veterans and young boys. It's an enlightened—and enlightening—stance: After years of depicting women venturing out of the kitchen and into factories to support the war effort, this is a pretty impressive take on traditional gender roles.

The Bright Type

If you've ever wanted to see your name—or at least initials—in lights, I'd recommend these Graphic Lamps as a starting point. Illuminated letters, numbers, and symbols in twisted riffs on classic fonts would bring some personal[ized] style to the bath or kitchen. Some are neon, other use filament bulbs. So much better than monogrammed towels, yes? delightfull.eu

Every Inch Counts

Decorative tile treatments notwithstanding, I've long been a proponent of putting the kitchen backsplash to work. Add-on railing systems are a terrific retrofit option, but in a perfect world, built-in storage gets my vote, as it integrates with the architecture of the room as well as the cabinets. This configuration, part of Varenna's 'My Planet' kitchen, keeps things interesting with its composed design and use of materials—embossed lacquered aluminum and oak-look melamine. poliform.it

Side By Side

Although at first it might perplex a plumber, the split-level 'Family' sink has a credible design raison d'être. The lower basin is child-height, which for some households might ease traffic congestion on busy mornings in the bathroom. vitra.com