Enigmatic Ceramic

Working in its preferred palette of dusky, offbeat tones, Dimore Studio has created a language of form and color with the Corrispondenza collection of tile. No up or down, they are completely non-directional, which I see as a generous invitation to collaborate—albeit at a distance—with the designers [who have produced some of my favorite spaces.] ceramicabardelli.com

All in One

Designers Rui Pereira and Ryosuke Fukusada teamed up to create 'Small Steps', a concise assemblage meant to ease the fog of morning ablutions. The sculptural marble composition contains a sink, medicine cabinet, seating, and a WC. Accessories play a prime role: hot washcloths nestle in a metal cradle, a coffee mug is strategically positioned, and a freestanding tissue holder can be moved for convenient access. cottoanotherperspective.com

Kitchen for a Cloudy Day

By now, I ought to be used to it: a tease of sun in the morning, then the clouds [and not infrequently, the rain] close in for the day. Disheartening—yet we persist.

I offer up this kitchen as a salve to all who had to cancel BBQ plans this holiday. With its white-lacquered cabinets, it provides a passive source of light, bouncing sun [Google it] around the room. While the narrowness of the island might at first seem to be stingy in the amount of work space it provides, think again—the limited surface area means everything is within easy reach.

A Rare Grill, Indeed

'Controlled Cooking'—Sure, if you think setting your shins aflame is some sort of control. A vertical broiler fueled by charcoal is one wacky [or is it 'magic'?] idea. And locating said broiler in a spot that's awkward to access and hard to see is, IMHO, just asking for a quick trip to the burn unit.

Have a great holiday weekend, dear readers!

Dark + Stormy

You'd never guess this weekend is Memorial Day. Solid fog, zero sun, unrelenting rain—it's more like October. So, in surrender, I pulled this somber bath from my Halloween files.

Sigh. axel-vervoordt.com

Hybrid Style

As an example of audacious design, it would be hard to top this vanity. Combining Op-Art and Louis XV style creates a piece that would be the center of attention in any bath. I'm fascinated by how the grid works with the contours of the chest. moissonnier.com

Outside the Line

Piet Boon's PB11 tap design intentionally accentuates the imperfect. The arc of the faucet is neither assertively circular nor crisply squared; its slow, wide curve is organic, but not natural. A delight to the eye! bycocoon.com