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Is the Yellow Building SF's version of Merci in Paris? We think so: this newish one-stop concept shop brings together a restaurant, a wine boutique, and the city's most compelling clothier—all under one roof.

Located in a rambling barn that dates back to 1859, the space encompasses Piccino, a low-key trattoria; MAC, the second outpost of SF's visionary clothing shop for both women and men; DIG, an "old-school merchant de vin"; and a plein-air coffee shop—all enterprises devoted to sustainability and supporting local producers. The renovation was orchestrated by Loring Sagan of Sagan Piechota, who was focused on retaining the rustic feel of the interiors while achieving a sense of transparency among the different spaces.

Photography by Janet Hall for Remodelista (except where noted).

Piccino

Above: The day's menu, displayed on a vintage clothes hanger.

Above: Daniel Piechota's design for Piccino's interior. The restaurant's mission? Serving locally grown food in a neighborhood atmosphere. Photograph by Sharon Risedorph.

Above: "The most interesting design element is the window that visually connects the restaurant with MAC next door, encouraging patrons of each to check out the adjoining space," Sagan says. Visible through the window: MAC owners Chris and Ben Ospital. Photograph by Lydia Lee.

MAC—Modern Appealing Clothing

Above: MAC's loft-like clothing shop; housewares are located on the lower level.

Above L: Lighting by SF-based Tauro Leather (the small lamp is $298); the ceramic sculptures are by Sherry Olsen and cost from $120 to $224. Above R: A mug from Heath Ceramics ($29) and a striped wool blanket ($695).

Above: A vintage mantel displays skin-care products from Noe Valley–based Heliotrope (the mirror reflects an array of salts, spices, and herbs from SF's Boulette's Larder).

Above: Flavor-infused salts on offer from SF's Boulette's Larder.

DIG Wine Shop

Above: An Ingo Maurer chandelier offers a place for customers to add their own wine notations in the interior of Dig.

A visit to the Hôtel du Nord is a trip back to the Paris of the 1930s: Prepare to be utterly charmed.

Immortalized by Marcel Carné's famous 1938 movie, Hôtel du Nord, the lodging is in the picturesque neighborhood of Canal Saint-Martin, where Parisians flock in the spring for a stroll or a bicycle ride along the canal. In 2005, the current owners decided to restore the restaurant to its historical past; albeit a notional one. The zinc bar, velvet curtains, low lamplight, and an extensive upstairs library imbue the premises with a retro charm.

Above: In 1938, Marcel Carné put the hotel on the map with his film of the same name. Today, the Gallic illustrations on the Hôtel du Nord's website sum up l'esprit du lieu: As you scroll over the drawings, a cat screeches, a motorbike zooms off, and a man plays his violin, taking us straight back to the Paris we recognize from black-and-white cinema.

Above: The classic zinc-topped bar.

Above: The tiled cafe is a stalwart of Parisian life.

Above: Wooden bistro chairs sit on a Moroccan-inspired tiled floor.

Above: In keeping with French intellectual life, the hotel has an extensive library for its guests.

Above: A dimly lit room with a smoky mirror and a black piano conjure up Paris in the 1930's.

Above: And of course, like any proper cafe, there are outdoor tables for people-watching.

An alternative to the wake-up call: Here is a round-up of clocks that travel well from home to hotel. These clocks are small enough to be tucked into a travel bag, strong enough to do their job, and stylish enough to appease the design enthusiast. Staying home? Take a look at our previous post: 10 Easy Pieces: Bedside Alarm Clocks for more ideas.

Above: Braun's Mini Travel Alarm Clock was designed in 1971 and reissued in 2011 with the blessing of designer Dietrich Lubs. It's available in black or white and costs $30 at the A+R Store.

Above: Muji's Travel Alarm Clock is conveniently integrated into a small travel case; $39.50.

Above: From UK designer Jasper Morrison, the Punkt Alarm Clock is available in red, white, or black aluminum, with a glass face; $145.

Above: When the UK's Sam Hecht set out to design the Jetlag Travel Alarm Clock for IDEA in Japan, the concept was to produce a travel alarm clock that didn't need an instruction booklet. It also features a lock button to prevent settings from changing; available in black, white, or red for $40 at A+R Store.

Above: Kikkerland's Classic Travel Alarm Clock nestles into a faux-leather case in black or red; it's a handsome choice for a good price: $10 at All Modern.

Above: One of our favorite clocks in miniature: the Mondaine Swiss Railway Travel Alarm Clock sits in a heavy brushed-silver case and comes in a black leather travel pouch; $185 through Amazon.

We've admired Jeff Jones' tobacco stick chandeliers before; so we took note when we spotted a new version draped with an unexpected pink fabric cord at Anthropologie.

Jones, who is based in Atlanta, creates his pieces using tobacco-drying lathes, reclaimed from barns in the South. A pink fabric cord winds around the frame, showcasing three bare bulbs. The Tobacco Stick Chandelier is $1,298 at Anthropologie.

San Francisco designer Matt Murphy has just launched a new line of fabrics, based on the graphics of his design hero, Tommi Parzinger.

The screen-printed fabrics are the latest from Murphy, whose San Francisco shop is known for 20th-century antiques, in particular the softer modernism of Edward Wormley and T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings. After stumbling on a pair of Tommi Parzinger lamps and falling in love (see Style Court's entry on Parzinger), Matt Murphy began collecting the German designer’s work and is often consulted when a piece needs authenticating. The new fabric, inspired by Parzinger’s stylized graphics, can be made to order in a range of colors and textiles. To order, contact Matt Murphy Studio.

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Above: A floral motif in black on cream.

Above: Murphy is also working on a collection of embroidered silks and linens.

Above: Paired with grasscloth and a vintage oil portrait, the fabric makes a punch.

On our next trip to Paris we're planning a visit to the futuristic Marais outpost of Australian company Aesop.

Designed by Ciguë, Aesop's new boutique in the Marais is a minimalist space featuring white concrete walls embedded with rows of metal saucers (repurposed plumbing pipe caps) that hold products in orderly rows. As in all Aesop stores, the space is part laboratory, part art installation.

Above: Polished pipe caps hold the products, like dishes proffered by ghost butlers.

Above: A polished sculptural concrete counter, inset with a sink made from a large industrial plumbing cap.

Above: The simple, industrial aesthetic underscores the organic focus of the Aesop product line.

We're delighted to introduce the first installment of Style Counsel, in which we solicit sartorial secrets from our friends in the design world. First up: Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks.

I first got to know Swanson on a flight to Portland, OR, where she was heading to a book signing. She was decked out in a navy pea coat and riding boots; her hair was tied back and her luggage consisted of a single black valise on wheels. It was immediately apparent she'd worked out the art of traveling. Here, she shares with us her essential travel kit.

Photography by Heidi Swanson.

Above: Swanson strolls through the Place des Vosges. Photograph by Wayne Bremser.

Remodelista: How do you wrangle your luggage?

Heidi Swanson: I use a compact black Samsonite carry-on with wheels.

Above: Swanson's go-to uniform is built around a Sofie d'Hoore dress from MAC (Modern Appeal Clothing) in San Francisco.

Above: Instant evening outfit: a Sofie d'Hoore dress with gold sandals from the Gap and an Erica Tanov gold wallet. For similar golden shoes, consider the Metallic City Flats from the Gap.

RM: What's your approach to packing?

HS: I'm a big believer in the Russian Doll system—lots of bags within bags. I lay everything out on the bed and put together an outfit for each day. I'll make a sketch of what I'm going to wear beforehand; I flat-pack my outfits in clear bags from the Container Store with all the air squished out. It makes dressing on the road super easy.

RM: Wardrobe basics?

HS: I have a few key pieces, such as a pair of Riding Boots from Corso Como (this is my fifth pair, I've worn them forever and they've become my uniform). I always pack some fingerless gloves as well so I can shoot a camera, work an iPhone, and stay warm.

Above: I like to sketch out the outfits I'll be wearing each day; it takes away the guesswork.

RM: What's in your travel make-up bag?

HS: Rose and tuberose perfume in a rosewood case from Frazer Perfumes, Mulitplye Mascara from Tarte (a recent discovery at Sephora), a standard brown lipstick from MAC, a Nars Lipstick in jungle red, a Nars Lipstick in schlap, Bite Vitamin Gel, and clear Butter Nail Polish.

RM: Beauty essentials?

HS: I bring two small Malin + Goetz bottles of shampoo and carry a comb instead of a brush. I'm addicted to Korres Pomegranate Wipes; I use them to cleanse at the end of the day and to freshen up after a flight. Other essentials: Boots Face Renewal Creme from the Botanics line, Aesop Tuberose Lip Heal, and Welda Wild Rose Deodorant.

Above: I pack a vintage Bakelite bracelet and other simple pieces when I travel since I like to get through airport security quickly.

RM: Analog or digital?

HS: I bring a Kindle Fire in a felt pouch for reading and movies; I don't take my laptop unless I really have to. I love Moleskin notebooks for travel notes and recipes worth remembering. The pink diary is from J Crew—I still like to write down appointments. The Micron Pens are Japanese and have an extra-fine tip which I use for book signings, and the pink MT tape is my way of making sure they don't disappear.

Above: Heidi's pin board displays story ideas for her next book and photos from her travels.

RM: Favorite places to stay when you travel?

HS: Hotels are not so important to us; we’d rather spend the money on other things. We've tried out Airbnb a few times and had good experiences. Last time we were in Paris, we did a house-swap with Clotilde from Chocolate and Zuchini, which was great. We'll also rent if we are in a place for a while. We're pretty casual travelers.

RM: Airline food?

HS: Never. I always bring my own food in a DCI Collapsible Lunch Box. These Golden Pot Stickers are a favorite for long-haul journeys as they are full of protein. I also drink plenty of water on a flight, nothing else.

RM: Travel tip?

HS: My friend turned me on to a small Tumi Just In Case Tote that slides on the top of the suitcase handles and stays fixed in place. I'll wrap my cameras in a cloth and keep them there. It's fudging the carry-on but I've never been called on it yet.

RM: Next destination?

HS: Paris and Morocco. I want to go back to Tokyo soon, and India is on the list. I would love to go and cook there.

In Northern California, the Campovida gardens are bright with colorful vegetables and fruits, even after the grapevines have faded.

Many years ago, a friend first introduced us to the joys of picnicking at Fetzer's Valley Oaks Ranch in Hopland, a small wine-making town well outside of Napa and Sonoma. Established in the early 1980s, the center was ahead of its time in promoting organic gardening, wine, and American regional cuisine through events with culinary stars such as Julia Child. Alas, the Fetzer family closed the facilities down in 2006, and everything went dormant. But two years ago, Gary Breen and Anne Beuselinck purchased the property and revived it as an events facility, tasting room, and yes—as a public garden, which was in a sad state. "It was a huge mess, a jungle," says Ken Boek, the head gardener. "You couldn't even tell there were paths running through it."

Today, the five-acre garden at Campovida has been reclaimed: Even in the winter, the vegetable gardens are plentiful with winter greens, rows of persimmon trees are covered with fruit, and Boek can be seen on Saturdays wandering the paths giving public tours. "My official title at Campovida is the "Voice of Nature,'" he laughs. "I speak up for organic gardening and how to enjoy the fruits of the earth.'"

Photography by Lisa Robertson.

Above: Campovida is in Hopland, which is about an hour-and-a-half from Napa and Sonoma.

Above: In the summer, Anemone blanda (Grecian windflower) has blue, pink, or white flowers; their seedpods have a different kind of beauty.

Above: Red Japanese mustard leaf is protected under screen netting from migratory birds. The garden at Campovida was originally established by Jim Fetzer, along with organic gardening guru Michael Maltas, to supply gourmet produce. Today, chefs who cook for events at Campovida are encouraged to forage.

Above: Purple flowering kale sits in front of a Copenhagen cabbage head. "If you want a winter garden in Northern California, you have to plant your winter crop, such as kale and broccoli, on August 1st," says Boek. "This way they have several months to get to full size. In November, we plant fava beans, garlic, and onions—they love the winter rain."

Above: A flourishing specimen of lacinato kale, also known as dino kale for its bumpy leaves.

Above: Copenhagen cabbage is a favorite among gardeners for its compact heads.

Above: An allée of Hachiya persimmon trees. "All the leaves fall off the trees in the fall, but you have this beautiful golden fruit that stays on the tree for a month after," says Boek.

Above: The persimmons function as natural ornaments in December.

Above: There are 86 varieties of apple at Campovida, including the tasty and colorful Gala apple.

Above: "We have a lot of grasses, which are pretty in the fall," says Boek. "We wait until after the solstice in December to cut them back: We leave them long until they start to come back, so they won't be hurt by a frost."

While Opinel is often equated with high-quality kitchen-prep knives, the origins of the company rest in wood-handled pocket knives: perfect for the gardener.

Don't let its humble origins fool you: The Opinel knife has become a French icon, used by the likes of Pablo Picasso for carving his wooden sculptures, and is considered by some to be the best-value working knife available. Created by Joseph Opinel in the Savoie region of France as a simple working knife for farmers, winemakers, and even mushroom foragers, the numbered 1 to 12 series of knives dates back to 1897. We can see how it would be handy for taking cuttings from the garden, light pruning, or splitting woody perennials.

N.B.: The traditional Opinel knife has a beechwood handle and a carbon or stainless steel blade; carbon is susceptible to corrosion from moisture, so consider the stainless blades for lower maintenance.

Above: The Opinel No. 12 Carbon Steel Knife, an original Opinel design, is $17 at Amazon.

Above: The Opinel Pruning Knive No. 8, with a beechwood handle and Sandvik stainless steel blade, is designed for shrub pruning, grape picking or cutting ties; $19.95 at Opinel USA.

Above: The Opinel Gardener's Tool Set includes a No. 8 Garden Knife, a No. 8 Pruning Knife, and a No. 12 Folding Saw in a storage sheath with a strap; $99.95 at Garrett Wade.

Above: The Opinel No. 8 Garden Knive has a spear-point blade and a tapered beechwood handle; $10.25 at Amazon.

As a floral designer in my past life, I have long been an admirer of San Francisco's Studio Choo for their emphasis on locally grown and wild flora.

I was so interested in their work that one foggy afternoon a few years ago, I drove from the city to an address listed on their blog in Pacifica. I assumed that they had a store there, but when I pulled onto a quiet residential street, I realized that proprietors Alethea Harampolish and Jill Rizzo designed flowers out of their houses. I was too shy to knock, but when the two best friends opened their official store in January of 2010, I was delighted to visit and have referred friends there ever since. Located on Divisadero Street in San Francisco, Studio Choo (as a part of Prairie Collective, a group of friends with similar small business) boasts a selection of home accessories in addition to seasonal flower arrangements.

Above: An arrangement of scabiosa stellata, olive branches, bearded iris, and kangaroo paw mingles with a collection of locally produced ceramics.

Above: Wooden utensils sit in a wire mesh basket.

Above: Grapevines adorn a mantel.

Above: A succulent wreath hangs above vases of tulips, daffodils, and ranunculus.

Above: The store's home goods include wool blankets, pottery, and apothecary jars of wooden matches.

Above: A bromeliad air plant sits in a gourd container, while dried hydrangea is arranged in a stoneware ceramic vase.

Above: Welsh woven blankets and pillows are paired with a vase of pink foxglove. White blooming branches stretch out over the display cabinet.

Above: The store on Divisadero is painted white to set off the wooden beams.

Above: Yellow rosa banksia stand out on a foggy afternoon.

Above: Studio Choo's sandwich board keeps passersby informed of new arrivals from the market.

The porcelain ware of Montreal-based Ceramik B., notable for its delicacy, just shot to the top of our wish list.

Ceramicist Basma Osama has a vision all her own; her line of slipcast dishes have a simplicity that calls to mind natural forms (her butter dishes, for instance, resemble seed pods). "I am touched by lines, curves, textures, pebbles," she says. Even the names of the pieces—Belia, Sultan—are beautiful, reflecting her polyglot heritage. Originally from Egypt, she speaks French, Arabic, English, and Spanish. She recently released a line of eggshell-thin porcelain that recalls Eva Zeisel’s famous midcentury tea sets, but with an asymmetrical dash all her own (covered in StyleFiles by Canadian House and Home). The line is available through Made in Toronto; contact the company to order.

Above: A stack of the Vizira side plates.

Above: The Morjiana cups in white.

Above: The Nouma salt-and-pepper shaker set fits together like a deviled egg. Osama says it was inspired by the relationship she has with her son. "When I created it, he was little, and would often nest in me."

Above: The Wassi serving dish.

Above: Osama's pieces are glazed inside for easy cleaning, and have a matte exterior finish. They are available in white, sage, cocoa, and crème.

Noticed lately: old-fashioned iron radiators painted in vibrant colors.

Here's a collection of images that inspire us; for instructions on painting a traditional cast-iron radiator, go to Casa Sugar.

Above: A radiator and its fellow pipe are gloriously conspicuous. (To try this at home, use a paint that is designed to withstand high heat; Krylon makes a line of High Heat & Radiator Paints.) Photograph by Christopher Baker for Blueprint Magazine.

Above: A radiator painted pale pink in a London house; photo via Light Locations.

Above: Heating made into minimalist art, via Office for Word and Image.

Above: A bright red radiator in the home of Ellen Lupton and Abbott Miller, via Design Sponge.

Above: A raspberry colored radiator; spotted in Toast's winter catalog.

Currently coveting: a Shaker-inspired table and bench in black walnut, made by Portland, OR-based furniture designer Reed LaPlant.

LaPlant makes a point of using traditional joinery techniques in his work, as in this clean-lined table and bench fastened with exposed tenon detailing. The pieces are available through Portland-based Schoolhouse Electric, which recently branched out from lights into home furnishings. "We work with fine craftsmen like Reed who are willing to put in motion 'small production runs' or case work of this caliber," says Schoolhouse Electric owner Brian Faherty.

Above: The Radford-Brown table and benches of reclaimed black walnut wood comfortably seat up to eight people.

Above: LaPlant uses traditional tenon joints in in his furniture; the exposed joints are a subtle detail on the table and bench.

Above: The Radford-Brown Table is 84 inches long; $2,350 at Schoolhouse Electric.

Above: The Radford-Brown Bench is 64 inches long; $1,250 from Schoolhouse Electric.

Californian sculptor and artist Richard Carter restores a farmhouse with painstaking attention to detail, embracing its natural imperfections to create a simple home where humble materials take center stage.

The 1903 property sits on 85 rolling acres at the bottom of a ravine in Pope Valley, located to the east of Napa; unlike its more glamorous neighbor, the area is a curious mixture of extremes, where trailer homes and cattle sit side-by-side with landed gentry and well-tended horses. Carter purchased the house from the original family of owners, who raised 11 children on the premises; the original property included an array of sheds and barns that have since been converted into a studio and residences. (Carter is both mentor and tutor to several students who live on the ranch.) A former barn houses several wood-burning kilns built by Carter and his students and are used for frequent firings.

Carter’s own work includes large grid installations of tiles with distressed surfaces and rough stoneware clay balls embedded with quartz with fissured surfaces. His artistry extends to his domestic environs, which he has carefully restored in a way that makes the buildings look like they have been there forever. As a former student says, “This place is Carter’s canvas; every detail considered and attended to as part of his daily routine.”

Photography by Douglas Sterling for Remodelista.

Above: The flag pole was made by Carter from a fir sapling that had fallen on the property.

Above: A high performance semi-gloss enamel coating of Devoe paint was used on the deck. It is typically used for metals to prevent rust but works equally well on wood.

Above: Carter opened up the original flat, low ceilings in the dining and living rooms, revealing the pitch of the roof. He added insulation and then covered them in salvaged bead board. The glass Meridian Pendant Lamp above the table came from Sundance. The Adam and Eve piece on the wall above the cabinet is by Carter's former teacher and mentor Ken Ferguson, renowned in the field of ceramics.

Above: Carter restored the formerly bricked-up fireplace, creating a Rumford-style hearth (it's taller and shallower than a conventional fireplace and gives off an enormous amount of heat). He added a wooden mantelpiece, which serves as a display shelf for his collection of bottles and jars filled with objects ranging from marbles to arrowheads. The bear head above the mantlepiece is from Steed Fine Hoarding and Tack.

Above: A view from the porch into the dining room.

Above; Carter, who spent several years working at the original French Laundry (pre-Keller) is an avid cook and typically prepares meals and dines with his residents daily.

Above: Carter has an extensive collection of tableware including many pieces made by his students-in-residence over the years.

Above: The porch area houses a long dining table with wooden benches that came with the house. The large white shallow bowl on the table is one of Carter's pieces fired in his kiln (see Tabletop: Holiday Cocktail Party in Pope Valley). Carter collects antique flat milk glass shades, including the one shown here over the table.

Above: Carter found the dresser on the property and had it stripped and restored. Carter keeps three kerosene lamps, made in the US by Aladdin, on hand—a necessity as the power frequently goes out. The Amish rocker is from Pennsylvania; Carter picked up the Mexican bear rug from the 1920s at an antique store in Petaluma.

Above: Baskets and a wreath made from Napa Valley grape vines.

Above: Carter inherited the trunk from his great grandfather; a pile of ironstone plates sits atop, next to a work by Kenneth Ferguson.

Above: Carter sourced the cast iron hearth from Norwegian company Jøtul, which has been making them since 1853. (He also has one in the living room) The clay tile hanging on the wall is by Carter.

Above: Carter "has a thing for old chimneys," he salvaged the above chimney when a tree fell on neighbor's house (he plans to use it on the roof of his own house one of these days).

Above: One of the wooden houses for the artists-in-residence features an installation of old metal hub caps on the side, a relic from the former owners. The pile of chopped wood is from fallen trees on the land; wood is a constant necessity, both for heating the entire house and for firing the kilns.

Above: Much of the food eaten is sourced from the gardens above.

Here's a creative solution for city dwellers short on space: Brooklyn-based architect Peter Pawlak integrated a pair of built-in desks right into a couple's bedroom, creating a home office that can be hidden away when not in use.

Given the apartment's limited size, Pawlak found a way to provide a versatile work area for the couple, who envisioned a functional space that would conceal all evidence of their work lives when not in use.

Above: Pawlak used anigre wood veneer for the built-ins and seagrass wallpaper to echo the color of the veneer. A pair of Eames Soft Pad Chairs from Herman Miller were outfitted with rubber wheels to protect the fumed oak floors.

Above: The desks feature unobstructed legroom; when closed, they function as a console for art and books.

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Above: The desktops open and close with spring-loaded levers on both sides; the lid raises to reveal a corkboard on the underside. The drawers hold files and also conceal the printer.

We subscribe to the theory that you can never have too many desk accessories, especially when it comes to large clips, useful for a myriad of tasks.

In my house, large clips regularly migrate out of the office and into the kitchen, where they are used for hanging tea towels, sealing bags of coffee, drying out herbs from the garden, and corralling shopping lists. While the humble bulldog clip is a favorite standby, here's a roundup of our recent finds.

Above: The Ephemera Clip in antiqued iron, designed by Sibella Court for Anthropologie; $8 each.

Above: Nickel-plated Poster Clips come in a box of 12; $10 from Hammerpress.

Above: The Japanese Aluminium Pinch comes in a pack of 24 from Labour and Wait in the UK. Similar Metal Clips are also available in the US from Kiosk; $10 for a set of 10.

Our photographer friend in Athens, Lydia Chroni, tipped us off to Proposa, a restaurant housed in a former glass factory in Athens' bustling Rouf neighborhood.

Proposa takes its theme from the railroad tracks that run right outside the building; inside, the interior features an edgy mix of graphics and innovative lighting, including pendant lamps by Moooi. Known for its Mediterranean cuisine and affordable wine list, the restaurant offers open-air dining on the square facing St. Basil's Church during the summer. The new Benaki Museum is right around the corner. Designer Alexandros Tsikordanos of 360id preserved some of the factory's brick walls and covered others with cheeky stencils by artist Manolis Angelakis.

Photography by Vangelis Paterakis via Yatzer.

Above: The new knotty-pine ceiling introduces a warmer element to the otherwise contemporary dining room.

Above: The dining room seating is Stefano Giovannoni's stackable Chair First for Magis.

Above: A graphic mural by Manolis Angelakis depicts the cooking process as a circuit diagram.

Above: Exposed ducts and the original factory windows are softened by Dome Pendant Lamps from Moooi.

Above: The floor alternates bands of hardwood with strips of polished concrete, breaking up the large space.

Above: Minimalist light fixtures, custom-made by designer Alexandros Tsikordanos, have a pleasing geometry against the limed brick wall.

Making a splash in this Stockholm office by No Picnic: a suite of fluoro orange seating by British designer Tom Dixon, which enlivens an otherwise pristine white space.

The conference room of No Picnic (spotted on Dezeen), a design consultancy in Stockholm, features Dixon's Offcut Stool in signature fluorescent orange. The stool gets its name from its circular seat, which cleverly makes use of curved offcuts, remnants of leftover wood.

Above: No Picnic's new office was recently completed by local architecture firm Elding Oscarson. Photograph by Åke E:son Lindman.

Above: The Offcut Stool is constructed with wooden pegs instead of screws, assembles easily, and comes flat-packed; it's $235 at Lumens. It is also available in oak with a natural soaped finish.

As stationery enthusiasts, we are entranced with the offerings from Present & Correct's finely edited and personality-filled online store.

The UK company was started by Neal Whittington and Mark Smith, who are two graphic designers (a fact that is immediately apparent from the website). Present & Correct stocks sundry stationery items that are strangely familiar, and yet not. Whittington and Smith travel around Europe and further afield four times a year to refresh and add to their growing collection of "paper and office objects which are inspired by homework, the post office, and school." They "hope to spark a distant memory, make you smile, or look at the most mundane in a new, and fonder, light."

Above: Everything about this German Krups Clock, from the color to the graphics, brings back the 1970s with a vengeance; £95.

Above: A Japanese hand-crafted Wood Divider Tray is useful for keeping desks tidy; £25.

Above: Colorful Vintage Money Bags can be used for various niggling organizational needs: Sort your stamps, dry-cleaner stubs, and receipts; £7.50 for five bags.

Above: The German Bike Light Chart is reminiscent of the days when diagrams were simpler; £95.

Above: Present & Correct's Strips of Clips shows the principals' eye for small details; £15.

One of the more impressive DIY projects we've featured: a built-in desk made from plumbing pipes and wood shelving by Houston-based firm Analog/Dialog.

We've been admiring shelving made from plumbing pipes for a while now, every since we spotted them at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs (we hadn't seen a version that incorporates a desk until this project, however). The best on-line tutorial for creating something similar comes from Morgan Satterfield of The Brick House; she used different lengths of plumbing pipes (all measuring a half inch in diameter) and three types of fittings, which she spray-painted black. The shelving is made of pine wood planks which were sanded and given a walnut stain. For those intrepid enough to take this on, we refer you to Satterfield's step-by-step instructions.

Above: A nice example of the plumbing-fixtures desk by Houston-based firm Analog/Dialog.

Above: The entire shelving unit, impressive in size and function.