Julie asks: "Have you ever met a kitchen that didn't stand ready for an upgrade of some sort?" This week the Remodelista team works through your kitchen design to-do list. Gut renovation? Check. Wood-handled whisk? Check. Well-organized pantry? We feel inner peace coming on:

Above: Architect Elizabeth Roberts tackles a massive 3,500-square-foot industrial loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for a pair of creatives (she's a sculptor; he writes cookbooks). Meredith reports that the big kitchen is human-friendly, even with a commodious island cooktop and an office workspace. See more in A Kitchen for a Cookbook Author and a Sculptor, Williamsburg Edition.

Above: Before and after. Or...night and day.  London-based travel editor Isabel Blunden renovates down to the studs in Tiny House Overhaul, a four-part Rehab Diary.

Above: Why hello, black scissor sconces. What long arms you have...

Above: Countertop trend alert: lava stone. Durable, pricy, are they the answer? Janet lays out everything you wanted to know about lava stone countertops but were afraid to ask in this week's Remodeling 101.  

Above: First stop, Melbourne. In a series of travel columns, we ID the best places to eat, sleep, and shop for good design.

Looking for easy, practical fixes for your kitchen? See our' favorite plastic-free storage containers, wood-handled tools, and trash bins. And, to browse the entire Remodelista lineup, head here.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Table of Contents: Cook's Garden
• Trending on Remodelista: In with the New
• Current Obsessions: A Year of Possibilities

Here's a look at a few things we're loving this week: 

• Above: The art of fermentation. 
• If only she took selfies.
• Seedles and Thyme Bombs.

• Above: Save NYC's Most Endangered Garden. Photograph via TCLF.
• What flight attendants are really thinking.

• Above: DIY Boot Scraper. Photograph via Mary Jane's Farm.
• Dinner party detox.

•  Above: Compact and convenient. The joys of self-watering gardens. 
• The Year of the Garden.

Instagram and Pinterest Pick of the Week

• Above: We're enjoying a look at the musings of one Brooklyn-based photographer (@abranca). 
• If you're spending the cold months in California, like us, have a look at Twiggs Floral Studio's Winter board to get a glimpse at a white winter. 

To read more recent posts see our Cook's Kitchen issue and don't miss Remodelista's week of Kitchen Secrets. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Current Obsessions: Curled Up with a Catalog
• Table of Contents: A New Start
• Domestic Dispatches: What We Love (and Hate) About Ikea

Not many people can lay claim to living on a historic 4.5-acre estate in the heart of Los Angeles with fabulous views of the city. An artist, decorator, and objects designer who defies classification, Kelly Lamb is lucky enough to do so, albeit in renovated stables. Perched on a hill in Silver Lake, the estate is the Paramour Mansion, built in 1923 for silent movie star Antonio Moreno and his heiress wife. In the decades following its Twenties glory, it served as a convent and later as a school for wayward girls, until it was purchased in 1998 by philanthropist and interior designer Dana Hollister.

A New York transplant, Lamb moved into her studio four years ago and loves living in a building with such a history, not to mention an enchanted setting. She confides, "The view is insane and the main grounds and gardens are spectacular. Some days it's amazingly magical and serene." The downside?  "Movies are shot here, and it can suddenly turn into the back lot of a film studio with Porta Potties outside my back door and studio gaffers yelling all day." But as Lamb concedes, "It's always exciting." For more on the artist and designer, visit Kelly Lamb.

Photography by Laure Joliet.

Above: Surrounded by a walled courtyard, Kelly's studio is on the ground floor of the former stables and her living quarters are upstairs. Kelly renovated the patio and put in the brick terrace. The octagonal ottomans are custom Kelly designs made of indoor/outdoor fabric, and each has wheels and a detachable Velcro loop at the bottom so it can easily be rolled around. 

Above: Kelly Lamb in the arched entryway to her studio where she and a small crew work on her geometric ceramics and other prototypes for her line of products—see Kelly Lamb.

Above: The staircase that leads to her living quarters above the studio is lined with Lamb's Geo Planters ($260 apiece).

Above: A Roche Bobois leather sofa in the living area where Lamb also has her desk.  On the floor is a cast bronze disco ball made by Lamb, who early on became interested in the geodesic form—which explains her faceted ceramics line. An admirer of Buckminster Fuller, she says, "I have always been inspired by sacred geometry and how it unfolds into so may different beautiful shapes."

Above: The chalkboard painted front door has a To Do list scribbled on it. To the right is a trio of Lamb's hand-blown colored Glass Lights with a custom metal finish. (She used to blow glass when she lived in New York.) Hanging from the ceiling is one of Lamb's Moon Pendants made from ceramic with glossy glaze on a bronze chain with a crystal at the bottom.

Above: Lamb's desk overlooks thee courtyard. The glass balls are color samples for her lighting line. On display throughout are collections and pieces of glass, crystal, and bronze. Lamb notes that she likes the mix of natural organics shapes alongside geometric forms. 

Above: The kitchen and dining area is anchored by a table with marble top.

Above: A faceted white serving bowl, vase, and tea cups from Lamb's signature line of ceramics.  

Above : A view from the kitchen into the living area. Two horns found at a flea market are displayed on the cabinet beside a cardboard prototype with silver leaf on it. The painting is an early California landscape from the twenties.

Above: An inspired answer to window treatment: a Window Veil made by Lamb from Swarovski crystals and metal chains. 

Above: The view of Hollywood on one side and Downtown on the other. 

For more of our favorite LA gardens, see:

• Rehab Diary: From Garage to Tiny Cottage in LA on a Budget
• LA Confidential: A Private Courtyard Garden Goes Luxe on a Budget
• Garden Visit: At Home with Jeweler Kathleen Whitaker in LA

More Stories from Gardenista

• Garden Visit: At Home with Cookbook Author Mollie Katzen in Berkeley
• Citizen Farmers: A Visit to Cape Town's Oranjezicht City Farm
• Designer Visit: At Home with Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten in East Hampton

Do you peek over fences? Do you wonder what's behind a garden gate? This week we'll satisfy your curiosity (and ours) by exploring secret gardens. We'll explain the curb appeal of ivy-covered walls, visit a hidden garden enclave in Warsaw, and solve a marijuana mystery.

Above: What's behind the green door? See Celia's Garden: At Home with an English Artist and Her Chickens. Photograph by Jim Powell for Gardenista.

Monday

Above: Actor Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy to Grey's Anatomy fans) lives in Malibu in a house designed in the late 1960s by Frank Gehry, with a 21st century garden by designer Scott Schrader. See the Before & After garden in this week's Designer Visit.

Tuesday

Above: Are faux plants fake? Michelle says no; in this week's 10 Easy Pieces she takes a stand in support of faux plants that are eerily lifelike (except they never die).

Wednesday 

Above: Walls of live green plants banish winter blues. In this week's Roundup, we've found 13 vertical wall gardens that bring the garden indoors.

Above: Grow your own? Four states have decriminalized the use of recreational marijuana; nine states (plus Guam) have legalized medicinal marijuana. What is the best kind of marijuana plant to grow at home (indoors or out)? Learn everything you wanted to know about growing marijuana in this week's plant Growing Guide.

Thursday

Above: Are you planning to install or replace a fence this spring? We'll be dishing out fence facts in this week's Hardscaping 101.

Friday

Above: A glass extension on a stone farmhouse in the Belgian countryside looks magical in a snowstorm. See more in our Outbuilding of the Week post.

The editors at Remodelista are enjoying an Italian Idyll this week. Catch up with them here.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Trending on Remodelista: Kitchen Secrets
• Table of Contents: Cook's Garden
• Trending on Remodelista: In with the New

By the time Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey bought a $7 million Malibu home that Frank Gehry designed in 1968, garden designer Scott Shrader already had created gardens to connect the minimalist dwelling to the landscape. But when the Dempsey family arrived—with three children, dogs, chickens, rabbits, and miniature donkeys—adjustments were in order.

After the Dempseys bought the five-acre property in 2010, they asked West Hollywood-based designer Shrader (who had worked for the previous owners) to add a kitchen garden—Dempsey's wife, Jillian, is an organic gardener—an outdoor kitchen and dining area, and lawns for the children to play. 

Photography via Scott Shrader except where noted.

Above: Garden designer Shrader added cobblestone courtyards for the previous owners, spa developers Alex and Sue Glasscock.

Above: Photograph by Roger Davies.

When Shrader re-graded the property, replaced an asphalt driveway, and planted olive trees.

Above: A dramatic pivot door connects the house to the front courtyard. For more on pivot doors, see Architectural Detail: Pivot Door Roundup on Remodelista.

Above: Photograph via Le Blog Mademoiselle.

Dempsey, twin sons Sullivan and Darby, and members of the family menagerie in the living room.

Before

Above: Photograph via Art Info. 

Gehry designed a 4,000-square-foot house for California abstract artist Ronald Davis, who used it as both home and studio. Davis now lives in Taos, New Mexico.

Above: When Davis lived in the house, it had an asphalt driveway and minimal landscaping. Photograph via Iron Davis.

After

Above: The Glasscocks kept horses. For the Dempsey family, Schrader replaced the riding ring with a raised-bed kitchen garden.

Above: Dempsey's wife, Jillian, grows vegetables and flowers in the organic edible garden.

Above: Recycled concrete walls and pea gravel terraces connect the house to an outdoor kitchen and dining area.

Above: A fire pit and an outdoor kitchen at the base of the staircase.

Above: A woven wicker canopy shades a dining area.

Above: Succulents and native plants populate low-water garden garden beds along the fence.

Has January put you in the mood for California dreaming? Here are more of our favorite Southern California gardens:

• Designer Visit: A Mad Man's $800K Hollywood Hideaway
• Before and After: A Grande Dame in LA's Hancock Park
• LA Confidential: A Private Courtyard Garden Goes Luxe on a Budget

More Stories from Gardenista

• Garden Visit: At Home with LA Artist Kelly Lamb
• Garden Visit: At Home with Cookbook Author Mollie Katzen in Berkeley
• Citizen Farmers: A Visit to Cape Town's Oranjezicht City Farm

When it comes to planters, I gravitate towards organic vessels made from rustic materials that mimic my plants' natural habitat. So it is not surprising that these rough-hewn vases and plant trays from Italy caught my eye while I was browsing at ABC Carpet and Home recently. Each is handmade by Flò, a company started by celebrated Bolognese florist Annalisa Lo Porto, who developed these pots to complement her own arrangements: 

Above: Unglazed and raw, the ceramic vessels conjure the elemental beauty of the Italian countryside.

Above: Flò's Low-Sided Ceramic Tray (available at ABC Carpet and Home in natural or black colors) measures 1 foot square by 1.18 inches; $85. 

Above: A Hand-Formed Ceramic Tray in natural (also available in black) measures 10 inches by 4 inches by 4 inches; $65.

Above: Here shown in black, this Ceramic Vase is also available in natural; $55.

Above: Also available in black, a Ceramic Tray measures approximately 1 foot square by 4 inches high; $130.

Above: Flò's Large Pot in black has 7.9-inch diameter: $175.

Above: If you travel to Bologna, it's worth a visit to Flò's showroom and shop. See the full range of ceramics at Flò (where a limited selection of items is available to buy online—alas, in Italy only).

For more ways to capture the rustic romance of Italy, see:

• Design Sleuth: Terra Cotta Window Boxes
• Garden Visit: An Italian Terrace
• From Remodelista: A Medieval Hotel Restore for the 21st Century
• A Converted Stable in Italy, Modern Bath Included

More Stories from Gardenista

• Steal This Look: An Industrial Greenhouse Kitchen
• Outbuilding of the Week: A 323-Square-Foot Backyard Guest House (and Storage Shed)
• Design Sleuth: Stacked Raised Beds for the Garden

Hidden in plain sight, fairytale gardens surround a cluster of tiny wooden bungalows on a side street in central Warsaw. But the gardens' future is uncertain. The Finnish houses, built in 1945, are under siege. Their story is an unusual one: 

The story starts 70 years ago when the government of Finland, ordered to pay World War II reparations, financed construction of dozens of prefab houses, designed as temporary housing for the engineers, architects, and planners who were rebuilding the bombed-out city of Warsaw. Over the years, the central city grew up around the enclave; nowadays gray concrete complexes and a multi-land highway serve as a backdrop to the neighborhood.

Today only 27 of the original houses remain standing in the Jazdów neighborhood. The others were razed, over time, and the survivors also could disappear soon, if city officials' plans to develop the site prevails over residents' and preservationists' efforts to save the enclave. For more about the fight to preserve the Finnish Houses, see Domki Fińskie.

We discovered the gardens of the hidden Finnish houses via Warsaw-based design studio This is Paper, which recently used the Finnish houses as a charming set to showcase a line of gardening products:

Above: Photograph via This is Paper.

A black Grocery String Bag made of linen is handwoven in northeastern Poland and also is available in white or natural; 20€ from This is Paper. (For more of our favorite string bags, see 10 Easy Pieces: Woven String Bags for Groceries.)

Above: Photograph via Agnieszkabielecka.

Many of today's tenants are the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original occupants.

Above: Photograph by Jacek Wajszczak via Domki Fińskie.

A ground cover of saxifrage, also known as creeping strawberry, forms a dense carpet and spreads via runners that root a few inches away from the original plant.

Above: Photograph via This is Paper.

A Copper Watering Can is 60€ from This is Paper.

Above: Photograph by Monika via Flickr.

All the Finnish cottages have steeply pitched roofs.

Above: Photograph by Jacek Wajszczak via Domki Fińskie.

Above: Photograph via This is Paper.

A brass Mist Sprayer is 25€ from This is Paper.

Above: Photograph by Jacek Wajsczcak via Domski Fińskie.

Stained black, a fence surrounds the enclave. For more of our favorite dark fences, see Trend Alert: Black Fences. 

For more of our favorite secret gardens, see:

• Secret Garden: Spring Comes to Connecticut
• Barcelona's Best Secret Garden
• A Reader's Secret Garden: Enchanted Burchetts Wood

More Stories from Gardenista

• Before and After: A Malibu Garden for Grey's Anatomy Star Patrick Dempsey
• Garden Visit: At Home with LA Artist Kelly Lamb
• Garden Visit: At Home with Cookbook Author Mollie Katzen in Berkeley

Please, don't call them fake. The other day I asked Julie how long she has had a vase of faux olive branches on her kitchen shelf. "I don't know, a few years?" she said. Unlike bunches of expensive live branches that soon die, faux greenery lasts as long as you want.

We've found 10 faux stems that are so eerily lifelike you may catch yourself trying to change the water in the vase:

Above: Photograph by Matthew Williams.

Julie's faux olive branches look live except for one thing: the leaves never curl up and die. To inspect them more closely, see Design Sleuth: A Low-Maintenance Olive Branch Arrangement.

Leafy Branches

Above: A dozen 23.5-inch-long polyester Olive Branches is $99.90 from Earth Flora. For a larger display, a 49-inch Olive Branch made of plastic, wire stems, and bendable tubing (so you can create a life-life arrangement) is $39.50 from Pottery Barn.

Above: A harbinger of spring, a faux Greenhouse Budding Willow Branch is 52 inches long; $58.99 from Wayfair.

Above: A 12-inch faux Short Stem Eucalyptus branch is £2.75 and a Tall Green Eucalyptus Spray is £2.99 from Withycombe Fair.

Above: Covered with "very realistic moss" made of fabric, a 4-foot long Twig Moss branch is £11 from The Olive Branch.

Above: Sold in boxes of 24 branches, Artificial Privet Sprays are £39.84 from Triangle Nursery.

Above: To tuck in among the privet branches: a branch of faux Chinese Privet Berries (30 inches long); $24 apiece from West Elm.

Flowering Branches

Above: A 51-inch-long Faux Cherry Blossom Branch made of plastic and polyester on wire is $34.50 from Pottery Barn.

Above: A pink Silk Cherry Blossom Spray (made of plastic, wire, and polysilk) is 58 inches long. Avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading; $18 from Terrain.

Above: Measuring 4 feet long, a Double Cherry Blossom Stem is made of polyester, plastic, and wire; $34.95 from Crate & Barrel.

Above: A branch of Artificial Hops is £8 from John Lewis.

Above: A 24-inch Faux Pincushion Stem made of polyester, plastic, and wire is $14 from West Elm.

Ready to arrange some greenery to banish the winter blues? See:

• 10 Easy Pieces: Simple Glass Vases Under $30
• Shopper's Diary: A London Shop Devoted Entirely to Faux Flowers
• 10 Easy Pieces: Labware Vases

More Stories from Gardenista

• Waxed Cotton: Everyday Needs Garden Bag
• Sneak Peak: Best of Ikea's New Kitchen Tools for Gardeners Who Cook
• 10 Easy Pieces: Labware Plant Stands

Turin-based landscape architect studio Giardino Segreto installed a fully equipped kitchen inside a steel and glass greenhouse. The result is our dream kitchen. We inspired by how it elegantly unites indoors and out to create a romantic retreat to prepare garden-to-table meals.

Not in possession of a villa? If your kitchen opens out to a garden, you're on your way. Here's how to recreate the look with a high-low mix of industrial appliances:

Above: Local Italian artisans designed the custom greenhouse. Evoke a similar atmosphere with an all-white palette. See 10 Easy Pieces: Architects' White Exterior Paint Picks. If you must have your own bespoke greenhouse, inquire with Chelsea Flower Show favorite Hartley Botanic and French manufacturer of ironwork greenhouses Serres d'Antan.  

Above: A Hanging Globe Pendant from Home Depot, in white glass, provides diffused ambient light. Available in three sizes, a pendant with a 12.5-inch diameter is $67.60.   

Above: The Vera Chaise in powder-coated steel is made in Italy, and available in three finishes: white, brown, and gray. The latter, available at Hotel Restaurant Supply, is $765. To purchase the lounge in white, contact the manufacturer Emu Americas.  

Above: The galley kitchen is all practicality, with space-saving appliances, a wall organizer, and industrial finishes.  The designers also manage to soften and add romance with a neutral palette and natural light. 

Above: With a solid all-brass body, pull-out spray, and all under $300—could this be the faucet you've been looking for? Made in Germany, from Hansgrohe, the Interaktiv S-One Handle Kitchen Faucet is $282.29 at All Modern.

Above: The Framtid Self-Cleaning Oven from Ikea, with round dials and flat-front Tyda handles is $899. Ikea also carries the pulls in various lengths, 13 inches and 5 7/16 inches. Install them on other appliances and cabinets to create a uniform industrial style throughout the kitchen.

Above: A splurge: Danish brand Vipp, known for its luxe pedal trash bins, carries a line of glamorous cabinetry available in black or white stainless steel and in modular customizable configurations. To start the design process, you visit the Copenhagen concept store or go online to window shop for case studies.

Above: A Smeg Classic Design drop-in gas cooktop ($699) is a compact 24 inches wide. 

Above: Ikea's counter-saving Grundtal Rail System stores utensils and cookware in tidy displays and at arm's reach. The Rail is available in three lengths, 15 3/4 inches, 23 1/4 inches, and 31 1/2 inches, at prices ranging from $6.99 to $9.99. We're longtime admirers of the system's flexibility; see Ultimate Budget Storage: 10 Kitchens with Ikea's Grundtal Rail System.

Above: Organize your wall and keep utensils and cookware off the counter with a pack of 10 S-Hooks (99 cents) from Ikea.

Above: Also from Ikea, a hanging Wire Basket, perfect for herb pots, is $2.99.

Above: Achieve a palette of white and lime feels fresh with a few kitchen utensils and accessories in green. A Kitchen Craft Colour Works Silicone Ladle, $14.99 on Amazon, brightens an all-white backsplash and cabinets.

Above: A 14-by-19-inch Serving Tray in lacquered satin is $33 from Etsy seller Gleaming Renditions.  

Above: La dolce vita: an all-white deck and chaise lounge complete a serene kitchen idyll. 

For more of our favorite garden-style kitchens, peruse:

• 10 Favorites: Ultimate Outdoor Kitchens
• Design Sleuth: René Redzepi's Kitchen Herbs
• 5 Quick Fixes: In-Counter Compost Solutions

More Stories from Gardenista

• From Italy with Love: Raw and Rustic Planters from Flò
• Outbuilding of the Week: A 323-Square-Foot Backyard Guest House (and Storage Shed)
• Design Sleuth: Stacked Raised Beds for the Garden

Marijuana has momentum. Are you keeping score? In the US, four states have legalized marijuana for recreational use (Alaska's law takes effect next month), 10 states allow medicinal use, a slew of others have lessened legal penalties, and the New York Times has exhorted the federal government to repeal a 40-year ban on "a substance far less dangerous than alcohol."

Here are 10 tips to grow your own marijuana and maximize potency of the plant's active ingredient, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol):

Above: Photograph via Agroweed.

1. Know your limits. State law varies when it comes to the legal amount of marijuana you can grow. For instance, in Alaska and Colorado, you can grow up to six plants for your own use. In Washington, you can only grow backyard marijuana for a medical use. In Oregon, personal growing is limited to four plants at a time—and only for medical use.

2. Grow the right type of marijuana. The two main types of cannabis are C. sativa and C. indica. Growers cross them to create hybrid strains. Sativa plants, which can reach heights of 20 feet, are best grown outdoors. Indica plants, which are shorter and bushier, grow better indoors.

Above: Photograph via Huffington Post.

3. Start with high-quality marijuana seeds. For a list of reputable seed banks, see High Times (which reviews cannabis seed banks and publishes a list of the top purveyors).

4. Start seeds indoors. Soak seeds for 24 hours before sowing them in potting soil. After marijuana seedlings reach a height of 6 inches and have multiple leaves, transplant them to a permanent garden site. For more on starting seeds, see Gardening 101: How to Sprout a Seed.

Above: After harvest, marijuana buds are hung to dry. Photograph via Marijuana Growers HQ.

5. Plant in full sun. Marijuana plants like sunlight; if you grow marijuana outdoors, a garden bed with southern exposure that provides several hours of sunlight per day is ideal. If you grow marijuana indoors, use a grow light.

6. Plant in rich soil. Marijuana requires nutrients. Fertilize your plant if it has yellow leaves (needs nitrogen), curling leaves (needs phosphate), or spotted leaves (needs potassium).

Above: Marijuana for sale at the Seattle Cannabis Market. Photograph by Linda Thomas.

7. Ask an expert. In states where marijuana is legal for medical or recreational use, visit a marijuana farmers' market to get advice from other growers. For instance, in Seattle, the Northwest Cannabis Market is America's only daily marijuana farmers' market  with (two locations). 

8. Keep it warm. Marijuana is a warm-weather plant; transplant it outdoors after the last frost date. A marijuana plant will be happiest in a climate where the temperature fluctuates between 64 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Above: For sale for medicinal purposes, marijuana buds of a variety called Og Kush. Photograph via LA Times.

9. Provide support. Marijuana is a bushy plant. Like a tomato plant, it will benefit from being caged or trained against a trellis.

Above: Photograph via Helping Hands Dispensary.

10. Cull male plants. If female and male plants grow together, female plants will devote energy to seed production, diluting THC potency. Female plants develop flower clusters that become buds; male plants produce green clusters at leaf joints.

11. Harvest and process correctly. After a majority of the hairlike pistils on a marijuana bud darken and curl, it is ready to harvest. Cut off branches, trim leaves, and hang stems upside down; when dry, clip off buds to cure in jars.

For more inspiration, see The World's Most Scenic Marijuana Farm. If you plan to sprout seeds, see DIY: Seed Sprouting Newspaper Pots.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Growing Guide: 135 Rare Heirlooms from Jardin Seed Co.
• Gardening 101: How to Sprout a Seed
• DIY: Root Succulents from Leaves

What better backdrop to banish winter than an indoor jungle? Here are 10 of our favorite rooms where vines and climbers cover the walls like art:

Above: The courtyard restaurant at Paris' Hotel Amour. Aptly named. Photograph via Lostncheeseland via Flickr.

Above: A passionflower tendril wants to help with the dishes. Photograph via Bringing Nature Home.

Above: A green backdrop warms a workspace. Photograph via The Design Files.

Above: Belgian designer Axel Vervoodt is at home with vines on the walls and trees in the house. Photograph via Elle Decor.

Above: A bathroom at Butterland, a former butter factory in Australia that's now home to florist Katie Marx. Photograph by Luisa Brimble.

Above: In Amsterdam, recycled pallets painted white create a corner garden with plants including blue fern, hedera, and japhrolepis. Photograph via En Estado de Rachel.

Above: Indoor vines at La Sirenuse in Positano.

Above: Swedish designer and entrepreneur Agneta Enzel's orangery, which she uses as a potting shed and family space. Photograph by Sandra Pettersson.

Above: Alvar Aalto's studio in Helsinki, Finland where indoor vines make themselves at home, via Blood and Champagne.

Above: Still life with butterfly chairs via Vtwonen.

For more of our favorite wall gardens, see:

• 5 Favorites: Vines as Indoor Decor
• Black and White Orangery, Scandi Style
• 5 Favorites: Vines as House Plants

More Stories from Gardenista

• Ask the Expert: 9 Tips to Grow Edible Microgreens
• Restaurant Visit: A Magical Night Sky at Romita in Mexico City
• Shopper's Diary: Vintage and Modern Meet at A New Leaf in Chicago

Some flowers were never meant to be cut, withering to nothing as soon as they are plucked. Others, it seems, are oblivious to being severed from their original stem. Want to know which flowers create the longest lasting bouquets? I put some favorites to the test, with surprising results:

Photography by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

DAY 1

Above: My lab, set up in a cool, dark corner of the house, included the following fresh flowers from Winston Flowers and Garden (L to R): hyacinth, narcissus, sweet pea, grape hyacinth, lilac, ranunculus, and a cherry branch.

Above: After giving my flowers a fresh cut, I placed each in its own water, where it could enjoy its favored temperature. For example, woody stems such as lilacs prefer slightly warmer water, while most others prefer cool. Note that woody stems also benefit from being cut or shaved at a very long angle. Some people swear by smashing or scoring woody stems to allow for maximum water intake. I chose a cherry branch whose buds were still tight.

Above: A close up on fresh sweetpeas.

Above: I bought two narcissus stems, one in full bloom and one that was just coming out.

Above: I started with a ranunculus in almost full bloom, because it has been my experience that unlike a tulip or a rose, after being cut a ranunculus will open only slightly. Buds like the ones shown here will not open in water.

Above: I'd heard that tulips last longest when placed in ice water so I decided to put this theory to the test by dividing my tulips into regular cool water (L) and ice water (R).

DAY 2

Above: For the purposes of my experiment, I changed the water every day to keep my blooms as fresh as possible. Here on day two, everything's still looking good.

DAY 4

Above: By day four, I began to lose some of my more delicate specimens. Here, my sweet peas are beginning to wilt.

Above: I particularly enjoy the sweet scent of lilacs in the home, but even when cut from the branches in my very own yard, they never seem to last more than a few days. By diligently shaving the stems and replacing the water each day, I was hoping to extend their shelf life. Alas, by day four, these were also starting to fade.

Above: My fully open narcissus also started to wither, but the tight bud was just starting to open.

Above: Tight on day one, my cherry blossoms were opening quite nicely by day four.

Above: By day four, I noticed only a slight difference between ones in the ice versus the regular water. Perhaps they are a bit brighter?

Above: Still going strong, the hyacinths on day four are drooping only due to the weight of their blooms. If you don't like this look, you can simply cut the stems a bit shorter.

DAYS 5-8

Above: Though the ranunculus gave out on day five, on day seven the two different hyacinths, tulips, and the cherry were still hanging in there. The tulips and grape hyacinths were gone by day six. The regular hyacinths lasted two days longer, but I tossed them by day eight.

DAY 10

Above: The winner! Here is my cherry branch on day ten. It actually hung around another four days. At two weeks, this guy was definitely the longest lasting bloom in the bunch. 

Obviously results may vary. In a bouquet I bought a couple of weeks ago, my sweet peas lasted almost a week. A cherry branch that I bought for a friend last week is already starting to fade (but she did not change the water). 

My takeaway is that freshness is key.

• If you can't harvest flowers from your own garden, try to buy them as locally as possible. Ask your florist or grocer where the flowers came from or try to buy what is in season in your area right now.
• Find a florist you trust. Though I have had some success with less reputable flower shops and grocery stores, it's really luck of the draw. For the most consistent results, I opt for florists whom I know take great pride in the quality of their product.
• Fresh, cool water (except for woody stems) changed often also seems to help. 

Want more tips for extending the life of your flowers? Erin experimented with popular preservatives in the water in Tried and Tested: How to Make Fresh Flowers Last Longer, while I recently explored How to Make A Vase of Flowers Last a Week. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Growing Guide: 11 Essential Tips to Grow Your Own Marijuana
• Growing Guide: 135 Rare Heirlooms from Jardin Seed Co.
• Gardening 101: How to Sprout a Seed

Wondering where to start when it comes to fencing? If you're planning to build, design, or install a fence, start with our Fence Design Guide:

We've explored the pros and cons and design details of picket fences, hog wire, wrought iron, painted fences, and deer fencing. Maybe privacy is your greatest concern. Or deer proofing. Or matching the style of your house. 

For fence facts and prices—and design tips to maximize curb appeal—we've rounded up 10 of our most popular fence posts: 

Above: An elegant fence. Yes, if it's black. See our favorite dark backdrops in Trend Alert: Black Fences.

How high should a fence be? For privacy, make it 5 or 6 feet tall. If you're installing it to add curb appeal and don't care about privacy, a fence that's from 2 to 3 feet high will draw the eye and frame a view.

Above: Make a small yard look more expansive with a horizontal slat fence. See our favorite examples in Fence Fashion: 11 Ways to Add Curb Appeal with Horizontal Stripes.

Above: Wrought iron, the ultimate in fence materials, is stately, strong, and secure. And pricy. Get the details in Hardscaping 101: Wrought Iron Fencing.

Above: Before the 20th century, ironwork was not black. Find out what color the Sissinghurst Castle gates (and other British iron fences) were painted in Victorian times in Paint Colors for Iron Fences and Gates.

Above: If you install a wooden fence, you can stain it instead of painting it. For more ideas, see Curb Appeal: Wooden Slat Fences.

Above: Looking for the perfect color of stain? See our favorites in Palette & Paints: 8 Colorful Exterior Stains.

Above: For a New England seaside cottage look, nothing beats a picket fence. See our favorites in 10 Picket Fences That Remind Us of Summer.

Above: Shopping for a picket fence? Find out everything you need to know about picket fence styles, heights, and prices in Hardscaping 101: Picket Fences.

Above: For a quick fix, try panels or rolled bamboo fencing or other instant fences. See our favorite choices in 10 Easy Pieces: Instant Fences.

Above: An attractive option for a tight budget is a hog wire fence. Hog wire keeps varmints out and keeps costs low. For tips on how to install one to keep deer away, see Hardscaping 101: Hog Wire.

Above: Hamptons-based garden designer Lisa Bynon designs stylish deerproof fences for kitchen gardens. She reveals her secrets in The Landscape Designer is In: Elegant Deer Fencing, Hamptons Edition.

For more of our Hardscaping 101 guides to fences, see:

• Hardscaping 101: Picket Fences
• Hardscaping 101: Hog Wire
• Hardscaping 101: Wrought Iron Fencing

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In a dense residential neighborhood in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, mA-Style Architects decided to keep the focus tight. Rather than designing a home that offered expansive views of neighboring city houses, the architects created a private green landscape for the Green Edge House.

The architects designed floating exterior walls to block the view of the surrounding neighborhood and serve as a backdrop for a rock garden that surrounds the house.

Every room inside the one-story house opens onto the greenery that lies between the glazed interior walls and the floating exterior walls. By designing a green space to run around the edge of the house, instead of by installing an interior courtyard, the architects were able to maintain some of the interior privacy lost with traditional courtyard designs.

(See The Cult of the Courtyard for ten homes that bring the outdoors in.)

Photography by Nacasa and Partners, Inc.

Above: Seen from the outside, the exterior wall floats above the ground, bringing light into the home from below.

Above: Slender trees fit between the exterior white wall and the glazed glass walls of the interior structure.

Above: From the inside, looking out, the white exterior walls create a gallery-like space to showcase plantings that encircle the house.

Above: Across the expanse of birch flooring, the home's garden flanks both sides of a central room.

Above: Glass doors allow access to the perimeter garden.

Above: The view from the street.

For more, see:

• mA-style Architects' A Home Inspired by An Ant Colony (Seriously)
• 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Japan
• Zen and the Art of Bathing: 12 Serene Soaking Tubs

N.B.: This is an update of a post originally published January 29, 2014.

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• Garden Visit: Hidden in Plain Sight in Warsaw
• Before and After: A Malibu Garden for Grey's Anatomy Star Patrick Dempsey
• Garden Visit: At Home with LA Artist Kelly Lamb

We wanted these these tiny tin garden lanterns the instant we spotted them at London-based Saudade, a purveyor of Portuguese goods that owner Pedro da Costa Felgueiras brings back from "deep corners of secret Portugal."

The handmade lanterns are a perfect size to sit on an outdoor dining table or to light up a front stoop or staircase at night:

Above: A tin Conical Garden Lantern burns oil and is 4 inches high; £12.

Above: Also available, a round Cylindrical Garden Lantern is £12.

Above: Made in Portugal, a tin Candle Snuffer is £7.50.

If you're looking for outdoor lanterns, see more of our favorites:

• 5 Quick Fixes: Outdoor Lanterns
• 10 Easy Pieces: Hanging Votive Lanterns
• 10 Easy Pieces: Hurricane Lanterns

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• Hardscaping 101: Design Guide for Fences (Height, Styles, and Cost)
• Steal This Look: An Industrial Greenhouse Kitchen
• From Italy with Love: Raw and Rustic Planters from Flò

Belgian architect Bruno Erpicum transformed a small stone outbuilding, creating a glass-walled, one-bedroom bed and breakfast in the Belgian countryside. Maison Roly rents for $170 a night (also available is an adjacent six-bedroom farmhouse.) For more rental details, see Airbnb.

Erpicum updated the outbuilding by adding steel sheets to the existing structure to create a mezzanine floor. He extended the steel sheets to the outdoors, to fabricate a glass-enclosed living room pavilion with sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Go to Atelier d'Architecture Bruno & Partners for more details.

Photography by Jean-Luc Laloux.

Above: Erpicum preserved the rustic character of the original stone cottage.

Above: The steel-and-glass room seems to hover in the snow, affording almost-panoramic views.

Above: The former outbuilding now operates as a bed and breakfast.

Above: The setting is bucolic in all seasons.

Above: In warmer months, the terrace is a sunny spot to sit.

Above: The glass walls intentionally blur the distinction between indoors and out.

For more garden design ideas from Belgium, see:

• A Minimalist Greenhouse in the Belgian Woods
• Steal This Look: The Spirit of Provence in a Walled Belgian Garden
• 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Belgium
• Architect Visit: Atelier d'Architecture Bruno Erpicum & Partners

More Stories from Gardenista

• Outdoor Lighting: Tiny Tin Tabletop Lanterns
• Hardscaping 101: Design Guide for Fences (Height, Styles, and Cost)
• Steal This Look: An Industrial Greenhouse Kitchen

Behind an unassuming stone facade and through a corridor covered in lush vines and plants, you will discover a quiet and charming courtyard in the heart of the city. The space, the brainchild of Buenos Aires-based interior designer Pablo Chiappori, is a design maven's dream—a secret garden with a tea shop, a florist, café, and a home wares store. Plus a wine bar:

Photography by Sophia Moreno-Bunge for Gardenista.

Above: The courtyard entrance, behind an old facade.

The courtyard is home to a café called Decata, a flower shop called Tata, a teashop called Tealosophy, and a home decor store called Paul. The space is located in the heart of Palermo Soho, a very green neighborhood of cobblestone streets lined with shops, restaurants, and bars.

Interior designer Pablo Chiappori has infused the space with the effortless and elegant sensibility that distinguishes Argentina's best design. Argentines have mastered the union of the old world and the rustic: combining their Spanish and French ancestry with the wonder of their varied South American landscapes: from the jungles of Iguazú, to the dramatic glaciers and mountains of Patagonia, to the Pampa's vast farmlands. At Paul, you will find linens in every neutral tone imaginable; delicate wools from the South of Argentina; wood and metal furniture, and beautiful light fixtures, among other things.

Above: I was told that the space used to be a coal yard; the cart that was once used to transport packages of coal from the street to the studio is now decorated with plants, beckoning passersby. I can't get enough of those huge black doors.

 Above: Hanging plants from Tata Flowers line the corridor.

Above: Potted plants from Tata. 

Above: The corridor gives way to the courtyard; the Decata Café stand is on the right, Tata Flowers and Tealosophy are on the left, and the entrance to Paul is at the back end of the space.

Above: The stand sells delicious pastries and coffee, and Tealosophy teas (I tried a lemongrass hibiscus tea that was incredible).

Above: The perfect place to relax in a busy city.

Above: Tables fill the courtyard.

Above: The structure that houses Tealosophy and Tata Flowers reminds me of a greenhouse.

Above: The flower shop, where I saw lots of orchids that seem to do well in the humid Buenos Aires climate.

Above: Tealosophy's nook, lined with walls of teas; they had so many interesting flavors, including White Peony.

Above: Paul has two stories of amazing home goods; the second floor also houses a small wine bar that lets out onto a terrace.

Above: I love the industrial windows and doors used throughout the spaces. 

Above: The view from the terrace.

View Larger Map

Above: Looking for the secret courtyard? It's at Gorriti 4864, Buenos Aires. There is a street number on the large black door at the entrance—it's hard to miss, but just in case, it's between Gurruchaga and Armenia.

Planning a trip to Buenos Aires? For more of Argentina's signature style, see The Coolest Flat in Buenos Aires on Remodelista. And visit Sophia's uncle at home in Garden Visit: A Hanging Orchid Garden in Buenos Aires.

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This week the Remodelista team explores a new moody minimalism exported from Italy: luxurious in its simplicity and attention to detail. We tagged along with the editors to a Milanese villa with a muted palette, a sleek kitchen systems showroom, and 11 irresistible farmhouse rentals. 

Above: Italians are known for their race cars and their sleek kitchen systems. We'll take the shiny one. Janet rounds up the 8 Best Italian Kitchen Systems.

Above: Izabella discovers metal oil cans worthy of the Tin Man in this week's 10 Easy Pieces. 

Above: Christine explores the new Milanese Minimalism on the loggia of a gray stucco house with a muted palette.

Above: Demijohns as decor: Margot makes a strong case for recycling these particular glass bottles. See her 11 Favorite Demijohns as Decor.

Above: Cook the world's most stylish pasta in a glass pot; Julie tracks down the world's sexiest pots and pans in 6 Elegant Cookware Lines from Italy.

Above: Meredith plans her next vacation: she'll be staying in a former monastery on an island off the coast of Sicily. It's one of 11 irresistible Italian farmhouse rentals she discovered this week.

Follow the Remodelista editors on the rest of their Italian idyll at Italian Renaissance.

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• Current Obsessions: Weekend Wish List
• Current Obsessions: Curled Up with a Catalog
• Table of Contents: A New Start

This just in: The average Brooklyn apartment sells for $739K. Have you seen the average Brooklyn apartment? No wonder we're obsessed:

• Above: The least affordable neighborhood in America. Photograph via NY Mag. 
• Bloggers, take note: A new way to use Baby as a prop.
• From our far-flung correspondents: Murder in the garden. 

• Above: Bake banana bread this weekend. Or—put those loaf pans to a different use, rooting DIY Succulents.
• R.I.P., new favorite magazine.

• Above: The farmer and the florist, celebrating the birth of a movement.
• Sneak peek: Chelsea Garden Show 2015. 
• Added bonus: One of our favorite Dutch gardeners heads to London.

• Above: Eat house (that's an order).
• Calling all architects: submit your entries.

Instagram and Pinterest Pick of the Week: Mary Jo Hoffman

Above: Mary Jo Hoffman moved her family to the woods to introduce her children to nature. On her Still blog, her mission to take a photo a day of a found, natural object. She's @maryjohoffman on Instagram.

Above: On Pinterest, we follow Mary Jo Hoffman's Black Exteriors board. And not just because we have the same taste.

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Tucked inconspicuously among a block of innocuous stucco ranch houses on a side street in St. Helena in Napa County, CA, a reclaimed wood facade attracts instant notice. A closer inspection reveals a surprise:

Photography by Mimi Giboin.

Above: You can't tell from the street that beneath the wood siding lies a stucco house.

Before

Above: Here's what the house looked like when homeowners Kevin and Jessica Hague bought it.

Above: After covering the front facade with wood, the Hagues began working on the side walls.

Above: On the back wall of the ranch house, a window is framed in reclaimed wood: step one to covering the entire wall.

Above: Ready to be installed: 1-by-6-inch planks of weathered wood, previously used on a fence

After

Above: The Hagues' house has a board on board facade. Similar to a board and batten technique, a board on board installation typically involves installing planks vertically, side by side. Additional planks are cover the gaps between boards.

Above: A climbing rose is at home on the reclaimed wood siding, which came from Centennial Woods in Wyoming. Says Jessica Hague: "It was an absolute gamble—I  bought the material sight unseen."

Above: To install the siding, the Hagues first screwed horizontal boards into the stucco facade. Then they nailed the vertical planks to the boards.

Above: For lights similar to the pendants flanking the doorway on the Hagues' peaked-roof barn, Outdoor Wall Lanterns in a bronze finish are $495 apiece from Visual Comfort Lighting.

Are you looking for ways to add curb appeal to your house? See:

• Hardscaping 101: Charred Wood Siding
• 11 Ways to Add Curb Appeal for Under $100 
• Before and After: 5 Favorite Garden Rehabs

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• A Secret Courtyard Garden in Buenos Aires
• Architect Visit: A Hidden Japanese Garden
• Garden Visit: Hidden in Plain Sight in Warsaw