Chic Cache La Jolla Baskets from Serena & Lily give storage a little personality, thanks to their bright, modern design and color palette. Handmade from recycled plastic and seagrass, each basket is unique and boasts its own attractive pattern. Available in three different color combinations and a range of shapes and sizes. $78 to $168. serenaandlily.com
Seasonal Storage Chelsey Round Tubs from IMAX are made out of sturdy iron sheet metal and embellished with brightly painted bases—perfect for storing beach items, on season or off. Available in sets of three, they sport rope handles that impart a beachy feel and allow for easy transport. $155. wayfair.com
American Made Handcrafted in Rhode Island, Room & Board’s Kori Storage Bins are made from a braided wool-blend fabric that looks cozy and feels soft. Available in five different colors and a range of sizes, they’re meant to complement any room. $69 to $129. roomandboard.com
Renewable Resource The Braided Water Hyacinth Cube from The Container Store is hand-woven from water hyacinth, a renewable resource. This one-of-a-kind basket is eco-conscious and classically designed, providing easy storage for everything from pillows to electronic devices. $40. containerstore.com
The Milk & Honey collection of marble-look porcelain tiles from Architectural Ceramics adds tactile style to the kitchen. Hammered, brushed, honed and polished tiles in beige, gray and white can be combined; the rectangular tiles come in a range of sizes at Architectural Ceramics’ six area showrooms. architecturalceramics.com
Gamadecor creates sleek, state-of-the-art kitchen-and-bath furnishings, available through Porcelanosa in North Bethesda and DC. The compact Rooms kitchen from its Emotions line boasts an innovative design centered around a two-level island. The lower-level counter can be concealed beneath the top one. porcelanosa-usa.com
Inspired by the richly embellished fabrics for which it is named, the new Brocade collection by Architectural Ceramics features waterjet mosaics in decorative patterns. Pictured in a kitchen designed by Bethesda-based Case Design/Remodeling, Brocade Ovals comes in Calacatta Gold marble and cliff-polished mosaic and is available at area locations. architecturalceramics.com
Country Floors’ Bedford Collection of ceramic tiles can be glazed to suit your design. Matte, Matte Crackle, Gloss, Wash, Gloss Crackle and Watercolor finishes enhance more than 20 colors ranging from earth tones to bright, vibrant hues. Pictured, a backsplash in handmade subway tile, available at Country Floors’ area locations. countryfloors.com
Storing your favorite wines just got easier. Liebherr’s 24-inch under-counter wine cabinet holds 34 bottles in a convenient two-zone unit that allows temperatures to be set independently via touchscreen. Dimmable interior lights and a clean-lined stainless-steel doorframe impart style. liebherr-appliances.com
The cutting-edge Induction Cooktop by Miele cooks food twice as quickly as a gas or electric stove while using half the energy. Its Con@ctivity 2.0 feature sends signals automatically from the stovetop to the hood, while user-friendly settings make food prep easy. Available in a built-in or raised version. mieleusa.com
Smeg has redesigned some features of its Classic line of ovens to create an updated look. The Classic Electric Multifunction Oven in stainless steel boasts 10 cooking modes and a Smart-Black glass-door finish that is opaque when the oven is off and transparent when it’s on. smegusa.com
Tecnogas Superiore ranges are available in the U.S. for the first time through Almo Premium Appliances. Customized for the American market, the Italian brand’s signature Deco collection of ranges comes in an array of sizes, colors and finishes, including the 48-inch Classic in red matte and chrome. almo.com
ILVE’s Pro Top gas cooktops range from 15 to 48 inches in width. Equipped with high-efficiency brass burners, stainless-steel griddles, a flame-sensor safety device and precision burner controls, the series is sold through EuroChef USA. eurochefusa.com; ilveappliances.com
The freestanding SieMatic 29 sideboard pays tribute to the traditional kitchen staple as part of the company’s urban-themed kitchen design. Pictured here beneath the staircase with curved side panels and black-matte metal legs, the unit comes in a host of colors and materials. Available at Konst SieMatic in Bethesda. siematic.com
Franke Kitchen Systems’ recent addition, the Planar 8 Flex Semi-Professional Kitchen Faucet is sleek and functional, with a dual-jet lock-in-place spray head that rotates up to 360 degrees and a stainless-steel hose. Made of brass with a polished-chrome or satin-nickel finish. frankeusa.com
Hudson Valley Lighting’s Belmont Collection evokes the vintage street lamps of the early 20th century—however, clean lines make it perfect for today’s kitchens. The pendant and flush mount fixtures are available in finishes including Polished Nickel through area Annapolis Lighting locations. annapolislighting.com
Carrara marble gives the latest Artisan Stone Tile line from Stone Impressions its allure. A variety of geometric patterns creates modern backsplash designs with a sense of movement; pictured here, the Ellipse pattern in Chrome Grey. stoneimpressions.com
A year ago, cabinetmaker Ted Ferris of Ferris, LLC, approached Washington, DC, architect Patrick Brian Jones with the idea of creating affordable, customized cabinetry made locally. This fall, they launched Fleetwood Smart Cabinetry, offering cabinets made of wood composites and veneers in 12 colors and finishes. On view by appointment in Jones’s studio off Naylor Court in DC’s Shaw neighborhood. fleetwoodsmartcabinetry.com
Watermark Designs’ industrial-style Elan Vital Collection of bath fixtures has moved to the kitchen with the Monoblock Kitchen Faucet, which comes with a matching pot filler. The customizable faucets feature a telescopic spout, deck-mounted lever, optional wire basket and side spray; the fixtures come in four heights and 40 finishes. watermark-designs.com
NATURAL BEAUTY In Waterside Modern, design writer Dominic Bradbury works alongside photographer Richard Powers to explore lavish coastal homes that incorporate elements of their environment into their design. With the help of stunning visuals, Bradbury takes readers on a tour of 25 architect-designed, single-family abodes all over the world—set against breathtaking views of lakes, rivers, and oceans. Thames & Hudson, New York, New York; October 2015. $35.
WATER'S EDGE Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses highlights spectacular beachside residences worldwide, ranging from restful retreats to stylish modern structures. Hand-picked by editor Sarah Noal of Images Publishing, these innovative projects underscore the drama of their coastal surroundings. Eye-catching color photography brings it all to life. Images Publishing Group, Australia;
August 2015. $60.
GROWING GREEN Author Barbara W. Ellis has written a book on eco-friendly landscape design in the Chesapeake Bay watershed area entitled Chesapeake Gardening and Landscaping: The Essential Green Guide. With the help of 300 color photographs, Ellis outlines tools and steps necessary to plan, design and landscape earth-friendly outdoor spaces in the Mid-Atlantic region. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; March 2015. $40.
