Sea Ranch by Turnbill Griffin Haesloop

Hedging the Pacific ocean, this residence by San Francisco's Turnbill Griffin Haesloop Architects attempts to merge the client's desire for a Japanese sense of simplicity with an American barn vernacular. See more at Turnbill Griffin Haesloop.

Beach Hut by Studiorama

Dug up on Remodelista, this no frills UK beach house built for and by the Danish-turned-English Nina Tolstrup of Studiorama. She managed to cram a lot of function into a little space -- to be honest, when I look at the outside shots, I can't really figure how all the interior shots were taken inside. Amidst my new fascination with cottages, shacks, and shanties, this is close to the top of the list.

Bridging a Gap in Guernsey

Via the NYTimes: An adapted 15th century barn off the coast of France. There is definitely a part of me that loves the idea of modern addition to a historic home. There is an honesty to it that I think is lacking in conventional home restoration. The use of glass, in particular, stands out as a surprisingly neutral feature -- a very contemporary use of a very fundamental material. See more here.

Induction Cooktops in Review

GE Profile PHP900DMBB

Electrolux Icon E30IC75FSS

Kenmore Elite 42800

Viking Professional VICU2666B

Fagor PORTIND 12" Portable Induction

After coming across The Kitchn's post on IKEA's new $999 induction cooktop, we were inspired to take another look at induction. For those of you not familiar with induction cooking, essentially; heat is generated through electro magnets in the cooktop directly to the pot or pan -- so the surface itself stays cool. One subsequent drawback is that all your cookware must be magnetic (IE most stainless steel and cast iron, not aluminum or glass).

The advantages to induction include exceptionally short cook times and the added safety of a cool-to-the-touch surface.

Consumer Search released their reviews of several cooktops, though the differences between the high and low cost models seem to revolve more around size and brand, rather than performance. See Consumer Search for more info on their findings.

Bowery Bicycles

NYC bike manufacturer Bowery Bicycles offers two models of classic cruisers, built for durable city riding: The Broncks, with a high top-tube, and the Breukelen, with a low top-tube. They are available in single or three-speed, in black, cream, and raw. Find out more at Bowery Bicycles.

Travel Kitchen by CPH Square

Perhaps the most thoughtful and refined micro-kitchen I have seen. CPH Square via NOTCOT

More Bedrooms

Maybe I'm just tired. Via FFFFOUND.

Scandinavian Cottage by Maria Masgard

I finally found this project in its entirety after citing a fragment in my previous "Beach Retreat Inspiration" post. Spotted on My Scandinavian Retreat, the home, located in Dalnarna, Sweden, was designed for the architects father. But, more importantly, it strikes me as absolutely perfect. I want it.

Dollahite House by Rural Theory

Found on The Brick House, this Austin home by Rural Theory (built by and for company co-founder Blake Dollahite), speaks very clearly of Austin style. It 's difficult to point to exactly what is so "Austin" about it -- The limestone gravel? The Rusty fence? The corrugated roof? -- but it definitely exudes a central Texan feel. Get more info @ Rural Theory or see more images at DWELL.