Crafting a Meaningful Home
Anonymous mass production is losing its mass-market appeal, and there’s a growing movement toward owning things that have origins beyond an assembly line. Handmade crafts have an inherent history, so it’s telling that the 27 projects outlined in Crafting a Meaningful Home are linked by two very strong, very personal themes: family and place.
The Cheap Seats
There are lots of handsome chairs out there, but sitting beauties that cost $250 or less are a rarer breed. Our picks run the gamut from traditional (the wooden, Shaker-inspired Salt or the Thonet-designed Era, the quintessential cafe chair) to the downright futuristic (we’re looking at you, oddly anthropomorphic Dr. Yes). We sat, swayed, shook, stacked; we hefted them into the air; we typed, ate, and made grand conversational hand gestures. Here’s how they stood up in our sitting showdown.
A Cutlery Above
The meal itself may be the main event, but your tender victuals aren't much of an attraction without a means to make their way from plate to mouth. Utensils that sit in your hand just so will turn eating—whether you're partaking of phesant under glass or Frosted Flakes—into an indulgent affair. Put aside the sporks as we test out the tastemakers of timeless cutlery.
Plow Restaurant: Local Dishes, Design
In San Francisco, local food rules. Before seasoned chefs Joel Bleskacek and Maxine Siu opened the doors of their new Potrero Hill restaurant Plow last month, they did more than just source ingredients from nearby farms: They also hired design and construction help all within the 94107 zip code.
Suck It Up
Sweeping up is a crummy job, but someone’s got to do it. Luckily, these eight vacuum cleaners are here to help you eliminate even the biggest of messes.
Viva la Vacuum!
Is kitty leaving too much for you to remember him by? Are your wellies tracking dirt? Whatever the mess, these vacuums will help you suck it up.
Make Your Best Shot
Bitter black brew got you down? Lackluster crema floating in your cup? With the assistance of an espresso expert, Dwell evaluates five home espresso machines that will help you tamp, pull, and froth better beverages.
Smooth Operators
A good blender can turn almost any mischievous mixture into a delicious treat. We put four to the test in search of the best.
Fairest Faucet
Far from fickle, faucets function best when they’re running hot and cold. These modern fixtures prove their mettle by making it oh-so-easy to go with the flow.
Drawer Organizers
Dear Dwell,
My junk drawer is out of control. Can you help me find a way to get it closed?
—Lisa Scofield, Palo Alto, California
