The BlockBowl from On Our Table is a versatile tabletop product that features two distinctive surfaces. The flat circular surface can be used as a cutting board or serving board for cheeses and charcuterie, while the other side features a lipped bowl that can be used to serve nuts, olives, and other snacks.

Sarjaton We love this shallow serving bowl from iittala. The Tikki pattern is simple yet intricate and right on trend for the season.

A part of Kaj Franck’s versatile Teema Collection, this large serving bowl is perfect for serving a fresh summer salad at a barbecue or displaying fruit on a countertop. Thebowl is available in a variety of colors and sizes.

The Stackable Fruit Bowl from French company adónde is a modular serveware piece that can be used as both a fruit bowl and a flat serving surface. The interior of the bowl features a lichen-colored, food-safe interior, perfect for displaying fruit. When flipped over, the base of the bowl can be used to display charcuterie, cheeses, and other hors d’oeuvres.

Parson Russell terriers Pepper and Trixie get a glimpse of the large courtyard through a glassy expanse by Marvin Windows and Doors.

In the kitchen, the couple found barely used appliances instead of new ones to save money. The cabinetry and butcher block counters are from Ikea.

The Helios Fire Bowl Set from Skagerak is a portable outdoor fireplace that is ideal for a back patio. It can be used as a fire pit, or with the Helios Steel Grille and some charcoal to create an outdoor grill for hotdogs, vegetables, or shish kebabs.

On Our Table’s BlockBowl is an innovative prep and serveware accessory that any host or hostess will appreciate. Crafted from rich walnut wood, the BlockBowl is a cutting board on one side, and a serving bowl on the other.

Privacy and respect for the natural environment was foremost in the new owners’ mind when conceiving the home’s redesign. The placement of the addition limits direct sightlines to neighbors and offers unbroken views of the surrounding area. The aluminum frame and glass walls create a light, airy atmosphere.

Soggy breakfast cereal is the worst. That’s not hyperbole; soggy cereal is literally the worst. To combat the despair of having to eat your bowl of Cap’n Crunch like a soldier late for drill practice, innovative minds have come up with the Obol. It’s basically two bowls in one. One side hold the milk, while the other holds the dry cereal. Just scoop up some cereal, dip it in the milk, and enjoy every bite as though it were your first.

On an agricultural estate in Portugal, Blaanc Studio designed a simple retreat that does its utmost not to interfere with the scenic backdrop. The home was built with rammed earth, which is known for its thermal properties that help maintain a mild temperature all year long. A large, open fireplace with plenty of wood storage is used to warm the living area in winter. The firewood storage's open shelving is carefully located on the side of the island that doesn't face the living room, making sure that it is only visible in certain locations.

Slate Serving Board ($30)

Serve treats on a tray as rich as dessert itself with the marble-and-walnut Duo serving tray from Bower.

AJ SERVING TRAY There is something undeniably refined about a stainless steel bar set. Whether it’s the subtle shine or the coolness of the metal, Stelton’s Cylinda-Line, designed by Arne Jacobsen, presents the essential elements for a modern bar. The series uses simple cylindrical shapes to provide a minimalist, clean continuity between the pieces. The AJ Serving Tray features two side handles for easy carrying, and is an attractive way to serve cocktails to guests, or to place hors d’oeuvres on a coffee table. As a standalone item, the tray adds elegance to a cocktail party. Grouped with other pieces from the Cylinda-Line? That’s a comprehensive, sophisticated modern bar.

Wolfum The L.A.-based design shop led by Annabel Inganni sets itself apart with a combination of materials and textiles. Its serving tray exemplifies Wolfum’s infatuation with patterns in a simple form created from Baltic Birch plywood.

Chef Alfredo Oropeza wanted the kitchen to be the heart of the house. By saving money on building materials elsewhere in the project, Castillo was able to indulge in cabinetry by Porcelanosa, bar stools by Ligne Roset, and a granite island, making this the crème de la crème of kitchens.

Edith Heath, Oval tile, 1960s.

Last but not least, the western-facing master bedroom captures stunning sunsets from its wall-to-wall windows.

Pros: Also known as composite quartz, engineered quartz comes in a wide range of colors and textures with the general durability of real stone slabs, but with the ease of manufacturing and installation of a man-made product. As a result, engineered quartz isn’t as expensive as other natural stone countertops. Cons: On the other hand, customers can expect to see these qualities reflected in the price of engineered quartz, which can be on the higher end. Quartz also doesn’t handle extreme heat as well as granite does.

From designer Sandy Chilewich, the Mini Basketweave Placemant utilizes two yarns over two, instead of the traditional four over four found in the signature Basketweave. The result is a subtler, quieter texture and pleasingly uniform surface. We love this confetti color, which blends warm red, orange, and yellow with soothing green and blue. Sold as a set of four.

The BlockBowl from On Our Table is a versatile product that features two distinctive surfaces. The flat, circular surface can be used as a cutting board or serving board for cheeses and charcuterie, while the other side features a lipped bowl that can be used to serve nuts, olives, and other snacks.

The owners are car collectors, especially of “vintage American Mustangs,” Simpson says, so a nearly 23-foot-wide garage door opening was created at the rear of the building to access a space made for six prized rides.

The house is also Build it Green Certified, beating the sustainability requirements of Title 24 (guidelines issued by the California Energy Commission Building Energy Efficiency Program) by over 50%. The house’s laundry is hooked up to a grey water irrigation system and its gutters drain rain into barrels for reuse. The concrete also incorporates 25% fly ash.

Large gum trees offer a natural barrier for the house. Harkness designed the house's footprint in order to minimize the effect on tree roots. “The retained trees offer a sense of layering and age that new vegetation won’t be able to for a long time,” Harkness says.

“We custom-made the warm green kitchen floor with Huguet, including a large oval ring made of glass and stone aggregates in the centre, which nods to the oval window found in the building’s main entrance,” says Aretio.

Serving set by Mazama Wares, $210 The midnight-blue speckle of this hand-thrown ceramic bottle and quartet of tumblers is a celestial sight to behold. Also available in ash (black), glass (green), and cloud (gray).

Big Walnut Bowl Handmade in Canada and finished with a natural oil/beeswax mixture, this serving bowl is a handsome addition to any tablescape.

Alessi MU Serving Set A compliment to the MU Flatware Place Setting or beautiful on it's own, this serving set is created by award-winning Japanese architect and designer Toyo Ito, and draws on the tactile sensation of chopsticks. Its sleek, linear lines are softened with an organic quality inspired by plants. The result is an elegant harmony.

Here's the stand unfolded.

Vitamin Container Bowl by Ole Jensen for MuutoA bowl with a philosophy: “With a bit of good will, the bowl helps us take better care of our fruit and vegetables, and ourselves,” says designer Ole Jensen. The three spaces are also meant to impose order on your unruly countertop produce. $114

A closer look at a finished Balloon Bowl.

The Rose Bowl A national historic landmark, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena has played host to America’s first–and most famous–postseason college football game for every year but one since 1923. The stadium features more than 100 different varieties of rose bushes situated on its grounds and 77 rows of seats open to the Southern California sunshine. Photo by: Peter Bennett

The angular yet smooth Offset bowl is Fehlō's premier centerpiece.

Earthenware Pinstripe bowl from the U.K. ($28).

The 'compote' bowl shape.