In an industrial estate in Barking, East London, Lola Lely and Yesenia Thibault-Picazo are busy reinventing the medieval craft of chandlery. “We are very proud to bring manufacturing back to an area that once had a strong heritage of producing everyday goods for London,” explains Lola. “Wicker baskets, matches, soap, pencils, paint tins and toys were all made here … It’s a strong heritage that has since vanished from the area. Through our project, we are bringing back this activity to the area.” Above: Wax Atelier’s green tea tapered candles. The project is Wax Atelier. Founded in 2018, the studio…

Ben Block has hand-crafted countless kitchens all over the state of Maine via his company, Block Brothers Custom Cabinets, based in Northport. But the one he sent our way this spring is by far his most personal: his own family kitchen 25 minutes away in Morrill, Maine. The project began when Ben and his then-fiancé, Morgan, were moving out of Ben’s family home, built by his parents. “It was a tough decision to move on from there because of my family history in that home, but we finally decided we wanted to look for a new place in the summer…

Color to Last iStock Once the dog days of summer hit, flower gardens generally start looking tired. Colors wash out, edges brown, blossoms become fewer in number. But Catherine Mix needs glorious, color-filled beds from June to September. As co-owner of The Cutting Garden in Sequim, Washington, with her husband, Tom, she tends several acres of gardens that serve as a lush backdrop for weddings and other outdoor events and provide blooms for the bouquets and flower arrangements she creates. So she's discovered plants and strategies that deliver a brilliant show even in late summer. Here are some of her…

Wall-mounted Feeder Shelf PHOTO: AMAZON This handsome, handcrafted wooden shelf with built-in bowls is a top seller! About $70 at Amazon Deluxe Cat Playplace PHOTO: AMAZON This set is available in a range of colors and you can customize to suit your decor, but this beautiful all-black installation almost looks like art. About $180 at Amazon 3-pack Climbing Shelves PHOTO: AMAZON These Oxford cloth shelves can be installed in just 4 easy steps. About $30.99 for Small shelves (up to 11 lbs.) and about $40.99 for Large shelves (up to 22 lbs.), both at Amazon Wall-mounted Cat Shelves PHOTO: AMAZON…

Wood Cat Swing These birch plywood swings are perfect for small pets, measuring at a height of 21.6 inches, a length of 22 inches, and width of 20.9 inches. Handcrafted with care, this pet accessory won't be an eyesore in your living area. About $360; Amazon Handmade LURVIG Cat House PHOTO: IKEA This modern cat house can stand on legs or you can mount the box on a wall. Features a scratching surface on the door and pet cushion inside. Rubber-coated feet ensure little-to-no floor damage or movement of the structure as your pet uses it. BONUS! This can be…

Cambria (the only family-owned, American-made producer of natural stone surfaces) has a cool way to give the gift of fine surfacing without having to remodel. Now you can gift gorgeous cheeseboards and Lazy Susans in a range of colors. Cambria surfaces are made of pure, natural quartz and feature unparalleled strength and durability—nonporous, scratch and stain resistant, maintenance free. (That is, they don't require sealing or polishing.) These Lazy Susans made of Cambria Quartz are perfect for everything from presenting appetizers to creating centerpieces. This item is available in a limited number of Cambria designs: Rose Bay (shown), Ironsbridge, and…