Wayne Levin Photography

As welcome break from the New York City cold, Wayne Levin's boasts a haunting selection of underwater black-and-white images. A seasoned traveler and long-time resident of Hawaii, Levin's underwater work seems to use the black-and-white medium to its fullest. See Levin's full portfolio here.

Via Jennifer Tran Design

CUT Brooklyn

cut bk from ariadne ax on Vimeo via Gastronomista

I came across this interview with Joel Bukiewicz, founder of CUT Brooklyn and knife-making machine. Joel has developed a reputation for passion and craft within culinary and design circles, and rightfully so. A self-described "steel nerd," Joel exudes a sincerity of craft and quality that is almost alienating to the outsider. There is, indeed, a unique wonder to be found in a finely tuned knife -- an object born to be held and used. With a furniture design background myself, and a particular fascination with tool making, his name is high on my list of dream internships. So if you've got the dough and can handle the year-long waiting list, act now -- because it's only getting longer.

Read the interview at Gastronomista.

High on our wish list: A Goode Green roof

The company behind Rooftop Farms of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Goode Green designs and installs Green roofs in NYC. Something about the image on their home page make us want it even more --Boardwalks! What! Anyway, if you share our obsession, check out Goode Green and Rooftop Farms. Stay updated on Rooftop Farms' events, they periodically offer tours of their operation. Definitely worth the visit.

Let's review: Non-toxic paints

Yesterday, the New York Times published a review of six different low- or no-VOC paints. Criteria included ease of application, ability to conceal permanent ink, resistance to fingerprints, as well as odor. The review goes through the pros and cons of each brand, but I've been loyal to YOLO Colorhouse and AFM Safecoat for sometime. They have a mild to no smell at all and have excellent coverage. Read the full article at The New York Times.

DWELL: A little bit of interior design sass.

Some unusually witty banter from DWELL, courtesy of Dan Maginn of El Dorado Inc. in Kansis City. Read it here to learn about Maginn's fascination with contractors and find some links to other helpful articles on how to find and befriend your builder.

Urban Gardening: Barrio Horseshoe

San Jose, California's Barrio Horseshoe neighborhood, a predominantly low-income Latino area, is the focus of Raul Lozano's efforts to promote urban backyard gardening. Lozano's organization, La Mesa Verde (The Green Table), helps to facilitate organic vegetable gardens in the neighborhood, thematic of a larger national movement toward both self-sufficiency and a healthier diet, both frequently lacking in low-income areas. The project is emblematic of the broad quality of life improvements that can stem from spending time in the garden. See the slideshow at The New York Times.

For all you stair fiends out there...

A few choice stairways that just wont quit, courtesy of Remodelista. What better way to access your firewood cellar?