There was nothing quite so angsty in my kitchen renovation as the countertops. Maybe it's because I was coming from a rental kitchen with truly awful laminate countertops, countertops that were not only dirty cream in color but textured with deep wrinkles, like rhinoceros skin, never clean and never smooth; but I was convinced that the countertop choice would make the kitchen. Countertops are the difference between easy cleaning and dread. Countertop material changes the light in a kitchen, and is the surface under your hands and food. For me, kitchen renovation meant finally having countertops that were beautiful, bright white, and easy to clean. And not too expensive, my husband added. 

Marble was the natural choice. Right? Right! Here's the story of how we overcame our fears, and found our honed marble countertops. 

A few years ago I was looking for a simple, classic tablecloth I could use for both everyday meals and informal dinner parties with friends. I found it in the grey and white stripe tablecloth from Fog Linen Work. The tablecloth is kind of rustic, but lovely in its simplicity. And it washes beautifully.

Dinner parties can be messy affairs: a wine glass topples over; a small plate of appetizers gets knocked off the coffee table; an enthusiastic guest bumps into the beverage cart. That's what happens sometimes when you gather a group of people together to enjoy some good food and wine. To minimize the stress (and your guest's embarrassment — because, let's face it, we've all been there) here's a handy tip: prep a cleaning kit beforehand to have at the ready for quick cleanups!

This schoolhouse-inspired dining room is so fun, with its floor-to-ceiling world map, vintage chairs, and purple (!) dining table. If this inspires you to paint your own dining table (or other piece of furniture) consider this tip from Jenny Brandt, the table's owner...

I've had appliances on my mind, as you know, having recently bought an entire set appliances for my kitchen. Yesterday I shared some of my chat with Thomas Johansson, the Design Director of Electrolux, who talked about how he thinks that the refrigerator is the appliance that needs the most rethinking. Well, take a look at this idea from one of the 2012 Design Lab finalists: is this the fridge of the future? 

A good serving tray is an essential piece for any host/hostess. Besides saving you the trouble of making multiple trips to and from the kitchen, serving trays are also a nice decor element when set up on a sideboard or coffee table to corral appetizers, drinks, or dishes. Here are five handled versions we really like:

Q: I just bought a cast-iron skillet, and I love it, of course! I'm dying to make shakshuka in it this weekend. However, I've read online that cooking with tomatoes can harm the seasoning on less-seasoned skillets. Will it really strip my seasoning or give my shakshuka a metallic taste? Is there anything I can do to get around that?

Shopping for kitchen appliances, as I shared last week, is an overwhelming and challenging process, full of moments that made me question the very shape and form of the appliances I was buying. Have you ever looked at your refrigerator or stove and wondered, Why does it have to be shaped like this? Why can't it be smaller? Bigger? Better-looking? As technology advances, how much of our basic appliances' forms will stay the same, and what needs to change? 

I chatted with Thomas Johansson, the Design Director at Electrolux and a judge at last fall's Electrolux Design Lab competition, and asked him what he saw in the future of our appliances. Read on for his thoughts, especially on the one appliance in the kitchen that really needs a makeover! 

Item: Espro Press
Price: $79.95 from Amazon
Overall Impression: An elegant way to make an excellent cup of coffee.

An Aeropress has long been the preferred coffee maker in our household, but it's not the best choice for brewing multiple servings. Many a dinner party has ended with one of us stuck in the kitchen, pressing cup after cup for each guest. So we like the idea of having a large Espro press, which is sort of a new-and-improved French press. Not only does it make an excellent cup (or cups!) of coffee, but it looks quite elegant on the table. 

I love entertaining, whether it's a small group on the porch, a crowd for Frogmore stew in the kitchen, or an all out bash with 150 of our closest friends. (That last one only happens once a year.) All of our parties have one thing in common: my favorite blue pottery chip-and-dip dish. Nothing says "party" at our place like pulling that dish out of the cabinet. Along with most of my fellow southerners, I believe every gathering needs food for dipping! That dish has seen a lot of action.