The Artful Home: Diem Chau

I'm absolutely fascinated by these embroidered china pieces by Seattle artist Diem Chau, who came to the United States as a refugee from Vietnam when she was a child.

In the artist's own words, her work "combines common mediums and common means to create delicate vignettes of fleeting memory, gesture and form ... exploring the periphery of narrative, moments forgotten and faded, or too brief to retain."

I simply love the interplay of materials -- the hard, glossy porcelain juxtaposed against the soft, delicate, hand-rendered stitchery. In a word: Breathtaking.

Take a look:

See more of Chau's work right here.

Cool Stuff: Kerf Design

I don't tend to like modern kitchens -- I prefer classic kitchens with vintage O'Keefe & Merritt stoves and lots of white subway tile. But when I saw the image above, my jaw literally dropped. Now that is a contemporary kitchen even I could love.

The gorgeous cabinetry was created by Kerf Design. This Seattle woodworking shop makes custom furniture and cabinetry constructed from walnut- or maple-veneered plywood and colorful laminate panels. The results are fresh and fun, and would be equally at home in a sleek, modern space, a midcentury home, or a youthful, eclectic abode.

Kerf's creations aren't cheap, mind you -- cabinetry typically runs $500 to $700 per linear foot -- but totally custom, made-to-order pieces rarely are. Each can be modified with your choice of materials, colors, size, and configuration, and shipped anywhere in the U.S.

Some of my favorite Kerf-designed furnishings:

LC Console, $2,100

OK Dressers, $3,600

Thin Console, $1,650

Writing Table, $2,100

Mack's Desk, $3,200

Cube Vanities, $475

And here's a look at some of the custom cabinetry Kerf has created for various residential projects:

Kerf cabinets are built to your specifications and shipped out ready to install. In addition, the shop will soon offer custom-designed, do-it-yourself cabinetry kits that can be shipped and assembled on site.

To find out more, visit the Kerf Design site right here.