Living Traditions

The location:  Manhattan.  The date:  late 1970's.  A nervous young man sits before the portfolio review board at the Fashion Institute of Technology.  Hands are gesturing wildly; lots of huffing and puffing.  The young man thinks to himself,  “Maybe I should have taken that flight attendant job I just applied for after all.” 

We’re so glad he didn’t.  That young man grew into the almost too-talented designer, Matthew Patrick Smyth.  Mr. Smyth’s new book, “Living Traditions: Interiors by Matthew Patrick Smyth” is full of mouth-watering reasons why we’re thankful he chose a career more suited to his artistic desires.  At Bubble & Squeak, we celebrate life through fine living and Mr. Smyth embodies our ethos wholeheartedly.  Antiques, gilt bronze, rock crystal, flame mahogany, tufted velvet...Don't even get us started!  Having studied at FIT, and later mentored by the legendary designer David Easton for several years, Smyth developed his own unique visual vocabulary rooted in classical design principles with a contemporary elegance.  Never skimping on quality, Smyth chooses materials that are lasting and furniture that is classic...another Bubble & Squeak mantra.  Aside from the book's sumptuous photos, Smyth also shares his “rules” for design…which, as far as we’re concerned, should be engraved into stone tablets and hung in every design office in the world.  Following are some of our favorite Smyth rules for design, and just a sample of the mouth-watering photos from the book.  Thank you for the visual feast Mr. Smyth!  

*If a room’s background—the paint job or the woodwork—is not perfect, everything will look second-rate.

*Consider the view:  if it’s good, open it up; if it’s bad, cover it up.

*Horizontal lines are restful.  Vertical lines support structure.

*Never invest in a trend.  If the must-have look is not banished when its fifteen minutes of fame are up, the home and everyone in it will look sadly out of date.

*It’s important to choose pieces that are as well-made as possible whether they are fine art or folk art. 

*Too little is always, always, always better than too much.

<---Click Matthew's book to purchase your copy of "Living Traditions:  Interiors by Matthew Patrick Smyth".

Subscribe to Bubble & Squeak here 

Handsome Imperfections

April's showers bring on the flowers, but they also bring on some pretty dreary days in the meantime.  The cabin, like no other place on Earth, embraces the thunderstorms and overcast tantrums that Mother Nature throws our way.  Similarly, there is no other place where weathered wall treatments, time-worn carpets and subdued color palettes are more at home than at the cabin.  Antique furniture and well-tread stone floors are free to fraternize with chipping paint and handsome imperfections without fear of judgment.  This is, after all, supposed to be a more restful environment where we've given ourselves permission to unwind and relax.  If Lady Nature is having a bad day, come inside and wait until she cools off.

1.  Romantic Irish Homes

2.  Charles Francis Annesley Vosey designed Tulip Rug, c. 1920, Doris Leslie Blau

3.  Matthew Patrick Smyth

1.  Darryl Carter

2.  Por Vocacao Annapurna elbow detail knits 

3.  Irish mahogany serving table, c. 1830

1.  Romantic Irish Homes

2.  Brass eight arm chandelier, Ireland, c. 1880

3.  Arcobaleno

1 & 3.  Romantic Irish Homes

2.  Oak and cut crystal tantalus, England, 19th century

1 & 3.  Romantic Irish Homes

2.  Mark McNairy saddle derby shoe

1.  Peter Marino Architects

2.  The House Hotel, Istanbul

1.  Hawksmoor House, South Africa

2.  Matthew Patrick Smyth

3.  Swedish patinated bronze vessel, c. 1930


Subscribe to Bubble & Squeak here