Only The Canyon Will Tell

He was skeptical of the plan at first, but his family has lived in this canyon for hundreds of years so I knew that he was the right person for this job.  Ahiga is his name, Navajo for “He fights,” another good reason to have him by my side on this expedition.  A quiet man with an intense nature, he didn’t offer much conversation, but that’s not why I hired him.

The descent into the canyon was rocky.  It’s not for the faint of heart—riding on the back of a mule down a trail barely wide enough for the mule itself—but I was assured that this was the safest way.  We circled for hours around this canyon wall, and that canyon wall, each one looking exactly like the last.  By the time we reached the canyon floor, the temperature had dropped significantly and the mysteries of this stoic valley began to reveal themselves.  Modernist abstract paintings emerged from the colorful sedimentary stripes of the canyon walls.  An audience of saguaros stood at the rim silhouetted against an orange sun watching our every move.  The wind howled like a pack of coyotes.

We kept our pace for several more hours until I begged Ahida to stop so I could refill my canteen from a trickle of water weeping from the rock walls.  Looking to the sky I found the saguaros that had been guarding the rim of the canyon all day had begun to retreat into the crimson and violet sky.  Night was falling fast and I couldn't wait to crawl into bed.  "Just over that ridge and we'll be there," Ahida announced.  His echoed words disappeared into the canyon—a secret waiting to be discovered.  

1.  Sunrise over Fountain Hills, Arizona

2.  The Painted Desert, Arizona

1.  Coronado House near Tuscon, Arizona.  Architecture by Voorsanger

1.  Ralph Lauren

2.  Almidi Hurricane, Casamidy

1.  Atelier AM

2.  Papago Figural Basket, c. 1910, Four Wind Gallery

1.  Ralph Lauren

2.  Robinwood Chaise, Sutherland by Starck

1.  Kara Mann

1.  The Blanket Weaver-Navaho, 1904, by Edward Curtis

2.  Shipibo Beer Pot, Douglas Dawson Gallery

1.  Amangiri Resort, Canyon Point, Utah

2.  Aspen Firewood Bucket, Tuell + Reynolds

1.  Petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument, Utah

2.  Sunset over Tuscon, Arizona


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The Call of the Wild

05 February 2010

Near Telluride, CO

This necktie has been irritating me all day.  It's the first thing to come off the moment I’m thru the front door.  I slip on a pair of old Redwing boots and grab the duffel bag that’s been sitting by the door.  Gus is already waiting with his leash in his mouth.  He loves these trips.  No fences, no people, no rules.  I load our things into the old Woody, and we're off.  Twenty minutes outside of Telluride, and the radio turns to static.  The only thing keeping us connected to civilization are the tire tracks in my rearview mirror.  The passenger window is cracked, allowing the smell of pine and snow to envelop the truck.  Each mile up the mountain, Gus becomes increasingly anxious.  He knows how long this trip takes, and recognizes that we should be there by now.  We come to a stop at the cabin, I open my car door, and Gus is over my lap and into the snow in a flash.  I don’t see him again for hours.  I never know where he goes, and he never offers an explanation.  A bark at the door, and this wild animal is ready to come inside to warm himself by the roaring fire.      

1.  Swiss Alps Ski Chalet, by Axel Vervoordt

2.  Photo by Paul Costello

3.  1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Woody

1.  Our Chocolate Lab, Gus

2.  Ice Fishing, Photo by Paul Costello

3.  Vintage Snowshoes

1.  Caribou Mount

2.  Swiss Alps Ski Chalet, by Axel Vervoordt

1.  McAlpine Booth & Ferrier

2.  Swiss Alps Ski Chalet, by Axel Vervoordt

3.  Iron Industrial Cauldron  

1.  Ralph Lauren's RRL Ranch

2.  Pair of Vintage Scottish Plaid Blanket Pillows

1.  Early 20th Century Glenwood Wood/Coal Burning Stove

2.  Amelia T. Handegan, Inc.

3.  19th Century French Copper Cookware

1.  Swiss Alps Ski Chalet, by Axel Vervoordt

2.  Wild Boar's Head Tureen by Jean Paul Gourdon

1.  Amelia T. Handegan, Inc.

2.  Loro Piana Quilted Cashmere Moccasin Slipper

1. & 2.  Amelia T. Handegan, Inc.

3.  19th Century Khotan Carpet with Pomegranate Motif


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Ski Lodge Mod

While most of the country is enjoying an unusually warm winter, we at Bubble & Squeak are yearning for the dreadful blizzard-like conditions that keep us draped in fur and curled up next to a roaring fire waiting for the spring thaw.  After all, just before winter’s solstice, we spent the weekend chopping and stacking our fire wood in preparation for that old man’s frigid grip (Yes, we own an axe!  And yes, we chopped our own wood!).  So, while we’ve been praying for the snow to fly, our good friend Patrick J. Hamilton has answered our plea by sharing with us his über mod cabin deep within the alpines.  In true Bubble & Squeak fashion, Patrick has also written an amazing story to accompany his vision.  So grab a glass of whisky, take a seat on your bear skin rug, and let Patrick's dream warm your soul.  

1.  Partick J. Hamilton

2.  An Austrian Alpine Cabin

1957. Or 1978. Or 2011.

Somewhere in the woods

Outside, snow. Smooth, even, pale blue where it hides from the full moon, the pines and birches painting stripes and bars across the powder. Only a pair of ski trails cuts through the shadows. Inside, the slow crackle of fire whispers a deep response to the laughing clink of ice in low glasses of amber. Around us, wood grain and slow curves. The firelight dances across the room, jumping through the quiet darkness from stainless steel to satiny varnish across slabs of wood to his eyes. He runs his hand through the deep fur below us. “Skål,” he says, toasting nothing. And everything. Our glasses touch.

In the night air, a scatter of embers rises with the fire’s smoke, crisscrossing with shooting stars and the first flakes of a storm that will tuck us in tonight and cover the trails that lead here. Tonight, tomorrow, just us. There will be time to break into headquarters later in the week, between storms and blizzards, when the snow will once again erase all our secrets.

1.  Blue Monday, Antarctica, 2007, by David Burdeny

2.  A Glass and Steel Cabin in Winter Park, Colorado

3.  Ultima Thule Bowl Designed in 1968 by Tapio Wirkkala for iittala

 1.  Contemporary Cabin in Aspen by Atelier AM

2.  Volcano Coffee Table, Chista

1.  Marble Candleholders, Design Within Reach

2.  Line Wine Bar, Design Within Reach

3.  YAMAZAKI Whisky, 18 Year Aged Single Malt Whisky

1.  Nicky Dobree

2.  Neal Coffee Table with White Marble Top

1.  Le Lodge Park Hotel, Megève, France

2.  Egg Chair designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, Design Within Reach

1.  Intarsia Shawl Sweater, RLX by Ralph Lauren

2.  Vintage Skis

1.  Aeris Stainless Steel Fireplace

2.  Nicky Dobree

3.  Birch Logs

1.  Long Horn Lamp, Shades of Light

2.  Nicky Dobree

3.  Mongolian Lamb Pillow Covers, West Elm

In between chopping wood and cups of hot cocoa, we hope that you find time to check out and subscribe to Patrick's blog, Ask Patrick.  Patrick is also a frequent style contributor on Apartment Therapy where his skillfully curated house tours are becoming something of a phenomenon.  In addition to being an interiors blogger, writer, and interviewer, Patrick is an accomplished designer in his own right. He is the winner of the ApartmentTherapy.com first annual "Smallest Coolest Apartment Contest," and winner of the Bloomingdale's "Big Window Challenge". Patrick's interiors have also appeared everywhere from the cover of Florida Home & Garden to the pages of Ladies Home Journal.    

  
Patrick, a very special thank you from Jim and Erik!  When we finally wake from our whisky slumber, we hope the snows have not melted, so that we may spend more time in your winter dream.  Thank you for the memories!

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May The Best Man Lose, Part One

14 October 1910  

Warwickshire, England

The guests began arriving in horseless carriages on Thursday morning with all of their baggage in tow.  By late Friday evening, the footmen had already started complaining of blisters on their feet, and the ladies’ maids had run out of rumors to repeat.  We all knew that this was going to be a long weekend.  Lord Stopford had invited all of his guests for one reason and one reason only; not to announce his son’s marriage to the King’s daughter, but to assert his newly acquired social status.  There would be shooting parties for the gentleman, lavish dinner parties in the evenings, an unprecedented wine tasting of the most desirable Lafite Rothschild vintages, and, as always, gossip, gossip, gossip.  

I’ve heard all of the guests’ stories before.  Lord Curtis and his steel factory meltdown, Lord Hodges and his many mistresses (female AND male), and Lady Coryton, whose maid should be knighted for the magic she performs on her ladyship’s hair and makeup each morning.  One guest, however, I was not familiar with.  He was not a fantastic individual by any means, rather, peculiar.  Perfectly dressed, despite the fact that he traveled alone; not even a boot boy to polish his shoes!  During the wine tasting, he refused the 1818 Lafite, by far the best vintage our Lordship could get his hands on.  Instead, asking for another taste of the 1876, claiming the bottle’s colored glass was “more appealing” than the other.  And when all of the gentlemen retired to the billiard room after dinner, he seemed to pay more attention to the table’s emerald green felt lining rather than sinking the balls into the pockets.  Sir Leonard Charles Clifton.  Even his name is odd, of no noble origin I can recall.

After dinner, the drinks were flowing and the guests were sparkling with conversation.  Lord Stopford asked for his company to be gathered into the drawing room for the big announcement.  Standing near Lady Stopford with a tray of 11 glasses full of champagne I noticed that there were only 10 guests in the room.  Sir Clifton was nowhere to be seen.  His oddities were beginning to wear on my patience.  Instantly a scream from upstairs, with enough intensity to shake the champagne coupes on my tray, silenced the room.  By the time I reached the source of the outburst Lady Coryton’s maid was lying lifeless on the floor.  Down the hall, Clifton's door quietly closes. 

1.  Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire, UK

2.  1910 Mercedes Phaeton

3.  Anchor Division

1.  Tru Trussardi

2.  Manor house entrance

3.  Chatsworth House, North Entrance Hall

1. & 2.  Gela Nash-Taylor and John Taylor's Estate, Wiltshire, UK

3.  18th Century Gilt Bronze Center Table Foot Detail

1.  19th Century Black Forest Hunt Trophy

2.  Bookster Tweed Carron with Cap

1.  Michael Bastian

2.  Hendrick's Gin

3.  19th Century American Empire Fire Surround with Over Mantle

1.  Axel Vervoordt

2.  "Classic Decorative Details" by Henrietta Spencer Churchill

3.  Pair of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Vases

1. & 2.  Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, UK

3.  Château Lafite Rothschild

1.  Fox Umbrellas Nickel Walking Sticks

2.  Ralph Lauren

3.  Jacques Garcia

1.  Cariness House, Scotland, UK

2.  Jacques Garcia

3.  Cydwoq's Men's Vintage Classic Shoe

To be continued...


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All Rise...Style Court is Now in Session

So...we're extremely excited...for a multitude of reasons.  One, the Royal wedding seemed to go off without a hitch (only time will tell).  Two, we had to remove our sweaters this afternoon while walking around downtown, which means that Summer is officially around the corner.  And Three, we've been invited to another fellow bloggers cabin!  This time, our friend Courtney Barnes of Style Court has graciously let us in on her dream cabin.  The invitation is such a treat as we've been avid followers of Courtney's blog for years.  We love how she mixes what's hot in design with her scholarly interests in museum collections...it's always a great read.  We were surprised, however, to learn that Courtney and Bubble & Squeak share many of the same interests, including an affinity for Africa and textile design!  We hope you'll find it as charming as we did.  And now, without further ado...here's Courtney........

Hi Bubble & Squeak readers.  My idea of the ultimate cabin hideaway?  Well, to be honest I have several different fantasies. After recently seeing a certain British couple depart their lunchtime wedding reception in a super-chic Aston Martin, I can’t stop thinking about convertibles and a getaway within driving distance. But going back to the days when I pretended Barbie and Ken were on safari in Africa, checked out library books about lions and elephants, and watched PBS documentaries about African wildlife, the continent across the Atlantic has fascinated me.

In terms of style, my first exposure was definitely Eurocentric and romanticized—very British Colonial—but later I began to learn more about indigenous textiles. Visually I’m still drawn to the whole Out of Africa look.  Especially director Sydney Pollack’s 1985 interpretation. So my ideal getaway includes nods to writer Karen Blixen’s digs. I envision a small stone house with white-painted French doors that open up to an expansive green lawn. Inside I see fresh flowers and lots of white slipcovered furniture offset by a mix of European and African fabrics and accessories. I love the vintage beige-dyed wild silk and cotton stripes from the Yoruba people of Nigeria (available through Adire African textiles) as well as Nigerian indigo cloth. I hope you find the overall feeling timeless, relaxed and welcoming.

1.  Photo by Courtney Barnes of Style Court

2.  Woven Zulu basket, 20" tall

3.  Ralph Lauren Safari perfume campaign 1980s, photo by Bruce Weber

Background:  Vintage Nigerian indigo dyed cotton textiles

1.  Karen Blixen's house, photo by Peter Beard from The End of the Game

2.  Penelope Chilvers Spanish leather long tassel boots

3.  Ralph Lauren Safari perfume campaign 1980s, photo by Bruce Weber

1.  Hibiscus Hill on Harbour Island, the Bahamas, design by India Hicks

2.  Windsor Double-Sided Sofa, Windsor Smith Home Collection

1.  Canopy Bed

2.  Antiqued gilt brass candle holder with hurricane, Robert Kime

3.  Egyptian glass vases, Robert Kime

1.  Tree Peony, an interpretation of a 19th century French chintz, Robert Kime

2.  Antiqued giraffe taper holder, Anthropologie

1.  Peter Beard

2.   Ringed ceramic vessel, Baule people, Ivory Coast

3.  Cane Side Table, Windsor Smith Home Collection

A very special "Thank You" to Courtney for sharing her cabin fantasy with us.  We hope you have a minute to pop on over to Style Court for a look around.  Her style is unwavering!  Thank you Courtney!

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The Moment We Wake Up

And before we put on our makeup...we all must pull ourselves out of bed.  Ugghhh....  With all of our technological advances, you'd think we could figure out how to spend just a little more time in bed each morning.  Maybe we should move to France...I hear they've got it figured out.  The truth is, we spend almost half of our lives in bed...so there's no excuse for itchy linens or poly-filled anything.  The bedroom should be an oasis, a getaway, like taking a vacation at home.  And if the bedroom is a vacation, then a bedroom at the cabin is like taking a vacation from your vacation.  A total Win-Win.

Check out some of our favorites below.  And if you don't mind, we're getting back to our vacation.  Enjoy! 

1.  Ateleir AM, via Veranda

2.  Evangeline Sconce by Jan Showers

3.  Veranda

1.  French Art Nouveau table lamp, c. 1904

2.  Thomas O'Brien, Aero Studios

1 & 3.  Windsor Smith

2.  Antique textile pillows by Lynda O'Connor, Textures4Home

1.  James Shearron, via Elle Decor

2.  South African Zebra Skin Rug

3.  French Empire Cheval Mirror, c. 1810

1.  Ryan Korban, via Lonny Magazine

2.  Jielde Lyon Floor Lamp, c. 1950

3.  Ralph Lauren Home

1.  Ron Marvin

2.  Thomas O'Brien Trestle Bench for Hickory Chair

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Slow and Steady Wins the Race

With the warmer months approaching, our calendar has been filling up at a rapid pace.  Before we know it, the long lazy days of winter will be replaced with summer garden parties, barbeques and weekend retreats.  It’s as we’re gearing up for the season that we really begin to appreciate the luxury of operating at a slower pace, which is exactly the lifestyle a cabin should celebrate.  With this leisurely attitude in mind, we turn to Mr. Tortoise from Aesop’s Fables for inspiration.  

1.  Bunny Williams

2.  Grand Tour nesting tables, Century Furniture

3.  Retrosuperfuture

1.  The Tides South Beach, by Kelly Wearstler

2.  Pony hide porter's chair

1.  Victorian Falls Venetian Mirror, Ralph Lauren Home

2.  Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.  Architecture by Peter Block, interior design by Beth Webb.

1 & 2.  Nate Berkus

3.  Steuben Glass Tortoise Collection Ice Bucket

1.  Windsor Smith

2.  GQ Style UK

1.  Banana Republic

2.  Nicky Haslam

3.  French Art Deco tortoise glass perfume bottles, Douglas Rosin

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