Vermont is Going to the Dogs

This week the Travel Channel is in Vermont filming a piece on the best dog friendly destinations. They have chosen Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury, VT, owned by the late artist Stephen Huneck and his wife Gwendolyn. It truly is a haven for dogs who can romp off-leash to their hearts content through 150 acres of mountain trails, ponds and wildflower meadows.  


For those of you who might not be familiar with Stephen Huneck, he was a legendary dog lover and acclaimed folk artist. I love folk art in all of its forms; paintings, carvings, furniture, etc., but none more so than the whimsical work of Stephen Huneck. His beloved black lab, Sally, inspired a series of children's books and artwork that found an international audience well beyond his home in Vermont.  


Stephen and Gwen purchased the property in 1995 and converted an old barn into an artist's studio. After an accident and a serious illness that left him in a coma for months, Stephen was inspired to build a chapel for dogs on their mountain. Modeled after an early 1800's New England style church with a winged labrador topping the steeple, he called it, "the largest artwork of my life, and my most personal."

                      

Stained glass window inside the chapel

On Memorial Day 2000 Dog Chapel was complete and open to the public; "welcoming all breeds, creeds-no dogma allowed."
Sadly, Stephen died in January of 2010, but his widow, Gwen, continues with his legacy, determined to keep Dog Mountain open for the enjoyment of all dogs and their owners. "At the Stephen Huneck Gallery dogs are welcome and there is always a good supply of treats on hand, a small gesture to thank dogs for all they give."

Contact Info
The Stephen Huneck Gallery
Dog Mountain
143 Parks Road
Saint Johnsbury, VT  05819
www.dogmt.com


                            

                          All images courtesy of the Stephen Huneck Gallery                                               

Q & A with William Parker

My friend William Parker and I share a passion for design. Inevitably our talks have been cut short, interrupted by our fellow coffee shop group whose eyes begin to glaze over if the subject of design threatens to override more pressing topics. I've been thinking  about featuring different designers from time to time and getting their perspectives; so William, as an architect and interior designer was a perfect choice.


After graduating from UT with a degree in architecture, he headed for the Big Apple and was hired on the spot to work for an architectural firm. Working in New York and Paris gave him a broad exposure and shaped his design sensibilities. After twenty years he returned to Austin and opened his own business, William Parker Interiors.

All photos courtesy of William Parker

VF:  Which person/designer has most influenced your design philosophy?

WP:  Early in my career I was fortunate to work in New York for a well known architect, Robert Stern. In addition to his exceptional design talent, Stern was a very fine architectural historian and generous with sharing his knowledge and ideas. Another person who comes to mind is John Saladino. I have been a  fan of his for a number of years. Saladino's interior design work is grounded in history and architectural principles. The work of both of these men is based in classical design; which they apply to other styles whether modern, post modern or traditional.

VF:  How do you feel about the current trend for modern?

WP:  I was trained in modern architecture at the University of Texas. We "cut our teeth" on Mies, Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright. It is interesting to see a new generation discovering modernism again. The trick with modernism is that it must be done very well or it can look cheap. Good modern design implementation is more expensive to execute than traditional. I urge clients to look at classic furniture designed by Breuer, Eames, van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. Personally I like to see modern interiors with a few antique and traditional accents incorporated.

VF:  In your view, what makes a room memorable?

WP:  What makes a room memorable for me can be one of several things; monumental size, exceptional color palette, or I think a space can be memorable when all of the parts are balanced perfectly and no one element is striking.

VF:  I agree with you about the importance of balance in achieving a harmonious feeling.  Too often we are tempted to add something that may be wonderful on its own, but does nothing to enhance the space as a whole. I think it's about practicing restraint.

VF:  What public spaces do you find inspiring?

WP:  As an interior designer I am most inspired by grand scale in public places. There are a few on the UT campus that fill the bill, such as the library in Battle Hall.  The Capitol Rotunda is another that comes to mind. Beyond our boundaries, the front salon of the old Paris Opera House, the Sistine Chapel and Grand Central Station. As for exterior spaces, I really like parks and squares that are well defined, like Gramercy Park in New York City, or my favorite in the world, Place des Vosges in Paris.

                                     Place des Vosges-Paris

VF:  Do you have favorite color palette?

WP:  My leaning is toward a neutral palette with color accents. For the most part that comes from nature. I like to look outside an interior space, noting the colors and bringing them into the interior in the same ratio. An example would be the soft hues of the sky with various muted greens, grays and other background shades, using accent colors as if they were flowers. I like shades that dance between two colors. My favorite is robin's egg blue, which is in between blue and green, and not completely from one family or another.

VF:  What are your "go to" classics that elevate a space?

WP:  Color is well-established as the way to change a space. Also I think window treatments are an element that can provide "more bang for the buck." Whether glamorous or subtle, they make a significant statement. Beautiful art, of course, can take a simple room to a whole new level.

VF:  What are some of the decorating mistakes most people make?

WP:  If I had to choose one mistake that I most often notice, it would be the incorrect use of scale. It usually manifests itself in the use of overly large furniture in small spaces. This applies to the scale of fabric pattern, as well as the architectural details of a room; such as moldings, woodworking and window sizes.


VF:  William, thanks for sharing your thoughts and insight. I hope you will feel free to comment on future blogs-you're welcome any time.


Contact Info
William Parker
(512) 495.9818
 william@parkerinteriors.com

Pillow Talk

OK, I admit it. I'm crazy about pillows; sofa pillows, bolsters, shams, floor pillows-well, you get the picture. There is nothing that can freshen up a room faster than new pillows. They can add a layer of pattern, repeat a color scheme, punch up tired-looking furniture or update a look. All of this for a relatively small out of pocket expenditure. That's not to say that I haven't splurged a time or two on something a bit more extravagant, but only when I simply could not resist. Of course it starts innocently enough with pillows then quickly spirals into sheets, curtains, upholstery, and before I know it there is no turning back.

I have always subscribed to the "less is more" philosophy, but in the case of these fabrics it's hard to rein in the desire to add just one more pattern.

One of my favorite fabric designers, John Robshaw, makes the most incredible pillows and textiles. Heavily influenced by the exotic designs of India and Asia, he honors the traditional hand block printing methods that have been used for centuries. Inserting his own artistic interpretations, he mixes pattern and color in a way that feels fresh and never stodgy. These are not your grandmother's pillows.

All photos by permission of John Robshaw Textiles

A barefoot John in the countryside

In the world of interior design, John Robshaw is a rock star. He has studied traditional block printing in China, made batiks in Indonesia and dyed ikats in Thailand. His love for simple, organic printing shows in his fabrics. He is a master at blending techniques and cultures with an artist's eye, while still paying homage to the ancient methods of the indigenous people.

John spends several months each year in India working and experimenting with new techniques. "By producing my textiles abroad, I get to become a minor character in the lives of the people I work with, and I can take inspiration from what I see and do there. I go to their weddings, celebrate their festivals, I get sick with them, I develop relationships with the people who are teaching me. When you look at my textiles, it's like you've been on the world tour along with me."

Source Info

John Robshaw Textiles can be purchased at Wildflower Organics in Austin                

908 North Lamar   

www.wildflowerorganics.com

(512)320.0449                                                                                         

Keeping Your Cool

Summer is upon us, and when the temperatures linger in the 90's, I lose my appetite for heavy foods. Who wants to slave away in a hot kitchen, wilting as you greet your guests at the door. One of my favorite cool company dishes is a stacked salad that I adapted from a Neiman Marcus recipe, and it's always a big hit. It meets my three main requirements: you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time, it's delicious, and you can add or substitute according to your tastes.

I've made this salad with Maine lobster, shrimp, and on occasion chicken, but I think using some good ol' Gulf shrimp is the way to go. My mouth is starting to water just thinking about it.

Photo Credit:  Ellen Silverman

The secret to stacking the salad is using a tin can as a mold. Be sure to remove the top and bottom of the can. Place the can on the serving plate and add the layers one at a time, pressing down slightly. Ladling the dressing in between each layer serves as the glue to hold the salad together. After adding all the layers carefully remove the can. I spray the can with Pam to be certain nothing sticks. Sprinkle salad greens around the base and lightly drizzle more dressing if you choose. 

Ingredients for 4 salads
16 medium size shrimp, deveined and cooked
4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
2 avocados, chopped
8 slices of thick bacon, crisp and crumbled
4 tomatoes, seeded and diced
2 cups of lettuce greens


Dressing
2 very small onions or 4 shallots, minced
1/2 cup tarragon vinegar (apple cider vinegar works as well)
4 tsp lemon juice
4 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tsp sugar
3-4 tbs. dried tarragon
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups vegetable oil
Place onion, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, s & p and sugar in food processor to blend briefly. Add egg and tarragon and process to combine. With the machine running add the oil in a slow steady stream until the dressing emulsifies. This can be made several days in advance.


There you have it; a cool, elegant and totally delicious presentation.
Bon appetit