ON COMMON GROUND PART I

I love meeting new people — though experience has taught me it is always a bit of a gamble. When that first encounter involves a shared road trip through the English Lake District, the stakes are markedly higher. The Lakes have a singular knack for unpredictability. Sheep typically appear out of nowhere, asserting their right to roam; narrow bridges demand diplomacy; sudden downpours turn calm lanes into puddled obstacle courses, and dramatic hilltop clouds roll in without warning — all idiosyncrasies of the Lakes that could test any newly formed friendship.As luck would have it, when I met Chloe Frost Smith , a travel and lifestyle writer from Edinburgh at Another Place Hotel on the shores of Lake Ullswater, she seemed entirely at home. It turned out that her grandparents had lived in the region for many years, so she naturally felt an affinity for the cold, the rugged terrain, and the untamed beauty of the landscape.Chloe’s background is, in many ways, as varied as the landscapes she loves to explore. After a nomadic childhood across the Far East, she traded tropical climes for Scotland, interspersed with frequent trips for work to Scandinavia to hike, swim, and sauna during the polar nights. Happiest on horseback or roaming the countryside with her trailhound, Chloe seeks out remote regions for her editorial work — riding Icelandic horses through snowfields, tracking leopards across Sri Lanka’s thorn scrub, or ice-fishing above the Arctic Circle. Though she thrives in extremes, in the northern fells Chloe embraces the slower pace that makes roaming here a rare and quiet luxury, especially out of season.For my part, I grew up in the northern fells of the Lake District, and despite having lived in many corners of the world, it has always been the place I call home. Growing up here taught me to observe carefully, to value subtlety and patience, and to approach design with restraint — lessons that remain central to my work at RUSKIN. I have always felt that life in the Lakes has its own pace, where everything unfolds in good time. That rhythm informs how we work at RUSKIN: at a human scale, with deliberate attention rather than haste. We choose materials for their integrity and longevity, while the muted greens of the fells, soft greys of stone, and russet browns of the bracken that shift subtly with the seasons, guide our palettes. After a night spent in cosy shepherds' huts, buffeted by wind and rain, Chloe, Cecilia (our wonderful photographer), and I set out on a road trip together. The day unfolded in a manner that felt classically northern: low clouds hugged the fells, and a familiar drizzle lingered in the air.Having packed a picnic and a few essential RUSKIN companions, we followed a familiar route along the shores of Ullswater, through Patterdale, over Kirkstone Pass, and down into Ambleside - a journey I have made many times, yet one that is never the same twice, a reminder to look again even at what you think you already know.Conversation drifted naturally, moving between design, storytelling, and the shared discipline of observation. Chloe travelled light, with her Clutch Con Cinta belt bag, ideal for hopping in and out of the car during pauses enroute, and for carrying just her essentials. By the time we reached Ambleside, the drizzle had softened to a fine mist, settling into the hollows of the hills.Join us next week for the second installment of On Common Ground as we continue our journey from Ambleside back over Kirkstone Pass. Part II reflects on how creativity often begins, not in the studio, but in the company of those who see the world through a similar lens.

With our greatest appreciation to @chloe_ frostsmith and Another Place Hotel for hosting us so warmly.  

Words: Designer Alli Abdelal

Photography @ceciliaavolpi_ph thank you for capturing this special trip so beautifully.