What the Future Holds: Getting the Latest Trend in Home Decor

As we mark the half-year calendar, some cannot help wonder about what will be the next big thing for next year. You might think its bit too early, but trendsetters know exactly what to rave for. With each New Year come new interior design trends, so you can upgrade your home with the right vibe with ease. In the previous years, we saw some metallic accents, brass, bare lightning and decorative tiles. 

Interior designers are quite happy with how homeowners take this new trend, and it seems that it won’t be disappearing anytime soon. Experts see new decorating patterns and ideas along with timeless and elegant designs. 2020 may bring in some fresh takes on classic designs and take stylish accents into a new level. Here are some of the trends to watch out for. 

Nature Invasion 

With the environmentalist rallying for a greener earth, it’s no wonder that nature invades most stylish homes. Indoor plants do well for our body, as these can remove toxins and unwanted air pollutants circulating our home. This applies to home interior design as well like copper, concrete, granite and the likes. As living spaces become smaller and expensive as the year passes, adding fresh and natural materials will add serene ambiance to tiny spaces. 

Incorporating Textures and Patterns 

We saw a lot of pattern over the past few years, and it will not be different in the coming years. Instead, interior designers will play around a lot with incorporating textures and patterns to the otherwise boring plain wall. Textures and patterns will spice up any room or house for that matter, it’s just a matter of mixing and matching. Interior designers will find a way to bring in textures, playful proportions, and contrasting colors to refresh the look of your home. 

Finding a Spot for Room Accents 

As pattern make their way in your home, finding the perfect spot for accents amplifies the greatness for this trendy décor. Designers are rooting for metal accents as well like rose gold, copper, and other metals with different kinds of finishes. Earthly hues like red, orange and other earthly tones are seen to stay to decorate more homes for the year 2020. 

One cannot go wrong with black & white décor 

Time and again, homeowners will not go wrong to any black and white home décor. The contrast of this timeless classic provides a great balance for any room. Another great thing with black and white is their versatility of mixing it with other bold textures and patterns. No wonder this classic can never go out of style. 

Artisanal Designs 

As you may have in countless magazines and blogs, it’s great to invest in artisanal designs and other work of art. Not only it’s a conversational starter, it can be a focal point in our home as it adds a very personal touch in your home. May it be a favorite book; portrait, paintings or wood art artisanal pieces that are hand-crafted will add value to your home. It also adds a very comforting and inviting feel for everyone to enjoy. For a very personal touch, check out our unique wood carving art here. 

Interesting Things to Know about Lake Winnipesaukee

Having as the most dramatic scenery in all of the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipesaukee stretches for about 72 square miles and comprises of 264 islands including a number of large bays and small inlets. The lake has a rich and diverse culture, even its name can be translated to at least five conflicting meaning like “beautiful water in a high place”, “good smooth water at outlet”, “land around the lake”, “lakes region”, and “smile of the Great Spirit”. All of them, however, agree that the lake is blessed with beautiful views comparable that of a paradise. With the White Mountains serving as a stunning backdrop and a wide open area of water called the broads, the lake is a popular holiday destination for travelers from all over the world. 

Lake Winnipesaukee is a boating and outdoor recreation year round, it peaks during the spring and summer season, then some travelers enjoy strolling through the vibrant leaf colors in the fall season and ice fishing in the winter. The lake does not disappoint as the region is filled with fun recreational activities, shopping strips, great food finds, and some historical landmarks. 

As the largest standing body of water and resting in the foothills of the White Mountains, Lake Winnipesaukee is about an hour and a half drive from Boston. The lake is a perfect weekend getaway to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. It has seven towns that you can tour, each has its own character and charm; Center Harbor, Meredith, Alton, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough, Gilford, and Wolfeboro. Its best to drive around these towns leisurely and making sure to spend a good amount of time but do take it easy, you can always go back and have some wonderful “lake time”. 

Whether it’s your first time visiting Lake Winnipesaukee or a returning traveler looking for a new getaway spot, here are some the best picks on this amazing lake. 

Lake Winnipesaukee houses some of the best independently owned artisan shops and country stores. Try visiting the famous Pepi Herrmann, an artisan who mastered the art of cutting crystal. Visit the very charming shop in Gilford and be amazed in shelves upon shelves of amazing crystal artwork including Champagne flutes, bowls, vases, and earrings. Then there are the knitting shop of Keepsake Quilting and Patternworks located at the Center Harbor near the north side of Lake Winnipesaukee. 

Cool off in Kellerhaus located in Laconia to taste some of their decadent ice cream creations. This 1906 shop also offers great jellies, candies, maple syrup, and homemade jams. To those who like their drinks a little bit more tasteful, hop on to Hermit Woods Winery in Meredith where they make impeccable fruit wines paired with crabapple and strawberry-rhubarb delicacies. 

To really enjoy Lake Winnipesaukee you try a day hike tour at Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford where you can get amazing views of the lake. But no trip would be complete without hopping into a boat taking an excellent cruise around the lake. There are marinas in the area that are offering motorboats and other tour services. But if you are following a strict schedule then you can just pack a picnic and enjoy the profound tranquility of Lake Winnipesaukee. 

Alaskan Inside Passage Ketchikan | Buy Custom Wood Maps

Ketchikan

The first city to welcome you in the Alaskan Inside Passage is Ketchikan. The area has the highest zip code in the entire United States of America, 99950. It also houses a massive collection of standing totem poles, the world’s largest. The name ‘Ketchikan’ was derived from the Tlingit name ‘Kitschk-hin’ which means creek. Salmon fills the town each summer and attracted the Tlingit Natives to build communities in the area which has lasted for centuries. Ketchikan sits about 90 miles north of Prince Rupert and stretches along the shoreline in the southwest corner of Revillagigedo Island. The area of the city is less than 10 blocks wide and because of the minute space; they've built their airport on a separate island. The city of Ketchikan was founded in 1885 as a cannery area. Salmon was the main industry in the city. Within a span of decades, the $55 million Ketchikan Pulp Mill were built in 1954 at Ward Cove. Now, with the resolution of the passage of the Tongass Timber Reform Act of 1990, it stated it would reduce timber harvest in the national forests. During the 1970's strikes began to emerge in the city and the changes in public policy greatly affected the logging industry. This resulted in the closure of Louisiana-Pacific to close down the sawmill facility in 1983. Soon after in 1997, the company closed down the pulp mill facility. Hundreds of workers lost their high-paying jobs because of the closures. Now, the city is home to 8,245 residents, a relatively small number of people compare to other cities in the world. However, Ketchikan ranks as the 5th most populated city in Alaska. The city also labeled their area as the “Salmon Capital of the World”. Despite its land area, about 5.0 square miles, it attracts almost a million visitors each year. Cruise ships frequently stop at Ketchikan to let their passengers tour the area. Here are the top 6 interesting places and fun things to do while in Ketchikan:

1. Totem Heritage Center

The city of Ketchikan oversees the Totem Heritage and it contains the world’s largest collections of Totem poles. Most of these totem poles are from the 19th century and are untouched and unrestored. Authorities recovered the totem poles from the deserted Tlingit settlement areas on Village Island and Tongass Island. Also, some of the poles came from Haida village of Old Kasaan. In 1976, the city founded the Totem Heritage Center to care for and preserve these poles and built a cultural center. The center also displays artifacts and art pieces from Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian villages, they promote the village’s culture to visitors.

2. Totem Bight State Historic Site

Located north of Ketchikan, the Totem Bright State Historical Park has a total land area of 33 acres and considered as a national park in Alaska. The area was a former site of a traditional Native campground called Mud Village and Mud Bright Village. The site also encloses several totem pole collections and a replica of a house for the chieftains. The house contains a wood frame structure and has a low circular like entrance which leads into a square chamber. Ravens often serve as a main facade decor of the wooden houses. A native from Saxman, Charles Brown helped with the carvings on these houses.

3. Tongass National Forest

The Tongass National Forest sits in the southeastern part of Alaska. It is also the largest national forest in the country. The forest spreads across the state with 17 million acres of land and most of it is part of the WWF ecoregion. It is home to thousands of rare and endangered species both flora and fauna. The United States Forest Service supervises the Tongass National Forest, which also includes the islands of Fjords, glaciers and the Alexander Archipelago. The NFS also oversees the Coast Mountain’s peaks, the international border shared with Canada. The massive national park has 9 local ranger district offices which are located in Juneau, Hoonah, Craig, Ketchikan, Sitka, Petersburg, Yakutat, Thorne Bay and Wrangell.

4. Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary

The Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary is a nature preserve located in Gateway Borough in Ketchikan. The 40-acre of rain forest reserve comprises of spruce, cedar trees, hemlock and hundreds of flowers and different varieties of berries. You can explore the very charming beauty of Alaskan sceneries in this place. You can walk easily on its boardwalk that travels half a mile in Tongass, passing through some of the totem poles, aviary exhibits and the historical sawmill in Alaska.

5. Misty Fjords National Monument

Aside from being a national monument, The Misty Fiords (Fjords) National Monument, of which the US Forest Service has declared it as a wilderness area, now part of the Tongass National Forest. The National monument is situated about 40 miles from east of Ketchikan and along the Inside Passage of the southeastern part of Alaska. It contains a land area of 2,294,343 acres (928,488 ha) including the Tongass National Forest of which the government designated about 151,832 acres (61,444 ha) of wilderness. You can explore the beauty of the Misty Fiords National Monument by boat, by foot, or by air.

6. Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

Back in the days, Alaska was well known as a lumberjack capital and for its historical sawmills. The city now offers shows that feature lumberjack competitions and a little story line for tourists who wants to know more of their rich history. The place is fully equipped with heaters to make the audience more comfortable watching their shows.

Want to commemorate your time in Alaska?

How about buying the Alaska Inside Passage 3D Wood Nautical Chart?

The Festivities and Sights near Lake Huron|Buy Wood Nautical Charts

One of the Great Lakes, Lake Huron rests in between the borders of Canada and the United States. It divides the state of New York and Ontario. This article will show you some of the off path destinations in Ontario.

If you are looking for drama, (theatrical drama that is), then head on to this village in southwest Ontario. The Blyth Centre for the Arts is located in a rural Huron County. It celebrates theater at its finest year-round. You can get several amazing performances as the showcase student exhibit each season. You can also see famous Canadian artists perform in its stage even in off-season times. Some of the most memorable performances happen from June to August when you can laugh those stress away in gut-busting comedy performances. Drop by to its grand re-opening this month.

Celtic Roots Festival

The Celtic Roots Festival is one of the largest Celtic history festivals in North America. The town of Goderich, Ontario celebrates the traditional Celtic music annually.  You can get yourself immersed in the culture of the famous Celtic music. Locals showcase a wide variety of musical acts from many different musicians and artisans. The festival is not just for locals, as people all the way from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales traveled halfway across the globe to witness the famous festival. So if you are into music, fun, and travel this festival near Lake Huron will surely delight you.

Now, enough with the festival and let's travel the entire lake coast for its some of its famous and historical museums.

Huron County Museum

Some say, to know more about the place you must look into the past. The Huron County Museum will take you back to the early like in Lake Huron. The museum displays exhibit from military arsenal dating back during the WWII. The museum also houses an old stream train for the public to get a taste from the old transportation era. Huron County Museum also displays delicate China and old furniture.  If are a mechanic at heart, then you might find it fascinating to view their old farm tractors and equipment.

Bruce County Museum

You will never get a dull moment in the Bruce County Museum because they offer rotating displays for the kids in summer. They also have a big collection of shipwrecks and artifacts in the region. It’s a great place to go with your kids as the museum offers interactive activities for them to learn about history. The staffs are super helpful and very accommodating.

Huron Historic Gaol

This octagonal fortress served a dual purpose as a courthouse and jail for more than a century. This relatively small museum is one of the National Historic Site of Canada. You will find the site well-kept but filled with artifacts and historical items. This place was also the place where Canada held their last public hangings. The museum also offers grounds and some scenic view especially if you have a drone to bring with you. You can visibly see the magnificent architecture of the place.

What are you waiting for? Buy a 3d wood chart of Lake Huron!