Dogs in the Great Outdoors

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

From mnn.comDo you love to have your dog by your side for every activity? Have you included him in your outdoor adventures? If you’re thinking of bringing your pet to the cabin with you, there are a few safety and preparation measures to take. Here are some tips from The Partnership for Animal Welfare in Maryland for taking your dog along for hiking and camping trips:

  • Make sure you pack appropriately. You’ll need a first aid kit, lots of water and untippable dishes for food and water. Dogs can get sunburned, so be sure to take along some sunblock for his nose and ears.
  • If you’re hiking with your dog, check his paw pads daily for injuries or burrs. Keep him away from the feces of other dogs or other animals, and be sure to give him regular opportunities to drink water and rest.
  • If your dog is a swimmer, it’s best to avoid deep water. And immediately after getting out of the lake, make sure you dry his ears out to prevent infections.

With just a little preparation, your dog can be more than ready to enjoy the great outdoors with you. And if you’re looking for your daily dose of cute, here’s a slideshow of dogs living it up outside.

If you’re a hunter, you’re probably very familiar with having dogs in the outdoors with you. Of course, there’s plenty of lodge décor out there that celebrates that hunter-dog bond. These Labs in the Marsh rugs portray three beloved retrievers on the hunt. Do you have dog décor in your cabin or hunting lodge?

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Product Review: Mossy Oak Break Up Camo Bedding

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Mossy Oak Break Up BeddingCamouflage makes a great accent for an outdoor lover’s home. What else expresses your hobbies and general toughness quite like camo? And these days, you can find plenty of home décor in camo.

For the bedroom, this Mossy Oak Break Up collection includes camouflage comforter sets, sheet sets and window treatments in the popular Mossy Oak pattern. Khaki on the bed skirt and shams adds a subtle neutral to complement the camo, and the comforters feature poly fill. Because of the wood-tone color palette, these items can fit into any color scheme. Pair them with warm green tones or classic plaids to make your lodge feel like a hunting retreat.

Here you can find the fascinating history of the Break-Up pattern. Mossy Oak was started by a hunter who wanted to use real natural colors and effects to more effectively blend in with the forest. Break-Up was the first camouflage pattern to utilize the look of shadows to create a more realistic camouflage. That might be why it’s so popular with hunters, and why it helps define hunting culture.

You can combine this bedding set with other camouflage home decor accessories, like picture frames and throw pillows, or accent it with solid colors or other outdoor-themed decor. With other camo elements or standing alone, this set is perfect to create the look of a hunting lodge in your cabin bedroom.

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ID Your Trees

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Cedar Tree Decatur Wall Sconce“I think that I shall never see / A poem lovely as a tree,” writes Joyce Kilmer in an immortal line of verse. Trees have a way of capturing our imaginations and our hearts. They hold rich symbolism in many cultures, and they have a way of making us feel more connected to the natural world. Plus, they’re just plain nice to look at, especially during the fall months.

Do you know much about your tree neighbors? What species are growing near your home or cabin? To find out, you can visit this calculator from the Arbor Day Foundation. (You can also pick up an iPhone app or a pocket field guide while you’re there.) It walks you through a few yes or no questions to lead you to the right species.

Here are a few other fun tree facts:

  • The advent of tall, woody trees may have been partly responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs.
  • Some species of oak tree can live to be over 500 years old.
  • Trees are famous for absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. In one year, a single tree can take in up to 48 pounds of carbon dioxide.

If you’re an arbor-phile, you might enjoy spreading some tree love throughout your rustic home décor. These Pine Tree Light Switch and Outlet Covers come in rust or black and add a natural evergreen touch to your walls. Or this Cedar Tree Decatur Wall Sconce makes a unique lighting element with a tree and mountain design and a mica shade. Trees are a big part of the natural setting we love about cabins. Bringing tree designs indoors only adds to that beautiful outdoor effect.

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Product Review: Rough Sawn Bear Accent Table

Monday, December 12th, 2011

rough sawn bear accent table 300x225 Product Review: Rough Sawn Bear Accent TableOne of the hallmarks of rustic furniture is an unfinished wood surface. This creates a beautifully rugged look in your cabin or lodge, and adds a touch of natural beauty. This Rough Sawn Bear Accent Table features rugged knotty pine wood with a natural bark edge for a perfectly rustic touch. It’s finished in rich walnut with a glossy stain to protect and preserve the wood. And the bear image on the door face makes it a great fit for bear décor. The inside has one finished shelf.

Something to keep in mind is that each piece will vary slightly with natural variations in the wood, so the finished product might not look exactly like what’s photographed here.

As for where to put this product, with occasional tables like these, the options are almost endless. They can serve as décor in your living area or as just the right spot of storage for your dining room or kitchen. They also work as a night table for your rustic bedroom. In other words, these cute little bears can go just about anywhere.

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Moose Facts

Monday, December 5th, 2011

Moose Stonecast Wildlife SculptureWith their impressive size and distinct faces, moose have a unique dignity and mystique that makes them an icon for rustic and outdoor lifestyles. Unless you live in an area populated by moose—and probably even if you do—you haven’t seen too many moose in person. Here are a few facts about this beautiful animal.

  • According to this fact sheet from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, moose are able to adapt their diet to the foliage that’s available. They generally eat the aquatic plants around lakes and marshes, but they can also eat “the woody browse in early stages of regrowth following disturbances like fires, logging, and clearing.”
  • The flap of skin hanging under a moose’s neck is called the bell.
  • The largest species of the deer family, moose are native to a band of land that stretches across the north sections of North America, Scandinavia and Russia according to this map from National Geographic.
  • Male moose are called bulls, female moose called cows.
  • Moose are generally docile, but a female will charge to protect her calves, and males may become aggressive during mating season. So it is always best to give a moose plenty of space and observe from a respectful distance. Also, it’s important never to feed moose, because they may grow to expect food and become aggressive with humans who do not feed them.

Moose are awe-inspiring in the wild, and they also make great cabin décor. Those antlers make for a distinct silhouette that captures the beauty of the northern outdoors. So whether it’s a sculpture, wall art or bedding, moose themes in your cabin décor create a ruggedly beautiful look. Just for one example, this wall art with moose tracks along the edge is an artistic treatment of the noble moose. You can find plenty of other moose décor items to make your cabin wonderfully outdoorsy.

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Authentic Old West Touches Add Frontier Spirit to Your Home

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Antique Saddle TreeHere in the States, we have an undeniable fascination with the Old West. We recreate it in spaghetti westerns, preserve it in museums and pay homage to it in countless other ways. There’s just something about that part of our history—the beginnings of the American West—that holds our collective imagination.

It’s no surprise, then, that western looks are so popular in rustic home décor. Whether you want a full-on western room or a few frontier touches in your mountain home, authentic pieces like repurposed horseshoes and wagon wheels make for striking, elegant touches. Here are some ideas to get you started.

  • Horseshoes. Definitively western, horseshoes lend a rugged touch to a room, and serve double duty by expressing a love of horses as well. They also serve a recycling purpose by repurposing old horseshoes. You can’t go wrong with that.
  • Lanterns. Old West-style lantern lighting elements, like this pendant, create the feeling of an authentic saloon as they cast light around your room.
  • Vintage equipment. Perhaps nothing expresses the Old West quite as well as a genuine wagon wheel or antique saddle. These stylish elements add just the right touch to a room.
  • Vintage-style furniture. An old style farm table in your kitchen will add a charming pioneer touch and be adored by your family for years.
  • Native American patterns. Authentic Native American designs are, first of all, beautiful and colorful, and they also pay homage to the southwest. When you have the opportunity to discover the story and meaning behind them, that’s all the better. This wool bedding collection is a beautiful set inspired by Native American teachings.

A western look goes great in a cabin, and it also works for any home. Little—or not so little—authentic touches can bring the whole thing together with a sense of nostalgia and Americana. So enjoy your hunt for the perfect Old West décor. Let us know what your favorites are.

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Choosing Rustic Furniture for Your Cabin

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Cabin furniture - rustic sofas & chairsThe day is finally arriving when you’re ready to move into the cabin you’ve been dreaming of. After making countless decisions, it’s time to make several more: what kind of furniture should go in each room of your cabin? You may know exactly what you want, or you might be feeling a little overwhelmed. But don’t let that intimidation stop you from choosing the home décor you love. Here are a few ideas on choosing furniture for your cabin. With a little research in advance, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the interior design that makes the most of your dream home.

  • Kitchen. The kitchen is a meeting place of fun and function; you need the pieces that suit your cooking and dining styles, but the room also needs to be an inviting gathering place. Perhaps the most important thing to consider when choosing kitchen furniture is how you spend time in the kitchen. Do you need barstools for informal gathering? A kitchen island to help your work flow? What storage do you need? Just think efficiency when it comes to your kitchen layout, and you’ll have a good idea of what kind of pieces you need. Then you know what items to look for in the rustic lodge style you love.
  • Great room. It can be hard to fill a cabin great room with furniture and décor that makes it seem full, but not cluttered. Here are some easy bullet-point tips for making it happen. High-backed pieces will help you out a lot, as will accent furniture and occasional tables. And don’t neglect the walls! The right wall décor can help keep a large room from feeling unfilled.

Good luck! As you choose the rustic furniture items that you need, don’t forget to have fun. It’s not the end of the world of something doesn’t work quite right—just try, try again. You’re sure to find items in the natural or frontier-inspired look that you love. And really, it’s hard to go wrong with beautiful rustic furniture.

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Fitness Outside: the Benefits of Outdoor Workouts

Friday, June 17th, 2011

Sawtooth Mountains - Destination360.comThe cabin provides an opportunity to get away from it all, get out in nature and just generally leave your routine behind. But there’s no need to leave your workout routine behind. In fact, due to temperature fluctuations and varying terrain, outdoor workouts can up the number of calories you burn by about 7 percent, according to this piece by Womenshealthmag.com. There are plenty of activities you can do outdoors—

  • Hiking. According to this piece by John McKinney, both uphill and downhill hiking can work wonders on your blood sugar and reduce LDL cholesterol levels. A scenic hike may even decrease depression and increase self-esteem. It would seem that just by indulging your inner Thoreau a little, you may get a great workout for your body and soul alike.
  • Swimming. If you have a lake cabin, swimming might already be on your agenda. It’s certainly a great choice for getting some exercise on vacation. According to the CDC, water-based exercise is particularly good for people with trouble with their joints. Here are a few safety tips and guidelines for swimming in open water.
  • Calisthenics. Here’s a 30-minute workout from Fitnessmagazine.com designed to help you tone your muscles and burn at least 260 calories.

You probably know the benefits of exercise—decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease and even death. And you may already have a workout routine in place. But just because you go on vacation at the cabin, don’t let that routine drop, or if you haven’t started one, use some time in the great outdoors to get going on fitness. Because getting out in nature is a great way to get healthy. Enjoy!

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How to Save Money on Decorating

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

Twig Bath HardwareWouldn’t it be great to decorate a whole house or cabin without any budget limitations? New rustic furniture, luxurious bedding, all new lighting, kitchen decor–the whole nine yards? Unfortunately, especially in this particular economic climate, that’s not a reality for most of us. But the good news is that there are some recession-friendly ways to redecorate. It just takes a little creativity.

  • This post from Freshome.com suggests extensive research to dig up the best deal on any particular item, as well as selling your old décor to put toward getting new stuff.
  • According to InteriorDesignDigest.com, you can pinch your decorating pennies by setting and sticking to a budget and finding creative ways to reuse or repurpose items. Instead of buying a kitchen island, for example, do you have a desk or occasional table that could serve the same purpose?
  • Also keep in mind that small details can give a room a completely new look. New hardware and switch plates may not cost a lot, but add a lot of style to a room.
  • And of course, there are coupons. Websites like MoneySavingQueen.com serve up printable coupons and money saving tips. Hey, with the cash you save on everyday items, you might be able to splurge on something nice for the house.

Finding home décor on a limited budget might seem like a dreary task, but if you keep your eyes peeled for steals and deals, look for new uses for items you already have, and generally save money wherever you can, you just might end up with appealing, fun décor and a happy pocketbook as well.

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Eco-Friendly Home Décor

Monday, March 7th, 2011

Photo courtesy Havencraft

Photo courtesy Havencraft

As homes become more and more environmentally friendly, builders and décor specialists are finding new ways to provide green technologies and sustainable living without sacrificing style. Here are a few ways homes and decorating are becoming greener.

Recycled Buildings

A popular flooring option these days is reclaimed barnwood. As historic buildings age and are deconstructed, the materials can be recycled into lumber for flooring. Done right, they look gorgeous, and they spare quite a few young trees from being cut down.

Lots of other materials can be recycled and reused in building projects. The Building Materials Reuse Association exists to oversee proper building deconstruction so that the materials can be recovered and reused in future projects. The idea is to reduce consumption and the landfill space used by building materials by putting deconstructed homes to good use.

Think Natural

Besides recycling building materials, home builders are striving to use natural, non-toxic and sustainable building materials wherever possible, such as rock, bamboo and sustainably harvested woods. Energy efficiency is another goal of this building ethic, and many natural materials offer the bonus of naturally helping regulate temperatures.

This piece from Discovery.com showcases ten natural building materials, including rock, bamboo, cordwood (lengths of lumber often left over from lumber projects, which might otherwise go to waste) and adobe. Bamboo flooring is catching on in the United States particularly quickly, and while other natural materials may not be as trendy, they serve up many benefits, including lower utility bills and the opportunity to use materials that might otherwise go in a landfill.

Secondhand and Handmade Treasures

Apart from the actual construction of the home, the decorative elements inside are also getting greener these days. The word “upcycled” has come into popular use and refers to an item that’s finding new life as something else. With a little hand crafting, everyday items that might otherwise simply be thrown away can become anything—jewelry, kitchen décor, window treatments. Just spend a little time on Etsy.com to find an abundance of beautiful items that used to be something else. And when it comes to larger home furnishings, handmade and artisan products are often responsibly made with sustainable materials. Likewise, thrifted, vintage or antique items are also in high demand, with the environmental benefit of saving furniture and décor items from the garbage dump.

It’s getting easier and easier to build and decorate a home sustainably. With both form and function, eco-friendly products and materials can lower energy costs, protect the earth’s resources and look beautiful.

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