3 Areas To Improve to Make Your Home More Inviting

Part I: Living Room 

Living Room 

As their main purpose, living rooms are basically an area used to entertain and accommodate visitors. As these room act as the forefront of your home, it’s really important to make it comfortable as much as possible. Living rooms is also one of the focal point in houses, it deserves all the attention it can get. Setting the tone and vibe of your home usually starts with your living room. There are three main aspects in what makes living room special – these are sofa, chairs, and coffee table. But living room isn’t complete without some accessories and your very own personal touches. Don’t go overload as there is a clear difference between upscale styling to just pure clatter. Here are some of the best things you do for your living room. 

Get a Comfy Couch 

Nothing says more inviting than having a nice and comfy couch to sit in the moment you enter a house. The couch is perhaps the important aspect of a living room. Choosing the right one for your home will definitely have a big impact on the overall look of your home. 

Make Your Fireplace Stands Out 

If your home has a fireplace, even its an ugly one, don’t try to hide its unique beauty. Instead, highlight its features and decorate the mantle area with candles or decorative pieces. As tempting as it can be, don’t try to copy mantle decorations from magazines or try too hard. Finding art pieces that work with your style is important in making your fireplace stands out. 

Utilize Natural Lighting 

What make a well-lit room so inviting? It’s not just the lightning, but letting natural light in. Living room will come alive with the right lightning. Maximize that ray of sunshine by using light and vibrant paint colors as it can reflect the light and make any room a lot bigger and more inviting. Also, with having fewer curtains and opening the windows, fresh air will blow inside your home, removing any stingy smell swirling around your living room. Thus, making your living not only well-lit but also smelling great! 

Go Green 

Whether you have a green thumb or not, make sure you can get indoor plants into your home. Indoor plants make great accessories in your home and make your home smelling fresh all day. These plants are known to emit well needed oxygen into your homes. They can also remove toxins and need little attention. 

Another great idea to make your home more inviting is to find art pieces that reflects your personality. Hand made wood art is one of the many art works you can purchase, check out some our woodworks here. 

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http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2019/12/3-areas-to-improve-to-make-your-home.html

2020 Home Interior Trends

It’s that time of the year when both interior designers and homeowners are clamoring to know all incoming trends for the year 2020. Whether you are looking for inspiration or just want an upgraded look of your home. Scouting for these trends is a must. When it comes to staying on top of the hottest trend next year, it's important to know what’s in, what’s staying and what’s ‘out’. If you are wondering what’s going to be a hit in 2020, then read on and make that change you are wanting to have. 

The minimalist living is on the rise in the past few years, and its showing to chance of slowing down. Influencers and interior designers alike are very much into the idea, now that rents are still going sky high and urban living is part of the essential lifestyle, every space count. What makes minimalism so attractive lies in its very core principle – fewer things means less clean up and more space.

Steer Away from Pink Hues 

As 2019 was all about Indigo hues, 2020 is more like terracotta and brown hues. Hues that mostly resembles earth colors are a big factor in designing homes as people find their way to connect more to nature. Choose earth colors or warmer tones as they embody coziness and warmth. This also includes grays and a limited neutral palette, so choose among warmer, richer browns hues rather than pinks and indigos. These colors can greatly complement timeless hues of whites and grays. 

All About Vintage Pieces 

Modern things can be great, but more people are starting to appreciate the beauty of vintage furniture. There had been a big shift in homeowners wanting more of vintage pieces as it reduces carbon footprint which is great for the planet. Also, these vintage pieces are more valuable as most of them are already considered as antiques. You don’t have to spend that much when buying vintage pieces. All you need is a great eye and an even greater flee market. 

Textures all the way 

Influencers and interior designers cannot stretch more on the greatness of having textures incorporated into your homes. Textures not only break that even and boring design element but they are great in giving depths to your otherwise simple homes. Having textures are not just about getting different kinds of fabric but they also include having accent pillows and walls. 

Having one Great Art Work 

A home won’t be complete without having one focal point in your home. Whether it’s your kitchen, dining, or living room, you need to have at least one great piece of artwork. Artworks are not just only for display but it also says a lot about your personality and your passion in life. How do you call it home if it doesn’t reflect your personality? A great artwork can also add value to your home and can save you an awkward moment just in case someone visited your home for the very first time. It’s the ideal icebreaker and show-stealer. 

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Best Tips for New Boaters

Thinking about getting a boat? Chances are you are among the many who loves the great vast ocean and boating. As its starting to get warmer again, summer has officially begun. It’s that time of the year to unlatch your boat and search for the best fishing spot in town. Before you cast your line you need to launch your boat. That pretty easy to say when you are already an experienced boater, but it’s different for first-time boaters. 

Modern-day technology can make any first-time boaters' life easier, as tips and practical advice comes as easy as a touch of a button. One can find tips from buying, boat handling, equipping, to maintaining boats. But behold, even with this gift, it’s hard to discern the truths from hearsay; and that exactly where the problem lies for first-time boaters. There are way too many tips to comprehend at once. 

While most boating magazines and blogs post practical tips, it’s still a lot to read. We understand the struggle, so we come up and summarize some of the simplest yet most practical boating tips out there. Here they are: 

Always check the weather 

Every boater, even experience ones, check the weather on a daily basis, because of climate change, Mother Nature makes it harder for anyone to know her temper. That being said, don’t be afraid to cancel or change your plans. A simple rain pour can drastically change into a dangerous thunderstorm in under a minute, and it’s always safe to stay ashore when the weatherman advises you to do so. Ask any boaters and they will all agree how open waters are very dangerous to traverse. Also, it would help if you know the times of high and low tides before you head out. These include waterways, ocean inlet, and tributaries, to avoid any grounding during low tides in certain areas, especially unmarked areas. 

Always bring your life essentials 

No one leaves their house without their cellphones and wallets, so why should you? Even if your boat is built with the state of the art telecommunication devices, always bring your fully charged cell phones, keys, and wallet in a waterproof bag. You’ll never know what will happen next or when your boat is going to lose power and it’s easier to contact emergency hotlines in a cell phone. No matter how busy you make sure another person knows where you are going. 

Dress to impress 

No, it doesn’t only apply for dates, but boaters as well. Always overdress as you can always take your clothes off when it gets too hot. But it’s difficult to find additional clothing when the weather gets too chilly and you got stuck out of nowhere. Depending on where you are heading, always apply tons of sunscreen, you would want to ruin a great adventure by getting a bad sunburn. 

Go Slow! 

Not everything that runs fast is good, here in the open waters, slow is good. Go slow particularly when docking. Sailings slow even if there are no geographical landmarks that are key to keeping everyone safe. 

Make sure to have fun. You are going boating and that means you are going to a great adventure ahead of you. Don’t forget to bring lots of snacks and water.

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How to Make that Home Décor Work for Your Home

With the year progressing, some cannot help but crave a big change. Although it may seem a bit too early, trendsetters know exactly what they want. As the New Year greets everyone, so does new interior design trends, in which you can come into your new year the right way. We were previously greeted with decorative tiles, bare lighting, brass, and metallic accents. 

Fortunately, these trends may stay for good as interior designers are pleased with how these trends are carried out by homeowners. As the new year of 2020 begins, we might see more innovative takes on classic designs as well as an upgrade on stylish accents. 

Nature Invasion 

As more and more people become conscious about the environment as well as environmentalists fighting for a greener earth, it is a no-brainer as to why stylish homes are filled with nature. Indoor plants remove harmful toxins and air pollutants in our home. Not to mention, it also adds a stylish touch. This also applies to materials such as concrete, copper, granite, and much more. With houses becoming smaller and expensive, adding fresh and natural decorations might just be what you need for adding serene ambiance to tiny places. 

Incorporating Textures and Patterns 

As homeowners previously enjoyed pattern in their houses, new homeowners might just be the same. With the right textures and patterns, any room can change from boring to appealing. Interior designers appear to be playing around with a lot of textures and patterns to the basic plain wall we see every day. They enjoy bringing in textures to houses by mixing, matching, proportioning, and contrasting colors. 

Finding a Spot for Room Accents 

The perfect décor includes finding the perfect spot for the pattern and accent chosen. Designers are more drawn towards metal accents, which include copper, rose gold, as well as plenty of others with unique finishes. Earthly hues such as red, orange, and brown have made their way into homes and they seem to be staying in the year of 2020. 

One cannot go wrong with black & white décor 

Black and white: the most basic yet trendy home décor. The contrasting element of these two shades provides balance to any place. Moreover, they can be mixed with other bold textures and patterns, making them the most versatile shades. Therefore, black and white are classics that you can never go wrong with. 

Artisanal Designs 

As endless magazines and blogs have raved about artisanal designs and other artworks, it has been made a fact that investing in them is great. Not only can it be used to start conversations, but it can also be used as a focal point to add a personal touch to your home. Artisanal designs and other artworks may include portraits, paintings, your favorite book, wood art, and many more that are hand-crafted. Furthermore, it adds comfort and a homey feel for everyone to enjoy. If you’d like to add your personal touch to your home, check out our special wood carving art here.

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Traits of A Great Boater

Although many can work a boat and train to be an experienced sailor, skipper, or a captain, not everyone is able to do an exceptional job doing it. As we know, there are plenty of qualities that are included in being a good boater. However, there are two most important qualities: compassion and calmness amid any circumstances they are faced with. Not only will these qualities be seen on the outside, they can also be influential to those around and inspire everyone on board. 

Other qualities are being able to communicate their expectations and not underestimating what Mother Nature has to offer while ashore. For those who are working in larger boats and ships, whether it may be a boater or a captain, they need to be more hands-on and have good leadership to set an example to their crew. Furthermore, they need to be compassionate about their crew’s wellbeing and make a positive work environment. Here is a list of a good boater’s common traits and qualities. 

Able to communicate with their fellow boater effectively 

An essential quality that a good boater needs is leadership. Having good leadership means being able to strategize and maximize the efficiency of the crew, resulting in good teamwork. A good leader is able to command while still giving motivation to the crew. 

They prioritize teamwork 

Being committed to making sure that there is good working harmony to the crew, makes a good boater. No sailor is able to run the boat alone—boaters need a team with good teamwork to accomplish tasks and safety successfully. For those working on large boats, a good leader would make sure work is divided equally and fairly to the crew. 

Great decision maker 

Many find themselves indecisive when making decisions on their day to day lives; this may be as simple as going out or staying home to eat. However, for a boater, being a good decision maker is one of the most important skill they must acquire. Being able to make decisions quickly is crucial for safety of everyone on board—one wrong decision or any slight misjudgments can run result in tragedies. 

Must be disciplined 

Being disciplined is good for any job or role. However, a good boater must live and breathe discipline. A good boater abides by the rules and regulations for the safety and wellbeing over those on board. For those boarding larger ships, captains must set an example for their crew; discipline is a universal skill that results in respect.

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The Long History of Wood Art

For centuries, the wood had fascinated the human mind, with its versatility, durability, and is always full of surprises. Wood is perhaps the oldest if not the most challenging art material artists ever used. It’s quite amazing how wood carvers can turn a log piece of log into an amazing log with just using hammer and chisel. Wood art has a long and rich history. It’s one of the world’s oldest professions and remains highly respected to this day. 

Wood is deemed as a perfect material for groundbreaking art and even experienced artists are astonished how wood can change and dictate how it’s going to be formed. Artists may begin a concept on their mind but during the processed wood, it has its way of making it into something else – an art form worth marveling about. Indeed, wood proved itself as a viable contemporary art material – one that earned its name anything more than a mere craft.

Every woodcarver has its own set of tools and types of machinery to cut, shape and sand wood. But with the emergence of digital tools for fabrication, artists used it as a will for making intricate wood designs. These help them to conceptualize, design and carved each wood. It doesn’t just allow them with the design but it lets them work more efficiently and productively – without compromising its quality. 

There are hundreds of videos available, from DIY frit bowl to sculpting art pieces. With materials showing how artists can make great wood art, more people are getting into this industry. Technology has done a great amount of influence when it comes to wood art. Because of modernism, wood carvers can make intricate designs and somehow pushing beyond the limit of wood versatility. Some tools had been made specifically to make designs that are never been achieved in the past. It only shows how modern technology revolutionized traditional wood carving art. Check some of or intricate map designs and amazing pieces of wood art here. 

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How to Declutter your Home?

There’s one trend that has been long overdue but is now making a comeback. A minimalist style of living is the new trend that has homeowners been gushing about. It all starts with a simple decluttering of your home, then your mind, and soon after that – your life. What makes a simple living so great is of course with having so little can make a big impact in our daily lives. 

The idea of living a simple life attracts many homeowners, but often, as they begin the process will feel overwhelmed, anxious and then they just stopped. They eventually accept the defeat of the idea of owning less. However, there is the best way to tackle all the unnecessary mess, and that is to take it one room, one stage at a time. 

Learning to declutter your home isn’t as hard as it sounds, as some may make it out to be. It’s a long process but the rewards are great and the benefits are far more what you can imagine. Here are some of the benefits of living simple and how to live clutter-free. 

We all know how tedious cleaning is, it’s a daily chore we have to face every single day, and it’s hard. Having fewer things to clean means more time for your family. You don’t have to do all the de-cluttering in one sitting, you can start a few minutes at a time and slowly build your momentum. It’s best to focus on one room, remove all the things you haven’t use in 6 months. There’s a big possibility you no longer need it. If you are feeling a bit guilty of throwing unused clothes, you can donate it at Goodwill. 

When you had slowly moved from one room to another, there are fewer things to organize and finding things will suddenly become easier. Keys, remote controls, and wallets don’t just disappear anymore as you can move around your home a lot better and you have more space to enjoy. People swear that their stress level eventually decreases after de-cluttering their homes. They can see and enjoy all the things they love. Those artworks hanging will have its spectacular space. 

Then once you ‘owned’ and embrace minimalistic living, you can find yourself having less debt. Why? Because you no longer pursue the latest and seasonal decorations – no purchases, no expenses, equals more savings. With less debt, you can have more financial freedom to enjoy what matters most in your life. Loves fishing or the great outdoors? That dream vacation can now be a reality. With fewer things to think about, you can enjoy living a full life - clutter-free. 

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