For a short time, I lived in northern Idaho. Green mountains and amazing blue lakes, it was spectacularly beautiful. Especially the
summers. When it gets into the hundreds here in Fahrenheit, my mind
often wanders away from southern Arizona and back to Idaho. Anyway, one summer
there, I went to camp.
Camp Neewahlu was across Lake Coeur d'Alene. Me and my Camp Fire Girl-friends took a ferry over. It looked like a camp where Jason Voorhees would be hiding
in the bushes. THAT is just how camp-perfect it was.
I loved my time there. I made a lot of great friends. Although campers
stuck to a strict schedule, the multitude of activities were engaging
and fun - there was always something to do. Swimming, hiking, canoeing,
archery, crafts, singing...I remember the nights in the cabins.
Writing letters home by flashlight. Despite the busyness of it all, it
was relaxing. It was peaceful. And nary a psychopathic serial killer
in sight...
I'd love to go back and visit. Every time I see vintage camp gear or
paraphernalia, I smile. One day, I would like to have a small-ish cabin
by a lake. And when I do, I'm going to deck out with the thought of my
beloved Camp Neewahlu in mind...
Where to begin? In terms of design theme, I'm thinking of things like
heavy materials (like wool, canvas or sailcloth), lots of wood, the
outdoors-in, and emphasis on bold color and stripes...colorful stripes.
Let's start with the camp arrival. Kids showed up with rucksacks,
backpacks, suitcases, and even some trunks....
Stacked vintage suitcases make great bedside tables, and most trunks are
big enough to serve as coffee tables. Stack or bundle gorgeous wool
camp blankets at the foot of the bed. Decorate with enlarged vintage
camp photos or advertisements. Secure old canoe oars or archery arrows
to the wall, or frame an archery target and place it over a headboard.
Outfit game room walls with old badminton or tennis rackets. Throw old
shuttlecocks in a large jar and put it on a shelf. Combine vintage with
purpose - have vintage electric fans (be sure to re-wire them as
necessary and keep them away from small children) in each room, and keep
old lanterns on hand. There's always the four B's - buckets, bins,
baskets, and boxes - corral shoes or boots in vintage wood crates, or
keep umbrellas handy in a minnow bucket. Use fishing baskets to display
old archery arrows, or keep crafting materials in vintage locker
baskets.
Collect, collect, collect! I love displaying collections, and a cabin
or lake house would be a great place for so many vintage collections.
Display trophy collections, vintage cameras, or flashlights. For color,
arrange displays of fishing lures, scout patches, or compasses in
shadow boxes, or buoys and old fishing reels out on a boat house wall.
And books!! Well, I'd have books in just about every room. Vintage
scout guides and handbooks, camping cookbooks, and worn classic novels.
If you really want to get into it, repurpose vintage items! Turn an old
tennis racket or life preserver into a mirror. Group vintage
flashlights into a chandelier. Make an old suitcase become a medicine
cabinet. Create throw pillows from camp blankets. Give new and
different lives to old things.
Lastly, consider durable granite ware or enamelware in the kitchen, and
large and small mason jars for glasses. Maybe faux-horn knives or
silverware. Vintage or retro Camp Fire Girl mugs are another great
addition. Keep the togetherness of mealtime, but skip the formality!
Keep silverware organized cafeteria style with a twist. Keep forks,
knives, and spoons in their own oversized vintage tomato cans and
display wildflower arrangements on the tables in vintage tea cans or
fruit canning jars.
More idea photos available at my Pinterest board,
Vintspiration: Summer Camp.
Need more inspiration? Learn from Tereasa Surratt. Together with her
family, this woman bought and renovated her husband's childhood summer
camp,
Camp Wandawega, in Wisconsin. Their work and the discoveries they made along the way are truly amazing...I recommend her book:
Found, Free & Flea: Creating Collections from Vintage Treasures.
On Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/tereasasurratt/
Her website (where you'll also find links to a multitude of her other social media outlets) :
http://www.tereasa.com/
BTW:
I shared this post on the following linky parties: Time Travel Thursday @ Brambleberry Cottage
