November 2018

Original image source: goldeneagleloghomes.com

Log cabins have been an architectural staple in the United States for a very long time—centuries, in fact. Most historians agree that the first log cabins were constructed in the U.S. in the mid-17th century by European settlers from Sweden and Finland. These Swedish-Finnish colonists adopted the style for its straightforward and functional construction techniques, with German, Ukranian, and English immigrants following suit soon after.

Often, the original log cabins were not intended to be permanent dwellings. Instead, settlers built them as quick shelters they could use while they were constructing bigger, more permanent houses. Once settlers moved into the larger homes, they often used the log cabins

All images courtesy of dickensfair.com

There’s an endless stream of holiday festivities in San Francisco, but few are as unique as the Great Dickens Fair & Victorian Holiday Party. The folks responsible for the popular, 25-year Renaissance Pleasure Faire at Black Point, Red Barn Productions, are behind the event, which started in 1970 and features a Victorian and Charles Dickens theme.

This one-of-a-kind event takes place in 120,000 square feet of music halls, pubs, dance floors, and Christmas shops every weekend from November 17th to December 23rd. When you attend the event, you’ll be greeted by hundreds of players in London-Victorian garb, recreating a twilight evening in Charles Dickens’ London Town.

You’ll meander through winding lanes and meet

Image Source: maisondepax.com

Thanksgiving has come to a close, which means it’s officially the season of twinkle lights, tinsel, and tons of other holiday-themed decor. But the frenzy of the season can make it tough to figure out how, exactly, you want to get your home in the holiday spirit. Fortunately, Instagram is brimming with gorgeous decor that flawlessly rides the line between chic and festive.

Whether you’re at a loss for how to elevate your interior with decorations or you simply want to behold some stunning holiday spaces, check out our favorite holiday interiors on the ‘gram below.

A post shared by Amy (@crazychicdesign) on Nov 3, 2018 at 7:49am PDT

Christmas

Believe it or not, the phenomenon that is Small Business Saturday began by credit card company, American Express, which offered small business owners free advertising across the web during the holiday season.

With the rise of monopolized corporations cornering nearly every market under the sun (we’re looking at you, Amazon), it’s increasingly difficult for small, independently-owned businesses—the businesses that laid the foundation for this country’s economy—to stay afloat.

Small Business Saturday is an effort to bring more light to these businesses during the holiday season, encouraging shoppers to invest their time and money locally. But shopping at local businesses does a lot more than boost an individual business; it boosts the entire local

Image Source: luluandgeorgia.com I Shop this look >

Refreshing your home’s interior does more than improve your aesthetic; it can also lift your daily mood, revive your spirit, and bring all kinds of new inspiration your way. However, any interior enthusiast knows that while it’s never a bad idea to give your nest a new look, that new look can come at a hefty price.

But with this season’s Black Friday home decor sales, you can cut that price by as much as 70%. Whether you’re looking for new artwork, updated furniture, or just a few fresh pieces of decor, the following Black Friday sales ensure you can get everything you’re looking for at a fraction of the full retail price.

Art.com

If you’re in the market for a new piece (or three) or

Eclectic, chic, and sophisticated are all apt words when viewing interiors designed by Kelly Behun. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Behun attended the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania before moving to New York to work at hotelier Ian Schrager’s design studio.

During her time with Schrager, Behun cultivated her eye for design while working under esteemed designer Philippe Starck. She and the team designed iconic interiors, such as the Mondrian in Los Angeles, the Delano in Miami, and the Paramount in New York City.

After honing her chops at Schrager’s design studio, Behun ventured out on her own, establishing the now incredibly popular Kelly Behun Studio. Behun’s aesthetic is both chic and eclectic, incorporating

Established in 2006 as a historic district to protect its unique mix of architectural styles, the Miami MiMo District has transformed from a decaying urban wasteland of the 1980s to a thriving community at the top of many residents' and developers’ lists of destinations to invest in.

MiMo gets its name from a style of mid-century architecture known as Miami Modern, so it is first and foremost an architectural neighborhood. With its primary construction having taken place from the 1920s-1950s, its buildings reflect the trends of that era, featuring a mix of Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and, of course, the post-war Modern styles of the 1950s.

Many businesses today are seeing the value of MiMo’s history and architectural bones. In the past 10 or so

Increasing the value of your home might seem like a major undertaking, but it’s actually a lot simpler than you might think. There are a number of relatively small and straightforward updates you can make that’ll increase your home’s value by a whole lot more than it took to integrate said updates. And not only do these updates make your home more valuable, but they also make it look more attractive, inviting, and fresh.

Whether you’re thinking about resale in the near future or you simply want a valuable aesthetic refresher, the following updates give you a major bang for your renovation buck.

Give Love to Your Landscape

Your landscaping is the first thing people see when they visit your home, so it makes sense that updating it increases

While bungalow is often used as a general term to describe a casual, one-story home or beach house, it actually has far more specific origins. The first bungalows were built in India by the British in the mid-19th century and the word bungalow is derived from the Indian Hindustani word bangal, which means “belonging to Bengal.”

The concept behind these first designs was a casual, straightforward, and simple construction that British travelers could use as a rest house. These initial structures typically featured large porches with deep overhangs to protect dwellers from the country’s hot climate. The American version of a bungalow was first constructed in southern California and didn’t appear until the early 20th century. This style of the home saw

 Given that it’s home to at least 153 brewhouses and often pegged as the Craft Beer Capital of the U.S., it should be no surprise that San Diego loves its beer. And while delicious craft beer can be enjoyed in any setting, there’s nothing quite like drinking a cold, frosty brew straight from the source. That said, with so many options at your disposal, it’s tough to narrow ‘em down to the best of the best. Fortunately, you don’t have to because we did it for you.

The next time you have a hankering for a fresh and frothy beer, check out one (or all) of the following tasty microbreweries. 

Belching Beaver

In just six short years since it opened in 2012, Belching Beaver has become a massive favorite in the San Diego brewery scene. In fact,