Winter is upon us. The hours of daylight are fleeting. The lakes are nearly frozen over. Snow flurries are making a regular appearance. And life seems to have slowed to a crawl. Ahhh…December in the Northwoods.
Normally, we’d be looking forward to this time of year, where our schedules ease up and give us a rest from the hustle and bustle of daily living. This year, the quiet seems an all-too-familiar reminder of the months past, in which life came to a halt…and never seemed to resume.
But in the stillness and calm of the low-key holiday season, it feels appropriate to pause, to reflect, and to count the many blessings we have experienced in the midst of this unexpected year.
So in lieu of that trip you may have been planning this December, I invite you to travel with us down Memory Lane as we recount some of the wonderful experiences, life seasons, and home advice we’ve shared with you, our beloved readers, this year…
The Blessing of Travel
2020 started off with a bang when our fun-loving group once again escaped the snowy, dreary Wisconsin January (little did we know that this would be the only trip we’d take all year) to travel down to one of our favorite events in Atlanta, GA — the annual Accessories & Gifts Market!
We spent several exciting days checking out this year’s trends in accessories and home decor and came back with inspiration galore. From gold accents to vibrant colors, rustic charm to eco-friendly home products, we were filled with anticipation at helping infuse these glorious trends into your lake homes this year.
While brief, we are so grateful for this girls’ getaway that provided not only professional inspiration, but also time to connect and make cheerful memories together.
The Blessing of the Outdoors
As the weather started to turn milder, we began dreaming of days by the lake. We found ourselves ready to watch the sun set on the patio while firing up the grill. So, in that spirit, we got a jump start on summer in Wisconsin and shared our to-do list for preparing outdoor living spaces for the sweltering days and warm, starry nights ahead. From cleaning your deck floors to preparing your furniture, airing out those cushions, adding seasonal accessories, and more, we had you covered!
And then with the summer days came a glimmer of hope. Things were trending in the right direction pandemic-wise, and, at least here in Northern WI, our lives started to slowly return to some new sense of normal. We had the chance to host family at the cabin for a cookout, reconvene the ladies’ monthly book club on the patio, and plan an intimate lakeside dinner party for close friends, which meant preparing our outdoor living areas for hosting with recipes, servingware, and shade coverings that would delight and inspire each of our guests.
It may have been brief, but those outdoor months up north filled our souls, renewed our spirits, and blessed us with safe, sanity-saving connections. Sure, we missed the Friday night fish fry at our favorite local supper club, but Old Fashioneds on our own decks gave us a new appreciation for our outdoor living spaces…and made us extra grateful for this beautiful place we get to call home.
The Blessing of Home
Throughout the year, the themes of comfort, joy, and peace at home seemed to resonate with our team and our wonderful clients. And with the ups and downs, the unknowns and disappointments, we’ve tried to do our part in helping others to move forward…with optimistic spirits and contentment in their homes.
We started small, offering decorating tips that would help take the edge off the dullness of winter and rejuvenate the cabin, making it feel fresh and new again. Fun patterns, varied textures, mismatched furniture, and some good ole Sconnie pride topped our list for reinventing the lake home and bringing some zest for life back into your family’s everyday living.
Taking this a step further, we created a game plan for organizing, decluttering, and redesigning a space that inspired feelings of security and comfort during those days that felt so unsure. Our five tips, from decluttering to decorating, helped many of you seize control of your space, your time, and the way you felt at home.
When we all needed a bit of cheering up, we were able to feature some of the unique and Northwoods-inspired artwork that we carry year-round. After all, art isn’t just an accessory. It makes you feel. With that thought in mind, many of you came in to browse our collections and ask our advice in selecting the perfect additions to the decor of your lake home…and we are happy to report that you left inspired and eager to elevate your indoor living spaces.
And as fall set in, with the changing leaves and regular scent of campfires in the air, we decided to tackle the coziest room of all…the bedroom. We walked you through the basics of bedding and offered inspiration for a comfy retreat that melts the stress away the moment you walk in.
We are so grateful for our homes. Our sanctuaries. The places we can be ourselves, experience the emotions of life, and find ourselves comforted by the people we hold most dear.
Tending to our homes this year has been a blessing…reevaluating our decor, redecorating in a way that inspires peace, and falling in love with our spaces once again. Having the time and energy to focus on our biggest investment has been a tremendous gift.
The Blessing of Work
We were able to start carrying some new lines of custom furniture for all of you this year, and we heard time and time again that these new additions to your home sparked joy and infused some excitement into an otherwise uneventful 2020.
While we had to keep the showroom capacity limited, we loved seeing your happy faces (well, eyes, let’s be real…since the smiles were covered with masks) as you browsed this new lineup and selected the perfect pieces for your lake homes.
Everything looked different this year, but we are so blessed to have been able to stay open, serving you in-person and at a distance. Thank you for your continued support of our business and trust in us. We are so very thankful!
The Blessing of Family
If you’re anything like us, you wouldn’t have survived this year without family. The nightly meals together, the impromptu game nights, the closeness you’ve grown as you’ve sheltered in place together. No, it hasn’t always been a walk in the park, but overall, the family time this year has been an indescribable blessing.
Knowing our families could all use a bit of excitement, we shared a few creative ideas for livening up your kitchen table on those sometimes mundane weeknights with out-of-the-box dinner plans, inspiration for family activities, and a lot of crazy tabletop fun.
And as the holiday season approached without the promise of merry gatherings and large family get-togethers, we put on our thinking caps and shared some of the ways that we plan to show our loved ones how much they mean to us this year. From mailing a gift to sending a card, bringing them dinner, catching up virtually, and more, we brought ideas for closeness, even when you must be far away.
So, as we wrap up this year in review, we realize just how much we have to be grateful for. Our homes, our health, our livelihoods, our loved ones, and all of you — our lovely, loyal customers.
Despite the setbacks and disappointments, the frustrations and unknowns, we’ve persevered, endured, and even thrived…continuing to move forward with hope for the future, joy in the gifts we have been given, and peace with the season we are in.
May you find the time to reflect and rejoice this holiday season, no matter where you are.
With love and gratitude,
The Lakeside Living Team