It’s true what they say – that everything comes back in style. It seems like every other day, you hear about reboots of old TV shows and movies. Or the resurrection of classic cars like the Ford Bronco and the upcoming Volkswagen Bus, with new modern features. The same trend is happening with interior design. People are looking to the past for inspiration and bringing elements of nostalgia into more contemporary spaces, with “newstalgia” design.
Newstalgia is one of the biggest interior design trends of the year. Not to be confused with “cottage core,” which is described as grandma chic, newstalgia is defined by an eclectic blend of old and new, filled with character and colour. On one hand, the design aesthetic feels nostalgic and approachable, while on the other hand, it includes the conveniences of today – the comfort of the past plus the convenience of the present.
Newstalgia design is an excellent option for those who don’t
want their homes confined to just one style but rather are drawn to a
collection of styles from different eras that complement one another.
Here are just a few ways you can incorporate elements of newstalgia design into your home.
Living Room
Capture the newstalgia look by including antique furniture
with modern or contemporary pieces to create a unique and balanced look. A
local thrift store or antique shop are great places to find old furniture in
good condition. You can take it a step further by refinishing vintage pieces
with a fresh coat of paint and new hardware to update their classic design.
Make a statement in the living room by adding a velvet sofa in a dramatic jewel tone like Emerald Green. The bold and lush fabric brings an element of timeless luxury into a space. If you prefer a throwback look, a tufted velvet sofa may be a fun option to incorporate into a newstalgia aesthetic. Complete the look with a revamped, vintage coffee table or end tables and a stylish contemporary floor lamp or chandelier.
Kitchen
A chic way to channel newstalgia style in the kitchen is to add retro-inspired appliances like those from the Northstar line from Elmira Stove Works. The 1950s-inspired kitchen appliances include ranges, refrigerators, microwaves, and more. A Northstar refrigerator in Robin’s Egg Blue, Mint Green or Candy Red would be the perfect conversation piece in a kitchen. The distinctive look will add character and give the space a feel that harkens to the past, while the technology and high performance features will provide the functionality today’s homeowners expect. Not to mention adding a cheerful pop of colour!
If retro isn’t your thing, perhaps you will enjoy the look of something even more seasoned like Elmira’s Antique line of appliances. You can capture newstalgia design in the kitchen with an 1850s-style range for a fresh take on traditional Victorian style. Choose a non-traditional colour such as Liberty Blue or Cayenne Pepper Red to beautifully mesh the elements of old and new.
Bedroom
Mixing furniture from different periods works well in the bedroom too. You can get the newstalgia look by adding an old dresser, side table or vintage mirrors and artwork to give the space a one-of-a-kind feel. Again, use your creativity to update the pieces and make them your own. This will allow you to put a personalized spin on a traditional design.
Or, if you prefer not to get your hands dirty, consider purchasing replicas of classic furniture such as an Eames chair and ottoman for lounging in style. Tie everything together with modern touches to achieve the perfect newstalgia aesthetic.
No matter how much time passes, we always find a way to look back upon days of old with fondness. By bringing items – or design elements – from a bygone era into a new time, we can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Newstalgia design is an excellent way to combine looks from different eras to create a cohesive look that cherishes the past and present.
Road trips remain one of the easiest ways to explore new places, and are especially popular for family trips. These fun journeys allow you to go at your own pace and enjoy as many (or as few) sites as you desire. Go “old school” and grab a map, or enter your destination into your GPS, and get ready to hit the road.
Here are some of our favorite road trips to take across Canada and the Unites States.
Cabot Trail
This
two-lane road, which first opened in 1932, weaves through 180 miles of Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Highlands National Park
and across the magnificent Gulf of Saint Lawrence coastline – rewarding travelers with stunning valley and coastal vistas
along the way.
The road
passes through communities with both Scottish and French influences, where
there is much culture to discover. Visit Black Brook
Beach near Ingonish for a refreshing jump in the waves, a waterfall and a short
hiking trail, or take a Highlands helicopter
tour of the entire area for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Try your hand at fishing
or spend some time learning about the history of the land’s longtime shipbuilding
and transatlantic commerce.
Don’t forget to schedule a stop at Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck and make sure to book a behind-the-scenes tour to see and experience even more of Bell’s inventions. If time permits, take a hike in Meat Cove to enjoy the amazing views and book a whale watching cruise in Pleasant Bay.
Cabot Trail
Dempster Highway
This is the route for those
who want to venture off the beaten path on their next road trip. The Dempster Highway, a 458-mile-long
gravel road that connects Canada’s Southern Yukon Territory with Inuvik, the
Mackenzie Delta and communities in the Northwest Territories, passes
through some of the world’s most impressive terrain. The highway – Canada’s
only all-season public road crossing the Arctic Circle – is an all-weather gravel road with two ferry crossings.
Start near Dawson City and travel north
through the Northwest Territories to Inuvik. Go off track and explore the
Klondike Gold Rush museum located in downtown Dawson and – in the evening,
before heading off into the wilderness – kick your feet up at Diamond Tooth
Gerties.
Experience
dramatic tundra landscapes, mountain ranges, and plentiful wildlife all along
the journey to the Arctic Circle. The area is home to caribou, moose, mountain
sheep, grizzly bears, marmots and collared pica; along with golden eagles,
hawks, falcons, owls and many other birds.
The best time for reliable driving weather is June through September, when the days are long and on the warmer side. As facilities are few and far between on this stretch of highway, make sure to carry a full-sized spare tire (or two), along with extra water and gas.
Dempster Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
Want to see a wide swath of Canada’s beautiful
landscape in one road trip? Hop on the Trans-Canada Highway. The famed roadway
spans 4,860 miles (7821 kilometres) from Victoria on Vancouver Island to St.
John’s, Newfoundland, and stretches across all 10 of the country’s provinces
(and six-time zones), a trip that could easily take three weeks.
For a more manageable trip, we recommend
starting your journey in Victoria, British Columbia, and then making your way
east to Calgary. In Victoria, you can enjoy the history of Craigdarroch Castle,
explore Butchart Gardens’ vivid floral displays, savor the pristine beaches and
perhaps catch sight of a whale.
Next, head to Salmon Arm, an area ideal for fishing and kayaking that also boasts a host of wineries and restaurants along with arboreal forests and the breathtaking Margaret Falls. And no trip is complete without a visit to Glacier National Park. Check out Illecillewaet Glacier as well as Rogers Pass and the Rogers Pass National Historic Site.
Finally, make your way to Calgary, where you can visit sites such as Heritage Park, a recreation of a typical village from the pioneering period or Fort Calgary, the first outpost of the Northwest Mounted Police. If time allows, take a day trip from Calgary to Banff and famed Lake Louise, known for its dazzling turquoise waters framed by stunning snowcapped mountains.
Lake Louise
Overseas Highway
Traveling down from the
mainland of Florida, it’s easy to understand why the southernmost leg of the U.S.
highway system is often referred to as the “Overseas Highway.” This
113-mile-long highway stretches over the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean,
connecting all of the Florida Keys to the mainland.
Cruise down the highway on
your all-American adventure, as you pass small green mile markers and
experience inviting views of blue green crystalline water. Start your journey
in Key Largo, the northernmost mile marker, which is known for the John
Pennekamp Coral Reef Park, which spans more than 2,900 square miles on both
sides of the island chain.
Continue the journey with
breathtaking views of the wilder terrestrial and marine life of the Lower Keys,
where the bulk of the residents have four legs, fins, or feathers. This area,
which is home to two national wildlife refuges and is recognized as the least
“people-populated” region of the Keys, is ideal for a relaxing but adventure-filled
day.
Cap off your journey with a visit to legendary Key West. Visit the home of literary icon Ernest Hemingway, which was built in the 1930s – don’t forget to look for the polydactyl (six-toed) cats. And no visit would be complete without enjoying the nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square Dock, where arts and crafts exhibitors, street performers, food carts, and thousands of tourists from around the world gather to watch the sun drop into the Gulf of Mexico.
Overseas Highway
Route 66
Get your kicks on Route 66,
and kick up the dust with a road trip from Illinois to California via Route 66.
No road trip bucket list would be complete without this massive cross-country
American trek. This renowned route runs diagonally across the center of the
United States, passing through eight states that offer some of the country’s
most iconic roadside landscapes.
Route 66
starts in downtown Chicago and ends at the Santa Monica pier in Southern California.Begin your journey in Lake Michigan and travel 2,500
miles along one of the country’s first highways, as you follow in the footsteps
of prior generations.
Along the way, stop and immerse yourself in a plethora of historic landmarks and quirky vistas. There’s America’s oldest church, St Joseph’s, located in New Mexico, the ghost town of Oatman in Arizona, and a fascinating art car installation at Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas. You can also check out the world’s largest rocking chair in Fanning, Missouri along with a slew of retro diners to keep you and other travelers well-nourished along the way.
Complete your journey at the Santa Monica Pier, where you can take a ride on the 1922 carousel, roller coaster and Ferris wheel, and try your skills at the arcade before grabbing something sweet from the soda fountain.
Route 66
Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway
(PCH) runs along the California coast, connecting San Francisco to San Diego
and spanning more than 600 miles of California’s rugged coastline.
Buckle up for a leisurely journey filled with no
shortage of picturesque spots. Pull off at scenic overlooks to take in the
mountains, towering trees, expansive white sand beaches, and boundless sky. The
route also offers a wonderful opportunity to experience all of the character
California has to offer, including pioneer outposts, farm fresh foods, surfing
villages and local wines.
Begin at the Golden Gate
Bridge and weave your way through the mountains, with their magnificent sheer
drop-offs and stunning vistas. Visit the many tiny towns peppered along the way
for a touch of local cuisine or a refreshing libation. Explore Big Sur’s rocky
mountains, which are covered in magnificent redwood forests and lead to a stunning
coastline.
Continue
south to Cambria, a quaint seaside community with rocky shorelines and abundant
sea life where you can visit the Piedras Blancas
Friends of the Elephant Seal rookery. It’s also worthwhile to spend a
day on the water in Morro Bay, where you may see blue
herons, monarch butterflies, hummingbirds and sea otters.
End your trip in sunny San Diego, home to the USS Midway, an aircraft-carrier-turned-museum, and the historic Coronado Hotel.
Pacific Coast Highway
Extraterrestrial Highway
Want a more offbeat road trip
and the chance for a “close encounter of the third kind?” Travel into the open expanses
of western Nevada on the Extraterrestrial Highway. The two-and-half-hour drive
connects the Nevada high desert from the Alamo and Crystal Springs area to
Tonopah.
Be sure to stay alert on what
may seem like a regular desert drive, but has a storied history of alien
encounters and hidden secrets. Detour off the path and explore Extraterrestrial
Highway sights such as the Black Mailbox and Little A’Le’Inn.
Looking for aliens can be tempting, but it’s best to stay away from Area 51 located at Nellis Air Force Base’s Nevada Test and Training Range, as security doesn’t take kindly to unannounced visitors. Stay on course and enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with driving on this other worldly highway.
Extraterrestrial Highway
Road trips can be a great way to spend times with loved ones and enjoy the great outdoors. These iconic journeys will evoke old memories and are sure to help you create new ones.
Speaking of nostalgia, why not
bring a touch of the past to your home with an Elmira Stove Works or Northstar
range or fridge?
TheNorthstar linebrings bold, beautiful lines and a vibrant pop of color to mid-century, retro, farmhouse and contemporary kitchens. All-electric, all-gas and dual fuel models feature electric, high-speed radiant elements or high-output gas burners. Available in a choice of nine not-so-standard colors along with custom hues and a variety of trim options, these appliances will bring character and flair to any kitchen.
Our Antique/Heritage appliances offer vintage styling with state-of-the-art performance and convenience. Available in a spectrum of standard and custom colors, and featuring polished nickel trim or optional antique copper trim, these distinctive appliances are perfectly-suited for farmhouse, Victorian, log home or even more contemporary settings.
