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There aren't many landscapes that have influenced a way of life and culture like the Adirondacks have. Adirondack decor is a unique blend of natural textures and substances, and you'll find its roots way back in the history of the region.
Most people think of log cabins when they think of Adirondack decor, and to some degree that's right. After all, the early settlers built their homes out of the natural material that was available - logs, stones, even mud. But those folks were so busy surviving in the harsh conditions that I doubt they were thinking much about decorating!
The Great Camps of the Adirondacks
The beautifully rustic Adirondack style really started in the heyday of the Great Camps. From the end of the Civil War to the Great Depression, the Adirondack Mountains were the playground of the wealthy. They would come during the summers, bringing their families and almost all of their belongings. Soon the Adirondacks become the place to be for the likes of Teddy Roosevelt and P.T. Barnum.
These wealthy vacationers soon started building their own homes in grand style, using the local natural stone and timber. These Great Camps, as they came to be called, were known for their great sweeping ceilings with huge log beams, numerous stone fireplaces, and large porches overlooking vistas of the lakes and mountains.
Not many of these Great Camps remain - most of them were destroyed by fire. But their adirondack style of decorating lives on in homes and camps around the country. Rustic furniture made of logs, birchbark dressers and armoires, beautifully lifelike animal carvings, and lamps made of deer antlers are just a few of the items that you can find gracing many homes in the Adirondacks.
The popular Adirondack chair is almost an institution by itself! You'll find these instantly recognizable chairs everywhere today. This chair was originally designed by Thomas Lee in 1903. He was on vacation in Westport, NY, near Lake Champlain, and needed some more seating for his family. So he used a single board, which he cut into 11 pieces, and set the seat at a slant to better fit the steep mountainside. An American icon was born!
You can even make your own Adirondack chairs! Click here for free Adirondack chair plans that you can download.
Lake Placid is a perfect place to see Adirondack decor used naturally. Many of the resorts and hotels here are built and decorated in the Great Camp style, so if you're planning a vacation here and are curious about this type of decorating, most likely you'll see it wherever you happen to stay.
So take a drive or walk around Lake Placid and feast your eyes on some of the natural beauty that we've built right into our homes.
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