Last week, I took time out to create an indulgent getaway at a Michigan camping resort that would include cozy comforts and whimsical details. Since January, I had been curating pieces to put together for a theme that took me to this juxtaposition of vintage and exotic. The planned jaunt leading up to Memorial Day weekend soon arrived, and after hitching a trailer to the back of a friend's Jeep, we set off for a DIY destination that would soon materialize like a desert mirage.
It all starts with a bell tent, 5 meters in diameter. The deep-red-based Persian rug is unfurled and set at a dramatic angle, as well as the double-ringed, wrought iron chandelier suspended overhead from the tent's centered pole support. The foot of a deep, queen-sized air mattress abuts the pole, allowing for sparse-yet-necessary clearance for the heather-gray padded headboard. The legs of the surrounding bed frame are detached, allowing a low platform directly on the floor. Sumptuous bedding and pillows complete the invitation. Two storage ottomans double as night stands, decked out with kitschy orb-based lamps topped with peacock-feathered shades, steadied by scroll-engraved vintage silver platters.
Opposite the sleeping area, seating is realized. An enticing pair of outdoor reclining loungers, upgraded and fitted with custom-made trellis-patterned cushions, flanks a brass floor lamp with a slightly tapered box shade, adorned in a "gilded" cabbage-leaf stencil and faceted teardrop bead fringe. Below is a collapsible chevron-printed storage cube, supporting a distress wood framed serving tray of relief-stamped tin. This cradles a few themed accent vessels and a fragrant "tobacco flower" candle. Even with closed eyes, a North African vibe can begin to take hold.
A collapsible aluminum table is placed as a desk and general catch-all surface. Not far is a mod chrome and wood bar cart, stocked with a variety of snacks and libations. Its structure mirrors the undulating geometry of the surrounding textures. All the senses are accounted for and catered to in this luxuriously appointed hideout. It was worth the effort to enjoy its pampering yield.
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