PHOTO SOURCE: Different Maps
Purchasing gifts for family and friends is not always an easy task. Some people are super easy to buy for whereas others you can drive yourself crazy looking for the perfect gift. Then there comes the gifts you purchase for life’s special occasions such as an engagement party, wedding, graduation and the birth of a child. I personally find that buying gifts for special occasions (not for a birthday or Christmas) to be a lot easier, because there are usually plenty of good old standbys you can purchase if you are unable to come up with a better gift idea. For example, when shopping for a baby shower and/or the birth of a child, you can always find plenty of baby gifts (books, diapers, toys, clothing…) to choose from. The same would apply for a wedding gift (kitchen products, home decor, something off the couple’s gift registry…).
Ideally I always try and find the “perfect” gift for someone (or a couple). I try my hardest to find something that shows my friend or loved one that I put a lot of thought into finding their gift. I tend to start looking for special gifts as soon as I know I’ll be needing one, and not wait for the last minute.
When it comes to shopping for my husband, for example, I often go with a “theme,” and purchase gifts that go along with that theme. He loves when I do that.
I was recently introduced to one of the most beautiful and unique gift ideas I have ever seen – something that would be ideal for newlyweds, new homeowners, travelers, friends, family… just about anyone you can think of.
The brand is called Different Maps. Different Maps offers customers customized WOODEN maps for any place of their choosing. It can be their home, their childhood home, their favorite vacation spot or any other place in the WORLD that you can think of.
Different Maps are not “flat” wooden maps with the location etched into it, but rather these are 3-D maps that show every road in great detail. They even use blue resin to indicate where rivers, ponds, streams and lakes are located. They can even create maps for entire states and/or countries (including a world map), which don’t include roads, but are still made with great attention to detail.
Different Maps can be completely customized by YOU. You choose the location, the type of wood used, and the size of the map. In addition, you can personalize the map with specific locations, “pins” to make locations, and a personalized “plate” where you can add a special message or simply the location of the map. You can check out all the available personalization here – personalization options.
Different Maps was kind enough to make me a map to check out in person. Since my family (husband and children) have lived in our home for the past twenty seven years, I thought having a map to commemorate that would be ideal.
I provided Different Maps with my physical address. They also let me mark my home’s exact location with a “pin.” The “pin” I chose is a heart, since the people who own my heart live here. In addition I was able to have a “plate” added to the map that reads my family name and the year it was established (the year we moved in to our home).
I did see a proof of the map before it went into production. I knew it would look really cool simply based upon the proof photo but that photo was nothing compared to the actual map.
Here is the proof I received.
You can clearly see where there is a river (Hudson River), a large reservoir, and various lakes of different sizes.
The thicker lines are major roadways. The biggest one is a parkway. The smaller lines are roads.
My husband and I viewed the proof and were amazed at how accurate the map is. We were able to find our home’s exact location instantly, as well as follow the map to places we know (favorite restaurants, my job, the grocery store…). The Different Maps map is 100% accurate. We were impressed. But that didn’t prepare us for when the map arrived.
This is NOT a “cheap” product. Not by a long shot. The craftsmanship and incredible detail makes this a truly impressive piece of art.
Let me start with the packaging. Different Maps packaged my map up so well that I thought I was never going to get into it. Ha Ha. The map was wrapped in such a way that is was fully protected against bumps and dings during transit. No offense to shipping companies, but we all know that during transit things fall, get dropped and tossed around. Different Maps went above and beyond to ensure that my map arrived in perfect condition.
Because the map is made of wood and resin, it is heavy. You definitely need a nail to hang it up. Depending on your walls, adding a “molly” might not be a bad idea either. If not, try and make sure you add the nail to a stud to provide extra protection for the map.
The roads are 3-D inside the frame. It’s covered by glass to keep it protected. I really like the because I can only imagine trying to dust between the individual roads would be time consuming. With the glass cover all I need to do it dust across the front and sides of it.
The frame is thick. This is not a cheap or flimsy product at all.
I don’t want to show my home’s exact location (for obvious safety reasons), but our home is marked with a red resin heart. I love attention to detail that Different Maps offers their customers.
I took a photo of the map hanging up in my living room. My apologies that the quality of the photo is not the best. I also “fuzzed out” my family name and the year we moved in for safety reasons as well.
Our living room wall is a light green color, which shows you how “off” the photo is.
You need to see the Different Maps map in person in order to truly appreciate the beauty and quality of this amazing work of art. I am in awe of it every time I look at it.
I should point out that the river on the right side of the map (Hudson River) has different depths, which is why it’s darker blue in the middle (the deeper part of the river). Again, they put such great attention to detail. The large area to the left with no roads on it is a state park where there are very few roads as you can see on the map.
A map from Different Maps would make the idea gift for just about any occasion, as well as for family and friends. Anniversaries, weddings, new homeowners… I can think of so many occasions a map from Different Maps would make a great gift.
Give your loved one a Different Map of their place of birth, or favorite destination. What about a Different Map to show the location where a couple got married or honeymooned?
Gifting someone a map from Different Maps will truly be the most special and unique gift you could give someone. Don’t forget to “gift’ yourself a map of your home or favorite destination too. Different Maps are not just great gifts for others, but also someone to add to your own home.
To learn more about Different Maps visit them at DifferentMaps.store (notice it’s NOT .com). You can also check them out at their Etsy store. They are a “star seller” with over 5,600+ sales. If you check out their Etsy shop you’ll see that their customers are so happy with their maps that they rate the product with five stars. That is very impressive.
Different Maps can also be found on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to check them out.
What do you think of Different Maps? Would you like a map for yourself, or is there someone you would want to gift one too? Feel free to comment and share your thoughts. I always love to hear from readers.
Kimberly
*I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
