Wood, wood, glorious wood.

1 medium sized tree = more wood than we thought possible.

Two recurring themes at Seaside Lodge: water and wood.

Water, because the lodge is sat right on the edge of a lake and is just a lazy 80m amble from Anderby Creek beach, one of the UK’s best kept secret beaches (says AOL Travel).

Wood, because it’s everywhere.

A light-stealing Sycamore has come down (to be replaced with a bed of coastal grasses and shrubs). Leaving 4 enormous piles of timber to be chopped up and left to season for the log burner at Seaside Lodge. There’ll be no bingo wings for us this year.

Also, on the wood theme, we put up some shelves made of scaffold boards and poles in the Lodge. And, we think they look really good.

Seaside Lodge’s kitchen is simple and open plan, but with plenty of modern appliances.

Next up, is making good the original 1958 cedar cladding outside.

Definitely on countdown to launch now!

If you are interested in staying in:
a) A luxury bolthole, near a picturesque, dog-friendly beach
b) A romantic hideaway with lovely views of the lake, and plenty of luxe touches
c) A peaceful lakeside lodge, where you can finish the book/painting/commission/drink too much wine, light the log burner and stare at the lake

from June 2015, please drop us an email: info@boltholeproperties.com.

To enquire about staying in this 1950s lakeside hideaway from June 2015 (near one of Britain’s ‘best undiscovered beaches‘), drop us an email: info@boltholeproperties.com.

“The ocean is a mighty harmonist” William Wordsworth.

Seaside Lodge is just 80m from one of Britain’s top hidden beaches

Before, during and (almost) after.

As we near the end of Seaside Lodge’s renovation, it’s fun to look back at some of the pictures we took when we first wielded a mallet.

We’ve nearly finished inside – another fortnight and it’ll be tip top. A perfect bolthole to relax and unwind in.

Now we’re finishing the exterior and garden. There’s painting, new cedar cladding, a dining/sitting deck over the lake, and the garden to landscape. With lots of coastal plants and grasses in soft yellows and blues.

So, although there’s still the finishes touches to complete, here are some before and (almost) after pics:

Privacy, restored.

Both of the privies at Seaside Lodge are now a lot more private. There are two lovely bathrooms at Seaside Lodge, both with showers, one with a big, deep bath.

Let there be light

That pile of insulation is now in the walls, and the original 1950s window over the south is flooded with light. There’s a quiet sitting area up here, with heaps of good books, games and DVDs to while away a quiet afternoon not spent on the beach.

Goodbye, plastic accordion door.

We’ll kind of miss that door. (No, we won’t)

A window to the west

Seaside Lodge’s kitchen is in the middle of the large open plan living space – 2 big sitting areas north and south and a dining/writing/study area to the east.

Now, a room with a view.

The master bedroom at Seaside Lodge now has another window, so you can wake up to the tranquil view over the lake. There’s an en-suite shower room too.

To enquire about staying in this 1950s lakeside hideaway from June 2015 (near one of Britain’s ‘best undiscovered beaches‘), drop us an email: info@boltholeproperties.com.

Steering into harbour. Me hearties.

Kitch + 1950s + nautical.

We’re feverishly opening boxes at Seaside Lodge, unpacking all the pieces we’ve been collecting from the four corners (of the UK) to give the lodge a special lodge-y-1950s-slightly-Scandi-a-tad-nautical-English-seaside-creative feel. It’s exciting, we forgot we had stalked and hunted down some of these treasures.

A post about the finishes touches shortly – when we finally get to the bottom of all the bubble wrap.

Renovation-wise, we’re nearly done inside. Some final painting, kitchen door fronts and scaffold shelving to complete. Here are some pics from the last week. Happy to report the lodge definitely looks more like a messy home than a building site. There’s progress for you.

Now, on to the garden. The planting is underway. We start building the deck over the lake in a week or so.

Technically, a stag isn’t a seaside animal. But this one is wooden. So it’s allowed.

The bedrooms are finished. Yay!

Lousy shot, great view at sunset. In future, we won’t let the photographer near the rosé.

The main living area is getting there!

Kitchen wall – bear with, it’s going to look great.

Stop press: duck egg 1950s tiles now on kitchen wall.

Waking up to the view of the lake – bliss.

No matter what time you open the blinds, Colin the Moorhen will be doggedly swimming across the lake. And back again.

The first print is up – Ground Swell by Edward Hopper. A present from our pal Mandy.

There are many more paintings and prints to follow.

Seaside Lodge’s personalised postbox.

Totally unnecessary postbox, but kind of sweet.

Love chilly evenings at Seaside Lodge.

You too will come to love a cold snap. It’s an excuse to light the log burner and snuggle down for the evening.

To enquire about staying in our 1950s lakeside hideaway (near one of Britain’s ‘best undiscovered beaches‘), please drop us an email: info@boltholeproperties.com

Windows 2.0

Seaside Lodge has one of the last remaining original 1950s window at the front.

There’s been a lot of window action at Seaside Lodge over the last few days.

We still have the outside to renovate and paint, and the garden to plant and fence, but inside the transformation is moving really quickly now. (Just as well, our first guests are booked in May!)

The frosted effect being fitted to the the south facing 1950s window.

First to get the treatment was the big window over the front of the lodge. It’s south facing and wonderfully warm and bright, but the etch-effect helps diffuse really stark light, and the Seaside Lodge design fits perfectly into the top left window in the pic above. Many thanks to Mark and Michelle (and Mia and Marni) from brilliant sign designers and manufacturers De-signage for coming over and fitting it. We all went for out for fish and chips afterwards too (any excuse for chips…mmm, chips).

No more sheets across windows at Seaside Lodge.

Just one more window to go, then Seaside Lodge will be officially curtained-up. There will be a ceremonial burning of the old ones!

To enquire about staying in our 1950s lakeside hideaway (near one of Britain’s ‘best undiscovered beaches‘), drop us an email: info@boltholeproperties.com

Goodbye old curtains!