The main bathroom at Seaside Lodge
The main bathroom at Seaside Lodge is complete.
The forecast is warm, with continual showers and occasional deep baths.
Fluffy towels in abundance
Little luxe touches make all the difference
If you’d like to stay in our newly renovated 1950s wooden lodge, on a lake and just 80m from a quiet, unspoilt beach, drop us an email at info@boltholeproperties.com
There’s something very English about tapping a barometer, even when it’s a French one. Every time I pass it, I tap it, but I have absolutely no idea why. Can anyone tell me?
The barometer is another 1950s touch at Seaside Lodge
Seaside Lodge is a 1950s wooden lakeside holiday lodge, just 80m from the glorious Anderby Creek beach – luxuriously renovated and available to let from June 2015. For more info, drop us an email at info@boltholeproperties.com
Some recent pictures of progress on Seaside Lodge’s renovation.
We’ve got our first 4 bookings (yay!), and are getting very excited about reaching the finishing line. We’ve had some fantastic feedback from visitors, and several people coming for a look around on spec.
Available to let from 1 June 2015. For more info, drop us an email at info@boltholeproperties.com
Bedroom 1 at Seaside Lodge has an en-suite shower room.
The open plan sitting room has large doors opening onto a deck over the fishing lake.
The open plan living area has two sitting areas, one by the lake and log burner, the other in a quiet study space (ignore the tree clippings, they’re toast!)
Soon-to-be-organised library and study area by the original 1958 south facing window
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.
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.
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!
‘Bathing Beauties’ was launched to promote this lovely, almost forgotten, stretch of Lincolnshire coastline with an international competition for artists, architects and designers to ‘Re-imagine the Beach Hut for the 21st Century’. 240 incredible design structures from over 15 countries were submitted. Anderby Creek is home to 2 ‘Bathing Beauties’ – the Round and Round House and the Cloud Bar.
The Cloud Bar at Anderby Creek.
The UK’s first permanent cloud watching outpost, designed by Michael Trainor. A unique larch, acrylic and concrete construction, featuring a cloud-spotting menu, specially designed cloud-viewing seating and self-operating parabolic cloud-mirrors to magic the sky down to the earth.
Recognised as the world’s first ‘Official Cloud Spotting Area’ by The Cloud Appreciation Society 
The Round and Round House at Anderby Creek.
This small building was designed by Kingston and Weber of Soma Design and chosen in the Bathing Beauties competition because it’s ideal for bird-watching. Constructed from curved laminated plywood. Positioned in the dunes 350m south of the beach entrance, up a narrow wooden boardwalk and steps.
This year, the annual Bathing Beauties festival is held on 5-6th September. http://www.bathingbeautiesfestival.org/bathing-beauties.html
Blinds up in the master bedroom -lovely to open them first thing and watch the birds on the lake.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been steadily chipping away at the remaining renovation projects on Seaside Lodge, and we can see the finishing line in our sights. Visits from a 2 holiday home professionals have been informative and helpful, and both of them said the lodge is going to be at the top end of a four star property, which is lovely to hear.
We got a lot done over the last few days, and managed to have some serious beach time too.
1 lattice willow hedge planted
1 weeping willow by the lake planted
2 sea buckthorns planted
1 bay tree planted
2 garden bird boxes installed
3 blinds put up
3 door frames painted
4 cupboards fitted out and undercoated
Ensuite shower room completed
1 wall painted
10 cakes eaten (we needed the energy).
Everything is on-stream for lettings to commence in May – we’ve even got our first 4 bookings! The website is underway and should be up in three weeks. To enquire about staying in Seaside Lodge please drop us an email: info@boltholeproperties.com
The main bathroom is nearly finished
The master bedroom is painted
The en suite shower room at Seaside Lodge is complete – and fab.
Top tip: bring kite strings to Anderby Creek beach.
Walking down to the beach from the Round and Round House – a 360 hide to watch wildlife.
Hiding in the hide.
A walk through the dunes to the hide.
After all that fresh air we needed non-cake sustenance. The platter at The Fat Seagull up the road was delicious.
The Fat Seagull’s platter is yummy.
There are 2 dog-friendly beaches on the doorstep at Seaside Lodge. And, with 3 Blue Flag beaches nearby (Mablethorpe, Skegness and Sutton-on Sea), it’s no surprise that Lincolnshire’s sandy beaches are rated up there with the best in the world. Miles of sandy stretches edged by a shallow tide, make Lincolnshire’s beaches perfect for walking, birdwatching, picnicing, or just relaxing.
Anderby Creek Beach
The stunning, unspoilt beach is fully open to dogs September-March (just clean up any dog doings!). During March-September, dogs are still allowed on the beach within a specific area.
Moggs Eye Beach
Just up the road (or beach), this beach is fully open to dogs all year round. It’s popular with dog walkers, as it’s never too busy.
If you’re interested in staying at Seaside Lodge, it’s worth noting that we’re happy to accept one small dog by arrangement.
For more info, or to enquire about booking Seaside Lodge for a short break or longer holiday, please drop us a line: info@boltholeproperties.com
The pace has stepped up several notches now. Noticeable not least because we keep running out of teabags.
We’ve got a great team of people helping us with Seaside Lodge – big thanks especially to Steve, who has been with us from the off, and has braved the cold before the insulation went in!
Steve’s so excited the renovation’s nearly done, he’s wearing a party hat.
Finally, the french doors go in. At the moment the deck overlooking the lake is a makeshift construction with 3 pallets, but even so, the view is knockout.
The old window over the lake, from the sales brochure
How it looked, once the walls came down.
Open ’til late.
A late night getting the doors fitted.
Next morning at Anderby Creek. 50% more lake and sky.
Words are bit superfluous here. Pictures taken on the beach, with an iPhone, at Anderby Creek 2 days ago. Sky and light were utterly breathtaking. And, the beach was empty.
Deserted beach and a blue, blue sky.
Looking South toward the outfall on a sunny February afternoon on Anderby Creek beach
The photogenic beach houses at Anderby Creek
Susanne adding a bit of colour contrast up in the Cloud Bar.
The clouds on Anderby Creek beach can be nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Anderby Creek Cloud Bar mirror
A lot to do at Seaside Lodge this morning – painting, pruning, sanding and waxing (furniture, cheeky!), but the sky is blue and it’s very hard to believe it’s mid-February.
So, we’re going to have another coffee and stare out at the lake some more.
Like Franz Kafka said:Â “Idleness is the beginning of all vice, the crown of all virtues”.
Splash of milk in my coffee please.
Seaside Lodge, lazy Sunday morning.
Seaside Lodge, lazy Sunday morning II
“We can’t sit around staring at the lake and drinking coffee all day”.
So we walked to the beach instead.
By the way, all these pics were taken on the morning of 15th February 2015 – it got cooler later, but the beach was as warm as the end of April.
We did get quite a lot done on the lodge later, I sanded and waxed an Ercol chair and Jon painted a floor, but it was one heck of a way to start the day.
Seaside Lodge, lazy Sunday morning III
Seaside Lodge, lazy Sunday morning IV
Fun times! Mood boards and colour palettes for Seaside Lodge
All the fabrics and colours are sorted. Creams, neutrals and some dusty blues. Colours chosen from the Lincolnshire skies, water and fields, with a dash of retro 1950s to boot. Undercoat is going on the new plaster, and early reports are ‘wow, this works’.
On the lake side of the lodge, the log burner sits unwrapped, just waiting for its flue, a limestone hearth and a couple of installers.
When I grow up I’m going to be like the guy in the picture.
Close Encounters. Of the lodge kind.
One of the last pictures of the lodge without the new doors, which will open onto a deck and lawn overlooking the lake.
Wake up to this view.
Huttoft Car Terrace
2 miles down the road to Sutton is another beach, Huffoft Car Terrace, it’s a great spot for eating fish and chips and watching the sky.
Seaside Lodge 