House Tour: Helen & Frazer's Solar Powered Beach Shack Isle of Wight, United Kingdom

Name: Helen & Frazer Cunningham
Location: Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK
Type: Beach Shack
Size: Dolls House!
Years lived in: Owned for 4 years

Enter Helen & Frazer's Gallery

Visiting the shack is not just like visiting a different place, its visiting a different time. The shack is an English holiday cottage from yesteryear, with cleverly chosen decor, furniture and appliances that take you back but also seem totally genuine and appropriate. Few homes could evoke such strong emotions and feelings as this one, even in those too young to have witnessed this style. A great example of the power of design...

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Helen and Frazer have carefully created a fabulous escape in a great spot, footsteps from the beach near Cowes on the Isle of Wight. They have taken care of every bit of detail from the beautifully sourced furniture and crocheted blankets to the retro board games. The shack has no electricity, other than solar power providing a few hours of lighting per day and a chemical toilet, the perfect eco-friendly retreat with style! For more of Helen and Frazer's creations see : Vintage Vacations.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My/Our Style: Eclectic, vintage, nostalgic KITSCH, humorous

Inspiration: Enid Blyton meets Martin Parr

Favorite Element: Wood

Biggest Challenge: Winter months …. It gets wet by the sea!

What Friends Say: ‘Can we come and stay?’

Proudest DIY: The shingling to the side of the shack (Frazers credit)

Biggest Indulgence: Hmmmmm …. Ourselves probably!

Best advice: Don’t think about it – just do it.

Resources:

Kitchen Hardware: : Cheap and cheerful, Basic ranges from the DIY store

Accessories: : Decorative ones are vintage – workaday from IKEA

Lighting: : All solar …. Or candles.

Painting jobs: : Dulux weathershield – Dulux water based inside

Art: : All boot sales

Carpets: : A mix of vintage and IKEA

Tiles and Stone: : A piece of slate by the wood burner and DIY basic white in the kitchen and bathroom

Window Treatments: : Vintage ‘Union Jack’ flags, vintage curtains and tablecloths

Beds: : Designers Guild and junk shops

Dining Room Furniture: : Old Formica table and some sweet steel and hardwood chairs

Beds: : The usual mix of salvaged and new.

Other: : No more rooms unless you include the beach

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Thanks Helen & Frazer!

Comments (21)

I'd like to see a floorplan for this... is there a full kitchen? Anywhoo, love that all of the furniture looks second hand and well chosen. Love the Union Jack curtain and the frosted glass kitchen cabinets. You don't see those everyday...

http://www.tangiedecor.blogspot.com

Very nicely done smaller space. I love the aqua trim.

Is it ever rented out to vacationers? If so, I'm there.

Owe!! the beauty and coziness! I think this is the perfect retreat. Lots of clever furnishing ideas and simple and rustic charm. I reminds me of the northern California coast!

Cute. I like the oars as curtain rods.

Tell us more about the solar system

After looking at the interior pics, it looks like to me that "solar" means the sun comes in the window and lights the place up during the day. Candles at night. =)

A very lovely and airy place to relax in by the sea. They must, however, have another larger shack right behind this one to store all of their STUFF!

You better enjoy spending all your time at the beach, cos it doesn't like there is much to do in this house other than stare at the walls or sleep.

Lovely and simple. What more does one need if you're on vacation or weekend getaway. A small front porch to sip on some morning coffee/tea or afternoon lemonade/ice tea. The beech at your front/back door a chair to read a book and a bed to crash in when it's time to sleep. And I imagine peacefully. Gorgeous!

I love love love that big fuzzy cushion in the living room - where is that from?!

That Union Jack curtain with paddle rod is greatness.

Oh, how I wish!

Ooooohhh! I would love to spend a weekend at this shack. To be able to walk out your door and be right on the beach is heaven! Lovely shack!

Debbie
http://girlwhimsy.blogspot.com

Hallejuah! Such a pleasant place to stay and enjoy the nothingness.
Nothing to do! Put away computers, cell phones, etc. Listen, to the sounds of the surf, birds, and lapping waves. Feel the sand between your toes and feel the warmness of the breeze across your face. Smell the salty ocean. Watch the wonderful waves and beautiful setting sun.
You are blessed with a awesome place and setting!

Enid Blyton meets Martin Parr ... Excellently done. It looks like the most fun place to retreat to.

This is so cute, it makes a nice change from the usual teeny tiny beach huts along the UK coastline.

http://the-upside-down-tree.blogspot.com/