Colin and Justin: Designing a Cottage on a Budget
Ahead of Escapology publishing (October 13th 2020) Colin and Justin throw open the pages of their brand new book to share with Cottage Country Magazine a raft of ideas to make best of your country home.
We’re excited to give you a sneak peek into our latest style home (which you can find via Amazon or in all major book stores, come October) but ahead of time, we thought it would be fun to share a few ideas from Escapology – and some lovely imagery from the book’s pages – to get you in the mood…
Cottages, ultimately, should be relaxing, but if yours misses the mark, worry not: we’ve an arsenal of low-cost tips and tricks to make it better. The golden rule, though, is to spend time on maintenance and structure —so your cabin remains wind and water tight—before shelling out on its glossier elements.
Paint
Painting is relatively inexpensive and, tackled properly will elicit maximum results for minimum effort. But slow down: good prep costs nothing (only time) and finished results will shine. Rush in? Let’s just say your efforts will look disappointing.
Do It Yourself, but Do It Properly
Do what you can, but don‘t be a “have-a-go hero” if you’re not up to the task. Think about how much you would save if you could actually rewire, tile or swap out a roof, then estimate how much wasted time and cash there would be if your home became a series of botched jobs. Time to call in the pros? YES! Think DFY – Done For You…
Keep Valuable Space for Living, not Storage
If storage quarters exist, use ‘em. If matters get out of hand, consider investing in a garden shed, or convert a corner in the basement to provide a stash zone for paraphernalia. Cleaning and defining space costs nothing, so lose clutter and keep rooms “single-function.” However, if you have to house a home office (perhaps in a bedroom) endeavour to keep the trappings of work in a cupboard, out of sight when not in use.
Juggle and Shift
Sometimes a change of orientation is all that’s needed to freshen proceedings and proffer a whole new look. This in mind, move your sofa to the other side of the 
room, try the bed on another wall or rearrange accessories to re-dress your space.
If you’ve got it, flaunt it
Raid the attic; fish out granny’s old chest and give it a facelift. New paint and handles could make it worthy of being center stage once again. Similarly, add shelves to a dated armoire and transform it into a media centre. Or reach for the sewing machine and make slipcovers for an old sofa. Always think out of the box and, wherever possible, learn to look at things differently.
Swap Skills
Ok, so you’re handy with a needle, but know nothing about electrics. So what are you going to do about your terrible cabin lighting? Hold on: your next-door neighbour’s a friendly electrician, but he has terrible curtains. Offer to make him some new drapery in exchange for fitting some overhead lighting? Think about swapping skills with friends, family and neighbours as a way of “paying” for home improvements.
Search out “Scratch and Dent”
Scour larger furniture stores for discounts on lightly damaged items, customer returns or even last season’s stock. Some stores have dedicated clearance centres, so scout around. Remember: it’s not how much money you spend, rather how (and where) you spend it that makes the biggest difference.
Invest in a Hero Piece
It’s worth shelling out a little bit extra for comfort—you want the best sofa and bed you can afford—and on key pieces like branded kitchen appliances that set the scene for overall quality.
Web Tactics
Scan the internet for bargains. Not only is there a world of opportunity at your fingertips, you’ll save money by avoiding gas costs associated with driving around trying to find deals. Bear in mind, however, there may be delivery costs when you total up your spend…
Seasonal Adjustment
Where possible, design with a neutral backbone and choose relatively plain wall coverings and furniture. Then switch up your overall look with accessories. Remember, it’s cheaper to change “decorative jewellery” than reconfigure a whole room so, if you’re a habitual re-designer, let the seasons guide you: tailor your vibe with textiles to keep your cabin fresh for less.
There’s no doubt the global health crisis has made more folk than ever think about investing in a country escape. You guys – and we, of course – have always been fans of the rustic idyll, but now the world’s taking note. We hope you enjoy reading Escapology as much as we did writing our new book. Leaf the information and picture laden pages and drift off to a whole new, safer world. We’ve got your back!
Escapology published by Figure.1 is available in book shops everywhere from October 13th and can be immediately pre-ordered from Chapters Indigo and Amazon
