We’ve bought a log holiday home and haven’t looked back – despite lockdown!

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“I’m really glad we did it,” explains Sue Garlinge about her and her husband Mike’s purchase of a Norwegian Log lodge. “We were a little apprehensive at first because we’ve never done anything like this before, and we bought it during lockdown. But we absolutely love it now and so do our grandkids.”

The couple had been living in a large family home with an annex, but, with their five children having flown the nest, they decided to buy a holiday home instead for living in for part of the year. “We looked at bungalows and two bedroom houses but they all needed a lot of work,” she says.

They then heard about Merley House Holiday Park near Poole as a friend had just purchased there. Set in 35 acres of Dorset countryside, the peace and quiet, leisure facilities and friendly community appealed to the Garlinges and they put a deposit down on a pitch.

“We looked at some of the traditional holiday-type lodges and really liked one of them, but then I went to see an existing Norwegian Log home on the site and my mind was made up. I really liked the warmth and the natural wood. So, we went to see Ed at Norwegian Log’s show home in Reading and just fell in love with everything there,” Sue says.

They placed an order for a three bedroom log home, with a boot room/utility area, family bathroom and en-suite. The Norwegian Log team started construction on site in January and by March, the cabin was built.

But, as many people experienced in spring 2020, their plans had to be put dramatically on hold. “Lockdown happened and it was June before we were able to move everything in!” she explains.

Now finally able to spend time in their cosy new lodge, the Garlinges can move on with their lives, and make the most of their future retirement.

An immaculate fitted kitchen and dining/living area take centre stage in their spacious cabin, with a hallway leading to three bedrooms and two contemporary bathrooms kitted out with lots of gorgeous fixtures and furniture. Outdoors they have a large sun deck for relaxing and entertaining.

“I love it, the lightness of the place is wonderful and you don’t have to decorate it. It’s also virtually dust-free,” Sue concludes. “It’s just easy living."