The Bide
Photography by Jake Balston
The Bide is a contemporary holiday retreat nestled within the Dorset countryside, offering an escape for busy people to slow down and connect with nature. Scott and Caroline designed and built The Bide by hand during lockdown. A labour of love, the design combines the couple’s passion for contemporary design and interiors. We chat to Scott and Caroline to find out more about The Bide and its eco-friendly building practices.
Sustainability is at the heart of the Bide. What steps have you taken to achieve this goal?
We have tried to source natural products where possible and to design the structure so that it would use as little water and electricity as possible. The cabin is highly insulated and air-tight, we used sheep wool insulation, the lanolin in the wool regulates the temperature of the cabin. The air-tightness of the building ensures that as much heat is retained in the cabin as possible and it is not lost through gaps in construction or trickle vents. This required the use of a decentralised Mechanical Heat Recovery system which ensures that the heat in the warm stagnant air is used to pre-heat the incoming fresh air.
We also selected products which had a sustainable edge, the Nebia shower for instance uses 40% less water than a regular one by atomising the water droplets - this has the impact of increasing the surface area of water that comes into contact with your skin.
The mattress is by Devon based manufacturer Naturalmat, made from wool and recycled denim, it provides a really comfortable nights sleep without compromising on quality at the expense of the environment.
What was your inspiration for the interior?
Our aspiration for the cabin was to create an intimate and cosy environment. Our base palette consisted of grey wall panels which have a really beautiful patina to them. We complimented them with products such as matt green Fenix table tops, chunky woolly textured bolster cushion and slick mustard Panton light. We were heavily influenced by Swedish colourist Tekla, who produces evocative colourful spaces that have real depth. This is evident in the peach splashback panels for the kitchen and bathroom which offer a touch of playfulness.
What would a weekend at The Bide look like?
We suggest rambling the fields of the Jubilee trail to Steepton Bill farm shop to stock up on delicious local provisions for the weekend, stopping for a pint at the Hambro Arms along the way. Returning to the cabin and heating up the wood fired hot-tub for a relaxing soak. We love to watch the flocks of birds pirouetting through the sky from the large picture window and read a book from the selection in our library. Watching an old film from the projector and having a deep sleep in the Super King bed.
Book now → thebide.com
Instagram → @thebidecabin
