From Dream to Cabin Life: A 20-Year Journey to Finding Home

The idea of cabin life had lived quietly in the back of my mind since I was 19. The seed was planted on my first trip to New Zealand, where I fell in love with the wood-built, single-storey homes nestled between rural land and coastal views. They were practical, unique, and simple — but not in a way that lacked charm. I remember thinking: this is how I want to live.

Growing up in East Sussex, my childhood was a blend of countryside calm, the hustle of South West London football weekends, and beach holidays in the West Country. It was a perfect mix in hindsight, but as a teenager, I didn’t fully appreciate it. New Zealand had always been that “one day” place — my dad had even talked about moving us there when we were kids. He never did, but when I finally went on my own, it didn’t disappoint. It sparked something in me.

And then life happened.

I returned home and the dream was shelved — buried under years of routine, work, relationships, and reality. Nearly two decades passed before it resurfaced.

After a divorce, I found myself living in North Devon, house-hunting but uninspired by every property I saw. My budget didn’t stretch far, and nothing felt right. Then it hit me: this is the moment. That long-forgotten dream of cabin life bubbled back up. Nervously, I shared the idea with my partner Craig and my family, expecting eye-rolls or concern. But to my surprise, Craig and my mum thought it was brilliant. There were mixed reactions from others, sure — but I wasn’t deterred.

A year later, I completed on a piece of land that now feels like the beginning of everything. Remote, not overlooked, with an ocean view. It had once housed a caravan and already had the basics: electricity and a borehole. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough.

Originally, I imagined a basic campsite setup, but the idea evolved. Our cabin — built entirely by Craig — became our first home together. It's simple and practical, not just for us but also for my two boys. The road to get here wasn’t easy (and it’s still very much ongoing), but every challenge has made this life more real.

From the moment we got the keys as such, we jumped in — quite literally. We borrowed a friend’s field grass cutter and quad (now ours), and began taming the wild, thigh-high grass. That very first night, Craig and I camped in my van under the stars — full of excitement for what was to come.

Then the real work began.

Planning permissions, borehole issues (turns out the original one was a dud despite a brand-new pump), building the cabin, creating polytunnels and veg patches to become semi self-sufficient, planting fruit trees, and even crafting extra sleeping space for Craig’s daughters in the form of a quirky log pod.

Our 2-bedroom cabin might be small and simple — especially compared to modern living standards — but it’s more than enough. It’s nothing like the first summer here, when the boys and I had no working toilet or shower and had to rely on the leisure centre or in-laws to get clean. Yet, even then, it felt more like home than anywhere I’d lived before. Not because of luxury or mod cons — but because it was ours. Hard-earned, real, and full of heart.

It took 20 years to get here, and in many ways, we’re just getting started.

This blog will be a space where I share the journey of our unconventional, cabin-based lifestyle — the good, the tough, the lessons, and the little wins. If you're curious to see where it all began, check out our story on Instagram: @our_journey_to_swell_view.

Welcome to our world — we’re glad you’re here.