Let’s face the facts, 2020’s Love Island was a disappointment. It was not set in the fairytale-esque, Frozen-esque paradise we expected, but in South Africa. The Cabins’ production designer, Paul Houston, was charged with giving each cabin a unique character and linking them with a common theme. He says, “Basically, it was about making contestants feel comfortable, which would encourage romance.” We used rich, luxurious tones throughout to create an authentic atmosphere that was both personal and not too garish. The patterns are modern, but traditional Scandi stylistically. We wanted to let the cabins speak for themselves so we only added subtle modern touches and lots of twinkling lights. “ITVHis favorite cabin? Stag’s Mount. “I love its rich textures and wintery feel. We also added some trendy tartan. Paul used Instagram to follow “so many cabins”, which evoked a real sense of warmth and comfort on set. He is a Londoner by birth, but has converted to the rural way. He says that there is something special about being in the wild, away from concrete, traffic lights, and planes. “I felt more connected to the outdoors by spending time in these cabins, surrounded by only fields of sheep. “ITVThe lakeside cabins are rented as holiday lets. They are surrounded by fire pits and blanketed with chairs. The roof and entrance were built over an existing pontoon. Paul says that the nighttime reflections in water were spectacular. “The lights created a sparkling effect that gave contestants the wow factor, and made them want more to explore their new digs. “ITVIIf you feel inspired to make the cabin look at home, Paul has some top tips. If in doubt, purchase another faux fur throw. You can never have enough.
The floor is important! You’ll need to lay down lots of tactile rugs once you take your shoes off and get the fire going.
Instead of sterile white, install light bulbs that glow golden amber. Try Tungsten lighting.
Mix traditional and modern. While your instinct may be to build a cabin with rustic, wooden interiors, our designs for The Cabins show that you can add modern elements while still making it feel homely.
Be open to the unexpected. We found the furniture from many online retailers, and all are available for purchase in the UK. (We found this adorable highland cow footstool on Red Candy for?89.
The Cabins will air on ITV2 on January 3, 2022.
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