By Houzz <a href="http://www.houzz.com.au" target="_blank">Houzz</a>
Whether it's for a weekend, a week or a whole summer, a holiday home to which you can escape can be the greatest form of liberation. You might retreat to it to unwind, contemplate, marvel at a view, be adventurous or spend quality time with family and friends – just as no home is the same, neither is how it's used. See how different holiday homes can be, from Tokyo Bay to St Petersburg and beyond
1. Cottage on a Tiny English Island
Location: South Cerney, Gloucestershire County, England
Who holidays here: Mouse Martin, a ceramicist, and her dogs, Sid and Maisi
Size: About 30 square metres; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
This cottage on a river island was originally a cart shed next to a water mill and dates back to 1750. It's now a holiday escape for Mouse Martin, who reaches the retreat via an old bridge that spans the river. "It's so peaceful here," she says. "Ducks waddle up onto the grass and there are two otters in the river – Squeak and Whistle!"
Cottage in South Cerney, Gloucestershire County, EnglandCredit: Houzz
Inside, everything is upcycled, recycled, reclaimed or handmade. One of Martin's neighbours was clearing out an old barn she owned. "Her father was a hoarder, and it had absolutely everything from here to Timbuktu in it," Martin says. "That really started the ball rolling on this house. It's a real joy to use old materials. Half the world is full of plastic now, but there's no plastic in here!'
Save and splurge. Martin saved money by using secondhand furnishings and upcycling wherever possible. But she did invest in dry-stone walling by employing a specialist, James Harris Contracting, to build up the land alongside the river to protect against flooding.
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2. Beach Shack on Sleds in New Zealand
Location: Coromandel Peninsula, North Island of New Zealand
Who holidays here: A couple and their three children
Size: 40 square metres; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Architect: Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects
Built directly on the sand, this compact beach house is portable because it rests on two wooden runners, a design feature deemed necessary because of the coastal erosion zone in which the house sits.
When the family arrives on weekends, the simple turning of a wheel, using a 'chain and crank system', opens up a vertical bifold shutter to provide views out to the sea and shade and shelter for those on the deck below. The generous overhang can be adjusted according to weather conditions, or closed tight when not in use.
Save and splurge. The design team was able to keep costs down with the economical use of space – triple-height bunk beds, for instance, squeeze in more accommodation on the limited floor area – but the big splurge was the vertical bifold timber shutter and double-height steel-framed glass doors, which together open up to provide a shaded outdoor room.
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3. Camper Fit for a Road Trip in the U.S.
Location: Pictured here at Piney River Escape, a former farm outside Dixon, Tennessee, United States
Who holidays here: Bill and Cathy Johnson
Size: 8.53 metres long
Bill and Cathy Johnson love camping. The architect and real estate agent have been doing it since they began dating at the age of 15. The couple, who've now been married 34 years, jumped at the chance to buy and restore a 1972 Avion campervan that they could turn into a mobile summer home for canoeing and fishing trips around Tennessee.
The Johnsons wanted the interior to have a brighter look, building on the wraparound bank of windows at the front of the camper. So they removed all the original finishes, painted the cabinets white and added new vinyl flooring. "We wanted to try to create the most open and airy feel possible," Bill says.
Save and splurge. The couple saved money by keeping the camper's layout the same. Everything remained in its original place, including the appliances. The couple splurgedby replacing the upholstery with a durable outdoor fabric and adding new hardware and curtains.
See more of this 1972 caravan
4. Russian Chalet With Spa Rooms
Location: St Petersburg region, Russia
Who holidays here: A family
Size: 218 square metres
Architect: iv7design
The main level of this cottage in the suburbs looks like your typical upscale Russian home, but for one family it's a private spa retreat.
The interior is in the style of a traditional Russian chalet, with plenty of wooden furniture, a big chimney and large windows with panoramic views of the countryside.
Downstairs in the basement, however, is something a lot more high-tech. There are two massage rooms, a cryosauna (a therapeutic treatment using cold air), a floating table (pictured) and a regular sauna with a large spa. A chromotherapy system operated with LEDs adds to the relaxation.
The spa level is also enjoyed by the homeowners' friends and family. This summer, the owners plan to build a more active component to the property in the form of a sports pavilion; it will connect to the main house via a covered bridge.
5. Traditional Fishing Hut in Italy
Location: Abruzzo region, Italy
Who holidays here: A family
Size: 136 square metres
Architect: studio zero85
This trabocco – the traditional name for this type of wooden structure with a platform, historically used for fishing – was built in place of the original, which was falling apart. While it's not a typical holiday home (there's no bathroom, for instance) it's nonetheless a getaway for its owners, who try to spend as much time here as possible during the summer.
A multipurpose beach retreat, it's ideal for meditation and hosting friends on the sea-facing terrace. It's also used as an exhibition space in low season. The children especially love it for their pyjama parties.
There are strict building rules in place for this type of hut in Italy, so the architects had to follow precise guidelines, especially regarding the roof shape and size of the windows. Though traditional trabocchi are made of wood, this structure is made of metal, wood and mineral wool, with the floor covered in timber parquetry. This keeps the house from being affected by the humidity.
The architects, together with the owners, decided to keep the furnishings simple, so as not to distract from the view, which is the real star of the show.
Save and splurge. The owners were able to save on furnishings, not needing (or wanting) to over-decorate. This meant the bulk of the money could go toward replicating the original form. The whole project cost about €250,000 ($402,255 AUD)
6. Abandoned Stable in Spain
Location: Comarca de La Vera, Extremadura region, Spain
Who holidays here: A family that includes two children
Size: 322 square metres; situated on 13 acres
Architects: Ábaton Arquitectura & Construcción
This abandoned stable in the province of Cáceres has been transformed into a holiday home where the owners can spend their weekends and extended breaks, away from the hustle and bustle of Madrid.
They wanted any changes made during the renovation to be respectful of the environment, so the electricity and water are sustainably sourced. A solar panel system with storage batteries supplies energy during the summer, while turbines take advantage of the two streams that run through the estate, providing electricity during winter.
Visitors can enjoy views of the woods of the Sierra de Gredos mountains from every room in the house. "When the sun shines, one of the most beautiful things is to see the reflections of the water inside the house," the architect says.
Stone found in the surrounding area was used to build both the house and the swimming pool.
Save and splurge. Money was saved by reusing the original stone of the facade and the red roof tiles. The owners splurged on energy-efficient solar panels, as well as the pump and turbine that produce hydraulic energy.
7. On Top of the World in Japan
Location: Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Who holidays here: A couple
Size: 116.4 square metres; situated on 1,869.8 square metres of land
Architect: Takeshi Hirobe
This hilltop holiday home is in the Uchibo area of Chiba Prefecture. "The site was just perfect for a weekend retreat," says architect Takeshi Hirobe. "Situated on a hill 200 metres above the coast, one can see Tokyo Bay, where ships come and go."
Just a one-hour drive from the owners' home in central Tokyo, it's a place they can unwind or entertain friends, complete with an enviable backdrop of Mount Fuji in the distance. They wanted to take full advantage of the panorama of sky and sea, so a huge glass wall spans the front of the villa.
Save and splurge. The architect was able to save on the interior by cladding it in modest basswood plywood, but it doesn't look shabby thanks to the meticulous design and finish. One request of the owners was that Hirobe "create an architectural form that we have never seen before, while using usual materials." In response, the architect designed a unique structure composed of many triangles set along the sloping site.
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This article originally appeared on Houzz.