The new season is starting to get busier,  I took the chance to pop out with the camera to capture the glorious St Ives and it’s amazing choice of beaches!!

Here’s a taster of what St Ives has to offer:

Closest to Gekko Lodge is the famous surfing beach Porthmeor (Unfortunately not much surf yesterday!)

The next beach is just the other side of the Island, Porthgwidden, cute little cove with views across the bay.

Bamaluz often goes unnoticed, between Porthgwidden and the Harbour, is only accessible at low tide but generally quiter! At low tide a beach also appears around the back of Smeatons Pier (2nd photo)

Around a little further is the Harbour, often more sheltered and with a great choice of cafe’s and restaurants to admire the views and boats, don’t forget to look out for the seals too!

Lastly there’s Porthminster beach, a great family beach and home to the award winning Porthminster Beach cafe.

If thats not enough and for those who like a good walk, follow the coast path from Porthminster, firstly you’ll arrive at Carbis Bay and around a bit further there’s the stunning Porth Kidney sands!!

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We have been very excited about the whole process of the mugs from the initial design through to the firing. Sam and I went to The Leach Pottery to see them in their first stages and looked at a couple of different designs and glazes before deciding exactly what we wanted.

They were fired last week, the first guests to use them have been super impressed, saying the teacup makes ‘the perfect’ cup of tea! Some guests also went to visit The Leach Pottery as they were very keen to look at some other work.

You will find the mugs in your room to enjoy the selection of coffee and teas and at breakfast when you can start your day off with that ‘perfect’ cup of tea!

The Leach Pottery is located at the top of St Ives on Higher Stennack.

Thanks to Kat for the fantastic work!

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We originally came up with the name ‘Gekko’ when Sam set up his furniture business back in 2006, Gekko was derived from the small lizard Gecko’s, their uniqueness, their ability to evolve and adapt within their surroundings and we felt this was always going to be our ambitions from the start, with a slight change of spelling so that it was individual to us.

• Gekko Designs, Sam’s furniture business, designing and crafting bespoke furniture. (Website currently under maintenance)
• Gekko Lodge, our B&B in St Ives, renovated in 2007 and opened in 2008, it seemed logical at the time to also name this Gekko.
• Gekko Campers, Classic VW Hire, still in the process of setting up we currently have two vans being restored.

Although all 3 businesses had the same name they still felt individual, we wanted to bring them all together and create an identity.

The following logo’s and icon’s were designed by VINCE, who has done some truly wonderful work and feedback so far has been excellent! People have been really excited about what has been created.

We agreed at the initial brainstorming session that we wanted more than just a brand, we were after an identity and personality! We would have one logo and each business would be identified by a different colour, we would then be able to apply the logo to many different items across the 3 businesses i.e van stencils, signage, stickers, keys etc. Another important part to us, is that all of the items that our logo/icon would be applied to, would be crafted by us (or local people).

Some of our artwork includes:

Stamps (rather than business cards) these are great as they can also be applied anywhere, stamping the underneath of Sam’s furniture. labels for my homemade jams!

Gekko sign, a new sign is to be made for the B&B incorporating wood and metal, designed and crafted by Sam.

We are currently having some mugs made for us by local potter, Kat Wheeler who works at the Leach Pottery. The icon will be stamped into the porcelain, photo’s to follow when they are ready.

So a massive thank you to VINCE for the fantastic designs!

Photo’s will be updated accordingly, so watch this Gekko space!!

The post Why Gekko? appeared first on Gekko Lodge.

Please take a look around, get in touch and check back in for our news updates. With the new season fast approaching  we are taking bookings and St Ives is starting to get busier (not that it’s ever quiet!!)

Both of our rooms have been redecorated this winter ready for new guests.

Here’s to a warm and sunny 2013 for lots of surfing and beach time!

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