Bridging dreams and deadlines: summer projects on a budget

Walking along the stream at our Lakeville cottage, I’m reminded how even the smallest design details can hold a story.

A little footbridge connects our cottage to my in-laws’ home next door — a Cape Cod that has been in the Mayland family for decades. It’s crooked and a bit meandering, but the bridge is also charming, practical, and meaningful. It was built using the weathered boards of a deck we took down at our old home in Philadelphia before moving full-time to Connecticut.

That repurposed wood, driven up the Taconic and rebuilt over a babbling brook, is now something our kids have crossed since they could toddle. It stands as a reminder of how DIY projects can connect generations, places, and even budgets.

Summer, for many, is the season of plans both big and small. Maybe you’ve dreamed of turning the unused corner of your yard into a retreat, or finally fixing the railing on the front porch. Perhaps it’s time for a fresh coat of paint in the living room, or maybe you are toying with the idea of an entire renovation. How do you turn your plans into action while staying on time and within budget?

Start with what I call the wander test. Walk your space like a guest — a judgey one. Bring a notepad or your phone and record what you see and feel. Where do you linger? What looks tired? What catches your eye in all the wrong ways? That’s often where your energy and money should go first.

Don’t skip the planning stage. Too many people dive into a project midstream, get overwhelmed by costs or delays, and end up walking away. Build in time to dream, but follow it with a dose of spreadsheet reality. Create a rough scope of work. Ask friends and neighbors what similar projects have cost them. And most importantly, prioritize. Not everything needs to happen at once.

I always tell my design clients, “Let’s make a big picture plan, then chip away as you choose.”

Teamwork makes the dream work, but that doesn’t always mean hiring the biggest name in town. Interview a few contractors, designers, or handypeople, and look for chemistry, good communication, and reliability. A smaller, more flexible crew may be just what your project — and your wallet — needs.

If you’re hiring a designer, lean into their expertise not just for style, but also for strategy. Designers can rework a space using items you already own, source materials at a discount, and phase the work in a smart, efficient way.

That little footbridge in our yard didn’t cost a dime in materials.It just took time, vision, and, in my case, a husband willing to bundle and bungee-cord the wood into the back of his pickup and drive it into the Litchfield Hills.

It’s tempting to let another summer slip by with a to-do list left untouched.But think of the spaces around you as more than projects — they’re the backdrop to your family’s future memories.

So, if your yard or home is calling out for a little love, answer it. This could be the summer you finally get it done, beautifully and within reach.

Kerri-Lee Mayland is an Emmy award-winning news anchor and designer. She lives in Lakeville.