Privacy Notice
Last updated: September 2026
This Privacy Notice explains how The Bungalow Cottage collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects personal information submitted through this website and related business tools.
The Bungalow Cottage is a Bermuda-based interior design studio founded by Michelle Samuels.
By using this website, submitting an enquiry form, subscribing to email updates, booking a consultation, or otherwise providing personal information through this website or connected business tools, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Notice.
1. Purpose of this Privacy Notice
This Privacy Notice is intended to provide clear information about how personal information is handled in connection with this website, enquiry forms, embedded forms, email marketing, scheduling tools, analytics, cookies, and related business communications.
This Privacy Notice applies to personal information collected through this website and through connected tools used by The Bungalow Cottage, including Google Workspace, Acuity Scheduling, website analytics tools, cookies, email marketing tools, embedded forms, and any future payment platform used to process payments.
This Privacy Notice does not replace any separate privacy terms, proposal, invoice, service agreement, or contract that may apply once you become a client of The Bungalow Cottage.
2. Personal information collected
The Bungalow Cottage may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including but not limited to:
your name;
email address;
phone number, if provided;
location;
details about your home, room, or project;
service interests;
preferred timeline;
budget information, if requested;
photographs, videos, floor plans, measurements, documents, links, or attachments you choose to submit;
appointment or consultation details;
messages or other information included in an enquiry form, embedded form, contact form, booking form, or email communication.
The Bungalow Cottage may also collect basic technical and website-use information through analytics tools, cookies, embedded forms, and connected platforms, including but not limited to:
IP address;
browser type;
device type;
pages visited;
time spent on the website;
referral source;
approximate location;
form activity;
email sign-up activity;
general website usage information;
cookie or analytics information, where applicable.
3. How personal information is collected
Personal information may be collected when you:
complete an enquiry form;
complete a contact form;
complete an embedded form;
email The Bungalow Cottage through Google Workspace;
book a consultation or appointment through Acuity Scheduling;
subscribe to email updates, newsletters, resources, or marketing communications;
download a resource, if offered;
interact with linked social media pages;
browse or use the website;
accept, reject, or manage cookies, where a cookie tool is used;
make a payment through a payment platform, if and when payment processing becomes available.
The Bungalow Cottage does not intentionally collect personal information unless you choose to provide it or unless it is collected through ordinary website functionality, analytics, cookies, embedded forms, scheduling tools, email tools, or other connected business platforms.
4. Third-party tools used by The Bungalow Cottage
The Bungalow Cottage uses, or may use, third-party tools and platforms to operate the website and manage business communications. These include:
Google Workspace for business email, communication, document storage, and related administration;
Acuity Scheduling for appointment booking and consultation scheduling;
website analytics tools to understand website traffic and visitor behavior;
cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality and analytics;
email marketing tools for newsletters, updates, resources, and marketing communications, where offered;
embedded forms for enquiries, sign-ups, resources, or contact purposes;
website hosting and design platforms;
social media platforms, including Instagram;
cloud storage tools;
future payment platforms, once selected.
These third-party platforms may collect, process, store, or access personal information according to their own privacy policies, terms, security practices, and data processing procedures.
The Bungalow Cottage does not control the privacy practices of third-party platforms.
5. Payment information
The Bungalow Cottage does not have a payment portal for website or online payment processing.
If online payments are introduced in the future, payments may be processed through a third-party payment provider. The Bungalow Cottage will not intentionally collect or store full payment card details directly through this website unless expressly stated.
Any payment provider used by The Bungalow Cottage will process payment information according to that provider’s own terms, privacy policy, and security practices.
This Privacy Notice may be updated once a payment platform is selected.
6. Purposes for using personal information
The Bungalow Cottage may use personal information for the following purposes:
to review and respond to enquiries;
to determine whether a project, service, or request may be a suitable fit;
to communicate with you about your enquiry;
to schedule consultations or appointments through Acuity Scheduling;
to send appointment confirmations, reminders, updates, or related scheduling communications;
to manage email communication through Google Workspace;
to prepare proposals, quotes, invoices, agreements, design briefs, or project-related documents;
to provide design consultations, room planning, styling, sourcing guidance, or related services;
to manage bookings, client communication, project administration, and business records;
to provide newsletters, updates, resources, or marketing communications, where you have subscribed or where otherwise permitted by law;
to improve the website, services, client experience, forms, communications, and marketing;
to understand website traffic, visitor behavior, and content performance through analytics and cookies;
to maintain website functionality, security, and performance;
to protect the rights, property, safety, reputation, and legal interests of The Bungalow Cottage;
to comply with legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, record-keeping, or other lawful obligations.
The Bungalow Cottage will not use personal information for unrelated purposes unless permitted or required by law.
7. Lawful and fair use of personal information
The Bungalow Cottage will use personal information lawfully and fairly.
Personal information may be used where:
you have provided consent;
the information is needed to respond to your enquiry;
the information is needed to provide requested or agreed services;
the information is needed to manage appointments, forms, email communication, or business administration;
the information is needed to send marketing communications you have requested or consented to receive;
the information is needed to comply with legal, regulatory, accounting, tax, or other lawful obligations;
the information is needed to protect legitimate business interests, provided those interests do not unfairly override your rights.
8. Email communications and Google Workspace
The Bungalow Cottage uses Google Workspace for business email and related communications.
If you email The Bungalow Cottage or submit a form that is delivered to a business email inbox, your name, email address, message, attachments, and related communication may be stored and processed through Google Workspace.
Email communications may be retained for business records, enquiry follow-up, client communication, legal protection, and administrative purposes.
You should not send highly sensitive, confidential, financial, medical, legal, or unnecessary personal information by ordinary email.
9. Scheduling and Acuity
The Bungalow Cottage uses Acuity Scheduling for appointment and consultation bookings.
When you book through Acuity, you may be asked to provide personal information such as your name, email address, phone number, appointment type, availability, project details, and other booking-related information.
Acuity may send confirmation emails, reminder emails, calendar invitations, or other scheduling-related communications.
Information submitted through Acuity may be used by The Bungalow Cottage to manage appointments, prepare for consultations, communicate with you, and maintain business records.
Acuity’s own privacy policy and terms may also apply to information processed through its platform.
10. Email marketing
The Bungalow Cottage may use an email marketing platform to send newsletters, updates, resources, announcements, or other marketing communications.
If you subscribe to email marketing, The Bungalow Cottage may collect and use your name, email address, sign-up source, preferences, email activity, and related information.
You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in the email or by contacting The Bungalow Cottage directly.
Unsubscribing from marketing emails does not prevent The Bungalow Cottage from sending necessary service-related, appointment-related, enquiry-related, transactional, or administrative communications.
11. Embedded forms
This website may use embedded forms for enquiries, contact requests, service interest, email sign-ups, resource downloads, or other website functions.
Information submitted through embedded forms may be collected by the form provider and delivered to The Bungalow Cottage through email, website notifications, databases, or connected business tools.
You should submit only the information requested and avoid including unnecessary sensitive or confidential information.
12. Cookies and website analytics
This website uses, or may use, cookies and analytics tools to support website functionality, understand website traffic, measure content performance, and improve the user experience.
Cookies and analytics tools may collect information such as IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, time spent on the website, referral source, approximate location, and general browsing behavior.
You may be able to manage, disable, or reject cookies through your browser settings or through any cookie notice or consent tool provided on the website.
Some website features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.
13. Sensitive personal information
You should not submit sensitive personal information through this website, embedded forms, scheduling tools, or ordinary email unless specifically requested and necessary.
Sensitive personal information may include, but is not limited to, medical information, financial details, legal matters, government identification, information about children, or confidential third-party information.
If you submit information about another person, you confirm that you have the authority or consent to provide that information.
14. Children’s information
This website is not directed to children.
The Bungalow Cottage does not knowingly collect personal information directly from children through this website.
If personal information relating to a child is submitted as part of a design enquiry, family home context, project photograph, or room-planning discussion, it should be provided only by a parent, guardian, or authorized adult.
15. Photos, project images, and attachments
If you submit photographs, videos, floor plans, measurements, documents, links, or other project materials through this website, embedded forms, Acuity, Google Workspace, or another connected platform, The Bungalow Cottage may use those materials to review your enquiry, understand your space, prepare service recommendations, create project documents, or provide agreed design services.
You are responsible for ensuring that you have the right to share any images, documents, or materials submitted.
The Bungalow Cottage will not publish your personal project photographs, home images, identifying project materials, or personal information for marketing or portfolio purposes without permission, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
16. Sharing personal information
The Bungalow Cottage does not sell personal information.
Personal information may be shared only where reasonably necessary, including with:
Google Workspace, for email, communication, and business administration;
Acuity Scheduling, for appointment booking and scheduling;
website hosting, form, analytics, cookie, and email marketing providers;
payment processors, if and when a payment platform is selected;
cloud storage, document, and administrative tools;
professional advisers, including accountants, legal advisers, insurers, or business advisers;
contractors, vendors, trades, suppliers, or collaborators, where necessary for a confirmed project and where appropriate or agreed;
authorities, regulators, courts, or other parties where required by law;
parties involved in protecting the rights, property, safety, reputation, or legal interests of The Bungalow Cottage.
Personal information will not be shared more broadly than necessary for the relevant purpose.
17. International transfers
Some third-party platforms used by The Bungalow Cottage, including Google Workspace, Acuity Scheduling, analytics tools, email marketing platforms, embedded form providers, website hosting platforms, and future payment processors, may store or process personal information outside Bermuda.
Where personal information is transferred or processed outside Bermuda, The Bungalow Cottage will take reasonable steps to ensure that the information is handled appropriately and in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.
By using this website or submitting information through it, you understand that your personal information may be processed through third-party services located outside Bermuda.
18. How personal information is protected
The Bungalow Cottage will take reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
However, no website, email system, online form, scheduling tool, analytics platform, email marketing platform, payment processor, cloud service, or method of electronic transmission is completely secure.
The Bungalow Cottage cannot guarantee absolute security of information submitted online.
You should avoid sending highly sensitive or confidential information through website forms, embedded forms, scheduling tools, or ordinary email.
19. Retention of personal information
The Bungalow Cottage will keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including to respond to enquiries, manage appointments, provide services, maintain business records, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and protect legitimate business interests.
If an enquiry does not become a client project, The Bungalow Cottage may retain the enquiry information for a reasonable period for record-keeping, follow-up, service improvement, or legal purposes.
Marketing subscription information may be retained until you unsubscribe, withdraw consent, or request deletion, subject to any legal or technical limitations.
When personal information is no longer needed, The Bungalow Cottage will take reasonable steps to delete, anonymize, or securely dispose of it.
20. Your rights and choices
Subject to applicable law, you may have rights in relation to your personal information, including the right to:
request access to personal information held about you;
request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information;
withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
unsubscribe from marketing communications;
request that personal information be blocked, erased, or destroyed, where applicable;
object to or limit certain uses of personal information;
ask questions about how your personal information is used;
make a complaint to the appropriate privacy authority.
These rights may be subject to legal limits, exceptions, verification requirements, and business or legal retention obligations.
21. Access, correction, and deletion requests
If you wish to request access to, correction of, deletion of, blocking of, or destruction of personal information held by The Bungalow Cottage, you may contact The Bungalow Cottage using the contact details below.
The Bungalow Cottage may need to verify your identity before responding to a request.
The Bungalow Cottage will respond to privacy-related requests within a reasonable time and in accordance with applicable law.
22. Links to other websites
This website may contain links to third-party websites, social media platforms, booking tools, payment platforms, retailers, vendors, or other external resources.
This Privacy Notice does not apply to third-party websites or platforms that are not owned or controlled by The Bungalow Cottage.
You should review the privacy policies and terms of any third-party websites or services before providing personal information to them.
23. Changes to this Privacy Notice
The Bungalow Cottage may update this Privacy Notice from time to time.
Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last updated” date.
Your continued use of the website after changes are posted means you acknowledge the updated Privacy Notice.
24. Contact and Privacy Officer
If you have questions about this Privacy Notice or how your personal information is handled, you may contact:
The Bungalow Cottage
P.O. Box 106, Devonshire DVBX, Bermuda
Email: hello@bungalow-cottage.com
Privacy Officer: Michelle Samuels
Email: hello@bungalow-cottage.com
25. Privacy Commissioner
If you have concerns about how your personal information is handled, you may also contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda.
Website: www.privacy.bm