Shed living: Turning a shack into a family home
BRUCE AND LISA WILLIMENT HAVE TRANSFORMED A SIMPLE SHED IN QUEENSLAND’S SUNSHINE COAST HINTERLAND INTO A FAMILY HOME.
FOR MANY, THE THOUGHT of converting a corrugated-iron shed into a family home might be met with more than a little apprehension. But Lisa and Bruce Williment took it in their stride – even though they hadn’t planned for it to be a permanent solution when they bought their three-hectare property in the Sunshine Coast hinterland region of Black Mountain in early 2016. “We tried to make it as homey as possible while we had plans drawn up to build a house,” says Lisa, 47, who lives with Bruce, 51, and their two youngest children, Sebastien, 14, and three-year-old Anaïs. However, with the drought causing Bruce’s work as an irrigation contractor to come to a standstill, the resulting loss of income made them reassess. “As time got further along, and the cost of building the house got higher and higher, we began to think: do we even want to build a house?” says Lisa. “Making the shed so much more liveable has certainly made us question the need to build our dream home.” Two-and-a-half years later, after kitchen and bathroom renovations plus the addition of three bedrooms, the once-makeshift residence is now the family’s much-loved home. Filled with nautical curios and handmade pieces collected over many years, the light-filled space – located a scenic 10-minute drive from the town of Cooroy – is also home to numerous creative ventures, with Bruce running a props and staging business while Lisa hosts workshops in her studio, Atelier 34.
The open-plan shed, fondly known as the ‘shouse’, has been warmed up with large floor rugs throughout, while air-conditioning was installed in the bedrooms to alleviate the summer heat. Ropes, oars and fishing creels are an inadvertent nod to the shed-turned-family-home’s history — it was originally built by a boatbuilder named Fred, who used the space to construct various seafaring vessels. “There were little telltale signs around the place when we arrived, things with boat-like qualities,” says Lisa, referring to the ladder up to the bedroom and the foot-pedal toilet. The home is predominantly furnished with pieces that have been recycled by the couple. “As it was never intended to be long-term, we’ve been doing everything on the basis that it can’t cost a lot of money,” says Lisa. “We’ve built a lot ourselves using things we have found.” An old ladder and floorboards have been reworked into a bookshelf, while the windows were found at a salvage yard. “I’m a bit of a forager,” she says. “Outside in nature, and also of day-to-day objects that appeal and tell a story.” Ingenuity is innate for Lisa, who has worked as a visual merchandiser and props maker. Both from Brisbane, the couple met when Bruce hired Lisa to style the windows of his menswear stores. “I’ve always loved art,” says Lisa. “Bruce never really thought he was creative — but look at him now!” In 2000 the pair decided to leave Brisbane and head north to Buderim before their eldest children, daughters Matisse, now 20, and Paris, 18, started school. >
“Making the shed so much more liveable has certainly made us question the need to build our dream home.”
“When we first got up here, we lived on the coast and worked for a wedding decorator,” says Lisa. “I’m one of six children, and we used to drive up on weekends when I was younger to spend time at Peregian Beach and in the hills of Maleny, so I already knew the area well.” Shortly after leaving Brisbane, Bruce and Lisa started their own company organising children’s parties and in 2005, the family moved to nearby Eumundi so the girls could go to the local Steiner school. Prompted by the arrival of their fourth child and moving to Black Mountain, however, Lisa wanted to find a way to work from home. In late 2017, she and Bruce converted the second shed on the property into a studio and Atelier34 was created. “I wanted to make a relaxed, supportive space where people could come together, learn something new and connect,” says Lisa, who hosted her first workshop in December 2017 making wreaths. “It’s just such a beautiful, calming place. It has been nice to share with others and hopefully they’ll find it inspiring as I do,” she says. Atelier34 has since featured courses in pottery, weaving, natural dyeing and photography, with Lisa inviting artists, makers and other guests to share their skills in the leafy setting. Between workshops and events, Lisa says there’s always a new outdoor project on the go. “Seb is currently building his own cabin to live in,” she says. “There’s so much freedom for the kids to just roam around making and doing things, just being out in nature.” Lisa says building is still on the cards, though they’re in no great rush. “We have all the plans ready to go, so once that happens, we would like to turn the shed into short-stay accommodation,” she says. “In the meantime we’re happy staying put.” Paris and Matisse, who both now live in Brisbane, come up most weekends, and on cool evenings the fire pit is a popular place for the family to gather. “We’re often outside,” says Lisa, who says the family takes a walk together up the lane almost every afternoon. “That’s my favourite spot. It’s so peaceful with all the birdsong, you feel like you’re in the treetops.” Aside from clearing lantana, not much work was needed in the garden when they arrived. “Fred was really into his trees and planted some great things,” says Lisa, who also added some herbs and vegetables to the mix. A jaboticaba fruit tree, lemons, oranges and mandarins provide an ample harvest. “The big silky oak was Fred’s favourite tree and when he passed away, they scattered his ashes there,” says Lisa. “It was a really special place for him and we can see why.” For more details about Atelier34, visit atelier34space.com and follow @_atelier34_ on Instagram. FROM TOP LEFT The cane chair was purchased from an antique store in Buderim. “I felt that the space was so large and open that I needed to create smaller ‘rooms’ within it,” says Lisa of the nets that hang from the ceiling; a Bunnings sink in the bathroom sits on top of a reclaimed timber slab. FACING PAGE The spare room features a quilt cover made from a French linen tablecloth, a Cabbages and Roses fabric cushion and a lamp from Eclectic Style. For stockist details, see page 136.