On a trip to Tasmania, Matthew Usmar Lauder and I fell in love with the Wild West Coast and when we found an old shack in Lettes Bay in need of some love, it led to a new chapter in our lives.

We named our first shack Bushy Summers because of the moniker of a previous owner, who was known locally as “a bit of character”. Taking the shack back to its bare bones, Matthew spent five months bringing it back to life while I concentrated on making it beautiful. We used many recycled and preloved items and filled the shack with beautiful treasures from local, Tassie businesses.

Matthew and I weren’t looking for another project but when we saw Rosy, a few doors down from Bushy, we knew it would be another wonderful, creative adventure. The shack, is actually two shacks joined together and it wasn’t in a great shape, but we just loved the idea of breathing life back into it and also keeping something about its originality. Where Matthew has turned his hand to restoring the most wonderful shack, I focused on making it beautiful, and doing this project together has been such a fabulous journey.

We love being able to share them - that’s the really nice thing about having these shacks. You feel like you’re giving someone a really beautiful taste of what you believe in and for me, it’s all about surrounding yourself with what touches your senses. To see people understand that, and notice the details and how every single thing has been thoughtfully put together is just so special.