House Made from Boat Shed on Australia's Coast

Iron sheet structures in the outback of Queensland are typical for rural areas across the country: you expect to see a garage or a fishing storage shed. But once you push aside the sliding door, there's a house worthy of admiration. Uniquely so.

To be precise, Bruce and Liz Willement own two former sheds on a three-hectare plot. But let's go in order.

Liza and Bruce are from Brisbane. After the birth of their fourth child, they decided to move closer to the quiet coast of Sunshine Coast. Liza wanted a more measured lifestyle and to work nearby.

Three years ago, the shed housed a boat workshop where they built boats. The Willements initially thought the purchased shed was just a temporary shelter for a couple of years at most. They planned to build their dream home.

In the meantime, Liza divided the open space into several zones to suit the needs of a large family. Her professional skills in decoration and props helped her transform the spacious corrugated box beyond recognition: she used items left by the former owner, a boat builder named Frank.

Improvised bookshelves for the family library from an old ladder and a few planks. In the living room, fishing poles, modern artist paintings, and linen canvas prints coexist. Fishing nets hanging from the ceiling helped visually define zones.

Rent prices rose, and time passed: gradually, they set up the kitchen, bathroom, three bedrooms… and realized they didn’t need another house; they already loved this one.

The family has grown and embraced an untranslatable English term: shouse – a hybrid of shed (shed) and house (house).

There's enough space for the children: son Sebastien and three daughters, Matiss, Paris, and Anais. There are also pets, one of which is Koa, a Border Collie-Kelpie mix (Australian cattle dog).

The large dining table, old in age, came with the owners: the couple received it as a wedding gift. The items of décor, despite their differences, coexist harmoniously, just like they should in a big and loving family.

The high ceiling gave Liza the opportunity to arrange all the necessary items on the mezzanine during re-planning.

The fireplace in the living room, furniture, wooden surfaces, and other building materials were found on free classifieds websites – it was very budget-friendly. They blend organically with vintage items and art objects in the interior.

The youngest daughter Anais, whose birth was the reason for the move, is proud of her bedroom. The wardrobe stand from an old branch is hung by rope to the ceiling. A handmade hammock in the garden: here, the girl spends a lot of time. There is plenty of land around the house to plant citrus trees, grow vegetables and herbs in a garden.

Liza and Bruce are creative people, and their children grow up in the most suitable environment. It's a ten-minute drive to the nearest town, and around the backyard, it’s easy to imagine oneself as the first settlers.

The kitchen is bright, although the light fixtures and cabinet doors are dark. The combination of textures and colors highlights the relaxed and warm atmosphere in the house.

The rustic vanity top for the bathroom was bought on an online flea market. Liza sewed the linen curtains in a hessian style herself. The linen French tablecloth in Liza’s hands turned into a quilt for the guest bedroom. The homeowner jokingly calls herself a ‘seafarer’: hunting for interesting items with history is her true passion.

Liza’s dream of working from home has come true. Remember the second shed?

This is where their family business resides: Atelier 34 serves as a meeting place for a community of artists and performers. Fellow creatives and friends exchange ideas and secrets of craftsmanship: painting, ceramics, textiles and weaving, floristry.

Music is often heard. Spots for clay workshops fill up rapidly. Liza decorates rooms with compositions of plants. Uniqueness is created by hands and, of course, the heart.