This quirky cabin is in the Bellingen Shire on the Mid North Coast, an area celebrated for its creative community, cultural diversity and commitment to the environment.
Interior designer Vera Duerinckx of Colour Craft Design Studio, took on the challenge of creating a space that harmonises with the cabin’s exterior, where materials like reclaimed fence palings, railway sleepers and vintage barn doors from the local bowling club add rustic charm.
“I believe beautiful spaces can be created without a huge budget if you think outside the box,” she says. “It’s about using what’s available and breathing new life into items that might otherwise be discarded.”
One of the project’s standout elements is a mustard-coloured vintage enamel sink, which set the tone for the kitchen’s inviting palette. “Finding that sink was the bee’s knees,” Vera shares. “It brought a bold, sunny hue to the design, inspiring the choice of a bright yellow ceiling light and vintage mid century chairs.” Handmade plywood cabinetry and secondhand hanging cupboards from Facebook Marketplace complete the kitchen, blending functionality with rustic charm.
The studio’s layout was designed to make the most of natural light, with a strategically placed window above the sink that lets sunshine pour in and offers a peaceful view of the surrounding greenery. Vintage doors were repurposed as cavity sliders, maximising usable space and adding texture. Industrial ceiling lights, reclaimed shelving, and touches like old crates, further enhance the mix of modernity and a lived-in aesthetic.
Now serving as a sanctuary for its tenant, this thoughtfully designed studio has become a peaceful, character-filled retreat. Vera reflects, “It’s incredibly rewarding to create a space where someone feels truly at home.” The owners chose to rent it out longterm rather than as holiday accommodation, providing a home to someone in a “savage” rental market.
With a blend of creativity, resourcefulness, and a passion for vintage, Vera has crafted a space that balances style, practicality and budget restrictions. “To be honest, when the brief is so tight, the creative side of my brain gets a real workout and I love it” she says.
For more on Vera and Colour Craft Design Studio
Photography: Eleisha Stendell
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