An Artist and Her Builder Husband Shake the Dust Out of an Old Fisherman’s Shack in Tasmania

Project Details:

Location: Tasmania, Australia

Designer/Builder: Built Scape Design & Construction / @builtscape_dc

Builder: James Bennet / @jamesbennet

Interior Designer: Ingrid Daniell / @ingriddaniell

Project: Whale Song Shack / @whalesongshack

Photography: Rachel Claire / @fieldnotes__ and Kate Tuleja

From owners Ingrid and Clifton Daniell: "We didn’t want to change the shack, which was originally built in the 1980s, too much. All it really needed was a little TLC. The bones of it were inspiration enough, so we worked within the existing footprint. My husband and I both loved the existing thick raw timber boards and wanted to accentuate their texture by painting the cement sheet boards at the back half of the shack black. Only the lower decks were replaced, but we did square off the original deck footprint and extend it to include a sunken bath deck and screen. It is hard not to be inspired by the natural surrounds of Whale Song—our name for the cabin—where the ocean is front and center. The view informed the position of the firepit. So much of shack living is connecting to the outside, so to bring nature inside, we accentuated the windows, opening up the view in the sunken living room with a large picture window with louvres to the right side for air flow and french doors opening onto the deck. These elements invite you to connect with the ocean while sitting on the couch, fire side, or on the floor. We honestly just stare at the ocean for hours, and time slips by effortlessly."