Waterfront Retreat

Cool creative Sarah Andrews has used the colours and textures of nature to turn an old shack into a chic cottage that’s as beautiful as its surroundings

- Ali Heath

Being a risk-taker by nature and hankering after solitude, Australian designer, stylist and all-round creative Sarah Andrews bought a heritage shack on Tasmania’s west coast sight unseen. ‘I spotted an ad for the run-down cottage and was drawn to its isolated charm and views across Lettes Bay, remote mountains and rainforest,’ she says. The house was built in the late 1890s for mining workers and although beguiling, once she owned it Sarah discovered it was falling to bits and had no running water or electricity.

An eight-hour drive to the nearest hardware store, the restoration was a dedicated labour of love. ‘I had intended it to be a slow, rural bolthole project, but my personal circumstances changed and it quickly became a full-time renovation that needed to earn an income,’ she says. The space, fresh air and supportive local community confirmed that despite the initial mishaps, purchasing the property was the right decision. ‘I worked on developing plans to transform the cottage, aptly named “Captains Rest”, into a cosy home for me and an escape for paying guests,’ she says.