A cabin on wheels becomes a chic teen retreat

With its duck egg blue door and rustic weatherboard facade, this cute-as-a-button cabin might look like it’s part of the English countryside, but it’s actually nestled comfortably in the Yarra Ranges, Victoria, backyard of Caroline Drury and Gareth Doran. The couple, in search of a way to
add more accommodation to their boutique bed and breakfast business, chanced upon handcrafted shepherd huts in the UK, and loved them so much that they have founded a separate business to manufacture Merino Shepherd Huts in Australia. This hut has a stable door – French doors are also available – painted in Porter’s Paints’ Studio Grey with steps in White Knight’s Flat Black. The lime adirondack chair is from Polywood Outdoors. 

The cabin is wide enough to comfortably fit a king single or queen bed or a roomy sofa; this one has been brightened with a throw, Bluebellgray cushions and canvas tote, all from Metisse. The walls are painted in Porter’s Paints’ Lamb’s Wool, and insulated for added cosiness.

The hut is fitted with double casement and awning windows, crafted from mountain ash timber, to allow in plenty of natural light, along with electrics for power and lighting. The narrow desk, which was found at Mangana in Olinda, is dressed with accessories from Metisse and fits neatly into the two-metre-plus wide cabin. 

A pretty pegboard, which came with the hut, suits the rustic theme while cleverly making use of available wall space.

Hooked up to the grid and decorated simply, this cabin makes an ideal teen retreat, but could easily work as an extra guest room or home office. It’s a charming way to add more space to a tight floorplan. Long established in the UK, this type of wheeled hut was originally used by shepherds moving to new pastures with their flocks. As a mobile building it can usually be parked on your land without council permission (although do check with your local planning officer) and taken with you if you move.

A Tasmanian oak floor provides a warm contrast to the tongue-and-groove panelled interior walls. 

All sorts of inventive extensions have crossed our desks at HB, but this cabin has to be one of the cutest. Merino Shepherd Huts are handcrafted
to order and completely customisable, with kitchen, bath and powder room configurations all available. Prices for the Traditional hut start from $19,995 plus GST, while prices for the Merino hut start from $34,950 plus GST. Contact Merino Shepherd Huts for more details.