Home Archive: Photographer Amelia Rushforth's Byron Hinterland Build

Last time we spoke, you were packing up your belongings for a life on the road. What has it been like setting down roots again?

Being home again has been lovely. When we got back I enjoyed having all the comforts again, a routine, all the little things you often take for granted—hot showers, an oven, clean feet! Living in a caravan definitely made me appreciate what we have at home.

You’ve almost finished building your dream home. What has the process been like?

This is the second time building from scratch for us. We learnt so much between the first time building and the second. This time we decided to do owner-builder, as my husband is a carpenter. It was an entirely different experience as I was doing most of the building quotes, organising of trades, project managing, designing etc. It was often stressful at times, I think people aren’t joking when they say if your marriage can withstand building a house, it can get through most things! I think this rings true when you have a lot of involvement in the build—we did most things ourselves, and my husband really worked his butt off to get it where it is. There is still a bit to do including the garden and finishing touches but all ’round it was a beautiful thing for our girls to watch their dad build the family home. It’s definitely feeling very easy and cosy to live in, which is all we really hoped for.

I think if I did it again, I would tell myself to remember to only work with people you trust, get along with and work easily with. We had so many great people and trades make this house come together. We absolutely couldn’t have done it without them.

Can you tell us about the interiors?

I really didn’t want this house to feel too architectural this time. Ultimately I wanted a family home that was going to make sense for us to live in with growing kids. We are on land now and I knew l wanted a robust house that would withstand the mud, animals and chaos of a big family. For that reason I took a lot of inspiration from timber-clad homes, I continually felt drawn to the warmth of the timber. I like houses that speak for themselves and that you don’t have to feel like you have to bring a lot of ‘stuff’ in to make them feel inviting. We chose Australian recycled hardwood for the external cladding and Australian timber inside on all the floors, walls, windows and ceilings.

Do you have a favourite room? What makes it special?

We decided to do a little breakfast nook in the kitchen with built-in seating. It’s definitely turned into my favourite spot in the house. It gets lots of lovely morning light and I love sitting there having my morning coffee. I think it feels special because it seems to be the space that connects us most as a family. The girls will often be drawing there, or hanging out while I’m cooking, if people come over they always seem to naturally gather there. I always dreamed of having a full table with all our kids sitting around it and this spot makes that come true.

How would you describe your interior style?

I’m not a fussy girl, I don’t do well with lots and lots of stuff. I like to keep things simple in my spaces, probably because I have so much going on in other aspects of my life. Having four kids means there is always some sort of mess, so if everything else seems somewhat simplified and functional and easy, then that works for me. I do like a home to still feel inviting and comfortable when people come over. I think my interior style is drawn to nice natural materials for that reason. I don’t like trends and over-the-top colours. Sometimes I wish I could be more confident with colour but it does scare me as I know I’ll get sick of it in a month!

In your opinion, what makes a house a home?

The people that fill it, the stories it tells, the comfort it gives, the joy, the safety it brings my daughters. A home is the most treasured thing.

What do you love most about yours?

Right now, I’ve never felt more grateful for the space we have here—to have our horses at home, to be able to live on the land and give our daughters this rural upbringing. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t feel fortunate that our girls will have the land, nature and their animals as a part of their childhood. I can watch them riding their horses from our back deck and it still really feels like a dream that I can say that.