Fresh air. Open spaces. Flora and fauna. A digital detox and a simpler, more connected way of living.
Sounds idyllic, right?
Life in 2024 can feel frantic, fast-moving and disconnected. With the rising cost of living and property prices at an all-time high, it’s no surprise that more and more people are trading the hustle and bustle of city life for the calm of the countryside. Whether it’s a brief escape or a life-changing move, a cosy cottage is key to an authentic country experience.
If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping back to a slower pace, surrounding yourself with nature and rustic charm, read on. Because here’s our pick of 5 cosy cottages to inspire you to kickstart your journey towards your own perfect country escape.
Each has been created from the same simple design, yet each is unique – a showcase of the versatility of the Cedarspan building system and the endless possibilities for personalising the perfect place!
1. Two in one – the country essentials
Jill and Andrew’s Cedarspan is the perfect blend of cosy country living and essential rural functionality, making it the ultimate dual-purpose structure. The cornerstone to the couple’s ‘city to country’ lifestyle change, this classic timber barn tells a tale of two halves. Initially serving as their temporary home, one side is charming farmhouse-inspired accommodation, the other a spacious rustic workshed.
With a series of thoughtful personalisations, including Weathertex Natural cladding that has weathered to a stunning silver-grey patina, and handcrafted western red cedar doors and windows, this barn harmonises beautifully with its surroundings.
The Colorbond roofing in “Wallaby” complements these natural tones, while an expansive loft and a full-length verandah add extra space and functionality, inside and out.
Design features such as skylights, gable windows and bi-fold doors bring in natural light, and a verandah and pergola added to the gable ends following installation ensure this timber barn remains as practical as it is unique.
2. A modern barn with country charm
This stunning two-bedroom retreat, nestled on a picturesque two-acre coastal block, effortlessly blends modern design with country charm. The light-filled open-plan living area showcases the Cedarspan’s signature clearspan cathedral ceiling, creating a spacious and airy feel. The open-plan living area spills effortlessly onto a curved deck, with a wall of doors and windows blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living, whether they are open or closed.
Adding a personal touch, the owners incorporated an alpine porch and an internal loft with skylight windows into the original barn design. Beautiful barn doors have been combined with traditional 10-lites to create a timeless, yet contemporary, aesthetic.
The weatherboard cladding has been painted white, complementing the warm timber tones of the doors and sidelights, while the “Shale Grey” Colorbond® roofing and white aluminium windows accompany the coastal surroundings.
With double glazing, an outdoor bath, and a design that caters to both winter and summer enjoyment, this modern barn home is a perfect example of sophisticated yet relaxed country living.
3. A pavilion paradise born from a humble hut and a Cedarspan barn
Cappy’s stunning home is where history, creativity, and modern living come together in perfect harmony.
Situated in tranquil Tweed Shire, just shy of the Queensland border, this one-of-a-kind pavilion style property is a stunning blend of past and present. Two very different structures – a historic local landmark dating back to 1934 and a Cedarspan barn – combine to create a sanctuary where the boundaries between inside and outside, now and then, are beautifully merged.
It all started with the addition of a Cedarspan transforming Cappy’s newly acquired land into a rural weekend retreat.
A timber staircase leading to a loft space separates the barn into defined areas; a cosy living space at one end, and a bedroom featuring a dramatic cathedral ceiling and double doors that open onto an alpine porch at the other. By setting the barn on a slab that extends under the porch, a polished concrete floor flows seamlessly from inside to out. Painting the board-and-batten cladding in green and off-white is a thoughtful nod to the rural landscape, and adds a striking design feature to the building.
Next, Cappy restored the original Tickers Hut into a luxurious bathhouse, and once complete she bridged the two buildings, connecting past and present and creating a stunning, light-filled pavilion home. What was once the exterior of the barn now serves as an interior feature wall, showcasing double barn doors and the uniquely painted cladding. The connecting structure is now an open-plan living area that fuses the historic hut with the modern-day barn, creating a pavilion home that epitomises the perfect balance of rural retreat and contemporary style.
It’s proof of the incredible results that can be achieved from humble beginnings with a simple, modular barn.
4.Classic Australiana – Cullenbone Cottage
Iconic rural Australia calls for a quintessential Australian country cottage. A home among the gum trees, a sheep or two, a kangaroo…and most definitely a verandah out the front with an old rocking chair!
Cullenbone Cottage is just that.
This Cedarspan has been transformed into truly iconic Australian accommodation and a highly rated Airbnb. A character-loaded country cottage, the property features a defined bedroom area beneath a loft, a heritage-style bathroom, and a cosy open-plan living space that includes dining and kitchen areas set beneath its soaring cathedral ceiling.
Situated on the banks of the Cudgegong River and in the grounds of a historic Mudgee property, the cottage is perfectly in tune with its surroundings. The epitome of Australiana, it boasts cedar weatherboard cladding, handcrafted cedar colonial windows and Zincalume roofing – looking not a beat out of place in this classic Australian picture.
Claudine and Alan have generously offered a discount on a Cullenbone Cottage Airbnb stay: use the unique code ‘CEDARSPAN’ for a 10% saving.
5. French-inspired St Clements
From seamless integration with quintessential Australia to contrasting European design.
St Clements Cottage stands proudly as a country retreat that boldly distinguishes itself from both its surroundings and the ordinary. Designed specifically to match its unique red neighbour, this Cedarspan is another much-loved holiday stay on Airbnb.
A dramatic beacon of colour on the Oberon landscape, St Clements Cottage mirrors David and Karen’s home; a design inspired by a lone house on a hill that the couple encountered while travelling through France many years ago.
This Cedarspan features board and batten cladding, with extra battens applied to ensure a perfect match with David and Karen’s adjacent home.
The handcrafted cedar windows have been painted white on the exterior as a striking contrast to the red of the cladding, while “Slate Grey” roofing matches the cottage door. A decked verandah has been added to the front and the posts have been painted to match the roof, tying the entire look together and ensuring a perfect re-creation of its neighbour.
Inside, the main open plan living, dining and kitchen area celebrates the cathedral ceiling while a separate bedroom and a bathroom are privately tucked under the loft.
If you would like to experience more of St Clements, Oberon you can book a stay or follow them on Instagram.
Each is the same, yet one of a kind
These five remarkable transformations, though distinctly unique, all stem from the same simple foundational design. Each owner has adapted the versatile building system of a Cedarspan into rural accommodation that perfectly reflects their individual vision. From classic Australian charm to European elegance, modern coastal retreats to historic hybrid homes. Every property showcases how a single design can be personalised to create something truly one-of-a-kind.
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