Creative home renovations: Is this Australia’s coolest shed
It deserves pride of place in a VB ad, a footy club training session promo or the airbnb website, because this probably is Australia’s coolest shed.
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While the classic 1930s American barnyard may be romanticised as the pre-eminent farm structure, Joe Calleja, who owns a rural building on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, thinks Australians can do even better.
Shunning an entirely classic timber exterior, Joe, a managing director for a steel distribution firm, has teamed up with architect Patrick Jost to dress a barnyard on his 24-hectare farm out of a far more resilient material, and something close to Joe’s heart – steel.
“I am a steel guy, so when my wife (Elizabeth) and I bought this place we knew who to turn to. We had seen what Patrick had done with another country property nearby and we wanted something similar. First things first, instead of going for that boring American timber barn, we went for a matt Basalt Colorbond exterior,” says Joe.
“Being matt, it looks faded straight away. You know when you buy a new pair of jeans but you want them to look worn straight away, well this is the same kind of thing.”
AUSTRALIA’S COOLEST SHED
The project came about because Joe, who is a racing enthusiast, needed somewhere to store his incredible collection of vintage cars, WWII army jeeps, model planes, GI Joes, art, old signs, signed guitars and even antique tram ticket dispensers, among other notable collectables.
When the Callejas bought the farm, there was an existing off-the-shelf blue corrugated shed on the land.
It was only four years young and still shiny with galvanised structural steel, but Joe wasn’t interested in keeping it. Apart from being an eyesore, Joe could not get his classic, stainless-steel Airstream bus in due to the access being too low.
“It was a brand new shed when we bought it, but it was so ugly … all you saw was this big blue shed sticking out in the bush. But, Patrick convinced us we could convert this into a usable stable with accommodation in the elevated section to take in the view. Honestly though, my first thought was to get rid of it,” says Joe.
Indeed, instead of knocking it down and starting anew, Patrick talked the couple into keeping the existing structure and adapt, re-clad and add to the building to make it work both functionally and visually to look like it was always one building.
“It improves a usually bland utility into a piece of elegant architecture set in an amazing setting,” says Patrick.
“It realises the fact that there isn’t really a preconceived idea about what a shed should look like and proves that a shed can look really great.”
In the end, what started out as a designer storage facility ended up becoming a luxury weekender with a billiard room, living area and a bedroom and bathroom thrown into the mix. On the property, two donkeys, six dogs and other local animals, such as koalas, echidnas and wallabies coexist.
A BARNYARD WITHOUT THE ANIMALS
Everywhere you look, you’re met with interesting finds, but the taxidermy on the walls may just be the most confronting.
“I like things that are quirky and this place can feel like it’s out of 18th century England. I am crazy about all that stuff, but I am not a hunter,” says Joe.
“Fair dinkum, I have trouble getting a mouse off a trap. I don’t collect exotic or rare animals and anything big that I have are animals that have been taken down by bigger animals.”
Rex Doesburg, owner of The History vintage store in Collingwood, has also helped bring Joe’s vision of a non-traditional barn to life.
“He really designed the whole inside of the shed. He understands me, he had also designed my big, Old English style office in the middle of a modern office. I knew he would be able to create something similar here,” says Joe.
“For me, it has to be quirky, if it’s not, it’s just boring.”
This is the third farm the Calleja family have owned, and Joe and Elizabeth value time on the farm with their daughters Lauren, 36, and Bianca, 31, and their respective partners and children. Joe says he wants to offer his three granddaughters the same wonder and opportunity to explore life on the outskirts of the city, and with the barnyard becoming more of a retreat, most of his cars and memorabilia have remained in storage. Though, he doesn’t care to complain.
“I am surrounded by girls. I have two wonderful daughters and three beautiful granddaughters. I am a lucky man.”
Forget living among bales of hay, modern barnyard design is less about housing farm animals and more about creating a relaxing environment that promotes a harmonious life.
In fact, the barnyard doesn’t even need to be in a rural setting anymore with homeowners adopting some of the key design features, such as sliding barn doors, high ceilings and exposed beams in their city properties. There’s nothing stopping you building a barn-style home by the sea or the suburbs.
HOW TO GIVE YOUR HOME THAT AUTHENTIC FEEL
1. Old number plates give a barnyard an authentic feel. Vintage plates can be found on various trading websites including eBay, ebay.com.au
2. If you’re not into taxidermy but still want something that would be reminiscent of items historically featured in a barnyard, this may just be your next best option. Laser cut stag head antlers, $83.52, mattblatt.com.au
3. More than a farmhouse, the barnyard can be a place of fun. Classic Speedster ride-on steel racer, $119.95, hipkids.com.au
4. Is there anything more Australian than an alfresco tub on the farm? We think not. Copper double slipper bathtub, $8848.90, allthingscopper.com.au
For all your home renovations ideas and inspiration visit At Home.
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