Get Away With | Billi Drury of Hunter Cabin

When Billi Drury and her partner Callan first viewed their cabin in the Byron Hinterlands in 2018, the flimsy weather-beaten structure was punctured with gaping holes and nature had reclaimed the humble dwelling. “It was uninhabitable, but the unique shape of the roof and the character of the old fireplace immediately caught our attention,” says Billi, the structural designer and co-founder of Studio Haus Co., a design studio based in Byron Bay. With her sharpened creative eye, Billi envisioned the tumbledown cottage as a beautiful retreat for her family and guests, open to the vast green landscape beyond. “These elements became the foundation and inspiration for the cabin’s transformation into what it is today.”

The home has sat on a rise by a fig tree for over 100 years. Refreshed and gently reinvented as Hunter Cabin, it is now framed by a wide verandah and French doors that bring the outside in. The cabin’s extended floorplan incorporates a bedroom and bathroom, but the cosy proportions remain. The tall apex ceiling and indoor-outdoor connection soak the interiors in daylight and breezes, lending an open feeling that belies the tight footprint. “I handled most of the design myself, with input from my mum and the Studio Haus Co team,” says Billi, her mum being Ky Dury of Studio Haus Co. “My sister Dakota, a stylist and interior designer for Studio Haus Co., helped with the cabin's styling.”

Keeping it in the family, the construction was led by the Byron Bay-based Broken Head Building, which Billi's father owns; her brother also works on the team. “My partner Callan and I worked on the project as much as possible during weekends and evenings,” Billi adds. “Together, we tackled all the painting and rendering inside and out, tiled the kitchen and fireplace, installed the cabinetry, and completed the landscaping. It was a true collaborative effort that made the transformation even more special.”

Billi handmade the main room’s statement plaster pendant lights and painted the eye-catching equestrian-themed artworks. She sourced the dining chairs on Facebook Marketplace and restored them; they now gather around the solid timber dining table made by her brother with help from Callan.

“What I love most about making things with my hands is the sense of connection and creativity it brings,” says Billi. Transforming raw or secondhand materials and incorporating them into her interiors is an infinitely rewarding pursuit for Billi. Especially for the projects that are close to her heart. “It allows me to infuse the space with a bit of our story and personality, making Hunter Cabin feel like a truly unique and heartfelt retreat.”

Modern vintage in style, Hunter Cabin radiates a confident, pared-back aesthetic that celebrates tactile, natural materials. Limestone tiles, rough-sawn European oak flooring finished in a deep chocolate satin stain, and a custom render on the walls add depth and an organic, wholesome feeling. Render was also applied to the original fireplace, completely modernising the throw-back element and creating a striking focal point in the open-plan room.

Decor additions must have a purpose here, which is why Billi has incorporated woven pieces from The Dharma Door range. “I’ve used the small baskets as a decorative and storage solution. I believe with these, you can have both style and functionality,” she shares.

Stepping into the transformed cabin, Billi is enveloped with a sense of achievement, followed immediately by a grounding feeling of tranquil calm. Every design decision and handmade gesture was formed with that soothing outcome in mind. The designer's goal from the beginning of the project was to create a welcoming, enriching retreat that relaxed visitors and connected them to the lush surroundings. “When guests first arrive, I hope they feel an immediate sense of peace and warmth like they’ve stepped into their own private sanctuary,” she says.

When you can tub-soak alfresco under a star-studded sky and spend golden mornings sipping coffee on the veranda overlooking lush rolling hills, restorative relaxation is a surety at Hunter Cabin. “I want our guests to feel welcomed and at ease, surrounded by the beauty of the natural landscape and the thoughtful details throughout the cabin,” says Billi. “I hope they take the time to slow down and truly immerse themselves in the tranquillity of the hinterlands.”

Written by Jessica Bellef | Images by Jessie Prince | www.huntercabin.com.au