They are all functional pieces, even though people might not choose to actually drink or eat from the exhibition work.” These days Shannon and her husband, jazz musician and cheesemaker Trevor Hart, both work from the back of their charming weatherboard home. Trevor has created a beacon on Queensland’s culinary map with the cheeses he makes from local buffalo milk and his cheeserie happily turns out haloumi, mozzarella and bocconcini while Shannon is busy in her studio creating hand-thrown vessels. “Ironically I used to admire the house as a youngster,” she says. “I used to walk past it on my way to Brownies and I always fancied it. Of course I never dreamed that one day I would be working and living there with our two girls.” Internally Shannon and Trevor have given the cottage a cool retro makeover, with Shannon’s signature restraint as the guiding force. Furniture has been salvaged and gifted from friends’ and relatives’ clearouts and Shannon’s ceramics blend seamlessly into this laid-back setting. “It’s a bit of a patchwork,” Shannon says. “While we both like vintage pieces we didn’t want it to become too busy so there is a bit of less is more vibe happening. We wanted the colours to be soft but bright so Trevor mixed them himself. We settled on blue and green in the main rooms, because that seemed to reflect the forest and sky that surrounds us.” Shannon adds that the girls are extremely lucky to attend the River School, which has
Clockwise from opposite page: Shannon and her husband, Trevor, gave the cottage a cool retro makeover; cooking is
a rewarding pastime for the pair; Shannon produces beautiful handmade porcelain vessels; Shannon and Trevor work from home. HOMES Australian Country 97