Stylish Home Tour: Inside the Vintage-Styled Captain’s Rest by Interior Stylist Sarah Andrews
Interior Styling Blog for Real Homes: Ideas, Advice & Inspiration
Hi, I’m Sandra, this blog is about interior styling and decoration for real homes. If you love interiors and want your home to feel stylish, pulled together, yet still personal, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ll be sharing practical styling advice to help you edit, layer, and finish your home with confidence, alongside articles on what’s happening in the interiors world — from design events to colour stories - so you get the full picture. I also take you on tours of beautifully styled homes from around the world, offering inspiration and styling ideas to steal for your own space. Ultimately, I’ll show you how a little bit of styling can be transformational and take your home to a whole new level.
In today’s post, I am going to take you on a tour of Captains Rest, a Fishermans shack transformed into a vintage-filled gem by former scientist, sailor and interior stylist Sarah Andrews.
MEET SARAH - AUTHOR, INTERIOR STYLIST AND OWNER OF CAPTAINS REST
Photo credit: Jessica
Tremp
All Captains Rest photographs by Jonathan Rose www.captainsrest.com
I wanted to start this article with a photo of Sarah Andrews - former scientist turned author, educator, and style guru who transformed a humble shack on Tasmania’s rugged coast into what Vogue named as the island's ‘best stay’. Originally hosting weary miners and fishermen, Captains Rest has become a legend featured on the sites and pages of many magazines. Not surprisingly, the setting and interior have been described as sublimely beautiful and likened to a kind of living poem, celebrating all that is wondrous, mystical, and awe-inspiring.
What makes Captains Rest truly special is Sarah’s eye for the décor and her thoughtfully chosen vintage items, which are full of character and personality. I asked Sarah what attracted her to the shack in the first place? ‘I’ve always been so intrigued by unique spaces, spaces created in isolation without too much influence of what’s trending in interiors at the time,’ she explains.
Sarah’s styling has gained her cult status, with a timeless look that collaborates with nature through storytelling and curated curiosities. As both a spatial scientist and designer, Sarah blends creativity with a practical approach using proven principles in a way that anyone can learn and apply in their own homes or vacation rentals.
Captains Rest not only grabbed the attention of the press, but also won the hearts of guests who gave glowing comments such as: ‘by far the most magical place on earth.’ For those dreaming of starting their own Airbnb, Sarah also teaches hosts how to style, photograph, promote and run a successful vacation rental through her sought-after courses, both online and in person.
While I’ll be diving deeper into Sarah’s interior styling in another post, today is all about taking you on a visual tour of Captains Rest.
CAPTAINS REST EXTERIOR
Perched on the water's edge in Lette, near Macquarie Harbour, with a serene outlook over the jetty, you can see here the exterior of the clapboard shack. Captain's Rest was built in the late 1890s as a retreat for workers to take time out from their tough jobs working underground in the copper mines.
Now a heritage-listed building, Sarah purchased the property back in 2017. With no water or electricity at the time and walls leaning to one side, she explained that it was a challenging renovation process and worse than expected. ‘I figured it was a bit of a restore and style project, but it was a whole house rebuild from the stumps up,’ said Sarah. ‘It’s an 8-hour round trip to the nearest hardware store and there was a lot to do. I’d say a few of us worked on it for about 6 months! But it was worth it.’
While Sarah spent a tough time restoring and preserving its unique features, she fell in love with the beauty and tranquillity of the place.
STYLISH VIGNETTES
Before we tour the actual rooms, I wanted to take a moment to highlight Sarah’s incredible styling skills and how she so effortlessly blends vintage treasures with artefacts and practical everyday items. Her considered curation makes for a truly immersive experience, and she creates unique vignettes with extraordinary attention to detail. I love how Sarah always manages to weave touches of natural elements into her vignettes. Here is a shelf in her kitchen where a pile of stoneware dishes sits happily next to a vintage bust. Pine cones, seed pods and dried flowers are displayed harmoniously amongst wooden utensils and a rolling pin, artfully positioned for a styled, yet lived-in feel.
LIVING ROOM STYLISH DETAILS
As the landscape is ever-changing with mist, rain, sun and even snow, the living room has the best of both worlds - sweeping views of the sea and, thanks to the wood-burning stove, a cosy, cocoon-like atmosphere. It’s the ideal place to curl up next to the fire with a book or sink into the sofa and take in the stunning view. The twelve-pane antique windows came from an old building in Launceston and still had the maker’s name and the date ‘1892’ on, adding yet another layer of history to the shack.
DAY BED WITH A VIEW
Sarah has styled the built-in day bed with rich green velvet cushions with textured linens to create a look that is elegant yet informal. This gorgeous vista with its vintage table and artwork has been featured in campaigns and magazines including Vogue, Bed Threads and Australian Best Homes, to name but a few. With its view and places to relax, the living room is the perfect spot for contemplation and to take refuge from the rest of the world.
FACING THE VIEW
Opposite the day bed, a generous sofa is styled with cushions and warm woollen blankets. Sarah explained how bringing in larger items, like the sofa, was tricky. ‘We are a 4-hour drive from anywhere and I have a tiny car. So much was found in the area, repurposed, or sent in by friends and some of my favourite stockists,’ she points out. ‘The end result is humble and true to its surroundings and history.
STYLISH DETAILS
An eclectic mix of antiquities and personal touches are woven throughout the shack, each telling its own story. Given how often Captains Rest has been featured in so many magazines, it’s no surprise that others wanted a slice of Sarah’s distinctive style. It is these thoughtful styling skills that have earned Sarah international recognition as an author and interior stylist, with both her bestselling book, Principles of Style, and styling courses helping to teach fans how to style their own homes.
STYLISH SHELF DETAILS
Every corner of the shack and every shelf is beautifully styled. Set against the shiplap wall, Sarah has arranged a series of different-sized clay pots displaying stems of the dried silver dollar plant, next to vintage framed artwork and a time-worn fishing net. A neat row of earthenware cups completes the look - both attractive and practical, making it easy for guests to help themselves.
THE KITCHEN
The kitchen is a stylist's dream, with earthenware plates and cups paired with vintage chopping boards and well-worn kitchen utensils. Sarah has thoughtfully mixed in dried flowers in various pots to bring in a touch of nature. The crisp white cabinetry is perfectly balanced with warm-toned wooden floors and countertops, in keeping with the rustic charm of the shack. The floors throughout are polished Tasmanian oak, restored by Sarah herself.
THE BEDROOM
This bedroom is full of thoughtful details - it feels considered yet lived-in and a perfect example of how layering can create an effortlessly stylish, undone look. The palette of earthy green hues immediately draws the eye, beginning with the sculptural headboard. This bespoke piece is one of Sarah’s clever ideas, which she has created by combining two antique headboards from children's beds. An olive-toned, crumpled linen throw and matching pillows add texture and contrast, teamed with pillows and a throw in a mix of fine and bold stripes to bring visual interest. The wood clapboard backdrop and a single bulb wound casually around a hook, add a final touch of rustic charm to the bedroom.
THE BATHROOM
Even the bathtub is a statement piece, far from your run-of-the-mill shape. It’s a freestanding piece with traditional-style, elegant taps. When styling, Sarah takes comfort into consideration first. ‘I like to create as much ease and bliss around daily life as possible,’ she explains, which is certainly the case in the bathroom. This is yet another place to relax and unwind while surrounded by Sarah’s signature touches, like a vintage chair, characterful mirror and delicate dried flower arrangement hung as wall décor.
THE SURROUNDINGS
Looking out to the jetty, it feels like Captains Rest is off-grid, and in many ways it is. Nestled in the Wilderness World Heritage Area, it offers that rare feeling of seclusion. Having had a feel of Captain's Rest's captivating interior and cinematic surroundings, you can almost picture it in a movie or the editorial pages of a fashion magazine. For creatives, Captains Rest is a dream, with unique character and location. So, as you can imagine, it is a sought-after location for fashion and homeware shoots, travel features, music videos and even movies.
LET’S SUM UP
Whether it’s Airbnb guests or a creative team photographing it, Captains Rest really is a magical place cherished by all those who frequent it. Check out the website for more on Captains Rest You can find Captains Rest, along with other stunning vacation rentals on my blog.
