A Tuscan-inspired getaway in Malmsbury – who’d ever have thought!
I’m not sure if it is the detailed stonework, the patina of its old timbers, the muted palette, the miniature Versailles-esque grounds, the trickle of the fountain on a sunny day, the gentrifying vintage exposed beams, the sun-drenched patio doors that open to an agricultural landscape or the crunch of gravel underfoot that transports you to a world away; but one thing I am sure about is that Vanessa + Trent Hancock have created a truly amazing country retreat!
The Timber & Stone Retreat is not just wonderful because it’s picture perfect, it’s inspiring because it’s a horse-paddock-to-slice-of-heaven project that has taken Vanessa + Trent years of hard work and all the vision, passion, patience, talent and creativity they could muster. While Trent’s varied skills (including those he uses for his landscaping business) set the scene and transformed the open paddock into grounds, Vanessa’s eye for detail, up-cycling collectibles and her own artwork (the large canvas hanging in the loungeroom is an aerial view of the land + the gorgeous floral cushion she made from a vintage apron) added the finishing touches.
These talented folks might not live in the country {well, not yet anyway} but they sure have provided locals and visitors alike with a truly beautiful space for a relaxed weekend, an extended stay or wedding. Yes! Oh joy! It’s available for bookings! Vanessa + Trent say it’s still a work-in-progress. So, as the garden grows and matures and outhouses are added, it will be a great pleasure to watch this space! In the meantime, we’ve added The Timber & Stone Retreat to Forest Bound our guide to the very best our region has to offer ‘up the highway, up my way’!
Enjoy! {d} x
Tell us a little bit about your background/s – what path/s led you to where you are now?
Trent is a landscaper, has been for almost 25 years. He’s been running his own business for the past 12 years. I am a florist. I have been since I was 19yrs old.
I had my own florist for 5 years in East Melbourne, quite a few years ago now, but I am now involved in running the landscape and pool business that we have, which also gives me the flexibility of being a mum to our 7yr old son.
With all the work that Trent has done over the years, there were always materials that were being ripped up and replaced and ready for the tip. Trent wasn’t comfortable with all the wasted materials, so he began keeping materials that he thought could be reused for something in the future. As the house we were living in at the time didn’t have the space to cater for housing such ‘collectables”, we needed to find somewhere to store them. Hence, the search for a vacant block began.
When I was a child, I spent most weekends with my family in Malmsbury. There was a trash and treasure market on every weekend, which was held on the side of the road in the main street –which at the time was the Calder Freeway before they diverted past the small townships. We’d then picnic in the botanic gardens. These memories, always resonated with me and triggered the idea of a country block not too far away.
Malmsbury turned out to be a great place to buy. After much searching, we found this 10 acre block which was a horse paddock that just happened to have a permit with it for building a house. That was 9 years ago.
Over the following years, our collection of building materials began to grow bigger and bigger, as well as purchases that we ‘couldn’t resist”. These were always unusual building materials that you wouldn’t come across very often but which we seemed to find. We knew we wanted to make use of that building permit, but didn’t have the aspirations to build the style of home that the previous owner was going to build.
You not only own the STUNNING Timber + Stone Retreat in Malmsbury – you BUILT it! Tell us about this amazing project! What inspired its design? How did you go about it?
Being on a budget, we saw the perfect opportunity to use all our salvaged materials to build something simple, rustic and recycled. The windows and shutters on the building were the inspiration for the design and dictated the proportions to the size of the home. We purchased these windows from a gentleman who had imported them from Italy out of an old villa to use for his own project, and these were left over.
With Trent having so many skills, he decided he wanted to build it himself. It turned out to be a great idea, as the result is a huge reflection of his skills. However, after spending almost every weekend building the house, it did start to become an extremely taxing and exhausting process, as running the landscaping business and physically working on that flat-out during the week was a real test of strength on many levels.
You not only built it, you did all the landscaping starting with a bare ‘horse paddock’! Tell us about the landscape transformation that has taken place?
The transformation of the property from a horse paddock has been a slow but rewarding one. We always envisaged a central tree-lined driveway. So, we divided up the block into smaller paddocks and formed a central axis from which everything had a starting point, then worked outwards from there. We wanted to keep things simple. As the climate can be quite extreme, plant choice was always very selective and suitable to the elements. So far, we haven’t had many misses, but it is ever-expanding and we are always searching for new additions to the garden. We were also aware that we wanted to have garden views from each window inside the house, which would reflect the changing seasons.
Trent’s landscaping skills came to the forefront when it came to the landscaping. He built the roundabout and front pillars in local Castlemaine Stone, paved the outside areas and constructed all other facets in the construction of the garden. The plan is to continue expanding the garden. It’s definitely a work in progress.
The Timber + Stone Retreat is set on acreage in Malmsbury. How did you choose your small holding?
We were originally looking for smaller blocks when we first started looking in Malmsbury. However, when we stumbled across the block that we purchased, we both got a great vibe instantly. We continued to look around but kept coming back to this one. Usually, your initial vibe is a great gauge.
Your gorgeous accommodation is filled with handmade, up-cycled + vintage pieces. Tell us about your creations + collections?
The collections and pieces in the house are exactly that. I have been collecting things that I love for many years, some may call it hoarding; others, collecting. I have bought things from our road trip holidays, markets, garage sales, eBay etc and some have been passed down. Some things I have created myself, with found materials on the block and little foraging trips through forests. Also reusing and transforming things into something else is something I love doing.
Vanessa, you create all sorts of truly beautiful + unique things from paintings to cushions. Tell us about your creative processes? What inspires you? Can we buy/commission your work?
As I have always loved creating things of many varieties, I thought it appropriate that I include many of these things in our recycled home. Inspiration comes to me everyday. We are surrounded by it. From nature to people, magazines and books to the internet, there is always something that I love to look at.
The pieces I have made in the house, can be commissioned. I do have plans to continue to create one off pieces for sale. Usually from the recycled materials that I have collected over the years or new additions that I continue to search for. Another work in progress.
Trent, you are a landscape gardener. What inspires you? Can we commission your services?
With Trent being a landscaper and pool builder, the thing that inspires him the most is being able to turn a patch of dirt into something special. He is one of the lucky people who truly loves what he does for a living. He is passionate about his job, and when he’s not working, he is usually just pottering in his own garden or visiting open gardens! Trent is inspired by the variety of work that can be created and is grateful that clients entrust him to transform their private space. His services are available for many degrees of work with travel never inhibiting his workplace. Feel free to call Trent (0407 390 923) or send us an email handstone@bigpond.com.
You live in the city. Do you consider yourselves to be ‘Countryphiles’ in anyway? Do you love country life? Why?
We do live in the city, but like many converted ‘country folk’ from Melbourne, we are truly grateful for the escape that the country provides. Fresh air, a slower pace and friendly locals are true magnets to driving up the highway most weekends. It definitely recharges your batteries and forces you to stop and smell the roses.
What does a typical day in the life of Vanessa + Trent the ‘Timber + Stone Retreat Owners’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?
A typical day in the life of Trent and Vanessa during the working week is focused on operating the landscaping business. Trent leaves at the crack of dawn working on any particular job, usually including consulting with potential clients for new works, returning home around 7pmish. Dinner and then a while spent working out quotes is the usual scenario for his day,
My days can vary a bit depending what is going on. After a school drop off, I will be back to the office for the majority of the day, sometimes I’m out sourcing products for clients or driving up and down the highway to Malmsbury to take care of the property at The Timber & Stone Retreat. I’m pretty lucky that our business allows me to also have the flexibility to attend activities and be available to take care of our son. Normally, after the day is done, I relax at night with a bit of creative therapy. Weekends are usually spent catching up with friends or family, going to a market, gallery, café or garden somewhere and always plenty of food.
What aspect of visiting the country are you loving MOST at the moment?
The aspect of visiting the country that we are enjoying the most at the moment is the constant addition of creative people moving to the area. Many towns have such a variety of creative funky shops, together with great choices of food eateries. You can definitely feel the shift of more city influence moving to the country without the hustle and bustle. I also think that country residents have more friendly and relaxed nature and have genuine respect for others in the community.
What are the ups and downs of running a luxury retreat in a small country town?
As our accommodation has only been open for a short while it is hard to predict what the ups and downs of having a retreat in a country town may hold, particularly considering it is very fresh for us. Apart from the obvious one of not having any bookings of course we’re hopeful that things will build slowly and that people who stay at our retreat will enjoy it as much as we do.
Tea or coffee? Do you have a favourite country café? Where and why?
Definitely coffee all times of the day for Trent, but for myself I’m definitely an early morning tea drinker, followed by coffee for the rest of the day. We really love the coffee at Monsieur Pierre in Kyneton, as well as the food. However, we are really lucky to have such an abundance of choice cafes as well in the area. The friendly service is always a winner with me also.
Where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?The region’s best kept secret?
The last great meal we had was at Small Holdings in Malmsbury. Not sure if it’s the best kept secret in the region, but it should be. The food, ambiance and service is fantastic. Such delicious food.
Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?
I can really understand people moving to the country but I believe it’s all about timing with things in your life. I would encourage people to make the move as I can see the many benefits it has had on people I know that have taken the plunge from the city. Forming a network of friends, whether it be with people with like-minded interests or groups of some kind is essential. I think if you can get settled with work, even if it’s considerably less than your city wage, but you are happy, the value of that is so much more rewarding. In our case, the timing isn’t right at this point in our lives, however, you never know what awaits around the corner.
What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of setting up a small business in a small town?
Do your research. Watch the degrees of change within the seasons. Be passionate about what you want to do first and foremost. Use social media to the maximum and deliver the best service you can.
What can we expect NEXT from you/Timber + Stone Retreat in the future? What would be your DREAM project?
We have many ideas for our retreat in the future. We would love to expand and add new outbuildings. We have a really small number of grape vines that we have planted, which eventually we will be able to get some lovely Pinot Noir from; just for our own use and the clients that stay at our retreat. We are also looking forward to the continual growth and additions to the garden.
Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of COUNTRY life?
1. Pack the gumboots, comfy clothes and secateurs in the car, drive up the highway and inhale as much fresh air as possible.
2. Pack some paints/pencils and paper and get drawing.
3. Stock up on fresh produce and cook up a hearty meal and local wine.
4. Fossick around on walks looking for little collectables.
5. Wander around local towns and amble through their streets.
Vanessa + Trent Hancock
The Timber & Stone Retreat
Breakneck Rd,Malmsbury
0415 558 588
Handstone Landscaping
