We’re taking our Reno Goals: The Cabin outside! After renovating half of our cabin’s interior we decided to take a short break while we raise our young family and instead turn our attention outside. Luckily for Jonno, this meant he could finally start working on his dream shed. And this is not just any shed, it’s The Big Shed. Today I share how we designed it, why we chose Colorbond Steel for the exterior, and how I landed on the perfect colour. A big thank you to Colorbond Steel for helping to make this episode possible.
Designing the Dream Shed
Our shed isn’t just built for storage (although yes, it will house all of Jonno’s toys), we also designed it to be a functional workspace that looked spectacular. The structure itself is huge, 17 metres by 10 metres, with a height of 4.8 metres to the gutters and a 30° pitch that peaks at nearly eight metres. So the materials and colours we chose needed to stand the test of time, we did not want any regrets.
We live on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, situated high on a hill overlooking the ocean. Our view is incredible, but the weather is intense. We get everything from scorching heat to horizontal rain and wild coastal winds. So the exterior materials had to be tough. That’s why we went with Colorbond steel for the shed’s roof, walls, flashings and gutters. I’ve used it before on our previous projects and it’s never let us down. Durable, low maintenance and made for Australian conditions.
Colorbond steel features five layers of protection for long-lasting durability, including enhanced corrosion resistance and a baked-on topcoat. In simple terms, it’s strong and it lasts!
Colour Inspiration: From the Landscape
When you’re covering over 500 square metres of surface area, choosing the colour is not a decision you make lightly. Luckily, I didn’t have to look far for inspiration. Our location is surrounded by the most beautiful natural palette, including blue-green gum trees, rusty red cliffs, charcoal rocks, and the ever-changing blues and greys of the ocean.
Colorbond Steel’s colour range is designed to reflect the Australian landscape, so it was a great way to find inspiration. With 22 colours to choose from I decided on the following shortlist: Bluegum®, Monument®, Wallaby®, Gully®, and Woodland Grey®.
Testing the Shortlist
Pro’s and Con’s. Here’s how I narrowed it down:
- Bluegum®: Calm blue undertones, but in context it was a little ‘too light’ for our location and being such a large structure.
- Monument®: A timeless strong colour, but I felt that it might be ‘too heavy’ for our open coastal setting.
- Wallaby®: A warm grey tone that blended beautifully with the environment. A definite front runner.
- Gully®: Soft, earthy grey-green that complemented with our cabin interiors and also looked great outside.
- Woodland Grey®: A robust colour but with a softer side, blended really well with our landscape.
My final selection was Woodland Grey® because of its chameleon quality. This colour shifts subtly with the light, blending into the landscape rather than becoming the dominant feature. I wanted a strong dark colour that would complement both the landscape and our modest cabin, and also look great next to our timber cladding which we will be using on the west-facing feature wall of the shed.
Why Woodland Grey Works
When you put Woodland Grey next to warm natural materials like spotted gum or blackbutt, it just sings. The deep, muted tone anchors the design and ties into the surrounding environment, from the red earth and crushed rock to the green gums and coastal sky. It’s the kind of colour that recedes into the landscape, giving the shed a sense of belonging rather than shouting for attention. For me, that’s the key to good exterior design. It should complement the environment, not compete with it.
Next Up
With the materials and colour now locked in, we’re ready to move into the next phase of our build. I can’t wait to share how the finished shed looks once everything comes together, especially that timber feature wall down the track when we re-clad our home and source the final timber.
A big thank you to Colorbond steel for helping to make this project possible. If you’re planning your own exterior project, make sure you’re using genuine Colorbond steel. You can find your nearest supplier at colorbond.com.
We’ll be sharing more updates from The Big Shed and our Cabin exterior soon, so make sure you’re following along on YouTube and Instagram.
WATCH THE VIDEO
🎥 How I Choose Colorbond Colours for Our Big Shed Project
Watch the full episode now on our YouTube channel Hunting for George.
Photography: Jonno Rodd
Video Production: Hunting for George
