Building the perfect holiday cottage in the wilds of the South Coast of NSW was a dream of many years for owner Damon Smith. Damon had traveled the world for decades as a documentary film maker, staying in not only the best hotels but also in tree houses in New Guinea, mud huts in Africa, igloos in Alaska and superb old buildings in Japan, Europe and Asia. His travels around Australia added distinct elements from classic outback Australian farmhouse design.

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Distilling the best ingredients of all the places he had visited became Damon's mantra. He wanted to build the ideal home in which he and others would love to stay. He believed size was crucial: less is more, and a cottage for two people was ideal. It had to be slightly quirky, cool in summer, warm in winter and comfortable day and night, relying on open plan concepts with a minimalist design. Above all, the design had to sit comfortably within the landscape. Floor to ceiling windows were needed to let views of the outside in. Large verandahs would keep the rain and sun at bay and extensive decks would give the seminal "sitting on the porch" experience missing from our modern lives. It needed to be a place to visit and live in that was private yet had extensive views of superb natural surroundings. It had to be a home away from home.

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After a two year build, in early 2015, Damon's dream became a reality. With the help of his daughter Melanie, he named it Wilderberry, being on the wilder side of Berry - and the rest is history.