But when you are in the building trade and have a keen eye for good design then what may at first appear as a challenge is more likely considered straight forward.

Anthony Slot and Tracy Boyce took on this mammoth task and the result is Marysville Garden Cottages that are breathing new life and business into the previously fire-ravaged Marysville in south-east Victoria..

Within 12 months the talented couple, along with local tradespeople, built eight semi self-contained cottages of varying sizes on a site that replaced what Anthony called a “beautiful old Californian Bungalow-style home” that was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday fires.

The first sod of dirt was turned in November 2012 and the cottages were open for business in October 2013, complete with hard landscaping, such as retaining walls, paths and driveways, lychgate and water feature, and flourishing garden beds and lawns.

Plants that survived the bushfire, including daffodils and other bulbs, were salvaged and worked into the new garden design.

The cottages have been designed using energy-saving principles that, Anthony says, add to the living comfort while minimising environmental impact. Each has its own private veranda overlooking different aspects of the garden. But it’s the bathrooms that are truly inspiring, with their muted tones, classic features and airy spaciousness providing a welcoming private spa oasis.

“All the bathrooms are slightly different in regards to size, configuration and fixtures choice but all follow a similar decor theme,” says Anthony, a registered builder and owner of Slot Building Projects. Each was deliberately planned to be roomy, ranging in size from 6.9sqm to 13sqm.

“We (Tracy and I) built them together along with the valuable help of many local trade contractors,” says Anthony, “My background is carpentry and I enjoy working physically on site.”

Anthony took the lead on the perfecting the design, taking into consideration ease of living, functionality, appearance and future maintenance. “We also considered ease of cleaning and the cost factor,” he says. "Tracy’s helpful input to the design was invaluable.”

Features include an antique-style claw foot bath, box window seat, timber flooring and stained-glass windows that enhance the cottage feel. Other “must haves” are a luxury deep-soaking bath or double spa bath. The couple say they wanted to produce a space that would offer an indulgent and relaxing getaway.

Most  bathrooms are separated from an adjoining bedroom by a set of plantation blinds that when opened, blur the boundaries between the two rooms to create an interconnected space. Decorated with a neutral colour scheme and filled with sunlight, the resulting space radiates a serene atmosphere,Tracy says.

“It was important to us that the toilet was in the same room but out of view when laying in the bath, also the hanging lights needed to have dimmer switches to be able to create whatever lighting mood the guest wishes,” she says. “You may have also noticed the ornate mirror over the fireplace mantle, that is actually a 36-inch flat-screen television that is mounted on a recessed swing arm bracket that allows the guest to view it from the bath, dining table or even their bed.” It’s this latter feature that Anthony says is his favourite.

Products chosen include tapware from Reece Bathroom’s Bastow Hawthorn range, and towel rails and roll holders from the Faucet Cascade range. Baths include the free-standing clawfoot Kado Classic from Reece and the the single Edison and Spanish vanities were purchased from Schots Home Emporium.

On floors, Fara Granite 300mmx300mm floor tiles were teamed with 250mmx400mm plain white wall tiles. Dulux’s Whisper White colour was chosen for the walls. A mirror and coat hooks came from the Marysville Post Office. Other items, such as the leadlight windows were salvaged from demolition or building jobs.

“The leadlight windows were salvaged from a building job in Jolimont in Melbourne that I worked at years ago,” Anthony says. “There are four panels and all have had some repair work done to them and have been in storage just waiting for the right placement.

“Trend Windows in Bayswater custom-made an aluminium window frame to accommodate the stained-glass panel and place it in between two panes of 4mm toughened-glass, which was perfect for safety reasons and also for ease of cleaning the window.”

Being in the building trade, says Anthony, has long made the couple familiar with working to a budget and completing a project within a tight timeframe.

“We had a solid business plan and had most of the items and job specifications selected before we started,” he says. “This allowed us to shop around and change things at our own pace without it affecting the progress of the job.”

With the new business in full swing, the couple continue with other ongoing projects of rebuilding more properties around Marysville.