Our Mission & Passion

We’re McCaela and Joe. Like most people, we found ourselves longing for a retreat from the chaos of the world - to leave behind our busy schedules and the pressures of daily life.  Connection to nature and the local community.  A space to take a moment to breathe, reset and recharge. For us, this was the Berkshires, located in the mountains of Western Massachusetts.

We believe in taking time. We believe our homes and spaces have a profound impact on our well-being. We believe in design forward and eco-collaborative spaces that make us think about our impact on the planet and each other.  We believe in investing in local communities, and simplifying life. 

We can help you create this space for yourself, and for others. 

Our Story

In 2016, we got married, and happened upon an empty plot of land in Lee, MA-  centrally located between the towns of Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge.  With the help of local architect Pam Sandler, we designed and built our West Rd property- a guest once called “luxuriously tranquil.”

It was here we got to escape the chaos and hustle of city living. We could breathe, be immersed in nature and make memories. We wanted to share this experience - this could be a place where others could appreciate the beauty of the Berkshires too.

This inspired the creation of Shire Home Co- helping other homeowners create thoughtful, simple spaces where guests experience rejuvenation, and homeowners create passive income to build their own dreams. 

With our backgrounds in the arts, hosting and creating an experience is part of who we are. We view hosting as a living, breathing, creative act.  

Our Values

A few ways we honor this commitment:

  • All heating and hot water provided solely by renewable energy (no oil, gas, or heating oil is used in properties we own)

  • Solar panels installed where possible to provide onsite electricity and provide clean energy to the grid

  • All properties have been constructed to a high energy efficiency standard to minimize waste

  • A majority of lighting is LED and appliances meet energy efficient standards

  • All provided toiletries are environmentally friendly and ordered in bulk as refillables, eliminating single use plastic waste. Toilet paper is made from bamboo.

At Shire Home Co, we create a unique experience for our guests that centers gentility toward the beauty of our natural surroundings. We feel a strong responsibility to minimize our impact on our local natural resources. Our sustainability ethos is our way of life, and our guests while they are staying with us- and hopefully something they take with them after they depart.

We are actively engaged in local community groups and trusts focused on increasing affordable housing, land preservation and the environment. We have the utmost respect for the Berkshire community in which we are located, the impact of tourism on the people, heritage and environment of the area.

Our Team

Joe Short, Co-Owner, COO

All Things Fix-It & Investing

Joe is a Rhode Island born, ocean to mountain loving transplant. Now finding himself building and creating in the woods of the Berkshires, he loves time with his family, cooking, hiking, traveling and a good bourbon. As a Joe-of-all-trades and licensed contractor, he is equally comfortable installing a metal roof and reciting the entirety of Shakespeare’s canon at the same time.

Before this chapter, Joe worked as an actor in New York City, Boston and Providence and taught in the theatre departments at Harvard University and the University of Rhode Island. Graduate of URI and Brown University.

McCaela Short, Co-Owner, CEO

All Things Design, Operations & Strategy

McCaela was born across the state line, in Albany, New York and spent time in the Berkshires growing up.  Hosting fulfills her love of tasks, spending time with her husband, and her weird but serious love of cleaning, staging, and fixing problems.  She loves travel, snuggles with her favorite boys and dog, a crackling fire and snacks. She loves the artisans, creators and makers of the Berkshires and is grateful to support them in any way she can. She serves on the Stockbridge Affordable Housing Trust, does consulting for small businesses and non-profits and is a Kripalu certified Mindful Outdoor Guide. Having survived brain surgery in 2018, she thinks life is short and you should live your bliss.

Before this chapter, McCaela worked in higher education, as a college consultant, and an actor/director/arts administrator in New York City, Boston and Nantucket.