Sturgeon Lake Dream Cottage Project – As Featured in Our Homes Magazine Fall 2024 Issue
We are proud to have this project featured in the Our Homes Magazine Fall 2024 Issue! Read Here.
Video Tour
Cottaging has long been intended as a retreat from busy city life, an escape to the haven of rural landscape. Sturgeon lake historically, was an important landmark in that it was close to Lindsay which could be accessed by train. Fast forward and our ideas of cottaging have evolved just a bit!
Sturgeon Lake 1953!
On the shore of Sturgeon Lake 1910.
The romantic location of wilderness looks much different as do our idea of architecture and amenities. What hasn’t changed, is the shedding of city hustle and bustle to find your “happy place,” nestled on the shores of an expansive lake and becoming renewed through your weekend cottage experience. This essence of what we look for in a cottage remains the same, and the role it serves to allow us to shed the ordered aspects of everyday life. The escape to solitude is something our clients look for in their Kawartha cottages and homes. We do everything we can to create spaces that reflect the Kawartha lifestyle and function for our client’s way of life.
Sunset on Sturgeon Lake in The Kawarthas
Introducing, Kim and Tim, who found this beautiful Confederation Log Home on the east shore of Sturgeon Lake, that needed a whole lot of vision and design expertise to create their Kawartha dream! Before all this, there was the one that got away, and many others, that felt like lost chances on the real estate short list. However, we all know that what’s meant to be will be, and kismet ensured that ultimately their piece of paradise would be found.
Character and curb appeal with an added entry.
The cottage was of sound structure and exuded character but lacked functionality. Our task was to present everything from new drawings, furniture layouts and selections, landscaping and planning through to fine details for finishing including art selection and accents. First in order was designing and creating a proper entry. It was important that when guests approached, that the curb appeal could be felt and matched the rest of the overall design.
View at dusk, layered lighting creates ambiance and highlights the many features of the cottage.
“Before” view while entry under construction.
Interior view: A new entry brightens and opens the space up providing practical room for all things “coming and going” for the family.
Entry view “before” shows how little space the homeowners had.
The new drawings perfectly integrated change with all aspects of the original cottage. The new entry created curb appeal and now sets the tone for guest arrival.
“Before” view with old entry.
Our favourite part of Sturgeon Lake projects is we can cross country ski to our client’s location for site checks!
Overhead view showing lake proximity and landscaping.
Our re-design proposal also took into account a sprawling fireplace that dated the living space, a need for a fourth bedroom, laundry zone and primary bedroom en suite. These changes would create both form and functionality for all family members. From an office space that would accommodate working from the cottage to a custom bar area in the living room to larger windows and patio doors leading to the deck. The updates would make everyday traffic flow easier and would add a contemporary feel to update the entire home overall.
“Before” view shows how a dated fireplace divided the living room making for a dark and cramped area with no real functionality assigned.
Dated painted brick with a less than exciting mantle.
Ensuring a bright and open main living room was important and having seating to accommodate the family plus guests was integral for such a family space to feel warm and comfortable. Previously the fireplace had divided the room in half, opening things up provided opportunity to create one large space. The fireplace is centred between two large windows and is now a focal point along with the expansive lake view.
Fireplace reconfiguration with the new centered between two large lake facing windows.
Wood stove in the “before” space.
Keeping our renovation work area organized and clean!
Front living space under construction.
A gorgeous stone fireplace becomes the focal point without sacrificing the expansive lake views!
Furniture, rugs, and accessories are from Room by Tim + Chris.
Bar area off the living room. Handy for entertaining family and friends!
One of our favourite views!
All spaces flow into one another creating views on views.
Ample seating provides enough room for guests and family at the same time. Our sofas and accent chairs from Room by Tim + Chris.
Accessories from Room by Tim + Chris add warmth and interest to the room.
Kitchen views featuring traditional cabinetry in keeping with the log home design aesthetic.
Room for extended family and friends.
When it came to the reconfiguration of bedrooms, we started with spaces that were restrictive in size with small windows. A new design layout showed the family how to add a fourth bedroom and an office space. The result included a sliding barn door feature that matched the style and character of the home and vintage inspired hardware that also lends a traditional look for the log home design.
Upstairs view to guest rooms.
Attention to detail for layered lighting.
A beautiful skylight made way for evening star gazing and was another creative solution to inviting more light into the guest room. Pops of colour with runners and bedding make the bedrooms flow easily with the overall feel of the home.
The beautiful skylight feature for star gazing.
Upper floor construction phase.
Hudson helping with framing and layout!
Old dormer zone getting a makeover.
Details like the barn door go with the log home look and integrated seamlessly, similar to the antique influenced bathroom hardware. We wanted consistency with the current design where possible, to ensure the new matched in style and character.
Bathroom “before” shows dated and non-fuctional layout and fixtures.
Cabinetry install day.
“After” with contemporary fixtures, hardware and accessories.
Now we ask ourselves, what Kawartha dream cottage would be complete without an outdoor fireplace? Our clients were unmoving on this ask and we agreed that adding this feature would create a one-of-a-kind sitting vignette that could be enjoyed all year long. The large stone fireplace design creates ambiance and extends the usability of the entire seating area. If the notion of unwinding in a rural cottage setting lakeside is the goal, then the patio fireplace checks all the boxes! Outdoor fireplaces are transformative and we definitely aimed to design a space that did exactly that.
The impressive outdoor fireplace, lighting up not just lives but an entire patio entertaining space!
The outdoor space repeats the interior, using the large windows to centre furniture and the seating plan.
“Before” views at the lake facing side.
New large style deck doors replaced an old picture window.
Picking the palette.
The new patio provides entertaining zones and was extended for more outdoor living space.
Adjacent to the fireplace zone, Kim and Tim have an area for eating and entertaining that is equally impressive. The patio then leads to the dock jutting into Sturgeon Lake providing yet another seating area for sunsets and enjoying the lake.
The eating zone is spacious featuring a round table option and expansive lake views.
A view to Sturgeon Lake.
Overhead view of the back entertaining area.
The outdoor stone fireplace provides privacy and frames the seating area nicely.
Space for sips and sunsets!
We had a few clients on this project!
Our favourite client to date!
Kim and Tim were amazing to work with and we enjoyed every step of the process. Having clients that appreciate the evolving role that creativity plays in a project is key to a good project relationship. Our clients are more than just clients to us. We hope to continue to work with many of the same clients down the road, as various life stages offer opportunities for further projects.
Tim + Chris
