A Snow Globe Life
Story Rick Shurman
Photography Sandy MacKay
Florals Collingwood Flowers & Home Decor
Black windows and doors, white horizontal siding and natural wood details on the front porch, soffits and deck combine for a modern farmhouse design. The Galvalume metal roof was installed by South Georgian Bay Roofing.
Melany Hugo and Alejandro Zuloaga would not argue that finding their way to a wonderful life in the Meaford area and Southern Georgian Bay was one part happenstance and the other, “truly magical” – to quote Melany. A special blend, custom made for this couple.
They had been avid rock climbers for some time. In fact, that is precisely how they first met, fell in love and eventually married. They had come to this part of the Bruce to enjoy the climbing and all that the landscape had to offer. “It is a spectacular place,” says Melany. “We never stop being excited about how beautiful it is, and we still scream every time we see the bay from up on higher ground.”
Homeowners Melany Hugo and Alejandro Zuloaga
When Melany’s father retired in 2018, Melany and Alejandro suggested that retirement life in the Meaford area might just be the ideal relocation plan. It only took one look around and to everyone’s delight, Melany’s father and mother purchased a home in the heart of downtown Meaford. “As it happened, we were selling our home in the city at the very same time,” says Melany. “We decided to buy a piece of land up here as well, to basically park our money in real estate.” They really had no intention of building immediately, as they were busy in the city with their professional lives.
Melany is a regional sales and marketing director for IHG Hotels and Resorts, and Alejandro is an independent contractor and site manager with Upper Canada Drywall. However, due to an unexpected situation in the family, they accelerated their plans, as they were needed up here to assist on a regular basis. Therein lies the happenstance. Although the initial situation was unexpected and unfortunate, the outcome has been anything but. “We got very lucky,” says Melany. “The universe took care of us.”
They happened to be looking at an old copy of OUR HOMES from 2014 and spotted a home design from Legendary Group, a company that builds pre-fabricated homes at their facility in Collingwood. It was just the right fundamental construct they were hoping for. “We wanted some modifications, but the basic idea was all there,” says Melany. “We didn’t want anything too clinical. We wanted it to be our take on a modern farmhouse.” The windows were to be the star.
The open trusses of the roof structure are a defining feature. The base of the dining table was fabricated by Fortier Metal Design and white powder coated. It seats 10 comfortably. The dome pendant light was sourced at Georgian Design Centre and installed by Hewgill Electric Inc.
“They maxed out the amount of glass they could use according to code and went full tilt in terms of percentage of glass relative to wall space,” says Jesse Pagé, production manager for Legendary. “It made a terrific difference, by letting the light and the view into the home. Between the windows and the unique slope and vista that the property offers, they really did get a fantastic result.”
“We added a second storey so we had more sleeping and working space,” says Alejandro, “and we bumped out the entranceway two feet and moved the front door to the side as well. This also gave us much more open space on the ground floor.” Legendary was flexible and accommodated all the modifications with ease. Once the site was readied and the foundation poured, by mid-December of 2020, Legendary erected the shell of the home within three days.
Sunlight from windows on both sides of the home floods the main floor. Appliances for the kitchen were purchased at Leon’s Collingwood and installed by Alejandro.
Although trained as a drywaller, Alejandro is a “jack of all trades” and a master of many, it would seem. He worked tirelessly for months to finish the interior from end-to-end. “This house was his thesis,” says Melany. “It was a daunting task, but I know his work ethic and we both knew he could more than handle it.”
Apart from the plumbing, electrical and HVAC, Alejandro put in 12 hours a day, seven days a week and by the end of May 2021, they were living in the house. It is light and airy and offers a very spacious feeling. “This time of year, it makes us feel like we are living inside of a snow globe,” Melany chuckles. “We wanted to make the most of the landscape around us and we most definitely achieved that. We feel like we are part of it all.”
Hexagon tile in the front foyer is from mettro SOURCE and installed by Alejandro. The front door was sourced through Kv Custom Windows & Doors and installed by Legendary Group.
They were inspired by the property itself and surrounding landscape and it influenced not just the location and positioning of the home, but the interior textures and design as well. “The wild apple trees with their beautiful blossoms suggested hints of blush for the cabinets and countertops,” says Melany. “I even used a light blush colour for the tiles.”
The accent colour used throughout the home was inspired by the colour of the apple tree blossoms in springtime. The main-floor powder room is painted Sherwin Williams Romance, which closely matches the blossoms. The terrazzo tile is from Concrete Collaborative.
In the primary en suite, blush subway tile is laid in a herringbone pattern in the shower and on the wall behind the floating vanity, installed by Alejandro. Riobel fixtures were sourced at Georgian Design Centre and installed by Wilmec Systems Ltd.
You see evidence of this affect throughout the home, from the deep pink in the powder room to the very light pink upholstery in the great room. “It has a Scandinavian appearance I think,” offers Melany. “The space, the height, the creamy colours, mesh railings, tongue-and-groove ceilings, it all works and blends from the outside in.” As Melany and Alejandro suggest, nothing drives your eye away from the landscape beyond the glass. “The windows are the artwork really,” says Melany. “It is the nicest house finished by a client that I have seen since 2018,” offers Jesse of Legendary. “It is youthful and bold and really embraces the design and the land on which it stands.”
Melany’s second-level office has views of the countryside and a sofa that can double as a bed for overnight guests.
It is so apparent that the trust and love that Melany and Alejandro share for each other is reflected in this beautiful project, especially her faith in his abilities as a craftsman and his in hers as a designer.
They are grateful for where they live and the countryside that surrounds them. “We are absolutely aligned with it.” OH
The wooden components of the main staircase were installed by Legendary Group, with a custom railing fabricated and installed by Fortier Metal Design. The dome pendant light on the second level matches the dining room pendant. Powder-coasted, metal-mesh railings allow light from the window in the upper-level hallway to travel down the stairs to the main level.
The primary bedroom is a calm retreat for the couple. Wall-mounted bedside sconces free up table space. The walls in the home are painted Benjamin Moore Simply White.
