Curated Comfort on Lake Joseph

EN2 (Construction) sheathed walls throughout the cottage with new shiplap, painted Benjamin Moore’s Dove White.

STORY RICK SHURMAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BRITNEY TOWNSEND

Andrea Pierre and Keri MacLellan have exquisitely managed the process of reconstituting and restyling various properties, commercial and residential, over their 20 years of combined experience. As principal designers and co-founders of Westgrove, an interior design firm based in Toronto, they are on the cutting edge of renovation and redesign, breathing new life into what is tired, dated or just simply uninteresting.

Every one of their many projects is a gem, but perhaps no property showcases their taste and skillset better than this noteworthy, ultimate getaway cottage on the shores of Lake Joseph, near Port Carling. Originally built in 2007, the home was sold to the current owners in 2018.

Sturdy, wooden-framed chairs, with cushioned arch backs flank the matched dining table.

“It had good bones, but it was in need of a major facelift,” says Gioia Mazzanti, executive assistant to the purchasers. “The owners had a specific vision for the property. They wanted to create a Muskoka beach house,” she says. “The intention was to offer up a unique boutique hotel experience to potential renters.”

Through conversations between the designers and the owners, collective planning and thoughtful renderings of proposed changes to the building and surrounding area, the transformation was set in motion.

One of four bedrooms in the 2,000 sq. ft. cottage, this cosy sleeping space has plenty of windows for pleasant morning awakenings.

“We always wish to make our client’s vision shine,” suggests Andrea. “In this case, the owner desired the ultimate getaway, where every bedroom had a boutique hotel-like feel, from curated books on the shelves to luxury brand toiletry kits in the shower.” The fundamental mandate was to make it totally comfortable, remarks Keri. “Everything you need and nothing more,” she says with a chuckle.

Stevenson Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC installed all the new fixtures for this renovation.

Powder room walls are painted with Farrow & Ball’s Railing No. 31, a soft, dark hue that looks more blue than black.

“We wanted the finished product to give the impression that it is older, lived in, like it has been there forever,” says Andrea. “We are always striving to curate really novel features and furnishings from multiple sources, but at the same time making sure that it all feels completely cohesive.”

Minimalist Nordic and Scandinavian influences, light colours and soft fabrics lend the living space a calming ambience.

Westgrove brought Nordic and Scandinavian influences to the occasion, keeping things minimal, spacious and neutral. They installed white painted shiplap throughout to add texture to the walls. Light colours, earthy tones and bespoke furnishings abound, and nothing is overbearing or obvious.

Stacked windows in the open-concept living and dining rooms offer panoramic views of the lake and surrounding forest.

“The cottage footprint was slender and narrow, but it had amazing double-height glazing throughout,” says Keri. “It really gives you the impression you are outside in a way.” The windows and the canopy beyond draw your eye to the exterior and the natural beauty that is so wonderfully framed.

To create a spacious aura, the kitchen’s original upper cupboards were removed and replaced with open shelving. JennAir furnished the stainless steel appliances.

“We were very intentional with the design. We removed the upper cabinets in the kitchen to open the space up a little. We added a stone backsplash and shiplap as well, to create a more airy and open appearance,” says Andrea. “We made a point of starting with a furniture plan that would maximize the narrow living space.”

Windows on three walls enclose this intimate lounge.

Soft and supple, matching Doheny armchairs augment the sectional sofa.

They sourced furniture and fixtures that fit the space and effectively worked with what dimensions they had available, as opposed to buying and placing pieces that, although lovely, might potentially overpower the basic bones of what the space allowed. “We put together digital renderings of the changes and the selections as we went along to make sure the client was involved through all of those decisions,” says Keri. “Again, being inclusive is an important element in this process.”

Kingswood Drapery Service Ltd. supplied discreet window coverings throughout the lake house. Designers curated art from local photographers, artists and various Muskoka shops to adorn the walls.

The redesign extends beyond the indoor living space to the exterior. They extended the perimeter deck by two feet and replaced metal railings with frameless glass. They filled in the boat slip, creating 1,100 square feet of dock, which presents a wonderful extension to the cottage and maximizes the utility of the dock itself. It now offers a generous lounging area and in addition, an outdoor dining opportunity. “We renovated a storage closet on the lower level of the cottage and created a kitchenette with all the amenities to service the lower level of the cottage, as well as the exterior lounge and dock area,” adds Andrea.

Freestanding umbrellas shade the dock-top lounge at this beautifully renovated Lake Joseph cottage.

A boat slip was covered to create a more than 1,100 sq. ft. dock with plenty of space for lounging or dining al fresco.

“The owner was quite hands on with many of the adjustments,” says Gioia. “He is also instrumental in the refinements that are ongoing to the landscaping underway.”

The waterfront dock lounge offers a comfortable spot to enjoy the sight and sounds of gentle waves on Cumberland Bay.

This cottage is a real marriage of the property, the woodland that surrounds it and naturally, the beautiful water and shoreline that it borders. In fact, the view from the interior is, by intention, as much greenery as it is the lakefront. “It feels glamorous and earthy,” offers Gioia. “It is sophisticated and at the same time it is very grounded.”

EN2 (Construction) opened up the lake view by extending the existing deck and replacing the steel railings with glass panels.

Andrea and Keri are delighted with the final product, as is the client. In fact, what was intended to be a luxurious rental property in the style of a boutique hotel, is currently and deservedly, the client’s personal retreat. One look around and it is not hard to understand why. OH

Parked on the upper deck near the cottage entrance, a Big Green Egg ceramic kamado cooker does triple duty as a grill, smoker and oven.