Le Garage
STORY RICK SHERMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY Sandy MacKay
FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS COLLINGWOOD FLOWERS AND HOME DECOR
For many years Jim and Carole Leish enjoyed summer vacations renting a rustic cottage at Lora Bay. It was a memorable place and time for family and friends to gather and enjoy the splendour of Georgian Bay. It became an annual family ritual – until the land was purchased to build a golf course.
The last year they rented the cottage, a mix-up occurred, leaving the Leish family without a roof over their heads for their first night. The owners of Lora Bay stepped up and arranged accommodation for the evening in Meaford.
The next day, before the cottage was ready, they took a drive just north of town and came upon a seriously overgrown lot, vacant except for a freestanding “nasty green” two-car garage at the roadside and about 300 feet of property to the waterline. “Although it was kind of rough, we saw the potential,” says Jim. “It was a serviced piece of land with sewers and water supplied by the township and a spectacular lake view. We kind of knew this was it.”
They purchased the land, and without hesitation, Jim and Carole began their adventure by renovating the double garage, adding living quarters, a shower, kitchenette and a laundry room.
“It wasn’t a whole lot to look at, but it was a solid, comfortable structure. We still have a nostalgic attachment to it,” says Jim. “We called it the Willie Wonka Room. We have two boys and a girl and we all slept in the same space and had nothing but good times.
We entertained lots of friends and family there for a number of years before we decided to build out. That garage was a pretty wonderful place for us all and it served our purpose very well.”
On a walk one day, they discovered a home under construction not far from their garage and found Mark Brown of A.M. Contracting. After a meeting and a great conversation, they hired Mark. He immediately connected Jim and Carole to Jo Redman of Redman / Watson Inc. Interior and Architectural Design. The cottage build began.
“I strongly suggested they keep the existing structure and integrate it into the plans,” says Mark. “It was a really sound, sturdy and functional space.” Carole and Jim agreed wholeheartedly.
“By keeping the garage, it allowed us to build our new home close to the road instead of pushing back towards the water, which would have left us without a yard or free space,” adds Jim.
“Jo gave us a wonderful design and Mark brought it all together,” says Carole. “It was a really collaborative effort and we ended up with a fantastic home offering plenty of open space and lake views from every room.” Their kitchen, designed and built by Gord Collier of Gord Collier Kitchen Company, is part of the great room. Mark also built a Georgian room – “Not to be confused with a Muskoka room,” adds Carole. “If you have a location and body of water like this, Muskoka is
not an option.”
A deep, nautical blue clads the exterior, complemented by a grey steel roof. Inside, the great room has lofty beamed ceilings and generous picture windows. The sunroom is cosy. The home has an airy modern maritime feel, with a touch of Canadiana and rustic finishes thrown in for good measure.
“We are really big on using local trades, providers and retailers,” suggests Jim. “In fact, we still use the same people today as we did when the project began in 2016.”
“I love the home, the view and especially the shoreline,” says Carole. “Everything we wanted and learned along the way came alive. It was designed, delivered and built just as we imagined it would be.” “And it has the significant history of being the gathering place for all of our family and friends when it was just the Willie Wonka Room,” adds Jim. “And that makes it even more special.”
It will always be Le Garage, as noted on a keystone at the front end of the property. Appropriately, the original, refinished garage connects to the home, nestled on the shores of Georgian Bay, just north of Meaford. A magnificent piece of geography and a perfect handle for this made-to-measure family retreat.
