Modern Love: A Designer's Own Home in Shanty Bay
Story: Kathleen Duncan | Photography: Sandy Mackay
Nestled in the waterfront village of Shanty Bay, this award-winning new home is deeply connected to the history of its community. So is the young couple who built it.
When construction began in October 2017, entrepreneurs Russell Austin (Ontario Modular Solutions founder) and designer Vanessa Rogerson of Vanessa Rogerson Designs planned to build their new 3,000 sq. ft. residence on the foundation of an existing 1960s cabin.
It wouldn’t be the first time the site had experienced a renaissance. The cabin had been rebuilt from a shack dating back more than a century - perhaps one of the original shanties that inspired the village name. During excavation, horseshoes were discovered suggesting a one-time farm.
“Russell and I love the property,” says Vanessa, who designed the house to integrate within its surroundings rather than simply sit on top of it. “The privacy and the view year-round are just stunning and so peaceful. We live one block from the lake and enjoy boating and jet skiing in the summer months, and ice fishing and snowmobiling all winter.”
In the summer of 2017, the enterprising couple decided to renovate, and began the work themselves. They quickly realized assistance was necessary to achieve the home of their dreams. Having collaborated with Prycon Custom Building and Renovations on other projects, Vanessa invited its team to help.
“They had this house completely re-built and ready for move-in within seven months,” she recalls.
Their combined expertise was recognized by industry experts across Canada with the 2018 Award of Creative Excellence presented by Simcoe County Home Builders’ Association.
The couple continued to work on the house together to a lesser extent, sourcing and finishing the red cedar planking showcased on the front exterior to complement the black shingling, modern black Garaga garage doors and charcoal siding. The large front door adds to the curb appeal with its unusual long steel handle, wide sidelites, and triangular transom that accentuates the front porch peak while framing the massive mid-century chandelier that hangs in the foyer.
The red cedar planks pop up again as a feature wall in the master bath, contrasting with a patterned white ceramic backsplash from Tile Master. Additional textural elements come into play in the master bedroom where full-length velvet drapes hang from a rod with crystal egg finials.
Elsewhere, natural materials continue to balance hard surfaces. A Brazilian cowhide rug on the great room floor is a stylish reminder of Russell’s tenure out west in Alberta. It’s also the base of an airy expanse that showcases an open-riser walnut staircase climbing 23 feet to a catwalk perimeter edged by a Stairhaus handrail in glass and steel.
“When we have the windows open, we can hear the birds chirping – it feels like they’re in the house,” adds Vanessa, laughing at the perplexed reaction of her two Bengal cats Brucer and Dior as the sound echoes around. “It certainly keeps the cats occupied!”
At the room’s pinnacle, a dramatic LED globe fixture from Glass Lighting Gallerydoubles as art while infusing elegance and energy into Vanessa’s second-floor design studio.
“Lighting really makes the home – it’s my favourite aspect of each project,” she admits. “Every piece needs to work together as part of a set, but also function independently for each room.”
In the dining area, the light fixture is a modern interpretation of a tree branch. It’s surrounded on two sides with oversized windows from DeCola Windows and Doors that slide open to a wraparound covered porch and the living trees beyond.
The chandelier shines on an enormous harvest table crafted from a live-edge walnut slab by Bateman Furniture. It’s set with ghost chairs to expose the custom detailing. The walnut wood grain repeats in the walnut flooring from Irvine Carpet One Floor & Home, and in bar chairs that line the 10-foot waterfall island, sculpted by Di Pietra Design in Black Berry granite.
“I like the warmth of it,” she says of the wide-plank flooring. “It’s timeless and durable.”
Once the in-house kitchen and bath designer at Cabneato, Vanessa hired her fellow Cabneato colleagues to complete the custom millwork in her own kitchen. A wall of cabinetry painted Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore (Simply White in egg shell was used elsewhere) includes glass-fronted display cupboards with lighting – including a top row with awning-style doors and push latches.
Pure white Thassos and Carrara marble from Desert Tile, installed in a chevron, cascades down the backsplash that showcases the 36-inch Fisher Paykel five-burner gas range from TA Appliances. Black island cabinetry matches the modern plumbing fixtures throughout the home, by Brizo, to complete the look.
“I love clean, modern, neutral tones that are maintenance free,” Vanessa says of her personal style. “But I’m not biased with my clients. If they have a vision or a desired taste, I can certainly create that for them.”
A graduate of Georgian College’s Interior Design degree program, Vanessa established her own firm in 2019, after a decade gaining experience. She also used that time to develop a strong network of local trades, suppliers and partners. Currently in progress is National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) certification. Already in demand, she is now busy on another kitchen renovation, a basement, and a full head-to-toe custom home.
“I am very excited to see the finished product this fall,” says the Barrie native, who has an inspiring new home studio to work from.
