Small Is Beautiful

Story Charlene Peck | Photography Sandy MacKay

When Huntsville painter Brad Trott first set eyes inside the tired A-frame cabin on Menominee Lake, he saw white. Pearl Drop by Dulux, to be exact.

“I just knew it would work,” says Brad, who envisioned the entire interior painted white. “There are so many angles going on, you don’t need to accent it in any way. It accents all by itself. It wasn’t really necessary to do anything funky. I think that by just leaving it white, it would speak for itself and would still maintain good architectural appeal.”

For Brad’s wife, Erin Monett, the dated 600 sq. ft. A-frame and its drab burgundy-brown walls didn’t immediately conjure that same vision of a unique cabin on the water. “It was built in the 60s and hadn’t been updated that entire time,” she recalls.

Thirteen years’ experience in the industry, adding character and colour to new construction and renovations in Muskoka with their business Room By Room Painting Inc., inspired Erin and Brad to take on the Menominee Lake cabin challenge. 

“The A-frame cabin is small, so painting it white naturally just opens it right up and makes it nice and light,” Erin explains. “We definitely knew exactly what we wanted, right down to the shade of white. There are hundreds of shades of white, and we just knew.” 

A rare pop of colour is the red on the exterior side door, a choice Erin says is based on feng shui. 

Brad’s vision included structural modifications that would enhance the A-frame’s unique architecture. Three dormer-like bump-outs were added to accommodate clearances for a Regency wood stove from The Stove Parlour, kitchen appliances and a bathroom shower. Finally, one of three sleeping lofts was removed to offer an extraordinary view of the lake. “We’re right on top of the water, less than 10 feet from the lake,” notes Erin. “All you see from the living room is water. And removing the loft let a lot of light in.” Two existing lofts, each snugly fitting a queen bed and accessed by original ladders, were also revitalized with Pearl Drop from Dulux.

Rough-sawn, wire-brushed ash flooring from Muskoka Timber Mills was an attractive yet durable hardwood choice for the dog-loving couple. “It really anchored the space, because it’s dark,” Erin adds. 

In the small-scale kitchen, guests are impressed by elegant 2019 appliances offering big style, function and savvy streamlining of space. The tall, slim-fit Electrolux fridge, high-tech microwave and electric glass-top stove, were purchased from Leon’s.

“A lot of feedback that I’ve heard is that cottages for rent up here generally just have what came with the place – really old appliances and dated furniture,” Erin explains. “What sets us apart is that we’re putting money into this place every year to upgrade it and make it better.” Replacing the deck is next on this year’s improvements list.

The washroom bump-out allowed them to add an entry door, sink and shower to the compact space. A modern toilet replaced the original trailer toilet that covered a rudimentary hole in the floor and connected to a holding tank. Brad and Erin installed a large septic system sufficient for a four-bedroom house in the future, as well as new plumbing and electrical systems.

Guests often remark on the craftsmanship of the master bedroom’s two reclaimed barn-wood sliding doors, custom-made by a friend to fit the exact pitch of the A-frame ceiling. And just inside the master bedroom entry, hidden doors of seamless shiplap run adjacent to walls, ingeniously housing an electrical panel and offering premium storage space.

Natural textures, personal touches and design motifs throughout reflect a flair for interior decorating. A copy of the original 1960 land survey, trimmed, framed and displayed in the bathroom is a frequent conversation-starter. “The jute rug in the living room is a natural fibre and that was important to us,” Erin points out. “It’s durable, natural and cottagey.”

The bathroom counter accessories and waste bin, candle lanterns, decorative shelving and a central hanging pendant light fixture all embrace the triangle motif. “People have noticed that I’m definitely intentional with the décor pieces I’ve chosen,” Erin points out. “You’ll see hints of triangles everywhere to emulate the A-frame shape.” 

A shed on the property – once housing a hot water tank and basic shower in one half and storage facilities in the other – was transformed into a cute bunkie with twin beds.

“We gutted it just like the inside of the cottage and made it exactly the same as the larger A-frame,” Erin explains. “We sprayed it white, same shade, and put down the same floor. We installed a wall with a door for the two-piece bathroom with composting toilet.”

Back in November 2015 when Erin and Brad purchased the outdated cottage, they weren’t sure whether it was for their own recreation or as an occasional rental. They certainly never imagined it as a future romantic backdrop for at least two marriage proposals, two elopement weddings, several honeymoons and multiple commercial photo shoots. 

From the purchase date until the first rental eight months later, renovations were ongoing.

“It was such a positive experience, says Erin. “It was rented before we even completed renovations. We had inquiries over Facebook and people wanted it right away. The reno was seamless and we were able to afford it.”

All went so well that the couple bought their second cottage on Bay Lake in Emsdale in April, 2018, renovated it, and welcomed their first Airbnb renters last July.  OH