Stoney Lake Stunner
STORY LIZ BRUCKNER
PHOTOGRAPHY HAROLD CLARK
A custom build that brims with charm and style, this airy cottage is a feast for the eyes.
When Jed and Jenny began their search for a property on Stoney Lake four years ago, they quickly realized they were in good company. “We always knew we wanted to be on Stoney – Jenny grew up on the lake and always felt it was in her soul – but it wasn’t until we started looking that we realized cottages are passed down through generations, so inventory is very tight,” Jed says.
After bidding without success on two cottages within that four-year timeframe, the couple was able to purchase their current property, which, in hindsight, they view as a serendipitous event. “We were disappointed in the moment, but we now count ourselves very lucky,” Jenny says. “We fell in love with this property as soon as we saw it and have now built our dream cottage on it.”
That process began with making design decisions most integral to their family lifestyle – they have three young children – and partnering with Kawartha Lakes Construction (KLC) to bring their vision and project to life. “We researched a range of different design-build firms and chose KLC based on their excellent reputation for building quality cottages,” Jed says. “Our initial meeting was with Scott Wootton, and he was able to provide us with a very practical sense of how the process would work. He listened to our initial ideas and was quickly able to suggest a number of ways to make them better, which we greatly appreciated.”
Among the couple’s main priorities for their space: a large, screened- in Kawartha room with ample space for family and guests to lounge and share meals; an open-concept main floor with room for kids to play but also cosy enough to warm up around the fireplace in the colder months; vaulted ceilings and a large, grand staircase to create a spacious feel; a principal bedroom at the front of the house to take maximum advantage of lake views and enough bedrooms for extended family visits.
“Additional features we love are our mudroom, bar area and laundry room on the first floor, which didn’t seem crucial at first, but are proving to be vital now that we’re living in the space,” Jenny says.
With a design goal of creating a “modern coastal meets classic cottage” effect, Jed and Jenny were strategic about crafting living areas that felt warm, bright, airy and welcoming. To do that, they requested custom MDF white shiplap walls and ceilings from Monaghan Lumber Specialties throughout the home and engineered light white oak flooring from Stradwicks Carpet One Floor & Home throughout the main living areas. Classic honed marble tiles were chosen for the washrooms while fun, encaustic patterned tiles were selected for the mudroom and laundry room. They also chose Lepage windows and doors from Monaghan Lumber to maximize natural light and surrounding exterior views.
The bright, on-trend cupboards, hardware and countertops in the cottage’s kitchen are from Harwood Kitchens, their Miele dishwasher, Wolf stove and Fisher & Paykel fridge are from Leon’s, and the Rohl faucets are from Desco Plumbing & Heating Supplies. Dark-finished wood beams in the great room and kitchen are from Northwood Lumber and add dimension to each space, while pops of colour throughout the home – such as the kitchen’s blue barn doors by Varcroft & Bianco – imbue a playful vibe.
The cottage’s fun and edgy light fixtures are from Wayfair, Restoration Hardware, Visual Comfort and Regina Andrew and the fireplace was customized by Jason’s Top Hat & Tales. In the washrooms, vanities, hardware, bathtubs and showers were sourced from Harwood Kitchens, Desco Plumbing & Heating Supplies and PMF Plumbing Supplies.
“After this experience, we are HUGE promoters of KLC,” says Jenny. “We broke ground in September of 2019 and we were able to be living in the cottage in July 2020, which is impressive considering the COVID- related shutdown. They were super-professional and reasonable throughout the process, and we always felt good about the partnership we were in. Most importantly, they delivered a cottage which is beyond our wildest dreams – on time and on budget, no less!”
They are looking forward to the cottage serving as a relaxing respite for family and friends post-pandemic, and to spending as much time there as possible. “Jenny’s parents are on Stoney and her siblings have a place as well, so there’s a real sense of home in being here,” Jed says. “We’ve also found ourselves very fortunate to be surrounded by a lovely set of fellow cottagers, all of whom share our passion for the lake. There’s true community here and we’re thrilled that this oasis we’ve created will be an integral part of our family for the rest of our lives.”
