Before and After the New Hip

 This project started for me in the spring with adding  kitchen and bathroom cabinets in an Elmo Starr built boathouse on Lake Muskoka. It was constructed in 1986 and was used by a few families over the 20 years until the property was sold and renovations started. The allowable square footage of the living space was larger in 86`therefore it was easy to renovate and make the area very comfortable for family and guests to have their own room and privacy away from the main cottage. Post and beam pine interiors gives it a warmth and Muskoka feel to it.

 

 The main cottage construction began during the boathouse renovation and became a large, solid, and beautifully designed building tucked back behind some majestic old pines on a site a mere 15 vertical feet off of the lake. Walking to the shore and boathouse is a breeze, and I should know because when I started the cabinetry on this part of the project I had just had hip replacement surgery 3 months before. I`m glad I didn`t have terrain like some areas of Muskoka are famous for this time.

 The kitchen is large and roomy with lots of seating around a stained birch island. There is storage everywhere and drawers aplenty. Built-in refrigerator and freezer units are enclosed in panels with glass door, lighted cabinets above. Double wall ovens and a cabinet enclosed microwave oven are also present.

 A lot of new kitchens contain 2 dishwashers now, ideal for entertaining large groups or families. There is also an under-counter beverage refrigerator in the island and a 48" gas cooktop with grill.

 All the top upper cabinets have frosted glass doors with lighting inside which gives a stunning look.

 

 There is a large laundry room with lots of storage cabinetry and counter space. A built in laundry chute from the 2nd floor hallway makes getting clothes to the laundry room a snap.

 

The bathroom vanities, 4 in all, are efficient with drawers and plenty of counter space as well. Here are 2 of them.

 

This property is for sale and listed with Tara Billington. http://muskokashoresluxuryproperties.ca/index.php?option=com_rpl&view=propertyshow&pid=3336&Itemid=111

 

This was a great project to jump back into after my surgery and get the sawdust flowing  again as they say!

Sunset Bay Reno

This project took place this past spring and was fun to work on because a: it was 3 km from my shop, b: the design team of the owners and Marnie Clarke had specific ideas in mind but also allowed me to input some as well, and c: the builders did a great job of truing up the original cottage with the new addition to make it look as though there was no renovation and this was the way the cottage was originally built. Nice job Phil and crew! The bathroom tile work by Bear was beautifully done as well. Thanks to Bob and Marnie Clarke.


Finished panels hide the 36" fridge and 18"
wine cooler. Finishing the angled range hood
cover to the ceiling was a challenge.

The island has lots of storage drawers, bar sink, open display storage, and a nice 2 sided overhang for bar stools and extra seating.














The leathered granite added a nice
texture to the solid coloured
cabinetry.



Sometimes you just have to have drawers!!

Barnboard---What`s Old Is New

Most wood has some character. Barnboard from the 1800`s has generations of character and stories to tell. Just think of the people that cut these planks from trees they harvested from they`re own land to build barns to house their livestock and feed as they tried to make a life in Muskokas` early wild and harsh existence.
 As these buildings fall over time or are taken down, the materials left are now being recycled into new projects that retain the same feel as originally used and in some cases the same smell if you know what I mean!
 Here are a couple of frames for  www.puremuskoka.com. They have some beautiful photos that they get printed onto canvas. I mount the photo in the barnboard frames. This is a true Muskoka product as the photos, printing, and frames are all from Muskoka.

The Pure Muskoka chair poster is a graphic made up of words that describe Muskoka. Look for a steamship poster this fall!


Also, I`ve built a bar in a boathouse on Lake Joe that incorporates barnboard on the back wall as well as the cabinetry and counter. They have 2 built in bar fridges although only 1 was on site at the time of the install. The bar is on the dock level of the boathouse, inside out of the elements but beside a glass panel garage door that opens up to the outer docks and looks miles up the lake.

More to come using barnboard from Muskoka.....

Fun with Finishes

 Every old cottage at some point had dressers like these in the bedrooms. Chances are they were inexpensive, painted pieces ordered from the Eaton`s or Simpson-Sears catalogues. They were designed for function and durability but not for their fine lines or esthetics. Many lasted years and went through multiple generations and owners as most cottagers left them for the new owners when they sold their properties rather than move them to another location.
 These 3 were virtually identical pieces, one needed a new mirror frame, all needed re-gluing and re-finishing. The owner and I decided to jazz them up with some new colours and textures.
 Black lacquer, crackling, and a combination of stain and colour give each a new look and a new life.

 

 

These were stored in an old shed for years and had to have their "lodgers" evicted in order for me to begin the repair and re-finish process. They were cleaned up, panels re-glued,sanded, and sealed inside and out, and then coloured.

 These are fun projects to work on as they don`t take too much time or materials. The look is fabulous and revives a tired old piece, turning them  into something new and colourful. Next up, 2 old oak dressers that will be given a deep mahogany/cherry/walnut stain and clear top coat

Our Homes Magazine Summer 2013

The latest issue of Our Homes Magazine is out and I`m excited to have some cabinetry showcased in living colour. Here`s the link:   http://muskoka.ourhomes.dgtlpub.com/2013/2013-08-31/home.php. Go to page 52.
 Thanks to Walter Franczyk and Sandy Mackay, and "the lady of the house".

"Sunscape" Lake Muskoka

 One of the joys of working on projects built by local builders in Muskoka is that the local builders take pride in their work, ensuring that the buildings are well constructed and meticulously finished down to the last detail. Some potential buyers still think that the local builders cannot compete with builders from the city on design, time-lines and budget. This is absolutely untrue. Most Muskoka builders are born and bred here, and in most cases, come from generations of builders in the area. They know the lakes and rivers, the terrain,  know the by-laws, know the suppliers and sub-trades, and know the weather patterns (which is important when working in this environment).
 I`ve been fortunate to work with some of these builders and it is comforting to know that when I go into a new or renovated building, the construction will be clean, level, and plumb, making my cabinet construction and installation that much easier, which translates into a better quality end product.
 Vanzy Contracting, Heath Billington of Lake To Lake Construction, and Clint Hurd of Cornerstone Construction have combined to create one of the nicest buildings I have worked on near Fenn`s Point on Lake Muskoka.

 

 

 

The kitchen are is open style with natural sunlight the streams through windows that face southwest. There is plenty of granite counter space and seating area for many guests. This kitchen is made for entertaining.

 Stainless steel appliances include refrigerator,  microwave oven in the island, built in double wall convection ovens, 2 built in dishwashers, a wine cooler in the island, and a six burner gas cooktop, also in the island. A large double sink and a single bar sink are also here.

 

 

 



 

 

There are two full height pantry cabinets, one on either side of the fridge with pull-out shelves in each. Lots of storage for dry goods, cans, pet food, and refreshments. All drawers use top of the line Blum soft close sliders and doors use soft close hinges as well. Pull-out spice/oil racks on either side of the cooktop are very useful.



 





 

 The master bathroom vanity features double sinks and his and hers drawers for extra storage. The counter is a warm matte finished granite. 

 

 

There is a basement bathroom vanity similar to the master bath cabinet, and 4 other ensuites in a semi-transparent chocolate stain that is very deep and rich in colour.



 

 

 All the bathrooms are beautifully tiled, most with exquisite tile and glass showers.

 

"Sunscape" is currently offered for sale through Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. and sales representative Tara Billington. Her Link:   Tara@MuskokaGetAway.com

 Also, check out this link for a virtual tour of the entire property. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvVTUinUU2w&feature=youtu.be

 

 

 

 

 

This property was a pleasure for me to be involved in and I thank the owner and builders who took great pride in this project. You don`t have to look anywhere else but Muskoka for quality.

Nature in the Kitchen

One of the challenges of this project was to design the kitchen island around a  jack post that was required to support an overhead beam. The kitchen/dining area is quite large and open. I thought that wrapping a pine tree around it with the root structure intact would be a solution and would look beautiful as well. With the help of The Cutting Brothers in Port Carling, I think we came up with the perfect answer to the problem. With the ledge rock scribed to the trunk and the appearance of the tree growing through the solid cherry bar top, it is quite stunning. Under counter low voltage lighting illuminates the stone and tree roots for a subtle warmth.

 There is a mix of woods and finishes as well. Cherry hilights the raised bar top, the full height pantry style cabinet that contains a gas fireplace to warm up those cool spring and fall mornings, a bar area built-in under a set of stairs, and a work island in the kitchen that has a locally harvested beech butcher block countertop.

The kitchen cabinetry is finished in a lightly distressed off white colour and contains soft close hinges and drawer slides, spice/oil racks beside the Wolf gas range, polished granite counters, and a hand hammered sink in the peninsula.

 
A red pine crotch is used as a pedistal for a cherry table top, scribed into the curved island.

This has been a project that I am very proud to have built. The owners gave me the artistic freedom to add different elements and create something very unique. Thanks also goes to Judy Curtis for her vision.