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.

A Little Old, A Lot New

In a hundred year old Muskoka cottage, there are characteristics which one would like to retain when remodelling. Trim details, the use of stone and wood together, warm neutral colours and proper accent decorating all unite to create a kitchen that is instantly welcoming and easy to work in.

This cottage on lake Muskoka is just that. A mix of old and new. A beautiful stone fireplace, original v-joint ceilings and trim, made with the materials harvested from the area when the cottage was built in 1910. I`ve scribed cabinets to the stone for a built-in feel and used some of the v-joint for door panels and cabinet backing, all stained to match the old finish.

The owners supplied a 10 foot antique bakers` work table with a steel top they hoped could be incoorporated into the new design. By cutting it into 2 equal sections, rebuilding the rough sawn bases high enough to house a dishwasher, and adding some drawers, they now bookend a farmhouse sink and provide lots of usable counter space and storage.

Open shelves with x-bracing support brackets hold glasses and plates and a shelf on the top of the upper cabinetry show off some of the owner`s antiques. The fridge and dishwasher are panelled and the microwave is built into an open upper cabinet. Below that is a corner dry sink cabinet that is lined with granite and wood trim. The coffee maker and cups are stored here for easy access.

A large island with 2 banks of 3 drawers and a tray cabinet provides ample storage and a 4 door storage cabinet on the dining room side provides storage for all the serving trays, linens, and items used for entertaining guests.

The cabinets were finished by hand on the site in a 5 step process. The over all effect is a feeling that the cabinetry has been there for years but has some of the modern hardware features that everyone would like in a new kitchen. This project was a joy to build and hopefully a joy to use for the owners for years to come.

Spring 2010

Just arrived!!! The Spring edition of Our Homes Magazine. Check it out at your local supermarket or online: http://muskoka.ourhomes.dgtlpub.com/2010/2010-03-31/home.php
This issue features the "Lake Joe Beauty" project that I posted in an earlier blog. More photos to come. Thanks to Walter Franczyk for a great article and Sandy Mackay for the beautiful photography.
If you have any questions concerning this article, please e-mail me at focabs@sympatico.ca and I`ll answer as best I can. Cheers!

Not Just Kitchens

I started out building pine, oak, and cherry furniture years ago and continue to do so. Sometimes clients wish to have some furniture to compliment the kitchens as in this buffet/hutch I built for a century old historic farmhouse in the Alliston area. It was all I and 2 other men could do to set these 2 pieces together, and with the granite top added, we hoped it would never be moved again.