Managing Editor Anya Shor //
“On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty.” —Rumi
The human body is approximately 60 percent water. Is it any surprise, then, that we are all drawn to it magnetically? It is often said that people who live near water feel as if they’re one with it. They move with the tide.
When we imagine summer, there’s always some form of water in the picture. For most of us, it’s the pleasure of a simple swim, the feeling of being enveloped in the softness of water with the sun beaming down on our faces. For others, it’s the excitement of taking athletic prowess from the slopes to the surf. And for many, summer means time spent right on the water in some aptly named vessel or another.
Here on Georgian Bay, we are uniquely fortunate to live near a body of water which presents us with all the vastness and the character of a powerful sea and allows us to dream big those nautical dreams. The boundless horizon—a flawlessly blue backdrop one day, a dark, undulating valley of menacing clouds the next—sets the scene while golden sandy beaches and craggy shorelines provide a stage for would-be pirates and explorers of all ages.
The romance of a sailboat is universal: the adventure, the freedom, the power of the wind. Perhaps one of the greatest metaphors of life suggests we sail into the sunset. It’s no wonder, as the baby boomers head into retirement, sailboat sales continue to see an annual increase of about four percent in a global market currently exceeding $6 billion.
And who can resist the appeal of nautical style? Whether you fancy yourself a classic Breton shirt—or la marinière, as it’s known in French chic speak—or the easy breezy white linens and navy blazers of the Hamptons, it’s a look that never goes out of style and somehow always feels fresh.
And while nautical-inspired home decor has drifted in and out of fashion from one decade to the next, there is no denying the enduring appeal of blue and white stripes, stripes, and more stripes, ropey details, coral prints, natural fibres, and all those shades of blue and green from the softest lacy seafoam to the deepest inky hues of the stormiest seas.
So whether you’re lucky enough to set sail on Georgian Bay this summer, or prefer to entertain your nautical fantasies from the grounded comfort of your shaded porch, grab a stripy anything, squint your eyes toward the horizon and drift away.
Cheers, Anya
Mapping It out
This beautifully rendered and detailed nautical map of the Grand Trunk Railway, extending from the shores of Georgian Bay and through cottage country, comes framed in blonde wood. Bring back the steamer trunks!
Van Allan Design Centre
150 First St., Collingwood
705-293-4663
vanallandesign.com
Knotted Touch
This lightweight, powder-coated metal frame lounge chair has a faux-wood finish and a handwoven white marine-grade synthetic rope seat. Add a striped throw cushion and ahoy!
Aspen & Ivy
322 King St., Unit 5, Barrie
705-721-8585
aspenandivy.ca
East Coast Comfort
The MacAusland Blanket
MacAusland’s Woollen Mills is a P.E.I. family-owned and -operated business that has been producing these iconic blankets since 1932. Anyone who has been out on the water knows that the air feels very different out there than on land on even the warmest of days. Scattering these wooly blankets around a dock or boathouse in a variety of vintage nautical hues creates a nostalgic coziness. Take one out on the boat to feel the cool wind in your hair, not in your bones.
Haven Home & Gift
54 Hurontario St., Collingwood
705-445-0454
havenhomegift.com
Nautical Lighting
Nautical decor trends have come and gone on the regular. But nautical-inspired lighting remains a constant favourite. There is just something classic about that mix of industrial and rustic and the soft glow of the orbital light that evokes the sound of distant foghorns.
Georgian Design Centre
84 High St., Collingwood
705-444-2100
georgiandesigncentre.ca
Coastal Palette
Add a touch of a nautical hue to accent walls or small spaces, such as a powder room. These Benjamin Moore colours have fitting names like Schooner and Intercoastal Green to evoke whichever maritime vista you fancy, from dark green stormy waters to the cool, calm pastel blues of a quiet waterside morning.
Beach Houze Paint & Design Studio
1 Market Ln., Unit 3 & 1928 Mosley St., Wasaga Beach
705-429-1500, 705-429-8484
beachhouzedesign.ca
Drift Away
Handcrafted Touch
Local artisan Jill Dakin of Northern Drift Studio creates delicate sailboats out of found driftwood from the Madawaska River in northeastern Ontario. A nod to the model boat, these sculptural creations make a rustic nautical statement on a mantelpiece—or opt for a long one as a dining room centrepiece. Dakin accepts custom orders.
Haven Home & Gift
54 Hurontario St., Collingwood
705-445-0454
havenhomegift.com
Lighthouse Lantern
The Muse portable lantern—a collaboration between lighting company Tala and the British paint and wallpaper maker Farrow & Ball—looks like a modern take on a nautical classic. Built to withstand the elements, these stylish outdoor lamps boast up to 24-hour battery life with both wireless and USB-C charging.
Lagom 142
142 & 172 Mill St., Creemore
705-520-2172
lagom142.com
