Beach Life!

A cosy cottage with a mountain view

by Judy Ross
photos by Derek Trask

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Kiowana Beach is a secluded enclave tucked away near Meaford with waterfront cottages that have the look and feel of the 1950s. “The area is a little gem,” says the owner of this charming beach house. “It’s a bit like Haliburton, but on Georgian Bay. It’s very quiet and the cottages tend to be smaller and family friendly.”

When you step into her much-loved cottage there’s an immediate sense of nostalgia. It seems full of summer memories and put together over time. On the walls are vintage family photos of sunny summer afternoons. The furniture is casual and comfy and includes cherished old pieces that have been revived and recovered. But the reality is the beach house is almost new, built just two years ago.

The story began when designer/builder Jacqueline Van Strien saw the property up for sale and contacted her friend who was looking for a waterfront cottage. It had a wonderful double lot with 92 feet of frontage, a sand beach leading to shallow water, and a grove of cedars at the water’s edge. It was an easy decision to buy the property, but the building that sat on it was all wrong.

Instead of facing the water, the old cottage was oriented toward the neighbouring cottage on one side, and had small windows offering little light and no view whatsoever. Originally the plan was to expand and renovate the existing building, but that was cast aside in favour of tearing it down and starting fresh.

The original cottage was built closer to the water, which meant approvals were required to set the new building farther back on the lot. But the results of the new siting were worth the trouble. “I love the fact that I now have more property on the water side,” says the owner. “There’s room for an expansive stone patio, a lawn and perennial gardens.”

Detailed drawings and countless magazine clippings fill the owner’s ‘idea book,’ which she put together during the planning and building process. “I wanted something simple with unobstructed views of the Bay,” she says, “and I was intrigued by the longhouse design … long and narrow with every room getting a water view.”

Working with Van Strien, the two friends came up with a perfect plan. It included a total of 1,225 square feet with two bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor as well as an open concept kitchen/living area. A third bedroom with a three-piece ensuite occupies the loft-like second floor. And a large covered porch opens from the living area to provide additional living space in warm weather.

“One key to the success of this project is the clever combination of expensive and cheap,” says Van Strien. “We spent money where it was important, and saved where we could.” The pair toured consignment shops looking for bargains like the twig chandelier that hangs over the sitting room, but the owner chose to invest in expensive and durable outdoor furniture made of recycled plastic with cushions covered in Sunbrella outdoor fabric.

Another example of splurging is the stylish freestanding stove that occupies a corner of the sitting room. The direct-vent gas stove was converted to be fuelled by propane, and its slender profile fits unobtrusively into one end of the room. Operated by remote control, it’s a welcome feature on cool summer mornings.

The furniture is casual and comfy and includes cherished old pieces that have been revived and recovered. But the reality is the beach house is almost new, built just two years ago.

“We also spent money on the open concept kitchen,” explains the owner, “which Jacqueline designed with rough-sawn face-frame cabinets and a custom stainless steel countertop with a large welded-in sink.” European style appliances were chosen to accommodate the compact size of the kitchen. And, because there wasn’t space for an indoor dining table, Van Strien created an island that can fit enough bar stools for a dinner for eight.
The owner wanted to imbue the beach house with a sense of childhood summer memories, so she had vintage cottage photos of her own family enlarged and mounted in acrylic frames. She chose the tropical colour palette to complement the waters of Georgian Bay, which often take on the turquoise hue of a tropical sea. On a trip to Hawaii she collected vibrantly coloured cushion covers and used them as a starting point for her boldly colourful beach house décor.

Sometimes the simplest looking elements are, in fact, very complex. One bedroom has what appear to be basic built-in beds, but these were actually designed and the structure partially installed during the construction of the building. “A lot of thought went into these bunks,” explains Van Strien. “In order to ensure that there would be no chance of bowing of the lumber, we spanned a structural laminated veneer beam from wall to wall. Then we staggered the lower bunks so guests would not bump their heads. We also incorporated four individually controlled wall sconces.” Adults or kids can sleep (or read) happily in these well-designed bunks.

Easy care was another goal with the beach house. The vinyl tile flooring looks like bleached wood planks and is the ideal product for waterfront cottages where kids run in and out in bare feet. Sliding glass doors and large windows were installed on the water side of the house in order to maximize the views, while small windows were set high in the wall on the road side to provide privacy as well as cross ventilation.

For both the designer (who has a cottage nearby) and the owner, the time spent working together on this project was great fun and, in the end, a wonderful success. Now the two friends enjoy relaxing summers on the water entertaining friends and family.

On many summer evenings a group gathers around the firepit to enjoy the peaceful view. As the owner explains, “It’s a beautiful setting with a great view of Georgian Bay. I call my beach house ‘Peak’s View’ because when you stand at the shore you can see across the water to the ski runs at Georgian Peaks.” ❧

Getting the Vintage
Beach House Feel

• Choose an eclectic collection of furniture that seems to have been gathered over time.
• Make everything breezy and carefree. Vinyl tile flooring is great for running in and out in bare feet. Nothing should be precious.
• Use washable slipcovers for easy care.
• Paint old wooden pieces of furniture – either white or, as in this case, fun bright colours to match the chosen tropical colour palette.
• Add nautical touches like the vintage water skis mounted on the kitchen wall.
• Reinforce the old-fashioned vibe by hanging old summer family photos.

SOURCE GUIDE