Georgian Bay Addition

On our first visit to this very old cottage on Georgian Bay, we encountered a charming gabled cabin sitting high on a stone bluff. The owners loved their cottage, but some parts of it needed improvements in comfort and functionality. The wraparound Veranda worked well for lounging and entertaining, but lacked weather protection. The cottage contained enough space within it for the family lifestyle, but over time, had been added onto indifferently.

The most glaring deficiency was a boxy addition attached to the rear of the old building. Its only asset was its raw space. A kitchen stood to one side of a lacklustre family room. But the original cabin was charming and needed very little done to it. Its wood-paneled walls and ceiling served to inspire our renovation. We chose to imbue the badly-done “Box” with the best of what we saw in the cabin.

Likewise, the wraparound Veranda had served the Owners’ family very well as a combination dining room, sunroom, reading room and lounge. The Veranda looked out onto stunning views over Georgian Bay. However, it lacked wind and rain protection, so we swapped the old bug screens for new screened windows, an improvement that would make the interior much more comfortable. The awning windows are generous in size. They hinge up and hook onto the ceiling when not in use.

The work started by gutting the “Box”. The ceiling panelling could be salvaged, but not much else. The sliding doors were to be replaced by tall windows and french doors. New interior pine panelling would clad the walls. On the outside, all sides of the cottage received new cedar shingle siding.

Replacement windows were selected for their ability to introduce sunshine and weather-resistance. All the old windows got replaced with new units, an airtight installation that was also fully ventilating, eliminating the need for air conditioning by taking advantage of the prevailing breeze.

In the renovated Kitchen, an Island made from salvaged hemlock was placed beneath a muscular beamed ceiling. All wood and stone were sourced locally, and crafted expertly under the aegis of the general contractor,  Andrew Ashcroft.