DISTINCTIVE DESIGNS 2021 EDITION 90
LAKESHORE RETREAT
OKE WOODSMITH’S PLAN PROVIDES A GATHERING PLACE Family is at the heart of Lynne’s Lakeshore Retreat. Her memories of summers at her parents’ cottage in the area and the proximity of three other family members’ cottages in the Oakwood neighbourhood made the location perfect. The existing building was less than ideal for her vision of big family gatherings. Her brother, who is in the construction industry, found Oke Woodsmith through an online search and recommended the family company. “He was my go-to for the design,” says Lynne of her brother Bob. The two worked with Steve Poortinga, of Oke Woodsmith, to capture the best elements of their childhood cottage in the fivebedroom, five-bathroom, three-level award-winning cottage.
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Lynne’s three children, four grandchildren and large extended family were all a big factor in decisions. “I kept them in mind a lot when designing it. I kept in mind my parents’ cottage with a big living room and sunroom facing the water. But we eliminated the walls so that the design also includes an open dining room and kitchen. Every room has full exposure to the sunsets. We like to be all together. It flows well.”
Regulations required the same footprint as the existing building. At first, the plan was to open up and reconfigure the ground level and add a second floor. But as that became an impossible challenge, the design was changed to a total rebuild retaining only the lower level. Throughout the process, Lynne made several changes. The first was triggered by the entry configuration. “The old cottage entry was dark and narrow. When they discovered the windows needed to be replaced, we seized the opportunity to change the entrance and front door and increase the celling height everywhere. The result is a grand welcome with old-fashioned double screen doors that allow cross breezes to blow through and cool the whole cottage. “The Oke Woodsmith team was great to work with. It was a real team approach. They gave good advice and also listened to me,” says Lynne.
