5 minute read
SMALL WONDER
from rcthvfgjvs
“The porch overlooks the lake,” says homeowner Mandi Kimsa. “We have coffee here in the morning, relax after dinner and congregate to play cards and board games throughout the day.”
DESIGN, Flik by Design, flikandcompany.com.
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On the screened-in porch, a grouping of diverse furniture types, from woven to wooden to upholstered, offers a welcoming comfy vibe.
Grassy Fields 2034-30 WALL PAINT, Benjamin Moore; CHAIRS, SETTEE, Flik by Design; RUG, Dash & Albert Rug Company; TABLE LAMP, HomeSense.
Bright colours, eclectic furniture and treasured collections transform an old cottage into a cozy family retreat.
Steeped in history, the wood for the kitchen cabinetry and island originates from the outbuilding of the Laura Secord homestead in Ontario’s Niagara region. The island encapsulates designer Stephan Howard’s old-meets-new approach with a front that features an 1880s painted door and a top that’s surfaced with durable Caesarstone.
Custom CABINETRY, STOOLS, Flik by Design; COUNTERTOPS, Caesarstone Canada; BACKSPLASH TILES, Beach Tile; FAUCET, Lowe’s; PENDANT LIGHT, The Home Depot; SCONCES, Lampcage.
cottages boasting all the modern conveniences and square footage to spare,
Toronto-based couple Mandi and Kevin Kimsa have one thing to say: No, thank you. “Our previous cottage in Muskoka was 6,000 square feet and more of a second home,” says Mandi. “We wanted to get away from that with something smaller that offered a more rustic experience for our family.” With six kids – Kevin’s son, Josh, 22, and daughter, Kailey, 17; and the couple’s young children: Atticus, 9, Finn, 7, Toby, 5, and Esmé, 15 months – it might be assumed that extra space was non-negotiable, but that wasn’t the case. “We resisted the tendency to go big in the search for something simpler.”
Mandi and Kevin found that something three years ago on Stony Lake in Ontario’s Kawartha region, where they instantly fell for a 1,600-square-foot 1898 cottage with an idyllic island setting. “The draw was the beauty of the lake and the history of the cottage,” says Mandi. “We loved that it was so old and that we could restore it to meet our family’s unique needs.” One of those needs is no computers or TVs. “We wanted a place where we could take a break from technology and gravitate to family-centred activities.”
To begin the transformation, they enlisted Toronto-based
LEFT, TOP & RIGHT, TOP
A collection of jadeite dishes sourced by Stephan was the jumping-off point for the kitchen’s mint-hued appliances. “They were custom-made to match the dishes’ signature colour and have a retro look that’s perfect for a cottage,” he says. The free-standing wood cabinet, a reproduction of an old general store display unit, cozies up the space.
Custom Elmira Stove Works APPLIANCES, Alternative Enterprises; vintage jadeite DISHWARE, Cookstown Antique Market.
RIGHT, BOTTOM Designer Stephan Howard relaxes on the Kimsas’ screened-in porch.
ARMCHAIR, ARTWORK, Flik by Design; SIDE TABLE, HomeSense.
LEFT, BOTTOM Stephan likes that the green cottage adds another dimension to the surrounding forest.
BELOW In the dining area, wooden beams mimic the original kitchen ceiling. Intentionally mismatched furniture feels like it was collected over time.
DINING TABLE, SETTEE, horsepatterned DINING CHAIRS, Flik by Design; green DINING CHAIRS, CHALKBOARD, Rekindle Home; CHANDELIER, The Home Depot.
RIGHT “When you look at the living room’s gallery wall, it’s very much the Kimsas,” says Stephan. Featuring the kids’ artwork and family photos that were resined or framed, it’s a resolutely personal display. Stephan also added some interesting bird images that are echoed in the collection of owl sculptures and the blue jay toss cushion.
Grassy Fields 2034-30 ACCENT WALL PAINT, Benjamin Moore;
SOFA, SIDE TABLE, LOUNGER, OTTOMAN, FLOOR LAMP, TOSS CUSHIONS, THROWS,
Flik by Design.
BELOW In the master bedroom, Stephan used a mix of styles and a dash of bold colour. The refined sensibility of the zinc-framed mirror and marble-topped dresser are off set by a circa-1900 door he sourced in Eastern Ontario. Clad in its original turquoise paint, which is now wonderfully distressed, it makes a rustic gesture in the space.
DOOR, DRESSER, SIDECHAIR,
MIRROR, Flik by Design; Dwell- Studio branch SIDECHAIR FABRIC, Robert Allen; QUILT, Cookstown Antique Market.
designer Stephan Howard of Flik by Design, who had worked on their city home. “Mandi is from Nova Scotia and favours bright East Coast colours, while Kevin values practicality,” says Stephan. “They both wanted a cottage that looked lived in.” Stephan’s starting point was the structure. While sound, it needed a few renovations, such as adding a loft bedroom and updating the kitchen and bathroom, as well as some minor tweaks, including restoring the original windows and pine floors. Stephan kept the cottage’s 19thcentury provenance in mind throughout and used new materials – such as the ceiling beams in the living and dining rooms and the kitchen cabinetry – to appear as if they’d always been there.
The deft balance of past and present is not the only trait all the rooms share. “Colour is very important here,” says Stephan. “A cottage allows us to explore some interesting shades.” The chosen palette exudes vibrancy, from turquoise to yellow to kelly green. Its whimsical Maritime vibe is complemented by what Stephan calls a collected look: new furniture, vintage accessories and family mementoes, all eclectically layered throughout the small retreat.
“The downsizing was very easy for us,” says Kevin. “I think everyone wants to simplify their lives once they realize the complex version isn’t so fun.” And when the family gathers together on the porch for a game of cards, who could disagree?
Reclaimed wood panels (also from the Laura Secord homestead) in the master bedroom provide a rustic backdrop for the beautifully dressed bed.
Custom HEADBOARD, Rekindle Home; BEDDING, patchwork TOSS CUSHION, THROW, Target; DwellStudio branch TOSS CUSHION FABRIC, Robert Allen; NIGHTSTANDS, pigeon SCULPTURES, Flik by Design; TASK LAMPS, West Elm.
