Northern Exposure

Designer Dvira Ovadia creates a distinctly Canadian cottage

This family cottage was designed and built from the ground up in remote cottage country. When returning clients approached me regarding this project, they needed serious help. They had just purchased this gorgeous piece of land, with a dilapidated cottage on it. The existing property was small, mouldy and beyond repair. My clients were seeking a place that had an open-concept, family feel with a few critical items on their wishlist, including laundry, storage and a screened-in porch. Both the architectural and interior requirements ensured that the cottage felt rustic, relaxed and not fussy. They did not want it to look like a fancy home away from home, but rather a casual cottage that would be fun, practical and exude the feeling of comfort.

The main floor is an openconcept space, with the living room on one end and the kitchen on the other, while the dining room anchors in between. The kitchen design is informal and functional, with a sizeable island perfect for congregating and sitting for a casual meal. The contrast of the walnut island and walnut detail on the hood breaks away from the timeless, white shaker kitchen by warming up the space and giving it a custom feel. The kitchen backsplash is a natural, chiselled stone that feels organic and rustic. It ties the entire look together, bringing a little of the exterior natural rock indoors.

The oversized dining room has a large farmhouse style table with bentwood and wicker chairs, reminiscent of the industrial era. Similarly, the linear light fixture comprising of black metal and glass

also mimics that factory feel – giving this space a casual dining appeal for a large group of friends and family.

The adjacent living room, with its L-shaped sectional sofa, is a great place to relax and enjoy the wood-burning fire. The furnishings for this family room are comfy and paired down; the rug has a worn-in distressed quality to it, and the pillows also tie in the look with casual cotton, linen and wool fabrics. The look has a bit of that Canadiana feel, with its red and white colour palette.

The screened-in porch is a secondary gathering area for those warm summer nights, with all the dining and living area functions. It allows the summer breeze to penetrate through the space, while protecting from mosquitoes. The look in the screened-in porch has a shabby-chic feel. A few beautifully styled rattan furniture pieces are paired with some high-quality chairs, miss-matched furniture finds, and unique pieces sourced from a few local antique stores.

The design of the entire home was made to feel casual, easy and provide a calming atmosphere. From the architecture, to the interiors, as well as the final touches, every discipline meshes in a harmonious manner to create a dream cottage that’s worth escaping to.

Dvira Ovadia is Principal Designer of Dvira Interiors, an award-winning full service, Toronto-based interior design firm. She is known for her clever design work on a vast number of successful projects. dvira.com