Breadcrumb Trail Links
Published Jan 19, 2024 • 3 minute read
Made of Dekton, the kitchen island waterfalls down one side and is a focal point from the entranceway. The French fry art is by Erin Rothstein. Photo by Jules Lee photograph
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As far as location, the homeowners of this cottage atop a hill had nothing to complain about: sweeping water views and endless skies spilled out beyond the windows from their Rice Lake abode, located in Keane, minutes from Peterborough.
The interior, however, was another story. Orange-tinged wood walls and a basic kitchen and living area felt dreary and in need of a style shake-up.
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“It’s an old log home that used to be in North Bay,” says Joanna Smeeth, founder and principal designer of INDA Interiors, who was enlisted to redesign the digs, as well as commandeer the construction.
“A carpenter dismantled the cottage 30 years ago and rebuilt it on Rice Lake. There was an addition put on at one point,” says Smeeth.
The pantry features a green-tiled backsplash. Photo by Jules Lee photograph
The challenge of the three-storey 2,800-square-foot residence was to sensitively stitch the cottage’s old log parts with the new areas, so it didn’t read like a weird hybrid, she says.
The owners, a retired couple, spend winters in Savannah, Georgia, and wanted their Canadian property to be uplifting and contemporary. They cook and socialize, so an inviting kitchen and living area was key. And they wanted spruced-up bedrooms for their two older sons and highly anticipated future grandchildren.
“We essentially had to marry the old with the new. Typically that doesn’t go smoothly,” says Smeeth. “But that’s why I love renovations — we breathe new life into the old. We get the opportunity to make it more accommodating for modern life.”
One way that plays out here is Smeeth’s decision to blur the indoors with the outdoors, a popular modern move with a big impact.
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“Because they are up on a hill, they have fantastic lake views,” says designer Joanna Smeeth. Photo by Jules Lee photograph
“We removed all of the walls and built a new steel structure to do a curtain-wall system, so it’s floor-to-ceiling glass,” says Smeeth.
She plunked the kitchen in the addition to take advantage of the bright spot. It’s a contemporary job with a wafer-thin waterfall island, rippled composite-wood ceiling and sculptural linear light pendants (on the wall and over the island), components that would not look out of place in a city condo.
Meanwhile, a self-levelling concrete micro-topper make up the floors both in the new and old sections of the cottage. This creates cohesion and evokes a loft-like coolness. And it’s heated, so the cottage feels cozy underfoot.
The kitchen in the ceiling is by NewTechWood, says Smeeth of the eco-friendly, maintenance-free material made in Canada. “The neat thing is that it looks like wood. And it works inside and continues outside. There is an eight-foot overhang on the outside.” She stained some of the original wood in the interior to match it, and added tongue-and-groove pine in sections of the older ceiling.
Enjoying morning coffee at the island while admiring nature is a nice way to start the day, notes Smeeth. “Because they are up on a hill, they have fantastic lake views. It feels like they’re living in a tree house.”
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The countertop and shower curb are from Ciot. Photo by Jules Lee photograph
When company’s over for dinner, they too sit at the kitchen island — they have no other choice.
“The homeowners didn’t want a formal, traditional dining room,” says Smeeth. “They wanted a big island as a dining table with 12 bar seats for casual entertaining. That was an interesting design decision.”
Nearby, the pantry’s glistening green-tiled backsplash, alongside a white faucet, catches the eye. It offers a pop of whimsy and uniqueness. Colour accenting is all very Smeeth, who is known for her strategic use of strong hues and a propensity to incorporate high-impact artwork into her projects. The French fry art piece in the kitchen by Erin Rothstein is one example; so is the bird painting by the indigenous artist Ty Rushnell over the electric-blue sofas in the living area.
More bright moments appear through the open-riser staircase that leads to the second floor, where vibrant tropical-patterned wallpaper by Milton & King makes for eye candy.
Smeeth’s bright, modern moves are balanced against the cottage’s original features, like the fireplace. Left as-is, it seems to have perked up in the new setting. Its craggy stone surround no longer blends into a dated interior, but is living its best life.
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