At a time when most consumer goods are mass produced in factories half way around the world, every piece of Handstone furniture is designed and handcrafted in Ontario Canada. Not only does this allow the flexibility in manufacturing to offer vast custom choices, you can rest assured that your new purchase is produced with minimal impact on the environment.
Designer Inspired w Customizable w Fine Furniture w Locally Crafted in Ontario w Solid Wood
Experience an extraordinary lifestyle in this custom-designed masterpiece by award-winning architects Guthrie Muscovitch, where industrial loft elegance meets the warmth of a Collingwood chalet.
Meticulous craftsmanship and quality finishes, this contemporary masterpiece seamlessly blends the heritage of a Scottish longhouse with Nordic modern minimalist design.
Escape to a serene sanctuary where nature’s beauty blends seamlessly with modern luxury. Set on a breathtaking 100-acre property, this fully renovated bungaloft offers the ultimate retreat.
Discover the perfect blend of luxury and location with this beautifully renovated townhome. Walking distance to both Georgian Peaks Ski Club and the shores of Georgian Bay.
This stunning bungaloft is a masterpiece of design and comfort. The grand timber frame construction is complemented by expansive floor-to-ceiling windows in the principal rooms, creating a bright, inviting atmosphere.
Discover your perfect retreat at Ruperts Landing, one of Collingwood’s top waterfront communities! This bright, 3-bed, 2.5-bath, end-unit condo offers the ideal mix of comfort and adventure
Nestled in the heart of Collingwood’s storied streets, Victoria Annex bridges the past and present with just nineteen exclusive residences. Victoria Annex offers an unmatched blend of cultural richness, recreational delights, and contemporary elegance. Embrace the tranquility of nature, the excitement of downtown festivities, and the distinction of luxury.
contact us today at info@victoriaannex.ca or 705.416.2000
200
AAS I WAIT FOR MY MORNING COFFEE – medium, double milk – at a certain drive-thru in Collingwood, my gaze diverts to the seagulls that hover, hoping to scoop something tasty to take to the nearby Awen Gathering Place along the waterfront. If I have time, I park and walk up the hill to join them at this huge, inspirational, sculptural pavilion where I’ll sit and contemplate the day ahead.
Every element of the installation has meaning, including the angle of the support trusses, the implied movement of the white steel panels that soar over my head, the purposeful placement of platforms for sitting, feeling the wind and hearing the movement of the trees and the birds. I can see the pattern of the sunlight as it shines through the perforated panels and watch the colourful leaves flutter to the ground. Its concept is based on the teachings of Dr. Duke Redbird of the Saugeen Ojibway First Nation, who was also involved in the design collaboration with Brook McIlroy Inc. Architecture. Sitting there sipping my coffee, I reflect on the changes I have seen in the area, including the creation of this stunning outdoor space for everyone in Southern Georgian Bay to come together and enjoy.
As the seasons change, OUR HOMES continues to share beautiful homes with our readers. This issue brings holiday cheer and beautiful interiors from the Royal LePage Holiday House Tour. We visit a thoughtfully renovated Redwing schoolhouse with original wood floors that bear the screw marks of desks once used by students. We take you inside a farmhouse finding new life after an inspiring and thoughtful interior makeover. We admire a family home in Collingwood transformed with luxe, bold design statements. This issue is full of inspiration.
Enjoy!
Sara Martin, Managing Editor sara.martin@ourhomes.ca
REGIONAL PUBLISHERS Jamie Jefferson Georgette McCulloch
MARKETING & ADVERTISING GREY/BRUCE COUNTIES Betty Ann Fawcett, 519.372.6338 bettyann.fawcett@ourhomes.ca
REACH US EASILY: firstname.lastname@ourhomes.ca
OUR HOMES is a registered trademark of OUR HOMES MEDIA GROUP INC. OUR HOMES SGB is published four times a year (January, April, July and October).
OUR HOMES is distributed free to residents in Southern Georgian Bay via precision targeted neighbourhood mail, direct home delivery and via addressed mail to the GTA addresses of those who own recreational property in Southern Georgian Bay, yet live primarily in the GTA. OUR HOMES is also available for free pickup throughout Collingwood, Blue Mountain, Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township, Thornbury and Meaford. OUR HOMES is also distributed at grocery retailers, throughout Blue Mountain Village and at the area’s private ski and golf clubs. Please send all letters and/or feedback to OUR HOMES Magazine, 25 Elgin St., Collingwood, ON Canada L9Y 3L6. Or email us at editor@ourhomes.ca. All letters received are subject to editing for grammar and length.
OUR HOMES MEDIA GROUP INC:
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Georgette McCulloch
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lori Davis, Walter Franczyk
DIGITAL EDITOR Tracey Paul
MANAGING EDITORS Walter Franczyk, Donna Luangmany, Sara Martin, Drew Beth Noble, Brianne Smith, Megan Smith-Harris, Gabrielle Tieman-Lee, Janet White Bardwell, Gisele Winton Sarvis
ART
ART DIRECTOR
Tara Chattell
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTORS
Sheila Britton, Robynne Sangiuliano
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Jason Hartog
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Lynn Derrick
PRODUCTION MANAGERS
Julia Dempsey, Kelly Donaldson, Tracy Shuttleworth
OPERATIONS
MANAGING DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING Jamie Jefferson jamie.jefferson@ourhomes.ca
MANAGING DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Georgette McCulloch
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE & DIRECTOR OF DISTRIBUTION Lisa Ormsby
ACCOUNTING Tyler Annette
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE Darren Foley
CONTRIBUTORS
Larry Arnal, Sheila Britton, Lori Davis, Nigel Eves, Bailey Franklyn, Jason Hartog, Nicole Hilton, Andrew Hind, Robin Jowett, Lauren Long, Sandy MacKay, Sara Martin, Teresa Matamoros, Caeli Mazara, Georgette McCulloch, Jenelle McCulloch, Tamarisk McNalty Stephens, Lynne Richardson, Brianne Smith, Kianna Sunshine
OUR HOMES CAN BE FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING MARKETS: • Barrie/Orillia/Midland • The Golden Horseshoe • Grey Bruce • London • Muskoka • Ottawa • Peterborough • Southern Georgian Bay • Toronto & York Region • Wellington County/Orangeville/Caledon/Waterloo Region • Windsor
White Calacatta
Silky Porcelain
CONTENTS FALL/HOLIDAY 2024
ON THE COVER
LOCAL FEATURES
42 Style Picks As the thermometer starts to dip add some warmth to your interior design.
56 Feature Home A century home restoration honours the past while incorporating charming contemporary enhancements.
72 Home & Designer A home in Collingwood’s Creekside subdivision is transformed into a luxurious retreat.
90 Spotlight Two Crows, located in the heart of Clarksburg, has a fascinating inventory of décor surrounded by colourful artwork.
100 People & Places Meet experts that have the knowledge and experience to take a project across the finish line.
116 Holiday Tour Shining the holiday spirit for all to see at seven homes around Southern Georgian Bay.
134 Spotlight FAD Inc. consistently delivers a luxe, casual design that enhances every client’s lifestyle.
150 Feature Home A designer and her husband convert and style a historic schoolhouse overlooking bucolic pastures.
166 At Home With Simone Ardiel was raised on an apple farm, inspiring her foray into the art of winemaking.
Wrapping visitors in the holiday spirit, this home was one of seven on the Royal LePage Locations North Holiday House Tour. Story, page 116. Photography by Sandy MacKay.
DEPARTMENTS
28 Editor’s Note
36 Publisher’s Note
40 Advice Zen Energy Colours
48 Good Taste Blood Orange Sour
50 Gardening Winter Landscapes
68 In The Kitchen Baking Shortcuts
84 Double Take Inspirational Dining
86 In The Kitchen Pantry Must-Haves
92 Entertaining Woodland Tablescapes
96 Holiday Hints Stocking Stuffers
112 Entertaining Stress-free Gatherings
136 Real Estate Glass Houses
146 Birding Modern Family
162 Home Resource Directory
164 Cooking At Home Gingerbread Oatmeal
168 Finishing Touch Cabinet Pulls
THIS FALL MARKS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MY DRASTIC
DOWNSIZE.
We were excited when our home of 27 years sold quickly last fall, the home where we raised our two, now adult, children.
tWe bought a 1,000 sq. ft. cottage/bungalow tucked into the woods at the beach. Everywhere I go now, someone asks about how we did it and how it's working.
My husband and I have finally mastered sharing one bathroom and maneuvering in the kitchen without a crash. Every corner I’ve decorated brings a smile. There’s an abstract painting my father Bobby bought in the 1950s, a small wooden sheep bought on a road trip to visit my son in Ottawa and three carved rabbits, a gift from a Yorkville designer when my daughter was born 36 years ago. I tell people this experience has been like no other, living simply with a lot less stuff.
For us, everything of real importance fits perfectly into our new space.
As for Christmas, I kept four stockings handmade years ago from Hudson Bay blankets by a Walters Falls artist.
If you're looking for a special gift this holiday season, shop local stores and holiday markets, especially the premier OUR HOMES Christmas Market at Alpine Ski Club on November 23 & 24. And make sure you buy your tickets for the 13th annual Royal LePage Holiday House Tour, a charity event that OUR HOMES sponsors. This year, when you buy a ticket to the house tour, you also receive entry to the Christmas Market at Alpine Ski Club (details on page 132).
We'll see you back in January with our Big SKI issue!
Your landscape is full of natural beauty. This winter, enhance that beauty with show-stopping holiday décor! For over a decade, busy professionals like you have trusted the Landmark Group’s award-winning décor team to make the holidays sparkle… outside.
AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPES & PROPERTY CARE
LUXURY, AFFORDABLY EXECUTED.
COLOURS WELLNESS
We all know that paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to transform a space, but did you know that colour is also a powerful tool that can affect your energy level, feelings, and overall well-being? Welcome the wellness movement into your home with the strategic use of colour to reduce stress and anxiety and create a peaceful atmosphere.
Understanding the psychological associations of various colours and the impact of colour combinations can help you decide what colours to integrate into your home to create a desired atmosphere – a restful bedroom, a comforting kitchen, an inviting gathering space or a serene spa-like bathroom.
Colours are broadly categorized as either warm, cool or neutral. Warm colours like yellow, orange and red are energizing – they can stimulate appetite, increase heart rate and promote creativity. Cool colours like blues, greens and violets are restful, stabilizing and soothing and can slow the heart rate, lower blood pressure and calm the nervous system.
Colours can also appear to either advance towards you or recede away from you, making items and rooms of the same size appear larger or smaller. Warm hues and/or intense colours typically advance towards the eye. Walls painted in a warm colour will decrease the apparent size of the space, which can help create a cosy atmosphere. If you want a space to feel more expansive, painting the walls a cooler or more muted colour will give the appearance of the walls receding. A large sectional sofa upholstered in a warm hue will appear visually more substantial than the same sectional sofa upholstered in a cooler-toned fabric.
The simplicity of a monochromatic scheme (one dominant colour) tends to be very harmonious, whereas a complementary scheme (two colours opposite on the colour wheel) provides more contrast, which can stimulate the senses – so mix in moderation if your goal is to create a calm environment.
Also, be aware that different sources of natural and artificial light can affect how colour is perceived. A north-facing room with less direct natural light will feel quite different than a room drenched in warm natural light with a south-west exposure.
Tamarisk McNalty Stephens shares her ideas.
Here are some colours you can use in your home to help promote wellness:
WHITE
White represents purity and freshness and is airy and calming. Imagine a landscape covered in a fresh blanket of snow. There is a reason white is a go-to wall colour as it offers a calm canvas for the other elements in the space.
BROWN
Picture the rich, peaty hue of a freshly ploughed field. Earthy and organic with a certain honesty, brown can help create a space that is grounding and comforting. Worn oak floorboards are a great anchor for a space.
GREEN
There is a reason green saw a resurgence during the pandemic. People spent so much time indoors that they were drawn towards the harmony of nature and healing. Houseplants are a great way to integrate the symbolism green offers into your space – renewal, growth and balance.
BLUE
Blue is another dominant colour found in nature. The blue expanse of the sea and the sky on the horizon evokes feelings of tranquility, calmness and freedom. If you hope to create a soothing atmosphere, consider a soft, muted blue tone.
YELLOW
If you’d like to create an uplifting, inviting, and happy space, incorporate a warm, pale yellow (be careful because a bright or intense hue can be too energizing and not at all calming). Like the sun, yellow is warm, cheerful and optimistic.
As with any home improvement project, the purpose is to create a space that feels good to you, so begin by identifying what that looks and feels like. Your home is your sanctuary and should contribute to your overall well-being, regardless of what colour theory may suggest. OH
BENJAMIN MOORE: Paint in Decorator’s White CC-20
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS: Paint in Pure White 7005
PLANTSOME: Ficus Lyrata Bush
MERCANA: Ocean Fence Framed Wall Art
INDABA: 16” x 24” Hampton Linen Pillow
NORTHERN WIDE PLANK: Artifax River Bed Reclaimed Oak Flooring
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
1
GEORGIAN DESIGN CENTRE
Kitchen & Bath Fixtures
This Vogt faucet’s handle covers are interchangeable and available in 16 colours that can be paired with chrome, matte black and brushed-gold finishes. Vogt has brought a custom product to a new and exciting level. Tired of a colour after a few years? It can easily be changed for something fresh and exciting.
84 High St., Collingwood 705.444.2100 | georgiandesigncentre.ca
2
MACDONALD’S BRANDSOURCE Range
Make the heart of your home an efficient producer of yummy meals. KitchenAid lets you choose your preference for cooktop and oven power. Available in induction, electric or gas, makes baking and meals a little easier. With eight colour options, your range can stand out or blend in.
Add a transformative detail to your home – the perfect wall colour. Discover hundreds of choices and helpful tools and advice, including Virtual Colour Consults, a ColourSnap app and Peel & Stick samples. Narrowing down a favourite is much easier than you think.
65 First St., Unit 2, Collingwood 705.443.8146 | sherwin-williams.com
4 BEYOND FRAMING Art
Within the showroom’s bright space, artwork such as Moss Fern will capture and engage your interest as well as your heart. Along with the stunning art, there's a large selection of custom framing options to give new life to a much-loved piece of art.
Upholstered in New Zealand sheepskin, this Danishdesigned chair and foot stool will add texture, warmth and comfort to your home. The set is an invitation to slow down, relax and spend a few hours reading or dreaming in luxury.
Meet the Jasper Coffee table by Handstone Crafted For Life. This hefty 44-inch round table, made by Canadians, is available in several wood and stain options. It can also be crafted in any size you want.
See your local dealer | handstone.ca
Pink Shadow
Warm Winter
Succulent
Upward
7 DEANS CARPET ONE FLOOR & HOME
Carpet
Stop at Deans and see how easy it is to add carpeting to your home with a comprehensive selection and installation available. Choose the 100 per cent wool Berford Cord carpet with its cable knit detail and it can also be ordered as an area rug.
2808 County Rd. 124, Duntroon | 705.445.2166
334 Sykes St. S., Meaford | 519.538.2166 deansrugland.com
8 CHANTICO FIREPLACES
Fireplace
The Tatiana 997's sleek, modern design has a flame that illuminates a room, adding warmth and atmosphere. With its rotating firebox, you can watch the fire from the sofa, the dining table or when prepping a meal in the kitchen. There are many colour options to suit any design scheme.
No matter who comes to stay, a good night’s sleep is as easy as pressing a button, which transforms a stylish sofa into a king or queen size bed. Its sleek Scandinavian contemporary design is matched by its convenience.
Visit the website for nearest location. thechesterfieldshop.com
Continued on page 46
Vases
Made in France, the fascinating design of these 3D printed vases will make them the centre of attention, whether gathered in a group, used to store wooden spoons on the kitchen counter or holding fresh or dried flowers. They come with a glass insert to protect the renewable organic material. Available in many colourful options.
115 Hurontario St., Unit 104, Collingwood 705.888.1499 | jamcollingwood.ca
11 CLERKSON’S Chaise
With inviting curves to cradle your tired body and Antique Ebony leather to add character, the Ava chaise is a worthy addition to a living room or bedroom. Its design details extend to the refined base.
Keep yourself and your furry friend warm as the temperature drops. These 100 per cent wool shawls are perfect on cool morning walks. A matching dog blanket will take the chill out of cold paws. Find a tartan that complements your pet’s eyes!
90 Sykes St. N., Meaford 519.788.4174 | lepooch.ca OH
htin
good taste
BLOOD ORANGE Sour
This vibrant Blood Orange Sour cocktail combines tangy blood orange juice with smooth bourbon, a hint of lemon and a touch of sweetness for a refreshing, autumninspired drink.
INGREDIENTS
1 oz fresh blood orange juice
2 oz bourbon
½ oz simple syrup*
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
Ice
Blood orange slice or peel, for garnish
Maraschino cherry, for garnish (optional)
*Simple Syrup: Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool. Pour into a clean jar and seal. Store in the refrigerator for up to one month.
DIRECTIONS
Add blood orange juice, bourbon, simple syrup and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker.
Dry shake until the mixture is combined. A dry shake is when you shake the drink without ice. This will create a good layer of foam over the drink. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain the cocktail into a glass. Garnish with a slice of blood orange or a twist of blood orange peel.
Serve immediately. Enjoy! OH
Let It Be!
ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES FOR FALL GARDEN CLEAN-UPS
Gone are the days when, after a fall garden clean-up, there wasn’t a stick of anything left. All leaves were blown out, raked up and put at the curb, leaving the garden as clean as a sterile vacant lot. For some of us, this is how it was done way back when, but that was a long time ago.
Now, the most difficult thing is to change the mindset. Leave the garden messy, as people may say. Leave the Echinacea and Rudbeckia up so their seeds are a food source in the winter for birds. Leave hydrangeas up because they look so pretty with snow on their dried flowers. There are lots of other perennials that have great form in the winter garden too. Not only does it make for a more interesting winter landscape, but you are doing a wonderful thing for the soil in your garden.
Leaving the leaves to overwinter in your beds is one of the best gifts you can give to your garden. The fallen leaves provide a natural mulch, helping to moderate soil temperature and keep in moisture. When the leaves break down, they add back to the soil the very nutrients your trees, shrubs or perennials took out and they play an important role in maintaining a healthy soil food web. Beneficial microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and nematodes release nutrients, making them available for plants.
The leaves also provide a habitat for beneficial insects. Spiders and ladybird beetles will have a place to overwinter. Praying mantises lay their eggs on plant stems, and garden beetles eat everything from snail eggs to caterpillars, just to name a few.
PHOTO: LIANE M
STORY TERESA MATAMOROS
PHOTO: LARISA STEFANUYK
What To Cut
Some perennials such as hostas or peonies can be cut back as they tend to go to mush after a good hard frost. Any plant that is diseased should be removed from the garden and put in the garbage, not composted.
Generally speaking, leaving plant stems up adds protection against recent wild weather swings. The stems are more likely to catch the snow, and create a blanket of protection. As we know, the snow is a great insulator and when we cut everything down in the garden, there is nothing left to catch and keep the snow in place. When the soil is bare, the roots of all plants can be subject to frost heaving. It’s when we don’t have a good snow cover that we see a lot of winter kill in the spring.
While you don’t want a heavy blanket of anything on the grass for the winter, leaves on the lawn can be mowed over so they are mulched and left to enrich the lawn if there aren’t too many. You could always use the mower to mulch the excess leaves and shoot them into the garden!
Clean Your Tools
Eco-friendly practices for fall clean-ups also include taking good care of your tools before you put them away for the winter. Make sure all rakes, hoes, spades and shovels are cleaned and oiled. Better quality secateurs can be taken apart and cleaned, oiled and sharpened. Your tools will last a good long time when they are well cared for.
Less is more in terms of fall clean-ups. You do less work, use less fossil fuel and resources, reduce your carbon footprint and improve the biodiversity, all while making your garden healthier and more beautiful at the same time!
Follow Mother Nature’s lead and we’ll all be better off! OH
Teresa Matamoros has a Bachelor of Science degree, an Ontario Diploma in Horticulture and is an ISA Certified Arborist.
PHOTO: BG WALKER
PHOTO: BEEKEEP X
Create
From your front gate to the back forty, we are here to assist you so that your property thrives in the manner you see best. Your land is valuable. Your time is valuable. Let us help you create spaces that are simply yours to explore.
I FORESTRY MULCHING / TRAIL CREATION I BUCKTHORN & DEAD ASH REMOVAL I FENCING I EN TRANCE GATES & OUTDOOR STRUC TURES
STAND THE TEST OF TIME.
WE DESIGN AND BUILD LANDSCAPES THAT FEEL LIKE A NATURAL EXTENSION OF THE OUTDOORS.
IN 2021, KATIE BARNSTAPLE AND MARK DOBBIN OF MILL CREEK DESIGN BUILD BEGAN A PROJECT FOR CLIENTS THAT WOULD SPAN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
It centred on a large farm property near Meaford, set among fields, forests and wetlands. The farmhouse restoration would return a rustic, redbrick century-old home to its original glory while blending in contemporary elements, updating and preserving its century home vibe.
Mill Creek does everything from new builds to renovations, and a restoration like this comes with its own set of challenges, says Katie.
“No line is straight in an old home,” she jokes. “That’s part of the fun.”
SUSTAINABLE RESTORATION
STORY CAELI MAZARA PHOTOGRAPHY SANDY MACKAY
Katie Barnstaple and Mark Dobbin
The 330 sq. ft. kitchen has a furniture-style wood island oiled with linseed. It encourages a team effort while preparing meals. All cabinetry was designed and installed by Mill Creek Design Build and supplied by Greystone Custom Cabinets Inc. Metal legs on the cabinets and open shelving beside the windows are from Krueger Custom Steel & Machining Ltd. Hardware was sourced through Top Knobs. OPPOSITE: The standing seam steel roof on the brick farmhouse was supplied and installed by Sapphire Roofing. The deep sheltered porch wraps around the home and offers a shaded area for dining and relaxing in the warmer months.
By focusing on elements like natural stone and timber, and the Stûv woodstove installed by BakWoods Fireplaces & Heating, the design harkens back to the home’s early days. Carbon neutrality and sustainability were non-negotiable for the homeowners, and they made their design choices accordingly. The home’s heating system is geothermal, the kitchen island by Greystone Custom Cabinets is oiled with linseed, and the decking is done in cedar instead of pressure-treated wood. The paints are environmentally friendly and some features have been upcycled from previous lives, like the recycled glass tile on the bathroom floors from Georgian Design Centre and the marble counters in the primary bedroom’s en suite. Whole-home audio/video and security was installed by Red Brick Group
LEFT: Backsplash tile was sourced through Georgian Design Centre and installed by Mill Creek. The cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore Amazon Green. BELOW: The La Cornue 42-inch range was sourced through Tom The Dreamer. The soft curves of the custom hood follow the style of the arched doorway that leads to the living room. Lighting was installed by Ion Electrical. BOTTOM: The undermount apronfront kitchen sink has a historical charm that suits the design of the kitchen. Sunflowers are ready for trimming and arranging. Counters are quartzite in Exquisite White.
The homeowners had a couple of must-haves at the outset of their restoration journey. First and foremost, they wanted “an honest contractor who had a passion for what they do.” That was Mill Creek Design Build, and Katie and Mark arrived onsite with boundless energy and enthusiasm for the project.
The second must-have – and the first thing anyone will talk about when this home is the topic of conversation – was a large kitchen. In the homeowner’s words, they wanted, “a kitchen with space to work with lots of people to bring a sense of community.”
LEFT: Natural elements, including exposed ceiling beams and reclaimed brushed hemlock flooring, sourced through Select Barn Lowering Ltd. and installed by Mill Creek, give this newly renovated space a lived-in authenticity. Doors lead to the cedar patio that overlooks the large pond. Security for the home was installed by Red Brick Group. ABOVE: The bench seating in the kitchen dining nook by Ideal Sofa Canada repeats the curve of the arched doorway. The frame in cherry wood was constructed by Greystone Custom Cabinets. A marble-topped bistro table balances the sleek design of the leather bench. Florals for the home were supplied by Mill Creek Design Build. BELOW: Mill Creek designed the arched doorway that offers a peek into the living room. The original, refinished four-panel door leads to the basement.
ABOVE: The base of the dining room table was painted black, matching the Windsor hoop-back style chairs. The hutch with a cherry counter, designed and installed by Mill Creek and sourced through Greystone Custom Cabinets, offers enough space for buffet-styled meals or can be used as a bar. Lighting is from Torp Inc. LEFT: A streuseltopped pie waits to be served on the hutch in the dining room. Open shelving displays cookbooks, flowers and décor. RIGHT: The Stûv cube woodstove was sourced and installed by BakWoods Fireplaces & Heating, while geothermal provides the main source of heating for the home. Walls in the home are painted Benjamin Moore Moonlight White.
At over 330 square feet, the kitchen is bright and airy, done in creams and whites and offset by dark timbers in the furniture, exposed beams and mahogany windows and doors (Authentic Windows and Doors). The floors are reclaimed brushed hemlock from Select Barn Lowering Ltd. with warm, honey-coloured tones. The counters are natural white stone from Ciot, and the pièce de résistance is the La Cornue 42-inch induction range from Tom The Dreamer
From the kitchen, an archway leads to the dining area. With its rustic farmhouse table that seats 10, dark wood hutch and 10-inch skirting board, it feels just right.
LEFT: With panel wainscotting, elegant door trim and tall ceilings, the living room is a casual, comfortable space that offers lots of seating options. Trim and mouldings were sourced through Brenlo Custom Wood Mouldings and Doors and Knights’ Home Building Centre, and installed by Mill Creek. BELOW: Although the kitchen is a separate room its large arched doorway unifies the entire main-floor space. Electrical for the renovation was completed by Ion Electrical. Ceiling lights were sourced through Schoolhouse.
“WE WENT WITH DESIGN THAT WASN’T GOING TO FADE. THOSE THINGS THAT COME BACK INTO STYLE AGAIN AND AGAIN.” ~KATIE BARNSTAPLE
The primary bedroom is white-on-white, with touches of muted browns from an area rug and two space-saving barn doors that reveal an en suite and closet respectfully.
A breezeway leads off the main house, finished in charred cedar in the Japanese Shou-Sugi-Ban method. It is the most modern-feeling of the home’s elements, with a white and dark grey interior.
“We went with design that wasn’t going to fade,” says Katie. “Those things that come back into style again and again.” Continued on page 66
The upper-level hallway retains its original honey-coloured flooring, with the addition of the peaked window, adding a modern element. TOP & BOTTOM LEFT: The repurposed marble counter in the primary en suite was recut by Latitude. The vanity was sourced from Greystone Custom Cabinets and designed and installed by Mill Creek. The diamond-patterned window brings sunlight into the room, while providing privacy.
TOP & BOTTOM RIGHT: The arched mahogany windows in the primary bedroom are from Authentic Windows & Doors and maximize the view over the treetops to the large vegetable and flower garden. Sliding barn doors painted Farrow & Ball Pink Ground conceal a walk-in closet and primary en suite. The upholstered bed, tucked under the sloping roof of the home, has floating side tables and contemporary pendant lights. TOP & BOTTOM FAR RIGHT: The undermount double-sink vanity in the family bathroom was supplied by Greystone Custom Cabinets and has wall-mounted faucets. Plumbing for the home was completed by Grade Tech Plumbing Solutions Ltd. Tile on the floor from Georgian Design Centre extends into the curbless shower and was manufactured using recycled glass.
TOP LEFT: The design of the breezeway was entrusted to architect Jan Tymstra. The flooring was sourced through Maxwell Stone. Wall mounted coat hooks and baskets for gloves and hats are conveniently located by the doors that open to the driveway side of the home and the opposite entrance to the pond and gardens. BOTTOM LEFT:
The Shou-Sugi-Ban cedar exterior siding was supplied by Blackwood Siding. The exterior doors are from TORP Inc., manufactured in Denmark and installed by Mill Creek. ABOVE: The laundry closet in the breezeway has cabinetry by Greystone Custom Cabinets with Dekton counters in Bromo, sourced and installed by Latitude. BELOW LEFT: A hint of the exterior brick wall is viewed through the doorway of the powder room in the breezeway. BELOW RIGHT: Shelving above the wall-mounted toilet in the powder room is painted Benjamin Moore Andromeda.
TOP LEFT: The greenhouse is surrounded by mature gardens. Hardscape material was supplied by Maxwell Stone and Purescapes.
BOTTOM LEFT: The deck overlooking the pond is ideal for morning yoga and watching the turtles and frogs that add sound and movement to this tranquil vista.
RIGHT: A meandering path from the farmhouse takes a course through a meadow and trees to the other side of the pond where the sauna is located. The view from the sauna over the pond relaxes the mind while the heat relaxes the body.
The restoration was a huge undertaking, and took time, but Katie says that’s not a bad thing at all.
“When you’re starting a project like this,” she says, “take your time. Live in the space. The transformation doesn’t happen overnight. That sounds boring, but it’s important! You don’t have to do everything all at once.”
“Determine the why behind what you’re creating,” adds the homeowner. “Have a plan in advance.”
Three years on, the why is evident in this project – its lovingly restored spaces that glimpse into both the past and the future. OH
Roofing on the breezeway extension was supplied and installed by Ainger Group Roofing and Exteriors. Landscaping was completed by Purescapes. Maintenance and plant material provided by Garden Holistics.
Don-Bar gas Model 9000. Also available in wood burning.
How to PRETEND YOU BAKED the holiday treats
A Secret Family Recipe
Do you feel guilty not keeping up with the tradition of home baking over the holidays? Life’s busy! These simple tips will help make it seem like you spent all your spare time from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day making the most delicious desserts when all you did was go to the store. Here’s how you can fake it ‘til you bake it…
The first step is crucial to passing storebought baking off as homemade. You must be very specific in your selection of goods. Opt for bakeries over big box stores for authenticity. The less uniform the cookies are, the better because they won’t appear mass-produced. Items from a bakery often have fewer ingredients, which people equate with being wholesome. Do you know what else is wholesome? Home baking. Make sure none of the delicacies are branded and discard all packaging (evidence). You can add a dollop of whipped cream on lemon squares or a wee bit of extra jam in the middle of thumbprint cookies to complete the illusion. It’s best to pick up the baked goods on the same day you plan to serve them for ultimate freshness. When applicable, reheat in the oven.
STORY NICOLE HILTON
PHOTO: TIM DOUGLAS
in the kitchen
Next, you’ll need to stage your kitchen. Strategically place your mixer on the counter with the mixing bowl attached and leave it plugged in. Sprinkle some flour in it. Leave bowls, a whisk, a spatula, a rolling pin and other miscellaneous kitchen tools nearby. Sprinkle flour. Prop up a popular cookbook in the corner to demonstrate your interest in baking. Fill your sink halfway with soapy water and carefully place an appropriately themed glass baking dish into it. Make it look like you were ferociously baking like a celebrity chef. Sprinkle more flour.
Light a candle that smells like homemade goodies and burn it all day before everyone arrives. When you’re shopping for scents, select a natural wax infused with notes of cinnamon, vanilla, burnt sugar, and butter. If you are in a pinch, warm some cinnamon sticks in a pot on the stove to give the aroma of something sweet.
Wear an apron when you answer the door.
While your guests are mingling, set a timer that reflects the grand performance you’re putting on in the kitchen. Promptly excuse yourself and say you need to check on the baking. Take this time away from your company to plate the treats on a special tray from your collection. Select your grandma’s heirloom platter or one that’s eye-catching enough to divert the conversation. How will you react when someone inevitably compliments you and asks, “Did you bake these?” Respond outlandishly as if you’re extremely offended that they couldn’t immediately tell if you made everything from scratch, but never directly answer the question.
Provide take-home boxes because your treats were that good.
At the end of it all, if someone catches on, fess up and give them the name of the local bakery you bought the items from. They might be inspired to host a homemade charade of their own! OH
DAVID SHAW DESIGNS: Pampa Bay Medium Platter in Monte Carlo
KITCHENAID: 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer with Redesigned Premium Touchpoints in Empire Red
DESIGN HOME GIFT & PAPER: Mud Pie Bakeware
DANICA: Ecologie Swedish Sponge Cloths
DANICA: Now Designs Snowflakes Classic Apron
THE SERENDIPITY SOY CANDLE COMPANY: Butter Tart
DAVID YOUNGSON & ASSOCIATES: Kikkerland, Beethoven Kitchen Timer
DESIGN HOME GIFT & PAPER: Mud Pie Christmas Cookie Plate Set
home & designer
The balance of style and function achieved by Jassy Sidhu is highlighted in the living room, where furnishings were chosen and placed to deliver a glamorous finish. Window coverings were supplied and installed by Salnek’s Custom Window Treatments. Everest accent chairs in cream bouclé are from JS Design House.
From ORDINARY to EXTRAORDINARY A STUNNING HOME TRANSFORMATION
WHEN DESIGNER JASSY SIDHU OF JS DESIGN & STYLING UNVEILED THIS STUNNING RENOVATION, HOMEOWNERS CHRIS AND AMY LEWIS COULDN’T BELIEVE IT WAS THE SAME HOUSE.
“Jassy nailed it and exceeded our expectations,” says Amy, a freelance editor and owner of Eye for Editing. “She transformed our space into something stylish and functional. She understood our vision and brought the design to life in a way we could not have imagined.”
After living in their builder basic home for seven years, the Lewises decided it was time to renovate the four-bedroom, 2,700 sq. ft. house located in Collingwood’s Creekside subdivision.
STORY LORI DAVIS | PHOTOGRAPHY LARRY ARNAL
Jassy Sidhu
home & designer
ABOVE LEFT: The wallcovering in the powder room, Algae Bloom by Christian Lacroix, wraps visitors in its stunning colours and pattern. The custom vanity was supplied by Premier Kitchens and is topped with Marina by Dekton and installed by Latitude. Lighting was sourced through JS Design House. ABOVE RIGHT: The 20-foot feature wall in the front foyer highlights the expansive space. Custom stair railings are from Black Spruce Designs. Walls are painted Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. The grey-and-white marble checkerboard hall floor was installed by Marwil Tiles Ltd. Stair treads were sourced and installed by Deans Carpet One Floor & Home. LEFT: The arched opening into the living room injects European flair, offering a relaxed flow throughout the main floor, while adding visual interest. Tahoe ottomans in tobacco tan from JS Design House provide extra seating or a place for tired feet.
Peak
and
“We plan to stay here so we wanted to make it our own,” says Chris, senior vice president of mountain services at Blue Mountain Resort. They entrusted the renovations to Peak Living, a custom builder and renovator. “We were quite pleased with their work,” Chris says. “They were efficient, clean and friendly, kept us informed, and were available to answer any of our questions.”
The couple envisioned a warm, contemporary aesthetic, reminiscent of Mid-century modern with Scandinavian influences. Rounded arches add a European flavour to the home that seamlessly integrates bold details, pops of colour, layered lighting, and rich textiles that create a contemporary aura and sense of luxury.
Jassy unveils the concept – first impressions are everything – in the stunning front foyer. She blends timeless elegance with modern sophistication with the grey-and-white marble checkerboard floor, installed by Marwil Tiles Ltd., and the 20-foot feature wall that adds dimension and elevates the room’s grandeur. Completing the foyer is a sleek, custom black metal railing installed by Black Spruce Designs that gives the space a contemporary edge.
The powder room has a dramatic design that Amy and Chris weren’t sold on at first. “This room is the perfect example of us being pulled out of our comfort zone and falling in love with Jassy’s design after seeing it firsthand,” says Amy. Christian Lacroix Algae Bloom wallpaper sets this space ablaze with colour and interest. “It’s an ethereal floral that blends plants and aquatic life with minerals,” says Jassy. “I just love the colours and connecting it to the greens and blues used throughout the space.” Continued on page 76
The media area of the living room uses sound damping oak panels that frame the TV. Onyx by Benjamin Moore paints the wall between the panels. Painting for the home was completed by Drop Sheet Painting. Area rugs were sourced through JS Design House. BOTTOM: The arched doorway to the dining room mirrors the arch to the living room.
Living installed new trim, baseboards
casings throughout the newly renovated space. European white oak hardwood flooring was sourced and installed by Deans Carpet One Floor & Home.
home & designer
Jassy’s dramatic flair continues in the dining room. She replaced bulky french doors with an elegant, rounded arch that opens the space and connects the foyer, living and dining rooms. “We were able to add a walk through into the dining room from the kitchen as well as the arches for function, form and a beautiful aesthetic,” Jassy explains.
The kitchen underwent a remarkable transformation. Premier Kitchens installed the sleek, minimalist kitchen, chock-full of storage solutions and stylish features. “The contrast of colours was important to us as we didn’t want a sterile-looking kitchen,” notes Amy. A black waterfall island is the ideal place to gather and socialize, and its bold colour contrasts beautifully with the Dekton Opera white quartz countertops, full height backsplash and custom range hood. Panel-ready appliances are neatly tucked away in cashew cherry cabinetry while a full-height pantry with rollout shelves provides discreet storage. Amy and Chris love the charming breakfast nook that includes bench seating with hidden storage and graffiti-wallpaper framed art. A wine fridge, coffee bar and under-cabinet lighting add to the aesthetic and practicality of this space. All appliances came from Chatterson's Furniture & Appliances Continued on page 79
Amy and Chris Lewis with miniature goldendoodle, Levy
A black waterfall island complements the sleek, flat-panelled cashew cherry cabinetry by Premier Kitchens. With many time-saving storage solutions, the kitchen gives Amy and Chris a functional and stylish area for entertaining. The island counter is Laos by Dekton while perimeter counters and the backsplash are Opera by Dekton, all installed by Latitude.
home & designer
In the breakfast nook, colourful graffiti-wallpaper framed art presides over the comfortable bench seat upholstered by Pat Butler. The Invitation Table and burnt orange velvet dining chairs are from JS Design House.
OPPOSITE, TOP: Appliances, including a Liebherr panel-ready fridge, Miele dishwasher and Silhouette wine fridge were all sourced from Chatterson’s Furniture & Appliances and installed by Peak Living. BOTTOM
LEFT: The custom range hood is clad in Opera by Dekton. Lighting was sourced through JS Design House. BOTTOM
RIGHT: In the full-height pantry, pocket doors slide back into the cabinetry to offer unobstructed access to the coffee bar.
The living room balances style and function and integrates technology into design. Layered lighting, including pots and sconces, is key and easily adjusts the ambience. “The lighting was a huge improvement because it gives the room the most amazing look and feel,” says Amy. The TV, flanked with sound dampening oak panels that add texture and interest, is mounted on a black accent wall that cleverly reduces its prominence. “I wanted the focus to be on socializing, not on the TV,” says Chris. Natural materials and bold colours mingle to generate a warm, inviting atmosphere. “It’s glamorous and sophisticated, yet warm and inviting,” says Amy.
All furniture, décor and lighting are from JS Design House, Jassy’s retail shop in Collingwood, while Deans Carpet One Floor & Home installed the hardwood floors and carpet runners. Continued on page 80
home & designer
Jassy’s innovative design continues upstairs. She updated a humdrum laundry room into a distinctive and colourful space. White quartz counters flecked with blue reflect the blue accent wall and washer and dryer. Blue-andwhite penny tile arranged in alternating stripes adds fun and interest. She also transformed the guest bathroom from an ugly, underused space to a fun and luxurious bathroom, using pattern and colour.
The primary bedroom and en suite are a testament to delightful and standout features. A striking hunter-green accent wall behind the bed adds a touch of colourful drama. “Our bedroom hugs you when you walk into the space. It’s very calming,” says Amy. Chic pendant lights gently illuminate each side of the bed while pots and a chandelier add layers of light.
LEFT: Painted Benjamin Moore Hunter Green, the feature wall in the primary bedroom displays a unique pattern. Pendant lighting was sourced through Georgian Design Centre and installed by Beehive Electric Inc., which also completed the additional changes to the electrical system. The florals are arranged in a Cacti vase, both sourced through JS Design House. BELOW LEFT & MIDDLE: Benjamin Moore Avon Green highlights the lighting and mirror in the guest bathroom. The vanity, faucet and shower fixtures were sourced through Georgian Design Centre. The shower glass was supplied and installed by LIV Custom Glass.
BELOW RIGHT: The upper-level laundry room has been transformed into a bright and fun space with the addition of blue-and-white penny tile installed in alternating stripes on the floor and an eye-catching blue accent wall. The counter is Whistler quartz by HanStone.
home & designer
The Lewises upgraded the en suite to reflect a spa-like aura. A luxurious standalone tub backed by oak Tangram tiles, custom double vanity, white Zellige shower tiles, and terrazzo floor introduce a European flair with sophistication and serenity.
Chris sums up the renovation as glamorous and functional.
“Jassy helped us create spaces that complement each other and yet have a unique design,” he says. “People are stunned when they visit.” Jassy believes her ability to really listen to clients sets her apart. “By focusing on the unique needs and desires of my clients, I create a home that is both timeless and tailored to their everyday lives,” she says. OH
The double sink vanity from Premier Kitchens in the primary en suite has a Silestone Calacatta Gold counter, adding to the opulent atmosphere. The standalone tub is surrounded with oak Tangram tiles and sits on terrazzo flooring. LIV Custom Glass supplied and installed the shower glass.
Yellow BRICK ROAD
RECREATE
1. VISUAL COMFORT: Bistro Medium
Chandelier in Hand-Rubbed Antique Brass 2. RENWIL: Kruja Wall Art
3. EURO TILE & STONE: Village Wall
Tile in Tuscany Gold 4. RIOBEL: Azure Kitchen Faucet in Brushed Gold
5. SMEG: Espresso Manual Coffee
Machine in Cream 6. SUNPAN: Cascata
Dining Chair in Effie Linen 7. ELK
HOME: Nealon Bowl 8. RICHELIEU: Modern Metal Pull - 8160 in Brushed Aurum Gold 9. RH: Oslo Pedestal
Round Dining Table 10. BECKHAM
BROTHERS AND CO.: Restoration Plank Hardwood Flooring in Savannah OH
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PHOTO: JASON HARTOG DESIGNER: RHODA CIPPARONE OF ARISTOCRAT FLOORS
Indulge
143 Hurontario St. & 27 Simcoe St., Collingwood
8 UNDERRATED FOODS
You Probably Don’t Have In Your Kitchen, But Should
Have you ever found yourself in a food rut? You buy the same foods and make the same meals every week. It can get boring! What if I told you that you might be overlooking some pretty spectacular foods that could really spice up your nutrition and culinary game? These eight underrated foods don’t get the attention they deserve, but they offer so much from a nutrition standpoint or culinary perspective (or in the case of some, both!) that they shouldn’t be ignored.
How many of these underrated foods do you have in your kitchen?
GROUND/MILLED FLAXSEED
This is first on the list for a reason. It’s a nutritional powerhouse high in fibre and omega 3s and can be added to just about anything to boost nutrition – yogurt, oatmeal, overnight oats, granola, baked goods and smoothies.
DATES
Fruit from the date palm tree, dates are incredibly versatile and nutritious since they’re high in fibre and antioxidants. Turn them into a paste to use instead of white sugar in some recipes. Add them to sauces, marinades or blend into smoothies. And since they’re sticky, they act as a binder in baked goods like bars, squares or cookies.
NUTRITIONAL YEAST
This is an inactive form of yeast with a cheesy or nutty flavour profile. Likely already a staple if you’re plant-based, nutritional yeast is a flavourful addition to creamy sauces and dressings or can be sprinkled on pasta or popcorn. It’s also high in vitamin B12 and a source of protein.
MISO PASTE
A staple in Japanese cuisine, miso paste is made from fermented soybeans and can be light white or dark red, depending on the length of fermentation. A flavourful addition to sauces, dressings, stews, marinades or baked goods.
PRUNES
A food you may not have thought about in years, this dried fruit is making a comeback. They’re high in fibre, potassium, antioxidants and other nutrients, which make them a must-have from a nutritional standpoint. They can also be easily incorporated into meals to boost the nutritional value. Try adding them to baked goods, savoury stews, granola/ trail mix or make a prune butter/jam.
DIJON MUSTARD
The perfect addition to salad dressings, marinades, egg or potato salads. Mustard is an emulsifier, which prevents the vinegar and oil in your vinaigrette from separating.
POPCORN
I’m referring to the kernels of popcorn that you pop and season yourself. Popcorn is an underrated snack option. It’s a great source of fibre, low in calories and offers some protein and other micronutrients. Try sprinkling some nutritional yeast on top.
HEART OF PALM
Classified as a vegetable, heart of palm is the core of certain palm tree varieties. Usually found canned or jarred, it has a mild taste that’s similar to artichoke hearts. Try adding it to salads, dips or eating it on its own, or get creative and use it as a seafood/meat replacement. OH
Bailey Franklyn is a Registered Dietitian living in Meaford.
PHOTOGRAPHY
KIANNA SUNSHINE
finds OF ALL KINDS
INSPIRATION
Sue Tupy grew up in a home where creativity and art encircled her family. Surrounded since birth by the natural beauty of Southern Georgian Bay, family and nature created a foundation for her own path as an artist. Her iconic canvases are much admired interpretations of what inspires her and what she is fortunate to see every day.
Sue Tupy
OPEN STUDIO
For three years, one of the renovated historical buildings at the bustling crossroad in magical Clarksburg Village has been home to The Clark, Sue’s studio. The space showcases her well-known art and is the creative space where she paints. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Sue took an idea and turned it into a new and thriving business, Two Crows: Finds of All Kinds, which shares the large bright space that houses The Clark.
UNIQUE PRODUCTS
Sue’s breathtaking, colourful canvases line the gallery walls, providing a seamless transition to the captivating finds at Two Crows. Sue’s eye for shape, form, colour and function has influenced the inventory, all chosen by her. The offerings have expanded from a stunning selection of linen clothing to a varied range of one-of-a-kind giftware, antique vessels and décor, candles and handcrafted art pieces curated from all over the world. Every piece will elevate your interior and comfort. New finds appear often as Sue is always on the lookout for unique pieces that will bring individuality to a home. OH
How To Style An Enchanting WOODLAND TABLESCAPE
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse! Christmas critters have always had a certain charm. Embrace your whimsical side in an elegant way this season by creating a beautiful woodland table setting that will delight both adults and children at your gathering. From on-trend dinnerware and unforgettable flatware to rustic centrepieces and festive accessories, this tablescape is appropriate for winter dinner parties even after holiday entertaining ends.
EMBRACE NATURAL ELEMENTS
The woodland style has a timeless quality because of its connection to nature. When you’re deciding on items to include, opt for an organic feel with textiles like wood and linen in earthy colours like browns, greens and neutrals. Start by laying the foundation with a natural table runner, woven placemats, bark coasters, fresh or faux greenery, pine cones and handmade beeswax candles for a magical, moonlit glow.
PHOTO: NICOLE MICHALOU
STORY NICOLE HILTON
CANFLOYD: Maxwell & Williams Round Placemat in Black & Natural
CANDYM: Nutcracker Designs Triple Stripe Runner
CANFLOYD: Sullivans Soft Touch Pine Spray
CHEEKY BEE CANDLE COMPANY: 12-inch Tapers in Gold & Ivory
TABLEWARE FIT FOR A FOREST FEAST
Add contemporary details to your woodland table. Choosing black dinner plates with a matte finish will modernize the natural look and provide an unexpected alternative to traditional white dinnerware. Plus, black has proven to be a top-trending colour selection in home décor this year. Pair your plates with a matte-black mug for continuity. Letting some personality shine through with fauna-inspired salad plates that complement the matte-black anchor pieces certainly won’t boar any of your guests! Gold flatware with black handles will complete one thoughtful aesthetic with a hint of gold creating that warm, special feeling you get during the holidays. For glassware, select a smoky, tinted colour that reflects the forest and is reminiscent of antique or vintage glass.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MANY CRITTERS
THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION
This is your chance to flex your creativity and build a unique centrepiece for your table. You’ll need boards for sharing small bites or charcuterie, chunky wood candle holders, themed tealight holders, winter-inspired metal lanterns, glass trees, fairy lights, fir candle rings, sprays and a vase. Sprawl these accessories down the middle of the table or curate them in a circle if you have a round table. Ensure everyone seated has something interesting to look at, like adorable countryside animals, preferably in little sweaters.
Think of all the animals that roam the forest across Canada and then find those figurines to snuggle into your centrepiece in various ways. Felted mice are as abundant as ever in gift stores, including charming dessert-specific mice that can be quietly added as a surprise during the final course of the evening. Planters that look like hedgehogs, clip-on birds or a moose in a cosy knit hat – the more the merrier! You can also incorporate critters into your paper napkin selection or individual edible table treats in the form of moulded chocolates.
By including these elements, you’ll achieve a cohesive and playful woodland tablescape that brings the beauty of nature indoors. It’s easy to adapt the setting to fit casual or formal occasions while maintaining the underlying charm. Just keep your eye on those critters! OH
ABBOTT: Large Hedgehog Planter
ABBOTT: Mouse in a Swiss Roll
ABBOTT: Mouse in a Bundt Cake
ABBOTT: Winter Moose Head with a Hat
WALKER’S CHOCOLATES: Chocolate Owl
PAPERPRODUCTS DESIGN: Holiday Party Napkins
CANDYM: Nutcracker Designs Brown Resin Deer
CANFLOYD: Sagebrook Home Bouquet Vase in Black
ABBOTT: Tree Tealights in Black
DAVID SHAW DESIGNS: Bohemia Bella Glassware in Laurel Mist
DAVID SHAW DESIGNS: Splendide Concerto Black & Gold Flatware
DAVID SHAW DESIGNS: Costa Nova Elements Fauna Salad – Dessert Plates
CANFLOYD: Maxwell & Williams Plate Rim & Mug Coupe in Caviar
ABBOTT: Natural Bark Coasters
CANDYM: Primitives By Kathy Candle Holder Gold Fleck
CANFLOYD: Maxwell & Williams, Paddle Menara
CANFLOYD: Sullivans Snowflake Lantern
CANDYM: Nutcracker Designs Brown Sweater Mouse
CANDYM: Nutcracker Designs Brown Glass Tree & Green Glass Chevron Tree
CREATE A STOCKING
Filled With Santa-Approved Household Gifts
Stockings can be one of the trickiest parts of holiday gifting! Why not try something different this year and curate a collection of small household items rather than picking up the usual stick of deodorant, a pair of socks and a candy cane? Here are 10 useful gifts to tuck into a stocking, perfect for a partner, parent, friend or young adult.
Travel-sized tech kit
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This item solves a problem the recipient didn’t know they had. The tin container includes a bottle of screencleaner spray, microfibre cloth, cable wrap and charging cable, and can easily be stashed into a purse, backpack, carry-on bag or glove compartment. It’s also a handy little kit to keep in a guest room at home or the cottage.
Festive espresso cup
This jolly cup is a welcome addition to anyone’s pantry, perfect for when that extra jolt of caffeine is needed after one too many ugly sweater parties. Suitable for beyond the holiday season, it adds a bold pop of red to any kitchen.
STORY NICOLE HILTON
DANICA: Jubilee Christmas Stockings
DAVID SHAW DESIGNS: Grespresso Red Espresso Cup
COLLINGWOOD LIVING .CA
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the experience we had with Janet. We began researching the Collingwood, Blue Mountain and Thornbury area almost a year ago, and Janet kept us in the loop. When the time came to put an offer in, Janet was everything you could want in a real estate agent to work in our best interests. Her experience and professionalism was second to none. My wife and I highly recommend her to anyone who wants the best of the best.”
Dan K.
holiday hints
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Glowing personal products
Select artisanal soaps and creams that aren’t readily available in every drugstore. These natural body products are customer favourites, made in Canada, and come in a variety of refreshing options including Grapefruit Wash and luxurious Vanilla lotion.
Miracle cleaning cloth
JELLYCAT: Amuseables Coffee-To-Go Bag Charm
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Coffee-lover bag charm
Stockings are designed to be a fun gift so, make sure you add something whimsical into the mix. The Coffee-To-Go fashion accessory will surely put a smile on the recipient’s face. Described as featuring biscotti fur, a frothy cream lid, chunky corduroy holder and toffee corduroy boots, this grande is a stylish conversation starter.
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Holiday housewares
Look for cute seasonal items that are easy to pack. Dishtowels printed with the recipe for a specialty holiday spritz can be rolled and stuffed into the stocking or used to wrap the more fragile gifts. Spirited cocktail napkins and mini tree-shaped bowls are useful for entertaining and complement the main theme.
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For the eco-conscious recipient, consider this zero-waste cloth that replaces paper towels and harsh cleaners. Simply add water, and it effortlessly lifts grime from almost any surface! It’s lint-free, streak-free and perfect for windows, stainless steel, countertops, electronics, vehicles, and even the mantel where this stocking will be hung.
Not your average kitchen scrubbers
Cleaning products might sound boring, but not in this stocking! It doesn’t get any better than something named the World’s Best. If your recipient loves their kitchen to sparkle at all times, include a scrubber appropriate for use on non-stick cookware, stovetops and even vegetables.
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Portable knife sharpener
This innovative kitchen gadget, endorsed by celebrity chefs, comes with a 10-year guarantee. It sharpens straight and serrated blades while keeping your hands safely protected – ideal for any home cook who spends a lot of time chopping.
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Personalized multi-tool
The elves put in extra effort to find a purposeful gift with a personal touch that resonates with the recipient. This guitarshaped multi-tool is both thoughtful and practical, perfect for music lovers or musicians who appreciate a versatile tool for small household tasks like tightening screws, cutting or opening bottles.
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Elevated snacks
A food item is essential for every stocking. Skip the annual chocolate bar and opt for something more comforting and indulgent. Traditional, buttery shortbread cookies with a hint of maple crunch and a delightful salted-caramel hot chocolate mix will satisfy all those sweet seasonal cravings. OH
An award-winning community nestled between Blue Mountain Resort and the tranquil Scandinave Spa. A neighbourhood proudly connected by parks, ponds, trails, and nature preservation areas. At the heart of Windfall is “The Shed,” a vibrant gathering place available year-round, features outdoor pools, and serves as the perfect community hub. The essence of Blue Mountain living – a lifestyle of luxury, leisure, and natural beauty.
HOME & Lifestyle
Local pros help make your home comfortable and beautiful.
PHOTOGRAPHY KIANNA SUNSHINE
Gillian Crone, Owner & Principal Designer
GILLIAN & CO.
We are a premier interior design firm, specializing in creating timeless, architecturally-inspired spaces that blend form and function. The newly-opened design studio showcases the commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and personalized service, offering clients a unique environment to explore their vision. With a strong architectural background, we will transform homes into stunning sanctuaries that reflect each client’s unique style and needs.
DESIGNER ROOMS
The showroom is thoughtfully merchandised to resemble a beautifully designed room in a home, complete with a cosy fireplace, curated furniture, art and décor that shows the elegance and comfort we can achieve in your home.
INSPIRED SPACE
The design area offers a welcoming and inspiring space for clients, where every detail is thoughtfully-curated to facilitate creative discussions. Fabric resources are conveniently within reach, allowing seamless consultations where clients can browse and select materials that suit their style and needs.
people & places
HUNSON HOMES
Our heartwarming home décor boutique, nestled in the charming town of Clarksburg, displays our passion for creating a cosy, warm home. Every item tells a story, and every corner holds a discovery that will bring warmth, charm and a touch of magic to your home. The newly launched online shop brings our treasure to you with speed and ease.
HOLIDAYS
With winter around the corner, a pencil tree will style your home, adding a bit of greenery that you don’t need to worry about watering. Add one of our signature scented candles to add an inviting scent or take one to your next invite as it makes a wonderful hostess gift presented in our pretty customized bags.
ACCESSORIES
Add a splash of colour and a touch of whimsy with delightful animal pillows. Perfect for a bed or sofa, the playful animal designs and textured embroidery blend comfort with character. We offer a stylish and practical selection of serving boards to showcase food at your next party or to add to a counterscape.
Jen Skeath & Sara Johnson, Owners
people & places
Justin Bock, Realtor
TAILORED APPROACH
I am originally from Oakville and am now based in The Blue Mountains and I leverage my deep understanding of GTA buyers’ psyche. I specialize in finding the perfect home for buyers, tailoring my approach to meet their unique needs.
STAGING
Tailored staging using premium furnishings and décor attracts buyers. With an emphasis on the consumer, services feature design upgrades, lighting, painting and minor renovations that elevate properties for maximum appeal.
BOSLEY REAL ESTATE
I specialize in helping clients find their dream home using the Blue Life Method. This unique approach combines a deep understanding of lifestyle, location and community to ensure each home perfectly aligns with my clients’ vision of Georgian Bay living.
people & places
DOVETAIL INTERIORS DESIGN INC.
Tricia has been designing interiors for more than 30 years, with businesses in Creemore, Stayner, Nottawa and now a new office in downtown Collingwood. Her design services and expertise range from colour recommendations to complete renovations and furnishings. Tricia also offers shopping consultation and purchasing – from furnishings to fixtures – to help her clients find the perfect pieces to finish their projects.
TRANSFORMATIONS
Tricia helps homeowners transform their space into something truly inspiring with personality and function. Plus, the best results come from the best relationships and experiences, and that is where her network of suppliers and contractors are ready to take on any interior design project or budget.
CUSTOM FURNISHINGS AT COMPETITIVE PRICING
Tricia and her team can help buyers get the look they want to live in. From sectionals and dining tables to fabric and finishes, everything can be tailored to fit your home and budget.
Tricia Jeffery, Owner
people & places
KATHERINE’S CHÂTEAU
Experience comfortable elegance in the heart of Collingwood where dining and home décor shopping is beautifully combined in a historical building with stunning surrounding gardens. The idea of combining dining and elegant shopping is more common in Europe, so I am excited to bring the essence of old-world European charm to the Georgian Bay area.
BOUTIQUE FINDS
Step into a world of exquisite taste and unique finds in the boutique. The collection has been hand-picked by me. From charming kitchen essentials and home décor to vibrant everlasting florals, all stunningly curated with seasonal finds throughout the year in a variety of prices to suit any pocketbook.
DINING
Whether you are looking for a delicious dinner, lunch or high tea, or simply indulging in a favourite wine or cocktail, the Château will offer a beautiful backdrop. Our chef has sourced local ingredients for seasonal options ensuring an unforgettable experience. Let us host a cherished family event or a company holiday party where we are happy to work with you to customize your menu.
Katherine Gregory, Owner
people & places
Annette Holt & Cassidy Holt, with Cassidy's children Rhodes and Myles
NEW LOCATION
We are excited to announce the opening of a second location at 27 Simcoe St., Collingwood on November 1. We cannot wait to show you all the new offerings. OH
SEE OUR DIRECTORY FOR ALL CONTACT INFORMATION.
WILD BABY
Welcome to Wild Baby, the sweetest place for everything baby, kids and clean living. From newborns to 14-year-olds, we can outfit your little ones in beautiful, quality clothing. We have also collected a charming selection of nursery décor, toys, books, strollers, postpartum essentials, maternity and nursing clothing, and so much more.
“Our knowledgeable staff is ready to help you find the perfect gift, outfit or products for your pregnancy journey.”
BABY EVERYTHING
From high-end to everyday essentials, we offer a thoughtful curation of baby and children’s brands for various budgets and lifestyles. With winter on the way, the shop is stocked with rain and snow gear for cold, wet and snowy play.
519-369-0386 info@gbdshop.ca gbdshop.ca
gbdshop519
#11 Main St. W Markdale, ON N0C 1H0
519-369-8890 info@gbds.ca gbds.ca
gbds519
#5 Main St. W Markdale, ON N0C 1H0
Make Your Holidays STRESS-FREE
The holidays are a busy time. Hosting a party or dinner can exacerbate an already stressful season. Whether you’re new to hosting or a seasoned pro, everyone can benefit from helpful tips to make the whole thing less exhausting and more enjoyable.
STORY
GET THINGS DONE IN ADVANCE
Do as much advanced prep as possible. A few days before the event, make a to-do list. Start by finalizing your menu, then create a prep list based on the components and what needs to be done. The day before the event, you can wash and cut produce, marinate meats, make salad dressing/ sauces/soups/dips and dessert (depending on what it is). If you have the time and don’t need the space, you can also set the table.
PRO TIP: Make sure the dishwasher is empty before your guests arrive. This will make cleaning up quick and easy.
PHOTO: JASON DEINES
PHOTO: OLENA IVANOVA
PHOTO: EDALIN
BAILEY FRANKLYN
Georgian Bay Cabinetry offers a manufacturing facility, in-house design and showroom in Collingwood, ON, focusing on creating stunning, custom-made cabinetry solutions for residential and commercial spaces.
Our Team of Professionals offer complete custom cabinetry solutions for the residential and commercial sectors. From kitchens and vanities to ski lockers and reception desks, we can do it all. No matter the size.
Quality and Service
Attention to detail and customer service are our top priorities. Nothing leaves the shop without being triple checked and inspected. Our goal is to offer the best experience from start to finish.
Locally Made with Premium Materials
Our factory boasts a fully nested CNC system and automatic edge banding units as well as a custom paint booth in-house. We use the highest quality materials to ensure precision, durable, quality cabinetry and mill working at affordable prices.
Tailored Design
Each piece is crafted to your exact specifications. We’ll work closely with you to understand your needs and preferences and provide expert advice along with a competitive quote and 3D renderings.
Expert Craftsmanship
Our experienced team combines traditional techniques with innovative technology and creativity to achieve impeccable results.
Personalized Service
We control the entire process from design, manufacturing, to installation as well as dedicated project management support to make your project seamless and stress-free.
Accelerated Timelines
Having a dedicated manufacturing facility in Collingwood guarantees very quick turnaround and delivery timelines from an approved design. Previous designs can even have components reproduced the same day.
BUY SOME PRE-MADE ITEMS
Not everything on the menu has to be made from scratch. If buying something pre-made makes your life easier, this is a judgment-free zone and your guests probably won’t even notice. Breads, dips, soups, sauces and desserts are all things you could easily purchase pre-made without compromising your personal touch to the menu.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
If you’re new to hosting, there is no reason to over complicate things. Keep the drinks, appetizers, menu – everything – simple. It’s better to do a few things really well rather than many things poorly.
HAVE GUESTS CONTRIBUTE
When your guests inevitably ask what they can bring, you might be tempted to say “oh, nothing.” But if you truly want to reduce your workload, take them up on the offer. Delegating appetizers, salads or dessert still allows you to tackle the main course and frees up some time to focus on smaller tasks that might otherwise get overlooked.
SERVE FAMILY STYLE
If you’re hosting a dinner, serving food in large platters or dishes rather than plating each person’s meal individually, can help reduce your stress twofold. Firstly, guests will serve themselves and take as much or as little of something as they like. Secondly, it’s easier to get everything to the table and served at the correct temperature.
USE A TRIED AND TRUE RECIPE
If there is one tip to take away from this list, this is it! When you’re hosting people for dinner or a party, do not try a new recipe for the first time especially if it’s the star of the show. Navigating a new recipe is stressful enough and you don’t need the added pressure of cooking for an audience. Choose recipes that you’ve made before and feel very comfortable creating. Even if you’ve made it for this group of people before, a successful recipe repeat is better than a recipe failure. OH
Bailey Franklyn is a culinary Registered Dietitian who lives in Meaford.
PHOTO: NICOLE MICHALOU
PHOTO: NICOLE MICHALOU
PHOTO: TIM DOUGLAS
100 Pretty River Pkwy S. Unit 103. Collingwood, ON. L9Y 5A4 705-606-5453 collingwood@quartzco.ca
niagara@quartzco.ca MISSISSAUGA
1330 Mid-Way Blvd Unit 6 Mississauga, ON. L5T 2K3 905-795-1365 mississauga@quartzco.ca
portcarling@quartzco.ca
461 North Service Rd W. Unit B45 Oakville, ON. L6M 2V5 289-668-0462 oakville@quartzco.ca NIAGARA 2009 Kottmeier Rd. Welland, ON. L3B 5N5 905-651-6301
WATERLOO
620 Colby Drive Waterloo, ON. N2V 1A2 519-465-5933
waterloo@quartzco.ca
It’s the BEST TIME of THE YEAR
STORY SARA MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY SANDY MACKAY
Seven homeowners throughout Southern Georgian Bay opened their doors for 1,000 lucky ticket holders to tour the holiday splendour found within. The one-day event was a huge success, raising $40,000 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, My Friend’s House, Collingwood General and Marine Hospital MRI Campaign, Events For Life, James's Journey and the Collingwood Youth Centre.
This year’s HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR TAKES PLACE ON NOV. 23 IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OUR HOMES CHRISTMAS MARKET AT ALPINE SKI CLUB. IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL DAY FULL OF DESIGN, CHEER, GIVING AND SHOPPING.
Continued on page 118
SENTIMENTAL FAMILY JUBILATION
DESIGNER LOVED YOU MADLY SPONSOR TARYNN LENNOX AND TRISH DUNCAN
CHARITY JAMES’S JOURNEY
Embracing the opulence of vintage and antique heirlooms, Lesley Fisher of Loved You Madly, along with daughters Frances and Gillian, combined their artistic skills, working together to offer a peek into their Christmas traditions. Every room of their home received a layered collection of Christmas décor and ornaments, collected over many years with each item holding special meaning for the family. The dining table is set with Darley Abbey china by Royal Crown Derby, offset by lush evergreen and dried hydrangea arrangements, showing that the turkey feast is one to be lingered over with lively conversation and a fire burning brightly in the hearth. Boxwood wreaths hung with red ribbons are silhouetted by sunlight in the windows and the impressive natural tree features more unique trimmings and gifts waiting to be opened. For the perfect ending to a day spent with family, wool blankets hang on hooks ready to be grabbed for warmth while roasting marshmallows and gazing at stars on a cold crisp night.
Frances & Lesley Fisher with Duncan
COSY LAYERS
DESIGNERS PARTII DESIGN & THE NEST
SPONSOR THE KEARNS GROUP CHARITY COLLINGWOOD YOUTH CENTRE
Justine Knight and Sydney Mattes of Partii Design and Jamie Hanna and Krista Hay of The Nest collaborated on Modern Hallmark – the design directive. From the oversize cedar wreath hanging above the crackling fire to candles flickering throughout the open-plan, main-floor living space, this home epitomized the most beautiful holiday card one could receive. The neutral backdrop of the white oak flooring, white walls and sophisticated farmhouse-inspired furnishings provided the frame for the winter canvas. This holiday greeting included sheepskins, plush, textured accent pillows, wicker baskets filled with throws and a 10-foot tree with deep burgundy ribbon accents repeated in the bannister garland. This home wrapped its visitors in a lovely Hallmark hug.
Back: Krista Hay & Jamie Hanna of The Nest Front: Sydney Mattes & Justine Knight, of Partii Design
HOLIDAY LIFE WITH STYLE
DESIGNERS ELLEN OELBAUM OF STYLIST HOME & TARA DAWE OF DAWE AND COMPANY
SPONSOR HAWKINS RYERSE REAL ESTATE GROUP CHARITY COLLINGWOOD GENERAL AND MARINE HOSPITAL MRI CAMPAIGN
This impressive home built by Coulter Dawe and Associates added the combined talents of Ellen Oelbaum and Tara Dawe to splash holiday cheer to its interior, while keeping with the contemporary styling. Lush garlands, evergreen arrangements, natural trees and large bowls filled with floating candles greeted guests. A group of evergreen trees with metal tree skirts decorated the great room. The spectacular scale and dramatic festive finishes matched the profusion of greenery, flowers and black candles thoughtfully placed throughout the main level. A baby grand piano also received a cosy touch with a sheep skin draped over its case and a swag of spruce placed on top. The quote over the front door, “there’s always something going on…” was taken to heart by the designers, who used every inch of this showstopping home to inject holiday freshness and drama.
Ellen Oelbaum & Tara Dawe
FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE
DESIGNER MIA HACKING OF THE INTERIOR ATELIER CHARITY COLLINGWOOD GENERAL AND MARINE HOSPITAL MRI CAMPAIGN
Transporting ticket holders to the French countryside was designer Mia Hacking's goal as she used sound, texture and traditional touches to kindle the warmth of the holidays abroad. From the background soundtrack of artiste francais, plaid tablecloths and live trees surrounded by gifts wrapped in craft paper with jewel-toned ribbon, Mia transported the mind and senses to romantic France. Candles and champagne waiting to be poured in front of the gas fireplace for the aperitif after a holiday meal that had to include Croquembouche as the finale capped a day spent celebrating Joyeux Noël.
Continued on page 126
Mia Hacking
A FAMILY WALK IN THE WOODS
DESIGNER ASHLEY VANCARDO OF HOMEMATE
CHARITY MY FRIEND’S HOUSE
Christmas morning starts with stockings and breakfast. Then, everyone bundles up and heads out for a snowy stroll through a forest of trees, where the sound of boots crunching on a frozen path intermingles with the laughter of children, full of excitement for opening presents that wait under the soaring tree by the fireplace in the living room. Mugs of hot chocolate warm cold fingers after the outdoor exertion, and a tiered dish of holiday treats and cookies on the kitchen island satisfy grumbling stomachs until the holiday dinner, centered around a lush arrangement from Riverside Greenhouses. Ashley Vancardo has used her talents as a home organizer to keep the stress of the holidays at bay. From the purposeful placement of festive décor to the calm uncluttered interior, her home and her family’s traditions are enjoyed to the fullest in serene tranquility at a pace that lets every moment be savoured and remembered for a lifetime.
Continued on page 128
Ashley Vancardo
NATURALLY NORDIC
DESIGNER KASIA AZCURRA OF WHITE HILL HOME
SPONSOR ERICA SOLMES
CHARITY MY FRIEND’S HOUSE
The timber frame details of this home built in 2017 by Alair Homes provided the ideal backdrop for the Scandi-inspired styling of Kasia Azcurra. The minimal, clean lines and open space directed the eye’s focus to the essential holiday elements, whether slim brass candlesticks with towering black tapered candles on a hallway cabinet or a bunch of silver sleigh bells reflected in a mirror. Vintage vessels filled with greenery were placed at various heights in a corner gathering that replaced a traditional tree in an unexpected but joyful way. Symbolic, organic décor was intermingled through the garland on the mantel. A vintage window frame highlighted a hanging garland. The warm, light filled, uncluttered style of the home and décor offered a peaceful retreat that cradled you in its holiday arms.
Continued on page 130
Kasia Azcurra
O CHRISTMAS TREES
DESIGNER LORI PEDERSEN SPONSOR KAREN WILLISON CHARITY EVENTS FOR LIFE
Grapevine reindeer and bears outlined in fairy lights sporting bright red ribbons flanked the stone steps that led to the front entrance of this modern home. Inside, Lori Pedersen transformed the interior into an ode to the centre of many holiday gatherings – the Christmas tree. With a decorated tree in every room of the home, the effort included ornaments and lights that made each tree shine with the joy of the season. Garlands and stockings cascaded from mantels in the living room and wine cellar while the warming flames of the fires danced. The dining room glowed with crystal, candles and greenery, awaiting the lucky guests who would share the holiday feast. Events for Life held a pop-up market on the lower level offering holiday-inspired wares all made by the participants of their day programs, reinforcing that giving is at the heart of this special season. OH
Lori Pedersen
Save the date
NOV. 23 & 24, 2024
Saturday 10a.m. - 5p.m.
Sunday 10a.m. - 4p.m.
ALPINE SKI CLUB
17-242 Arrowhead Road, The Blue Mountains
Purchase tickets in advance at ohproductions.ca or at the door.
THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED SPACES FOR Effortless Living
MARINA & KATHERINE
Marina Farrow and Katherine Arcaro are the namesake designers of FAD Inc. For 25 years, they have used their knowledge of how people in Southern Georgian Bay and Muskoka live to consistently deliver a casual, less traditional style that is sophisticated, balanced, functional and that perfectly mirrors their clients’ lifestyles. From luxury ski cabins and breathtaking lakeside residences to enhancing urban lifestyles, their designs reflect ease and elegance. Located in the heart of downtown Collingwood for 18 years, the showroom and the fullservice design studio have recently been reshaped to better assist clients. The space now balances the design side of the business with a showroom that displays furnishings, artwork and lighting.
Their reputation has been built on delivering turnkey projects that fulfill and exceed their clients’ expectations. The larger full-service design-studio team will support clients through development, project-planning and the selection of interior and exterior finishes, then guide them through space planning and furnishing options, including kitchen and bath design. Their clients love this detailed and successful process, which results in wordof-mouth referrals.
RETAIL SPACE
The showroom’s inviting retail space displays the handpicked furnishings and décor that Katherine and Marina know are tailored to life in Southern Georgian Bay. Comfortable pieces with alluring scale and configuration options can be touched and tested. A gallery of fabric samples can start a project’s mood board with guidance from the design team. The collection complements the design directive of Marina and Katherine, that your space should be reflective of the life you’re living. OH
DOT PATTERNS BREAK THE REFLECTIVITY OF THE GLASS SO BIRDS CAN SEE IT, AND DON’T FLY INTO IT.
STORY
ANDREW HIND ILLUSTRATION SHEILA BRITTON
Reflecting on the topic of
BIRD-FRIENDLY WINDOWS
Every year millions of migratory birds die in collisions with windows, representing one of the leading causes of death among migrating avian species.
Birds can’t see glass. Instead, they see whatever happens to be reflected in its mirror-like surface. Often, this is open sky or trees –an extension of their environment – so rather than altering course, they keep flying straight ahead, oblivious to the danger until they crash into the window, often with deadly results.
Additionally, birds might be attracted to interior lighting, or even plants, and strike a window while flying toward the light or object.
Flap Canada and the American Bird Conservancy estimate as many as a billion birds die in window collisions across North America annually. The loss of so many birds is a tragedy. Birds play a critical role in ecosystems and economies around the world through pollination, controlling pests, enriching the soil, and other vital functions. Their contribution to the natural order is immense.
Window manufacturers are taking heed and stepping up to address the problem by creating bird-safe window options.
“Bird safe isn't new but continues to gain traction year over year,“ says Adam Mitchell, marketing manager at Collingwood architectural glass manufacturer AGNORA. “Toronto and New York City paved the way with bird-friendly glazing. There’s a fairly wide variety of bird-friendly glass solutions. They differ in cost, size, and visual considerations, but all these products are designed to effectively deter birds.”
Adam says there are, broadly, three main types of core birdfriendly glass available.
1. UV-COATED PATTERNS
These windows have an ultraviolet coating. The coating is invisible to humans, but visible to birds, as they can see into the ultraviolet spectrum. Benefit: The lowest visual impact on the dwelling. Drawback: High cost. Maximum Size: 102 by 144 inches.
2. PRINTED OR LAMINATED DOT PATTERNS/VISUAL PATTERNS
These windows are covered with two-by-two-inch or fourby-four-inch dots or designs, breaking the reflectivity of the glass so birds don’t fly into it. Benefit: A cost-effective option. Drawback: Visible to humans as well as birds. Maximum Size: 130 by 300 inches.
3. ACID ETCH DOT PATTERNS/ VISUAL PATTERNS
Similar to above, except that the dots or patterns are etched into the glass rather than printed or laminated onto the surface. Benefit: Also cost effective. Drawback: Visible to humans. Maximum Size: 96 by 130 inches.
This past spring, Ontario NDP MPP Chris Glover (Spadina-Fort York) announced legislation (The Bird-Safe Windows Act, 2023) that would protect migratory birds by implementing bird-safe measures into Ontario’s building code, noting: “As we continue growing as a province, we need to ensure it is innovative and sustainable – bird-safe building legislation is long overdue in Ontario.”
Currently, all new low-rise residential, mixed-use low-rise, institutional and public buildings in Toronto require birdfriendly glass.
The legislation would extend this mandate province-wide. It would not impact single-family homes; whether a homeowner elects to use bird-friendly windows would remain entirely their choice.
The bill, should it pass, will impact cost of construction on new builds and renovations. How much?
“Depending on the bird-friendly product used or specified, the price can vary. A safe estimate would be 30 to 100 per cent higher than standard glass,” explains Gin Benner, project manager at AGNORA. “However, as an industry, this is actively being worked on to have more affordable offerings for our feathered friends and prices will likely decrease in time.”
But, as Adam points out, there are ways to mitigate costs. “The goal is to ‘break’ the reflectivity of glass in fly-through zones, essentially the areas where birds live and nest,” he explains. “For that reason, the need to employ bird-friendly glazing above a certain height becomes unnecessary.”
In addition, there are tangible benefits to these windows beyond the knowledge that we are preserving biodiversity. Bird-friendly solutions can be combined with high-performance coatings to provide thermal insulation and solar control properties to the glazing, thereby reducing cooling and heating costs.
Bird-friendly windows play a vital role in the preservation of valuable bird species, and by extension the preservation of our threatened ecosystems. As a result, their use is destined to only grow in the years ahead. OH
ADVICE FOR HOMEOWNERS
What can you do?
One would think that most bird collisions are with high-rise buildings, but studies suggest that a great many happen with residential homes and low-rise commercial buildings. So, there is an opportunity for homeowners to play a role in reducing bird mortality.
Even if you are not switching out the windows on your home anytime soon, there are still some steps you can take to ensure that your windows don’t pose a threat to flying birds. These include:
1. Place bird feeders either close (1.5 feet or less) to your windows – it will make birds slow down as they approach – or well away from the home.
2. Keep curtains or shades drawn during the day to reduce reflection.
3. Move houseplants back from your windows, as they may attract birds.
4. Install a screen or net a few inches outside of your windows, to lessen the impact.
BAYSIDE WELLNESS
Bayside Wellness has officially arrived in Clarksburg, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring a full spectrum of health and wellness services right to your doorstep! As a satellite clinic of the renowned Collingwood location, we’re bringing the same trusted care to the community, but with a fresh, vibrant vibe all our own.
Located in the heart of Clarksburg, Bayside Wellness is your local hub for everything from chiropractic and physiotherapy to acupuncture, massage therapy, reflexology, and fascial stretch therapy. We're here to make paramedical care easily accessible to everyone in the Blue Mountains.
But that’s not all – Bayside Rejuvenate is our exciting new addition, offering the latest in medical aesthetics! Think injectables and fillers, facials and peels, microneedling and PRP, and IV therapy – each designed to empower you to feel your best, inside and out. We also offer innovative beauty treatments like powder brows, lash lifts, and inkless tattooing to seamlessly camouflage scars and stretch marks, helping you embrace your confidence.
To complete the experience, we provide professional counseling services with registered psychotherapists, specializing in anxiety treatment, for full mind-body wellness.
We’re thrilled to bring Clarksburg a one-stop shop for all your wellness needs, right down the street from you! Book online anytime at baysidewellness.ca 185 Marsh St, Clarksburg 705.302.0112
(Please see ad on pg 103)
LOOKING FOR A TRUSTED PARTNER
TO ELEVATE YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE OR REMODEL YOUR HOME?
UC Contracting is your go-to for high-end deck designs, custom exteriors, and top-tier home renovations. As a family-owned company that has been servicing the Southern Georgian Bay area for over 15 years, we pride ourselves on delivering stunning outdoor living areas. From expansive decks to elegant patios, we will transform your backyard into a private retreat.
Whether you're dreaming of a sleek, modern deck for entertaining, or a rustic outdoor escape, we bring your vision to life using premium materials and expert design. We also offer custom exterior renovations, enhancing your home’s curb appeal with everything from elegant stonework to contemporary siding solutions.
UC Contracting’s luxury craftsmanship doesn’t end there! Our team excels in creating custom renovations that reflect your unique style. From kitchen remodels to complete home makeovers, our focus on quality and details sets us apart.
At UC Contracting, we believe in transparent communication, unparalleled workmanship, and delivering projects that will stand the test of time. Trust us to transform your home into a true masterpiece – inside and out.
705.606.2771
urbanconceptscontracting@ outlook.com
(Please see ad on pg 93)
PARTII DESIGN
A small interior design firm where creativity meets passion. Cousins first, and business partners second, Justine and Sydney spent many years dreaming of the day they would start their business together. Driven by a shared vision, they took a leap of faith in 2022 and turned their lifelong love for design into a business that transforms spaces into beautiful, personalized little havens.
Our close-knit community has played a vital role in their journey, providing constant support and encouragement as they craft their brand. They believe that great design is rooted in collaboration, and pride themselves on being attentive listeners, working closely with their clients to truly understand their needs and preferences.
Whether you’re looking at refreshing a single room or undertaking a full home renovation, their goal is to create spaces that not only look stunning but also enhance your everyday life. From concept to completion, they are attentive to every aspect of your project, creating beautiful, functional environments that inspire. They bring their unique perspectives and innovative ideas to every project. Currently working in Collingwood, Thornbury and Meaford areas.
Call today to book your consult 416.998.7218 partiidesign.ca (Please see ad on pg 36)
SAUBLE COTTAGE RENTALS
Sauble Cottage Rentals has been providing quality vacation cottages throughout Sauble Beach since 2010. Our cottages are privately owned and provide comfort and style for your family/ friends to enjoy while creating lifetime memories.
Lakes, rivers, waterfalls and beaches...there are many to explore nearby. The 11km long Sauble Beach is a short stroll from all our cottages. Some of our cottages are less than a five-minute walk to the sand and the sun setting into Lake Huron. When the day is done, kick back, relax and enjoy your private backyard, the star-filled sky and a campfire.
Sauble offers many activities for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Hike/bike the nearby trails or paddle your way up the Sauble River. Downtown has many shops to browse and great patios for a delicious meal.
Explore The Bruce Peninsula! Tobermory is a 1.25 hr drive with many communities close by to explore. Take in a stock car race, shoot a round of golf or play some pickleball when not on the beach!
Leah and Mitch are always available to assist you and can be found daily at Unique Pieces on Main Street in Sauble Beach. Follow Sauble Cottage Rentals on Facebook/Instagram and visit our website at rentsaublecottages.com (Please see ad on pg 137 )
Create a warm welcome with outdoor lighting.
ELECTRICAL
RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL
MILLENNIUM WINDOW CLEANING
Millennium Window Cleaning is a new business, which is 100% locally owned by Jackson Elliott, Ben Macdonald, and Adam Turmaine. At Millennium Window Cleaning, we care about quality and customer satisfaction above all else. That’s why we provide a very thorough window cleaning service. Cleaning the glass, frames, sills, tracks, screens, opening mechanisms and locks. No corners cut! We believe our meticulous cleaning and attention to detail is the reason for our 100% customer satisfaction rate. We won’t leave until you’re satisfied!
We also offer a range of other cleaning services alongside interior and exterior window cleaning. These include eavestrough emptying/debris removal, exterior eavestrough cleaning, gutter guard installation, pressure washing, deck and wood cleaning, construction window cleans, and full exterior cleans. We also offer deck staining during the summer months!
We believe that in a time and in an area where demand continuously outweighs supply and where companies’ word means increasingly little, we separate ourselves from the other trades by bringing the utmost level of integrity, punctuality, and positivity to our clients. If you would like to book in for any of our services, please give Ben Macdonald a call/text at 519.379.3794 or send an email to ben@ millenniumwindowcleaning.com (Please see ad on pg 107)
DOVETAIL INTERIORS DESIGN
Thinking of making an interior design change to your home? Have the functional needs of your family changed? Does your space need a refresh or a complete reimagining? Can’t find the furniture or finishing touches you’re looking for or maybe you’re not even sure where to start? At Dovetail Interiors Design, we can help, and we can make it fun and easy because we love what we do and it shows.
Dovetail Interiors Design owner, Tricia Jeffery, has been a fixture in the South Georgian Bay interiors and retail community for over 35 years. With previous home design stores in Creemore, Stayner, Nottawa – she has now opened a New Design Studio in beautiful downtown Collingwood.
Specializing in everything interiors, such as bedding, window treatments, lighting, fixtures, sofas and sectionals, dining room furniture, bedroom furniture, custom furniture, textiles, carpets, flooring, tile and more – we’ll help you create spaces you’ll love, on time and on budget.
Dovetail Interiors Design is also happy to provide new and existing clients with personal shopping services, design consultation, and full-service interior or exterior transformations for their homes or vacation properties. Plus, with so many repeat clients, we’re proud to say we design relationships for life!
Book a consultation today, or for a more tactile experience, visit our design studio to review samples and style options for your next project. We look forward to seeing you soon!
222 Ste Marie St, Collingwood 705.445.0660 | dovetailinteriors.ca
(Please see ad on pg 49)
GEORGIAN BAY DENTAL HYGIENE
Georgian Bay Dental Hygiene is an independent dental hygiene company aiming to provide and increase access to dental care. Cheryl Hildebrandt is a registered dental hygienist with 30 years of experience delivering individualized dental hygiene health.
Dental hygiene treatment plays a major role in reducing oral inflammation. If your tissue is inflamed and left untreated, it can potentially affect your overall health. As oral health educators, we provide patients with the knowledge and tools necessary to make healthier choices to achieve optimal health and maintain good oral health goals. Our assessments provide the clinical information required to establish what is essential, for a long-term understanding of your oral health.
We refer to dental, submit insurance claims and accept Canadian dental care programs.
At Georgian Bay Dental Hygiene, we continue to maintain infection control guidelines for the protection and safety of all our patients. Book your appointment today, by email to georgianbaydentalhygiene@ gmail.com, call or text us at 705.794.2678. We are conveniently located at 186 Hurontario St, Suite 203, Collingwood georgianbaydentalhygiene.com (Please see ad on pg 165)
SURGICALLY CLEAN AIR
The JADE 2.0 Air Purifier is the perfect solution for homeowners looking to improve their indoor air quality and create a healthier living environment. Whether it's dealing with seasonal allergies, reducing household odours, or mitigating the effects of pollutants, the JADE 2.0 provides powerful air purification to keep your home fresh and safe.
It uses advanced filtration technology, including a HEPA-Rx filter, activated carbon, and UV-C light to capture and neutralize airborne particles such as dust, pet dander, bacteria, and viruses.
Ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, and other high-traffic areas, this sleek, energy-efficient purifier operates quietly, making it unobtrusive yet effective. The JADE 2.0 improves air quality and contributes to your family’s overall well-being by reducing allergens and irritants that can exacerbate respiratory issues. With its modern design and compact footprint, it blends seamlessly into any home décor while delivering exceptional performance.
Experience the difference of cleaner, healthier air with the JADE 2.0 – because your home deserves the best. For sales inquiries, contact Bruce Eaton bruce@surgicallycleanair.com Direct: 416.602.9615 (Please see ad on pg 133)
COLLECTIVE HOUSE DESIGN INC
Collective House Design Inc. is led by the talented duo, Kate and Ange, whose full-service interior design firm specializes in new builds and large renovations.
When considering a renovation or build, a designer's role cannot be overstated. Hiring a designer early in the process will ensure your home reflects your personality and how you live in your space. Collective House Design Inc. works with builders and architects to ensure a curated space that reflects the needs and wants of their clients. With over 11 years of combined experience, Kate and Ange offer creative, one-of-a-kind design solutions.
Both Kate and Ange grew up in Owen Sound and have a deep connection to the area. Collective House Design Inc. proudly works with clients in Blue Mountains, Greater Toronto Area and Grey Bruce. Collective House Design Inc.’s comprehensive services include 3D renderings, design management, custom furniture design and custom window treatments.
We look forward to meeting you and hearing about your projects. Let us help you create a space you will never want to leave!
Visit us on Instagram!
collectivehousedesign.com (Please see ad on pg 105)
DURHAM FURNITURE
Since 1899, Durham Furniture has been manufacturing solid wood bedroom and occasional pieces. A lot has changed in 125 years, but the desire for madein-Canada quality furniture that will last a lifetime has not.
Our greatest asset has always been our people and their commitment to the finest craftsmanship techniques. Mortise and tenon joinery, English dovetail drawer construction, and multi-step finishes. In recent years, we have also added undermount soft close drawer guides to all of our case pieces and provided greater flexibility in finishes and hardware.
When you see a piece of Durham, we want you to see the natural characteristics found in solid wood, and when you touch a piece of Durham, we want you to feel the quality of our design, construction, and finishes.
All of our products are available through a network of retailers in Ontario that can help you find the best Durham bedroom and occasional furniture for your home.
To explore our collections or create your own piece of Durham Furniture using our 3D configuration tool, visit durhamfurniture.com.
Durham is a Silver member of the Sustainable Furniture Council and meets all of the standards set by Health Canada and the Consumer Product Safety Program. durhamfurniture.com
(Please see ad on pg 18)
HAPPY
25TH
ANNIVERSARY
HARMONY NORTH CHORUS – LOVE TO SING? SINGERS WANTED!
Join our new Director, Seilna Ree, for four free sessions focused on learning the art of singing four-part barbershop harmony. Our Harmony North Chorus, a vibrant chapter of Sweet Adelines International, is celebrating 25 years of sending harmony in waves along the shores of Georgian Bay. Become part of a welcoming group of women with a shared passion for performing together. Our practices are held at the Collingwood Leisure Centre, 100 Minnesota Street, Collingwood on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. "Come for the singing. Stay for the friendship!"
Let us entertain you! Our annual "Holidays in Harmony" 25th Anniversary Christmas Concert will be held at 7:00 pm on November 27 in Collingwood's First Baptist Church, 160 Pine Street. Our annual "Spring Fling Fashion Show" featuring local retailers will hit the runway on April 30, 2025.
Are you hosting a private or corporate function? Our singers can bring harmony to any event: Light up the holiday season with caroling, send a singing Valentine, or bubbling birthday wishes to someone you love.
Visit our website: harmonynorth.com
Contact: Sue Boehm
sue.boehm1@bell.net
705.445.6218
(Please see ad on pg 103)
RED APPLE ELECTRIC
At the core of Red Apple Electric is owner Heather McIlwee’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality workmanship. A thirdgeneration Master Electrician, Heather established her business in 2017, and since then, she has proudly served the Southern Georgian Bay and Meaford areas with reliable, high-quality electrical service. With over 20 years of hands-on experience in the electrical trade, combined with a degree in Sculpture and Installation from the Ontario College of Art and Design, Heather’s work seamlessly merges technical expertise with an eye for design and aesthetics.
Red Apple Electric specializes in both residential and commercial electrical work, excelling in custom renovations, additions, and maintenance projects. Whether you're installing a hot tub, pool, or EV charger, or upgrading to smart home controls and modern lighting, Heather brings precision and attention to detail to every project. Red Apple Electric also handles new services and panel upgrades, ensuring your electrical systems are safe and efficient.
No job is too small, and no detail is too minute for Red Apple Electric. For dependable, high-quality electrical work that you can trust, contact Heather today at 705.716.3738 or via email at redappleelectric@gmail.com Stay connected by following Red Apple Electric on Facebook!
ECRA/ESA #7012230
(Please see ad on pg 69)
MODERN FAMILY
Nature, as they say, never ceases to amaze, and is full of surprises. Take a commonplace species – the Canada Goose for instance – and think, what could be intriguing about it? They appear to do nothing more than graze on golf courses, park lawns or your lawn, and otherwise just loaf on lakes or in fields. However, I recently had a chance to look deeper into the everyday lives of a pair of Canadas, and discovered all was not as humdrum as you might think.
THE CANADA GOOSE
Canada Geese, as we all know, are our most familiar and abundant waterfowl, found virtually everywhere across Ontario. Their numbers have proliferated in sync with the proliferation of big, lush lawns, grassy golf courses and pastoral public parks, which provide them with the perfect combination of both their favourite food and openness, which offers predator protection. These human-made habitats are so suitable that in some areas, the geese stay year-round instead of migrating as nature intended. Canada Geese are known to mate for life. Goslings stay with their parents throughout their first year. Come fall, families group together socially at reliable food sources. Nice, but nothing too glamourous here.
THE SNOW GOOSE
The Snow Goose is another abundant, though lesser-known goose species. These hardy geese breed above the tree line in the Canadian Arctic and migrate in a blizzard of whiteness by the thousands through eastern Ontario in autumn to southern wintering destinations. But each year, if you are looking, you’re bound
to notice a handsome pure white goose with black wing tips mixed in with a flock of Canadas. Although Snows and Canadas don’t migrate together and tend to not associate where their breeding grounds overlap, a few stray Snows inevitably end up off-course and will then accept Canadian company until they get back on track.
A GAGGLE OF GEESE
So, this brings us to a day last fall when friends alerted me to sightings of a greyishwhite goose at our local waterfront park. I found it easily in the lake and waddling onshore to nibble on the park grass. Its colouration was not the snowy white of an adult Snow Goose, but rather, its white feathering was mixed with greys. This plumage aged it as a young, first-year Snow Goose, hatched somewhere in the arctic in the spring.
Its location made for an easy study, particularly as it was on our daily walking route. Interestingly, after a few days’ observation it became apparent that the Snow was exclusively associating with two Canada Geese. They were a gaggle! Well, not exactly a gaggle, but a definite threesome.
They stuck together, despite the presence of other Canadas in the park. They didn’t mingle. They maintained a tight unit together while foraging on land or in the water. They interacted as a typical Canada Goose family unit, swimming or on land with the juvie Snow always between the two adult Canadas in goose-family protective style.
As other Canadas flew in, fed and flew out of the park on a regular basis, I was expecting the trio to disappear with them at some point soon; geese being very sociable in the fall and October being their prime migration time. But they didn’t. In fact, after watching this interaction several times, it became clear that the trio would actually slowly separate themselves from any group that landed around them, and then keep at a distance, away from the others.
STORY LYNNE RICHARDSON
PHOTO:
NIBBLING ON NIBLETS
The three geese had quite an affinity to the park. Still-green grass was abundant, and the weather was unseasonably mild. They were there every day through October and November. However, one stormy, wintry December morning I looked out my window and found the trio seeking shelter from the storm on the shoreline in front of my place. Resisting my usual rule to not interfere with nature, I went to the freezer and found a bag of Green Giant corn niblets, spreading them on the beach. It was not long before the birds found the niblets, devouring them with great geese gusto. They returned the next day, then continued to show up over the next week. As the niblets ran out, a bag of feed-corn was purchased, (justified so that I could continue this “behavioural research study,” of course)! The Canadas took to it the first time I replaced the soft niblets with this hard corn, but the Snow picked up kernels and actually spit them out! Ptooey! It took him/her a few days to acquire a taste for these harder kernels.
GROUNDED
Again, after a few days’ observation, I realized the Canadas appeared daily at the corn by paddling, not flying, from the park. The young Snow would often be alone on the beach first thing in the morning and despite fresh corn being spread out, it would not start to forage. Instead, it would take to the air, fly towards the park, return, only to fly off again. After several such flights, the two Canadas would come paddling in. It seemed
that the Snow had to keep connected to the Canadas and check on their progress as they paddled along. Or maybe encourage them to hurry it up?
It was interesting that I never observed the Canadas in flight. They simply paddled from the park. Why not fly, I pondered. A bit of research suggested a late moult, which renders geese flightless for a bit of time, but this flightlessness was now well into winter. Unexplained behaviour indeed.
After a week or two of this pelagic paddling commute, the three geese relocated. They would be walking on my beachfront expectantly, in the dark before dawn, waiting for corn to appear. After breakfast, they would rest and preen on the groynes, forage a bit in the shoreline shallows, or paddle around out on the lake, always returning for their four o’clock feeding.
FOSTER FAMILY
By now I was convinced, based on these observations of their tight bond, and a little research, that the trio was a family group. Adoption of unrelated and extra-species offspring is known to occur in geese. Canada Geese have strong pair-bonds and both male and female are highly attentive parents. This makes for good qualifications for being adoptive parents.
However, with geese it’s been shown that adoption usually occurs when the geese have a gosling brood of their own, which is relatively same-aged as the orphaned adoptee. It seems one more isn’t noticed. But this particular adoption by
an adult pair with no existing brood didn’t follow this norm. What accident of nature separated the Snow from its biological parents? How did it happen that a broodless pair of Canadas accepted it? What instinct was at play here? Trying to discover clues to this strange circumstance kept the corn coming…
FLY, FLY AWAY
Whatever brought these three together, they were a bonded modern family through October, November and December. In January however, the Snow began taking frequent short flights away from the Canadas. As days passed, the flights away became longer. Research noted that such flights are indicative of “migratory restlessness.” However, despite the Snow’s restlessness, the Canadas remained firmly flightless.
But inevitably, sometime after their morning corn in mid-January, the geese weren’t loafing about throughout the day. They didn’t paddle up for their four o’clock dinner and the next day no geese were staring up expectantly in the early dawn. It seems the Canadas had finally given into the Snow’s urge to move on.
They left me wondering. Geese return to the same migratory stopover year after year. Has their prolonged stay on Georgian Bay imprinted this location on them for future stopovers? Will I look out one morning next spring or fall to see my Snow Goose, transformed in sparkling white adult plumage, staring up from the shoreline in hopes of another gourmet meal of those soft corn niblets? OH
PHOTO: CORNELL
A+
This quaint little SCHOOLHOUSE SITS IN A PASTORAL SETTING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OF REDWING.
Established in 1873, this building is rich in memories from long ago. Today, it is the beautifully renovated home of Bret Williams and Julian Lo.
Born and raised in Thornbury, Bret spent most of her career as a product designer in Toronto. She envisioned one day leaving the busy city, returning to her roots, and residing in the peaceful countryside.
After establishing Huey Lightshop, and as the Canadian-made company grew, Bret saw the opportunity to relocate her business and move back to Southern Georgian Bay. The area offered Huey Lightshop partnerships with many local artisans, and the chance for Julian and Bret to find their perfect home in the country.
“We wanted something unique, with historical elements, and I loved the idea of an old schoolhouse,” says Bret.
Once the schoolhouse was listed, they acted quickly to make an offer. The quaint wooden building sat on half an acre, surrounded by 99.5 acres of neighbouring farmland, and a ten-minute drive to the bay.
The board-and-batten-clad Collingwood SS-12 schoolhouse was built in 1873. It is surrounded by open fields and views that Bret and Julian enjoy from the front or rear decks. When the schoolhouse was listed for sale, Bret and Julian were assisted by Maddie and Doug Gillis of Re/Max Four Seasons Realty Ltd. in securing the property.
Julian and Bret admired the authentic details of the building, inclulding the exposed wooden beams in the architectural design and the original schoolhouse ceiling lights.
“We love how the old desk and chair marks are still on the original hardwood floors,” says Bret.
“One of our favourite features is the panoramic view of the rural surroundings,” adds Julian.
The home had good bones but deserved a fresh makeover to suit the couple’s tastes. The two main transformations included gutting and renovating the upper level, and a tasteful kitchen remodel.
“A majority of the furniture and features in the home are vintage, or were designed to look like it,” explains Bret. Working as her own designer, what she couldn’t source by searching the internet or antique markets, Bret designed herself and built with the help of local craftspeople.
A.J. Carter of Kasten Co. supplied wooden cabinetry in the kitchen, custom-made to hide all the appliances. Bret loves how guests are surprised to find the refrigerator hidden behind a cabinet, or builtin dishwasher drawers tucked away from sight.
LEFT: Details including wooden beams, original hardwood floors and schoolhouse pendant lighting captured Bret and Julian’s imagination when they first saw the home. Historical barn beams frame the doorway to the large addition where the drums are surrounded by windows on three sides, capturing idyllic landscape views.
BELOW: A limestone wall adds another element of history to the home and was installed by The Stone and Plaster Company.
Bret Williams and Julian Lo
“OUR GOAL WITH THE KITCHEN REMODEL WAS TO MAKE EVERYTHING FEEL LIKE IT BELONGED TO THE ORIGINAL SCHOOLHOUSE.” ~BRET WILLIAMS
AJ Carter of Kasten Co. supplied the cabinetry in the kitchen, which was inspired by an English country home. The walnut cabinets conceal modern appliances sourced through Macdonald’s Brandsource. The upper glass fronted cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore Seaside Sand. Tulip sconces on the limestone wall are from Huey Lightshop while the tile backsplash over the ILVE range was sourced through Clé Tile and installed by Marwil Tiles Ltd.
Bret designed the wooden island to blend with the old-fashioned kitchen, and selected marble countertops with an ogeeedge profile for an elegant touch. Certain features appear to be original but were added as part of the renovation, such as the limestone wall, installed by The Stone + Plaster Company, and the handcrafted artisan tiles on the kitchen backsplash from Clé Tile. The stove, sourced from Italy, was chosen for antique details like brass knobs, complementing the brass tulip sconces from Huey Lightshop.
“Our goal with the kitchen remodel was to make everything feel like it belonged to the original schoolhouse,” says Bret.
The downstairs bathroom was redecorated with dark limewash paint for a moody feel. A gorgeous limestone handwash basin is an antique from Turkey, installed within a vintage vanity from Prize Home + Garden. Continued on page 156
BELOW: Oversize linen chairs sit in the warmth of the sun through a bank of windows and in cooler weather, the heat from the wood stove. TOP RIGHT: The cast-iron wood stove offers supplementary heat and ambience. The curated artwork and objects add visual interest. BOTTOM RIGHT: An art nouveau-style chair sits below artwork by Daniel Markworth. OPPOSITE, TOP: A work bench serves as a sideboard in the dining area of the main level. Handcrafted dining chairs were sourced at the Round Top Antiques Show. BOTTOM LEFT: An African birthing chair sits under the stairs to the upper level, demonstrating the diversity of the furnishings and décor that fills Bret and Julian’s home. BOTTOM MIDDLE: An original Frank Lloyd Wright light was discovered by Bret in Japan. BOTTOM RIGHT: The beams and floorboards of the upper-level shelter the dining area while an Amber Lewis x Loloi rug adds colour and comfort underfoot. The ruched fabric chandelier was a vintage find.
The open-concept layout of the lower level makes the home feel comfortable and spacious. A cast iron stove heats the home in the cooler months and offers a relaxing place to lounge by the fire.
Behind an artistic floor divider, a cosy nook area offers a place to unwind. You’ll find the television hidden behind an eye-catching red media unit, designed by Bret to add a pop of colour.
An expansive addition offers endless spatial possibilities for Bret and Julian: they love the french doors and quirky details such as the trap door leading to the basement.
Continued on page 158
Brass backplates and turn knobs for light switches add to the historical vibe of the home.
LEFT: A bench in the front foyer sits next to a floor lamp that was left by the previous homeowner. A school bell is a nod to the home’s past. ABOVE & BELOW: The limewash paint in the downstairs bathroom and the limestone basin from Prize Home + Garden give the room a sultry atmosphere. The door was sourced through Desboro Doors.
ABOVE: A rattan rug serves as the footprint in the cosy corner for watching TV. A rustic table displays books and sentimental objects. TOP RIGHT: By the front door, a large armoire becomes the closet, with space for hanging coats and drawers for hats, scarfs and gloves. BOTTOM RIGHT: Resembling a piece of art, the red doors of the media unit conceal the TV. The console below offers extra storage.
The hinged panels of the media unit fold back to reveal the TV.
In the primary bedroom, Bret added an unexpected small window with a cabinet style door.
The couple decided to completely remodel the upper level, which was added as a renovation by the first homeowners. Arched doorways provide a distinctive aesthetic leading into each room. Bret designed built-in cabinets to utilize the knee walls in the guest bedroom. White oak closets were integrated into the walls of the master bedroom to save space.
The main walls were given a fresh coat of warm white Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee to pair with the neutral wood tones. You’ll notice several unique lighting fixtures throughout the home, such as the Tudor Sconces in the upstairs hallway from Huey Lightshop, made in-house in Thornbury. Others, such as the ruched fabric chandelier above the dining table, are one-of-a-kind finds.
LEFT: The hallway on the upper level has lighting by Huey Lightshop. The arched doorways are a distinctive design addition with the doors made by Desboro Doors. BOTTOM LEFT: A balcony space to each side of the upper level provides more storage in the form of an armoire. A bench sits beneath a round interior window. Trim was installed by Dan Schultz.
TOP LEFT & RIGHT: The headboard in the primary bedroom was designed by Bret as were the cabinets that capture the space under the slope of the roof. LEFT & RIGHT: A classic ticking stripe was used for the headboard and bed skirt in the guest bedroom. Storage lines the wall under the slope of the roof and was designed by Bret. Walls throughout the home are painted Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore. The round window brings additional light into the room.
“New paint and lighting fixtures are simple upgrades to a home. They can transform the look of a space,” says Bret.
Julian and Bret love the location of their home. It is peaceful and secluded, yet just a short drive to Thornbury and the ski resort.
“I love the solitude of the area, the open spaces and amazing roads to ride my motorcycle,” says Julian.
Bret says there is something nostalgic about returning to Thornbury and Clarksburg. She loves meeting new friends, and creative artisans, and getting to experience her hometown with her husband. OH
OUR HOMES attracts the area’s finest businesses to advertise in our pages, and utilize our unparalleled distribution and coffee-table appeal to market their products and services. We’re making it easier for you, our readers, to become educated as you plan your home- and real estaterelated purchasing decisions. View these business ads online at ourhomes.ca. The listings below are organized alphabetically by industry.
FURNITURE & HOME DÉCOR/ ACCENTS/GIFTS/COLLECTIBLES
Aspen & Ivey, by Catherine Staples Interiors, 29
C & G Solid Wood Furniture, 71
Chatterson’s Furniture & Appliances, 5
Clerkson’s Home Store, 95
Dovetail Interiors Design Inc., 49, 142
Durham Furniture, 18, 144
FAD Inc. (Farrow Arcaro Design), 25
Grey Bruce Design Studio, 111
Handstone Furniture, 10
Hunson Homes, 45
JAM, 49
JS Design House, 93
Katherine’s Château, 85
Kettlewells, 105
Lagom Design Shop, 47
Le Pooch Boutique, 69
Loved You Madly, 139
Macdonald’s Brandsource, 65
Maggie + Dix, 93
Marigolden, 49
The Chesterfield Shop, 14
Two Crows, 45
Van Allan Design Centre, 85
GARDEN CENTRES/GREENHOUSES/ NURSERIES
Maxwell Garden Center, 159
Riverside Greenhouses, 103
GEOTHERMAL
Sandy Hamilton Plumbing & Heating, 109
GLASS/MIRROR & DESIGN/GLASS WALLS
North Shore Ltd., 7
HEATING & COOLING
Sandy Hamilton Plumbing & Heating, 109
OUR HOMES is committed to ensuring the businesses below appear under the correct headings. To make a correction, or to have your business listed under more than one heading, please email simone.steriorisk@ourhomes.ca. To have your business listed in our Home Resource Directory, call us to advertise at 705.888.1959.
Dominion Doors & Windows Ltd., 38&39, 89 Knights’ Home Building Centre, 169
Marvin Windows & Doors Canada, 11
North Shore Ltd., 7
WOOD REFINISHING/RESTORATION
Johnson Log Home Restorations, 143
cooking at home
INGREDIENTS
Gingerbread BAKED OATMEAL
THIS GINGERBREAD BAKED OATMEAL IS THE PERFECT BREAKFAST FOR COLD WINTER MORNINGS. WARM SPICES LIKE CINNAMON, GINGER AND NUTMEG INFUSE EVERY BITE WITH COMFORTING HOLIDAY FLAVOURS, WHILE THE OATMEAL BAKES INTO A SOFT, CHEWY TEXTURE. TOP WITH A DRIZZLE OF MAPLE SYRUP OR WHIPPED CREAM FOR EXTRA INDULGENCE.
3 cups rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp salt
1 ¾ cups milk (or non-dairy milk)
3 Tbsp molasses
2 large eggs
¼ cup melted butter (or coconut oil)
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
Maple syrup or whipped cream for serving (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350°F and grease an 8 by 8-inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except pecans.
Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with chopped pecans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the oatmeal is set.
Allow the baked oatmeal to cool for a few minutes before slicing. Serve warm with a drizzle of maple syrup or whipped cream, if desired. OH
RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPHY JENELLE MCCULLOCH
At home with SIMONE ARDIEL
Simone Ardiel’s passion for winemaking comes naturally. Simone grew up on the family’s apple farm in Clarksburg. Ardiels have been growing fruit at Apple Springs Orchards for four generations. Her parents Shane and Gail, along with brother Kyle, are devoted to growing and improving the apple harvest year after year. Simone also has two sisters, Brittany and Sydney. The family homestead is a gathering place for the entire family in every season and it holds a very special place in Simone’s heart. After graduating from the winemaking and viticulture program at Niagara College in 2011, Simone travelled the world, perfecting the art of winemaking with extended stays in Australia, New Zealand, France and the U.S. state of Oregon. She also spent three years in B.C.’s Okanagan, working for Meyer Family Vineyards before returning to Ontario and settling in the Niagara region where she met husband Craig Wismer, who manages vineyards in Ontario’s wine country. They have a baby girl named after Simone’s distinguished late grandfather, veterinarian Blair Ardiel. Simone has created wines for many vineyards and currently, while still on maternity leave, works as a consultant for Brunch Beverages, makers of low-alcohol wine and cider. OUR HOMES met with Simone on the family farm in Clarksburg, where she visits often.
OUR HOMES: Tell us about growing up on your family’s apple farm in Southern Georgian Bay.
Simone Ardiel: My parents' apple farm was home to me and my three siblings as a child. We were always outside building forts, climbing apple trees, playing in the pond or swimming in Georgian Bay. We also helped around the farm, picking up grounder apples, cleaning up the odd bin that spilled or bailing hay. Every year my parents and their friends got together to make fruit wines. All of us helped with crushing, pressing, cleaning, and, of course, tastetesting the fresh juice!
OH: How did this experience shape your decision to become a winemaker?
SA: I decided to pursue a degree in viticulture and oenology, as it would allow me to combine my love for agriculture with the art of winemaking. I was excited about the prospect of learning how to cultivate grapevines and produce high-quality wines. As I delved deeper into my studies, I quickly realized that winemaking was not as simple as I had initially thought. It required a deep understanding of the science behind the process, from soil composition to grape varietals and fermentation techniques. I soon realized that making a superior product was a complex and intricate endeavour. The more I learned, the more I realized the immense dedication and hard work that went into producing exceptional wines. It was no longer just about surpassing my parents' homemade concoctions; it was about honing my skills and contributing to an industry that I had grown to love. Looking back on my time at the farm, I am grateful for not only the love and respect I had for the land but also the hard work and knowledge it instilled in me. It laid the foundation for my journey
into viticulture and oenology, and it continues to inspire me to strive for excellence in every aspect of winemaking.
OH: What is a typical day like for you at Brunch Beverages?
SA: After giving birth to my daughter, I became the consulting wine/cider maker at Brunch Beverages Inc., a women-owned and operated company in Niagara. We produce low-alcohol and low-sugar canned wine spritzers and ciders. There is no real “typical day.” There are different phases throughout the year that are dedicated to a different stage of production. Harvest season starts in September, which marks the beginning of the wine and cider making process. In the new year we are doing blending trials, stabilizing, filtering, and preparing the wine or cider for canning. There is always chemistry and lab work happening throughout the year, along with marketing and a lot of discussion about what our next tasty beverage could be.
OH: Favourite time of year at Brunch Beverages? What makes it so special?
SA: Like most winemakers, harvest is my favourite time of year. Harvest marks the completion of the farming year for everyone in agriculture, and for us, the beginning of the wine and cider making cycle. Grapes and apples are being picked and pressed. We pick mostly Chardonnay and Vidal for our sparkling and wine spritzers. The cider is a blend of a variety of apples. Then its fermentation. There is a lot of hard work to be done, consistently tasting, conducting chemical analysis and making decisions that will ensure we maintain and further develop our house styles.
OH: What wines/ciders are you producing now at Brunch?
SA: We have several different products from our Brunch
Bubbles to a selection of seasonal ciders. There are also two flagship products, our Brunch Mimosa, the first canned mimosa in Canada using 100 per cent Ontario Grapes, and the Brunch Strawberry Cider. For 2025 we are working on a line of premium wine spritzers, which will be available in the LCBO as well as grocery and convenience stores.
OH: How did you meet your husband Craig? How do you spend family time together?
SA: My husband is also in the wine industry. He owns and operates Glen Elgin Vineyard management, which manages and assists numerous award-winning wineries and vineyards. When we met years ago, I was working at a winery that purchased grapes from his family vineyards. We quickly came to learn we had more in common then just wine. We enjoy spending family time on the farms either riding around the properties, foraging, tending to our livestock or in our garden. We also love picking the varieties of fresh fruit that grows on our combined family farms. Our most precious time together as a family is spent further up north at our family cottages, which are located on the other side of Georgian Bay and the Pickerel River.
OH: What keeps you coming back to your family home here in Clarksburg?
SA: We love coming back to my family home in Clarksburg to visit with family and friends over holidays and birthdays. And, if our Niagara harvest schedule allows it, we try to ensure time at my family farm during Thanksgiving to pick fresh apples and take hikes in the beautiful surrounding areas. Of course, we also love to come in the winter to do some skiing and snowboarding.
OH: You’ve travelled all over the world to experience the art
of winemaking. What brought you back to Ontario and why is Southern Georgian Bay such a special place for you?
SA: After spending many years travelling abroad for work, as well as years spent living in the Okanagan, I yearned to return to my family and friends and spend time in some of my favourite locations around Georgian Bay. While grape growing can be done up north near my family farm, I preferred the growing region of Niagara. Georgian Bay will always be a special place for me, it is where I grew up and where I spent my summers boating, swimming, camping or enjoying time at the cottage. Now, it's where I go to relax and unwind.
OH: Favourite family meal?
SA: A fish fry at the cottage, nothing beats freshly caught fish and homemade chips with tartar sauce.
OH: Favourite place to vacation?
SA: I do not necessarily have a favourite place to vacation, but I love to travel to new destinations at every chance. I have vacationed in Southeast Asian countries, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe and I value them all for the differences in culture,
cuisines, traditions and ways of living. My husband and I took a “mini-moon” to both our family cottages after our wedding but have yet to decide on an actual honeymoon location that we are planning for after harvest.
OH: When you’re back visiting, what are your favourite restaurants to dine at?
SA: When choosing a restaurant, I tend to favour those that have VQA Ontario wines on their list to accompany the food being served. A few of my favourite restaurants to dine at while home would be Bruce Wine Bar, Heart’s, Gibson & Company and The Pine. I do have a few newer restaurants in mind for my next trip home. For a latte on the go I like to go to Good Grief Coffee Roasters. And for local produce or a freshly baked pie, Oaklane Orchards or Grandma Lambes are great options.
OH: What are your favourite shops to visit?
SA: Probably my favourite shop would have to be Dags and Willow. I love their selection of cheeses and their dips. I also enjoy exploring local markets like the Thornbury Antique Market and spending time in Clarksburg's art galleries. OH
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