Front Porch Life - Spring/Summer 2023

FRONT PORCH LIFE

Live Better in Westport

WESTPORT: The Hidden Gem

Comestand on a mountaintop and take in the view of two lakes and lush countryside surrounding a vibrant historical village. If you’re ready to simplify and be more connected to nature and others, then the hidden gem of Westport is for you. It’s a place where you’ll come for a visit, fall in love, and stay for a lifetime.

Westport has been discovered, rediscovered, and enjoyed for many generations. There is a gentle ease and sentimental response from people who have lived and vacationed in the Westport area. They know there is no place quite like it.

Connecting to nature is nothing new in Westport. In its early history, the village was a hideaway for the likes of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald. He would travel to Westport by train from Kingston.

The rise and fall of the economic engine of the village was closely tied to the industrial changes in the area. In 1832, the Rideau Canal was completed. It is a strategic 202-km waterway connecting Ottawa to Kingston, built by the British to protect Upper Canada from an American invasion. The Rideau Canal is a Unesco World

Heritage site and allows Westport to welcome visitors by water, securing the village as a beloved tourist area for boaters.

By living in Westport you experience the undisturbed Frontenac Arch Biosphere with its many lakes, abundant wildlife and breathtaking scenery. It is a unique opportunity to live in a place and be a steward of the natural habitats and foster the relationship between people and the environment. Walk to the village waterfront, enjoy Sand Lake Beach, hike Foley Mountain. Immerse yourself in the calm of nature. Page 3>>

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Timeless designs in new homes

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Walkable communities

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Front Porch Stories: Finding peace

Westport Harbour is on the western shore of Upper Rideau Lake. It’s a 1 km walk to Watercolour and a short stroll to shops and restaurants.

In Westport, there is beauty. in every direction and in each season. Summer brings the seasonal cottagers and boaters to the remarkable selection of shops and dining establishments. A farmers market is within walking distance of Watercolour. So is a winery, brewery, bakery, pharmacy and library. In the winter you could say it becomes an undiscovered jewel where live music thrives at the local inn. In every season it is a nature lover’s paradise.

Until the construction of Watercolour, living in the town of Westport was reserved for a fortunate few. Now, the opportunity is there for

you to make Westport your home. When you have a gem like Westport to protect, not just any kind of new home construction will do. At Watercolour, careful land planning preserves and enhances access to natural beauty. Bringing remarkable quality and inviting designs to this treasured village was paramount for Stephen Rolston, owner and co-founder of Land Ark Homes.

People from across Ontario have come to the new homes in Westport to be the first homeowners of Watercolour. They are enjoying the area’s idyllic charm and access to nature. They’re building meaningful relationships in a place

where community and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Residents are joining civic groups, volunteering for local clubs, gathering for walks, and raising their families in a place that brings new opportunities for discovering meaning and purpose.

Enjoy living in a sustainable, Net Zero Ready home where state-of-the-art building science meets the epitome of comfort and luxury. Discover how you can truly live and thrive in this walkable community in the village of Westport.

You deserve to live better in Watercolour Westport.

WALKABLE COMMUNITIES WILL BRING US BACK TO LIFE Find hope and connection in an idyllic place

Car-centriccities can feel like a prison. Living in a place where you can walk will free your soul.

Before the era of car-centric communities, people knew their neighbours. Life was simpler and smaller. Beautiful interactions happened on sidewalks and front porches where people shared news, made plans, and supported each other. A sense of “place” was important. You knew where you were from. You were part of a community of people who were connected to each other.

Obviously, automobiles aren’t all bad. The homes we’re building at Watercolour have garages. Without cars our modern life would be difficult. But the car needs to be put back in its proper place in our lives. A better place to live is in a community fueled by the best of the pre-car era, in the rural roots of an historic 200-year-old agricultural small town.

We’re energized by this vision of a walkable lifestyle. Greater wellness comes when you’re immersed in nature. Walking increases the opportunity to experience wholeness and tranquility. Walking to a serenely calm waterfront can help you feel restored, revived… even relaxed.

We’re building homes that are remarkable in their sustainability and environmental stewardship. It’s a community where nature is treasured and people are nurtured. Watercolour homes are all Net Zero Ready and fossil-fuel free. They’re designed to be powered by solar panels. The homes are walking distance to all your daily shopping and recreational needs. In fact you may not need a car at all as so much is within 1 km of your home.

Westport is a good place to grow. Children can walk to school. You can carry your hockey bag and stick to the rink. A baseball diamond, fishing hole, beach, dock for canoeing and kayaking, a hiking and biking trail, church, community groups, the store for ice cream or groceries… everything is within a short walk.

Imagine a world where you don’t have to drive to a cottage, where you live in a new cottage-style home, where you experience the cottage life year round in a quaint, small town. Westport is a smaller, better, safer place with all the urban amenities of a much larger community.

Imagine a place you feel, maybe for the first time, like you belong. A place where you can live a better life and leave a better legacy.

The greatest thing in life is to know and be known. At Watercolour, you’ll find a community of people to love and to adventure with. You’ll find a place to build a great life.

We hope to see you soon in Westport.

Come for a weekend. Stay for a lifetime.

Stephen Rolston

Stephen Rolston Co-founder, Land Ark Homes

The Harvest Creek Trail winds through Watercolour and adds to the public walking paths open to everyone in Westport.

“Imagine a place you feel, maybe for the first time, like you belong. A place where you can live a better life and leave a better legacy.”

FRONT PORCH STORIES: FINDING PEACE Two couples choose community in Westport

TheMinnellis and the Bumas dig into life. In Westport, they’ve found fertile soil as they put down roots for their next adventures.

Enjoying the outdoors has been an important part of life for both these couples, although it was different paths that led them each to Westport.

Peter and Linda Minnelli love the outdoors. They also love the historic Rideau waterway and have traced its shores from Ottawa through to Kingston. The couple spent a long time looking for their next home after decades living in the city. They were drawn to Watercolour and the nature walkways that connect the homes with the Foley Mountain Conservation Area and nearby lakes. Peter closed out his career with Parks Canada managing a stretch of the Rideau Canal, part of the historic Rideau waterway that flows past Westport. He knows the Rideau well.

Peter and Linda craved a community and environment where they could thrive and continue to grow as a couple and individuals. “After 30 years in the same neighbourhood, we wanted a fresh and positive home in a smaller, calmer and dynamic community and we found it in Watercolour Westport,” says Peter.

Living in Westport is ideal for people who love to spend their days outdoors. With the picturesque landscape and the forward-thinking design, Watercolour is made with nature lovers in mind.

Residents can hike trails, swim, kayak, bike, and soak up everything Westport has to offer. It’s less than a 15-minute walk from their porch to the Westport harbour on the Upper Rideau Lake or Sand Lake Beach. Peter

and Linda are avid kayakers and are eager to explore the 32 lakes within a 15-mile radius of their home. They can also stroll to the 327-km long Rideau Trail running from Kingston to Ottawa. Nearby is the 800-acre Foley Mountain Conservation Area with Spy Rock Lookout and its majestic views of the lakes and village.

Left to right: Joan and John Buma, Stephen Rolston

“There’s something nice about having all the cottage amenities but being able to feel part of a community,” says Peter.

The Minnellis found the perfect place to build their retirement dreams – a modern home in Westport close to nature on the banks of their precious Rideau.

John and Joan Buma have been connected to the area for a long time. For as long as Joan can remember she wanted to retire to a cottage near Westport. Her family has roots here.

LAVENDER LEMONADE

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as sipping a lemonade while visiting with good neighbours on a front porch on a summer afternoon. Front porches are welcoming. So is this lemonade recipe. A combination of locally grown lavender and a garnish of mint make this refreshing drink a summertime favourite in Westport.

A cottage is a dream. But any cottage owner will tell you that fallen trees, power outages, and broken septic pumps can turn the dream into a weighty weekend burden. John and Joan found the perfect solution at Watercolour Westport – a home and cottage in one. Now the Bumas get to live in a modern, brand-new home within walking distance of everything they’ll need, including a cottage lake.

Sparkling Lavender Lemonade

What you’ll need :

¼ cup of culinary grade dried lavender

2 cups of boiling water

½ cup white sugar

¼ cup honey

Juice of 8 lemons

5 - 6 cups sparkling or still water

“It’s like owning a cottage but you can walk to everything,” says John. “You don’t have isolation, you have community, you can go swimming at Sand Lake, you can walk to the harbour. We’re outdoor people and we really enjoy connecting with other people. That front porch alone takes us where we want to be.”

The Bumas built a life in Grimsby. They had good community. But every time they come to the Westport area there is a feeling of rest and unwinding that happens. They consider Westport home now.

“Even now in retirement, there’s a feeling of renewal that comes with simplification,” says John. “The busyness of city life and the 400 series highways all around and the population density in Southern Ontario all impact your overall wellbeing.”

No one wants to be a prisoner of a demanding cottage property or a congested city. Watercolour is freedom from both. You get the best of cottage life with the safety and convenience of nearby services in a quaint and functional town.

Place lavender in the bowl and pour over the boiling water. Allow to steep for about 10 minutes and strain out the lavender.

Add the sugar and honey and stir to dissolve the sugar. Next, add the lemon juice. You now have your concentrate ready. It should be put in the fridge to cool and allow the flavours to blend, at least one hour.

At this point you can wait up to one week to serve! The good thing about this lemonade is it can be made ahead and kept in the fridge ready to add the sparkling water at serving time. You can also test the dilution rate at this point to see how intense you like the lavender flavour.

Slowly add the 5 cups of your favourite sparkling water. Then serve over ice with a sprig of fresh lavender and a few mint leaves. Enjoy!

“It’s like owning a cottage but you can walk to everything. You don’t have isolation, you have community, you can go swimming at Sand Lake, you can walk to the harbour. We’re outdoor people and we really enjoy connecting with other people. That front porch alone takes us where we want to be.”

Peter Minelli on the Rideau waterway, a short walk from his home at Watercolour.

CHOOSING TIMELESS OVER TRENDY IN INTERIOR DESIGN

Gone are the days when people wanted their home decor to reflect the newest fashion. An accomplished interior designer says homeowners want quality and longevity in their decor, valuing permanence over passing trends.

Brenda MacPherson chooses the colours, finishes, furniture, and fixtures in the model homes at Watercolour. She is a well-known designer in Ottawa and Mont Tremblant.

People are looking for longevity in materials as they aim to be more sustainable in their choices, says MacPherson. They want quality finishes with a timeless, lasting style. They want a personal, unique look that won’t fall out of favour.

Brenda likes adding more natural elements to the room, such as a simple shaker-style cabinet with natural wood colour. The strong, elegant design doesn’t fall out of fashion, unlike the dark wood trend from a few years ago.

She has worked with Land Ark Homes for years and says they always emphasize quality. In a Watercolour home, for example, that means she’s working with main-floor rooms with highend hardwood floors. Natural hardwood is timeless, says Brenda.

The lower-living spaces at Watercolour are different from other homes too. The ceiling height is 8’6” and the windows are big, letting in lots of natural light. High ceilings and generous natural lighting make the lower living space inviting and usable. The rooms can be converted to exercise spaces or home theatres. Some Watercolour homeowners opt to add a small countertop including a sink, microwave, and an undercounter fridge for movie nights.

In kitchens, Brenda has used floating shelves in place of some of the upper cabinets. This allows her to introduce more natural wood. She likes a clean, classic kitchen with high-end countertops and plumbing fixtures that last the test of time.

Watercolour homes are built in the craftsman style with exteriors meant to evoke cottage living. Brenda helps break down the barrier between outdoor and indoor spaces by bringing the cottage-style exterior colours inside. For instance, for a house with a tasteful green-hue on the exterior, she might introduce a patterned green tile in the smaller bathroom or add throw pillows to draw the outside colour into the home.

Breaking down the barrier between outdoor and inside spaces is important, especially in a place like Westport. There is so much to explore beyond the front porch. With some careful design touches, the natural beauty beyond the front steps is balanced with the tasteful, striking interior.

In this kitchen, Brenda opted for brass plumbing, hardware, and light fixtures. The brass warms up the room and matches the green walls and natural hardwood floor. The eye is drawn to the light fixtures but they don’t take a lot of visual space because they’re glass. They have a presence but they’re not overwhelming.

In this space, the large windows are like a canvas for the changing seasons and the natural beauty of Westport. The green wall colour reminds one of cottage life and matches the natural wood tones in the room. The furniture is a neutral colour but adds texture. Brenda calls the style “mid-century timeless.” The rug is more eclectic and fits well with the furniture and hardwood floor. Plants add a softening element to the room.

Brenda consciously brings similar exterior finishes into the interior. The exterior of this home is light gray with black accents. This powder room emulates the same tones. You can be more adventurous in small spaces as in this powder room where contrasting patterned flooring and monotone fixtures and cabinets were used.

In this bedroom, Brenda keyed in on the natural tones in the furniture. The bedside lamps are proportionate in size to the relatively large nightstands. The pillows add colour and depth to the room and pick up some of the blues that are in the master bathroom. Brenda says pillows and bedspreads are an inexpensive way to play with patterns. The eye is drawn to the contrasting colours on the bed, creating a focal point in the room.

AWARD-WINNING LAND ARK HOMES

Land Ark Homes has been building homes people love in Eastern Ontario for over 30 years. And now the company has brought its reputation for workmanship and innovation to Westport.

Along the way, Land Ark Homes has won some impressive awards. The company is the only Canadian homebuilder to achieve the American-based National Association of Home Builders’ prestigious Best Builder Award. They were also awarded Custom Home Magazine’s Pacesetter Award and Tarion’s Home Builder of the year for customer service. Previous Land Ark Homes projects include the development of exquisite estate communities in the Ottawa area as well as Ridingview Estates, Ridgeside Farm, Vance Farm and the cottage community of Bob’s Lake Badour Farm.

The Rolstons and the Land Ark Homes team are driven by a deep respect for the environment, a commitment to community, and integrity through all phases of the homebuilding process. The company’s production processes represent a commitment to quality that exceeds industry standards in every category.

Since 1991, Stephen and Diana Rolston, owners of Land Ark Homes, have nurtured strong customer relations with a loyal clientele of new and repeat customers. Land Ark strives for quality and efficiency through every step of the home-building process. The Rolstons are passionate about building homes that exceed expectations and communities that foster relationships and belonging. They hold themselves to high standards of excellence in professionalism and workmanship.

From land planning and architecture to construction and closing, the entire Land Ark team works to achieve outstanding results and satisfied customers. These efforts continue long after the sale. Land Ark works to build vibrant communities and a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship.

www.landark.com

Left to right: Rodney Fleigel, Joe Germann, Victoria Hum, Noah Garcia, Matt Pengelly (sitting) Kevin Rankin, Mona Kennedy, Stephen Rolston

REPRESENTING THE BUILDING INDUSTRY AT A QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE

The co-founder of Land Ark Homes is being recognized as a leader in Canadian homebuilding, creating future-proof homes that meet next-generation standards

The vast majority of new homes built in Canada this year will be obsolete before the first for sale sign comes off the lawn.

That was the message delivered by Stephen Rolston, founder of Land Ark Homes, at the Queen’s University Global Energy Conference in January. The conference brings together executives, engineers, and academics from the Canadian energy sector. Rolston was invited to give a TED Talk-style address to the audience, made up of industry leaders from across Canada.

As co-founder of Land Ark Homes, Rolston is an award-winning builder of over 300 homes in the Ottawa area. He says that of the 240,000 homes built across Canada in 2022, only 700 of them are Net Zero Ready.

A Net Zero Ready Home is a high-performance home, designed and built for energy efficiency. With the addition of solar panels or another renewable energy source, the home can then produce as much energy as it uses, over the course of a year, and be certified Net Zero .

Every home at Watercolour is Net Zero Ready. The homes are being built to standards that won’t be enforced in the building code in Canada until 2035, if that code comes into law even then.

Getting to net zero in a home in Canada is the culmination of 40 years of building science. And the benefits aren’t just environmental and an eliminated energy bill. Net Zero homes are also resilient to energy disruption. With the improved air quality, Net Zero Ready homes are the peak of comfort and peace of mind in all seasons. You can sit by the large triple-paned glass windows in the dead of winter and not feel the outside air temperature.

Net Zero Ready homes are designed and built for energy efficiency and durability. They are super insulated, super airtight and super ventilated to provide premium comfort, air quality and lower your carbon footprint, for many years to come.

Rolston is passionate about seeing the Canadian home-building industry advance quickly and start building Net Zero Ready Homes across the country right away. Until they do, Watercolour is one of the few places in Canada where an entire community of future-proof homes exists. Just one more reason that Watercolour is a better place to call home.

IF OUR NZR HOMES COULD TALK... Here’s what they would say

MY ENERGY SUPPLY IS FOSSIL FUEL FREE AND 100% RENEWABLE.

MY THERMAL BLANKET, WELL INSULATED WALLS AND TRIPLE GLAZED WINDOWS MAKE ME VIRTUALLY SOUNDPROOF TO OUTSIDE NOISE.

I SHINE INSIDE WITH LED ENERGY SAVING LIGHTS

I AM SUPER INSULATED FROM TO P TO BOTTO M

I AM BUILT TO LAST 200 YEARS.

MY ENGINEERED AIR DUCT SYSTEM MOVES AIR EFFICIENTLY INSIDE AND KEEPS MY TEMPERATURES EVEN AND COMFORTABLE.

I’M BETTER SEALED AND 3 TIMES MORE AIR TIGHT THAN THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE.

MY ENERGY EFFICIENT AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP HOT WATER TANK SAVES ENERGY AND MONEY.

MY SOLAR POWER CAN CHARGE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

MY SOLAR PANELS PRODUCE ALL MY ENERGY NEEDS.

I HAVE A FRESH AIR MACHINE FOR THE FRESHEST INDOOR AIR.

EVEN MY OVERSIZED GARAGE IS COSY AND WELL INSULATED.

I LIVE IN A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE SHOPPING AND RECREATION ARE WITHIN A 15 MIN WALK.

MY OWNER’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAN SUPPLY MY POWER NEEDS.

I HELP MAKE LIFE GREENER AND BETTER IN WESTPORT.

Watercolour offers bungalows, bungalow + loft, and 2 storey single family homes, as well as bungalow semi and towns. Visit our decorated model home in Watercolour, open daily.

FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF NEW HOMES AVAILABLE, PLEASE VISIT WATERCOLOURWESTPORT.COM