The Find:
Built in 1942, the 1900 square foot house is a two-storey wartime effort that her neighbours’ father built. Just a young lad at the time, he recalls happy days growing up in Julia’s house, and was delighted to lend a hand during the renovation period. The house had been a rental for 15 years, so there was a lot to put right and make it her own. Julia knew exactly what she wanted this house to be. It spoke to her, as all houses do. And, she got it right.
During the four years that her small family has lived there, they’ve managed to turn the bones into a house that visitors covet, especially women. The vision began with the property. Julia and husband Derek drove by a number of times to view the house exteriors from different perspectives. This determined that because the house had been built into the side of a hill, it was actually much bigger than it appeared from the street side.
The long, narrow property that slopes to the lake beyond is lined with sumac and pines that lend privacy, and in early summer white and mauve lilacs surrender their turn to the abundance of colourful hydrangeas. The yard is interrupted in the centre by a small, rectangular pond with a tiny bridge - in perfect cottage-style. Julia had always lived on water and new-builds didn’t interest her. She wanted a home that had character, and this one had plenty of that. She saw what it could be under her guiding hand – and so began the transformation.
Starting At The Beginning:
After noting what she liked and didn’t like, she began the process by painting the whole house (with few exceptions) in a shade she likely to be named, ‘Warm Sun’ which she equates to the colour of cold butter – not a true white, but not quite yellow either. It will be included in the line of paints she’s developing in a ‘seaside’ palette, to be sold at ‘The Cottage Co.’ The floors were the original narrow, oak boards, which were brought back to their original beauty.
The Tour:
Kitchen
The kitchen is enviably spacious. Looking from the front entrance, you are immediately struck by the wave of white and blue floor tiles laid on the diagonal. The walls are wainscoted in white bead board, complimenting the white cupboards. The upper cabinets have glass fronts that hold Julia’s pretty collectables, and the hardware is white metal knobs and library pulls. She chose all white appliances based on the wise conviction that white goes with everything, and never goes out of style. Their butcher block counters work well with the cottage-style cupboards; a signature look Julia has repeated in past residences. The opposite end of the kitchen showcases an eating nook that holds painted chairs tucked into a small pedestal table - an idyllic setting from which the family can take in a Saturday morning view of the lake, over plates of syrupy waffles.
Dining Room:
Flanking both sides of three, centred windows in the dining room, are the kind of built-ins that the rest of us pay carpenters to custom build for us. Julia has continued the blue and white theme here, with the harvest table and hoop backed chairs. This shade of blue is similar to a soft Wedgwood, and is Julia’s signature colour, yet to be named. The lake view is continued here, as from identical, centred windows found in the kitchen. She particularly loves the balance this lends to the house.
Living Room:
Julia has many talents, and sewing is one of them. She made the slip covers from white canvas ducking that cover the soft furniture here. The room is punctuated with combinations of blue and white florals in vases and in the wall art. An antique butter box is painted in her signature blue, and another wall holds a ‘shabby’ white blanket box that sits under a high window. Opposite that, is a piece of Julia’s favourite thing to collect, a large chest of unpainted Canadiana. Throughout the house, she has arranged vignettes of white, vintage pottery.
Staircase:
When asked, “What is your favourite room in the house?” Julia’s answer is, “The staircase.” She loves that the steps are wide, and curve away out of site. Their polished luster rests briefly at a windowed landing where the family’s golden retriever, Daisy often positions herself to watch the squirrels below.
Principle/Master Bedroom:
All of the bedrooms would be considered small compared to the square footage you would find in a ‘new-build’ home, and that includes this master bedroom. It does however; comfortably allow for a queen-sized bed, bedside tables, and double closets at the foot of the room. The original closets were only curtained, so doors had to be custom made. To help the room seem larger, Julia painted them out in the same shade as the main floor walls, ‘Warm Sun.’ She admits that she tends to change up the bedding décor frequently, but it’s always in keeping with the beach/cottage theme. This day, the lovely painted bed is dressed in sprays of deep pink and yellow roses on a white background. This invites the idea of curling up under a coverlet, with a good book on a rainy day.
Former Nursery:
Strategically located just steps away from the master bedroom, is the former nursery. Though tiny, it’s roomy enough to accommodate a pretty bed under the sloped ceiling, and place a painted chest of drawers within arms reach. The floral & striped bedding combination of pink and cream is perfectly set against the pale, yellow shade of ‘Warm Sun’ that’s ‘been continued here. Adorable, and awaiting a certain, cherished extended-family member.
Girl’s Bedroom:
The eldest daughter sleeps in an enchanting room, painted in pale, misty green. The carved, white bed is dressed in blue & white, faded florals, all in keeping with what a true purveyor of the Shabby Chic look would choose to wrap herself in at night. Julia and Derek reluctantly (initially) added an electric fireplace (a special request) in front of a built-in cupboard that was actually superfluous in this room. Julia chose a white mantel that reflects the cottage style, adding the ideal amount of coziness. A few pieces of white wicker furniture, perfect for lounging or studying in front of the fire. A well placed, vintage mirror and floral frames, add the perfect finishing touches. The small window is shuttered in white, allowing light and privacy, as required. Who wouldn’t love to sleep here?
Bathroom:
It’s very rare to have only one bathroom, nowadays. While it may not always be convenient, and sometimes requires co-ordination and a little co-operation from it’s occupants, this generous room is able to accommodate all the females of the household, at once.
Julia carried on the linoleum, tile theme here, but in a basket weave pattern this time, using cream/blue and green. However, the tiles only come in 12”x 12” and in order to reduce them down to the 5”x 5” size needed to execute her design, she and her (former resident) neighbour came up with a plan to heat them in an oven, enabling them to be sawed more easily.
At one end of the bathroom, Julia had her perfect sink installed. She knew exactly what she wanted, and found her white porcelain, free standing, curved legged, ‘hotel style’ sink. To finesse the room, she has accented it with stacks of fluffy, snow-white towels and a pitcher of blue hydrangeas. Without question, this is the perfect setting for a long, hot and bubbly soak.
There was never any question that this bathroom would end up housing an antique, claw footed tub, which she scavenged & bartered for, from a friend’s yard. But, first it had to be re-enameled and plumbed to the existing pipes. In addition, they had to have the costly, retro-hardware attached. These, she had purchased via the internet… some lessons learned here, she warns. Although she loves the end result, Julia advises that next time, she would go the “big-box store” route, and simplify her life.
The Extras:
There are the features that sell a house like this, to a person like Julia. It has to have character, like all the nooks and crannies a true romantic could want. And treasures like the beveled-mirrored, laundry chute, and outside milk chute – well, those days are long gone but, nostalgia sells. For Julia, it was that staircase, the sets of triple windows, the built-ins, and of course that view of
the lake.
