wxgsi When Don Tapscott, an entrepreneur as well as bestselling author on service technology, as well as Ana Lopes, a business director as well as social entrepreneur, very first stepped into this charming 1952 lodge, it was as if time had stood still. “It felt like the quintessential Adirondack cottage from the ’50s — great deals of pine, taxidermy, laminates, plywood, turquoise shower room tiles, a river-rock fireplace as well as decades-old furniture,” recalls Ana. Because of the property’s rich history, they felt like custodians of a Muskoka legacy. So, Don as well as Ana began a painstaking restoration as well as growth that took four years to complete. The job was managed by Dave McKey of Goose Lake custom-made Builders, whose father, as fate would have it, developed the original cabin. Reclaimed wood was utilized to produce walls as well as doors, regional river rocks made up the fireplace as well as the pegged-oak floors were discolored the exact same color as those in the original part of the lodge. Go inside the eclectic, laid-back area full of vintage decoration as well as great Canadiana finds.
To integrate the lodge into its woodsy surroundings as well as blend the old as well as new construction, Ana as well as Don painted the exterior a soft brown.
In the new excellent space adjacent to the kitchen, Ana selected a neutral combination that would feel comfortable as well as relaxing on both warm summertime days and snowy nights. natural structures such as driftwood, river rocks, wood as well as linen-clad sofas bring the outdoors inside.
A generously sized kitchen area table made from reclaimed want quickly accommodates large household dinners. An sophisticated bird chandelier adds an unforeseen twist.
The kitchen area is created to manage a crowd: open shelving as well as an armoire with chicken-wire fronts make discovering things easy; the large island homes two durable dishwashers.
On rainy days or mosquito season nights, the new screened-in deck off the kitchen area is a preferred gathering spot. Chintz as well as stripes in pale colors gown up wicker chairs. At night, punctuated metal lanterns from Morocco make the ceiling look starry.
Don at the ornately embellished 70-year-old Heintzman piano in the pine-panelled music room.
The new primary bedroom has wraparound windows to maximize lake views. The clean lines, Moroccan lantern as well as Indian-print pillows keep the mood contemporary, not kitschy.
Seamlessly linking old as well as new, reclaimed want utilized on walls, ceilings as well as doors has the patina of age in a hallway leading to the new two-bedroom guest wing.
Rustic twin beds brought from the family’s previous cottage supply a relaxing kid-friendly retreat in one of the guest bedrooms.
Hudson’s Bay-striped swimming towels in the boathouse add a pop of color and famous Canadiana to the outside decor.
Don had steel rod-reinforced logs installed at the back of the boathouse to safely as well as handsomely store his collection of rare, as well as now very carefully restored, vintage canoes.