november 2008 cottage home & property showcase
DESCRIPTION
Cottage Home & Property Showcase is Muskoka's premier Real Estate Magazine: Featuring real estate listings from the entire current edition, advertisers' directory, related real estate links, related industry articles and advertising contact information.TRANSCRIPT
COTTAGE HOME & PROPERTYREAL ESTATE
November 2008 www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
HUNTSVILLE • BRACEBRIDGE • GRAVENHURST • MUSKOKA LAKESLAKE OF BAYS • PARRY SOUND • ALMAGUIN • GEORGIAN BAY
Showcase
www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
Haven amongst the treesHaven amongst the trees
Black RockBlack Rocklandscapinglandscaping
705-375-0608RR #1, Hamer Bay Rd., Mactier www.blackrocklandscaping.com
HOT TUBWAREHOUSE
HOT TUBWAREHOUSE
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DECOR STUDIO15 Main Street,Huntsville (705) 788-2612
STORE HOURS: Tues. to Sat. 10-4, Thurs. & Fri. 10-6
Sunday by appointment
DECOR STUDIO15 Main Street,Huntsville (705) 788-2612
STORE HOURS: Tues. to Sat. 10-4, Thurs. & Fri. 10-6
Sunday by appointment
Your traditions begin here.
Because where you end up has a lot to do with where you start.
*
Brokerage,Independently Owned and Operated*
Bala
705-762-3410
Baysville
705-767-3131
Bracebridge
705-645-5257
Burk’s Falls
705-382-5555
Gravenhurst
705-687-3474
Huntsville
705-789-9677
Port Carling
705-765-6855
Sundridge
705-384-2220
royallepagemuskoka.com
November 2008 1www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
Muskoka Magazine is published byCottage Country Communications, a
division of Osprey Media Publishing Inc.which is a part of:
Published nine times per year:February, April, May,
June, July, August, SeptemberOctober/November and December.
Copyright© 2008,Osprey Media Publishing Inc.
All rights reserved.Reproduction of any material publishedin Cottage Home & Property Showcaseis strictly prohibited without the written
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Fax: (705) 645-6424E-mail: [email protected]
www.cottagehomeshowcase.com
COTTAGE HOME & PROPERTY
ShowcaseDonald Smith
Publisher
Melissa KosowanEditor
Matthew SitlerAssistant Editor
Andrew HoshkiwStaff Photographer
Mary Lee ZimmerAdvertising Sales Manager
Donna AnsleyCurtis Armstrong
Gord KidderLaurie Johle
Martha GillanSpence McGrathAdvertising Sales
Marc BonitatibusProduction Manager
Addie CollinsKim Knight
Design Department
Joan HorsleyAngy GliddonKen NortheySusan Smith
Reader Sales and Service
Allan CookKaren Wehrstein
Contributors
3 FINDING A REALTORWHO WORKS FOR YOUBy Allan Cook
6 DESIGNS FOR LIVING
8 A GLIMPSE OF FRACTIONALSIN MUSKOKA
10 STEP INSIDE A FEW UNIQUE HOMESAND COTTAGESBy Karen Wehrstein
16 YOUR PANEL OF PROFESSIONALS
For more information see inside back cover.
About Our Cover:Photograph by Andrew Hoshkiw, courtesy of Garry Hall Construction.
Garry Hall Construction
Cottage Home & Property SHOWCASE2 November 2008
Bill McGrathBroker of Record
40 miles ofBoating on a 4lake system.Very privatelot, well treed. Charming cottage with neweradditions. Stone fireplace in dining room. 3Bdrms, Ensuite, 4 Pc and 2 Pc. Fully Winter-ized. Lot is terraced to cottage and stepsdown to a large u shaped dock and tanningarea. Hard sand bottom with great open lakeviews. $629,000
Cottage Country Realty Inc.Brokerage
PENINSULA LAKE COTTAGE/HOME
This great pine lined cottage is absolutelycharming with level child friendly lot and southfacing views for all day sun. 5 Bdrm plus a 2bdrm bunkiewith wash-room. Doublecar garage forall of the toys.$789,000
Sher McGrathSales Representative
(705) 789-6568CL: (705) 788-4315
(705) 789-1646CL: (705) 788-8633
E-mail: [email protected]
6,500 sq. ft. executive waterfront property. 2hours from Toronto – 7 bdrms with ensuites.Owners’ separate suite. Large, great room.Rec room on lower walkout. Qualitythroughout. Most furnishings included.Superb beach. Separate granny suite... lots of
room for extended fam-ily & guests. Superblocation for golfers.Two stone fireplaces. 5minutes to center oftown. $1,695,000
FAIRY LAKE, HUNTSVILLE
PRIVATEFAIRYLAKE
COTTAGE
Muskoka is home to a wide rangeof spectacular homes, cottages, andproperties. With the real estate avail-able, the region also boasts a signifi-cant number of qualified, profes-sional real estate agents. Becauseeveryone is as different as the prop-erty they may be looking to buy orsell, the key to a satisfying experienceis finding an agent that fits your per-sonality and needs.
Many people make the connectionthrough coincidence, like ArpadTakacs, who Jim and Iris Gardiner ofChestnut Park Realty in Port Car-ling helped fulfill his 30-year dreamof owning a cottage in Muskoka.
“Maybe you can be lucky like me,”he jokes through a thick Hungarianaccent. Takacs found his agents fromhis home in the GTA, while lookingat Muskoka properties online. “Theywere the agents who had them listed,so I called them up and asked themif they could show some to me.”
One of the first things thatimpressed Takacs about the Gar-
November 2008 3www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
FINDING A REALTOR WHO WORKS FOR YOUBy Allan Cook
Iris and Jim Gardiner of Chestnut Park help clients find the perfect home and don’t rush the process.
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Bus: 705-789-6568Cell: 705-783-0555
Paul PilonBroker
[email protected] B R O K E R A G E
This isy o u rc h a n c efor ay e a rr o u n dcottage soaring pine ceilings, hard-wood floors, stone fireplace, andwell appointed pine kitchen allblending for a warm atmospherewith lots of windows complete withSouth Exposure. Nicely landscapedflat lot with sandy beach and largecribbed dock. Not to be out done, is atriple garage with 2nd floor unfin-ished loft. A property for all ages onBeautiful Lake of Bays with 102 milesof shoreline to explore.
Asking $895,000
3 bdrmViceroyon 14+a c r e sw i t ho v e r
600ft of shoreline, offering parklike settings and lots of trails.This custom home offers largepine living rm. with loft leadingto the bedrooms, Oak kitchenopen to the dining area, (perfectfor entertaining), Dry partialbasement and attached insulat-ed garage. Ideal for the personwho wants it all.Ask Paul why Horn Lake has somuch to offer and is so unique.
Asking $495,000
Horn LakeRetreat or Home
Desirable Retreaton Lake of Bays
Shelley HenwoodSales Representative
Cell (705) 783-8777Office (705) 789-6568
Fax (705) 789-8775
BEAUTIFUL NORMERICA TIMBERFRAME HOMEOver 2 acres! Open concept, custom kitchen w/granitecounter tops & stainless steel appliances. Living & din-ingroom w/floor to ceiling windows. 3 bdrms, 3 bthrms,w/master loft offering views of Vernon Lake. Fullyfinished walkout lower level w/2 bdrms & recroom.*Bonus* 280 ft. water-front lot across the roadon Vernon Lake. 5minute boat ride ordrive to downtownHuntsville.Asking $695,000.
www.century21.ca
1.58 acre levellot with frontageon Buck andFawn Lakes.Western expo-sure offeringlong lake views
and beautiful sunsets. Hard packed sand bottom withchild friendly beach area. Driveway is in. Hydro & tele-phone at the road and only 20 minutes to Huntsville.$235,000 Call Wyatt 705-783-1061
Cottage Country Realty Inc.Brokerage
29 King William Street, Huntsville Ontario
WyattWilliamsonSales Representative
705-783-1061
20 acre parcel ofland encompass-ing a 10 acre lake.Easy access withhydro and phonelines at property.$249,000
Also for sale, approx. 276 acres backing onto 200 acres ofCrown land with lake/boat launch across the road for only$299,000. Only 15 minutes from Huntsville. Call Wyattto view 705-783-1061
VERY DESIRABLEWATERFRONT
PRIVATE PARADISE!
Cottage Home & Property SHOWCASE4 November 2008
diners was how hard they worked tofigure out what he was looking for.
“You know how it is. You havesomething you have a taste for –something you dream, right?” hesays. “But it can be hard to say tosomeone what that is.”
Iris Gardiner paid close attentionto the things that Takacs respondedto during the first few showings andwas soon able to promise him thatthey would find exactly what he waslooking for.
“You know what? She was right. Itworked out perfect. I just love it, Ilove the location, the cottage; I loveeverything,” he laughs. “Iris told meI’m the luckiest person, and I justsaid, ‘Hey, you helped me getlucky.’”
Takacs was impressed with herpatience and unfailing optimismthat the right place was out therewaiting for him. Given that it tooktwo summers to find his dream cot-tage, the sense of trust, and connec-tion that the two built together wascrucial to his overall experience.
“If you’re not happy, and you don’tsee that connection,” he says, “orwhen they talk to you, you feel likethey just want to sell something assoon as possible, then you should
change.”Of course, if you’re selling, you
want an agent who can help expeditethe process.
Donna Medley of Bracebridge hadan unsatisfying experience with thefirst agent she had tried to sell hercottage with, and re-listed withSuzanne Martineau of ReMax inRosseau on the recommendation ofa family friend. The difference wasimmediately noticeable.
Medley explains the photos thefirst agent posted to the online list-ing showed things like the diningroom chairs all askew around thetable. When she complained, theagent suggested she’d be the only onewho’d notice.
“I said I think every woman wouldnotice that,” Medley relates, andnotes that Martineau agreed. “Sheput wonderful pictures on, she toldme how to arrange furniture, shesuggested I get rid of all of our per-sonal things because she said peoplejust can’t help but look at thosethings and she said I want them tosee the cottage and not your stuff.”
Medley also appreciated heragent’s sensitivity to her and her hus-band’s needs, as the couple haddecided for health reasons to sell the
One of the things clients like about Suzanne Martineau, of ReMax inRosseau, is her attention to detail.
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100 West Mall Rd, Bracebridge, On P1L 1Z1(705)645-5257 x 298
Brokerage, Independently Owned and Operated
Karen Acton“On the Move in Muskoka”
Sales Representative 705-706-2246
WENDY CLELAND
Sales Representative
TF 800-953-8655 F 705-687-7710
B 705-687-3474 Ext. 25 C 705-646-4617
Lakes of Muskoka
BrokerageIndependently Owned & Operated
390-5 Muskoka Rd. S.Gravenhurst, ON
MYERS LAKE-Only 45 Min. from BarrieView this wonderfully spacious family cottagebuilt at the water’s edge. West facing openconcept living/dining room & kitchen all showthe magnificence of popular Myers Lake. Amain flr master has ensuite c/w Jacuzzi tub &
corner shower. The Muskoka Room is pine lined, inviting & surrounded byglass. Venture upstairs to the games room with a professional sized pooltable, 3rd bedroom & 4 pc bath. Warm wood ceiling & walls complementthe thick carpet floor covering. Built In shelves are filled with games &books. A double carport has att. heated workshop & exercise rm. Childfriendly shoreline as well as a deck for diving, this cottage has it all. Mostfurnishings & all appliances are included. Just move in immediately &enjoy. OWNER WANTS IT SOLD- $369,000.00
COUNTRY HOME ON THE WATER Thisyear round property features 3 beds, lrg recrm, vaulted ceiling in living room, warm invit-ing fireplace, custom kitchen, 215’ s/w shore-line, gorgeous sunsets, dry boathousew/marine railway, double car garage and
endless amounts of enjoyment. Celebrate Christmas Here. Year roundMunicipal Road. $559,900.00
OWNER BUILDING Don’t miss this custombuilt 3 bdrm home 2 mins from town. A detdbl garage w/att storage shed w/ramp pro-vides ample space. A spiral staircase to theupper 2 beds & oversize bath adds interestwhile saving space. The lrg lv & dr lookout toa wraparound deck & screened Muskoka room made for pure enjoyment.Many amenities in this well cared for home. $299,900.00
TRY YOUR OFFER! 63.8 acre farm property with new Olympia all steel40’x80’ building ready to be finished to your use. Great pasture property torent out while you build your dream home. New underground hydro installedcentrally metered, brand new septic system. Shed 8x10 has hydro panel. Wellin place. Mature trees both evergreen & deciduous with Muskoka granite out-croppings offer many choice spots for building. Old farmhouse & barn have
been demolished. Close to town amenities. $239,900.00 Call for directions today.
November 2008 5www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
cottage which had been in the fami-ly since it was built in 1958.
“I was very sad about selling thecottage and she was very aware ofthat,” Medley says. “She never madeus feel like it was her job to do it.She was always very thoughtful andvery considerate. I said to her I feltlike I’d made a friend for life.”
Hillary Lloyd echoes Takacs andMedley’s thoughts about the impor-tance of a good connection betweenyourself and your agent.
“I think it’s really important tofind somebody who is willing to sitdown and listen to what you arelooking for,” Lloyd says. “I thinkhaving a connection and havingsomebody who’s patient and willingto listen is well worth it in the longrun.”
Hillary and her husband Chrisfound Wendy Cleland on duty at theRoyal LePage Lakes of MuskokaRealty office in Gravenhurst.
Hillary believes that doing theirhomework before they even contact-ed an agent was key to finding theirdream cottage.
“As a family we had a list of thingsthat we wanted in a cottage,” sheexplains. “We had a lot of thingsthat were important to us.”
Wendy Cleland, of Royal LePage Lakes of Muskoka Realty in Graven-hurst, is known for going the extra mile for her clients.
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Visitmuskokacottagehomeproperty.com
to browse this entire
edition online.
A lso check out our
many informative real estate
related articles and
real estate listings.
REAL ESTATE
“Fall” into the right hands...
Service is my strength.
Professional. Knowledgeable.Downright Hard-Working.
Suzanne MartineauSales Representative
Rosseau Branch Office
1138 Highway 141, Rosseau, ON
705-706-3329 (Direct)
705-732-8263 (Office)
Independently Owned and Operated
Parry Sound-MuskokaRealty Ltd., Brokerage
Suzanne MartineauYour Personal Realtor
Serving Muskoka since 1925 � The Tradition Continues
Northern BuildallBRACEBRIDGE
645-2271Mon-Fri - 7 am - 6 pm
Sat - 7 am - 5 pm
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375-2051Mon-Sat
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Bracebridge, ON P1L 1Z8� Infrastructure� Site Suitability� Land Development� Municipal Engineering� Storm Water Management� Civil Works for Golf Courses & Resorts� Etc.
[email protected] www.pel.caTelephone 705-645-8853
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Whether you’re moving upfrom your first home ordown from a large familyhome after the childrenhave gone, the Ridgestonehas all the features you’relooking for. From an ele-gant front elevation andloads of windows, throughthree generous bedrooms,an open-concept floor planand a beautiful centralkitchen which opens onto alarge family room and aseparate dinette, this homehas it all! Add to these anensuite with separate tuband shower and a mudroom with an entrance offthe double garage and a
DENNISFRANKLINPROJECT & PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT
“Your eyes & ears in Muskoka”
• Sub-trade sourcing & management
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705 645-0775Servicing Muskoka with
pride since 1992
Cottage Home & Property SHOWCASE6 November 2008
convenient laundry area andyou’ll see why we believe this isone of the most value packedhomes on the market today.
Dave MarshallTel/Fax: 705-646-2561
[email protected] www.muskokabuild.com
ServingMuskoka forover 20 years
Specializing in...Custom Carpentry & Quality Finishing
Design & Build of Turn-KeyCottages or Homes • Boathouses and Docks
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Hazardous Tree AssessmentCommercial Tree Care
705-689-8389
DAVEY
November 2008 7www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
Cottage shopping from Milton,the Lloyds used the Internet to pre-view properties and routinely askedCleland to fill them in on the details.
“In many cases she had alreadyseen the property and the feedbackwas instantaneous,” Francesexplains. “And if it wasn’t, she veryoften said to us, ‘I haven’t seen it,but I’ll go check it out and I’ll giveyou a shout back.’ She was great.”
It was Karen Acton’s hardworkingattitude that won over BarbReurink.
“She’ll work hard for you, that’sfor sure,” says Reurink.
She met Acton when she went intothe Royal LePage Lakes of MuskokaRealty office in Bracebridge toinquire about a home she had seenonline. When the day came to viewthe home, Reurink discovered Actonhad five other homes lined up forher to view that day.
Going that extra mile didn’t gounnoticed by Reurink who had driv-en all the way from Toronto on otheroccasions to view homes, only to dis-cover that not only was the homenot to her liking, but that the agentdidn’t have any others to show herwhile she was in the Muskoka area.
“We had dealt with a few realestate agents prior to that when wewere picking and choosing specifichouses to look at in the Muskokaarea and obviously none of themconnected in any way that we want-ed to continue going on with them,”Reurink says.
Determined to find the perfecthome for her client, Acton showedReurink over 40 homes befores shefinally found what she was lookingfor – a three-storey, open conceptlakefront home in the Parry Soundarea.
“She was so patient with us,” saysReurink. “She is such a warm andinviting person.”
Reurink stresses the importance offinding a realtor you feel comfort-able working with. With Acton, shesays she shared plenty of laughs andfelt really connected to her.
“I really think they need to getinto the office and don’t necessarilytake the first person who is therebecause it’s their night to work, orwhatever. If you do feel uncomfort-able or that they’re not working thathard, walk away. There will some-body else out there who will be bet-ter for you.” Karen Acton of Royal LePage Lakes of Muskoka Realty, in Brace-
bridge, is known for her work ethic and warm personality.
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Brent StapletonBroker of Record/OwnerCell: [email protected]
COLDWELL BANKER DOWNTOWN HUNTSVILLE705-789-4957
www.coldwellbanker.comINDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED
Scott MorrisonBroker/Owner
Cell: [email protected]
Thompson Real Estate Brokerage
For more information, call Brent or Scottor stop by our office in downtown Huntsville.
(across from the Town Hall)
Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate is proudly representing EVANCO Homes and the Homes of Huntsville Downs
Prices starting at $285,000
Cottage Home & Property SHOWCASE8 November 2008
The face of cottage country is changing as more andmore people consider new ways to own their own piece ofMuskoka. Demanding careers, rising cottage prices and ashift towards low-maintenance living have resulted in asurge in the popularity of fractional properties. Fraction-als help people make the most of their vacations. They canarrive in Muskoka with the peace of mind that they won’t
spend their time away from the city staining decks ormowing lawns instead of boating or relaxing in the sun.Just as every individual is different, so too are fractionalproperties. That’s why it’s important to visit the fraction-al properties that interest you and ask questions. In themeantime, here is a glimpse of a few of Muskoka’s frac-tional properties.
A GLIMPSE OF FRACTIONALS IN MUSKOKAThe great room, in the Ash Cottage at The Landscapes in Lake of Bays, is beautifully furnished and features a two-storey vaulted ceiling, a two-sided stone fireplace and numerous quality built-ins, including an entertainment centre and a relaxing reading area bordered by bookcases.
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At the heart of Touchstone on Lake Muskoka, located between Port Carling and Bracebridge, is Touchstone Lodge. It willcontain a restaurant, spa, fitness centre, lounge and concierge services, among other amenities.
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November 2008 9www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
Diamond’s Edge, located in Utterson, features 15 cottages built in a beautiful post-and-beam style with custom furnishings. Thisfractional caters to people who want to spend their vacations on the links at partnering Diamond’s Edge Golf Club.
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Seasons of Muskoka, a new fractional resort located west of Rosseau, features over 1,000 feet of shoreline on Whitefish Lake.The cottages, which are currently under construction, will feature single units spaced well apart for maximum privacy.
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Cottage Home & Property SHOWCASE10 November 2008
Homes are constantly being built across Muskoka,but some are more interesting than others. Whatmakes some structures stand apart from the othersvaries from project to project, but one-of-a-kinddesign, unusual locations, unconventional buildingmethods and even unforeseeable events have thepower to transform the mundane into the unique.
The early-morning fire that burned Warren andFrances Rowe’s Bracebridge home to the ground last
Nov. 18, for instance, was such an unforeseeableevent.
“It was completely gone,” says Frances Rowe, whowas instrumental in getting the eight people and twodogs who were in the house at the time outunharmed. “We lost everything.”
Working with their insurance company, theRowes got several quotes for rebuilding, ultimatelychoosing French’s Fine Homes of Port Sydney.
“We’re here and we know a lot of people who
work for them,” Rowe explains. “We’d rather sup-port our area.”
Mair French, who co-owns French’s Fine Homeswith her husband Larry, recalls what was mostunique about the project was Rowes’ good cheer inthe face of adversity.
“It was the whole experience of working with peo-ple who are so upbeat,” says Mair French. “Whenbad things happen to good people, good peopledon’t lose their attitude. There’s a huge rock across
STEP INSIDE A FEW UNIQUE HOMES AND COTTAGESBy Karen Wehrstein
Garry and Vicki Hall turned a tired, but quaint, old farm house into a historic retreat. Original elements have been kept wherever possible.
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Smith Architect Inc.
59 Main Street East, #6Huntsville, OntarioP1H 2B8
Tel: (705) 789-9858
Designing your Muskoka Dreamwww.smitharchitect.com
Buildinga Better
MuskokaSince1860
RR1, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1W8
Fax: 705-645-6369
NEW COTTAGES DOCKS • DECKS • BOATHOUSES
COMPLETE ADDITIONS,RENOVATIONS & DESIGN
705-385-1315
November 2008 11www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
the road from the house, so every day he and thegrandchildren would sit there and watch us work.”
Despite the trauma of watching their home go upin flames, the Rowes were able to work closely withFrench’s Fine Homes to make the rebuilt home evenbetter than the original.
Improvements, says French, included a full base-ment, a massive island in the kitchen, and beautifulnew light fixtures.
“Her big dream was to have a bigger front porchthat she can sit on and talk to the neighbours, andshe has that,” she notes.
The Rowes couldn’t be happier with the way theirhome turned out in the end.
“I love it. This is the way I wanted my home,”Frances says.
Sometimes what makes a project different is itslocation, as is the case with a 3,500-sq. ft. Muskokaresidence recently built by Confederation LogHomes on a two-acre island on Lake Muskoka.
“It’s interesting because the owner can only use itlate spring to early fall and in the dead of winterbecause in the shoulder seasons the ice is coming inand out,” says Rick Kinsman, co-owner of Bobcay-geon-based Confederation Log Homes, which willcelebrate its 30th anniversary next year. “Most peo-ple would die to live there, but you can only getthere during certain parts of the year.”
Island building, a specialty of Confederation’sMuskoka builders, poses particular challenges.
“You have to double or even triple-handle it,” hesays, explaining that all building materials have to beunloaded from contractor vehicles onto a barge,shipped across the water and then unloaded againon the island, at the very least.
And yes, that costs extra. “Usually people who are building on an island
want their privacy, and they pay for it,” says Kins-man. “But it’s exciting . . . that’s part of the adven-ture.”
Confederation Log Homes, one of Canada’s lead-ing log home manufacturers, uses white pine andwestern red cedar logs in their construction. Theyalso incorporate timber frame design elements intomany of their designs, as was the case with the LakeMuskoka residence.
“The dining room is all timber framed and con-nected to the log walls, with a cathedral ceiling andtwo octagon-shaped turrets,” Kinsman says.“There’s an open great room with an outstandingview.”
The home also incorporates a lot of glass. “Whenyou’re on an island,” he says, “you can take advan-tage of the view.”
The final touch is the Confederation companylogo, carved into one of the logs, like an artist’s sig-nature, Kinsman says.
While not a new build, Garry and Vicki Hall’srenovation project is also quite unique. Vicki is co-owner of Lumina Resort on Lake of Bays, which hasbeen operated by her family since 1921. Her familyroots in the area go back some 110 years, so it’s nosurprise she’s fascinated with that which is local andold.
Along a straight, tree-canopied stretch of SouthPortage Road near Dwight is an old 18-acre farmproperty that Vicki always admired. The owner,
Confederation Log Homes built this 3,500-sq. ft. cottage on an island on Lake Muskoka.
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Cottage Home & Property SHOWCASE12 November 2008
Mike Riech, was famous for his rasp-berry wine and fresh vegetables.When he passed away, the propertywent up for auction, and the Hallswere outbid. “I was heartbroken,”Vicki says.
So when the Halls were drivingalong admiring the fall colours a yearor so later and spotted a For Sale sign,they saw it as a sign of fate.
“I called the owner and we boughtit immediately,” Vicki says.
Built in the 1940s, she estimates,the small two-bedroom house has lowceilings upstairs, a very large kitchenand a staircase reminiscent of one inher grandmother’s home.
“We gutted the whole place,” saysVicki, whose husband Garry is theowner of Garry Hall Construction inHuntsville. In the process, they dis-covered how well built the house was.
“The bones were just wonderful,”Vicki recalls. “Everyone says, ‘Whydidn’t you just tear it down?’ We justcouldn’t.”
When the old silver tin roofing wasstripped off, for instance, the workersfound oak strapping underneath.“You just don’t see that any more,” shenotes.
The renovation aimed to recreatethe old-style look.
Warren and Frances Rowe had to rebuild their lives after their home went up in flames. French’s FineHomes built the family a new house with all the features they longed for, including a larger front porch.
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McLennan Contracting offers over 30 years of the highest level of detailed carpentryexperience in building custom cottages, boathouses, renovations and additions in the Muskoka Lakes area. We strive to design and build some of the most outstanding cottages here in the Muskoka area. We will work with you personally throughout the process to ensure that your project is an enjoyable experience resulting in the cottage of your dreams.
r e d h o t b a t h r o o m s
D R E A M D E S I G N B U I L DD R E A M D E S I G N B U I L D
Ed CampbellConstruction Ltd.
1071 Campbell’s Road Tel: 705.765.7239Minett, ON Cell: [email protected] Fax: 705-765-7480
Tom CampbellLaurie CampbellOwners
w w w. m a g g i e t o m l i n s o n . c o m
BUYING or SELLING in a changing realestate market can be a real challenge.That’s where I come in. Put your trust ina brokerage with 60 years of service andexperience in changing markets. Call me today!
Maggie TomlinsonSales Representative705-644-9283 – direct705-762-3359 – office705-762-3133 – [email protected]
since 1948
“Our Pleasure to Serve” REALTOR®
GIDLEYR E A L E S TAT E LT D
BROKERAGE
November 2008 13www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
Cottage Home & Property SHOWCASE14 November 2008
“We re-drywalled and Garrytrimmed out all the doors and win-dows with large trim to make it looklike what had been there before,” shesays.
The hardwood floors are almost alloriginal, and the staircase was re-stained but otherwise left in its origi-nal state.
On the exterior, the Halls removedthe old black shingle siding, andreplaced it with wood siding painted“a nice pale farm house yellow, withblack shutters,” in Vicki’s words.
Despite all their efforts to return theold home to its glory days, the Hallsdon’t actually live there. Why did theybother then, is the obvious question?
“Just because I live in Muskoka,can’t I have a place to get away?” asksVicki. “It’s a change to not look atwater. Maybe I was a farmer at somepoint, I don’t know. It’s so peacefulover there . . . for me, being in thetourist business, I like to get awayfrom people for five minutes. Notthat we needed another project . . . weloved the property and the house wasso neat. We just wanted to bring itback.”
With other projects, what’s unusualis how they’re built – or in the case ofa 4,000-sq. ft. custom cottage on Lake
Rosseau built by McLennan Con-tracting in Milford Bay-how fast.
“We started June 1 and wrapped itup a couple of weeks ago,” says ownerJason McLennan, for a build time of160 days.
Such a project is more typicallyexpected to take eight months, andthat was the case with the lumberyardsupplying McLennan with materials.
“They couldn’t keep up with ourorders,” he says. “Everyone wasamazed by how fast the project went.”
This is the second cottage thatMcLennan, who primarily concen-trates on renovations, has built inMuskoka. He hopes to add morebuilds to his resume.
“I’m trying to set a bar for how longit should take and how long it should-n’t take. I just wanted to get it donefast in order to get that good refer-ence,” he says.
How did his crew do it? “I haveseven great carpenters,” he explains.“Everybody knows what they’re doingand we’d work seven in the morningto 5:30 at night. The customer waseasy to work with, not asking for toomany changes.”
Scheduling of tradespeople such aselectricians and plumbers wasn’t easy,McLennan says, but they all did their
1104 Eveleigh Rd., Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0705-765-SHOR (7467) www.shorlineconstruction.com
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Woodland Echoes hasbeen 50 years in the making. This smallpeaceful resort willcharm you the momentyou enter the gate. Ourlovely traditionalcottages, each nestledunder mature sprucetrees in a privatesetting at the water’sedge. Share thetranquil beauty of 20acres of groomedlawns, perennialgardens, forestednature trails,meadowland, and a
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November 2008 15www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
work on time. “What it comes down to is good
organization and communicationbetween everybody,” he says.
McLennan isn’t really sure whyevery contractor doesn’t keep to sucha schedule.
“I’ve seen projects up here that takeforever. It’s hard to see that people aregiven the time frames that they’regiven and they get away with it,” hesays. “It takes a month to frame ahouse, but some guys take two andthree months. You hear horror storiesabout projects going on for a year anda half or two years.”
McLennan stresses that he’s not sac-rificing quality for speed.
“This cottage is all nicely trimmedout,” he says, with interior architec-tural timbers as well. “There’s a fineline between doing a good job andtaking too long. I just wanted to showeverybody we can do it.”
And then there are projects that areunique because they’re unique in
design, such as a house designed for aretired professional athlete by JamesPitropov, principal and owner ofSmith Architect in Huntsville.
The site, located on the shore ofLake of Bays, was made up of two lotsthat had been made into one. Thelady of the house wanted a buildingthat worked with the site, making bestuse of the views and the orientation.
“She wanted a sense of nature com-ing into the house, feeling nature wasconnected to the house, rather than abig boxy kind of place,” says Pitropov.
So he designed a house with threeliving pavilions unified under onelong roofline with breezeways andcourtyards between them.
“The three living areas are connect-ed by a long corridor which termi-nates at one end in an oversized fire-place, and passes through three pavil-ions and two courtyards ending in agazebo-like structure that we’re callingthe ‘fire pavilion’ – a gazebo withwrap-around seating and a fireplace in
Jason McLennan, of McLennan Contracting, recently built a home in160 days to prove quality construction doesn’t have to take years.
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Cottage Home & Property SHOWCASE16 November 2008
the centre,” says Pitropov.The kitchen pavilion will have a six-
burner gas stove and fireplace incor-porated into one rock structure.
The middle pavilion features a great
room with glass panel walls on threesides and windows on the third, facingthe lake.
The bedroom pavilion has a masterbedroom with ensuite, walk-in closet
and its own private deck. In the basement there’s a home
gym that walks out to a sunk-inpatio and rock garden so the ownerswill be able to exercise and then go
down to the lake. Floor space is 3,000 sq. ft. with
another 1,000 sq. ft. of deck.Materials stress the natural and rus-
tic, with locally-quarried stone, cus-tom redwood windows and cedar sof-fit and fascia.
“The overall look will be rustic Lakeof Bays but with slightly cleaner linesand more glass,” says Pitropov.
What is important with such a proj-ect, he notes, is a good fit betweenarchitect and client.
“I’ll ask people to do a little researchthemselves, get magazine clippings,find pictures of places they like; that’sa dialogue that helps us become cre-ative,” Pitropov says. “It’s not ourideas that prevail, or the clients, butthe project takes on a life of its ownand you end up with somethingunique and original.”
Smith Architect is currently in the process of designing an elaborate cottage featuring three living pavil-ions unified under one long roofline with breezeways and courtyards between them.
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Your Panel of ProfessionalsYour Panel of ProfessionalsNeed answers to your questions? Let the Professionals give you the straight answers!
Research shows that clients make their decision to buy or notto buy in the first two minutes. Therefore, enhancing your
home is critical. Tidy and sweep front steps. Remove litter fromyour yard. Prune and trim hedges and trees. Edge and sweep thedriveway. Fingerprints should be removed and glass shined in yourdoors. A little forethought and a few suggestions from your real-tor can help the sale of your home.
AA
Thanks for your question. The short answer is no. TD CanadaTrust is still lending mortgage money and I’m still as busy as
ever. There have been some small changes. The maximum amorti-zation is now 35 years and the minimum downpayment required is5% of the purchase price. As always, I am happy to help qualifiedbuyers purchase a home. Please call me if I can help you plan forhomeownership or assist with a pre-approval.
AA
Lynda Lynn
Jacqui Semkow
Title insurance is now offered in Ontario by several companies.The benefits of title insurance may include: a reduction in your
legal fees as your lawyer may have to conduct fewer inquiries regard-ing the property thereby reducing the time he/she spends on yourfile; and protection for you as the purchaser, in the event that fraudor inaccuracies in information provided are discovered, after closing.You should discuss your options with a solicitor.
Marcia Oliver
705-645-5257Lynda LynnRoyal LePage [email protected]
What difference does “curb appeal”make in the sale of my property?
705-646-4238Jacqui SemkowTD Canada [email protected]
I have been watching the news and hear-ing that it is now very difficult to get amortgage. Is this true?
705-635-9860
We have decided to renovate our home.Do we need a planner?
705-788-1148Marcia OliverLaw Office of Marcia J. Oliver
We are purchasing a cottage. My lawyerhas recommended title insurance. Whatis it and why is it beneficial?
AA
Property and home owners would be wise to consult a plannerprior to making renovation and rebuilding plans. The zoning
bylaws in Muskoka are becoming increasingly strict and more com-plex. Find out what you can do before you start and what you maybe able to do with the help of a planner to achieve your ultimategoal, even if it doesn't immediately comply with the zoning bylaw. Itwill save you time and money in the long run.
Marie Poirier
AAMarie Poirier, MCIP, RPP
Marie Poirier Planning & Associates Inc.
Ph 705-635-1379 • Cell 705-788-6156 • [email protected]
"What's the difference between average and extraordinary?It's all in the details."
28 Years of Experienceon Lake of Bays
Garry Hall Construction
S H O W C A S E F E A T U R E P R O P E R T I E S
Suzanne MartineauSales Representative
Rosseau Branch [email protected]
www.muskokacottagedreams.com
1138 Highway 141, Rosseau, ON705-706-3329 (Direct) 705-732-8263 (Office)
Independently Owned and Operated
Parry Sound-MuskokaRealty Ltd., Brokerage
Looking to move to Muskoka?Large bungalow on a fabulous level ravine lot, central Bracebridge, The Heart of Muskoka. A Breath of Fresh Air and A Great Lifestyle! $289,000.
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For more information call Karen Flood, 705-644-4011
This wonderful custom built year-roundcottage or home offers it all. Post andbeam construction, wide open spaces, 2master suites, gorgeous wood fireplace,lower living space with propane fireplace,level land, sand shoreline, great view, southexposure, large decks and newer hot tub.Also has high efficiency oil furnace. Onlyminutes to town and on a great lake.
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The view from the “L” shaped dock and boathouseis South West creating spectacular vistas acrossopen water. The cottage offers central air, exten-sive wooden interior, 3 bdrms with additionalsleeping accommodation in the walk out base-ment, laundry facilities & great room with stonefireplace, wood floors and incredible views! Selleris motivated so enjoy your Muskoka this summer.Call Brent today for your personal tour!
BRENT GINOUSales Representative
405 Muskoka Road South, Unit A1p. 705-684-8181
tf. 1-866-684-8181c. 705-641-0097
www.sutton.com/sg/[email protected]
Sutton-Around MuskokaRealty Inc. brokerage
Live the Muskoka Life Style on Drive-ToActon Island on Beautiful Muskoka Lake.
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Call myDIRECT TOLL FREE NUMBER 1-877-777-8695
I look forward to working for you!
Mary ThomasSales Representative
Office: (705) 789-9677Cell: (705) [email protected]
B R O K E R A G E
www.marythomasmuskoka.com
A big fat fish was swimming by thedock as we put out the For Sale signon this 4 season cottage with 170’frontage on crystal clear Big WhitefishLake. With 3 bedrooms, a spacious liv-ing area with a wall of windows over-looking the beautiful lake view youcan host a family reunion. Enjoy milesof boating on this three lake chain. Forweekends, weeks on end or an eter-nity, this cottage is a big catch at asmall price $449,000.
CCAAMMEERROONN && KKAARREENN WWHHIITTEESales Representatives
Port Carling, ON1-888-508-2777 ext. 513
Cell: (705) [email protected]
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Sutton-Around Muskoka Realty Inc., Brokerage405 Muskoka Road South, Unit A1, GRAVENHURST
Enjoy this Muskoka getaway now! The serene, privatesetting will captivate and entertain you with close to 600feet of natural shoreline, over 4 acres and wildlife suchas loons, herons, humming birds, beavers, deer and fishto share the experience! Book your appointment withWendy today! Short notice appointments are possible!705-646-7532
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LAKES OF MUSKOKA REALTY395 CENTRE ST N., HUNTSVILLE 705-789-9677
SUE BURKE, Sales Rep. – The Power of Sue at Work for You20+ Years ~ #1 Agent Huntsville/Lake of Bays/Almaguin 2007
[email protected] • 705-788-6389 direct line Check out all of Sue’s listings at www.sueburke.ca