Renewal of a Recreational Dwelling - Georgian Bay

This project involves the renewal of an existing cottage near Georgian Bay.  Having been in the owner's family for many years, some interior renovations, revised window openings, new rear and front decks, a larger garage, and a new hot tub are desired.

The design at the rear centres the wood deck so that it is surrounded by the garage, the landscaping, the hot tub, and an accessory structure.  Summertime activities are reinforced, allowing interaction and visibility between areas. 

At the front of house shown below, a 2nd deck is proposed along with sliding patio doors within the existing window opening.  Roll down insect screens will surround the existing front porch, while allowing clear access to the front door. 

  

The cottage is on a street separated from the nearby beach, with other seasonal cottages as neighbours.  The broader context includes new all-season homes on adjacent streets, as well as recently built retail amenities such as a chain drug mart and supermarket.  This design maintains the original function as a multi-generational gathering place for leisure.

Below is a rendering study of the proposed garage, with a sanded plywood interior.

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Back Room Idyll

For this small scale retrofit of an existing room at the back of a house, new surfaces and insulation are applied to make the space more liveable throughout the 4 seasons.  New tilt-and-turn fibreglass windows replace the old fixed single pane windows, allowing for greater control of fresh air intake, and a significant improvement in thermal performance.  A new glazed door also replaces the old.

 

 

As the room faces primarily northward, a new skylight was installed for additional natural light, allowing the midday sun to directly penetrate in the summer months.  A light cove sits at the intersection between the plywood ceiling and the existing brick.  An adjustable light fixture is installed on the wall for reading or specific tasks. 

 

 

As the back yard acts as a small urban oasis, the design approach to finishing this existing room is to treat it more as a remote cabin, separate in character from the rest of the house.  Furniture-grade sanded plywood surfaces provide a rustic yet refined backdrop to enjoy and engage with the greenery beyond. 

 

 

The existing brick wall has been kept essentially as is, with its various layers of old paint visible.

 

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Custom Kitchen

This project involves a kitchen renovation within a home in North York. It includes removing adjacent walls to the living and dining areas, and custom designed cabinetry.  

 

The new island is centered in the room.  It faces the widened opening to the living area, as well as pointing to the existing solarium.  A cantilevered counter projection allows for casual seating as needed.  In the image above, a sliding pocket door was added between the kitchen and dining room, to maintain a formal division between these rooms.

 

While a porcelain tiled floor is a common choice, the owners wanted something a little more forgiving on their knees.  A higher-end modular vinyl flooring tile was selected, which also contains a degree of recycled content.

One advantage to custom designed cabinetry - rather than a homeowner engaging a modular system kitchen company - is the flexibility and range of design solutions available.  With this design freedom, the needs of the client were able to be met with a level of detail and care specifically tailored for this context.  Of course, one is limited by the hardware, accessories, fixtures and appliances that are manufactured and available.  

 

A pull-out coffee station, drawers within pantry, an integrated bread bin, and a pull out towel rack were some of the features included.

To make the most of available space, cabinetry near the ceiling was incorporated with flip doors and hidden push / release hardware.  Up there, items that are used less frequently can be stored.

Beyond the island in the image below, shelving was incorporated near the widened opening to house cook books and other miscellaneous items.

 

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Yard Work

The scope of this project includes design work at the front and rear yards of an existing semi-detached home near the Bloor West neighbourhood.  At the rear, a combination of a wood deck, a gazebo, storage and soft landscaping area are desired.

An existing rear vestibule is to be re-clad and insulated, to improve its thermal performance and usability.  A small number of steps from the wood decks are required to access the recycling enclosure nearby.  The gazebo is intended to provide shelter with enough area for a table or play space.  It was important for the homeowner to have an unimpeded view from the main house to the back of the property, hence storage area is provided at the side of the gazebo. This side storage further proves some privacy relative to the neighbour.

A simple shed-like structure is shown at the rear of the lot for further garden storage.  The extent of rear yard soft landscaping is maintained at a percentage greater than 50%, as per the city's zoning requirements. 

At the front yard, a new wooden front porch is desired, to replace the existing concrete steps and landing.  Along the limestone walkway some raised planters are proposed. As the front yard faces a busy roadway, there is less interest in providing a space for lounging or play.  At the driveway, permeable concrete pavers allow the rain to percolate through.  

Overall, this design reflects a greater interest in useable exterior activity space and de-emphasises the car.  The existing old garage at rear can be demolished, with more space for landscaping and leisure.

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Finishing Touches

For this residential renovation and addition, some finishing details are being completed, including oak screening around the main stair.  The vertical wood slats act as guards, and provide some privacy at the transition between the main floor and the upstairs.

 

A view from the landing (with some distortion in the camera lens.)  Moving through the stair, one can experience the shift in opacity relative to the wood screening. 

 

Pictured below, a handrail bracket prior to installation.  It had a satisfying weight and sturdiness when held.

 

A view from the top of the stairs.

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