about the cottage & us...
In the summer of 2009, Keith and I bought this 1926 Arts & Crafts, Tudor-Revival cottage on the day we first walked through it. Besides the initial wonder & the immediate bond to the house's soul, there was also a sudden focus - this is for us! . This revelation was accompanied by our determination that we'd restore & remake it, into both our home & a beautiful, unique bed and breakfast.
Built so long ago, the authentic features of an arts & crafts cottage have survived & been amazingly preserved by a very serendipitious factor: it has passed through just 1 family of owners, & these American owners used the cottage, from 1926 to 2009, solely for summer vacation living. As we walked through, the dusty atmosphere was a time-travelling glimpse through almost a century - an oak washstand from before indoor plumbing, no electrical outlets in the small, original bathroom, 3 inch pine flooring in the great room, skeleton-keyed doors..... forward a few years, to a 40s style kitchen with few cupboards, linoleum flooring & very few electrical outlets & a mudroom entry with an enormous divided cement sink for washing dishes, clothes & likely kids. An eclectic, mishmash of living, dining & outdoor furniture.... memories of a well-loved summer home. Some we kept, some gave away, some went to a well-deserved rest.
But with a vision & a partner who can do practically anything - or else this wouldn't even have been thinkable - we dove in, got through the maze of getting the property rezoned for our purpose, & except for installing of heating, insulation & roofing, Keith & I & our multi-skilled son Darcy, who did the complete rewiring of the house, we've done it all ourselves & are quite proud of our results.
Built so long ago, the authentic features of an arts & crafts cottage have survived & been amazingly preserved by a very serendipitious factor: it has passed through just 1 family of owners, & these American owners used the cottage, from 1926 to 2009, solely for summer vacation living. As we walked through, the dusty atmosphere was a time-travelling glimpse through almost a century - an oak washstand from before indoor plumbing, no electrical outlets in the small, original bathroom, 3 inch pine flooring in the great room, skeleton-keyed doors..... forward a few years, to a 40s style kitchen with few cupboards, linoleum flooring & very few electrical outlets & a mudroom entry with an enormous divided cement sink for washing dishes, clothes & likely kids. An eclectic, mishmash of living, dining & outdoor furniture.... memories of a well-loved summer home. Some we kept, some gave away, some went to a well-deserved rest.
But with a vision & a partner who can do practically anything - or else this wouldn't even have been thinkable - we dove in, got through the maze of getting the property rezoned for our purpose, & except for installing of heating, insulation & roofing, Keith & I & our multi-skilled son Darcy, who did the complete rewiring of the house, we've done it all ourselves & are quite proud of our results.
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Within a year of working both our day jobs & then our cottage night jobs, we'd finished the majority of bigger demands: "The Major ReStuff - rewiring, refurnacing, replumbing, reroofing, insulation, repainting exteriors, repairing, replastering & repainting every wall & ceiling, refinishing every floor, tiling the mudroom, kitchen, baths & sunroom, gutting and replacing the kitchen & so much more.
I started to search out, through estate sales, auctions, antique stores & the internet, styles and furnishings that would reflect the view I had for the cottage.... how this treasure would eventually present, as if continually inhabited by the family. You know how when you have a cottage, things that age of out your house, generally wind up at the cottage? My inner goal was this - only, really nice, very atmosphere-appropriate, hand-me-downs. A living & long lived-in lake cottage, for our guests to enjoy. And now, I sometimes feel we have a retirement home for lovely period things, who still have a lot to give, in practical & beautiful usage: Pretty, Practical & Period. |
bottom of Feb 3, 1931 clawfoot tub
original ceiling fixtures restored
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airchair now recovered & in Irwin Suite
refinishing the hallway floor
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open for guests...
, In the summer of 2011, we opened on July 1st. Our first guest was Mrs Jones, the previous owner, a former Michigander, but now living in Washington State. She'd flown in, & although we met just then in person, we had been carrying on an e-friendship, with pictures of renovations & commentary on our plans, for the past year. She & her husband had bought the cottage from his mother in the late 40s. It was where he had spent all his summers, from childhood in the 30s to his passing in 2008 & where they'd lived out each summer with their children, grandchildren, families & their long-time Wheatley friends. She was so pleased her memories weren't to be bulldozed down or the large property subdivided, & that the cottage would live on with people enjoying it. She was amazed & delighted with our work. It was very gratifying & made us happy that she was pleased.
Since then, we've welcomed guests from all over. The charm of this vintage home is only matched by its' singular, beautiful setting. We are on almost an acre of lakefront property, with a coming & going sandy beach. This east side of Point Pelee National Park benefits from the Great Lake currents, and, after a couple of calm days, the clear water shows a sandy bottom perfect for swimming and floating on a hot day. Groupings of muskoka chairs and loungers spot the wide lawns. The sunroom is fronted by a wide patio with table & chairs. In the middle of the property, there's the breakwall patio with umbrella, table & chairs, perfect for warm morning breakfasts &. evening chats over a glass of wine or a cold beer. At the west end of the lawn is the firepit patio & it's encircling chairs.
The sunrise on Lake Erie is worth getting up for. The evening shades over the lake are soul therapy. The peace & calm elements of a stay here are almost palpable.
Since then, we've welcomed guests from all over. The charm of this vintage home is only matched by its' singular, beautiful setting. We are on almost an acre of lakefront property, with a coming & going sandy beach. This east side of Point Pelee National Park benefits from the Great Lake currents, and, after a couple of calm days, the clear water shows a sandy bottom perfect for swimming and floating on a hot day. Groupings of muskoka chairs and loungers spot the wide lawns. The sunroom is fronted by a wide patio with table & chairs. In the middle of the property, there's the breakwall patio with umbrella, table & chairs, perfect for warm morning breakfasts &. evening chats over a glass of wine or a cold beer. At the west end of the lawn is the firepit patio & it's encircling chairs.
The sunrise on Lake Erie is worth getting up for. The evening shades over the lake are soul therapy. The peace & calm elements of a stay here are almost palpable.
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