The Rural Voice, 2006-06, Page 42Home Decorating
Touring a Lake Huron cottage with a difference
Patti
Robertson
operates
Classic
Interiors in
Wingham.
By Patti Robertson
Summer is rapidly approaching, so
this month I thought we'd tour a
fabulous cottage along the Lake
Huron shoreline.
Wending our way along a quiet
and very shady lane, we approach the
cottage from the rear. A grand two-
storey sandstone facade creates an
awe-inspiring arrival. The cottage has
been off centered on the lot to allow
for a spacious floral garden featuring
seven -foot -high obelisks topped with
planters that,not only attract one's
attention, but leads you along a
marvelous curving flagstone
walkway to the generously
proportioned, columned verandah at
the front of the home. The
furnishings gracing the verandah are
of generously proportioned resin
wicker in a smokey-taupe hue, all
made invitingly comfy with large
pillowed cushions in taupes, tans and
charcoal print. It creates a great
vantage point from which to gaze out
over the beautiful lakefront vista.
Upon entering the cottage, you get
an automatic restful feeling primarily
created through the use of muted,
smokey-taupe hues used on the walls,
floors and ceiling. In the great room
of the cottage, the kitchen area
features dark cherry cabinetry with
taupe and charcoal mixed granite
countertops. Leather furnishings in a
cranberry hue grace the sitting area
clustered around the most impressive
floor -to -ceiling grey and taupe
fireplace. Games tables in cherry are
set with board games and puzzles in
progress. The drapery treatments
we've installed utilize a printed
jacquard woven fabric, which
features an overlay stripe in
cranberry, sage green and a hint of
navy and taupe on a taupe ground.
Artwork has been chosen to repeat
and incorporate the overall colour
theme of this large inviting space.
The main floor bath features a
cranberry wall covering with a
medallion motif with little hints of
gold, sage green and taupe. The three
main floor bedrooms feature textural
wall covering in a medium taupe
tonal value, which compliment the
Berber carpeting. Draperies, and bed
fashions blend from soft patterns,
stripes and plaids, in mix -and -match
tonal value in taupe, charcoal,
cranberry, gold, sage green and navy.
Each room has its own amenities
including vanity and sink and a built-
in bar fridge.
Down the hallway we pass
collages created from a copious array
of fun family photos captured while
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38 THE RURAL VOICE
together at the cottage. We arrive at
the powder room to the left, which
features a fun nautical print wall
covering in sage green with minimal
hints of cranberry and gold. On the
right side of the hallway is the
cottage laundry room, which has been
painted in a soft sage green and
features a nautical border repeating
the colourations of the powder room.
Now for the surprise element of
the cottage. Up a grand, curving
stairway we arrive at the master suite
of the cottage, which incorporates the
entire second floor of this impressive
vacation home. The library
bookshelves, custom cabinetry and
all floors are of a rich cherry wood.
In the bedroom proper, the walls have
been wrapped with a fine Chinese
grass cloth in sage, gold and a little
mahogany hue while the window and
bed dressings feature a beautiful
arabesque pattern in honeyed -gold,
shantung silk with a little cranberry,
sage and charcoal. A freestanding
glass block wall divides the bath from
the bedroom yet allows a generous
proportion of light to pass through.
On the other side we discover an
ensuite to rival any that I've seen.
Rough textural marble tiles imported
from Italy wrap each wall, the sunken
whirlpool and shower stall. Windows
expose the beachfront and when one
is in the tub, you feel like you are
sitting in the lake. Wow!
Artwork and statues all
incorporate the colour values
common throughout the entire decor.
Bedside lamps have been imported
from France. Needless to say this is a
very ostentatious property, which the
owners feel blessed to be able to call
their own and, for this designer, a
rare treat in our area to be invited to
assist with.
Patti's Tip: The tighter reign we keep
on our homes colourations the more
professional and stylized our home
will appear. Use 1-3 hues and
incorporate interesting textures and
patterns for ultimate presentation
throughout the home.0