Modern elements and cosy details turn this cabin into a special retreat
This cosy yet contemporary chalet in Blue Mountain, Collingwood, serves as a recreational retreat for its owners, a haven to enjoy the great outdoors and host family and friends. To match the homeowners' chic, laid-back lifestyle, I chose a modern farmhouse aesthetic that embraces the mountain vibe, the home's architectural attributes and its structural limitations.
Despite its many transformative elements (new floors, a fireplace, mudroom, updated entrance, new panelling, staircase, interior doors, and a lot of paint), the home maintains a distinctive cabin feel highlighted by a central fireplace. On approaching this project, my original inclination was to move the fireplace. However, on discovering the home's structural limitations, I opted to keep it in its original position, streamlining and modernizing the existing traditional wood-burning stove with a sleek, four-sided gas unit. What started as a design challenge became a new focal point to be enjoyed from every angle in the vast space, which was now perfectly divided, yet connected.
The dining area proved to be a fun collaboration with my clients, who chose to feature a Twiggy painting that adds a pop of colour and contemporary flair to the other side of the fireplace.
To bring drama and dimension to this open-concept area, I painted the east and west gable ends in a dark, warm grey colour. I repeated this same contrasting hue on all interior doors to perfectly match the smoky, stained hardwood floors and complement the pickled pine ceilings.
A mudroom finishes off the main level and adds a practical addition to the space – complete with a boot dryer closet for winter recreation and organized cubbies for stylish storage.
The upper landing area houses a small office and sitting area, with a hallway leading to the principal sleeping area.
The main bedroom features a wood slab headboard from CB2 – an instant focal point of the space. On the main floor, the guest bedrooms were designed to maximize sleeping. Twinover- queen bunk beds were placed against the wall and a few windows, featuring light and airy metal frames that don't feel visually heavy in the space. The other bedroom boasts a wall-to-wall headboard that allows the twin beds to be pushed together to create a king-sized bed, if and when desired.
In the end, the variations of warm greys and contrasting colours throughout the chalet, plus the addition of cosy furniture pieces, work well to create a warm and welcoming space everywhere you go. And the perfect place to entertain friends and family.
Photos: Gillian Jackson
Contractor: Brolly Renos | Paint Colours: Sherwin-Williams | SW7042. Shoji White (white colour throughout) | SW7044. Amazing Grey (mudroom walls and millwork) | SW7020. Black Fox (accent walls and interior doors) | Bedroom rugs: CB2 | Dining room Rug: ELTE MKT | Leather chairs and sectional sofa: ELTE MKT | Dining Chairs: Caligaris | Master Headboard: CB2 | Leather acc ent chair in master: CB2 | Bedding in master bedroom: West Elm