This little cottage in Bayfield Ontario and the wonderful couple that owns it will always have a special place in our hearts.
The owners are from California and had just bought this place as their summer getaway.
I had e-mailed with them a few times in preparation for the consult. We discussed colours and styles they were drawn to so I was able to and come with sample books in keeping with the look they were after.
As soon as I came in the front door I was instantly at home with them, I knew right away that making this space what they were dreaming of would be a labour of love.
The goal for this project was to take a rather boring bungalow and turn it into an English inspired cottage. The dark Ikea kitchen needed to stay so we softened it by lightening the dining room ceiling, adding striped romans and white accents. Lighter than light pale yellow walls bring the sun in without overwhelming the space.
A happy client is always the goal… to have this remarkable couple become cherished friends has been a true blessing.
Here are some excerpts from the e-mail that first night they saw their cottage redone.
“Dearest Cynthia & Kent, It’s past midnight and we are exhausted, but we can’t go to sleep because we don’t want to miss a minute of the party the house is throwing for us. No, make that the party YOU have thrown for us. Every 10 minutes brings a new discovery, a new wave of appreciation, a new sense that what yo’ve wrought in just 5 weeks is nothing short of a miracle. And if you had 5 years, you couldn’t have done anything more wonderful.
We hardly know where to start, the colours, the fabrics, the workmanship…
You took a brittle ikea shell and transformed it into a cozy, inviting home that we fell in love with at first sight.
We are amazed at how hard you both obviously worked, and how much you cared about the job. It’s incredibly touching really.
We’re just not accustomed to this sort of competence, talent, dedication and caring, down to the beautiful flowers & bubbly.
thank you,
Cathy & Bill”