Decorating & Design
January 17, 2017
This Cozy Lodge Is Filled With Cool Canadiana
When Don Tapscott, an entrepreneur and bestselling author on business technology, and Ana Lopes, a corporate director and social entrepreneur, first stepped into this romantic 1952 lodge, it was as if time had stood still. “It felt like the quintessential Adirondack cottage from the ’50s — lots of pine, taxidermy, laminates, plywood, turquoise bathroom tiles, a river-rock fireplace and decades-old furniture,” recalls Ana. Because of the property’s rich history, they felt like custodians of a Muskoka legacy. So, Don and Ana began a painstaking restoration and expansion that took four years to complete. The project was overseen by Dave McKey of Goose Lake Custom Builders, whose father, as fate would have it, built the original cabin. Reclaimed wood was used to create walls and doors, local river rocks made up the fireplace and the pegged-oak floors were stained the same color as those in the original part of the lodge. Go inside the eclectic, laid-back space filled with vintage decor and cool Canadiana finds.
To integrate the lodge into its woodsy surroundings and blend the old and new construction, Ana and Don painted the exterior a muted brown.
In the new great room adjacent to the kitchen, Ana chose a neutral palette that would feel comfortable and cozy on both warm summer days and snowy nights. Natural textures such as driftwood, river rocks, wood and linen-clad sofas bring the outdoors inside.
A generously sized kitchen table made of reclaimed pine easily accommodates large family dinners. An elaborate bird chandelier adds an unexpected twist.
The kitchen is designed to handle a crowd: open shelving and an armoire with chicken-wire fronts make finding things easy; the massive island houses two heavy-duty dishwashers.
On rainy days or mosquito season nights, the new screened-in porch off the kitchen is a favorite gathering spot. Chintz and stripes in pale colors dress up wicker chairs. At night, punctuated metal lanterns from Morocco make the ceiling look starry.
Don at the ornately decorated 70-year-old Heintzman piano in the pine-panelled music room.
The new principal bedroom has wraparound windows to maximize lake views. The clean lines, Moroccan lantern and Indian-print pillows keep the mood contemporary, not kitschy.
Seamlessly linking old and new, reclaimed pine used on walls, ceilings and doors has the patina of age in a hallway leading to the new two-bedroom guest wing.
Rustic twin beds brought from the family’s previous cottage provide a cozy kid-friendly retreat in one of the guest bedrooms.
Hudson’s Bay-striped swimming towels in the boathouse add a pop of color and iconic Canadiana to the outdoor decor.
Don had steel rod-reinforced logs installed at the back of the boathouse to safely and handsomely store his collection of rare, and now carefully restored, vintage canoes.