Cottages
Designer Barbara Purdy Marries Two Distinct Styles In One Gorgeous Cottage
Updated on November 29, 2023
When a couple has differing tastes, it takes a special designer to get them to the finish line. In the case of Liz and Matt Shearer, she loves clean, white and modern and he prefers a more rugged and traditional vibe. Where their visions did align was on the most important thing: the goal of creating a warm and inviting all-season cottage, where friends and family would feel right at home. Enter Toronto designer Barbara Purdy, who navigated the choppy waters of design decisions and blended their styles beautifully. “My style actually dovetails with both of theirs,” says Barbara. “I take ‘rustic’ but temper it with ‘modern’ for balance.” The couple, who have two children, ages 14 and 11, wanted a place where the family could stay for extended periods of time, not just a night or two.
In 2016, Liz and Matt Shearer found their ideal spot — a wild lakefront property in Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes district, an easy drive from their Brooklin, Ont., home and for Liz’s parents, who live in Upstate New York. Barbara was the natural choice to, as Matt says, “quarterback” the project and hone the interiors to suit them both. She had previously worked on the family’s primary residence and already knew their styles well. “To me, this project is about nature and the surroundings. Everything is oriented toward that,” says Barbara.
Liz loves decorating and worked alongside Barbara at every step to help create the cottage’s timeless charm and welcoming atmosphere. “We chose things that we weren’t going to tire of, that would stay with us a long time and outlast the trends,” says Liz. “Barbara was the missing link for bringing our styles together.”
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For years, while living in Amsterdam, Liz and Matt held on to a dog-eared copy of House & Home from 2011, bookmarked at a story about a house Barbara had done for her brother. When they moved back home to Canada, they pulled out that old issue and jumped at the chance to work with the designer.
Architectural designer Ray Murakami was brought on after the couple fell in love with his work on a lottery dream home. His plan nestled the 9,000-square-foot, five-bedroom cottage into the landscape so it wouldn’t be too noticeable from the water.
Working in tandem with Barbara, Ray shaped it into an evenly proportioned cottage with a respect for the land it’s on. Landscaper Glenn Hayes completed the vision, repositioning rocks from the site to hug the building and create a natural slope to the water. “He’s a magician with rocks,” says Liz.
Visitors are greeted by a rustic oak door and flagstone pavers. “When you pull up to the cottage, you can see straight through to the lake,” says Liz. Inside, the result is quiet, contemplative corridors, with privacy for the principal bedroom at one end, and guest rooms at the other.
Natural and durable finishes such as slate, oak and outdoor fabrics were also key to accomplishing the put-your-feet-up vibe the couple was after. “We didn’t want anything too precious,” says Liz. The lower ceiling height in the front hall enhances the sense of grandeur when you walk into the double-height living area.
From the start, Barbara suggested that there be no drywall in the cottage. “It just wasn’t the right fit,” she says. When they found a unique prefinished oak wall treatment from Unik Parquet, the rooms started to take shape. It also appealed to Matt, who craved a more woodsy look. Oversized pendants, a dark wall treatment and leather barstools add texture to the bar area.
“The soft, muted palette doesn’t compete with the intense green in the summer, the golden tones of fall, and even the white of winter.” Two oversized loungers are turned to face the lake.
The island in the open-concept kitchen is used for serving and entertaining. Messy cooking tasks are relegated to a hidden walk-through pantry. “They’re a young family that hosts a lot. They didn’t want a big kitchen that would easily clutter, so there’s a ton of storage,” says Barbara of the walk-through pantry concept. Mess is hidden from the main kitchen, which is open to the living and dining areas.
Much of the action revolves around food and conversation in the kitchen. The family of four regularly gathers around the kitchen banquette to eat, read or watch TV.
Black-framed, triple- hung windows create a picture-frame effect in the dining room.
A double-sided stone fireplace separates the living area from the kitchen and dining zones.
A collection of gourds is a seasonal touch.
Located in a separate wing off one of the breezeways, the principal bedroom is the couple’s private retreat.
The same wood panelling used throughout the cottage warms up the principal bedroom.
With porcelain tile covering the floor and walls, the luxurious principal ensuite has a spa-like feel.
Perennial entertainers, the couple had a full games room and bar included in the plan, along with several gathering areas, fireplaces, and TVs for ultimate relaxation. When people come to stay (the cottage sleeps 12), they can easily spread out. The games room has a magnetic wall-mounted Scrabble board and a pool table.
The casual family room has slate flooring and custom barn-style doors.
“The cottage is situated on a unique point with beautiful lush forests, rugged rock outcroppings and breathtaking elevation. We wanted to take advantage of these features by planning the layout to fit the unique topography, and capture the best views while being aware of the sun’s path,” says architectural designer Ray Murakami. The flip side of the family room’s double-sided fireplace warms the deck.
Donna Griffith
House & Home October 2021
Stacy Begg; design assistance by Leigh Pascaris
Barbara Purdy; architecture, Murakami Design