Cottages
This Sweet Cottage Proves You Don’t Have To Travel Far To Relax & Unwind
Updated on November 29, 2023
Some cottagers crave fast boats and never-ending parties, but not Eric and Caroline Bouffard — they enjoy lo-fi pursuits such as swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking. So, when the couple — she’s an interior designer, he’s an electrical engineer — searched for a getaway, they knew they didn’t want a rowdy setting that drowned out the sound of the birds, or a cottage where flash trumped family. “We’ve dreamed about living by the water; I’ve always been drawn to it,” says Caroline. A small lake with an old-fashioned name won their hearts. “There’s something magical about Lake Libby,” she says. “We saw the potential to set up a little paradise for the family,” says Caroline of the crew that includes their sons, Justin, 23, and Marek, 15.
The chalet reboot was a mom-and-pop operation that was completed on weekends over the summer of 2018. Caroline infused the 1,060-square-foot space with her signature refined-rustic style. “I wanted everyone to enjoy the place without worrying about damaging anything or being messy,” says Caroline, who often hosts her sister and her two children.
Scroll down to learn more about this quaint cottage in the Eastern Townships!
Caroline added a pair of nautical-style sconces to the cottage’s red and white façade. “In the evenings, we like to lounge on the Muskoka chairs and have a glass of wine by the fire,” she says.
Caroline cuts up fresh fruit with her son Marek, who’s been known to lazily paddleboard Lake Libby all afternoon. No matter who swings by, one thing is certain: they won’t forget the meals.
In the great outdoors, activities such as reading and paddling rule. A couple of loons drop onto the lake to say hello every summer.
The country kitchen is rustic yet fresh. Caroline swapped the laminate counters for concrete-look quartz and installed new hardware, shelves, a kitchen island and shiplap to match the other rooms. A tin pendant has vintage appeal.
“I like antiques, and mixing old with new makes a room look timeless,” says Caroline.
A trestle table, Windsor chairs and the battered brass pendant are pared-back perfection in the dining area. A durable cotton-covered sofa in the living room is made for sprawling, and no one will be shown the door if they don’t use a coaster on the wooden dining table.
A vintage-style chair illuminated by sconces is a perfect spot for reading. White shiplap walls and punchy black accents are crisp yet homey — after all, the grassy woodlands and lake are the stars of the show here. “I don’t like a lot of color,” says Caroline. “I do the same thing at home: white and black; it’s classic and chic. I like accent colors to come from books, pillows or dishes.”
Eric tackled the electrical and plumbing and added a powder room on the main floor, which conjures a farmhouse vibe with an enamel sink and barn-style sconce.
In Justin and Marek’s room, twin metal bed frames and jaunty striped pillows are quintessential cottage staples. The rooms have a relaxed, lived-in charm created with low-maintenance materials. The floors are wood-look ceramic tile so they can handle the dirt, and they’re heated for when the family comes to ski in the winter.
Caroline and Eric renovated the second-floor bathroom themselves, installing hex tile and shiplap for a cottagey feel. A black-framed shower enclosure has a striking silhouette.
Maxime Desbiens
House & Home July/August 2020
Caroline Bouffard