Decorating & Design 3 Min Read

This P.E.I. Summer Home Has The Beach In Its Backyard

July 29th, 2019

Not long after the magnolia trees have burst into bloom, Kevin and Bernadette decamp from their house in Toronto and head to their 3,100-square-foot summer home on Prince Edward Island.

Bernadette, a retired medical professional, and Kevin, who runs a global analytics group, built their waterfront retreat in 2012 after falling in love with P.E.I. on family trips with their three now-grown children. “We wanted something that we owned and enjoyed but that didn’t own us,” says Kevin. To that end, they kept things simple with a clean, coastal vibe finished with a crisp blue and white palette coupled with modern furnishings. Scroll down to virtually escape to this tranquil, seaside summer home.

“Throughout its history, P.E.I.’s architecture has been greatly influenced by that of New England,” says David Lopes, the Charlottetown architect Kevin and Bernadette enlisted to design the home. The abode’s weathered cedar shake exterior has a distinctly Cape Cod feel.

The glass and hemp chandelier in the front entrance picks up the home’s cool blue accents.

In the living room, slipcovered furniture sets a casual tone. The fireplace is Wallace sandstone, which is also used for the home’s front stoop.

Two wing chairs take in the waterfront view. David chose black specifically for the interior window casings to better frame the ocean.

The dining area feels like an extension of the outdoors.

Food is a big part of the couple’s P.E.I. routine. When guests are in town, Kevin sets up an omelette station on the kitchen island. In the evenings, guests sip wine while he shucks oysters. Bernadette’s fondness for sea glass inspired the frosted-glass backsplash while the smooth Carrara marble countertops are perfect for making pie crusts.

There are always fresh herbs on the kitchen counter, ready to perk up a salad or seafood dish.

David designed the deck off the principal bedroom to be a sunny, sheltered retreat from the active main floor. “It gives you the feeling of being in your own private crow’s nest,” he says.