Wow! Two new custom homes on the River and completely different, but both exceptional.

One of the wonderful things about being in real estate is that you are often privileged to “sneak peaks” on truly unique and outstanding homes and this week was no exception.
I have two friends, each building on different sections of the Rideau. One is on Burritt’s Rapids near Kemptville and the other is right in Ottawa at Mooney’s Bay. Both of my friends are quite seasoned in the design department and each has had several opportunities to hone their skills in this regard with several projects. I must say however, that one of my friends is a serial builder/ home renovator and has built a variety of homes, in some pretty diverse locations. Today, I want to share my cottage experience.
Our friends purchased 10 acres of waterfront property several years ago in Burrit’s Rapids near Kemptville with an abandoned barn on the property. It was seriously overgrown but the water and the barn seemed to speak to them. Over the years they had coordinated ideas and worked on plans with an architect and began to clear the land, plant trees, create a road into the property and build a new barn which was to accommodate his love for tinkering on motors and engines.
He is self-taught with pretty much everything he does and I think that he also believes there is not a project he couldn’t manage. He is, we all admit, a real rock star when it comes to all of these things as he is also a perfectionist who executes with great precision. So this home is quite spectacular both in design and execution. They wanted to instill a maritime cottage feeling in this 1 and ½ story home with a main level master and guest quarters above. They have succeeded in all areas of their goal. The home is filled with charm and personality and features a big porch at the front to greet guests. The warm and welcoming feeling that has been successfully created was with the use of beautiful trim, moldings and infinite detail on the smallest of things. He installed a reclaimed newel post hunted for and discovered from a salvager from an old home from the last century. She sourced out and found a couple of antique and detailed exterior doors that had been salvaged. They have used them as interior doors in the second floor guest quarters. Each has been filled with custom made stained glass that our friends designed and he learned how to fabricate and work with during this project. With his new stained glass skills he also created custom wall sconces in the movie theatre in the 9 ft ceiling lower level. The fixtures are both unique, flawless and perfect for this space making everyone feel like they are in an old Lowe’s theatre! Further evidence of charm is in the two dormered guest bedrooms on the second level featuring charming little ceiling fixtures that she created in a hanging grape like design and made from 3 white painted tin flower pots that resonate with that Swedish country style of design.
Of course the house is perfectly sited on the property to take in exceptional views from all windows. Beaded board ceilings in the kitchen successfully create the country kitchen feel that she wanted to re-create from her current lux and outstanding country estate home, while again including all of the latest state of the art appliances and organizers for today’s kitchen. Pot fillers, cappuccino machines, fridge drawers, sweeping islands and of course the country kitchen harvest table at the window embracing the view are all elements in this fabulous kitchen.
The great room with high ceilings features simple yet deep cove moldings. The archways are uniform and perfectly mirrored on each corner and include beautiful architraves, detailed door trim and plinth blocks. The hardwood throughout this luxury cottage is 8 inch “live sawn” oak boards that give a relaxed and homey feel to the surroundings. They provide a distinctive and unique look which stems from the fact that the boards are cut out of the middle, on the length of the tree. These boards have a titanium finish and are protected from U.V. rays.
The master is marked with a more refined archway with the same detail but more defined. High ceilings, beautiful windows and a walk out to the deck looking over the river are just some of the elements of this private master retreat located just off the great room on the opposite end of the kitchen. The front and rear decks are fabricated with richly toned 6 inch IPE boards considered one of the hardest woods available and comes with a lifetime guarantee to never rot.
The master en suite has left nothing to chance. A luxurious zero clearance shower with huge rain heads, heated floors that take the edge off cold feet and beautiful his and her vanities complimented with perfectly appointed mirrors and light fixtures finish this hotel like space.
This home is truly a work of art and a labour of love. They are excited to start living in this jewel which is a downsizing project for them. Leaving a wonderful 167 acre estate property considered one of Ottawa’s finest properties will be bitter sweet for them. However, they are comforted by the fact that the new owners of that magnificent property experienced love at first site when they landed on the property and are equally excited to take over the stewardship of that outstanding estate. My friends are leaving it in excellent hands and are excited to begin this new experience on the water.
Next week I will tell you about city, water front living and an outstanding Hollywood Regency home another friend and her husband have been working on for over a year with well-known designer Andre Godin.