Houzz Tour: Creative Design Moves Rescue an Island Cottage
Facing down mold and nicotine, two industrious Canadian designers transform an uninhabitable wreck into an artful getaway
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
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In spite of this house's then-uninhabitable status, its owners envisioned their dream island cottage the moment they stepped inside its moldy walls. "The house had been closed up without heat for years and was a moss- and nicotine-soaked nightmare," says homeowner Ian McLeod. "Most people considered it a teardown, but the astounding location and the house's good bones were all that we saw," he says. A 15-minute floatplane ride takes him and Kerry Johnson from their busy urban lives as design consultants in Vancouver to Mayne Island, where they enjoy watching wildlife, reading and working on DIY projects.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a vacation cottage for Ian McLeod and Kerry Johnson
Location: Mayne Island, between Vancouver and Vancouver Island
Size: About 1,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a vacation cottage for Ian McLeod and Kerry Johnson
Location: Mayne Island, between Vancouver and Vancouver Island
Size: About 1,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
The main floor's tented cedar ceiling was one of the few elements the couple did not have to rip out. "The way it looks today is the way it looked to us within the first five minutes of seeing it," says McLeod, a design consultant for Johnson McLeod.
"When we're in Vancouver, we are very busy, both with our design projects and a social life that combines work and pleasure," McLeod says. "The cottage is our respite, and although summertime includes wonderful visits with friends, we are often alone there the rest of the year, enjoying some solitude and watching nature."
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| The couple replaced and added windows for better natural light and views. |
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| "Every day we see seals swimming past and eagles soaring by. There are deer sleeping under our fruit trees, and occasionally a killer whale in the bay," McLeod says. Out here on the porch, a bowl of twigs has the look of a fire pit without the fire hazard. "The glowing-embers effect was created by tucking strings of orange twinkle lights in among a whorl of local driftwood sticks," McLeod explains. "We made the outdoor coffee table that it sits on and used a large drill bit for the extension cord. The absence of a visible power source completes the illusion." |
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| Johnson and McLeod were champing at the bit to start realizing their vision; they began demolishing walls the day they took possession of the house. "As in all of our work, we focus on increasing light and opening up longer sight lines," McLeod says. "To that end we tore down the wall between the kitchen and main living room, creating one huge space." One of their many DIY projects includes the combination kitchen island and wood stacker, which divides the kitchen space from the dining area. |
"Our favorite aesthetic is white with wood, both here and in the city," McLeod says. "This provides nice contrast to the original clear cedar ceiling in the main space, while gallons of crisp white paint contemporize the house and help us to see."
The couple has furnished and accessorized with local finds, DIY projects and found objects, such as driftwood. "We enjoy making new things blend with the old, and old things blend with the new," McLeod says.
The kitchen had been its own closed-off area, and the cabinets were in bad shape. McLeod and Johnson wanted to make it enjoyable to look at in the new open first-floor space.
Wood and white contrast in the new kitchen: Fir plywood cabinets echo the cedar ceiling, while white appears in the stainless steel countertops and tongue and groove paneling. The lack of upper cabinets opens up the space.
| "The local Home Hardware is our favorite haunt, as we're usually making something. We have always loved DIY projects and are too fast and impatient for help," McLeod says. "We built and hand painted our chunky coffee table, storage units and the library shelving." |
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| McLeod and Johnson did add a wall on the main floor; it divides the formerly large bedroom into two smaller bedrooms. |
Tongue and groove paneling lends a cottage feel to the bedrooms. The orange shelves at the end of the bed are another DIY project.
The two new cozy rooms have a transom window between them.
The lower guest bedroom ceiling is made of bleached plywood panels and white strapping.
The couple has owned the home since 2005, but they're not done making improvements, as those are part of the fun of their island lifestyle. "We walk everywhere, make every meal and much of the furniture," McLeod says. "After a few weeks of that, neon lights and takeout food in the Vancouver is like a trip to Paris — we love the contrast!"
More: Browse more inspiring vacation homes
More: Browse more inspiring vacation homes
Ideabook updated on Feb. 18, 2013.
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This is an amazing transformation. Thank you for sharing!
"everyone else "thought was a river house tear down. Great Job!
I would love to see a floor plan. I'm trying to piece it together from the photos, but it seems that they've made excellent use of the space in terms of orientation and size.
Thank you for this mini vacation stay at your lovely home. Best of luck with any other renovations you bring to this house. Mary Beth L.
There are way too many things here that I love – but just have to call out the bleached plywood panels in the guest bedroom ceiling and the fake fire pit. This house is simply stunning!!
I am wondering as I am working on a job where we had significant mold damage. We have removed all the mold we found, along with 18" beyond last sign of mold. My handyman cut away areas and sealed the exposed wood left with some chemical (not sure what).
Did you use something to seal before you replaced drywall? Did you add mold inhibitors to paints before application? Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.