Farmhouse Casual

This simple yet classic Northumberland Hills farmhouse cottage is a favourite of the Gilbert + Burke team.

Nestled on the lake, this casual, timeless farmhouse build boasts stunning views of the water paired with next-level indoor renovations that worked to truly take the home to the next level. The homeowner, an interior designer, turned flower gardener, constructed over an acre of flower gardens on-site to further elevate the property.

This beautiful and extraordinary renovation project was featured on Apartment Therapy and Style at Home, earning a top spot in the Gilbert + Burke hall of fame. From the textured cut ash flooring to the engineering on the foundations, this project is a true study of what can happen when you honour the old while welcoming in change.

What made this beautiful project unique?

With this home build, we were able to marry old and new by integrating the captivating the beauty of a real farmhouse with a fresh, modern feel. In a practical way, we simply joined a new foundation to the old rubble foundation, bringing together both foundations in a safe and robust way. By joining together the foundations, we were able to create additional space without losing the farmhouse aesthetic — leading to a breathtaking, light-filled entryway alongside a laundry room and a bathroom in the space that used to be called the “old back kitchen.”

What were some of the most interesting and captivating design choices?

When designing this Northumberland Hills farmhouse cottage addition, we wanted to go against the grain and intermingle some unique, atypical additions into the otherwise classic home. We finished the flooring onsite, which integrated cuts of textured ash for a natural, sleek feel. It was incredibly special to our client to bring along her treasured antiques into the home, which we were able to do with the custom fireplace wall on the property. The unconventional fireplace used white and wood along with the owner’s antiques and other special touches for a true statement piece. We used marble for the kitchen counters to add a luxurious feel to the otherwise simple design and included brass hardware for some extra edge. With pops of blue in the master ensuite, we were able to fuse old, new, timeless and unique for a stand out home design.