enchanting ISLAND home & builder

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Pierce Griffin
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enchanting ISLAND BY WALTER FRANCZYK PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEBBIE OGDEN Nearly a century after becoming a

The newest family charmed by this island retreat was drawn by its unique character and the fact that

The 520-acre island on Lake of Bays is a short boat ride from the mainland, but it s a world away,

shore. At its centre is the Bigwin Island Golf Club with an 18-hole championship course.

1 enchanting ISLAND BY WALTER FRANCZYK PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEBBIE OGDEN Nearly a century after becoming a summer paradise for visitors from around the world, Bigwin Island remains a land of enchantment. The newest family charmed by this island retreat was drawn by its unique character and the fact that there are no cars on Bigwin. The 520-acre island on Lake of Bays is a short boat ride from the mainland, but it s a world away, secluded and serene, an intimate island community of just over 100 waterfront properties ringing the shore. At its centre is the Bigwin Island Golf Club with an 18-hole championship course. Eighty acres of natural, protected lands where deer quietly graze and stealthy red foxes prowl skirt the links and buffer the vacation homes. Continued on page 50 Eagle Landing Company developed this Bigwin Island property where the timber frame construction and finish of this new vacation home extends to its Lake of Bays boathouse and nearby bunkie. 48 o u r h o m e s s p r i n g o u r h o m e s s p r i n g

It provided the balanced and calming environment I was looking to provide for me and my family, says the owner of a new timber frame cottage, built by Normerica Authentic Timber Frame.

He bought a cottage on Bigwin because he could envision the future he wanted for himself and his children, reminiscent of his own childhood summers, spent on the beach during long, lazy days of

5-acre cottage property, using Normerica as the general contractor for the 2,420 sq. ft. home.

One of the things that was appealing to the family is that it is out of the prevailing winds, says Eagle Landing president David Smith. It s actually a very sheltered area.

A British motif accentuates the great room floor of this island retreat where Simply Cottage supplied most furnishings and décor. LEFT: The Muskoka room offers a panoramic view of the lake.

2 It provided the balanced and calming environment I was looking to provide for me and my family, says the owner of a new timber frame cottage, built by Normerica Authentic Timber Frame. Not only does it provide the sense of neighbourhood with its array of social activities for both children and adults, it also fulfills my passion for golf and boating. He bought a cottage on Bigwin because he could envision the future he wanted for himself and his children, reminiscent of his own childhood summers, spent on the beach during long, lazy days of freedom, play, exploration and personal growth. It s a place for the family to bond and relax, a getaway from the distractions of city life. Eagle Landing Company developed this 1.5-acre cottage property, using Normerica as the general contractor for the 2,420 sq. ft. home. Built on three levels, including a loft and basement, the all-season cottage sits on forested terrain that gently slopes to the island s placid eastern shore. One of the things that was appealing to the family is that it is out of the prevailing winds, says Eagle Landing president David Smith. It s actually a very sheltered area. Unless you ve got a storm coming out of the southeast, on most days, it s calm water. A British motif accentuates the great room floor of this island retreat where Simply Cottage supplied most furnishings and décor. LEFT: The Muskoka room offers a panoramic view of the lake. Sturdy timber frames and thick wooden beams define and enhance the cottage s mainfloor living spaces. Engineered hardwood covers the floor. A pine-clad cathedral ceiling ascends over the great room where two stories of windows overlook the lake. A wicker-furnished Muskoka room, with panoramic windows on three sides, opens to a deck with a lake view. Simply Cottage supplied many of the unique furnishings and décor while Kelly s Home Furniture provided beds for the cottage. The kitchen and bathrooms, built by Chestnut Lane Kitchen & Bath, are finished with granite countertops. ADF Plumbing installed the piping and drains, while Jackson Electric Generators, Solar & Excavating wired the home and Tech Air Systems installed the high efficiency, forced-air propane heating and air-conditioning systems. A pebbled path, rimmed with stone and large boulders, meanders downhill to a bunkie. Used by guests and extended family, the little house is beautifully furnished with a living room, bedroom, washroom and loft. The bunkie could sleep as many as six, says Smith. It would certainly accommodate a guest family, with parents and two or three kids, or two couples quite easily. The footpath continues to a boathouse where North Shore Waterfront Solutions installed a custom-built platform boat lift. When the boat is launched, the platform can be raised to completely seal the berth. If you were having a party or an event, you could actually use the whole boathouse, says Smith. It s a really safe way of building a boathouse because if you ve got little kids running around, or even elderly people, nobody can fall down between the boat and dock into the water. Continued on page 52 TOP LEFT: Chestnut Lane Kitchen & Bath built the efficient kitchen and supplied the appliances. TOP RIGHT: Tall windows allow lots of natural light to illuminate the great room. ABOVE: A rustic trestle table, with painted legs, seats as many as eight people for dinner. 50 o u r h o m e s s p r i n g o u r h o m e s s p r i n g

The boathouse is one of the owner s favourite spaces.

T&C Construction/Welding Ltd. built the dock while Woodmill of Muskoka supplied the composite plastic Muskoka dock chairs that offer a scenic spot to relax, read or bask in the sunshine.

When he did the excavation, he pulled all the rocks aside and he built a lot of the retaining walls from rocks that came from the site, says Smith. F.C. Hammond Well Drilling Ltd.

Bigwin s services and amenities are becoming a big draw for cottage buyers, some of whom have homes in gated communities in the United States, says Smith.

We re the closest thing there is to a gated, waterfront community in Muskoka.

3 The boathouse is one of the owner s favourite spaces. With its panoramic and open view, it provides that singular connection from body to nature where I can fill my senses with the sights and sounds of the many moods of the water, he says. T&C Construction/Welding Ltd. built the dock while Woodmill of Muskoka supplied the composite plastic Muskoka dock chairs that offer a scenic spot to relax, read or bask in the sunshine. Mike Cunnington Excavating prepared the building site, installed the septic system and landscaped the property with granite flagstones and walkways. When he did the excavation, he pulled all the rocks aside and he built a lot of the retaining walls from rocks that came from the site, says Smith. F.C. Hammond Well Drilling Ltd. bored the water well. Limestone Trail Co. Inc. crafted the coach house for the golf cart that the family rides to get to the Bigwin clubhouse and other facilities. Bigwin s services and amenities are becoming a big draw for cottage buyers, some of whom have homes in gated communities in the United States, says Smith. They re looking for the Muskoka cottage experience, but they just don t want to be down some private road on their own. They want infrastructure and services. We re the closest thing there is to a gated, waterfront community in Muskoka. Bigwin islanders can be as remote and private as they want, yet still have convenient access to fine dining, nature camps for their children, yoga and fitness classes. It s island living with resort amenities, he says. Continued on page 56 RIGHT: The platform lift in the boathouse allows the entire floor to be used once the boat has been launched. BELOW: Built on the island s sheltered eastern shore, the boathouse provides docking space for paddle boats, personal watercraft and an Air Rider Hovercraft that gets islanders back and forth during shoulder seasons. OPPOSITE PAGE: In the bunkie, a sloped pine ceiling makes a cosy spot for colourful matching beds in the loft. The bunkie master bedroom is luxurious. A stepped ladder leads from the living room upstairs. 52 o u r h o m e s s p r i n g o u r h o m e s s p r i n g

35 YEARS NORMERICA TM AUTHENTIC TIMBER FRAME HOMES &

.....visit our on-line Design Portfolio to see a

com/designs 1-800-361-7449 Contact us to discuss

com - MODEL HOME LOCATION - INNISFIL BEACH RD.

REVOLUTIONIZING BOAT LIFTS STEEL DOCKS SEPTICS

MARINE CONTRACTING TOP LEFT: Pastel colours and a

opens to a deck overlooking Lake of Bays.

quiet workspace in the loft of the BOTTOM RIGHT: A

4 35 YEARS NORMERICA TM AUTHENTIC TIMBER FRAME HOMES & COTTAGES Let us custom design a home for you, or......visit our on-line Design Portfolio to see a sample of our most popular designs Contact us to discuss your building plans. info@normerica.com - MODEL HOME LOCATION - INNISFIL BEACH RD. EXIT & HWY.400 T & C CONSTRUCTION WELDING LTD. REVOLUTIONIZING BOAT LIFTS STEEL DOCKS SEPTICS EXCAVATION DREDGING SHEET/PILE DRIVING BARGING MARINE CONTRACTING TOP LEFT: Pastel colours and a flip flop pillow ornament a daughter s room in the main cottage. TOP RIGHT: A sliding door in the master bedroom opens to a deck overlooking Lake of Bays. Kelly s Home Furniture supplied beds for this vacation home. BOTTOM LEFT: A repurposed drafting table makes a quiet workspace in the loft of the main cottage. BOTTOM RIGHT: A day bed provides extra overnight accommodation in the cottage loft South Sparrow Lake Road Washago ON info@tcconstructionwelding.com tcconstructionwelding.com Platform Boat Lifts By: WATERFRONT SOLUTIONS o u r h o m e s s p r i n g

PROPERTIES FEATURING Large frontages, ranging from 200 ft to over 1,000 ft Prices Starting

HST) Equity golf membership at Bigwin Island Golf Club is included Builder s Spec cottage

their daughters to explore and the freedom to learn and grow.

their childhood: playing on the man-made beach I painstakingly built for them, exploring

the thrill of just being alive, the homeowner says.

sipping a morning coffee, reflecting on the past or thinking about the day ahead early

that I have bought not just another vacation home, but a contribution to my children s

OH Opportunity to build your dream cottage MLS Complete Design & Build of: Cabinetry

theme, reflecting this family s love of boating and swimming and water sports, decorates

5 PROPERTIES FEATURING Large frontages, ranging from 200 ft to over 1,000 ft Prices Starting at $395,000 (inc. HST) Equity golf membership at Bigwin Island Golf Club is included Builder s Spec cottage available this summer For these newest island cottagers, Bigwin offers plenty of space for their daughters to explore and the freedom to learn and grow. This will be one of the most important things I can give to them and myself the memories of their childhood: playing on the man-made beach I painstakingly built for them, exploring the ever-changing features of their environment and the carefree laughter, which reflects the thrill of just being alive, the homeowner says. His favourite times of the day are sitting at the fire pit in the evening, beer in hand, or sipping a morning coffee, reflecting on the past or thinking about the day ahead early morning golf, boating with family and friends, a day at the playground or relaxing at the property. It is during these times that I can fully appreciate the value of my purchase and recognize that I have bought not just another vacation home, but a contribution to my children s heritage. OH Opportunity to build your dream cottage MLS Complete Design & Build of: Cabinetry Countertops Accessories 56 o u r h o m e s s p r i n g ABOVE & TOP LEFT: A nautical theme, reflecting this family s love of boating and swimming and water sports, decorates the ground floor family room. LEFT: Quiet evenings around the fire pit are a favourite time of day for this family. DAVID SMITH, BROKER DNS Real Estate, Muskoka Branch Phone: Cell: dns@muskoka.com BIGWINPROPERTIES.CA Telephone: info@chestnutlane.ca Facsimile: Web: Lindgren Road W Unit 1 Huntsville ON Serving Muskoka & Toronto since 1990

GUEST HOUSE & RETREAT

GUEST HOUSE & RETREAT PINE LAKE MUSKOKA DISTRICT GRAVENHURST ONTARIO 1401 Highway 169 Gravenhurst, Ontario P1P 1R2 Toll Free: 647 800 9306 Local: 705 687 9306 muskokarose.com - info@muskokarose.com THE GUEST HOUSE The Muskoka