House Tours
Designer Madison Krofchick Overhauls 2 Century-Old Cottages And 2 Sleeping Cabins To Create Her Family’S Dream Retreat
Photography, Patrick Biller
House Tours
Designer Madison Krofchick Overhauls 2 Century-Old Cottages And 2 Sleeping Cabins To Create Her Family’S Dream Retreat
Bricks charmingly mismatched, knotty pine in its natural glory, and preloved furniture that came with the place – these are some of the elements that designer Madison Krofchick relied on to reinvigorate and pay homage to her parents’ Pointe au Baril, Ont., cottage compound. “The buildings are almost 100 years old, so I wanted to honour that while giving them a new energy,” says Madison. After much-needed structural updates were completed, she activated her plan for a refresh: keep things light and natural so the views are a priority, then layer in colour and texture with fabrics. Says Madison, “It’s now a beautiful escape with repurposed items that respect its history, and new pieces that bring it to life.”
DESIGN, Madison Krofchick, Mad Living. CONTRACTORs, Marc and Penny Krofchick. BRICK VENEER, Stone Selex. White SEATING CUSHIONS, THROW, Zara Home. Green CUSHIONS, Rug & Weave. PENDANT LIGHTS, IKEA. TOOL BOX, Harris Furniture & Antiques. PLACEMATS, NAPKINS, HomeSense.
This nature-wrapped space is in the main 1,400-square-foot cottage. Designer Madison Krofchick chose brick-veneer floor tiles to impart a charming, almost antique feel. The wrought-iron furniture came with the property, and Madison updated its old green leather cushions with fresh, unfussy white ones. The round table was a happy accident. “It’s a wooden wire spool the electricians left behind, and I loved the way it worked as a table with the iron furniture.”
Photography, Patrick Biller
The main cottage’s kitchen features new shiplap walls and the original ceiling punctuated by new wood beams. Madison replaced a bank of windows with sliding doors to open up the space and reinforce the indoors-out connection. When planning the custom kitchen, she wanted the range hood to stand out. “I opted for a wood finish,” she says. “It ties in well with the beams and creates a strong focal point.” Little winks of pretty, like the pendant lights and a waterfall-edge island, are in step with the new-life reboot.
CUSTOM KITCHEN, MorCraft Kitchens. FLOORING, AA Floors. CABINETRY PAINT, Cottage White GN-32, Benjamin Moore. STOOLS, Zara Home. Island PENDANT LIGHTS, CB2.
Photography, Patrick Biller
Photography, Patrick Biller
“I think eating nooks are extremely charming and the perfect place for a family breakfast.”
WINDOWS, Hometech. BENCHES, TABLECLOTH, Zara Home.
This nook is in the 1,000-square-foot cottage, which sits behind the main one. An antique pendant light illuminates new bench seating that’s softened with cushions. It mingles nicely with an old table and folding chairs that Madison refreshed with black paint. Her parents, Marc and Penny, have coffee here when they’re alone at the cottage, and family breakfasts when Madison, her sister, Jasmin, and brother, Conner, come
to stay.
Photography, Patrick Biller
The main cottage’s living room is expansive and boasts ceilings that peak at 16 feet, yet it’s wonderfully cozy and warm. “I wanted to make sure that the seating was inviting and comfortable, and that there was enough of it to really utilize all the space,” says Madison. The original stone fireplace now features a new wood mantel to reference the ceiling beams, and the slipcovered sofa was selected for easy cleaning and worry-free use.
“The living room is the place for everyone to comfortably get together, sit around the fire, play games or just watch the sunset.”
FIREPLACE INSERT, Fireplace and Leisure. SOFA, IKEA. ARMCHAIRS, Zara Home. Rattan CHAIRS, Structube. RUG, CUSHIONS, Rug & Weave.
Madison complemented the coffee table, metal chair and lamp – all of which came with the cottage – with a dynamic mix of pieces, such as the rough-hewn antique console and chic woven leather stools that are easy to move for casual seating. The grouping of framed photos has meaning. “They are pictures of how the cottage looked before we started the renovations,” says Madison. “I had them printed in black and white as a way to honour the original buildings and create a nice moment in this corner.”
Leather STOOLS, THROWS, Zara Home. Wooden CABINET, Timeless Antiques.
PENDANT LIGHT, Wayfair. ARTWORK, Juniper Print Shop. ARMCHAIR, Structube. SOFA, HomeSense. RUG, daybed SEATING CUSHION, check CUSHION, BASKETS, Zara Home.
Photography, Patrick Biller
Madison says her inspiration for the smaller cottage was a homey cabin in the woods. The simple kitchen design keeps the view a focal point, while textural furnishings lend a rustic touch – the “coffee table” is three upside-down baskets.
“I wanted this porch to feel like an old cabin. painted floors felt like the perfect way to achieve that look.”
A fun vintage sign hangs above a wicker bench that came with the cottage. “My mom really wanted a reading nook in the porch, and the bed fit perfectly into the space to give her just that,” says Madison. “I added new cushions to refresh it and paired it with this sweet antique stool as a small side table.” The pendant light is actually a flower pot that Madison repurposed.
Whitewashed board-and-batten walls allow the DIY pendants to pop. “They’re branch spheres I found at an antique store and thought they’d make interesting lights in the smaller cottage,” says Madison. The bench was another antique find, and the table and chairs came with the property, though the designer refreshed the chairs’ faded wood with bold black paint.
SIDING, Hoffmeyers Mill. CUSHIONS, Rug & Weave. PLACEMATS, PLATES, GLASSES, NAPKINS, HomeSense. VASE, Zara Home. FRAMES, IKEA.
The main cottage’s primary bedroom feels both elegant and simple, and the white shiplap walls tie in with the rest of the decor. The ceiling wasn’t nice enough to just paint white, so Madison covered it in barnboard that she salvaged from a friend’s farm. “This room opens up onto the porch, and on summer nights you can hear the water and feel the breeze come in. It’s a popular room and we change up who sleeps here.”
DUVET COVER, RUG, PILLOWS, THROW, Zara Home. CUSHIONS, Rug & Weave. LAMPS, HomeSense. SIDE TABLES, Bouclair.
“I love using vintage pieces and salvaged materials to add character, warmth and a unique touch to every room.”
This second cabin is where Madison’s sister, Jasmin, likes to sleep. “There’s not a lot going on here, so I used textiles to create a pretty spot for her,” she says. “It’s got a vintage vibe now, and I like that the pendant feels cute and not overpowering.” The antique bench (a handy spot for luggage) furthers the retro spirit.
PENDANT LIGHT, HomeSense. BEDDING, BLANKETS, Zara Home. Blue CUSHION, lumbar CUSHION, Rug & Weave.
The main cottage’s bathroom is charged with cool contrasts: in the shower, concrete and whimsically pretty mosaic tiles are side by side, and an antique vanity that Madison refurbished is paired with a new countertop. “I sanded the vanity down, replaced the knobs and ordered a kitchen countertop to go on top,” she says. “This sink was original to the cottage, and it was important to my dad that we repurpose it.”
MIRROR, Roadshow’s 400 Antiques Mall. VANITY, St. Jacobs Antiques Market. TILES, Ciot. SCONCE, IKEA. TOWEL, Lemon Tree Interiors.
This bedroom in the smaller cottage is where Madison’s parents usually sleep. “I wanted to make it special for them, so I focused on beautiful rich colours and patterns,” she says. The new bedding feels at home in the vintage setting, and the contemporary pendant draws the eye to the plush sleeping area.
LIGHT, Bouclair. CHAIR, BEDDING, BLANKET, Zara Home. DRESSER, Roadshow’s 400 Antiques Mall.
“For me, cottage decor has more freedom. There’s more room for creativity and exploring different ideas that I might not try in a primary home.”
Younger guests were the inspiration for this guest room. “I had fun with pops of yellow and tying in the green accents with the rest of the cottage,” says Madison. “And it was important to me that each bed had a sconce. There’s something about each kid having their own light to control, and feeling like they have their own space, that’s charming and fun.”
SCONCES, Home Depot. NESTING TABLES, Bed Bath and Beyond. RUG, Rug & Weave. Blue CUSHIONS,
BEDDING, Zara Home. Yellow CUSHION, Tonic Living. ARTWORK, BFF Print Shop.
For this bedroom in one of the two smaller sleeping cabins for guests, Madison wanted a more grown-up feeling. The unpainted ceiling has a fresh presence that cultivates a breezy mood, and the beds, which came with the property, are dressed in soft colours.
LAMP, HomeSense. RUG, Rug & Weave. BEDDING, Zara Home. ARTWORK, BFF Print Shop.
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