Artistic expression communicates itself through any number of modes and media. Art can celebrate nature, capture history, or flout convention. It encompasses the breadth of colour and light, texture and dimension, shape and form.
Lena Patten of HillTop Interiors in the village of Rosseau turned her own artist’s eye from the painter’s canvas to the gratifying vocation of interior design. After studying fine arts in Guelph, she had the opportunity to redecorate a cottage that she and her husband were renting in Rosseau. “This experiment motivated us to consider launching a business here,” Lena says, and HillTop was established fifteen years ago.
Over the years, Lena has noted the shifting focus of design in cottage country. “There is much more diversity now,” she explains. “It goes far beyond the classic white-on-white.” While Lena finds inspiration in nature, responding to the rhythm of the water and waves and the scents of the fresh air and forests, and echoing the subtle earth tones of the landscape, she is equally at home projecting an exuberant display of colour.
HillTop is known for carrying the largest selections of textiles in the area. “Textiles are my new palette,” Lena says. “I’m a watercolourist and this is now my sketchbook.” She is recognized for generating among the highest volume of Ralph Lauren textile sales in Canada. “Ralph Lauren is my muse,” Lena declares. “He is the ultimate master in putting things together.” She loves the way that Lauren mixes traditional concepts with fresh designs, co-mingling rustic and contemporary stylings. “He is not afraid to pair florals with plaids,” Lena says, “which demands a certain sense of adventure.”
Rugs can be a strong focal point in a room, according to Lena, but she finds that it’s hard for many people to envision their effect until they see the end result. “I love doing imaginative beddings,” she says. “Quilts are especially popular in cottages because they reflect an element of yesterday with a twist that reflects today’s style.”
The genesis of a design project begins with a candid chat between Lena and her prospective clients. “This lets us all see if we have a good synergy and can work well together,” she explains. “You can often tell by an individual’s personality if they favour bold statements or traditional fashions.”
Lena particularly welcomes the chance to give free rein to her creativity through full property design projects. “With the best décor, the theme, tone and flow are continuous. I always appreciate the opportunity to engage with a client’s project in the planning stage or when the entire interior is subject to a complete redevelopment.”
She recently had such an opportunity in a Lake Muskoka cottage. “The clients wanted a bright, light, cheerful look,” she says, describing the overall theme as ‘cottage chic’, with a thoughtful mix of colours and textures.
A blue-striped awning duvet cover in the main bedroom created the summer cottage ambience that suited the lifestyle of these particular clients. “We injected some fun into the furnishings and accent pieces, with keystone items such as a bright blue bookcase, and some very cool clocks.” Lamps and lighting fixtures are a particular passion for Lena and her design team at HillTop. “Lighting is to interior décor what the best belt or bag is to fashion,” she says. “It really finishes off a room.”
Lena truly enjoyed working on this summer cottage, bringing to light a refreshing and authentic setting in line with the family’s activities and tastes.
Lena’s designs have not only perked up the homes and cottages of Muskoka — she has created interior spaces for clients living as close as Toronto’s trendy Beach neighbourhood, and as far away as residents in the Bahamas.
The HillTop Interiors shop is a destination venue, accessible by boat or car. “We’re really happy that we settled here,” says Lena. “Rosseau has a great vibe, and many cottagers enjoy showing it off to their city guests.”
Art has been described as a dialogue that helps to form relationships with places. Perhaps this is most literally realized in the field of interior design. The instincts of a perceptive designer can paint a beautiful scene onto the blank canvas of any room, creating imaginative living spaces that virtually exclaim ‘home’. CCH
Selected Photos: Robert Nelson
