Not all cottage renovations are born equal. Some require more skill, equipment, time, and manpower than others. When devastating floodwaters ravaged parts of Muskoka in 2013, one family would require a building company with ingenuity and an extensive breadth of expertise in order to rehabilitate a beloved cottage.
Les Szawlowski and his company, SI Muskoka Construction, have faced a lot of building challenges in their fifteen-plus years as Muskoka contractors. Overcoming those challenges has earned them street credibility in the industry and given them the skills necessary to tackle the most difficult building projects.
When approached by the family in 2013 regarding their recently flooded cottage, it was clear to Les that he would have to marshal all members of the SI team to engage in this demanding renovation.
Visiting the site for the first time, Les knew right away that there would be no quick fix for the damaged residence. In addition to repairs, the family wanted to explore opportunities to modernize and update the cottage — making the best of a trying situation. Working with the township and trusted engineers, SI Muskoka developed an approved framework in order to rebuild and deal with the many special conditions that would have to be handled by the team throughout the project.
The family met with Les and the SI Team to determine what was important to them and how those elements could be incorporated into a design that not only rehabilitated and protected against future damage, but could provide them with the dream of year-round lakeside living in Muskoka.
With the direction settled, work began, but the first unexpected bend in the road was not far off. “The soil conditions were worse than we anticipated,” explains Les, “so we had to brace and lift up the cottage, move it, excavate out the poor soil conditions, and put an engineered rock pad in place. The idea was to build a foundation that would be watertight, but not buoyant.
In accordance with municipal requirements, the cottage needed to be elevated. Accordingly, the design team worked in conjunction with the family, engineers, planners and surveyors to create a tasteful solution that surrounded the cottage on all sides with tiered stone walls. The clients selected stone that would blend in nicely with the natural environment in terms of hue and texture, and SI Muskoka created and fit a robust and elegant elevation using nearly 300 tonnes of granite armour stone and block walls picked and cut from SI’s granite production facility in Huntsville.
Natural stone is also prevalent throughout the home. A stunning floor-to-ceiling wood-burning fireplace, hand built from local river rock, a leathered bathroom vanity, cut and polished in Muskoka, and a patio with built-in barbecue, granite counters, and matching stone benches all tie in with the extensive exterior hardscape. Replacing the former cedar decking is a full tight-fit flagstone patio with meandering stairs and landings leading to the sandy beach below, with plantings to be completed this spring.
As with the rest of the cottage, when it came to the interior, the clients were able to start from scratch with Tary Roosien (Urban Rustic Living), a frequent SI Muskoka collaborator. The cottage’s interior draws tastefully on traditional Muskoka design. The spacious kitchen features a large central island and a view of the lake. In addition to the stone fireplace, a soaring v-groove cathedral ceiling in the living room gives the central area a feeling of spaciousness and warmth with plenty of natural light. Tidy beadboard, custom wood trim, and carefully chosen light fixtures add significant charm.
Thanks to meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail, the homeowners are now free to enjoy their lovely four-season cottage. And there could be nowhere better to enjoy it.
