58 Sydenham Trail W, Clearview, Ont.
Asking Price: $3,825,000
Taxes: $2,415 (year)
Land Size: More than four acres
Agents: Cori Woolley and Kate Veer, Re/Max Four Seasons Realty Limited
The backstory
With a century home in Toronto, Sophie Howe and James Kennedy are accustomed to living in old houses. But for their vacation property, they wanted to make space to enjoy nature by leaning into contemporary simplicity.
Driven by an emerging interest in skiing, the couple knew a spot near Duntroon, Ont. – nestled near the slopes of the Niagara Escarpment – was meant for them after setting eyes on its vast Georgian Bay view for the first time.
Convinced by Mr. Kennedy to consider the site, Ms. Howe recalled the catalyst moment. “We drove up the driveway to this property, and I looked at him. I said, ‘We can build something, because the site was so spectacular,’” she says.
The concept of 58 Sydenham Trail W – based on a traditional Scottish longhouse design, but with elevated finishings – took shape after the couple toured a similar home in the area done by local builder Scot-Build Developments Inc. For Sydenham, the design, also done by Scot-Build, was the couple’s remedy to a world staying put.
“The pandemic comes along, we’re like, ‘We’re not going to be travelling for quite some time. And so, what does the next chapter of adventure look like?’” Ms. Howe said.
The pair embarked on creating a cozy and functional escape by hiring designer Janice King-Smith of White Elk Interiors. The home’s quiet-luxury ambience – partly inspired by the Scandinavian style that they encountered during trips to New Zealand – resulted from a design process that treated nature as the centrepiece.
The house has very minimal art because its windows were strategically placed to showcase the surrounding views.
“You can look out any window and it is like a piece of art,” Ms. Howe said.
The house today
Ruairi Duggan/Ruairi Duggan
With a made-to-last steel roof, a gravel driveway and a tiled dog shower in the garage, the home taps into a simple, Scandi appeal, the couple said.
Upon entering, visitors are greeted by both playful and functional wooden wall hooks by the Copenhagen-based brand, Muuto, in the front foyer, cozy furnishings in the living room and European appliances in the kitchen.
The home provides 4,096 square feet of living space, with a bounty of natural light.
Equipped with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a kitchenette in the basement and even a galley butlers pantry – a corridorlike pantry with countertops typical in New Zealand – the home is a dream to entertain in, Ms. Howe said.
“I wanted people to feel welcome and calm,” she said, adding that the layout was chosen to give guests enough space to spread out, but also feel invited to conjugate in the heart of the home: the open-concept great room that combines the kitchen, dining and living room.
Vaulted beech plywood slanted ceilings and oak hardwood floors on the main floor add to the house’s earthy aura.
The property features a nod to nature in its energy design: It is nearly net-zero with a 10-kilowatt solar panel system located on a nearby clearing, and a garage electric car charger.
Its radiant in-floor heating is the main electrical load in winter months, powered by heat pumps.
“In the winter time we’re importing more than we’re exporting, but in the summer we’re exporting more than we’re importing,” explained Mr. Kennedy, who works in clean energy.
A 15-minute drive from the property, Collingwood’s wealth of shops and restaurants, including Bocado, which serves seasonal Spanish fare, attracted the couple to the area. The Michelin-starred The Pine in Creemore and the rustic Hearts Tavern in Kimberley are also worth the car time, Ms. Howe said.
The favourite features
Ruairi Duggan/Ruairi Duggan
Ms. Howe and Mr. Kennedy are letting go of the property to make more time for visiting their two adult children: One who has moved out West and the other out East. Along with the home’s stunning views, the feature the couple will miss the most is the modernized wood-burning Renaissance Rumford fireplace in the living room.
With a soft spot for the fireplace design, which was invented in the 1790s to better reflect heat into living spaces, the couple decided to put a contemporary twist on a classic.
“You can build a very tall fire and it’s very shallow, so it’s almost like the fire is in the room,” Mr. Kennedy said.
It adds a dramatically cozy feel that’s tempting to enjoy year round.
“When the winter months pass, you’re kind of sad because you don’t actually have a reason to light the fire, but we want to,” Ms. Howe said.