Corn Cob: A Nod to a Charming Past with a Renovation for the Future
Early cottage life in the Kawarthas was all about escaping the urban and as a trend began emerging in the late 1800’s. Railways and canal construction made the area more accessible and the charm of cottaging began to take root. Families would spend weeks or even most of the summer months enjoying all types of outdoor recreation and with that lakeshore fun like regattas and family-oriented cottage life became a common occurrence. Cottages of all shapes and sizes soon dotted the lakeshores within the Kawarthas. The natural beauty of the great Canadian outdoors mixed with a new local culture was an attractive and appealing way to spend summer life.
Cottage Appin at Sturgeon Point (left) with 19 Third Street (right)which has recently been named a property of cultural heritage value and interest by The City of Kawartha Lakes.
One of the more popular historical cottages which is still standing today, was known as Corn Cob. This lovely Victorian-era cottage named Evelyn’s Bower was later nicknamed The Corn Cob because of its yellow exterior. Corn Cob was founded in 1876 by George Crandell. It has witnessed the development of Sturgeon Point through the years and embodies the area’s picturesque charm.
George Crandell was a steamboat captain and he also founded the Sturgeon Point Hotel along with the wharf. During this time, many of the cottages established at the point had a certain design aesthetic known as Victorian Gothic. This charming look, consisted of intricate trim detail and sprawling porches. The cottages became an identifiable character point for the area creating an interesting and notable visual landscape.
We were privileged in 2022 to start an extensive renovation on Corn Cob. Our task would be to keep the original historical features and at the same time bring the structure into a more practical and modern era for the family to spend time in.
Corn Cob is set back with a lawn leading to a porch with hinged patio doors. We wanted to preserve the elegant, yet casual cottage style Victorian porch doors and pay homage to its past by painting them in the corn cob yellow that the cottage has so endearingly become known for. Such doors also connote character and timelessness. The fanciful cut-outs on the double entry doors appear like lace detail and are flanked by diamond shaped windows adding yet another layer of storied past. There is another such door located at the rear entrance for the screened-in porch.
Since Victorian-style homes were typically multi-story, a 2-level porch graces the front side with railings and pillar supports lending presence and visual balance to the front of Corn Cob. The front peak is lined with cut-out molding detail reminiscent of the Victorian era and lends just enough historical charm for Corn Cob to take its rightful place amongst the other historical structures like neighboring Cottage Appin.
Corn Cob has since been painted in a light blue which was popular in the Victorian era. Blue exterior colours often included a range of blue tones ranging from light, softer tones to deeper, dramatic shades like cobalt and indigo. Contrasting these blues with creams and whites were a way to draw the eye to architectural detail. Full, yellow flower baskets accent the front porch tying in the yellow front door colour and providing visual interest. And what’s a Victorian era cottage without pink peonies dotting the front walkway! Peonies were a popular choice for Victorian gardens due to their romantic symbolism. Having fresh cut flowers was a show of abundance and elegance. Corn Cob plays the perfect role as a back-drop for simple yet showy blooms!
Peonies were also a show of good fortune and we couldn’t agree more concerning the fortune that Home by Tim + Chris experienced in working on such an important and special property.
Among our design tasks, we wanted to create a more functional and open kitchen. We also needed to create a family room and as the project progressed, we realized we could integrate a screened in porch for long summer dinners and afternoon happy hours. Since screened in porches in the Victorian-era were dubbed “sleeping porches,” we knew that Corn Cob was ready to once again receive breezes from the nearby lake! The practicality of a social space at both the front and rear of the home, made sense since the family would be enjoying summers for years to come at their beloved Corn Cob retreat.
Back porch side view.
Back porch bench seating.
Since it was important in our design brief to keep Corn Cob’s heyday, we also wanted to integrate features like board and batten wall treatment in the interior, maintain the character of the cottage by integrating a stone fireplace that looked like it had always been there. We also added more windows for light and an open feeling.
Board and batten wall treatment ties in to the Victorian-era design where millwork was starting to become a prominent feature in homes and cottages.
The fireplace was designed to look original and to exude the same character as the overall cottage.
Additional windows allowed for a more open space floor plan.
Again, we brought in the Victorian-era, time-honoured blue for the kitchen island. This time we used Stiffkey Blue by Farrow and Ball to tie in the historical connotation of the peacock shades of blue that were becoming readily available with the development of synthetic pigments at the time. We then contrasted the blue with All White by Farrow and Ball for cabinetry. Wevet White also by Farrow and Ball was used on the interior walls for an open-air cottage feel. A sliver of white oak wood on the stove range is also copied for 2 floating shelves in the same wood tone. This adds an element of interest without cluttering up the classic approach. Counter tops are Cambria in Port Rush Quartz with a light grey vein to blend in rather than adding too much contrast.
A wood mantle and floors in Canadian Brushed White Oak by Kentwood Flooring add warmth and give the appearance of having been original to the cottage. The wider plank floors bring in character and an aged effect to complement the overall cottage heritage.
A stained-glass diamond shaped window in jewel tones adds a touch of elegance and history. Stained glass was used historically to add decorative flair and used for privacy in window design. We love the crown jewel that character details like this add to Corn Cob! We were able to work with such details that truly allow Corn Cob to stand out and appear vibrant in its old age!
The screened-in porch features bench seating and an accompanying table allows for ample seating. We kept decorative details simple in keeping with a nostalgic cottage feel.
The porch was a back deck that we screened in.
In the entry we used a Saltillo Bohemia clay floor tile which matches the Victorian-era ornate style of the time and selected an iron, black overhead light to accentuate the cottage feel from Hudson Valley Lighting. Photos on clothes pins that the family can change out for instant artwork is a welcome detail and a sure conversation starter! Fluid connectivity to old, new, inside and out was central in our renovation design approach.
We kept the pocket doors and French style interior doors again notable of the Victorian-era. Having the old charm preserved means we can renovate and yet have the new touches seamlessly integrate without a jarring newness to them.
A mix of old and new artwork, allows two eras to connect for a modern sensibility without giving up the historical respect that a cottage like Corn Cob commands.
Corn Cob for Home by Tim + Chris was and will continue to be a special piece of Sturgeon Point charm that lives on in not just our portfolio but our hearts as well. We appreciate the opportunity to work with a home owner who values the historical story of Corn Cob. Our client enjoyed the curation process and certainly appreciate their time spent in this beautiful piece of Sturgeon Point history! When a designer can continue the story through design, a special authentic act of courage and honesty takes place. Projects like Corn Cob give us the gift of being able to introduce the past to the present.
For more beautiful images of Corn Cob see our Project Portfolio.
Tim + Chris
