They say there's treasure on Van Berkel land. The 300-acre spread in Ashdale, Nova Scotia, was once home to Big Alec McDonald, one of the 'Klondike Kings' who struck it rich in the gold rush. When McDonald died penniless, tall tales were told that his hoard was stashed away somewhere on the property now owned by Henry and Elaine Van Berkel, a decorative painter and hobbyist.
Pots of gold there may be, but the little treasure that we find enchanting is a converted cabin just 10 minutes from the house, nestled snugly in a grove of trees by what Henry has named Big Alec's Pond.
Built 20 years ago as a hangout for the couple's then-teenaged son, David, the structure originally sported the characteristics of many a basement rec room in the 1970s, including the requisite dark walls, hand-me-down furniture, wood-stove-smoky ambiance, even a wagon wheel. After David grew up and moved out on his own, the structure slowly fell into disrepair, eventually becoming the domain of the property's small wildlife.
It took a late summer walk past the pond with the couple's daughter, Stacey Haines, a New York-based photographer, to kick-start the vision for turning the cabin into an airy artist's retreat. "It was such a forgotten spot on the property, all overgrown and hidden, but it looked so peaceful. I had this idea that it would make a great work studio for my mom," says Stacey. "We were all excited about transforming the cabin. It just turned into a fun project for the whole family."
View a slide show of this cosy cabin makeover.
While David pulled out old insulation and gutted the cabin, Elaine and Henry cleaned and installed an old window pinched from the home of Henry's parents down the road. The family then had Beauti-Tone's Canadian Home & Country colour Tennis White (FD018) sprayed on the walls and ceiling to dramatic effect. The resulting light was amplified after Stacey and her dad cut back some of the tangled trees at the windows, and rocks were placed around the perimeter to add charm.
"What I miss most about living in the country is that so many natural materials are just literally at your feet," says Stacey. "We used birch branches as curtain rods here, collected stones and leaves; it all found a place."
The most important part, though, was making the cabin a personal space. Stacey and Elaine both love cottage style, and are partial to shades of turquoise, so those elements took the lead. "I'm a scrounger," admits Stacey. "The door, the blue chairs and the pretty blue dishes displayed for inspiration all came from my grandparents' house, courtesy of my aunt and uncle, who live there now. It means a lot to me to have all these family things." The tables are from the Van Berkels' basement, the antique stove from a cousin's nearby farm, and the wagon wheel has been sitting around Stacey's whole life. It all brings a soothing, soft familiarity to the space.
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