A place in the country. It's the goal of many city dwellers, and understandably so. A country house has an intimate connection to the land that surrounds it, and provides its owners with an opportunity to reconnect with nature. In fact, nature has influenced every decision made by the homeowners of this weekend retreat near Orangeville, Ontario. From the architecture of the additions to the house, to the colour palette and furniture choices, the home reflects the owners' casual approach to country decorating and their love of the land.
Top image: An antique pine refectory table is surrounded by an eclectic assortment of chairs. The seat of the green armchair at the head of the table is made from blue and white tea towel fabric. Designer Sarah Richardson, a family friend, painted the floor cloth, drawing colour inspiration from the painting that hangs above the sideboard.
Thirty years ago, when this couple was starting their family – which now includes three grown children – the husband had his heart set on acquiring a country home. "Back then we had no money so we drove around in our clunker of a car looking at properties," says his wife, until they came upon the 88-acre farm. "We couldn't even afford the down payment, but my husband was determined," she says. With help from a relative, the young family realized their vision – almost. The century-old farmhouse was no dream home. "It was just asphalt covered insulbrick, built around the beginning of the century," says the homeowner. "And it was a tiny house," she adds, estimating it was an inadequate 600 square feet in total. But despite the home's tiny size and rudimentary construction, the property – which was once a productive mixed farm – was beautiful. The solution? The house, like the family, got bigger.
Today, it's at least five times its original size, but that didn't happen overnight. The house grew, almost organically, as needs dictated and resources allowed. A series of three additions was thoughtfully made. Each new exterior was clad in board and batten, which also now covers the original structure, so that eventually the wood will weather to a uniform soft grey and the house will blend seamlessly into its surroundings. Also, each addition features large windows that take advantage of views of the pond, apple orchard, windmill and perennial gardens. The goal was always to invite the beauty of the landscape indoors and flood the interior with natural light.
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