design et al are delighted to announce that Gillian Gillies have been shortlisted for Living Space – Canada Award in The International Design & Architecture Awards 2019.
The creation of an inviting and immersive lakeside retreat. An escape from the city and an embracing of mother nature.
The clients purchased this newly constructed lakeside cottage in the fall of 2017 and Gillian Gillies completed the interior design in 2018. The project is located on Stoney Lake, in the Kawartha lakes region in Ontario, approximately a 2 HR drive north east of Toronto. It forms part of cottage county.
Gillian Gillies armed with a design brief to create an all year-round retreat for themselves, their family and friends, began work on the home that sits right on the lake. With this in mind, they knew interior design selections had to be first and foremost respectful to the exterior landscape. All rooms have lakeside views and so the interior finishes in terms of colour and texture had to be complimentary to mother nature and not detract from her. The clients also wanted to ensure that the furniture and furnishings were not only good looking and comfortable, but very liveable, the space had to feel inviting and relaxing for all their guests including the furry four-legged dog kind.
The clients wanted an escape from their busy weekday city life, somewhere they could immediately arrive and feel at home. Gillian Gillies settled on a watery blue palette with accents of teal and chamomile yellow. Mixed metals were paired with woven accents that have a grounding and simplifying effect throughout the home. It’s an incredibly tactile space that has a mix of patterns and textures that all combined make the home work. This home is used by the clients twelve months of the year and so the selections had to be suitable for +30 weather to -30 weather.
The living spaces are incredibly bright, and Gillian Gillies selected materials that are fade resistant. The art work was selected as it won’t fade in the sun or be damaged in the winter when the air becomes incredibly dry. It’s a home that is now cherished by its owners.