LET’S CHAT WITH CRAIG & ANGELA AT THE EARLY BIRD COTTAGE!
The Early Bird Cottage never fails to leave us in awe, thanks to the incredible work of Angela Jones of Lakeshore Designs, Craig McFarlane of Linwood Custom Homes, and their amazing teams. We sat down with them to admire their handiwork—and the stunning views of Ril Lake and the Muskoka scenery—to find out what went into this magnificent cottage, what they love about it, and what winning the $2.6 Million Early Bird Prize, including the Muskoka Lakefront Cottage and $100,000, could be like!
Princess Margaret Home Lottery: As always, it’s a pleasure to sit down with you both and talk about another incredible cottage. This time, it’s the Muskoka Lakefront Cottage on Ril Lake, part of the $2.6 Million Early Bird Prize. It is, of course, absolutely gorgeous, inside and out! Craig, for as much as it looks like it truly belongs here, building a custom lakefront cottage must present some challenges?
Craig McFarlane: Yes. On this property, it was steep coming off the road, so we pulled it as far forward as we could toward the lake. This allowed us to create a walkout lower level plus bring up the front entry for less of a slope down to the parking.
PMHL: Well, being closer to the lake is what it’s all about in cottage country, so that’s perfect! In fact, Angela, being by the lake seems to have really influenced your design and decor choices.
Angela Jones: Yes, I’d say the look is very “lake house” because it's got the navy and the soft tones of blue. We started with that soft blue in the laundry room and repeated those colour elements throughout the cottage. There’s a serene, cozy feel; it's classic, and I think it translates to a nice lake house look and feel.
PMHL: It seems like the perfect choice! Did you develop the theme before or after you saw the space?
AJ: As I always do, I took the theme from where the cottage is built. I look at the style of the cottage and what the colouring is outside to see what creates the storyline. Maybe it's a country home or a lake house; that usually determines a theme, and then I'll look at the design trends and implement them all together. Things are going rich in colour this year, whereas before, there were lots of grays, beiges, and neutrals. So that's fun.
PMHL: Many of our dedicated followers already know that Linwood Custom Homes is famous for incredible post-and-beam construction. Craig, what about it in this particular cottage works so well?
CM: Post and beam enhances every space! In this cottage, having different lines of beams, some going from front to back and others side to side, creates lots of different roof pitches. All those configurations within the roof design make it unique and stand out. I love the open concept spaces with post and beam construction. It gives you that big spatial feel—we’ve got up to 18-foot ceilings in the great room—with expansive windows looking at the lake. To me, that's the ultimate.
PMHL: Did either of you try anything new with the Muskoka Lakefront Cottage, either with the design or the construction?
AJ: We have the combination laundry room and mudroom by the front door, and that is a nice space after a hike or other outdoor fun to clean up and not mess up your cottage, especially with that laundry sink there. Also, the bathrooms and the kitchen are more modern than we often do. We have this beautiful waterfall kitchen island, which is perfect for entertaining.
CM: The waterfall on the kitchen island is a nice feature. I like how the staining of the Western Douglas Fir beams brought out the colour of the flooring, the cabinets, the mantle and the stairs. And then the contrast in the soft colours on the walls and brighter colours in the furnishings.
PMHL: Angela, you once told us your design vignettes tell a story. What's the story being told in the kitchen?
AJ: I would say it feels welcoming, that it’s ready for dining and entertaining. We have a custom coffee bar with a cabinet there, and you can walk right out on the large deck and extend the dining space. I chose a round dining table because of the layout being linear and having a long island. Adding another shape helps it feel larger and gives another dimension to the space.
CM: I think the kitchen is stunning. It's a galley layout with the island but with the tall cabinets on either side of the stove and the way that's inset. The tile and Caesarstone all came together, and then the large patio doors look out at the lake, and your sun deck is there; it's a really nice space.
PMHL: Craig, speaking of the sundeck, would you call that a must-have for a cottage?
CM: Definitely. But it's nice to have some covered deck, too. On a sunny day, you have a sunny area and you have a shaded area. And on a rainy day, you can still be outside. By expanding the size, we're able to have both options on this sundeck.
PMHL: What was your favourite room to design in the cottage, Angela?
AJ: I enjoyed doing the snack bar! That was fun to set up, putting the popcorn machine there and imagining having family and friends over and getting out all the candy for them.
PMHL: What's your go-to in the snack bar?
AJ: Oh, definitely Kit Kat!
PMHL: Movie nights with snacks are something to look forward to at the cottage. Craig, what other activities can our lucky winner enjoy? Rapid-fire, one per season—go!
CM: Winter: Snowshoeing. It’s inexpensive, great exercise, and fun, especially once the lake freezes over and there’s snow. Springtime: Fishing. The fish are biting, and you can fish right off the end of your dock. Summer: Swimming. Easy! Don't know that you need anything else there, but a floaty helps. And for fall, a fire in the firepit near the water’s edge.
PMHL: Anglea, we have to ask, where can we find your signature letter A?
AJ: Ah, the signature A! That one is sneaky this time. You do have to look for it. I’ll just say it's in the great room, and that's the only hint you're going to get!
PMHL: Maybe our sharp-eyed readers will spot it in the photo gallery on our website! Apart from finding the ‘A,’ what do you think the winner will be most excited about in this cottage?
AJ: Winning! They're going to love winning, and it will probably change their life. The minute you walk in, you've got the great room, a fantastic layout, and then the incredible deck you can sit on, and it'll be ready for summer for them. They're just going to love it because a lot has gone into it, and I think they'll feel that once they win and walk in for the first time.
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! So, for your chance to experience the thrill of winning and calling the sensational Muskoka Lakefront Cottage home or your home away from home, get your tickets before the Early Bird Deadline, Midnight, April 12. This could all be waiting for you!