Spring Refresh

By Marc Huminilowycz | Photography by Clay Dolan

Three Southern Georgian Bay homeowners partner with local pros to modernize outdated homes, blending old and new into modern spaces that suit their 2026 lifestyles.

A Mid-Century Makeover

When local luxury home builder Marty Webster, owner of Websterbilt Inc., decided to renovate his own home on ninety-five acres next to Duntroon Highlands, he chose to pay tribute to the mid-century vibe of his early 1990s home while bringing it up to date.

“We loved the character of the home, originally designed by architect Jim Campbell, but we found the interior a bit heavy, with a less-than-desirable flow,” said Webster.

“So, we totally changed the floor plan, gutted down to the studs, updated the insulation, and rearranged windows, walls, and doorways. We kept the interesting elevations on the outside—it’s basically what it was—as well as the wood tones that imbued warmth, cosiness, and grandeur inside the home.”

According to Webster, the renovation involved removing a tight laundry room and pantry; doubling the kitchen space; moving mechanicals; adding a bathroom; refreshing a full 800-square-foot loft master bedroom by removing a bulkhead; and adding an ensuite bathroom featuring gold hardware, marble, a tub overlooking the private yard, a skylight, and a cantilevered door kit to block off the stairwell.

“Jill Maxwell Design was a sounding board, who we referenced frequently during the reno, and we collaborate on many client projects together,” said Webster. “One of my favourite components was remodelling the billiards room that had a moody Ralph Lauren vibe. We gutted the existing tiki bar and bathroom and added new structural beams to reinforce the sagging ceiling. Overall, we kept the original feel of the space, but updated the look and created better flow.” E

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Bathroom Fixtures: TAPS Bath Centre
Flooring: Simcoe Woodcraft, Newmarket
Light Fixtures: Robinson and Union Lighting, Toronto; Prima Lighting, Concord
Electrical: ATP Electric, Singhampton
Plumbing: InTown Plumbing, Wasaga Beach
HVAC: Campbell Mechanical, Singhampton
Drywall: Mudmans Custom Interiors, Orangeville
Masonry: Hart Strong Contracting, Meaford
Tile: BCK Custom Tile, Collingwood

Scandi Hacienda

What do you do when you want to renovate your space, but you and your partner have differing ideas about the look and feel? One Collingwood couple—he a “winter” person with deep roots in the region who liked a Scandinavian-style chalet; she a summer person who preferred the Mediterranean vibe of southern Spain and France—decided to transform their old home in the desirable Lockhart Subdivision into a statement of their individual tastes.

The couple turned to local architect Andrew Slade to adjust the layout of their home and provide a canvas for Van Allan Design to create a unique blend of Mediterranean hacienda and Scandinavian chalet. “We liked the architectural integrity of our home, especially the timeless staircase, which we kept and added a lime plaster feature on the staircase walls,” said the homeowner.

“Hopkins Building and Kostick Demolition took out the entire main floor and disposed of or donated everything old,” the homeowner added, describing the rest of the renovation. An inset fireplace was reduced to capture space. The foyer closet was sealed, which generated a primary feature wall and opened a large cavity in the kitchen. This allowed for an efficient solution for built-in cabinetry from Allstyle Retrofit and panelled Miele appliances from Tom the Dreamer. Forca microcement flooring was installed on the entire main floor, and the kitchen island and floating hardwired shelves were milled by a local Mennonite craftsman, Samuel Zook.

“I realized that 80% of the renovation was things you do not see,” said the homeowner. “That’s why a big shout-out is due to the many professionals involved in the behind-the-scenes work on our home—like our electrical team, Journey Electric, who designed lighting which subsequently revealed other installation specs, our plumber, Wilsons Plumbing, who made magic when another firm could not, and our drywall repair genius, Jay Ladouceur.” E

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Kitchen Installation: Josh Duits, Clearview
Electrician: Journey Electric, Collingwood
Paintings/Wall Art: Mark Berens, Collingwood
Demolition: Kostick Demolition, Singhampton
Plumbing: Wilson Plumbing Service, Mount Forest
Custom Island & Shelving: Samuel Zook—Represented by Desboro Doors

HOME SWEET HOME

Local resident Kailee Corkum and her family moved into their 17-year-old Nottawa home in 2020. While they liked the overall layout of the kitchen, their goal was to create a space that felt more like their own.

“We were hoping to achieve a more earthy and modern aesthetic that blended well with the natural surroundings outside, while remaining functional for our family of five,” she said. “What we wanted was a larger island to accommodate our family and friends, with lots of storage to keep things clean and clutter-free, as well as a bigger fridge/freezer area to hold all the food needed to feed everyone.”

While the renovation was focused on the kitchen, it was extensive: a fridge from the back wall was moved to a more functional space; a sidewall under the stairs was relocated; a doorway was filled in to further expand cupboards and drawers to create more storage space; the island was lengthened to add in a second dishwasher and more seating; a laundry room was relocated and replaced with a butler’s pantry; cabinetry was specially built to hide most smaller appliances; doorways entering the kitchen were arched; and a three-season room off the kitchen was transformed into a dining room.

“We found that our new dining room created a much more cohesive space, with our favourite views of the backyard and sunsets,” said the homeowner. “Kenny Barber did the millwork for the entryway into the room, as well as all the other millwork and cabinetry in our home. There were a couple of wonky walls and ceiling height discrepancies from one side of the room to the other from the initial build.  Kenny took it all in stride and worked his magic. You’d never know the difference!”

“We worked with the absolute best team of people. I just love walking into a home that feels completely like us,” added Corkum. “It feels like home now and, although the layout remained somewhat the same, the space has been completely transformed. It’s more open and airy, and seems to transition seamlessly with the beauty of the outdoors, which is exactly what we were hoping to achieve.” E

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Millwork & Cabinetry: Barber Millwork, Creemore
Electrical: Grayley Electric, Collingwood
Plumbing: Osburn Plumbing, Collingwood
Windows/Doors: Marvin Windows & Doors
Custom Glass Work: KP Custom Glass, Creemore
Drapes/Blinds: Linda & Co. Custom Décor, Barrie