When Summer says Goodbye – Closing the Cottage without Closing the Door on Its Beauty
For many of us, fall marks the final days at the lake before the quiet months settle in. While closing the cottage often means draining pipes and storing the dock, protecting the interior of your home deserves just as much attention.
In fact, seasonal living is part of what makes the Kawarthas so unique. Nearly one in five residential dwellings in Kawartha Lakes are seasonal properties, meaning thousands of homes spend months sitting vacant each year.
A thoughtfully designed home should age gracefully – even when you’re away.
Maintain a Stable Interior Environment
One of the greatest investments inside a cottage is often the hardwood flooring, custom millwork, furniture, and artwork. These materials naturally expand and contract with changing temperature and humidity (and especially in Ontario!).
Rather than allowing your cottage to fluctuate dramatically throughout the transitions from fall, winter, spring and then back to summer, it is ideal to maintain a consistent, moderate temperature and, where possible, use a humidity-controlled HVAC system. Providing stable conditions throughout the off season help protect wood flooring, wall and ceiling treatments, cabinetry, doors, musical instruments, artwork, and fine furnishings from unnecessary movement or damage.
Let Window Treatments Do More Than Decorate
Beautiful window coverings aren’t simply a finishing touch – they can also serve as an important layer of protection. During the winter months, when the surrounding deciduous trees have lost their leaves, sunlight can reach much farther into your cottage. Closing lined drapery or high-quality blinds before you leave for the season helps protect upholstery, flooring, rugs, artwork, and wood finishes from prolonged UV exposure.
If you’re building, renovating, or simply refreshing your cottage, it’s worth considering UV protection as part of your overall design strategy. Aftermarket window films can significantly reduce harmful UV rays, while many modern, high-performance windows are manufactured with built-in UV protection. When these considerations are incorporated early in the design process, they work seamlessly alongside your window treatments to help preserve the beauty and longevity of the furnishings, finishes, and materials you’ve thoughtfully invested in.
Choose Materials That Suit Cottage Living
Not every beautiful material performs equally well in a seasonal home.
When designing cottages, we carefully consider products that can better withstand changing environmental conditions. Engineered hardwoods, durable natural stone, performance fabrics, high-quality cabinetry finishes, and thoughtfully selected outdoor furnishings all contribute to a home that remains beautiful through every season – not just while you’re enjoying it. Designing for longevity is every bit as important as designing for aesthetics.
Don’t Forget the Exterior
Preparing the outdoors properly can make spring opening significantly easier.
Store cushions in a dry location, clean outdoor furniture before covering it, and ensure planters are emptied or professionally overwintered. Several local garden centres offer wonderful overwintering services for custom planters, allowing them to be cared for, refreshed and ready for another beautiful season without starting from scratch.
Design With Every Season in Mind
The best cottage designs aren’t created for July and August alone. They’re designed to withstand February, too. At Birchview Design, we believe exceptional design considers how a home will perform long after the last guests leave and the lake grows quiet. By selecting enduring materials, planning for seasonal living, and thinking beyond today’s trends, you’re creating a legacy property that will continue to welcome your family beautifully for generations to come.
Birchview Design Inc. is an award-winning interior design and project management firm creating timeless homes and legacy cottages throughout the Kawartha Lakes, the Greater Toronto Area, and beyond. Through elevated design expertise, RenoMark™-certified project management, and collaborative partnerships with exceptional builders and craftspeople, the firm guides clients from the earliest vision through to the final finishing touches.
www.birchviewdesign.com / @birchviewdesign
Stony Lake Cottage & Hamptons Retreat project in partnership with Four Points Construction https://www.fourpointsconstruction.ca / @fourpointsconstruction
Kawartha Lakes Cottage in partnership with Discovery Dream Homes www.discoverydreamhomes.com/ and D & K Contracting www.dandkcontracting.ca
Photo Credit: Ashley Adams @flashadams, Daniel Weylie www.danielweylie.com
