While our home in the city is contemporary, our little cottage is quite the opposite. It's small and cozy with lovely views of the Ottawa River, where it literally sits in the sand. I like to think of it as a beach house, because that's how it feels. Here it is last Thanksgiving ...
We bought the two bedroom cottage in a very forlorn and unloved state two years ago. But with a few walls knocked down, a cute Ikea kitchen installed and gallons and gallons of white paint, we brought back the charm. Last Fall, we completed a small addition, adding a third bedroom and a new bathroom (with laundry ... squee!) - as a bonus, we even have a few closets! We also replaced the doors and windows, did some electrical work, levelled the cottage's crookedness and winterized with insulation and heating.
With the worst of the interior changes complete, we're now at the "fun stuff" stage - closet shelving, door handles, decorative details like blinds .... and a bit of new furniture. Perhaps our favourite new feature is a working fireplace. This weekend, Warren will be installing the stone on the fireplace wall, as well as a new mantle. Because this will be such a focal point, we wanted something special for the mantle.
So ... we went to The WoodSource in Manotick to find a weathered wood mantle - the perfect accent to the new river rock cladding. We decided on a hand-hewn timber product. According to the WoodSource website - this timber is "salvaged from barns and other structures dating back to the 1800’s, and would have been harvested from the land adjacent to the building site. The timbers are usually square, hand hewn on four sides and commonly include some mortise pockets." You can choose from a wide selection.
After wandering through the stacks of timbers we selected a 62" x 11" x 4" greyish elm - that has all these weathered looking cracks and chips. I think it looks quite beachy!
We could have wandered endlessly, but while we were there I managed to check out their exotic wood and "live edge" selection. Lots of "live edge" products ... you can make counters, mantles and tables from this product....
They also have planks of barnboard, (think headboards, tables, shelving) We made sliding doors in our city home from the re-claimed wood we found behind our lathe and plaster. Its' age gives it a lovely patina. These are similar.
To find out more, drop by the WoodSource ( Mitch Owens Drive ) or visit their website:
http://www.wood-source.com/reclaimed-vintage-wood-products/
How does one become a 'hewer'? I think I might like that job...
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