A collection of vintage wicker and mellowed antiques were ready to go long before this perfect waterfront cottage came into one designer’s view.

For decades, designer Lindsay Mens Craig collected furniture and art for a cottage she hadn’t yet found. “I called it the Cottage Stash. I was always picking up things at vintage shops, antique markets and garage sales,” she says. So, when this 30-year-old charmer overlooking Ontario’s Georgian Bay came to market, Lindsay and her husband Michael jumped on it. “It had the most incredible views,” she says.

Photography: Patrick Biller

Thirty-two steps lead from its doors down to the bay, and the sparkling water is visible from the roomy side porch, breezy screened-in room, and sprawling living room, too. Inside, the cottage had an authentic feel. “The interior had loads of character, including tongue-in-groove ceilings, panelled walls and vast windows,” says Lindsay, which meant she could focus on decorating. “I love antiques, wicker, all shades of blue, and anything with a story, which pretty much describes the Cottage Stash! So, I just hauled it out and brought it here!” she says. “Almost instantly, it was home.”

Photography: Patrick Biller

Cottage Charm

Photography: Patrick Biller | DESIGN, Lindsay Mens Craig, TOM Design Studio. WICKER CHAIRS (front door), WICKER SET (side porch), Christie Antique Market. PLANTERS (front door), Cole’s Florist. FISH SIGN, Vintage Fine Objects.

The forest-green cottage has multiple seating areas. Muskoka chairs sit at the water’s edge (opposite). Vintage wicker is everywhere, including at the cottage’s entry, shown with homeowner and designer Lindsay Mens Craig and Axel (above), and on the side porch (right), the morning coffee and barbecue spot. The sign is from a fish stand in P.E.I. The storage tin belonged to Lindsay’s grandmother. It hides skipping ropes and sidewalk chalk.

Warm Welcome

Photography: Patrick Biller | COAT RACK, CONSOLE TABLE, VASE, MIRROR, BASKETS, ANTLERS AND RUG, Vintage Fine Objects.

“The antique coat rack, catch baskets and console table make it easy to come in and drop your stuff,” says Lindsay. The wall art, Persian rug, chair and vase are vintage. They set the tone for the cottage’s forever-ago vibe. Country-fresh florals in crockery suit the casual mood and also forge a connection between indoors and out, which is what cottage life is all about.

Screened-In Style

Photography: Patrick Biller | WICKER CHAIR, LANTERNS, Christie Antique Market. SOFA, IKEA. PILLOWS, TRAY, HomeSense.

“After dinner, while we wait for the bugs to disappear, we head out here to play board games or cards. It’s everyone’s favourite place and has awesome views of the water,” says Lindsay. A budget sofa and wicker chairs encircle the coffee table Lindsay once aimed to refinish. “The sander was too powerful though, and left those marks,” she says. “They looked cool, so I just left it that way!”

A Place in History

Photography: Patrick Biller | TABLE, STEPSTOOLS, TABLE RUNNER, Vintage Fine Objects. CHINA CABINET, Smash Salvage. LANTERN, Around the Block. FRAMED MAP, Huckleberry’s.

“The antique pine hutch is filled with family memorabilia, which brings a sense of personal history to the cottage,” says Lindsay. “The map of Georgian Bay is a great conversation piece. It shows how small the cottage is in the context of the bay.” The caned chairs are a garage sale find. A potato-sack runner suits the rusticity of the pine table. Stepstools let Lindsay’s young daughters reach high places.

Designer's Touch

Photography: Patrick Biller | CABINET AND RANGE HOOD PAINT COLOUR, Simply White OC-117, Benjamin Moore. WICKER BAR STOOLS, CB2. SUBWAY TILE, Saltillo Tile. CEILING LIGHT FIXTURES, Huckleberry’s.

“The black countertops and white cabinetry were already here, but I added a backsplash with subway tile and black grout,” says Lindsay. The tongue-in-groove ceilings got a fresh coat of paint and new light fixtures were installed. “The original range hood looked like something from outer-space, so I did a quick-fix, wrapping it in wood, then painting it,” she says. Vintage paintings and a fabric shade are soothing. “The wicker stools vacuum clean, which is great since the kids use them a lot.”

Room to Exhale

Photography: Patrick Biller | WICKER BED TRAY (on window seat), TRIPOD DRINKS TABLE, RUG, PAINTINGS (over window seat), FISH (over fireplace), Vintage Fine Objects. COFFEE TABLE/CHEST, pine CABINET, Christie Antique Market. VASES, The Door Store. POUF, HomeSense. FIREPLACE PAINT COLOUR, Simply White OC-117, Benjamin Moore. Porcelain GARDEN SEAT, Around the Block. WOODEN STEPSTOOL, Betten Court Manor.

The main room offers stunning water views, so a generously proportioned window bench is the best seat in the house. Lindsay fashioned it from two twin mattresses, placed end to end and framed with beadboard. The airy tripod table beside it, vintage paintings and a breakfast tray are balanced by the heft of a Quebec pine trunk turned coffee table.

Photography: Patrick Biller

“The fireplace stone was really ugly, so I painted it white. It was a great fix, and as cheap as a can of paint,” says Lindsay. “The fish over the mantel isn’t local, but it’s fun!” The tall blue cabinet hides a TV and board games. A porcelain garden stool serves as a drinks table between rattan armchairs.

Photography: Patrick Biller

The antique Quebec pine cabinet is stocked with candles, playing cards and other cottagey necessities. The antique lantern wired into a lamp feels nautical. Lindsay added pillows and sheepskin to the rattan armchairs, making them even more inviting.

Fresh Air Feeling

Photography: Patrick Biller | LAMP, END TABLE, ART (over headboard), Vintage Fine Objects. HEADBOARD FABRIC, Schumacher. CUSTOM HEADBOARD, Silva Custom Furniture. PAISLEY PILLOWS, Y&Co. BEDDING, Pottery Barn.

The primary bedroom feels fresh with pale blues, greens and white anchoring the palette. A custom striped headboard, paisley pillows and artwork add pattern, colour and character. The paintings were collected by Lindsay over a 10-year span. “They’re all by one artist,” she says. “And cost only $15 each.”

Patterns Aplenty

Photography: Patrick Biller | Houndstooth HEADBOARD FABRIC, bird PILLOWS, Schumacher. CUSTOM HEADBOARD, Silva Custom Furniture. Round END TABLE, blue POTTERY, ART (over dresser), Vintage Fine Objects. LAMP (on end table), Betten Court Manor. QUILT, 17 South Antiques. SHEETS, HomeSense. ART (above bed and dresser), Christie Antique Market. ROMAN SHADE, Tonic Living.

“This quilt from South Carolina set the stage for everything that came after,” says Lindsay of the houndstooth headboard, bird motif pillows and playful polka-dot sheets. A textured lamp sits atop a narrow table, its shelves laden with novels for guests, and an antique dresser hosts a grouping of vases. “I’m a big blue fan,” says the designer. “These were bought over a long period of time, then arranged together here.”

Old & New

Photography: Patrick Biller | WALL PAINT COLOUR, Stonington Grey HC-170, VANITY PAINT COLOUR, Hale Navy HC-154, Benjamin Moore. MIRROR, WOODEN STOOL, Vintage Fine Objects. ART, Christie Antique Market. ROMAN SHADE, Tonic Living.

“The tongue-in-groove walls were there, so the powder room already had character,” says Lindsay. “I painted the vanity blue and topped it with marble from an old coffee table I’d hung onto. Luckily, it fit!” A roman shade and vintage framed art add character. Says Lindsay: “The worn rug hides messes beautifully.” A wood stool is a perfect perch for teeth brushing by the little ones.