THE ARBOUR COTTAGE
Niagara-on-the-Lake
This three year old cottage-style house was designed and built by Marsha, an Interior Designer...and is detailed and finished exquisitely as a retirement home for the owners.
The style refers to turn of the century Arts and Crafts and is loosely based on an historical working class house plan from “the teens” that marries the garage (a novelty construction at the time to accommodate those new-fangled machines ‐ cars!) to the house, hence the name The Arbour Cottage. In this case, the garage is completely finished inside and has become a working studio for the owner.
The garden around is reminiscent of a cottage garden and belies it’s age of 2½ yrs. The back yard with water garden feature, serves as another room of the home, satisfying the owner’s penchant for outdoor living.
The first floor interior is an open plan concept to suit 21st century living and maximize space. A master and guest bedroom are separated by a spa-style bathroom on the second floor. The basement is a separate one bedroom flat with side door entrance, full kitchen and bath.
The floors are of North American cherry, the tile entrance is of three types of travertine and detail is paid to the interiors by use of period trim, stained glass, exposed wood and period lighting fixtures.
Attention to detail with a comfortable blend of stone, wood and copper allows this house to graciously receive compliments paid by our local town planner as the best example of an in-fill house built in this community of Chautuaugua.
The Niagara Foundation House Tour
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This is a young, plant-lover’s garden.... The all-perennial border incorporates many old cottage favourites. More mature shrubs include Japanese maple and Chinese redbud.
The rose bed boasts a variety of showy, pastel hybrid teas and miniatures treasured by the owner as “cuts”. The hard landscaping was superbly executed by John Lococo working hand-in-hand with Marsha on her design. A large variety of slate and stone have been used throughout the garden. The patio garden with a natural-appearing pond (of Quebec waterfall rock) is largely a coniferous and semi-evergreen border, with Hinooki cypress as a focal point. Of interest are upright columnar euonymous along the latticed screen and several varieties of skimmia behind the pond. This garden has become a joy to its owners.
By Patricia Singer
Great Gardens to Visit
(A Guide to Ontario’s Outstanding Private Gardens)
Published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside
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Dear Marsha and Michael:
Please accept my personal gratitude and the appreciation of the Rotary Club for your willingness to volunteer your home for our sixth Annual Holiday House Tour. Your generosity ensured that our tour would be successful and enabled our club to meet its commitments to charitable projects both in our community and throughout the world.
With sincere thanks,
Don MacDonald
Niagara-on-the-Lake Holiday House Tour
June 2003
