COZY-CHIC COTTAGE DECOR

A converted carriage house in Prince Edward County, Ont., is a comfy, rustic escape from city living.

n 2012, food-truck owner Rebecca Hunt and artist Stewart Jones bought a beautiful 1860s home in Wellington, Ont. If that wasn’t exciting enough, the property also boasted a charming carriage house. Despite its dated exterior and dark, neglected interior, they saw great potential for the space as a rental cottage. So they stripped it back to the exterior brick walls and installed reclaimed-wood floors throughout. Then, Income Property came calling, and designer Melissa Davis took on the project.

The exposed post-and-beam construction inspired Davis’s overall design: She wanted to highlight the history of the space, while giving it a contemporary feel. “I used a mix of clean lines and a neutral palette to allow the character of the home to shine through,” says Davis. She didn’t forgo colour entirely, though; a touch of red appears in every room—cushions, accessories, artwork— which ties everything together and injects a vibrant energy. Despite its diminutive dimensions, the cottage now feels airy, bright and light.

Davis knew that practicality and functionality would be important elements, especially considering how the space would be used (hello, revolving door of vacationers!). “Everything in this carriage house was designed with a purpose,” she says. “From the vintage ice bucket to the borrow-a-book shelf at the entry, nothing is too precious.” Now on the other side of the reno, Rebecca and Stewart have named the space Studiohousepec, and not surprisingly, it’s become one of the most sought-after cottage rentals in Prince Edward County.