CABIN FEVER
A Canadian retreat that has been lovingly restored
EXTERIOR
The timber frame of the house has been restored and was kept as intact as possible. When Alex dismantled the cabin at its previous location, every piece was numbered so it could be put back together again. In Ontario, it often snows in winter and January is usually the coldest month of the year. ‘It’s like living in Santa’s backyard,’ says Alex.
HOME CV
WHO Interior designer and ‘property rescuer’ Alex Fida and his partner Adam Bolton have restored a number of properties, and this house in Prince Edward County, Ontario, was the one that started their journey. ‘I’ve learned through trial and error, and this log cabin was my first stepping stone,’ says Alex. WHAT Alex discovered a log cabin originally built in the 1860s that was going to be demolished, and saw its potential. The property has been updated for modern living, but still retains its original charm: raw wood, reclaimed doors and rustic details make the space feel homely. The Babylon Log House is available to hire for overnight stays. RENOVATION The entire log cabin was moved more than 20 miles from its original location. Alex employed a heritage building expert for the process, which involved stripping back all the wood, taking the whole building apart and then reassembling it using all of the original materials, as well as adding some new structural elements.
LIVING AREA
Alex has made a feature of the exposed timber walls, which have been ‘chinked’, or lime rendered, to protect the surface and to provide better insulation. The cabin is decorated in neutral tones because the couple wanted to emphasise its natural textures. Vintage rugs are dotted throughout, found in antique shops and also loaned from Alex’s mother’s collection. The sofa and chairs are vintage pieces sourced both from local dealers and online.
DINING SPACE
The only truly new part of the house is the open-plan kitchen and dining area, located in the extension. The impactful double doors give the room the luxury of natural light and provide panoramic views over the surrounding fields. The hexagonal floor tiles are Portuguese, but were bought from a supplier in Ontario; try Claybrook for similar. Artfully mismatched seating lines the milky-glass-topped dining table. ‘I’m always on the lookout for random chairs to put in this space,’ says Alex, who has enjoyed sourcing vintage pieces since he was a boy. ‘My mother would drive me to auctions, leave me and come back at the end of the day. It felt like an epic adventure every time!’
KITCHEN
The metal kitchen unit, which contains the sink and drawers, was found in a shed at the site of the original cabin. Alex set about restoring it, which even involved taking it to a car repair garage to get sandblasted! It now sits snugly in between the maple countertops. The door that leads into the kitchen was bought at a local yard sale, and already featured distressed paintwork; Alex simply gave it a protective topcoat. ‘Adam and I have become extremely resourceful,’ he says.
‘I’VE LEARNED THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR AND THIS CABIN WAS MY FIRST STEPPING STONE’
BATHROOM
The bathroom combines a freestanding bathtub and a number of vintage touches. The green wall tiles were bought secondhand, and Alex held on to them for a couple of years before deciding they would be perfect in the room: they add an extra layer of texture to the space and act as another point of interest between the hexagonal floor tiles and the timber ceiling. For extra warmth in this part of the cabin, Alex has installed underfloor heating. The occasional chair is another vintage discovery.
BEDROOM
In the main bedroom, the couple decided not to sand the floorboards before painting them. ‘We like the idea of preserving the traces of wear and tear,’ says Alex. The copper side table and pendant are vintage finds and add a luxe feel, while the simple bed linen is relaxing and inviting. Alex says his aesthetic has been described as ‘nostalgic’, as seen in details such as glazed vases, decorative pinecones and the vintage striped cushion on the bed. ‘It looks to me like someone has been experimenting with leftover yarn.’