At Home with Nature
STORY: DONNA LUANGMANY | PHOTOGRAPHY: DEVON PASTORIUS
Featured in Windsor & Essex County - Holiday/Winter 2025/26
Nestled along the shores of Lake Erie, Wheatley Provincial Park is home to winding creeks and a mature Carolinian forest. With miles of pathways and shaded trails, Ontario’s “deep south” provincial park is a natural haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The homeowners in this story love to get outside and enjoy an active lifestyle with their children. So, when a property near the park went up for sale, they knew it was the best place to build a custom home for their family.
Once a horse farm, the expansive lot had a rich history. At their first viewing, the homeowners were immediately drawn to the weathered barns, open fields and towering silo. “We loved everything about it,” they tell us. “The trees, the privacy and the surrounding park – it felt like a natural amphitheatre.” With Wheatley Provincial Park bordering the property, there were endless opportunities to explore nature and find peace amid the bustle of everyday life.
The couple envisioned a home with indoor-outdoor living space, a fitness room and a home theatre. To bring these ideas together into one cohesive design, they turned to Philip Fernandes of Philip Fernandes Design Inc, a residential designer whose expertise lies in custom home exteriors and interior layouts.
Philip’s process begins with conversation. He spends time getting to know each client, learning about their lifestyle and the rhythms of their day-to-day life. “We had never built a custom home before and didn’t know what to expect,” the homeowners say. “Philip made the whole process easy. He listened to every idea and brought it all together so beautifully.”
Philip designed a modern one-and-a-halfstorey farmhouse, with crisp white siding and dark rooflines. The home’s warmth resonates from the road, while careful planning offers a sense of seclusion. “We pulled the garage forward and shaped the driveway into a courtyard,” Philip describes. “The house is open to the landscape, but it still feels private.”
The courtyard became a focal point of the exterior layout, inspired by one of the homeowners’ key requests: a breezeway between the house and garage. Philip reimagined the idea, pairing an attached garage for everyday use with a second structure connected by a covered walkway. He also positioned the home to minimize exposure to the elements. “We looked at the wind direction and the way snow would drift across the property,” he explains. “Those small decisions make a big difference in how comfortable a home feels year-round.”
The homeowners were impressed with Philip’s ability to elevate their ideas. “He has a real talent for understanding what you need before you realize it yourself,” they tell us. “Philip guided us through every decision, always explaining why something would work better. He was right every time.”
One of their most loved spaces is the convertible sunroom with sweeping views of the land. They had originally requested a covered terrace, but Philip suggested a fully enclosed room. “I wanted to make sure they got the most out of it,” he explains. “Terraces can only be used for a couple of months, but they can enjoy this during every season.”
Located off the main living area, the sunroom features sliding glass doors from The Planning Centre – Andersen Windows that frame the scenery and let in the breeze. Motorized screens keep bugs out on summer evenings, while discreet Infratech radiant heaters in the ceiling and a wood-burning fireplace from Scotts Fireplace make it comfortable in the colder months. The stone walls echo the home’s exterior and a wood-clad ceiling adds warmth above the slate-tiled floor. “When we open the doors and pull the screens down, we can hear the breeze, the birds, everything,” the homeowners say. “It’s our favourite space and where we spend most of our time.”
The thoughtful design of the sunroom sets the tone for the entire home. With every detail considered, each space enhances daily living. That same sense of collaboration carried throughout the project as the couple worked with Bouma Builders Inc. and interior design consultant Erin VanderSluis to bring Philip’s vision to life. “From the beginning, everything just clicked,” they say.
Erin guided the couple through the interior design process, ensuring each finish and fixture complemented the home’s overall style. “She called the look ‘French country meets modern farmhouse,’ ” the homeowners say. Though spacious, the house feels warm and intimate rather than cavernous. Philip achieved this by lowering certain ceiling heights for a more personal scale, while Erin added warmth through layered, natural textures that flow from room to room. That sense of comfort continues into the home theatre, created in collaboration with Dave Cartier of APW Custom Home Theatres. The cocoon-like space, with dark walls and plush seating, offers the perfect spot for the family to settle in for a movie night.
In the kitchen, warm wood cabinetry from Oak Barrel Cabinetry pairs with brushed brass hardware and a stone backsplash from Owen Flooring Design Centre, creating a look that’s both timeless and contemporary. The matte black countertop, also from Oak Barrel Cabinetry, grounds the palette while open shelving introduces contrast. All appliances were purchased at Reis Appliance.
Every detail, inside and out, was curated to celebrate a connection to nature. Beyond the walls, the homeowners worked with the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority to develop the wetland behind their property. Native plantings and gentle grading allow the backyard to blend seamlessly into the existing landscape.
As the couple look to the years ahead with their family in their new home, one enduring feature stands as a reminder of its history. The original concrete silo, the only structure preserved from the farm, is now wired with lighting by APW Custom Home Theatres that shines like a beacon in the dark. “It’s our guiding light,” they say with a smile. “When we come home after dark and see it glowing, it feels like it’s welcoming us back.” OH