Built for Sunsets

STORY: LAUREN LONG | PHOTOGRAPHY: SANDY MACKAY and CHANTELLE ZENG

Featured in Southern Georgian Bay Issue - Spring 2025

Picture the soft pastel colours of orange, peach and salmon pink, swirled together within a clear blue sky. As the sun falls beyond the horizon of turquoise water, its light touches the floor-length windows, flooding this home with a magical glow. This house was designed so that its owners and their guests never miss the opportunity to witness spectacular sunsets.

Having previously owned a chalet in Collingwood, the homeowners decided to look for a property with perfect waterfront views of Georgian Bay. After searching for a few years, they finally found one with a small, older cottage, which wasn’t ideal. They decided to buy and replace the existing cottage with a brand-new home.

“The footprint of the previous cottage and its detached boathouse was grandfathered in, allowing us to build exceptionally close to the water,” explains the homeowners.

Working with residential designer Brad Abbott of Abbott Design Ltd., the homeowners designed a two-storey back split home angled to face westward on the shoreline. “Like many of the homes we admired in California, our intention was to bring the outdoors in,” say the homeowners.

They selected Matt Hill of Mazenga Building Group, builders of custom homes and lakefront properties, to lead construction. Due to the challenges of the site, including its steep elevation change, Tatham Engineering was brought in to design the significant retaining walls, drainage features and new shore wall. Clearlite Excavation & Haulage completed the grading. At the recommendation of Mazenga, the homeowners contacted Zeng Landscaping to complete the exterior space. This family-owned business was founded by Martin and Linda Zeng, and now includes their sons, Daniel and Joshua. Daniel leads up project design and coordination while Joshua heads operations and equipment management. Both followed through with hands-on development of the project.

The project included replacing the existing concrete shore wall and adding large, beautiful boulders (Clearlite), installing the concrete boat launch, patios and outdoor stairs, and, of course, a colourful planting plan. “Working on this project gave us a unique opportunity to capitalize on the Georgian Bay shoreline,” says Linda. “This project presented many challenges but seeing the landscape plan in all of its construction phases come together seamlessly for the clients’ enjoyment is truly spectacular.”

To start with a clean slate, Zeng Landscaping excavated the ground to support the entire hardscape with a formed concrete, frost-protected base and an extensive concealed drainage system. Heated slab patio areas, driveway and stairs eliminate the need for shoveling snow in the frosty winter months. Eshcon completed the landscape masonry and concrete installations were completed by Superior Concrete. “Georgian Bay can be relentless,” says Daniel. “We had to design everything to hold up against aggressive waves and ice, which builds up throughout the winter.”

Attention to detail was crucial. Full-size masonry products were used to create a seamless installation. When designing the patio and landscaping plan, Zeng Landscaping ensured plants and features were situated to leave unobstructed views from the house. Ric Liesch supplied the renderings and planting plan.

“Our goal was to create a space that maximized the property’s unique potential while tying into the home’s architectural design,” says Daniel.

One of the outdoor space’s most notable attributes is the abundance of modern fire features. The homeowners particularly love the fire features supplied by Urban Fire, with integrated lighting lining the shore wall, complementing the glow of the evening sunsets. An oversize wood-burning fire pit provides a space for a traditional campfire. Lighting and irrigation were installed by Georgian Sprinklers.

Under the covered porch, a spacious dining area with ceiling fans and built-in electric heaters provides a spot to dine al fresco from spring to fall. This, along with several separate outdoor entertaining areas, reflects how the property was conceptualized for hosting guests.

The striking floor-to-ceiling windows from Bigfoot Door and installed by Ridley Windows & Doors Inc., are built to withstand extreme Canadian winters, keeping the home warm and cosy. Steve’s Masonry Inc. completed the home's exterior.

Inside, generous 16-foot-high ceilings in the living and dining areas make the space feel grand and open. Overseeing the interior design and decoration, the homeowners executed their clear vision – clean and contemporary, incorporating a bright white and soft grey colour palette. Norex Painting completed the interior painting, using a custom grey hue.

Purchased from Willow Lane Interiors in Barrie and made by Silva Custom Furniture, the living room sofas face out to views of the bay, next to a Regency San Francisco Bay gas fireplace with a grey porcelain tile surround. A wood-burning Renaissance Rumford 1500 fireplace in the family room ensures a cosy indoor spot to relax. Heating and cooling throughout the home was completed by Campbell Mechanical.

White Caesarstone quartz countertops in the kitchen, installed by Marble Tech Inc., exude an elegant appeal. The kitchen’s open-concept plan was designed to incorporate window views.

“It takes twice as long to get things done in the kitchen! We are always stopping to take a photo of the ever-changing scenery of the water and sunsets,” admit the homeowners. Due to the close proximity to the shore and the design of the upper decks, views from the upper level only see water. “It’s like being on a boat every day.”

In the primary bedroom, a break from the view is available at the push of a button, with automatic blinds and the home’s audio-visual features installed by Red Brick Group. In the en suite, a freestanding bathtub serves as the focal point while a large walk-in shower rounds out this spa retreat.

The lower level includes bedrooms, a steam room and movie room and features a guest suite and an in-ground swim spa with floor-to-ceiling pocket doors that open to connect to the landscaped patio in the warmer months.

This home proudly embraces its location and gives the homeowners areas inside and out to share every magical sunset and the Georgian Bay lifestyle with friends and family. OH