Great Wide Open
STORY DORATHY GASS | PHOTOGRAPHY SANDY MACKAY
Burrowed in the heart of Northumberland County, Warkworth is a charming small town, rich in history, nature and beauty. The area offers that fresh country air you can only find outside of the city, and it also happens to be the perfect spot for anyone looking for a quaint and quiet weekend home.
When Huw and Kathryn were in search of a rural property to enjoy after the work week was done, they found the ideal weekend house in Warkworth. The home fit everything on their wish list: it’s less than two hours from their home in Toronto and it sits on a significant piece of land, estimated at 50 acres. It was love at first sight.
“Northumberland County has a number of rolling hills throughout the area,” Kathryn explains. “The house sits atop one of those hills and offers a gorgeous view of the surrounding communities in the region.”
In addition, the little town of Warkworth offered its own unique appeal to both Kathryn and Huw. From the cute coffee shops to the local bookstore, a chocolate shop and all the antique stores mere steps away, the couple knew they had found the home-away-from-home they were looking for. With that said, the house was built in the mid-70s and required extensive renovations.
“The home was stunning but needed some work,” Kathryn notes. “We didn’t need to change the exterior of the house, so we focused on the inside.” The 3,200 sq. ft. home was originally built in stages over the years and had a cottage-like footprint, with a garage built in the back. At some point, the house and garage were joined, and an addition with a number of rooms was built along the way. When Kathryn and Huw purchased the home, the layout felt a little disconnected, with lots of small rooms and hallways throughout. The couple removed several internal walls and added structural supports, creating a more open concept.
The renovations were completed by de Blois Built, and the couple officially moved into their weekend home in December 2025. The redesigned interior has a new primary bedroom and en suite as well as three other guest bedrooms with en suites. The house also has two offices and a powder room.
Walls were torn down to expand the kitchen, which opens into the home’s great room, creating a perfect space for entertaining. When their 18-month renovation process was done, the couple invited 15 guests to the home to celebrate the holidays.
“We kicked things off at the house by inviting both sides of our family for two weeks in December! It was a great way to start making memories and turn the place into our own,” Kathryn says.
They are grateful for all the contractors who helped turn their weekend home vision into reality. Kathryn mentions the work of architect Dimitri Papatheodorou, a Northumberland designer who helped transform the interior of their house. The home building company de Blois Built, which builds and renovates homes in Northumberland, Prince Edward County, the Kawarthas and Toronto, was meticulous and provided an on-site manager who walked them through each stage of the renovation. Saara Mortson, of Mortson Interior Design Inc., helped with the interior décor.
As the couple continues to settle into the house, they constantly find details they adore. “My favourite features are the oversize windows and glass sliding doors throughout,” says Kathryn. “One whole corner of our bedroom is made up of two glass walls joined together, which overlookthe meadow in the back fields of the property. At the other end of the house, by the kitchen, a wall of glass – sliding doors – overlooks Northumberland County.” Another favourite is the Villa Embellished wallpaper in the study from Village Paint & Paper.
Still, Kathryn states that her favourite spot in the house is actually outside, past the backyard’s large deck. “My husband and I love to head to the large maple tree out back, steps away from the house, during what my photographer friend would refer to as the ‘magic hour’ when the sun is setting. We have chairs out there, where we both grab a glass of wine to chat and watch the day officially come to an end.” OH