Our Greatest Joy

STORY: LORI DAVIS | PHOTOGRAPHY: SANDY MACKAY

Featured in Peterborough/Kawartha Lakes/Cobourg/Durham Region/Port Hope - Fall/Holiday 2025

Karen Salhany Dool and her husband Glenn relax on the deck of their five-bedroom cottage, enjoying the peace and quiet of their island paradise. “We have beautiful views, the water is calming, and the birds are always singing in the forest,” says Karen.

For 24 years, the Dools happily divided their time between their home in Aurora and their previous cottage on Stoney Lake. Three years ago, they decided it was time for a larger space, one that offers more privacy and deeper water to pursue their love of water sports. “This property on Quarry Island came up for sale, and it had everything we were looking for,” Karen recalls.

MaryAnne Noffke Design & Drafting drew the plans for the new cottage while Welsh Custom Homes handled the construction. “We brought MaryAnne a boathouse design we liked and a list of our wants, and she got it bang on,” says Karen. “We were pleased with the trades Welsh used, and they worked through the winter when they could get out to the island.” Voltage Tech installed electricity throughout the home.

Their four-season bungalow sits on 12 acres with 1,800 feet of water frontage. Situated on rock, the site required grading adjustments at both ends to ensure a level foundation. “The construction took longer because everything had to be transported by barge,” Karen explains. Building continued through the winter when the ice was thick enough for safe travel. Building materials were sourced through Monaghan Lumber Specialties.

The cottage exterior is grounded in earthy, organic tones that harmonize with the surrounding landscape. A warm Douglas fir, tongue-and-groove soffit adds natural texture and contrast to the slate-grey Fraser siding, balancing warmth and coolness. “I wanted the colour of the exterior to reflect the grey-blue of the water,” says Karen, noting how the palette shifts subtly with the changing light, mirroring the lake’s ever-changing hues. “I love the way it looks from the water; it blends in and doesn’t stand out.” The dock extending into the lake was built by R & J Machine.

She turned to Heather Twohey of Twohey Home for furnishings and interior décor advice. Twohey Home is a family-owned furniture and design shop that has been serving the Peterborough community for more than 60 years. Known for their curated collection of timeless, high-quality furnishings and personalized design services, Twohey helps clients create spaces that are both beautiful and liveable.

“Working with Karen and Glenn on their home was such a joy for Twohey Home,” says Heather. “They came into the project with a very clear vision of what they wanted, which made the process both easy and inspiring.” Heather assisted with the layout and created floor plans so the couple could visualize how the furniture would fit within the space. “Our goal was to create a home where every detail felt welcoming, comfortable and in harmony with the rocky lakeside setting, while ensuring each piece selected was just as practical for lake life as it was stylish,” Heather explains.

Karen, with advice from designer Brooke McGee, wove her personal style throughout the cottage, creating a sleek, modern feel that is warm and inviting. “We chose most things ourselves and tried to keep it simple,” she says. In the kitchen, gold-hued hardware and faucets, supplied by Chandos Plumbing Inc., add a soft luminescence. Dark cabinetry from Wood By Design, in Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron, provides dramatic contrast. The upper cabinets, inset with bevelled glass, are a showcase for treasured pieces. A white quartz waterfall island, laced with grey veining and supplied by Delray Granite, echoes the tone of the cabinetry. A full suite of modern appliances anchors the kitchen, making entertaining easy. “We love having people over, and our son Jordan stayed with us while he worked during the summer,” Karen says. Their daughter Jesse lives in Victoria. The rustic dining table, a treasured piece from their former cottage, brings memories of past gatherings into their new home.

Floor-to-ceiling windows by Alumalco brighten the great room and showcase the rugged landscape of Stoney Lake. Friendly Fires provided the wood-burning fireplace, while Muskoka Rock Company supplied the granite. A 60-inch oak coffee table serves as the centrepiece of the seating area. Its grey finish matches the luxury vinyl floors by Whelan’s Flooring Centre. “I love the size and how solid it is,” says Karen. “The design has that modern reeded detail that I was looking for in the great room.” Custom-made by Twohey Home, the circular table is a modern nod to the rustic charm of a wagon wheel. “It’s a replica of a piece I liked, but it was too low, so Heather had one of her suppliers make it the height I wanted,” she adds.

On lazy afternoons, blue swivel chairs in the great room face the lake, taking in the scenic view. Come evening, they turn to the fire, embracing its golden glow. Twohey Home also supplied the sofa and Mid-century modern accent chairs. “Each piece was carefully selected to work beautifully with their home’s style and the way they live,” says Heather. “Karen has a background in fabric, which made her a dream to work with – she instinctively knew how to combine colours and textures, and she chose fabrics from Twohey Home that look beautiful yet stand up perfectly to lake life.”

With its Douglas fir ceiling, slate floor and wood-burning fireplace, the Stoney room feels warm and inviting in cool weather. Karen and Glenn enjoy the tranquil beauty of the lake through the expansive windows as the sun slips below the horizon. Sliding doors open to the outdoors, while retractable screens keep bugs out, allowing the fresh lake breeze and night sounds to drift in.

Nestled on the shoreline, the boathouse is one of Glenn’s favourite spots. “He has always wanted a boathouse,” says Karen. Mirroring the cottage’s facade, it feels like a natural extension of the property. A nearby diving platform, the “launch pad,” turns the lake home into a true summer playground.

For Karen and Glenn, the greatest pleasure comes from making memories with family and friends. “Our greatest joy is welcoming family here. We see this home as a legacy for our children to carry forward,” says Karen. OH