In The News

September 29th, 2009

New Developments at Windermere House

The Lady of The Lake Restoring A Grand Damme To Her Original Glory
- By Glen Peloso Download the PDF here.

When I was first asked to consider working on the Windermere House, I was aware of the property from many years ago from previous work done in the Muskoka area during the summers. I instantly recalled a majestic property in an incredible lake-side location.

Indeed the property has been here since the mid-1800s, when it was the family home of Thomas Aitkens, and was used to house sportsmen who came to the area to fi sh and hunt. By 1890 the property had expanded to be able to accommodate more than 200 guests and, at that time, it was still considered a “nice place to stay” at a cost of $10.50 per week or $1.50 per day. The property remained in the family until 1981, when it was sold to a group of investors. During the filming of the "The Long Kiss Goodnight", the property burned to the ground.

In 1997, the rebuild brought the site back to its original glory, and the doors were reopened. Ten years later in 2007, it was sold again to Paul Jefferys, who has a cottage on the lake and was inspired to return the resort to its former celebrity status as the “Lady of the Lake.” Jefferys was no stranger to Windermere House or the world of food and hospitality, having previously been the founder and past chairman of Kelsey’s International Inc. which owned and operated the Kelsey’s chain, Montana’s Cook house and the Outback restaurants before he sold the company to Cara Foods.

Our first meeting at the property gave me both a sense of dread and excitement as I considered how best to bring the property into this century and meet the needs of a new clientele more accustomed to the finer things in life, while at the same time honoring this resort’s place in history.

The first order of business was to recognize that, unlike in its heyday, people no longer accessed the resort by the water, but by car. The location of the lobby and administration were changed to maximize the view of the water for the hotel patrons. The reception, check-in desks and administration offices were moved to the back of the building, leaving the waterfront wide open for more fitting purposes. We redesigned the lobby into a casual yet elegant space that was close to all of the amenities of the hotel. The ideas came from our own travels, and what makes logical sense in terms of accessing the bars, lounges, dining spaces and guest rooms.

The real appeal of the space is its proximity to Lake Rousseau and the natural surroundings. Th e building was already equipped with a stunning view of the lake and a large porch that wraps around the building on the main level. With the original reception now moved to the back of the building, we decided to make use of the space to create a lobby bar that also spills out on the veranda, allowing patrons to enjoy cocktails and food while sitting on the elegant veranda, just as they might have at the turn of the century. Here, patrons can sip a Martini or Cosmo while letting a live pianist treat them to classic jazz selections. It was the new owner’s desire to provide high-quality food to cater to the patrons of the hotel who are also cottagers on the lake.

The original dinning room was cut off from the front of the building as the veranda continued around the building, separating the dining room from the front wall of the building by a wall. We removed the wall and brought the dinning room straight to the front of the building. Now you can sit in the dinning room, enjoying a fine steak with a dinner companion while overlooking the Lake. The room is elegantly appointed with lighting and classic comfortable seating, a large stone fireplace at the centre of the room, subtle black and white images on the walls, customized napkin holders atop elegant solid-wood table tops. The elements work together to create a relaxed but exceptional dining experience.

For visitors seeking to wet their whistles after a day out on the water, there is the Windermere Pub and Grill on the lower level. Here, we wanted to offer guests a relaxed and friendly feel, just like being at the cottage. The space was interesting to work with, as the building is located on and supported by the Canadian Shield. At the time, the builders realized that it was less difficult to build around the rocks than it was to blast them out, so the back section of the restaurant has a large rock protruding into the room, which we took as a cue for the design. The floor is stone, and the face of the bar is also clad in stone with a granite top, offering a menu of several varieties of beer. The stone floor and simple but comfortable seating spill right out onto the patio, which we surrounded with glass to allow for the view but provide shelter from the strong winds that come off the lake. With the completion of the Grill, the building had a space suited to everyone who may find themselves on the Lake looking for a lovely place to spend some time.

The first year was a huge success, and received awards from the community who frequent the hotel on a regular basis. The second season is poised to be as successful as the first. We had indeed restored the building and business to her previous position as “Lady of the Lake.” She no longer wears crinolines and a corset, but is clad in elegant cocktail dresses by Dior and Chanel on the main level, and Roots and Lululemon in the pub. It was a pleasure to work on, and I trust it will continue to meet with great success!