Colin and Justin: The jet set
Article content
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
Colin and Justin discuss the enduring appeal of a black painted contemporary cottage
When it comes to thoughtfully composed cottages and cabins (whether building afresh, or ‘correcting’ an existing structure) darker exterior finishes often feature as part of the architectural envelopes we create.
Recommended Videos
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Colin and Justin: The jet set Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
For us, it’ll all about ensuring structures regress into the landscape, with minimal visual or environmental disruption.
The lake home featured here (our Sub-Zero Reno tv show subject) was previously attired in bright, sky-blue siding that, although cedar, had degraded with the passage of time.
Our neighbours whispered that, when built in the 1980’s, the cottage became the talk of the lake – for all the wrong reasons – due to over-the-top siding and its unusual lop-sided configuration. Let’s just say colour was one of the first issues we addressed.
We call this ‘stealth’ architecture. Whilst certainly commanding, the cottage almost disappears, camouflaged in the shadows of the forest by which it’s surrounded.
Sure, it’s a bold structure, but it doesn’t overpower like it did during its blue period. We initially considered painted cedar as the membrane to dress the exterior, but the daunting prospect of ongoing care and maintenance dissuaded us.
As much as we appreciate real lumber, we elected to go in an entirely different direction, to avoid any attendant hassles. Our schedules are busy, and, well, we ain’t getting any younger.
Attired in sexy ebony hued LP Smartside (from www.taigabuilding.com) a board and baton cladding that delivers weather resistance and appealing aesthetics in equal measure, the ‘wood grain’ product (which looks for all the world like genuine lumber) has proven super durable, having emerged completely unscathed following a particularly horrible winter.
Paired with triple glazed jet framed aluminum windows, and a raised seam steel roof (manufactured and installed by Kind Circle Roofing) the look is darkly commanding.
Creating as large a deck as possible was paramount, so we optimized within township limitations. Take a tip: don’t do anything without seeking approvals from your local planning department. It’s foolish to push your luck and build something that’s not compliant with local regulations. If you’re in any doubt, lift the phone and make that call.
To compliment the overall picture, we opted for a smoky grey deck. Across myriad previous projects, we’ve specified lumber, but found its maintenance just as time consuming as wood siding.
Having carefully appraised various options, we settled on Trex Transcend Lineage Composite Decking (www.trex.com) hued ‘Island Mist’, and dressed the area with outdoor furniture from Canadian Tire.
Crucially, as there’s a basement walk out below the deck, we also opted for what’s proven to be a major gamechanger: Trex Rain Escape, a revolutionary system that gathers precipitation and drains it safely down concealed pipes at the perimeter.
As a storm raged, post install, we saw none of the ‘riveting’ below deck that typically occurs when water passes and drops between boards. Therefore, even on a wild and wet day, we can exit via the basement walk out, stand under the deck and remain bone dry.
Interestingly, we specified railings (rather than glass) to enclose the deck. It’s fair to say, having installed countless glazed barriers, we fancied a change, and it’s a choice we’re delighted to have made.
The railings, also by Trex, suffuse a slightly industrial vibe, and we’re smitten by the sense of containment they bring. Additionally, not having to clean glass partitions is simply another task saved. We’re not in any way work shy, but come on: what price an easier day?
Cottage time, in our books, should see the relaxation guage set to its optimal high, just how we like it.
As tastes fluctuate, the black cottage aesthetic certainly appears to have resilience. We produced our first ebony sided home some 15 years past, yet the style remains a top request from many clients.
In the same way our compendium of moody finishes was chosen to endure the fickle barometer of fashion, so too will those finishes literally endure, even as they face off against the vagaries of the temperamental Canadian climate…
Watch for Colin and Justin on City-tv’s Breakfast Television and Colin and Justin’s Sub- Zero Reno on Paramount Plus TV. Find the Colin and Justin Home Collection in stores across Canada.
Visitwww.colinandjustin.tv
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.