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Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

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Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

Address: 65 Fire Route 21, Buckhorn, ON Agent: Dominic Cole, Ball Real Estate Inc., Brokerage Price: $3,488,000

The place

This is a two-for-one deal. The buyer gets a four-bedroom cottage on Buckhorn Lake and a separate 15,000-square-foot art gallery.

Here’s what the main, 5,000-square-foot cottage looks like from the outside. It has a cedar exterior:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

Inside, a family room has a pool table:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

There’s also a wet bar:

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Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

Here’s the living room, which would look a bit more modern with some new furniture:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

This cozy nook has a gas fireplace:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

The sunroom faces the water:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

It makes for a lush pseudo-greenhouse. The hot tub in the background is included:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

There are four bedrooms. Here’s one:

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Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

The master bath has a whirlpool tub:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

And here’s the kitchen:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

As for that 15,000-square-foot art gallery: there’s some serious signage on the side.

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

Inside is room after room of art, mostly depicting the Canadian wilderness:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

Most of the art is on consignment, so it would either go back to the artist or remain on consignment, depending on the terms of the sale:

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Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

The gallery could be converted into a living space:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

Or, it might make a decent wedding venue:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery

Here are the lake views:

Cottage of the Week: $3.5 million for a retro Kawarthas compound with its own art gallery
The history

The original four-bedroom cottage was built in 1979. It has received a few upgrades since then, including a new front deck and a new dock. The gallery opened in 1983, and the current owners bought it in 2000. They’re selling because they want to retire and move closer to their grandchildren.

Big selling point

For art aficionados, this property could be a pretty cool business opportunity.

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Possible deal breaker

There’s no question the place could use updating. Buyers without the energy to run a gallery or convert the art space into a second cottage may want to look for something a little easier to work with.

By the numbers

• $3,488,000 • $20,078 in taxes (2017) • 20,000 square feet (in both buildings) • 372 feet of waterfront • 4.57 acres • 4 bedrooms • 4 bathrooms

Jean Grant has been a freelance writer since 2015, covering a range of lifestyle topics like shopping, interiors, wellness and culture for publications like Maclean’s and Toronto Life. She also enjoys working with brands to develop custom content, and shares personal essays through her Substack newsletter, Nobody is Thinking About You.
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