Cottage of the Week: $2.5 million for a built-from-scratch Collingwood retreat with a koi pond

Location: Nottawa, Simcoe County Price: $2,499,000 Size: 4,793 square feet Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4 Real estate agents: Kelly Caldwell and Janet Stephanie Piotrowski, Royal LePage Locations North

The place

A four-bedroom, four-bathroom bunker in the hamlet of Nottawa, a short drive south of downtown Collingwood. The two-storey home is situated on an acre of land surrounded by a natural forest.

The history 

In 2020, the owners—themselves designers and builders—bought the vacant plot on which this house now sits. After two years of planning and construction, they moved in. They’re now retiring to Florida, so they’ve put the home on the market for the first time.

Related: $1.6 million for a 113-year-old Prince Edward County farmhouse

The tour

The owners added hydro lines and a driveway to the property, which used to be part of a farm.

The façade is defined by its eclectic mix of features—a koi pond, an artificial waterfall, gardens, a stone staircase and two covered decks.

Here’s a closer look at the huge front deck. It has a firepit for year-round hangouts.

Moving inside reveals the open-concept space, featuring heated floors. In the kitchen: a 14-foot island, a six-burner Thor gas stove and storage galore.

This gas fireplace with its 14-foot accent wall anchors the living area

Next to the living area is this office. That’s a wine fridge built into the desk.

Down the hall is the main bedroom, which has a private walkout to one of the home’s five decks.

Here’s the ensuite bathroom, with marble floors, a double vanity and a soaker tub.

The ensuite is also equipped with this shower system.

This is the main suite’s walk-in closet.

The family room is upstairs and has access to two more decks. That’s an elevator on the right, and just beyond it is a second full kitchen.

Here’s a reverse angle of the family room, showcasing another gas fireplace.

This deck faces the backyard and comes with a grill and a hot tub.

Here’s the view from the hot tub.

This deck overlooks the front yard.

There are two bedrooms on the top floor. This one has wall-to-wall storage doubling as a banquette.

This bedroom has a view of the forest.

The two bedrooms share a bathroom, which comes with a glass shower and a floating vanity.

The backyard leads to many hiking trails, and there’s plenty of room back here for future owners to add an in-ground pool.

Have a home that’s about to hit the market? Send your property to realestate@torontolife.com.