Great Spaces: a Haliburton cottage that turned a die-hard city slicker into an amateur woodsman
Great Spaces: a Haliburton cottage that turned a die-hard city slicker into an amateur woodsman
By Matthew Hague | October 14, 2014
By Matthew Hague | 10/14/2014
By Matthew Hague | Photographs by Derek Shapton
Stephen Grant is one of Toronto’s top divorce lawyers, the man one-percenters like David Thomson and Michael McCain go to when their marriages falter. He’s also a city guy who never dreamed of owning a cabin in the woods. That is, until he met his wife, Sandy Forbes, in the early ’90s. She’s a lawyer too, a partner at Davies who specializes in commercial litigation. She yearned for a weekend escape from their frenetic schedule. “Sandy wanted a cottage,” says Grant, “and like any sensible husband, I said yes.” (His line of work has made him an expert on matrimonial arbitration.) Their decade-old retreat is on a forested lot in Haliburton facing a quiet lake. But its design, by architects Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe, is thoroughly urban. The structure is encased in Shim-Sutcliffe’s signature rusting steel, and the burnished concrete floors belong in a downtown loft. In these modern surroundings, Grant has learned to enjoy the relaxed pace of country life: while Forbes lounges for hours with a paperback, he passes leisurely afternoons trying out recipes from Saveur and Bon Appétit.
294629 <b>David Bowie</b> and <b>Iman</b> toured the house when they were considering hiring Shim and Sutcliffe to build them a home in upstate New York. The celebrity couple liked the panoramic views afforded by the glass walls. (Image: Derek Shapton) Great Spaces: a Haliburton cottage that turned a die-hard city slicker into an amateur woodsman https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-01.jpg 1000 667 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-01/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-01 0 0
(Image: Derek Shapton)
294630 Much of the furniture, including the heavy Douglas fir side tables, is from <b>Klaus Nienkamper</b> on King East. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-02-e1412859746859-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-02.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-02/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-02 0 0
294631 Architect <b>Howard Sutcliffe</b> designed the custom seating in the living room. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-03/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-03 0 0
294632 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-04.jpg 667 1000 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-04/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-04 0 0
294633 The bentwood Thonet chair in the office was another Klaus Nienkamper purchase. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-05-e1412859772831-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-05.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-05/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-05 0 0
294634 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-06.jpg 1000 666 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-06/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-06 0 0
294635 The abstract paintings in the bedroom are by the American artist <b>Marcia Myers.</b> Grant and Forbes bought the series at the Galerie de Bellefeuille in Montreal. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-07-e1412859804248-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-07/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-07 0 0
294636 Although the concrete floors are heated, Grant still wanted a wood-burning fireplace. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-08-e1412859819628-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-08.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-08/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-08 0 0
294637 The ceiling panels and window frames are Douglas fir, chosen for its rich caramel hue. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-09.jpg 666 1000 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-09/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-09 0 0
294638 Sutcliffe also designed the kitchen light fixture, which is made from old mason jars. “They have a beautiful glow,” says Forbes. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-10-e1412859836187-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-10.jpg 416 624 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-10/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-10 0 0
294639 The armchairin the bedroom is by the Italian company <b>Cassina.</b> Edwin the cat likes to sit on it and watch the birds. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-11-e1412859856100-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-11.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild/slide/great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-11/ great-spaces-the-call-of-the-wild-11 0 0
I think that could just turn me into an “amateur woodsman” as well ….