Why You Should Vacation in PEC’s Tiniest (and Trendiest!) New Home

I defy anyone to not fall in love with this adorable Pomp Outpost (rent it through Airbnb here). Technically a trailer, it just doesn’t seem like one thanks to its savvy design by the Tiny House Construction Company. The smart cladding recalls a New England cottage, and the custom doors and windows exude residential permanence. Then there’s the front porch where I spent many hours taking in the view…

“We wanted something that would really make the trailer pop here,” says Lindsay Mattick, creative director and partner at Pomp & Circumstance. “The fuchsia chairs just felt like the perfect zing of colour, and they were interesting enough to bring to life the contemporary design of Pomp Outpost before you even open the door.” I loved sitting here in the morning with a coffee and watching tiny frogs leap across the grounds.

The fully furnished, fully insulated home comes with a functional kitchen and a fresh water tank, which pleased Caroline Granger, founder and owner of The Grange. “The water here is from our well and it is delicious,” she says – I can attest she’s right. The butcher-block look countertops are laminate, like the floor, for easy maintenance. The kitchen is flanked by a full bathroom (not shown here) and the seating area by the front door.

“A fully stocked bar is available upon request,” says P&C’s Lindsay. “That being said, there’s a bottle of The Grange’s sparkling wine in the fridge to welcome guests.” I liked the sparkler’s peachy notes and loved how Caroline presents this complex pour in a bottle topped with a humble cap. The abstract paintings are from Toronto’s Project Gallery.

There is, surprisingly, ample counter space in the kitchen, and its green accessories are complemented by the sitting area’s focal wall. “Nothing says a tiny house more than tiny plants!” says Lindsay. “We wanted to add some cool succulents to emphasize the contemporary decor and bring freshness into the small space.” I loved the way it framed the view to the vines and late-afternoon sun – so pretty!

This tiny table folds down when not in use to maximize the space between the kitchen and the built-in banquette. I found it the perfect surface to make notes. The dishes, chair and toss cushions are from Canadian Tire. The bright candlestick continues the fuchsia from outside within, and the candlelight at night made this space feel even cozier.

I couldn’t believe that this teensy bathroom offered a full stand-up shower complete with glossy subway tiles and a rain showerhead. P&C also kitted it out with hotel-worthy toiletries like Pure + Simple shampoo, Decleor soaps and body oil and samples from Truefitt & Hill. Such small touches that create a spa-like feel.

The bedroom is positioned in the loft above the kitchen and accessed by ladder. “The ladder is one of the coolest features of the home,” says Lindsay. “It also unhooks and moves to the other side of the house so you can access the higher shelves. Not to mention it just looks great.” It does, and its wide plank steps made it easy to use.

The cozy sleeping area features an extremely comfy bed, with sheets sourced from Tuckered Trading Company and the mattress and pillows from Casper. I slept with the window open – a treat that’s impossible in a noisy city – to absorb just how quiet and cool it is here at night.

Located in the village of Hillier, The Grange of Prince Edward is very much a family affair. Founder Caroline grew up here and, in 2002, transformed her parents’ cattle farm into what is now a highly acclaimed vineyard and winery. She oversees it with her daughter Maggie, and retained as many original elements as possible, including the weathered beams seen here in the light-filled tasting room.

An original late 19th-century fireplace dominates one end of the barn’s tasting room. Caroline furnished it in a style that’s in keeping with vineyard’s mandate of sustainability. “None of the furniture matches and that is intentional,” she says. “I didn’t want new uniform pieces, and I always tell our guests who wish to plan an event here that it is not matchy-matchy. I think they appreciate that.”

While it’s easy to believe that the wooden rake on the fireplace, with its perfect oversize scale and expert weathering, was the result of exhaustive antique searching, its source was much simpler: “It is an authentic hay rake original to my father’s farm,” says Caroline.

This wine display in the barn encapsulates the personality of the vineyard and its founder. Simple wooden shelves and casual blackboard signs sit amongst the critical acclaim and awards that Caroline has garnered since founding The Grange. Her mix of hands-on expertise combined with laidback style makes for great wine tastings. I especially loved the Cabernet Franc 2013 and Caroline’s suggestion to serve it slightly chilled.

A tour of the vineyard is a must and includes a peek inside the cellars, which house neutral French oak barrels. “Our Chardonnay is not the typical oaky style,” says Caroline. Worth noting: all of the grapes are grown right here on the estate and all of the wines are made on the farm.

Caroline is committed to biodiversity and has planted alfalfa around the vineyard to ensure soil health. She also shuns the method of wrapping the vines in plastic to protect them from hungry birds. “We use bird blasters here,” she says, referring to the regular small explosive sounds visitors will hear on site. “They scare the birds away and are in effect from dawn till dusk.”

When Caroline was a little girl, she viewed the bedrock terroir that makes The Grange grapes so excellent in a slightly different way. She told me: “there were lots of rocks in the fields and my job was to remove as many as possible. Just when I thought I was done, there’d be more. I often thought my dad put all the rocks I had cleared back into the field!” Now that same rock bed gives the award-winning wines their signature minerality.

This is the view of The Grange that greeted me as I turned off Closson Road and approached the 600-acre estate. Caroline has deftly mixed new elements, like the windows, into the 200-year-old barn.

The Grange is a place where you want to linger, and with that in mind, Caroline and her team offer a selection of picnics to enjoy on the sun-dappled property. There are locally made cheeses (the Cape Vessey goat cheese from Fifth Town is a must-try). I also tucked into the homemade summer pickles, wood-fired bread and charcuterie from La Cultura Salumi. Wine from the grounds is optional, or you can bring your own for a small corkage fee.

I snapped this photo on the first day of my stay at The Grange. An unseasonal heatwave made it seem more like Provence than Prince Edward County, and as the sun went down it was incredibly quiet, still and peaceful – a wonderful respite from the sounds of the city.

A recent Vogue review labelled Prince Edward County “the Hudson Valley of Canada” and I couldn’t agree more. If you haven’t been yet, you really should go. And if you do, make the Pomp Outpost at The Grange your tiny home away from home.