In the mid-1800s, the Wilkinson family purchased a 15-acre plot of land in Prince Edward County and built a sprawling, three-bedroom house beside the forest. Fast forward to 2017, and the property was up for sale. Jaime Kowal, a photographer and founder of The Desert Collective, and her business partner Aaron David, drove down a quiet country road one June day to visit the place. They were immediately blown away by the soaring 25-foot ceilings in the great room, the lush landscape and the glassed-in solarium at the back of the house. Jaime and Aaron purchased the property and started renovations as soon as they got the keys. They planned to convert the space into a rentable family getaway, aptly named “The Wilk,” and their aesthetic approach zeroed in on luxe 1970s design.
First Impression
When Jaime and Aaron drove up the road, this was their first glimpse at the house. They’ve since made some some changes to the exterior, including a fresh coat of paint for the trim.
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Lean Back
The front porch offers wide views of the landscape. The rocking chairs are from Ikea, and the light fixture hanging above was purchased at Restoration Hardware.
Farm Life
This is one of the home’s two original barns. It doesn’t serve a functional purpose at the moment, aside from lending the place some farmhouse cred.
Related: This 1840s Farmhouse Will Make You Dream of Moving to the Country
Those in Glass Houses
The backyard dining space is tucked just outside the solarium, which pours light into the great room. (More on that later.)
Garden View
The dining space is nestled beside the garden. For lazy summer afternoons, the Wilk offers bocce ball and croquet.
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Let it Grow
Here’s another look at the lush garden.
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Swing Time
A farmhouse simply wouldn’t be a farmhouse without a tire swing.
Get Outside
For those looking to reconnect with nature, several walking trails snake through the woodland, which once supplied lumber to illicit rum runners.
Chocoholic
There’s lots going on in the living room, which is the first space you see when you enter the house. The bold patterned rug is made from pony hair and was sourced from Kijiji. The vintage leather sofa, chair and dramatic lamp are all from Studio Pazo, a 20th-century modern design shop in Toronto.
Soft Touch
The luxe coffee table anchors the space and adds a natural touch to contrast all the leather and metal. The table was sourced from a shop in the Junction in Toronto, as were the brass-and-gold side tables.
Dream Sequence
The downstairs bedroom is home to a big, dreamy wall hanging commissioned to suit the space. The teak side tables are from GUFF, a vintage furniture store on Queen Street East in Toronto. The pillows are made from alpaca.
The Library is Open
Some of the room’s more unique features include the built-in bookshelf, tucked behind a pair of white curtains, and the exposed wood beam original to the house.
Time Travel
It took nine months to furnish the house, and it’s filled almost entirely with vintage pieces. This chair and pillow combo are both from GUFF. (In fact, a significant portion of the home’s furnishings come from the store.)
Morning Light
The upstairs bedroom is awash in light. Several GUFF pieces appear in this space, including a vintage dresser and plenty of little ceramics from the 1940s.
Wall Flowers
This stunning wallpaper was found on Etsy from a retailer in Italy known simply as Retro Walls. The retailer has over 1,000 different vintage wallpapers, and Jaime settled on this romantic, rosy piece. The pillows on the bed are also alpaca, from Restoration Hardware.
Dog Days
For a playful touch, Jaime and Aaron have hung vintage fashion photos throughout the home featuring supermodels with dogs. In the master bedroom, there’s this piece of Beverly Johnson with a Doberman.
Wing It
The vintage dresser, also from GUFF, is updated with a pair of whimsical lamps purchased from an online retailer.
Soft Landing
The bed frame and bench are both made from teak and sourced from GUFF. The neutral bedspread and blanket are from Restoration Hardware, as are the snuggly alpaca pillows.
White and Wood
The floors in the master bedroom are original to the space, and the neutral design helps showcase the natural character of the wood.
Make it New
The upstairs bathroom was totally gutted. Hexagon-shaped marble tiles enclose the space, adding a one-of-a-kind patina to the walls. One of the only things Jaime and Aaron kept was the clawfoot tub. The sheer shower curtain is from Urban Outfitters.
White on White
The dazzling variations in the marble are most apparent in the day, when the light from the window plays off the walls. The sconce above the mirror, from Cedar & Moss, is made of brass.
Say Cheese!
The home’s most unique piece of furniture is arguably this curved blue sofa and accompanying side able. Both pieces were found on Kijiji, and Jaime and Aaron knew they would perfectly capture the 1970s vibe. The pair of brown velvet chairs also suit the theme, and the shag rug from GUFF ties it all together.
Dinner With a View
When it’s too chilly to eat in the garden outside, guests can enjoy the same view inside, thanks to the solarium. The teak table is from Machine Age Modern in Toronto, and the vintage Eames chairs are from GUFF.
Strike a Pose
The dining space can seat up to eight people, and offers a great vantage point to watch the goings-on outdoors. Rather than blow the budget on a new lamp, Jaime purchased this paper lamp for $3 she found online.
Knock Out
This space was once home to a massive, indoor fireplace with a chimney that ran up the centre of the room. Jaime and Aaron wasted no time knocking it out to open up the space.
Tune Out
A music nook beside the couches offers a record player, disco ball and acoustic guitar for guests to jam out. There’s no TV in the space, and the idea is to encourage visitors to “go analog,” Jaime says.
Dog Days
A second, smaller dining space is situated off the corner of the room. Eight portraits of dogs hung on the wall tie in the home’s canine motif. The table is from GUFF and the brass light fixture above was sourced from a cute vintage shop in nearby Belleville.
Something Borrowed
The kitchen tile, from Surfaces and Co. in Toronto, touches on the playful 1970s theme. The shelf above the sink is a piece of reclaimed wood that Jaime and Aaron found in the barn. The beam at the top of the kitchen is original to the space.
Living With History
Here’s a wider look at the kitchen, including the beautifully weathered exposed beams. All the appliances – including the stove, dishwasher and hood fan – are from Ikea.
Let it Burn
Back outside, an outdoor living space offers a cozy space to have drinks beside the wood-burning fire pit. The two white chairs are from Ikea, and the side table and sofa are both from Canadian Tire.
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