What you notice first when you walk in the door is the wood that runs floor to ceiling. Willow walls with bass wood trim and bird’s eye maple seems to stretch on for miles, drawing the eye skyward. Clear and virtually knot-free, the woodwork speaks of quiet elegance and old Muskoka character. Of craftsmanship and originality. Of warmth. Take a few more steps inside this home and beautiful Lake Rosseau greets you, twinkling just beyond the massive windows.

But then, one would expect no less from the home of Tim Chisholm.

Well-known across Muskoka for his dedication to collecting, showing and celebrating wooden boats and their history, Chisholm spent much time at his Port Carling cottage. In fact, he previously split his summers between this property and an adjacent island that he owned in years past. The island was sold a few years ago, but Chisholm continued to travel to his beloved Muskoka cottage regularly until his death in 2008 at the age of 72.

Known as a kind-hearted man with an eye for boats, Chisholm and his stable of vessels were instantly recognizable at boat shows and boating events across the region. Rambler, Scud II, Shirl-Evon, Black Prince, Black Knight, Earla Girl, sports runabouts, gentleman’s racers, Ditchburns, Minett-Shields and Greavettes; he loved the world of classic wooden boats.

A member of the Toronto Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, Chisholm offered up his time, his boats and even his home to boating-related events.

With 220 feet of frontage and 4,000 square feet of living space in the main cottage, the Lake Rosseau property was certainly ideal for entertaining.

A Toronto resident, Chisholm bought the property in 1993 and set about making the space his own. Upon purchase, a cottage and a boathouse were already in place. While he kept the three-slip boathouse which had a large swimming dock, he took down the original cottage. In its stead he had constructed a five bedroom, four bathroom custom-built home. With a northwest exposure, the home makes great use of natural light and is bright and airy.

A large upper porch affords walkouts to the gorgeous view from numerous rooms, including the master bedroom. There are also three Muskoka stone fireplaces in the central cottage, keeping things cosy in the winter months. Boyd Smith is credited with all of the home’s stonework.

The living room is spacious and bright thanks to the high ceilings and large windows. The obvious place to gather is around the fireplace, which begs one to take pause and relax for a moment. A small seating area near the windows offers an ideal spot to read the paper while looking out at the beautiful view.

Throughout the home are numerous carvings etched into the wood fireplace mantles and along the railings and walls. Most of the carvings depict wildlife and foliage, bringing a touch of the outside in. Much of the furniture is wood, as are some unique pieces that remind one of Muskoka’s rich boating history.

Vibrant colours and whimsical patterns shine in two of the bedrooms on the lower level. At first glance it appears to be wallpaper, but on closer inspection the detail work is handcrafted; meticulously painted.  

Outside, the flagstone deck boasts a hot tub and plenty of space for relaxing in the sun. Both the upper and lower decks are surrounded by railings made of surgical steel.

Styled similarly to the main structure, a guest house also boasts floor to ceiling wood in many spaces. Bright and open, there are three bedrooms, three bathrooms and two Muskoka stone fireplaces in this 2,000 square-foot structure. A kitchen, bar room and laundry room are here as well. And in ample supply are more stunning views across Lake Rosseau.

A two-car garage with attached heated workshop is just across the way from the guest home. Here, one finds plenty of space for storage and lots of elbow room for working on any refinishing projects or boat or car restoration efforts.

The 1.85 acre lot is professionally landscaped and well maintained, offering an air of seclusion to the property. Yet downtown Port Carling and all of its amenities are just a short drive away.

This property is currently listed with Roger Pilkey of Chestnut Park and is on the market at $3.4 million. BTC