Great Escape

Beloved design duo Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan invite us inside their newly renovated slice of paradise in Ontario's cottage country

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When Canada's favourite Scottish design couple Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan decided to buy a run-down cabin in Haliburton, Ont., they knew they had their work cut out for them.

"We called it a 'slanty shanty' because it was literally about to fall down," jokes Justin, noting the property's ideal location as the real selling point. "We're on the edge of a lovely granite outcrop that reaches into a big body of water called Drag Lake," he explains, painting a beautiful picture. "We have a lot of friends up there, too, so we just always knew the spot was absolutely perfect for us."

What they didn't know was that the renovation would be taking place in the middle of a harsh Canadian winter, as they'd put it off for several years to focus on opening North Star, their Nova Scotia hotel that keeps them on the East Coast during the warmer months.

"Suddenly, we were faced with the prospect of 'OK, if we don't do this now, this cottage is going to collapse,"" says Colin. "But what do you do when you're away all summer? We had no choice but to do this reno in the winter."

At first, the creative duo whose design talents have been showcased on TV shows like Cabin Pressure and Colin & Justin's Hotel Hell - considered "demolishing it and just starting over." But, says Colin, "We had fallen in love with the structure of the cottage and its position on the lake."

Instead, they decided to restore the original house and add two extensions - one of which is now their dedicated morning dining room. "It's on the side of the lake where the sun comes up, so it's the perfect place to start your day," notes Colin. Adds Justin: "We're so proud of what we've done. We've created the perfect holiday home."