Its that time of year when you gather up the kids, dog and everyones belongings, jump in the van and head out to the Cottage Life Show. in anticipation of that time, very soon, when you can load up the kids, dog etc. and actually head out to the cottage.

The cottage has become an icon, a lifestyle, a status symbol, and people are buying their cottages the same way they are buying their BMWs, so they can say they have one, says Ian Forsyth, Cottage Life show manager.

One problem is that the supply of cottages doesn't meet the demand. Prices have risen as a result, but that hasn't slowed sales.

Bill McGrath, the president of the Muskoka and Haliburton Real Estate Board says, Five years ago a cottage for a family of three would have cost $150,000 to $200,000. These days that same cottage would be $200,000 plus.

Another reason prices are rising could be attributed to the fact that people expect more out of these second homes than they used to, and have been adding more features to existing cottages, which have helped increase resale values.

While there are always seasonal trends in cottaging new dock types, the latest in patio furniture Mr. Forsyth now finds that the call for a larger cottage, one with more amenities, [and] the raised expectations is the real trend.

So, while they can still commune with nature by eschewing indoor plumbing and playing tag with the raccoons at the outhouse door, every modern convenience is available to cottagers who want more. That is evident in the types of exhibitors at the show, including everything from Bear Waste Necessities (bear-proof storage bins) to Arctic Spas.

Two exhibitors taking a use-and-reuse approach to feeding cottagers demands are Tim deJong, who specializes in Timber Frame homes and cottages, and Joel Harrison-Off, who builds furniture.

Mr. deJong, owner of Frontier Designer Barn Homes, finds old barns, dismantles them and reconstructs them on a clients land. The homes boast cathedral ceilings whose beams can date back more than 100 years. The posts and beams are usually 12x12 inches, so they are quite substantial, Mr. deJong says. We pressure-wash them, clean them up and if the client wants them treated, we will do that as well.

The cost of one of these homes is about $150 per square foot, about $20/sq.ft. higher than conventional construction costs.

Mr. DeJong explains why these are gaining in popularity: A lot of people want their cottages to be their homes eventually, thats where the size of these [2,500sqft+] comes in.

And for unexpected quest, timber frame owners can just throw them in the hayloft. Mr. DeJong recreates them too. Thats all part of the second storey.

Joel Harrison-Off also works with natural materials, and describes the furniture he builds as rustic modern.

He builds mostly tables and benches, such as the one shown below, but has constructed everything from cabinets to chairs. I was a park ranger in Algonquin for a while, and I did a lot of bush work, so I try to keep the organic feel, but incorporate a lot of modern lines, modular elements in it.

He recycles maple, cherry, and walnut wood. He jokes that he scours the countryside with a chain saw. I will find a piece of wood dead fall and use that. I go up to Algonquin, but even around Toronto along the beaches, Parks crews dump wood.

In addition to hosting 475 exhibitors, including a number of real estate firms, the show has a seminar series on such topics as Financing Solutions for Home and Cottage Owners, and Property Selection Strategies for Cottages and Log Home Builders.

Proud Member of the

Frontier Designer Barn Homes

Uxbridge, Ontario Canada

416-320-6015

Timber Framers Guild