Scott McGillivray Renovates a Rentable Muskoka Paddler’s Paradise

When you enter the competitive vacation rental marketplace, especially in an area like Muskoka, you want to stand out. Creating a theme is one of the easiest ways to do that, which is why Scott went with a canoe theme for this particular property. Renters get that from the moment they arrive with the new front door, which the team painted a bold red. Then, they created an inexpensive canoe portico above, really setting the vacation vibes from the get-go.

To give you an idea of what the property looked like before Scott arrived, here’s a snapshot of the great room. The views offer a ton of potential, but the tired wood, first-generation laminate floor, and undefined space doesn’t exactly scream vacationer’s paradise, does it?

Now when you walk into this great room, it really does take your breath away. The new floating floor is more modern and can withstand lots of wear-and-tear, which is essential when you’re renting out your space. The dark trim around the windows adds instant drama, and the new living room layout offers a chill vibe where you know you’re supposed to hang out and get your vacation on after a fun day at the lake.

Open concept is in style, but you still want to have separate areas within your space to make it feel purposeful. Scott and co. did that with the furniture placement and with the finishes themselves. The new kitchen island is bold and polished, with pendant lights that draw the eye. In the living room, the original fireplace remains a central focal point with its beautiful stonework. And above, the wood-panelled ceiling brings it all together to create that cozy vacation feel.

The kitchen itself had a good layout, and the cabinets were in great shape, so Scott and Debra left things as-is to save on costs but then used paint to modernize the look. Below they opted for a darker colour that holds up well to wear-and-tear, and above the white finish adds even more brightness. A new backsplash, countertop and sink help pull it all together, while the dark trim on the windows continues the overall cottage flow.

Before, there was no formal area to eat, which is fine for some families but not in a rental. And since there was no kitchen table, the team created this space complete with a coffee and bar nook to match the main kitchen area. The new table can accommodate large gatherings, and above, the custom canoe light fixture that Scott built keeps things totally on theme.

At the front of the rental, Scott made good use of the entire space. The team added a shoe tree and bench to create an instant mudroom effect, giving renters a space to place their items upon entry. Then they added a sliding barn door to the washroom and laundry room area, which is separated into three spaces so that even when a renter is showering, someone else can use the washroom.

There are four bedrooms in this rental, but before Scott arrived, none of them had really been designated as the primary bedroom. Renters who are footing the bill want to feel as though they have a special space designated for them, so it’s important to allocate one bedroom as the main retreat. The team did that here with a beautiful feature wall and four-post bed, but this new primary room also features a new ensuite where unused closet space used to live.

Since families will probably be looking into renting this space, it was important to create at least one kid-friendly room. On the second main-floor bedroom, the team did that with bunk beds, an armchair (for story time, of course) and a chest of drawers. That latter item helps to keep renters organized without having to use space for a closet, which is very low on the list of rental priorities.

Because this rental is right on the water, the deck should be a great space to congregate without obstructing those gorgeous views. Safe but transparent glass panels achieve those goals, while a few extra touches of decor and some seating completes the look. With all of these upgrades, this four-bedroom rental can now list at $715 a night, a fine price for those owners who have now fully realized their Ontario cottage dreams.