A first look at the renovated cottage of John and Juli Baker, the owners of Mjolk in Toronto, one of our favorite sources for under-the-radar Scandinavian design.
"Musty, moldy, and stuck in the seventies" is how John describes the original cottage, which sits on the shores of Lake Huron. Read on to discover the secrets to the renovation:
Above: The dining area is anchored by an Ilmari Tapiovaara dining set for Artek designed in 1955 (it's available at Mjolk). On the wall is a trio of framed Swedish lithographs found at Toronto's Junction Flea; the 1940s cocktail cabinet by Alvar Aalto was an online find.
Above: John opened up the space by removing a drop ceiling and spray painting the ceiling an eggshell Cloud White by Benjamin Moore. The blue and white dhurrie rug is by Eero Koivisto for Asplund (available at Mjolk).
Above: The original brick fireplace was painted white. On the wall is a vintage Swedish sconce by Knut Hallgren.
Above: The striped duvets are from Marimekko.
Above; An Alvar Aalto stool serves as a bedside table.
Above: After a labor-intensive session restoring the living room's pine floors, John ended up painting the bedroom floors white.
Above: An Aalto day bed that doubles as an additional bed for extra guests during holiday weekends.
Above: A view of the guest bedroom.
N.B.: To read about their main cottage renovation, go to House Call: Juli and John Baker in Canada. For a Toronto city guide, go to: A Perfect Day in Toronto. To learn more, go to Kitka.
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