Blog Layout

International entrepreneur brings his young family to Cottage Country to build a Pan-Abode cedar cottage.

"Cottaging is in my heart. It's part of my identity. Over the years it has kept our family connected together."

Cottage Memories Inspire the Choice of Pan-Abode


"I spent childhood summers here and I remember the one Pan-Abode cottage on my uncle’s lake. When all the other cottages began to show their age, the Pan-Abode home kept its original condition over the years. I will never forget the sweet cedar smell that greeted me whenever I walked into that cottage."


"To me it represented the pinnacle of the cottage experience and a testament to the inherent qualities of cedar. I’ve travelled all over but the summers in Muskoka cannot be imitated anywhere else in the world!"


Interior of cedar cottage showing dining room, windows and fireplace beyond.
Two rooms inside a cedar cottage showing views of the lake and slate flooring.

CedarCoast Collaborates on the Build


Patrick Bongers, Partner of CedarCoast, helped with the initial planning and provided his signature high level of support throughout the project. He was really "quite generous with his time", says the owner. "We worked with Patrick to pick a Pan-Abode and get the floorplan together for the first few weeks... Pat has a nature to him that's the furthest away from being salesy or pushy." 

 

MRT Construction Builds the Dream



When it came time to put shovels in the ground, the owner’s nephew, Mason Timmerman, stepped up. Mason had shown a passion for construction since early childhood. Now 24, Mason was interested in launching a contracting business within the building trades. Mason pitched the construction of the cottage to his uncle, and was introduced to Patrick and fellow Partner, Bert Bongers from CedarCoast Timber Homes, which oversees Pan-Abode in Ontario, along with building custom Muskoka cottages.


Mason and his team at MRT Construction built the cottage with loving care and obvious skill over the next year... 

Sectional couch with comfortable throws and pillows in a cedar cottage.
Low view of the rustic, wooden cabinets and slate flooring within the kitchen of a cedar cottage.

Quality Cottage Construction, Rustic Charm


Working with his 3 man crew, developing comraderie while working on the lake was a great experience, says Mason. "Constructing the Pan-Abode went quite smoothly, stacking the logs, course by course, and log by log … the smell was terrific! Seeing the family move in and how much they love the space.. amazing!" says Mason. He also says wonderful things about the involvement of CedarCoast. “Patrick was super-helpful and came out to the site a number of times.”


‘The cottage is built like a piano’, says the new owner. ‘The construction is so tight, showing a build with standout quality and precision, even slipping a piece of paper into the joints is impossible." 


High view over a lakefront cottage, showing steel roofing, walkways, pier and lake.

Family Cottage Design with a Wow Factor


"I didn’t want an ostentatious cottage, I wanted to recreate my childhood memories on the lakes, fishing, frog hunting and running through the place with wet swimming trunks still on. I still remember goofing off in the woods. If the floors get wet, so what? We weren’t aiming for a cottage that’s overwhelming or intimidating. You know, humble living. And we don’t bring cellphones, TV or Internet. This is a family bonding experience! I did not want my family to miss out on what I had when I was young.”


The cottage boasts considerable WOW! factor.  "We aimed for a relaxed rustic feel, not something over the top," says the cottage owner. "Our cottage owners aren’t  ostentatious,"  says Bert, "They’re more Zen."

If you are planning a new custom cottage, even in the very first stages of your thinking, we would love to speak with you.

Find out why our customers tell us, "You're not like other builders!"

Call Bert at 1-800-563-5647

CedarCoast is a Custom Cottage Builder Serving Muskoka & Area

Design and Build
Share by: