July reminded me why I love having a plan. Between crossing items off my summer bingo card and watching major project milestones unfold, this month struck that perfect balance of intentional living and creative momentum. There's something about summer that makes everything feel more possible - maybe it's the longer days or just the energy of being up at the cottage more frequently. Here's what kept me grounded and inspired this past month.

Reflecting on July

Summer Bingo Card Success
I was encouraged to make a summer bingo card listing everything I wanted to do at the cottage because somehow summers come and go, I blink, and it's over with that familiar disappointment of not getting enough in. This year has been different. With a little intention, I've already managed multiple family dinners, swimming every single week, two boat rides, one Sea-Doo ride, so much quality time with my nieces, and breakfast at The Pearl (this has actually happened twice!). Still on the list to cross off: at least one Sweaty Sunday at Studio 3, a Saturday morning walk through Muskoka Living, going to Santa's Village, one KEE concert, and one Sea-Doo lunch day at Windermere House or Joe Club. When I used to live and work up north every summer, there was endless time for these "essential" activities, but making it happen when you mostly have weekends takes much more focus.

Boathouse Memory Lane
The boathouse project is well underway, and my family and I took a trip down memory lane looking at all the iterations of the building since my parents bought the property in 1987. It was our original family cottage, and somehow two parents and three kids crammed in there all summer long. It's been bittersweet seeing it go through such a major transformation, but it brings peace of mind knowing it won't be flooding every spring moving forward.

Queens Harbour Discovery
I celebrated a girlfriend's birthday downtown and we checked out the new Queens Harbour. I have to say, I was pretty thrilled with our experience. We stayed for six or seven hours, and I can confirm the counterstool comfort could have allowed me to stay another six or seven hours. The design is really layered, and the team behind it (I believe Navigate Design) created a vibe. The food is fresh and light, the interiors are fun and wild, and they definitely don't take themselves too seriously. The experience screams bachelorette or date night where you want to laugh and have a couple dreamy cocktails. Highly recommend!

Project Update Highlights

Project Bronte 2: Almost Complete
Stone in, sofa in, art almost in! How fun is this Slim Aarons print? (Pics 1 + 2 below.) The vibe for this space was sophisticated poolhouse that stays fresh and fun with just a hint of south-of-the-border influence. We're hoping to complete the final shoot of the space this fall!

Project East York: Pushing Through
The clients are settled in, but we're still working to finish their space completely. The back of the property needed significant structural work, which got completed this month along with installing our new slider and windows. Their primary bathroom is now well underway, and we're over the moon with how the floor turned out. We had many discussions about the salmon tumbled tile, and after much debate, they decided to take the plunge and absolutely love the result!

Project TBD: Commercial Sprint
A major focus this month has been transforming a commercial client's old spin and mat studio into a completely reimagined fitness destination. They've provided new branding, and we've been running with the concept and development of the space. It's been a sprint since they're hoping to have the space open for the fall rush.

Project Bronte 1: Finally Styled
We finally got to style Project Bronte 1 (pics 3 + 4)! We started with this client back when Warm Welcome first opened in 2020, and five years later we were able to install the final vases, bowls, and tchotchkes. It's always a grind getting spaces ready for professional photography, but it's also always worth it. Still waiting for the rest of the images but looking forward to sharing them soon!