2025 AT STEEP HILL - A YEAR IN REVIEW
A month by month recap of highlights from the year here at Steep Hill Studio.
It feels as though we were just sitting down to write the last year in review and yet another 12 months have flown by. Let’s take a look at all the projects we tackled on the Steep Hill rebuild and the work we shared inside The Studio.
JANUARY
The most notable feature of January, was the sheer amount of snow we received. It seemed to start at on New Year’s Day and simply never stopped all month long. After a long season of gruelling tasks on the rebuild we were in need of some hibernation time and our cosy little cabin was the perfect respite. Winter is a quiet season on the lake and we took advantage with lots of walks in through the woods and time outside when the temps were tolerable. We had a couple of bon fires to roast marshmallows and feel some heat during such a seriously cold month.
In The Studio:
During this time off site, we took the opportunity to continue our interior planning for the rebuild. We also used this time to pursue some academic work. We wanted to develop a comprehensive resource to help folks seeking a foundational understanding of how to create a cohesive style profile for their home or cottage.
Through this process Dave’s passion for old homes was greatly affirmed and Lee developed a love of architectural illustration. Of course, this endeavour took longer than expected but we were determined to trust the process and only put out a product we were happy with.
FEBRUARY
February kicked off with a visit to one of our favourite southern Ontario vintage vendors, Artefacts. This old warehouse is an absolute treasure trove of antique delights. We love wandering around the shop exploring the salvaged doors, cast iron vents, historical millwork pieces, trim decals, restored hardware and so much more. Definitely worth a visit if you’re ever near Waterloo, ON.
Back at Steep Hill the snow finally stopped but the cold stayed. The roofs were put to the test under the weight of the snow and didn’t even flinch.
Despite the ferocity of the cold, there was still plenty of sunshine and winter beauty to witness. It’s always astounding how the wildlife survives these deep winter months, when we can barely handle it.
In The Studio:
We were finally ready to reveal the Interior and Exterior Style Profile Workshops.
This is a great starting point if you’re looking to understand the key elements of residential architecture and develop a custom style profile that suits both the home you have and your taste.
MARCH
By March the harshest winter weather was starting to ease off and it was time to get our butts back on site. There were gable ends that needed sheathing and air barrier, chimneys to finish, windows to instal and A LOT of insulation waiting to be put to use. We also made a number of material decisions for the cottage, such as a gorgeous vertical grain fir cladding for the vaulted ceilings in the living and Muskoka rooms.
This month we started sharing more of our philosophy on building and the design details we prioritize here at Steep Hill Studio. Feel free to follow us on Instagram if you don’t already @steephill.studio.
In The Studio:
We started with a Rebuild Project Update
Then Dave walked through all the Spring Projects for the Rebuild.
Lee shared a Global Garden Plan for the property.
We tapped the Steep Hill sugar maples and shared the Maple Syrup making process.
APRIL
April was such a relief as the snow finally melted and the ice thawed, revealing a sparkling lake beneath. This milder weather made a road trip to Montréal possible. So we packed up the pups and headed east to retrieve a couple of incredible vintage furniture pieces for the cabin and the cottage.
Once we were back at Steep Hill the garden projects began. The biggest one was reintegrating an old driveway into the natural setting. This proved a bit more difficult than anticipated but Dave is nothing if not determined on the Bobcat. Another garden challenge was growing dahlias from seed collected the previous fall (after all the tubers froze over winter) and seeing those seedlings sprout was truly the highlight of Lee’s month.
With some pressing garden projects underway, we moved onto one of the biggest tasks of the entire rebuild, installing the windows.
In The Studio:
We documented How an Old Driveway Almost Destroyed the Bobcat
Our quick trip to Montréal and The Couch We Traveled 1000 Kms For (and How to Source Vintage Gems of FB Marketplace)
Dave shared some essential insights on How to Craft Custom Front Doors since the cabin door gets so much love.
MAY
May is nothing short of magical at Steep Hill every year. Seeing the flowers bloom, the birds nesting, hearing the bees buzzing and the butterflies flitting about is truly out of a fairytale. It always reminds us why we took the leap to move out here and why it’s worth enduring such a long and harsh winter.
Early in the month we took the opportunity to source a beautiful vintage transom for our the north entrance of the cottage. Whenever possible, we love incorporating stained glass in our work.
An order of about 20 dahlia tubers arrived, prompting the completion of another big garden project, the raised dahlia garden. This involved a lot work, spraying the planters green, levelling the footing for them to sit on, unearthing boulders to do so, filling them with soil and finally, the actual planting.
Dave got started on building the stairs in the cottage and then we faced the daunting task of installing the massive windows in the Muskoka room. This was something we’d been dreading since we first realized they would need replacement. The worst of which being the centre picture window. Luckily, we have generous friends, that were willing to lend some muscle for the occasion.
Just when we could finally tick that box off the list, our siding arrived on a transport truck to remind us that the work was just getting started.
In The Studio:
JUNE
June is when life at the lake starts to really flourish and its hard to keep up with everything on the list each day. This year we wanted to make a point of getting on the water more so whenever we had anything left in the tank, we took the girls out for snoodle in the boat of in the canoe. They love taking in all the lake smells and every sleeps better afterwards.
On site Dave finished framing the stairs, which turned out so well.
On the property we installed another section of split rail fencing, which really adds texture and structure to the lot.
In the garden we finished the dahlia brackets, which offer support for staking. We also designed and built garden covers to protect our kitchen garden from the grazing deer.
In the cabin we finished the cabinet doors and got the boathouse organized just in time for our guests to arrive.
We also spent a bit of time with family and had a chance to visit another vintage market.
In The Studio:
How we make decisions when our opinions differ
Our cottage kitchen cabinetry plans
Under mount vs top mount sinks
How we’re handling exterior lighting at Steep Hill.
JULY
We spent the month of July staining thousands of linear feet of siding for the cottage and eventually the boathouse. We lucked out with the ideal weather for the task and knew we had to buckle down and get it done before rain arrived. We spent about eight full days staining the front and back of every board, which was monotonous and tiring but satisfying in the end.
The gardens were so lush and we had no shortage of fresh leafy greens to keep us from living on leftovers.
We rewarded our efforts with a quick trip to Toronto source a vintage lamp for the cabin and a special fixture for the cottage.
At the end of the month Lee’s parents came out for a visit. We did some boat touring and had a few nice meals al fresco in front of the cabin complete with delicious fridge pickles of course.
In The Studio:
AUGUST
The theme of the month for August was “harvest”. The kitchen garden was brimming with veggies ready to pick or pull. The dahlia garden was flourishing and it was time to start harvesting seeds from the marigolds.
On site, the HVAC rough-in was well underway, which meant an unpleasant amount of time in the crawlspace for Dave. He worked so hard on the design of this system and the results have come out brilliantly.
The ceiling cladding materials arrived for the living and Muskoka rooms and we were blown away by how gorgeous the vertical grain fir is in person. It’s going to bring so much warmth and refinement to these cottage spaces.
In the cabin, hardware finally arrived, which meant we could, at long last, shoot the full tour of the space. This was a milestone we’d looked forward to from the very inception of Steep Hill Studio.
We escaped from the to-do list briefly, with yet another sourcing trip to retrieve a special vintage fan for the cottage.
Then it was time to enjoy our favourite summer supper, pesto perfecto, with a cheers to a summer well spent and the one year anniversary of Steep Hill Studio!
In The Studio:
SEPTEMBER
September was a tough one and we spent much of it worried about our feline family member, Evie, before she had to leave us after 16 years. She was such a sweet cat (when she wanted to be) and the best garden companion. She adored life at Steep Hill and getting to enjoy so much freedom during her years here. We miss her dearly but her spirit lives on in sun beams and patches of warm mulch.
Our spirits were lifted by all the beauty in the dahlia garden and we stayed busy working on the rebuild. Dave finished sheathing and capping the chimneys, a huge job on a very tall ladder. Then it was time to get to work on the next phase of the windows, which was building, assembling and installing the trim. On rainy days, we moved forward with plumbing in the cottage and editing videos for The Studio.
By the end of the month it was time to start collecting dahlia seeds, the lake grew still and the first signs of autumn were starting to show.
In The Studio:
OCTOBER
October demanded a slightly unexpected change of gear. We noticed some serious deterioration in the boathouse roof and this was our last window of opportunity to replace it before winter. So Dave dropped everything on the rebuild to prepare the roof for roofers to come and shingle. Luckily the weather held out and they got the work done.
Meanwhile, Lee worked on one more staining project for the season, the chimney shingles. These are going to add a touch of quaint texture to the exterior of the cottage.
It was unseasonably warm so we took advantage of the last long days with a few paddles.
The final harvest of dahlias happened just before the first frost arrived and we brought a very exciting appliance into the rebuild!
While the weather was still nice enough during the day, we prepped the electrical boxes for our exterior lighting and can’t wait to instal those in the new year.
In The Studio:
1. Fireside Chats: Why the Design and Planning Phase Is The Most Valuable Part of Any Project
2. A mini masterclass to help you Get Your Exterior Lighting Right and an Exterior Light Fixture Guide & Sources
NOVEMBER
Along with November’s arrival came snow, cold winds, short days and long nights. Before the snow fell, we rushed to get the drywall down the hill with the bobcat so we can continue working on the interior finishing through the winter. Then, with the electrical rough-in complete, it was time to put all our efforts into insulating the cottage. Insulation is no one’s favourite task but we had an energy grant deadline to meet and this was great incentive to get the work done. The studio lights came in very handy on these late nights.
In The Studio:
This set of guides was created for folks who value natural materials and enduring details, to save you time, stress and expense when crafting an heirloom quality space. No need to imagine the right finish or wonder where to find it. All materials tested. Every source linked.
DECEMBER
December is a busy month for everyone with the holidays fast approaching. We definitely felt the time pressure and the dogs are already over the novelty of fresh snow and just want to be kept warm and cosy in the cabin.
With a few mild days in the mix we’ve been able to make progress with the exterior insulation on the rebuild and that offensively bright blue is finally disappearing.
We did some Christmas shopping at the local thrift store and picked up an original version of Mastermind, which has been a fun activity. We were too busy to do much in the way of holiday decorating but we’ll be ready to go all out when the time finally comes!
In The Studio:
We published the next instalment in our Rough-In Series - Part Two - Electrical
Our final Fireside Chat for the year was the December Q&A in which we answered:
01. How do you stay confident in your design decisions when Instagram and Pinterest constantly show new ideas? (01:50)
02. How early should I be making decisions about built-ins, outlets, and fixture placement? I always feel behind. (07:36)
03. If I’m not an electrician, how can I tell whether my rough-in has been done cleanly and properly? (12:19)
04. We’re adding a small outbuilding. How do we make sure it feels connected to the main cottage without copying it exactly? (16:11)
05. What are some of the unexpected costs in a build or renovation that catch people off guard? (19:27)
++ PLUS 10 Lightning Round Questions!
Thanks so much for joining us THIS YEAR.
WISHING you A very happy holiday season & ALL THE BEST FOR 2026!
We’ll see you AGAIN soon.
Lee & Dave
2024 AT STEEP HILL - A YEAR IN REVIEW
A month by month recap of highlights from the year here at Steep Hill Studio.
Well folks, 2024 is coming to a close. Previously, we’ve found it hard to believe that the year is already over but this time it feels more as though we squeezed three years into one. 2024 was probably the most challenging and rewarding year to date. We learned a lot and had to put that knowledge to the test many times. Sometimes we wondered if we were delusional for taking on so much at once, but now we see that more as an indication that we were onto something special.
While Steep Hill Studio only launched in August of this year, we thought it would be interesting to take a look back at the last 12 months and share all the key events that led up to the end of a major year.
JANUARY
We had a mild January and Dave and I spent a lot of it working on the Sleeping Cabin, planning the interior finishes, designing and building the front door, running the electrical and putting the insulation in. We were getting to know our sweet girl Winnie who joined us at the end of 2023, enjoying quiet snowy walks and staying cosy by the fire.
FEBRUARY
During February we installed the soffit at Sleeping Cabin roof. This was a tricky job but truly one of our favourite exterior design features here at Steep Hill. The cold pushed us indoors where we finished the interior insulation and completed the vapour control layer for the cabin.
Another highlight of the month was tapping the sugar maples on our property in the hopes of making more maple syrup for the year ahead.
MARCH
During the month of March we carried on in the Sleeping Cabin with installing drywall and furring for the wainscotting. This was followed by several rounds of mudding and sanding to finish the drywall. Then it was time to prime the walls and install ceiling paneling throughout the cabin.
Around the property we planted lots of wildflower seeds to support our future bee colony. The days were warming up and the sap was flowing.
APRIL
We started the month by boiling down over 400 litres of sap into about 10 litres of maple syrup. The earth was starting to come to life again and it was time to bring my dahlia tubers out of winter storage and start some seeds for the garden. We also planted a raspberry patch in the hopes of eventually having enough for a proper harvest.
In the cabin we finalized the colour palette for all the walls, moulding, cabinetry and flooring.
MAY
May was one of our favourite months at Steep Hill because it involved a lot of time in the garden. However, our stone planter ambitions got the better of us. After reconfiguring the flagstone patio we weren’t left with the time we needed to bring that to life quite yet.
We did however, get the bathroom in the cabin well underway before we left for Europe. We spent half of our time across the pond taking in all the magic of The Cotswolds, UK, making notes on how to create a home that is rich with charm and character. Then we met up with friends for a very special stay in Positano, Italy. There was an endless amount of inspiration to be found in both destinations and we returned brimming with design ideas.
jUNE
Then it was back to reality and all the work that was waiting for us. First on the docket was to paint the walls and ceiling. Then it was finally time to install the flooring in the cabin. This involved sanding and sealing them as well.
At the same time Dave was working on a custom cabinetry installation for our neighbours and I was busy working on the back end of Steep Hill Studio. Our first order of Steep Hill Studio uniforms arrived and made everything feel very official.
Then our nucleus hive arrived and we were able to welcome home our bees. The peonies were also in their prime during the month and such a delight to behold.
JULY
In July we started disassembly of the primary cottage, removing siding and discovering some rough looking layers underneath. We were expecting this but it was definitely as bad, if not worse, than we anticipated.
One exciting surprise during this phase was discovering that the cottage had originally been painted a dark green. This was serendipitous as we’ve planned to paint all the Steep Hill buildings a dark green since we first started creating our vision for the property.
In the cabin we moved forward with tiling and building the pocket doors for the bathroom and bedroom.
The hydrangeas had a moment of glory before the deer ate them and the dahlia garden was beginning to really bloom.
AUGUST
In August Steep Hill Studio launched, which was thrilling! There was a lot of work happening behind the scenes on the site (as always) but we tried to savour the best of the summer season when we could.
The wainscotting installation began and the carcasses for the cabin kichenette went in. We also made a bed frame (we cannot wait to make more furniture).
We had our last fire in the old cottage and thanked the space for all the goodness it was home to for so many years. Then we moved into the cabin and finished clearing everything out in preparation for demolition.
SEPTEMBER
By the start of September demolition was well underway and the enormous task of disassembling the old cottage and removing all the debris occupied much of the month. After weeks of excavation and earthwork the footings were formed and it was time to pour some concrete!
In stark contrast to the mess on the job site, the dahlia garden was in its prime displaying a kaleidoscope of gorgeous colour and dimension.
OCTOBER
October marked a major milestone for the project, which was the completion of the foundation. This had been one of the most intense and stressful stages of the work and we were thrilled to see it through. From there it was time to waterproof the foundation and finish the basement.
Then we moved onto framing the floor, followed by laying the subfloor. After this it was finally time to start framing the walls. This is always such an exciting time because the building really begins to emerge.
The time had also come to get the garden ready for winter. This involved saving A LOT of marigold seeds, digging up, splitting and storing dahlia tubers, planting spring bulbs and pruning any perennials that needed it before the first frost.
NOVEMBER
With the first floor framed, the next step was to add plywood sheathing and proceed with the second story flooring. Subfloor was then installed and the walls went up. With the upper story walls built the remaining sheathing was added.
It seemed that at this point our luck with good weather had just about come to an end and it started raining pretty much non-stop. That is, until it started snowing.
It was less than optimal weather to be working in, especially when the task was adhering waterproofing and building roofs.
DECEMBER
The focus throughout the final month of the year was on roofing. This involved building two of them from scratch and reworking the third roof pretty much entirely. Then it was a matter of adding fascia boards, sheathing, waterproofing and prepping them for the roofers.
It was tough to wake up to snow or freezing rain, day after day, especially on days when the forecast had promised neither. Ultimately, we relied on tarps to protect the build and got used to pivoting when it came to plans for the day.
Just on Friday (December 20th) the roofing team arrived to start work so with any luck Steep Hill Cottage will start the new year looking dry and ready for all the exciting next steps we have planned.
Thanks so much for tuning in for the 2024 Steep Hill Studio recap! We are so thrilled to be doing this work and to be able to share it with you. This is just the beginning of everything we’re dreaming up and can’t wait to offer this space so much more in 2025.
We wish you all the best for the holidays and the new year.
Portrait of Genie, Lee, Dave and Winnie by Andrew Ruhl, on the day of the footing pour.