Shows
Rewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E18 The Journey from Childhood Cottaging to becoming a Cottage ArchitectIn this captivating episode of the Rewind Design podcast, host Katy McNabb engages in a heartfelt conversation with architect Meredith Robb. Growing up in Toronto and spending summers at a Georgian Bay cottage, Meredith shares her journey from those formative experiences to becoming a renowned architect specializing in cottage design.
Meredith discusses the evolution of cottage architecture and the importance of sustainability in modern designs. The episode dives into her professional path, including collaborations with other architects and her unique approach to integrating cottages into Ontario's stunning landscapes. Whether you're fascinated by architectural design, love cottages, or...2025-05-051h 01Rewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E17 Building the Future: Sustainable Homes with Stratton Homes - Part 2In this episode of the Rewind Design podcast, Katy sits down with Kyle and Morgan of Stratton Homes to delve into their journeys from construction backgrounds to pioneers in sustainable building. Discover how their partnership blends traditional building techniques with forward-thinking sustainability, aiming to create energy-efficient homes without sacrificing quality or comfort. Learn about their strategic approach to site development that respects the natural environment and how they handle the challenges of establishing a systematic approach in speculative and custom home markets.
Additionally, the episode explores the structure and roles within Stratton Homes, the importance of building...2025-03-1842 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E16 Building the Future: Sustainable Homes with Stratton HomesIn this episode of the Rewind Design podcast, Katy sits down with Kyle and Morgan of Stratton Homes to delve into their journeys from construction backgrounds to pioneers in sustainable building. Discover how their partnership blends traditional building techniques with forward-thinking sustainability, aiming to create energy-efficient homes without sacrificing quality or comfort. Learn about their strategic approach to site development that respects the natural environment and how they handle the challenges of establishing a systematic approach in speculative and custom home markets.
Additionally, the episode explores the structure and roles within Stratton Homes, the importance of building...2025-02-0648 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E15 Designing with Nature: The Art of Landscape Architecture with Virginia BurtJoin us for an inspiring episode of the Rewind Design podcast as we delve into the world of landscape architecture with the renowned Virginia Burt. Hosted by Katy, this episode takes place in Virginia's home, where she shares her journey from growing up on an apple farm to becoming a leading landscape architect specializing in healing gardens.
Virginia discusses the importance of connecting with nature in design, her approach to sustainable building, and the concept of rewilding. She emphasizes the significance of collaboration among design professionals and the need for early involvement in projects to ensure harmony...2024-11-0550 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E14 Georgian Bay Biosphere - Mnidoo Gamii - Energy with Benjamin JohnWelcome to the Rewind Design Cottage History Podcast! In this week's episode, host Katy McNabb, a registered interior designer, delves into sustainable energy solutions for cottage country with special guest Benjamin John, Climate and Energy Programs Manager at the Georgian Bay Biosphere.
Explore the various types of green energy, from solar to wind power, and discover practical ways to reduce your energy bills. Learn about the benefits of switching to LED lighting, installing energy-efficient appliances, and utilizing government energy-saving programs. Benjamin shares insights on the latest in cold climate air source heat pumps and the potential of...2024-09-1656 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E13 Off Grid Cottage, Whistling Wind with AKB ArchitectsThis immersive episode of the Rewind Design Show is a rich dialogue with dynamic duo Kelly and Robert from the acclaimed architectural firm, AKB Architects. We delve into their architectural interests, personal paths, and outstanding work in cottage property design. Born and raised in different parts of Toronto, they shed some light on their early influences and formative experiences that inspired their architectural pursuits.
Kelly, the Creative Director, shares insightful thoughts about her meticulous approach to design decision making. In contrast, Robert, the Technical Director, enamors listeners with his passion for building structures and finding practical solutions...2024-05-1343 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E12 Georgian Bay Biosphere - Mnidoo Gamii with Katrina + TiannaIn today's episode of the Rewind Design podcast, host Katy McNabb welcomes experts Katrina Krievins and Tianna Burke from the Georgian Bay Biosphere for an intriguing conversation on ecology, conservation, and sustainable living. This compelling episode examines various topics like the impact of certain construction on the environment and the importance of adopting sustainable building practices, shedding light on the organization's initiatives and programs.
The discussion deep-dives into the 'State of the Bay' report - an effort encapsulating changes in the Eastern Georgian Bay's environment. Katrina, a significant contributor to the report, walks us through the key...2024-05-071h 00Rewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E11 Georgian Bay Biosphere - Mnidoo Gamii with Executive Director Becky PollockWelcome to a unique episode of the Rewind Design Podcast, where we dive into the fascinating world of the Georgian Bay Biosphere.
Today’s episode of the Rewind Design podcast is being brought to you by the ThinkBoyd Real Estate Team. The Team of Nicole and Geoff believe that buying or selling real estate is more than just a transaction – it’s a connection that should feel like working with family. For their local perspective and sage advice, If you’re thinking of buying or selling, think Boyd. Part of Royal LePage Team Advantage, Realty Brokerage Inc. Think Boyd...2024-04-2249 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E10 Coastal Protection with Amanda Kellett from Tatham EngineeringEmbark on a fascinating journey with us in this special episode of "Rewind Design" as we discuss shoreline management practices with an industry expert, Amanda Kellett, from Tatham Engineering. Get a detailed tour of the firm's extensive history and understand its contributions to various engineering fields such as land development, municipal engineering, structural and water resources engineering.
We delve into an array of engaging topics including risk mitigation, design adaptations, and protection measures that span across boathouses, docks, and shorelines. Amanda discusses insights into the world of shoreline protection and erosion mitigation, exploring traditional methods and uncovering...2024-02-2656 minRewind DesignEpisodes S2 | Rewind Design | E9 Project 22 with John O'Connor from Basis Design BuildWelcome to a captivating episode of Rewind Design featuring John O'Connor from Basis Design Build, the genius behind some of the most sustainable and unique cottages in Cottage Country. In this episode, we delve into John's architectural journey, from his initial foray into the industry to developing his own Architecture Firm.
Unpack the mysteries of architectural decisions as John shares invaluable insights into the thought processes and challenges involved in crafting residential spaces. Learn about the crucial role of effective communication and proper coordination in architecture, and the factors that can affect the course of a project.2024-01-291h 18Rewind DesignEpisodes S2 | Rewind Design | E8 Julien LeBourdais on Isabel Island - Bonus!Welcome to Episode 8 of Rewind Design Season 2! If you are brand new to this podcast, welcome! My name is Katy McNabb and I am a registered Interior Designer working in Ontario’s Cottage Country. I am on a mission to share sustainable ways of building, promote green energy and document the history of the cottage country.
In this week’s bonus episode, I have a cottage story to share! I had the pleasure of meeting with Julien LeBourdais, his daughter Lisa and his son in law Matthew. As far as his cottage history goes, Julien is a mult...2023-11-171h 04Rewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E7 Off Grid Solar Power with Scott MifflinWelcome to Episode 7 of Rewind Design Season 2! If you are brand new to this podcast, welcome! My name is Katy McNabb and I am a registered Interior Designer working in Ontario’s Cottage Country. I am on a mission to share sustainable ways of building, promote green energy and document the history of the cottage country.
In this week’s episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Scott Mifflin from Sustainable Cottages - www.sustainablecottages.ca
Here is a quick summary of Sustainable Cottages from their website:
Welcome to Sustainable Cottages, your trusted lead...2023-10-0930 min
Together in Literacy3.2 How to Talk About DyslexiaFor us here at the Together in Literacy podcast, dyslexia is an everyday thing. We also want to highlight that October is dedicated to dyslexia awareness.
With this in mind, in this episode, we’re sharing tips for talking to parents about dyslexia and tips for parents when speaking to their children about dyslexia.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Decoding Dyslexia
Made by Dyslexia
Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz M.D.
Conquering Dyslexia by Donna J. Wilbourn
1.16: The Legal Aspect of Dyslexia Advocacy with Sabrina Axt
2.9: The Power in Saying Dyslexia
Understood.org
What is...2023-10-0938 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E6 Green Roofing Systems in Cottage Country with ZincoWelcome to Episode 6 of Rewind Design Season 2! If you are brand new to this podcast, welcome! My name is Katy McNabb and I am a registered Interior Designer working in Ontario’s Cottage Country. I am on a mission to share sustainable ways of building, promote green energy and document the history of the cottage country.
In this week’s episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jordan Hofstra dein Zinco Canada.
Here is a quick summary of Zinco from their website:
For over 50 years, ZinCo has been committed to incorporating nature back into...2023-09-1142 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E5 Passive Cottage Design with Christine Lolley - Solares ArchitectureWelcome to Episode 5 of Rewind Design Season 2! If you are new to this podcast, my name is Katy McNabb and I am a registered Interior Designer working in Ontario’s Cottage Country. I am on a mission to share sustainable ways of building, promote green energy and document the history of the cottage country.
In this week’s episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Christine Lolley, the visionary co-owner of Solares Architecture, along with her partner Tom Knezic. She takes us behind the scenes of her breathtaking Kahshe Lake Cottage project + reminisces about her century-old Muskoka isla...2023-08-131h 00Rewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E4 Sustainable Cottages with Vanessa Fong, VFA - Architecture + DesignWelcome to Episode 4 of Rewind Design Season 2! If you are new to this podcast, my name is Katy McNabb and I am a registered Interior Designer working in Ontario’s Cottage Country. I am on a mission to share sustainable ways of building, promote green energy and document the history of the cottage country. Today we have Vanessa Fong, from VFA Architecture speaking about sustainable cottages + historical restoration.
Here is a quick summary of VFA from their website:
Principal Architect Vanessa Fong, an Ontario Architect with over a decade of architectural experience at a variety of...2023-07-2555 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E3 Heritage Conservation with Scott Weir, ERA ArchitectsWelcome to Episode 3 of Rewind Design Season 2! If you are new to this podcast, my name is Katy McNabb and I am a registered Interior Designer working in Ontario’s Cottage Country. I am on a mission to share sustainable ways of building, promote green energy and document the history of the area. I have been waiting to share this episode for many months and am finally able to release it. This week we have Scott Weir, an Architect, a cottager and a history lover. Scott is a partner with ERA Architects, and has been with the company for ov...2023-07-0353 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E2 Restoration on Georgian Bay with David BallentineWelcome to Episode 2 of Rewind Design Season 2! I am beyond excited to share this episode with all the cottage lovers out there. I had the opportunity to sit down and speak with David Ballentine, owner of Ballentine Construction, all about cottage design, restoration + his unique approach to building on the Bay. David is a lifelong cottager in Pointe au Baril, and a longtime Parry Sound resident.
Ballentine Construction provides renovation, construction and maintenance services throughout Pointe au Baril and Georgian Bay. They are known for their high quality craftsmanship, their client relationships as well as their sympathetic...2023-06-1242 minRewind DesignS2 | Rewind Design | E1 - Georgian Bay Association with Rupert KindersleyOn this weeks debut episode of Rewind Design - Season 2 - we have a very highly regarded guest from the Georgian Bay Association (GBA) Rupert Kindersley. He has been the executive director of the GBA for the last 5 years and I had the honor of speaking to him last summer. Born in London England, Rupert was educated at Eton College and the University of Toronto, however he has now officially spent more than half of his life on Georgian Bay - so he’s a honorary local now!
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✨I am extremely honoured to receive the King Fami...2023-05-2039 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E15 - Season 2 Announcement!Rewind Design is the recipient of the Georgian Bay Land Trust King Family Bursary for 2023! 🍾✨🎉
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🌊While season 1 focuses on intimate stories of cottage history, season 2 will focus on sustainable design along the shores of Georgian Bay, with an emphasis on protecting the shoreline via green energy, green building methods and the maintenance and preservation of natural landscapes.
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🌊With support from the Georgian Bay Land Trust, I will be interviewing a variety of guests for my podcast, including builders, contractors, architects and landscapers, to discuss best practices when building sustainably on Georgian Bay. The purpose of season 2 is to educate...2023-04-2508 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E14 - Rebecca on Royal Muskoka IslandWelcome to Rewind Design, a Cottage History Podcast - dedicated to discovering the stories of Cottage Country in Ontario! I am your host, and local Interior Designer, Katy McNabb.
On this week’s episode, we have Rebecca Hay from Rebecca Hay Designs (www.rebeccahaydesigns.com). Not only is Rebecca an Interior Designer like me, she is also an entrepreneur, a mom, a mentor, a podcast host and a lifelong cottager! In this week's episode, we discuss Rebecca’s journey to becoming a designer, her life experiences that led her to design, and what she loves most about cott...2023-03-0548 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E13 Geoff on Sand BayHello and welcome to this weeks episode of Rewind Design - A Cottage History Podcast.
On this weeks episode, we have Geoffrey Hayes, a Sales Representative for All Points North in Parry Sound (See link here - https://allpointsnorth.ca/geoffrey-hayes/)
From his biography on All Points North he describes his journey to Cottage Living.
As a young boy from Waterloo, On, I have fond memories of travelling and fishing throughout northern ontario with my father and grandfather. To be honest, I’m pretty sure that this is when the love of fishing an...2023-02-1336 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E12 Rags on Axford IslandOn this weeks episode, we have Rags (Don Ragland) who owns a cottage property on Axford Island on the South Channel of Georgian Bay. How he acquired the island was slightly problematic, extremely lucky and he has a very curious story to how he purchased his property! They have a charming property sitting in a sandy channel he calls “Sand Channel” or his buddies call it the “Raglonian Strait” (haha) between Axford Island and Lent Island on the south channel of Georgian Bay. Rags hails from Dearborn Michigan, the home of Henry Ford, and taught high school English + art so he wa...2023-01-2247 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E11 Gerry on Sunny Cove“The property, the entire cove, was purchased by my grandfather, Luke Spearn in 1932. He had 6 children, willed the property to his family, each of his children got a lot. Lots were decided by picking a number from a hat, in order of birth.
The original cottage was a farmhouse with a wrap around veranda which was the cottage for 27 yrs, then upon death and division of lots, it was torn down in 1950s and, new strictly summer cottages were built. When the original cottage was torn down we found news papers in the wall used for insulation . They were...2023-01-0249 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E10 Annie’s Island on Georgian BayOn today’s episode of Rewind Design, we have 94-year-old Anne Grotrian – a creative, an artist, a teacher, and above all, a lover of Georgian Bay. She loves bones, stones, shells and driftwood, all of which you can find sprinkled around her eclectic Japanese pagoda style cottage!
She was born in 1928 in Toronto, grew up in Rosedale the youngest of 5 children with a father in the meat packing industry. They originally had a cottage on believe it or not, Toronto Island.
As a teenager she attended the girls’ private school, Branksome Hall in Toronto, and went t...2022-12-111h 08Rewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E9 Bonnie on Bannockburn RoadWelcome to the first ever Rewind Design episode featuring a Muskoka cottager! I had the utmost pleasure of sitting down and speaking with a wonderful woman, Bonnie Bean and her daughter, in their generational family cottage on Lake Muskoka. Bonnie was so open to speaking about her family’s past, their journey to Muskoka and the initial challenges of owning a cottage in the early 1900s. Bonnie has been coming up to Muskoka from Toronto with her family for 82 years, ever since she was born. Her family has owned a piece of property just 4 miles north of Bala on La...2022-11-2119 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E8 Patty on Rose Point - P2The story begins in a similar fashion to my own history, with Patty’s ancestors hailing from Scotland and Germany, the same mix of cultures I am also from. Curiosity compelled me to read further and further into the pattern of emigration to Cottage Country, how did Patty’s family find their way here? How did they end up in a Farmhouse on the undisturbed Rose Point in the most beautiful protected part of the South Channel? How did they end up on the infamous Waubano Paddle Steamer which transported passengers across the rough seas of Georgian Bay from Coll...2022-10-2244 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E7 Patty on the Point P1The story begins in a similar fashion to my own history, with Patty’s ancestors hailing from Scotland and Germany, the same mix of cultures I am also from. Curiosity compelled me to read further and further into the pattern of emigration to Cottage Country, how did Patty’s family find their way here? How did they end up in a Farmhouse on the undisturbed Rose Point in the most beautiful protected part of the South Channel? How did they end up on the infamous Waubano Paddle Steamer which transported passengers across the rough seas of Georgian Bay from Coll...2022-10-0725 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E6 Dianne in DorsetWelcome to Rewind Design A Cottage History Podcast with your host + Local Interior Designer, (me!) Katy McNabb. Today we will be putting the spotlight on a historical Dorset cottage. Join me, as I navigate the waters and chat to my guests about their unique Dorset cottage and their family history over the last 100 years.
To start off this captivating story, I though I’d give a short little personal anecdote. I am lucky enough to work with an incredible design firm and each day I come into work, I sit next to a designer named Danielle. Months ag...2022-09-2658 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E5 Janet on Five Mile BayToday on Rewind Design we have a special episode coming from very close to home, Five Mile Bay - in the South Channel of Georgian Bay! My home territory! Janet and her husband Dave have been kind enough share their story of how their family landed in a renovated 1962 cottage on McLaren Island. There have been many additions and changes over the years, but the heart of the home has been passed down, generation after generation. Janet reached out to me on Facebook after I had shared my idea on the South Channel Association Page, and I was so...2022-09-1214 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E4 Jordan on Greenbough LakeToday on Rewind Design we have a special episode coming from much further north in Ontario than I’m used too. Today I speak to Jordan Fang, a designer, nature lover, reader + art lover who was a colleague of mine when we worked together at a commercial design firm in downtown Toronto (before I made the permanent move up north). Jordan’s family cottage, or should I say compound, is situated 4km down a logging route on the remote Greenbough lake, just south of the Ottawa River, and East of Mattawa. The compound consists of 7 family cottages, each owned by s...2022-08-2944 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E3 Sadie on Action IslandOn this week's episode of Rewind Design, we have an incredibly captivating story, which just might be the most fascinating, intriguing and sexy one yet. Today I speak with lifelong cottager Sadie who has flipped my world upside down with her breathtaking cottage history. Sadie shares the history of her Georgian Bay Island, how her grandparents acquired the striking island property in the 60’s and how the whispers of this property’s true origins baffled her family for decades until they found out the seductive truth behind their 1898 original island cottage. There were unmistakable clues sprinkled around the property that...2022-08-1555 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E2 Rick on Horseshoe LakeTo jump right into the water, today’s guest will be another member of the McNabb family clan, my dad, Rick McNabb. He shares his story of how the McNabb family ended up in Parry Sound. Everyone thinks we’ve been here forever, but we’ve really only been here for the last generation. My dad and his family are originally from Mississauga and eventually moved up to Parry Sound in his 30’s following his mom and dad and all his brothers. He has had a diverse past with many jobs including working in Advertising, Corporate Canada and owning and oper...2022-08-0133 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | E1 Beverly by the BayWelcome to Rewind Design - A Podcast dedicated to discovering the stories of Cottage Country in Ontario. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey and for the first official episode with a real live guest! Today on the show we’ll be diving into a piece of cottage country I am very familiar with, the South Channel of Georgian Bay, home to my favourite place on earth. Our family cottage. And as I alluded to in my last episode, I will be speaking to a very important guest who happens to be one of the most in...2022-07-1726 minRewind DesignS1 | Rewind Design | IntroHello! My name is Katy McNabb, and I am the creator of Rewind Design - A Cottage History Podcast. In honour of Canada Day weekend, I am releasing the first episode dedicated to my own personal cottage history story! I decided to create this podcast and associated blog because I am extremely passionate about cottage country and how everyone and everything ended up here! I wanted to create a space for cottages and cottage lovers alike to share stories of migration to cottage country over the years, childhoods spent on the lakes, stories of generations of fun in one...2022-07-0409 min