STORY JOYCE TURNER GIONET | PHOTOGRAPHY TARA WEST

BRILLIANT BLEUThe family may have left urban life for easy country living, but life on the farm is bursting with things to do. The home and its surrounding property offer unlimited possibilities, from horseback riding and exploring the fields to sampling the multitude of whimsical products at the farm store.

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ThelinefromawalkingsongJ.R.R.TolkienwroteforhisMiddleEarthtrilogyappliestotheserendipitousrouteIanandIsabelleBairdtooktofindtheirhomeatTerre Bleu (literaltranslationfromFrench:BlueEarth).Anorganiclavenderfarm,apiaryandstablesonSideroad25,TerreBleuattractsthousandsofvisitorseachyear.

“WewerelivinginToronto,busywithtwoyoungchildrenanddiversecareers,”saysIan.AformerCanadianOlympictriathlete,Isabellenowworksasaphysiotherapist.“Iwasinhightechandspendingmostofmytimeonaplane.Onaflightonemorning,readingtheNewYorkTimes,IsawahorsefarmforsaleinMilton.Thatwasthebeginning.”HeshowedtheadtoIsabelle:“I’mnotmovingtoafarm,”sheresponded.Theylaughaboutitnow.Yearsearlier,thefamilyhadvisitedalavenderfarminIsabelle’shomeprovinceofQuebecwithnoideathetripwouldbeacatalystforchangedowntheroad.“Wedidn’tstartouttobelavenderfarmers,”laughsIan.Sometimes,however,theroadchoosesus.

TerreBleuhasalreadyearneditsblueOntarioRoadsideAttractionsign.Thisyear,thecoupleexpects20,000visitors.Eightvarietiesoflavenderaregrowninthreefields.Inadistillery,builtbyGuelph’sHFHInc.,visitorscanseelavenderdistilledintopureessentialoil.TerreBleuhoneybeespollinatemorethan21,000lavenderplants.

Throughaglassobservationhive,visitorscanwatchthebeesatworkbuildinghoneycombs.TerreBleu’sPremiumLavenderHoneyissopopularthatcustomerscalltohaveitshippedtothemglobally.“Wehaveanewfarmstorethisyeartomeetthegrowingdemandforourproducts,”saysIan.BuiltbyAlma’sPostFarmStructuresInc.,thearchitectureisanodtotraditionalbarnvernacularwithacontemporarytwistdeliveredthroughverticalcladdinganddramaticheights.TerreBleuoffersequestrianevents,outdooryoga,artandphotographyclasses,lavenderfieldmassagesandlavender-inspiredcookingclasses.

Planninganengagementpartyorwedding?TerreBleu’sperfumedbluelavenderfieldsareamagicalsetting.Inwinter,visitorsenjoysleigh

ridesacrosssnowyfields.Inspring,horsescarrysapfromthefarm’smapletreestotheMapleSugarShack.IdeasflowasfreelyasthesapatTerreBleu,soeachseasonbringsanewreasontovisit.

It’sabusylife.Sowheredoesthisfamilygotorelaxattheendofaday?

Homeisa10,000sq.ft.post-and-beamcedarchaletwithacedarshakeroofandMuskokagraniteinthemiddleofTerreBleu’sacreage.ItwasdesignedbyarchitectPeter GozaandbuiltbyEvergreenHomes.TimmermanTimberworksInc.suppliedtheWesternRedCedar.AsambassadorsforCleanAirChampions,IanandIsabelleareenvironmentallyconscious,sohouseandbarnworkoffofgeothermalheatingandcooling,andsolarpanelssupplygreenenergytotheprovince’sgrid.

InternarchitectCamelia Melchioriisbehindthelandscapedpoolareaand1,500sq.ft.cedardeckthatwrapsaroundtherearofthehouse.Acontemporarydesign,carefuluseofwoodandstoneelementsallowittointegrateseamlesslyintotheruralsetting.Ianpointstoastrangelyshapedjunipergrowingoutofalandscapingrock:“Itarrivedwiththerock,”heexplains.“Iaskedthelandscaperstoleaveit.Ilikeanunusualjuxtapositionofthings.”Hispredilectionforinitiatingunexpectedpairingsisreflectedinthehome’sinterior.S“Stillroundthecornertheremaywait,

anewroadorasecretgate.”Continued on page 28

RIGHT: Exposed beams and large picture windows bring the beauty of the outdoors in. BELOW: An elegant dining area stays true to its surroundings with a tree branch candelabra and the natural wood of the window frames. BELOW RIGHT: The family room’s eclectic feel is achieved with a blend of Muskoka stone, leather, wood and slip-covered furnishings. OPPOSITE, TOP LEFT: The kitchen offers views of the sweeping property and stable. A door leads to a covered porch where the couple can relax with a glass of wine at the end of the day. TOP RIGHT: Ian and Isabelle have embraced the charm of country life. BOTTOM: A large distressed island, earthy wood tones and rustic beams fill the kitchen with character.

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Thephrasejack-of-all-tradesdoesn’tdojusticetoIan’stalents;he’smorearenaissancefellow:high-techbackground,entrepreneur,lavenderfarmer,apiaristandinteriordesignguy!“Idida180-degreechangedecoratingthishouse,”helaughs.Thecouple’sTorontohomewascitymodern:straightlines,minimalcurves,lotsofwhiteandglasstiles.Here,theinteriorreiteratestheruralsetting.Knottyreclaimedbarn-boardfloorplanksvaryinwidth,withwormholesexposed.“Weliketheimperfections,”saysIan.

Ceilingheightsoarstoalmost30feetinthegreatroom–aspacethatembracestheentrance,livingroom,diningroomandkitchen.Exposedbeamsdisplaymortiseandtenonjoints.Largepicturewindowsdeliverpanoramicviewsoftheoutdoorsfromeveryroom.Binocularsrestonawindowsillsincewildlifeandbirdsightingsareadailyoccurrence.

Theinterior’sPotteryBarn,ElteandRestorationHardwarepiecesarecompletelyontrend,mixedwithquirkyelementsliketheantiqueCorticelliSpoolSilkThreadCabinetandGrandfatherEmployeePunchClockonawall.Thecolourschemeisneutral.Creamsplaywitharangeofbeigetonesandscaled-backprimarycolours,likethemutedblueandredoftheUnionJackcushiontossedontoaleatherarmchair.

Materialsarenaturalandtexturesmixed:linen,cotton,burlap,distressedleatherandlotsofwoods.Thegreatroom’shand-cutMuskokastonefireplaceshouldbethefocus;it’sstriking.Instead,thestronglinesofthestonesactasacourier;transportingtheeyeupwardstothebrilliantcoloursinaJ.C.RoylandscapeoilofcoastalNewfoundlandoverthefireplace.ItsstylizedgoldensunandstartlingblueseavistaremindIanofhis

childhood.It’sthesameineveryroom–abackgroundofneutrals,thentheunexpectedwowofadramaticpainting,unusualprintorcarving.

TerreBleuisastoryofbusinesssuccess,butit’salsoastoryaboutfamily.It’saplacewhereahealthywork/lifebalanceallowsIanandIsabelletospendtimewiththeirchildren.Theirchildrenhaveafreedomthatlivinginthecitymightnotallow.“Theyspendhourscatchingturtlesandfrogs,lookingforbirds’nests,ridinghorses,learningaboutlavenderandhoneybees,”saysIan.“Evenridingtheschoolbusisanadventure.”

It’salsoaplacetherestofusareinvited.Thelavenderislikelybloomingbynow,socheckouttheTerreBleuwebsitetoplanyourvisit:terrebleu.ca.OH

A hint of urban glam can be found in the master bedroom with a tuftedheadboard and sweeping drapes. RIGHT: A sloped ceiling and oversize rustic tiles maintain the home’s outdoorsy feel. BELOW: A sea of lavender in full bloom, the farm radiates beauty, love and home.

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