Cory Cottage in St. Andrews

Cory Cottage

Imagine vacationing in a 1830’s home that was once owned and decorated by Kate Reed, Canada’s first interior decorator. Then imagine that same historic house, recently redesigned by international designer Lee Wells, with luxurious style and comfort. Picture yourself staying in this beautiful 4 + 1 bedroom, 6 bathroom cottage set in the resort town of St. Andrews by-the-Sea on a garden property with an ocean view rooftop balcony. This is Cory Cottage.

Pansy Patch

To tell you about Cory Cottage, you first need to know a little bit about Pansy Patch, the 1912 Romantic Revival style home built in the French Normandy tradition next door. Pansy Patch is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for its association with the original owners. St. Andrews Civic Trust documents in the Charlotte County Archives states that Charles Saxe was the designer for Pansy Patch. It was built for Hayter and Kate Reed. It is said to be an exact copy of Jacques Cartier’s house that was built in the 16th Century. Reed was Manager-in-Chief of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) hotels, and his wife, Kate, was the first interior decorator in Canada. She was a widely known artist, and gave her personal attention to the erection, and decoration of Pansy Patch (and subsequently to their guest house Cory Cottage). Kate was also an advisor for many wealthy art collectors, including Sir William Van Horne. Through her association with Van Horne and other CPR directors, she was given the job of decorating all the CPR hotels, including the Algonquin.

Most Photographed House in Canada

In 1924, the Canadian Homes and Gardens magazine featured Pansy Patch. It was a huge tourist draw at that time, and quickly became the most photographed home in Canada. It even was included in a Best House competition, coming second only to a deep south mansion in the United States.

Cory Cottage

According to A Woman’s Touch: Kate Reed and Canada’s Grand Hotels, the land Hayter and Kate Reed first purchased to build Pansy Patch was not empty. On the lower lot stood one of the earliest houses in St. Andrews. It was said to be at least a century old. Kate decided that this “old tumbled down, dirty little cottage,” that was rumoured to be brought on a barge from Calais, Maine by United Empire Loyalists, should be moved alongside Pansy Patch on Carleton Street. So in the winter, once the ground was frozen, it was pulled on rolling logs to where it now sits. It was placed facing the hotel (Algonquin) and named Cory Cottage, for Kate’s mother’s family name. Initially, Kate thought she would sell the cottage to defray the building costs of Pansy Patch, “but the boys put up such a howl, we backed down.” Instead, she renovated then rented Cory Cottage to supplement their income after Hayter retired. In more recent years, Cory Cottage was used as a guest house, and a bed & breakfast. Then in 2019, Lee Wells & Andrew Faas, current owners of Pansy Patch, subdivided the property, and sold Cory Cottage to Deirdre O’Leary & Tom White, the current owners, who enjoy it as their own private cottage for several weeks each year, and rent it out the remainder of the time.

The Chef’s Kitchen at Cory Cottage

I dropped my husband off at the Algonquin Golf Course for a tournament on the morning we were to arrive at Cory Cottage for our 5-night stay. He would be tied up for several hours, so the plan was that I would check in early and capture some photographs, while the cottage was empty. I would later enjoy lunch, and some shopping in my favourite seaside resort town. Deirdre had sent me the code to access the side door, and I entered the cottage through the kitchen. Although alone, I believe I exclaimed “Oh my God!” as I entered. This is not just any kitchen, this is a stunning, chef’s kitchen boasting a commercial six-burner gas stove, a large refrigerator with glass front, an ice-maker, a washer/dryer, a gorgeous centre island, every small appliance you could possibly think of, and a well-stocked pantry to top it off. The chef’s kitchen at Cory Cottage is also styled to the nines in a black & white. What a first impression! There is also a separate butler’s pantry, which doubles nicely as a bar with its temperature-controlled wine fridge.

There is so Much to Love about Cory Cottage

There is so much to love about Cory Cottage, but I think one of the things I love the most is how unassuming it looks from the exterior. On first glance, it is a simple, small bungalow. But oh, it is so much more. Cory Cottage will have you at ‘Hello’, and once you pick up your jaw and manage a walk-through, you will be a smitten kitten. I called the owner Deirdre within 10 minutes. “How do you not live here ALL the time?,” I asked. Deirdre just laughed, “It’s pretty special isn’t it? We almost bought it sight - unseen,” she confessed, “but Tom did insist we go see it in person.” So, I hope my photographs begin to do it justice. It was all it took for Deirdre through a property listing, and Tom wasn’t far behind. And the rest is history… as they say. Now, you can rent this beauty, and enjoy a stay just like me. But wait, before you book your stay, there are a few things I want to show you.

Cory Cottage is Luxuriously Appointed

Cory Cottage is luxuriously appointed with every modern amenity you could desire in a vacation property. This 2-storey, Greek Revival style home with - yes - a bold colour palette, partners very well with the comfortable furniture, and statement pieces throughout. “Is that orange?,” my father-in-law asked, when he and my mother-in-law joined my husband and me for a night’s stay. “Oh, David, it’s not orange… I think it’s… tangerine,” my M-I-L replied, looking to me for clarification. “Yes, it’s orange, or tangerine… “ I laughed, “I’m not sure exactly - but it’s fabulous, isn’t it? Just look at the navy and white accents, the antique furnishings and vintage artwork, the rich fabrics and draperies, the quality linens in the bedrooms, and the impeccable style and design touches. It’s like living in a magazine spread for Better Homes & Gardens isn’t it?!” Everyone nodded.

Cory Cottage is a Wonderful Gathering Place

Cory Cottage is a wonderful gathering place. Just when you think you have seen it all, yet another surprise appears. It just keeps on - keeping on. There are three dining areas: an eat-in kitchen, a formal dining room with a gas-burning fireplace, and a smaller, more intimate alcove off the spacious living room with views of the back garden. The living room also has a wood-burning fireplace. Yes, there are two fireplaces. There is a convenient powder room on the main floor as well.

Cory Cottage is the Ideal Property for a Wedding

Cory Cottage is the ideal property for a wedding or special celebration, a family gathering, a golf vacay, or a friends or couples getaway. I can easily picture a retreat here with my writing tribe, or my photography friends, or my fellow influencer creatives. Any group of like-minded souls looking for a space to connect would love it here. My husband thinks golfers might want to watch TV together in the living room, and maybe he is right, but I honestly love that there is no TV in this room. Plus, there is a TV in every bedroom, so anyone can disappear for a nap, or to catch their favourite game when they want. I think the large common areas in this house are made for gathering together, for entertaining, for sitting around the fire, for breaking bread, for chatting and having a glass of wine, for visiting and catching up, and simply for being present - in the moment, and enjoying each other’s company. And that we did. But don’t worry, when you desire alone time - there are plenty of nooks & crannies for quiet escapes at Cory Cottage. Did I mention there is also a sunroom on the main floor, and a sun deck off of that, too? There is no lack of space at Cory Cottage.

Cory Cottage has Four Master Suites

Cory Cottage has four Master Suites, two of which are located on the main level, and have private access (and enchanting views) to the side garden. Each bedroom has an ensuite bath and custom shower. The other two Master Suites are located on the second floor – one with its own private, ocean-view balcony – and both have ensuite bathrooms with soaker tubs. You heard right - there is not one, but two soaker tubs upstairs. I thoroughly enjoyed a bubblebath every night! After all the walking and exploring we did, I was more than happy to disappear just before bedtime, to let Calgon take me away. There is also a third full bath on the second level with an over-sized shower - all custom built with beautiful design features. All bedrooms are furnished with superior queen-sized beds, quality linens, and flat screen TVs, cable and access to Wifi. Only thing missing is a butler. The maids come after you leave.

Location, Location, Location!

Location, location, location! Cory Cottage is a close neighbour to the iconic Algonquin Resort, which is extremely convenient if you want to enjoy a nice lunch or dinner out, or perhaps a spa visit. You can actually see a spa entrance from the front door at Cory Cottage, so book a treatment and just scoot across the street for a pedi or mani, or full body massage. Kingsbrae Garden with its world-class gardens and café, is also just a short walk away, as are all the waterfront downtown shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Rooftop Balcony

Enjoy gadding about or staying close by. The cottage garden setting on the property couldn’t be prettier. The flowering crab was just beginning to bloom when we were there and the side garden was starting to show its potential. Eric and I stayed in what I called the “Burberry Room” upstairs with the windows that opened to the large rooftop balcony. It was our private escape - a space to enjoy solitude surrounded by nature. We awoke each morning to birds singing and the sun gently peeking through the Californian shutters. I thoroughly enjoyed early mornings on the rooftop balcony, and evening sunsets as well. Just add coffee or wine! The view is quite something, and having the grand ladies of the Algonquin and Pansy Patch as neighbours felt very majestic. Cory Cottage is located within the historic town plat of the resort town of St. Andrews by-the-Sea, so it sits amidst rolling lawns and gardens, which one can enjoy from its sunroom, private rear deck, or from this second-floor balcony. The rooftop balcony offers a view of the ocean too, which has attracted visitors to this resort town for centuries.

Kate’s Garden

Why did Kate Reed name her home “Pansy Patch?” Well, Kate Reed’s favourite flower was the pansy, so she made sure they were there in abundance. Pansy Patch was Kate’s dream house and she spared no expense on it, nor on her garden - which Cory Cottage has inherited. Kate was known to say, “I’ve tried many things in this life, but I know gardening is the most interesting.” I couldn’t agree more. Mary Newburn, a friend of Kate’s once wrote: “Kate’s Garden is a wondrous thing, to enter you must pull a string, And when dear friend, you lift the latch, You find yourself in Pansy Patch.”

According to A Woman’s Touch: Kate Reed and Canada’s Grand Hotels, Kate had her artisan friend Paul Beau, from Château Frontenac days, make an intricate wrought-iron head for her garden well. He also devised a weather vane in the form of a galleon… and iron straps and front door hinges for Pansy Patch. Thanks to a generous invitation from owner Lee Wells, I enjoyed a private tour of Pansy Patch one afternoon, and had an up-close and personal peek at all the details I have heard and read about over the years.

Grand Formal Garden

Kate’s Garden was just beginning to show signs of life when we visited, but I was enthralled nonetheless, and wandered about this magical space imagining Kate and her labour of love, and the special moments that must have occurred here. The new owners Deirdre and Tom have a grand formal garden vision to bring Kate’s Garden back to life. Deirdre sent me the detailed landscape architect and planting maps. I love that they are honouring Kate’s original design layout. I told Deirdre - Kate would approve! If Deirdre, is anything like Kate though, Tom, may be in trouble as Kate’s gardening journal was full of detailed gardening notes, and she spared no expense on her gardens. She threw herself into her garden with the same energy she had devoted to the hotels she decorated. So much so that the hotel’s summer crowd would often come calling with their Kodaks. While planting was going on in Kate’s gardens, a white picket fence was also erected to delineate the property. This is another feature that I adore at Cory Cottage and Pansy Patch. Kate didn’t stop at just her garden though, she also beautified St. Andrews, designating herself as “the town improvement society.” Reed Avenue was named after Kate for the hundreds of trees she had planted there.

Cory Cottage Coach House

There is another delicious surprise on the property. It is a one-bedroom Coach House located in the back garden, which can be rented if you need a little extra space. (Sorry though, as this space cannot be rented separately as a stand-alone to preserve the privacy of the main house guests). The Coach House has a small kitchenette with a bar fridge, hot plate, toaster oven, microwave, and Keurig coffee maker. The sitting room has a sweet single day bed, and the private bedroom has a double-sized bed, and opens to an ensuite bathroom with a custom shower. There is a dear balcony out back with a bistro set and lounge chairs with lovely views of the back garden.

Stay at Cory Cottage

Think about booking a stay at Cory Cottage. You are going to love the solitude of the cottage garden and the balcony sea views. Cory Cottage is ideally located to embrace all that this quaint seaside resort town offers. Cory Cottage is a great hub for exploring, whether you enjoy beach-combing or garden strolls, golfing or hiking, whale-watching or bird-watching, shopping or spa treatments, or wining and dining. There are a variety of day adventures available like hiking Chamcook Mountain to take in its spectacular panoramic views, or exploring Minister’s Island via the ocean floor drive at low tide to visit Van Horne’s Estate. There are immersive interactive activities like the Huntsman Marine Science Centre and of course plenty of reasons to get out on the water. Find a Dragon Boat paddling club often training at Katy’s Cove Beach (which is also a delightful spot to swim and sunbath). Restaurants, cafés, boutiques, and antique shops are calling here, too. If you are a history or architecture buff, St. Andrews by-the-Sea will woo you with its National Historic District. St. Andrews really is one of the prettiest towns you will ever visit. Realtors become quick friends when you can easily picture yourself retiring here. We just discovered a million little reasons to. Stay tuned, as I will soon share an article on this charming seaside resort town that won over Kate Reed and is pulling my husband and I here every chance it gets. Discover what I got up to when I ventured out. You are not going to believe all there is to see and do here, including enjoying what my husband and I agree, was hands down the best meal of our lives. Then in the meantime, go ahead - book your stay at Cory Cottage, just promise to leave a week (or two) for us to return every year. And tell Tom & Deirdre, the Maritimes Maven sent you!

This post was sponsored by Cory Cottage; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest & Twitter. Be the first to receive my latest articles by clicking on the ‘subscribe’ link at the top of this page. PIease share articles you love with your social media community. There’s No Place Like Home!