When Canadian-born interior designer Philip Mitchell and his husband, Mark Narsansky, learned of a troubled 18th-century cottage for sale on the coast of Nova Scotia, they were not in the market for another home. But when they heard developers were looking to tear it down and subdivide the property, they decided to come to the rescue. The couple had been vacationing in Chester, Nova Scotia, an idyllic seaside village of roughly 1,500 year-round residents on the east coast of Canada, for several summers and had fallen in love with the historic architecture, glorious summer weather, and friendly people.
White Cottage is an imposing 1795 “Colonial mish-mash” of a house situated on a prime seaside lot. It had been modified and added onto by many owners and was in a state of disrepair. The entire structure had to be disassembled piece by piece with each part numbered, cataloged, and put in storage. Then the house was rebuilt according to its original footprint and style, including a few architectural features that had been removed decades ago. The restoration took about two and a half years.
Mitchell decorated the house in a luxurious seafaring style, incorporating the couple’s storied collections and rich antiques. “We have English furniture, French furniture, Swedish furniture. Things we inherited got mixed with new antiques we found in Europe,” Mitchell told Veranda. “If someone in our families was smart enough to start something great, we want to add to it and make it part of our lives.” Photography by Annie Schlechter for Veranda July/August 2019 with copy by Mimi Read.
BRASS CANDLESTICKS: Mitchell seeks “early pieces that have developed a pale patina over time” and hand-hammered metals, as they tend to be “less perfect.”
ANTIQUE CROCKS: These earthy pottery jugs, used to store food before the advent of refrigeration, were the first pieces the couple collected together.
CRYSTAL SCENT BOTTLES: “I look for unusual shapes and designs, like those with interesting cut crystal detailing or carved silver lids and caps.”
BLUE-AND-WHITE EXPORT: Their collection spans three centuries and includes early Chinese and Japanese jars, English delftware, and Meissen porcelain.
WEDGWOOD JASPERWARE: The biscuit-finish pottery belonged to Mitchell’s mother. The style, developed in 1775, arose out of attempts to unravel the secret to porcelain. (Learn more about the history of Wedgwood here.)
LIMOGES FISH SETS: “There were so many of these plates made throughout history, so collecting is really about choosing the types of fish you’d like to see.”
MAJOLICA POTTERY: Majolica was widely crafted in the latter half of the 19th century. Their collection includes Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and English tin-glazed pieces.
CORNISH SERVINGWARE: Narsansky began amassing the blue-and-white servingware after spotting it in a friend’s UK home. “He was smitten from that moment on.”
LOCAL STONEWARE: The pair commissioned this colorful pottery from local artist Paula MacDonald. “We loved that it was made right here in Chester.”
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God bless them. What a truly wonderful house, beautifully and personally done. All those artisans and craftsmen they have supported along the way, the resulting visual gift to their community of such a beautiful house! It’s just the gift that keeps on giving. And now the house has a far greater historical value than it had before. What a great story.
Hi Elizabeth,
I couldn’t agree more! So grateful for all of those who love and appreciate historic properties.
Xx,
Andrea
Sweet place! You can tell they put a lot of love into it.
Hi Cynthia,
Absolutely… it is a gem!
Xx,
Andrea
The Glam Pad
A Dorable! Cant believe some knothead was going to tear this Gem down. So much character and charm.
This is near our summer place. What a wonderful story!
So glad to read about historic places being SAVED! They are absolutely irreplaceable! Yay!
very nicely done!
I saw this in Veranda, loved what I saw there , but this was article was more more up close and personal. What struck me is we see the finished wonderful results and turn the page to next . Wait, folks, this labor of love was on going for TWO AND HALF YEARS! I get impatient with my decorating and projects in my home without dismantling it. I appreciate how they group their ‘loves’ together, whether it be candlesticks, blue and white or majolica. Well done. Now go sit on the wicker chairs and enjoy the summer view!
Thank you, Chintz! A good preservation story always warms my heart, as do fellow lovers of antiques! 🙂
Xx,
Andrea
The Glam Pad
Right around the corner from our summerhome – we have been summering in Chester for 35 years! I knew Olaf Rasmussen well – he would be happy someone bought his home and lovingly restored it.
Every room exudes history and charm. Well done!
So charming! What a lovely home!
This home is absolutely lovely, and every single thing is my taste.Perhaps in my next life I will find a cottage and redo it.
Our renewable resources include homes. Developers are too short sighted as are municipalities, to demolish homes and build modern boxes. There is so much beauty in old homes and if they still have good bones, invest in restoration.