DESIGN STAR.
Karen Sealy, the host of Summer Home, gained notoriety through her appearances on CityLine and by winning HGTV’s Designer Superstar Challenge.
A new television show debuting this weekend might have a familiar look for local residents.
That’s because the first episode of Summer Home (9 p.m. Sunday, HGTV) was filmed right here in Bracebridge.
Over the course of the episode, cottager Patrice McKenzie’s bunkie — affectionately called “The Snug” — is expertly refurbished by designer Karen Sealy and her crew.
“The transformation was just magical. It was pretty spectacular,” McKenzie said. “It was great, it really was.”
After the experience, McKenzie is full of praise for Sealy, the show’s crew and even her neighbours.
“Everybody was so excited about it and thrilled it was happening. People were saying, ‘This is going to put Bracebridge on the map,’” McKenzie said with a laugh. “One of my neighbours who’s been on that particular road for over 40 years called one of the previous owners and said, ‘You’ll never guess what’s happening to your bunkie!’”
Producers are currently casting for season two of the show, looking for fun families whose cottages are worn but beloved.
Bobby Wilson, the producer of Summer Home, said appearing on the show takes the stress out of the renovation process.
“They do have to have somewhat of a budget, but they receive a lot more than what their money’s buying,” she said. “We come in for two weeks, we get the project done and we’re out. It gives you the summers back.”
McKenzie spent most of the filming period at home in Oakville, but never worried about the job with it in the hands of professionals.
“I just had so much faith in them that it was really easy for me to just walk off my property, let go and come back two weeks later,” she said.
Wilson said that filming in a community like Bracebridge, while occasionally challenging, ended up as a great experience for the show’s production team.
One of the ideas behind Summer Home is to show city-dwellers what cottage country communities have to offer.
“Last year we got into a couple local stores and did some location shooting. We called them sourcing trips, where Karen would go out into the community to find that perfect piece for her design,” Wilson said. “So we got to see some of the local flair of the community.”
With the project long since done, McKenzie and her family enjoyed using the bunkie throughout the winter months; all that’s left now is to sit back and watch the episode with her loved ones.
“I think it will be kind of a celebratory gathering of family and friends,” McKenzie said. “I’ve always said cottages bring families together, and that’s why I bought it essentially.”
Families interested in participating in season two of Summer Home, which begins filming this month, should visit www.hgtv.ca and click on Casting Call.