Buying

Wooded Retreat Provides Harmony with Nature in the Heart of The Thousand Islands

Nestled in the woods in the heart of The Thousand Islands, 133 Tumbledown Road is a nature lover’s dream come true. Driving up the curved driveway to the 1.86 acre property and the cozy-yet-spacious home is a retreat every day. The privacy and natural beauty of the area is all-encompassing, surrounding you with the soothing sound of singing birds, the scent of evergreens, and (more often than not), the sight of deer getting a drink down at the pond. Noticeably absent: screeching traffic, the smell of garbage, and bright city lights that overpower the stars.

Homeowners, Denise & Steve, grew up in the Brockville area, often driving along the parkway, but never thought that they would one day live in Thousand Islands. “I never imagined we would own a property with this many trees and rocks,” laughs Denise. “Our previous property was a city lot in Kingston, but we wanted more space and property. We had driven by the area for 15 years and decided to learn more about this development, and we were blown away!”

The community of Landon Bay East is not a typical suburban development – it was meticulously designed by an award-winning architect as an exercise in conservation development; intended to protect and appreciate the natural landscape. Rather than create cookie-cutter lot boundaries, the developer partnered with Mother Nature and allowed her to dictate property lines; resulting in the multi-acre lots in accordance with the natural landscape’s divisions.

The entire area is governed by protective covenants that are intended to respect and appreciate nature, rather than fighting it or working against it. Within the expansive 160 acre area, there are 28 multi-acre properties, as well as a 65 acre nature preserve; co-owned by each of the development’s property owners and protected in perpetuity. The nature preserve provides plenty of privacy for the Landon Bay East property owners to indulge in hiking, snowshoeing, and allows shared, private waterfront access from which non-motorized watercraft can be launched. Of course, there are plenty of attractive perks outside the community as well, including the neighbouring Smuggler’s Glen Golf Course, 50 KM of paved bike paths, and marinas within a 5 minute drive, including the Ivy Lea Club.

“Living here is not just a property investment but a major lifestyle enhancement,” says Denise. “It’s not just a house – it’s the whole property; the way it’s designed. We spend as much time outdoors as we do inside. After we added on the porch, we ate all our meals outside, listening to the sounds, having campfires with the family, spending time in the little cabin…while some people travel 4-6 hours to get away; we feel like we’re on retreat as soon as we get home at the end of the day.”

The gorgeous 2300 sq ft home’s interior mirrors the property: stunning and spacious, while remaining utterly comfortable and low maintenance. The open concept main floor, with its 25 ft ceilings and grand windows, unencumbered by blinds or curtains, floods the room with natural light and views of the forest. This large space easily accommodates large gatherings of family and friends for an intimate feel without being cramped. The cozy stone fireplace, framed by built in bookcases and towering windows, offers comfort and tranquility.

Much of the home’s interior has been shaped, quite literally, by the surrounding area. “When we first purchased the property, there was a large dead, red cedar outside,” says Denise. “For our anniversary, we bought a chainsaw and brought the beautiful wood inside, which is what we used for the foyer floor and the fireplace floor. We wanted to preserve as much of the surrounding area as possible and only had to remove two trees from the location where we put the home, but we used the wood to make furniture, or detailing in the home.”

Not to be outdone; the three-season sunroom offers windows on all sides, with screens that allow for the breeze to flow through the room with shelter from the outside. “We live in the sunroom in the summer months,” says Denise. “It’s like being outdoors with the convenience of having no bugs and shelter from the sun”.

The huge master bedroom in the loft is another highlight of this gorgeous property. This serene space comes complete with built-in window seating, two large closets and a bathroom with a clawfoot tub, and stunning views of the forest from the many windows. Family and guests can take advantage of the two additional bedrooms and bathrooms, the TV room and den.

For added convenience, the lower level is completely finished and provides a separate workshop; perfect for hobbyists. Radiant heating throughout and ductless air conditioning helps ensure year-round comfort as well. The detached two car garage with loft also provides ample storage room.

“One of the best parts of the house is the total privacy,” says Steve. “Even when the leaves are off the trees, you have total privacy. City lots look bare without leaves but here, we have year-round beauty with the evergreens mixed in with the deciduous trees.”

One of their favourite areas of the home is the elevated 1,500 sq ft terrace carved out of stunning natural granite, with a built-in fireplace, smoker/pizza oven, herb garden and a beautiful seating area. This incredible natural feature, known affectionately by the property owners as “The Ledge”, has been the site of many campfires. The space overlooks the pond, and also features a small cabin. The cabin – with its D-shaped bench, floor-to-ceiling granite fireplace and triple pane windows presents a cozy spot to read, relax, and get an up-close view of nature. “The pond is a little bigger than an NFL football field with a nature corridor on the other side, which the deer use religiously,’ says Steve. “You can sometimes see as many as twelve across the embankment…you can set your watch to it.

After many years and many happy memories, Denise and Steve finally decided to sell after a job change left them with an extensive commute. Choosing to list with PropertyGuys.com was a matter of practicality, as well: “We think the property will sell itself,” says Steve. “Everybody who’s ever been here has loved it – we don’t think we need an agent.”

The ideal buyer, of course, would be someone who loves the surrounding area as much as they do. “Anybody who’s interested in this place has to appreciate peace, quiet, and granite outcrops coming out the yin and yang,” chuckles Steve. “If you enjoy being surrounded by trees and wildlife, this is the place for you. Probably not the place for someone who enjoys listening to the sound of transport trucks passing by, because there’s none of that here.” Denise adds “It’s a perfect balance – country but not isolation; we’re part of a wonderful community.”

Visit the full listing here!