"In 2005, when John and Ania Krawczyk drove their vintage limousine and three young children from Chicago to Pictou to embark on an entirely new life they knew that such a unique plot of land would require an equally unique home."
On a particularly clear day, if you look just beyond the nearby stretch of white sand known as Melmerby Beach, you can see across the Northumberland Straight to the shores of Prince Edward Island. Of course, from the privileged perch of the Bird’s Nest — the second-level deck of the Krawczyk family’s remarkable home — there is always something beautiful to take in. From the rolling meadows that surround the home on three sides to the verdant forest which flanks it, there’s an undeniably enchanted feeling to place. It’s a somewhat unlikely landing spot for a couple who met as medical students in Warsaw, Poland and who started their careers and family downtown Chicago. Standing on the Bird’s Nest, however, with the cool ocean breeze wafting up from the waterfront and a fire crackling away in the stone fireplace, you instantly understand the draw. There’s an energy here — a confluence of tranquillity and the constant yet almost imperceptible movement of nature.
In 2005, when John and Ania Krawczyk drove their vintage limousine and three young children from Chicago to Pictou to embark on an entirely new life they knew that such a unique plot of land would require an equally unique home. Envisioning something that embraced the natural surroundings, the couple enlisted Nova Scotia-based TimberhArt Woodworks, an award-winning builder specializing in timber frames to build the nearly 5,500-square-foot residence. A combination of new and heritage timber dating back to the 1750s was used in the construction. Driving up to the home, the unique architectural design is immediately apparent thanks to the 7 towering trunks which serve as the structure for the home’s free-form balconies. Moving inside, however, is where the home’s true character is expressed.
Known as The Tree House, the entire structure is oriented around a massive felled white pine which spans all four levels of the substantial residence. Spectacular in its scale, it’s among the most extraordinary architectural features of any home in North America. Aside from its visual impact, the central tree also supports the staircase connecting the levels, which is a free-form timber construction in its own right. In 2009, TimberhArt Woodworks received the People’s Choice Award from the Nova Scotia Home and Building Designers Association for its unique design and construction and, in 2012, it ranked among associations Top 8 homes.
While the towering pine is the home’s defining feature, it’s hardly the only remarkable one. The open-concept main level includes a kitchen equipped with high-end appliances, including a Bertazzoni stovetop fit for the most discerning of gourmets. Directly adjacent, is a large dining area that’s perfect for both intimate family gatherings, potluck dinners with the neighbours or grand dinner parties. As natural and enthusiastic entertainers, the layout of the space is ideal. Known in the community for hosting house concerts, the home’s most prized space may be the inviting great room. With its soaring cathedral ceilings in conjunction with the solid timber frame, the space has been described by musicians as acoustically perfect and has even been used as a recording studio for artist Erin Costello who recorded her album Sweet Marie over the course of 10 days in the home. The process was captured in a documentary for CBC by the same name.
The Tree House, it goes without saying, offers a unique lifestyle. From summer days spent walking the dogs through the buttercup and wild daisy-dotted meadow loop or heading to Melmerby Beach to swim in the warmest Atlantic waters north of the Carolinas to snowshoeing around the grounds, getting warm in the wood sauna and then cozying up by the fire with a glass of wine, there is beauty and decadence to enjoy in all seasons.
Despite Trenton airport being only a few minutes away, it seems impossible that a place like this could be so accessible from anywhere in the world and yet, friends and family from Toronto, Florida, New York and Paris can reach the home in a few hours. To have access to a retreat as unique and sought after feels so rare. Even rarer is finding a community like this where your local fisherman hand delivers perfect oysters, the world’s best scallops and fresh-caught lobsters cooked to order to your doorstep. There’s a kindness and generosity that permeates the area — you know your neighbours here and you share with them all the things that the region shares with you. King’s Head, in that respect, is the romantic ideal of Maritime life. Back on the deck, long after the sun has set and the sky has opened wide to reveal all manner of celestial wonder, you’re reminded that of all the places in all of the world you could be, there are hardly any better than here.
