Exploring the best of Toronto and Southern Ontario.

When you travel, do you prefer to stay in a hotel or an Airbnb? I’ll admit I used to be team hotel – after all, there’s something nice about having your bed made for you! – but in recent years I’ve become incredibly partial to Airbnbs. Now, whenever I’m planning a trip and looking for accommodations, Airbnb is the first website I check for a couple of reasons. First, I love the warm and homey feel that comes with staying in a vacation rental. And second, unless you’re shelling out the big bucks to stay at a destination hotel or resort, at the end of the day, most hotel rooms tend to look the same. A simple Airbnb search will provide you with so many options – cottages, chalets, farmhouses, and even treehouses – that are all unique and different from one another. There are so many distinct and beautiful Airbnbs across Ontario, and there’s a particularly special one I’d like to share with you today!

Recently, we were graciously invited by the hosts of the Triangle House Airbnb in St. Jacobs to spend a weekend at their gorgeous property.* As soon as I pulled up the listing photos, I knew this was an offer we couldn’t refuse! (Spoiler alert: it’s one of the most gorgeous homes I’ve ever seen.)

The Triangle House is a double A-frame home on a private 1.7 acre lot overlooking the Conestogo river. Not only is it architecturally stunning with beautifully appointed interiors, it’s incredibly spacious – with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, it sleeps 6 guests, so it’s perfect for families or hosting a few friends for a cottage weekend. Location-wise, it’s the best of both worlds: it’s located in a rural setting with tons of trees, so it feels like a private forest escape… but it’s also just five minutes from downtown St. Jacobs – so if you’d like to check out their famous Farmer’s Market, heritage village or scenic railway, you’re only a short drive away!

Tania and I drove up on Friday evening. St. Jacobs is only 1 hour away from Burlington where we live, so for us, it’s the perfect staycation – far enough that it feels like “going away” but close enough to be convenient! As soon as we turned into the driveway and pulled up to the house, I was immediately struck by its design. Prior to my current job, I worked for an architecture magazine for several years, so I have an appreciation for modern architecture… and this house certainly has “curb appeal”!

Although I’d seen several photos of the home’s interior on their Airbnb listing, I have to say that photos really don’t do this house justice. We were blown away as soon as we walked in: in person, it’s more beautiful than either of us could have imagined. The open concept living/dining/kitchen space is bright, airy and spacious, with soaring double-height ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that make you feel as though you’re nestled in the trees. The living room has a cozy sectional and a large-screen TV, as well as a dramatic statement fireplace that we made good use of (this weekend turned out to be colder than either of us had imagined!) The hosts had stocked the living room with reading material: mainly books on architecture and the surrounding area of St. Jacobs.

A small set of steps leads you up to the kitchen/dining area, which was well-stocked with complimentary snacks and beverages.

The home’s modern architecture is echoed throughout the interior, with beautiful pieces of mid-century modern furniture – like this classic Eames chair, which as just as comfortable as it is handsome! (There’s a reason it’s considered the ultimate lounge chair.)

A spiral staircase by the front door leads you to the upper floor, which has two bedrooms and a full bathroom. The principal bedroom has a cozy king bed, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a huge walk-in-closet (seriously, I can only dream of having a closet like this at home!)

The other bedroom down the hall is absolutely charming, with 1 queen bed and 1 double bed, and a Juliet balcony that looks out onto the main floor.

There’s a third bedroom in the basement, which has a queen bed and its own private ensuite. The ensuite has an old-fashioned clawfoot tub beside a window, so you can relax and enjoy a bubble bath while looking out into the backyard.

The wooden tub tray provides a spot to rest a book, candle or glass of vino! And the backyard views are lovely.

Speaking of the backyard… it’s huge, and has every amenity you could want. From the main level, you walk out onto an expansive deck that’s furnished with comfortable outdoor sofas and lounge chairs. The centerpiece of the deck is a quaint, string-lit gazebo with its own fire table. You couldn’t ask for a more picturesque spot in which to relax and indulge in an al fresco dinner.

A paved walkway leads you down from the deck onto the lawn, where several Muskoka chairs surround a stone firepit. In my opinion, sitting around a crackling fire and roasting marshmallows is one of life’s simplest – but greatest – pleasures. Of course, we brought all the fixins for s’mores!

The backyard also has a private trail that leads down to the Conestogo River. A quick one-minute walk through the woods brings you to a peaceful little lookout, furnished with two Muskoka chairs. We loved sitting out here in the morning and enjoying our coffee while listening to the rushing river and chirping birds. It was such a peaceful and serene way to start the day.

I couldn’t finish this post without mentioning one of our favourite amenities at the Triangle House: the ping pong table! It’s located in the garage and makes a fun rainy day activity.

All in all, we had an absolutely lovely weekend at the Triangle House and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique getaway! Typically when Tania and I go away, we pack our schedules, taking in as many sights and activities in the area as we can. This was one of the rare occasions where we didn’t do that. Aside from a trip to the St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market (which I’ll cover in a later post!) we really just wanted to relax and enjoy this gorgeous space, which is exactly what we did. This Airbnb made a great couple’s retreat, but it would also be the perfect place to host family or friends for the weekend – it’s certainly spacious enough, and the deck is ideal for hosting an al fresco dinner party. The Triangle House would also make a great week-long or month-long rental for anyone who can work from home and wants to change up their day-to-day surroundings a bit!

I owe a huge thank you to Joe, the host of the Triangle House, for welcoming us this weekend. If any of you would like to know more about this Airbnb or have any questions about our experience, please leave a comment or send me an email and I’d be happy to answer them! And if you’ve stayed at any fabulous Airbnbs in Ontario that you’d like to recommend, please let me know – I’m always looking for suggestions!

*Our stay at the St. Jacobs Triangle House was generously gifted by the host. As always, all opinions and thoughts are entirely my own.