, which she opened back in 2014. Wintzen had purchased the design-forward cabin a few years prior to COVID-19.
“In September 2020, I was very close to losing the business completely because I got flatlined,” says Wintzen. “I’m single income and don’t have investors at the studio, so everything fell on me financially. I was carrying a ton of financial burden during the pandemic on my own. So, in order to save the studio, I decided in May 2021 to give up my place in the city — I was renting a loft in Corktown. My landlord was amazing.
Outside, the cabin features two fire pits, hammocks, lake access, and an outdoor shower. “It’s like you’re taking a shower in the trees, it’s just beautiful,” she says. “Being in nature itself is so nice; it’s peaceful, it’s quiet…there are so many elements that make it so lovely.” In addition to relying on propane for heating and hot water, Wintzen also insulated the cabin to arm it against Canadian winters. She also had to upgrade all of the solar power. “Solar was not cutting it for what I was doing,” she explains. “I needed to be able to work, plug things in, have a flushing toilet, and running water. You have to upgrade your soler immensely, so I did an overhaul on the entire system and now it works like a breeze.
For example, Wintzen cites having to run a generator in the winter when she doesn’t have enough power. “In the winter, you can’t rely completely on solar; you need a backup generator and it’s hand-held,” she explains. “So, I’ll be there outside at 6 a.m. in the morning in the pitch dark because I have no power or heat, trying to start the generator; put the gas in, pull it, and sometimes it takes half an hour, because it’s so cold that it’s frozen.
So, clearly the lifestyle isn’t for everyone. In addition to logistics of running a remote off-grid cabin, Wintzen admits that the initial period of off-grid living wasn’t without some nerves. “The first few months by myself as I was settling in…it’s pitch black,” says Wintzen. “You can’t even see you hand in front of your face when you go outside in the dark. So, the first few months, I was on edge. But now it just feels like home. I’m totally not afraid of anything out here. I’m so settled in.