He may have played for New Jersey, New York, Florida and Dallas, but Kirk Muller is Canadian through and through.
Or is that Canadien? He’s going into his fifth season as assistant coach with Montreal, where he also scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1993.
“I miss playing…but I’m comfortable coaching,” he says.
The Kingston-born Muller also had a stint with the Leafs in his 19-year NHL career. In 1984, Muller played for the Canadian Olympic Team at the Sarajevo games and scored two goals.
He retired in 2003. But his love of hockey runs deep. Now, he says, “I share my knowledge and experience on and off the ice. I want the guys to succeed in the world after hockey.”
He certainly did. Muller is a popular speaker and a partner in Luxury Retreats, a company that rents out high-end vacation properties. He also devotes his time to the Boys and Girls Clubs.
Muller invited Star Spaces into his home.
Q: How would you describe your home in one word?
A: Inviting.
Q: Tell us about your home.
A: It is a 4,500-square-foot, two-storey lake house which we built seven years ago. It looks likes it’s been there for 50 years. It molds into the rock. It is located in Inverary, north of Kingston. It is Old World style.
I like the open concept, where every room on the main floor flows into the other. We added wooden beams from a farmhouse and we used reclaimed wood for the floors.
My daughters’ bedrooms are located in the basement, along with the recreation room, my office and a guest bedroom. On one side of the house is farmland where I have planted organic fruit and vegetable orchards. The other side is windows overlooking the water.
Q: What attracted you to this space?
A: Kingston is my hometown. I’m always drawn back to the lake.
Q: Who shares your home?
A: My wife, four daughters, and our golden retriever, Bella.
Q: What is your favourite room and why?
A: The screened-in porch off the kitchen. It’s a really quiet place where I start the day with a cup of coffee or, on occasion, end the day with a glass of wine. I also love the dining room because that’s where we kick back and entertain.
Q: How would you describe your decorating style?
A: We prefer a comfortable feel. The kitchen is light green and the cupboards are dark green with an earthy sand-coloured tile floor. The living room and dining room entrances are in yellow and cream shades. The furniture is big and cozy. The rooms are lit by chandeliers. We have decorated with a few antiques we have bought on vacation.
Q: What is your fondest memory in this home?
A: Christmas Eve dinner, we have at least 90 family and friends over. I cook the main dishes. It is a blast!
Q: What’s the one item in this house you can’t live without?
A: My barbecue. I grill a mean steak!
Q: Weekends at home, what are we most likely to find you doing?
A: During the day, I’m “boat guy.” At night I switch to being “barbecue guy.”
Q: If your walls could talk, what would they say?
A: “Does this place ever stop?!”
The home of former NHL player Kirk Muller. (photo: toddmullerphotography.com)
