Inside the Real-Life ‘Heated Rivalry’ Cottage Where Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie Brought Shane and Ilya’s Love Life

HBO Max’s “Heated Rivalry” has sparked intrigue, bringing together countless fans who have been drawn to the magnetic love between rival hockey players Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander.

Reviewers praised the six-episode, star-studded series Hudson Williams like Shane once Connor Storrie like Ilya, while social media is full of posts dedicated to the actors and their on-screen characters.

The series, based on the book of the same name by Rachel Reid and premiered on air on November 28, culminating at the end of Season 1. It takes place in a jaw-dropping “kitchen” on the outskirts of Ottawa, Canada, where two characters get a chance to experience what a real relationship between them might look like.

While few things could steal the spotlight from the chemistry between Williams, 24, and Storrie, 25, some viewers couldn’t help but split their focus between the storyline and the dramatic backstory.

As it turns out, the setting for the fictional ending is actually a real place: a picture-perfect lake house at Muskoka Lakes in Ontario, Canada.

Although any literate Americans might expect a “cottage” to be a small, cozy place, in reality, the building is anything but.

The writer previously explained that the word “cottage” means something different in his native Canada.

“By tiny house, we mean mansion,” Reid joked during an appearance on the “Late Night Scrolling” podcast. “Most Americans, including my editor, were very confused by the word ‘cottage’ when I wrote this book.

“If it’s the second place you hang out, it’s a cottage. … It’s very Canadian.”

When it came to finding a cottage/large house for the show, a winner emerged in the form of a stunning lakeside residence designed by an architect. Trevor McIvor.

The home comes complete with an expansive floor plan accented by high ceilings, natural wood tones, and beautifully detailed large floor-to-ceiling windows.

Inside, there are also plush chairs and a cozy fireplace for two characters to relax around.

The property, known as Barlochan Cottage, was built for a client of the McIvor firm, which explains on its website that the owners wanted “a small four-season cottage that sits close to Muskoka’s natural surroundings.”

The website notes that the property was built using a prefabricated structure made of Douglas fir—while other elements, such as the granite fireplace, were constructed from locally sourced materials.

Walls of windows help bring the outside in, no matter what the weather, with images that capture the perfect winter landscape amidst a snowy landscape.

In the case of Shane and Ilya, the cabin became a sanctuary for the summer as they enjoyed a break from hockey time and a chance to explore their feelings in private without the risk of being caught by one of their partners.

However, that bubble quickly pops when they are interrupted by Shane’s father, who accidentally walks in on the couple sharing a moment, forcing his son out of there.

Meanwhile, the show departs from the end of the book—choosing to finish the final pages of the novel, where Shane and Ilya make a plan to reveal their relationship to the world over a period of many years.

Instead, the series ends with a heartfelt conversation between Shane and Ilya and the former’s parents, where he reveals the truth about their relationship.

“This is what I’ve always built on,” the series creator Jacob Tierney he told EW. “The thing I noticed at some point was the difference between how big and loud episode 5 sounded, and how small and intimate episode 6 was, it was a big swing – but a swing had to be taken.

“That’s how this story ends, or the way I wanted it to end.

“First of all, ending with a press conference, ending with what amounts to a reveal, didn’t interest me. I think that’s a clear way of writing. [end it]the kind of epilogue-y energy that I don’t think we needed this time,” the creator added.

The creator noted that he wanted to replicate the feelings he had in the book but not the specific actions.

“What I remember hearing so clearly at the end of the book was, ‘I’m so glad they got to be happy,’ that I just wanted to stay with them and let them be happy. So that’s part of the plot of giving 5 that big star rom-com ending in Scott. [François Arnaud]to have a quiet ending with Shane and Ilya,” added Tierney.