Cottages
Lisa Worth Puts A Fresh Spin On Timeless Muskoka Style For A Couple In Port Carling, Ont.
Published on August 2, 2024
With its charcoal-stained clapboard siding and gently swooping rooflines, this classic Muskoka cottage looks like it’s been part of the landscape for decades. But, in reality, the 4,800-square-foot house was built from the ground up just two years ago. Toronto interior designer Lisa Worth and local building firm PattyMac joined forces to create a bespoke cottage for their clients, Evelyn Bailey and Peter Langeman. “Evelyn and Peter wanted a home that would stand the test of time,” says Lisa, who also worked with the couple on their former Markham, Ont., house and New York apartment. “They wanted it to blend in to the landscape and nestle into the surrounding trees.”
Peter, an entrepreneur and passionate cook, and Evelyn, a global senior executive in the IT industry, weren’t even looking for a summer place but, in 2016, when a friend told Peter about a property on Lake Muskoka, they snapped it up. The couple spent two years living in the original circa-1946 cottage, making plans for a four-season new-build that would become their permanent home. “Living there gave us a sense of where we spent our time at different times of day and where we gathered,” says Evelyn.
Since moving to the cottage full time in 2022, Evelyn and Peter have retired in their “happy place.” Surrounded by windswept pines, 100-year old white oaks and the peaceful lapping of the lake, they’ve begun to think of the cottage as more than just a place to live. “It’s a generational keepsake,” says Evelyn. “It’s a dream we had that’s now a reality.”
Scroll down for a look inside this classic Muskoka cottage!
The decorating brief was a fresh take on classic Muskoka style. From the white oak ceiling beams to the natural stone counters and fireplace, Lisa layered traditional design elements with touches of whimsy for an authentic, collected-over-time vibe. “Building with natural indigenous materials makes the cottage feel like it belongs to the land,” she says. “That’s the foundation, then I play with elements like lighting and scale.”
The great room has soaring two-storey windows and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. “It’s roomy enough to entertain a large gathering, yet it feels intimate and warm,” says designer Lisa Worth. The huge fireplace was created with natural local stone in cool hues. Evelyn describes the great room as “the heart of the home” and it’s one of her favorite spots to hang out.
The couple have a daughter in her 20s and more family on the West Coast, so the house also needed a layout that would work for guests. “Entertaining was always front of mind; we love hosting large dinner parties, making memories and sharing great meals,” says Peter.
She started by finding a durable quartzite with moody veining for the counters and backsplash that had the look of marble. An expansive island both grounds the space and seats a crowd, and the adjoining pantry adds extra prep space and storage, and it’s where Evelyn indulges her love of baking.
The pantry has full-height storage with a sliding ladder for access to the higher items.
In the summer, the servery does double duty as a bar or buffet for outdoor entertaining.
Clean lines and strong silhouettes dominate the spare yet striking dining room.
In the office, the dark wall color extends across the ceiling for an enveloping feel. “I’m surprised that people shy away from dark walls,” says Lisa. “They provide contrast, allowing furniture and fixtures to pop.”
The earthy palette of blue, cream and rust continues in the principal bedroom with plenty of layers and textures.
In the principal ensuite, reeded cabinets add interest to the double vanity while industrial-style sconces create contrast.
A dreamy laundry room with botanical wallpaper was on Evelyn’s wish list from the beginning. “I love the mix of strong hues and warm wood accents; they balance each other,” says Lisa.
Under a canopy of pine and white oak trees, the stone patio provides an ideal reprieve from the summer sun.
Homeowners Peter Langeman and Evelyn Bailey on the deck with Onyx.
Rope-detail sofas in the boathouse lounge area have an appropriately nautical vibe.
Stephani Buchman
House & Home
Lisa Worth