Cottages
This Contemporary Muskoka Cottage Celebrates Its Natural Surroundings
Updated on November 29, 2023
A tree-lined peninsula with panoramic lake views is a cottage-builder’s dream come true, so when designer Lorraine Franklin discovered such a site on the shores of Muskoka’s Lake Joseph in Ontario, she knew she’d found the spot for her new cottage. “The lot was perched at the end of a point, and we were blown away by the beautiful 270-degree view,” says Lorraine. With the lake on one side, Canadian Shield rock on the other and, enough prevailing breeze to keep the blackflies away, the location was a perfect canvas for a dramatic modern lakehouse in harmony with its natural surroundings.
Lorraine enlisted the help of Nelson Kwong and Neal Prabhu at nkArchitect, and gave them a simple brief: a modern home that maximized the views, and natural elements and colors to blend the house into the landscape. Built by Tamarack North with site preparation by Hall Construction, the house is a split-level structure affording distinct living spaces for Lorraine, her husband and their three adult children. “The big thing about the cottage is the spectacular view and that it blends in to the rock face,” says Lorraine. “It’s nestled into the stone.”
Scroll down to tour this nature-inspired cottage with breathtaking views!
“The most important aspect of the house is the way the view opens up to you,” says Lorraine (pictured with her husband). The effect is most dramatic in the kitchen and dining room, which overlook Ontario’s Lake Joseph on one side, and a rock face on the other.
“I used natural elements to create a take on a modern cottage,” says Lorraine. She chose oil-finished white oak for the floors and half the main floor ceiling, then offset it with geometric flourishes in the furniture, lighting and art.
In the living room, comfy sofas and a soft rug create a cozy spot for lounging. “It’s a modern cottage done with a lot of rustic aspects,” says Lorraine of the interior, which serves as a year-round gathering place for her family, including two grandsons, aged 2 and 5, and lots of visiting friends and relatives.
The simple modern kitchen uses black furniture, lighting and accents to complement pale floors and white cabinets. “The colors are all very neutral, so the black just punches out the design,” says Lorraine.
Abundant use of wood both inside and out reinforces the natural vibe, connecting the home to its verdant setting without going too far into log cabin territory. White oak is used judiciously on floors, walls and ceilings, and is balanced by smooth black surfaces, modern furnishings, brass hardware and geometric lighting.
“In any house that I do, my main objective is to create rooms that are lived-in and welcoming,” says Lorraine. “It’s a big cottage, but I wanted to keep the warmth to it.”
Custom artwork by Lori Mirabelli adds a cheerful hit of bold color to the home’s main palette of browns, whites and grays.
Ipê panelling helps the home’s exterior blend in to the surrounding trees. In addition to being extremely durable, the tropical wood’s natural caramel tone draws out the oxidized iron color of the rocks.
An in-ground hot tub sits just in front of the bridge that connects the main house to the principal bedroom.
A tree house-like bedroom panelled in the same white oak as the flooring gets a textural boost from a dividing wall clad in black brick.
Warm tones and a pale palette create a spa-like principal bathroom overlooking Lake Joseph.
A wall of lake-facing windows fills the space with light, while unique textures pay homage to the exposed rock surrounding the property.
A large boathouse offers respite for lake swimmers and sunbathers, as well as a self-contained living space on the water’s edge. A lower level clad in black aluminum and an upper terrace covered in ipê panelling mirror the contrasting hues of the lake and trees.
The Canadian Shield runs throughout the Muskoka property. When a large rock face was exposed during excavation, it encouraged Lorraine to alter the design plan to expose the back of the home with glass, so the rock could become a striking backdrop. “It’s magnificent with its different colors and textures, and it looks different depending on the time of day and the lighting,” she says.
Valerie Wilcox
House & Home July/August 2020
Lorraine Franklin; Architecture by Nelson Kwong and Neal Prabhu at nkArchitect