Cottages
September 11, 2024
A Newly Built Cottage In Port Carling Exudes Classic Muskoka Style With A Contemporary Spirit
It can be a tense moment for longtime Muskoka cottagers when they hear that a new home is being built nearby. Will the natural terrain be destroyed? Will the cottage dominate the shoreline or, worst of all, look like a city house oblivious to the area’s heritage? Thankfully, there were none of these worries when the owners of this cottage decided to build anew on the land they’d already lived on for 30 years.
The owners have another home in Florida but spend as much time at the cottage as they can. “We’re a nature-loving, close-knit family that wanted to retain the spirit of our private getaway when we built a new place,” says one owner. “We envisioned a traditional exterior, the kind of cottage we’d known from childhood summers spent here, but a contemporary interior that would be comfortable for our grown family and all of our friends.”
The owners toured projects by architectural designer Steve Jarrett of Silent Impact Designs, who’s a seasoned designer of traditional and contemporary cottages. With his love of classic Muskoka materials such as granite, pine and cedar shingles, they knew he’d be perfect for the project.
The owners feel that building a new cottage when they retired was “an opportunity for a refresh.” Their new cottage is an embodiment of this idea, as it renews Muskoka traditions and takes them respectfully into the future.
For the interiors, they brought in designer Christopher Spraggett (pictured) who, along with managing large design projects, owns Lock + Quay in Port Carling, Ont., a store specializing in cottage decorating accents. Christopher got involved in the early stages of the architectural design.“It was great to be able to collaborate with Steve and the owners as the project evolved,” says Christopher.
The new four-bedroom, six-bathroom cottage nestles amongst majestic, mature trees as if it’s always been here. Similarly, the boathouse, which has two bedrooms, a kitchenette, bathroom and living room above the boat slips, is a discreet presence on the water.
A painting of a moth in the moonlight is a bold addition to the entry.
The Last Shed (diptych), a 1990 painting by Joseph Plaskett, anchors the great room; two tub chairs with ebony-stained wood frames and leather-covered ottomans keep the mix relaxed.
Fireplaces made of local granite are part of Muskoka’s heritage, and the dramatic freestanding fireplace between the dining and great rooms is a showstopper. The owners went to McFadyen’s Stone Quarry in Huntsville with the stonemason and chose a 12-ton granite boulder. It was eventually lifted by crane onto the foundation, and the cottage was then built around it. “Watching that magnificent boulder be put in place to create a remarkable cottage feature was a memorable moment,” says Steve.
The kitchen has a mix of materials that gives it a collected vibe, with a light-stained pine ceiling, Caesarstone counters, a vent hood clad in rift-cut white oak and lowers in a warm stone hue.
The finishes and furniture, though contemporary, are still in sync with the classic Muskoka aesthetic.
A striking glass sphere chandelier animates the lofty dining room. “The cottage had to work for 16 people or for two,” says an owner. The former number inspired the expansive dining room and three second-floor guest suites, each with its own stairway.
“I’ve been in Muskoka for many years,” says Christopher. “This gives me a personal understanding of what makes it so special. It’s wonderful when you have clients, like the owners of this cottage, who share that sensibility.”
“They’re sort of like suites at the Four Seasons,” says an owner with a laugh. “Each has its own bathroom, sitting area, fireplace, and a spot to make coffee. A wire and twisted leaf cord accent table has rustic cottage charm in this guest room.
That said, with the principal suite on the main level and the adjacent kitchen, dining room and great room all flowing together, the furniture plan is also designed to work when it’s just the two of them at the cottage. A subtle combination of rift-cut white oak cabinets, earth-toned porcelain floor tile and a delicate shade on the Caesarstone counter connects the principal ensuite to the main rooms of the cottage.
The guest room over the garage has a hand-knotted, patterned rug and a bed frame custom designed by The Summerhouse Group. The leather-covered bench adds comfort without being fussy.
The clients insisted that the woodland gently sloping to the lake be as undisturbed as possible by the construction. “After all of our years here, we know every tree on the property,” says an owner. It wasn’t an easy task, as the new structure would be larger than the original. “Details are critical, and we had exceptional people working on the project,” says Steve. “You can’t realize a cottage with this level of finesse without a great team.”
Paddleboards stored next to the boathouse give a sense of the family fun to be had at this Port Carling cottage.
A granite fireplace in the boathouse living room is a welcome surprise. Granite is also used for exterior paths and some interior floors, and it influenced the overall palette. “We picked up on the subtle tones of the granite when we chose paint, rugs and upholstery fabrics,” says Christopher. The furniture complements the colors of the stone, and the outdoor-grade upholstery fabric stands up to sunlight.
The boathouse kitchenette allows guests to make their own coffee in the morning and snacks during the day. African grass baskets mounted on the wall bring visual interest.
This boathouse bedroom has a subdued palette so as not to compete with the glorious views out the windows.
Robin Stubbert
House & Home
Steve Jarrett (architectural design)/Christopher Spraggett (design)