Cottages
Tour A Tranquil Cottage That Is One With Nature
Updated on November 29, 2023
Not long ago, even newly built cottages favored a more traditional style, with lashings of gingerbread trim and smaller windows. The results were charming and cozy, but they also tended to be dark and disconnected from the landscape. So when a couple with grown children who had children of their own confessed to Margot Bell and Dasha Ricci of Peaks & Rafters that they were ready to replace their family cottage with a design that emphasized light as well as the rugged surroundings, the designers, who specialize in cottage properties, immediately understood. “This was a dream project for our clients,” says Dasha. “They wanted something more contemporary.”
Since they gravitated toward a modern look, Margot suggested Toronto architect Peter Berton of +VG Architects, whose contemporary sensibility matched the dynamic spirit of the project. The new one-storey cottage on Muskoka’s Lake Joseph has a low profile that tucks under a canopy of trees and hugs the rocks. The interior’s expansive windows, complemented by natural materials and ample glazing, give the impression of being outside when indoors. “Even when it rains here, it’s bright without lights,” says Peter. “You can still see the lake — you can see everything.”
Scroll down to tour this dreamy boathouse!
The boathouse is designed to flow seamlessly between inside and out. “The exterior siding continues into the interior; it feels like you’re under a canopy,” says Margot.
A pathway leads from the driveway, passes under the suspended Muskoka room and continues down to the lake. Patio seating makes full use of the shady spot.
The Muskoka room’s copper and stainless steel mesh chairs are comfortable and look sleek.
“Contemporary style can be a little cool and daunting,” says Margot (left), pictured here with Dasha. “We tried to keep the warmth. Even though there’s steel and concrete, the cottage connects you to the outdoors and feels friendly.”
The entrance strikes a gallery-like note with artwork, porcelain floors and white walls.
The living room’s low-profile furniture puts the focus on the views through the windows.
An Eames lounge chair and a mixed media gallery wall are modern updates on casual cottage style.
The kitchen island incorporates a wood dining table for informal meals.
A bedroom with toddler-sized bunk beds is perfect for visiting grandchildren.
A frameless mirror and vessel sink carry the cottage’s minimalist style into the principal ensuite.
The bathtub fixtures are installed on a wooden cabinet that conceals the plumbing.
The principal bed is simply dressed in relaxed linens. The lower windows are outfitted with motorized screens.
Alex Lukey
House & Home July 2019
Margot Bell & Dasha Ricci, Peaks & Raftors; Architecture by +VG Architects