Tucked into the rugged shoreline of the Kawartha Highlands, this water-access lake house is a thoughtful reinvention of a cherished family retreat. The original 560-square-foot cabin—with no electricity, no running water, and postcard-worthy views—had served as a seasonal escape. But as the owners dreamed of creature comforts for extended stays, they envisioned a home that would remain low-impact, carbon-conscious, and deeply connected to its surroundings.

The result is a 1000-square-foot addition built to Passive House standards, creating a high-efficiency, year-round dwelling. The new wing houses the living spaces and a “winter bedroom,” allowing the original cabin to be closed off during colder months. A covered breezeway—affectionately known as the “bug zone”—connects old and new, framing lake views and providing a relaxed transition between structures.

This new-build cottage in the Kawartha Lakes region was designed to minimize construction impact on the site, while taking advantage of the natural beauty of the lake.  It features an open plan with generous decks overlooking the lake, a boat house with guest room and it celebrates structural design through elegant detailing.

This house was designed in collaboration with Mafco house.

This Muskoka cottage was redesigned to create a more functional space for family and guests and to improve access and views to the lake. The new design carefully reorients the principal rooms in order to maximize privacy from nearby cottages and to take full advantage of the most scenic views. A breezeway connects the original structure with the addition, which houses the bedrooms, bathroom and a laundry room. The new design provides direct access to the lake from the bedrooms, while the breezeway provides a partition between the communal spaces and the sleeping quarters, improving privacy and noise control. The origami-style roof has multiple slopes. The varied roofline was strategically designed to channel rainfall in specific directions and to maximize views to the outdoors from certain locations in the cottage, while enclosing other rooms for greater privacy and coziness. The bunky also received a makeover and small extension to more comfortably accommodate overnight guests.

Sometimes life is a long journey, but the end is worth the wait.  For our client, the result is a comfortable, calm space with moments of fun.   Just what cottage living should be!

“It’s been a wonderful summer for being up here, and I am now so happy that we did this project! It’s been a perfect escape from the pandemic constraints of urban life. “