summer lake house

High fashion inspires our studio, and working with clients who appreciate fine tailoring is always a pleasure. When tasked with renovating a lake house in northern Ontario, our goal was to blend elegance with the casual ease of summer living by the water.

Some of the cottage’s core features have remained intact, including the sash windows facing the lake and a majestic flagstone hearth—a hallmark of the Muskoka region. We focused on infusing the communal areas and private spaces with a personalized expression, which required custom-designed furniture to create a harmonious flow throughout.

Tailoring, whether in fashion or interior design, is all about precious detailing and working with the best materials and makers. It also involves understanding how a room will be used and navigated. To enhance the living room’s openness, we designed a 16-foot curved sofa that encircles the fireplace and offers comfortable seating for six. The sofa is rich in micro-detailing, particularly railroading the fabric which eliminates seams. The effect is subtle but powerful; without seams, the eye naturally follows the sofa’s expansive contour from end to end.

We also designed a 10-legged wood bench that follows the sofa’s outer curvature, transforming what could have been wasted or unusable space. On the floor our custom carpet, with varying loop and pile heights, was mapped out within the furniture layout to ensure blush shadows would highlight specific areas, like where the leg of a chair meets the floor. These details are a reflection of our design expression and our connection to our work.

Throughout the ground level, we used Douglas fir on the floor and larch to encase the half-turn stairs, cupboards, and cabinetry. In the kitchen, both woods are paired with honed bedrock and an aluminum island surrounded by buck leather counter stools.

The primary bedroom and ensuite embrace a more subdued mood, with textured sea salt-hued walls and woven linen window coverings diffusing dappled sunlight. The custom bedframe is tightly upholstered with a headboard set away from the wall, creating an alternate passageway to the ensuite bathroom.

At every turn, we paid close attention to enhancing the sweet comforts of living. In the ensuite, our extended brushed stainless steel towel rack includes a resting tray for burning incense while enjoying a hot shower. Privacy, too, was continually considered, with glass pocket doors buffering television noise in the bar lounge. A padded window bench in the breezeway also provides a cozy spot for reading or playing a game of cards on a rainy day. 

We loved working on this project for many reasons, but especially because it is designed to be cherished and enjoyed for years to come. With an abundant natural wood and stone, it embodies a classic timelessness that is sure to last for generations.