Creative Cottage

A view from the bridge toward the guesthouse on the left and the sauna on the right.

Large south-facing windows by Loewen and a high-efficiency Rais X wood-burning stove help to reduce energy demands.

The 1,000-square-foot house, surrounded by lake and greenery, has multiple skylights to let in the sun.

A cast-iron tub from Signature Hardware sits beneath a large window; the unlacquered brass faucet is from Waterworks.

Jennifer sits at a vintage Bruno Mathsson Maria dining table in the kitchen.

The living room is warmed by a Morsø 1440 cast-iron stove and features a pair of calfskin folding seats that are original to the house.

Tasked by John Powers and Jennifer Bostic with renovating a run-down cottage that was never meant to be lived in year round, Otto Ruano of Lead Studios transformed the space while keeping as much of it intact as possible. Potence lamps by Jean Prouvé illuminate the kitchen and living area. The bifold doors are by Loewen.

To lend a sense of warmth and for privacy, the architects wrapped the bedroom area with walls of tongue-and-groove vertical grain Douglas fir that matches the ceiling.

A Regency wood-burning stove provides heating to the living space. The floors are tumbled Bluestone tiles.

Walls of double-pane, tempered, laminated glass surround the upper living space furnished with Tolomeo lights by Artemide, vintage midcentury chairs, and a custom-made redwood burl table.

The facade is wrapped in custom-milled Douglas fir siding and punctuated with CommDoor black anodized aluminum windows. "We choose Douglas fir as our wood for the project for its warmth and ubiquitous heritage in Ontario cottage country," says Smirnis.

"On most days, from almost all vantage points, the boathouse reflects the forest or lake and is challenging to identify until you are immediately in front of it," says the firm. Pressure-treated SPF timber lines the outdoor deck.

A short footbridge leads to the white, oak-and-glass front door of the upper living space. On the left is the small outdoor tap that uses pumped lake water.

Set on a four-acre, moderately sloped, rocky site by the lake, the Kawagama Boathouse minimizes its site impact with small-diameter pier foundations and a natural material palette that blends the building into the surrounding forest.

Outdoor entertaining is made easy with an Outdooroven XL by Weltevree that can be used as a barbecue, smoker, and pizza oven. The custom-made cabinetry is constructed from waterproofed plywood doors and stainless steel mounts.

The exteriors of the cabins are clad in Lunawood pine, and the roofs are covered in felt for a matte appearance.

"There are various dining sets around the houses, so we can choose one that is best protected from the wind or sun," says Aleksi.

The kitchen may be small and compact, but it provides all the necessities for cooking. Lower birch cabinets combine with white lacquer board uppers, creating a sleek look. A metal-and-leather pendant light by Nordlux hangs above the dining table.