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In order to maximize light, even the upper section of the bathroom walls are transparent, meaning anyone taking a shower can be seen from the living room, but only from the neck up.

The mezzanine is fenced by slats of whitewashed pine, and acts as the children’s playroom and hangout space.

The entire kitchen wall by Lignum Cabinets is made from laminates and features functional peg board-like shelving above the sink, allowing it to be customized to the homeowner's needs.

This color-blocked bathroom lets a free-standing vanity take center stage.

Powder Bathroom

The second floor powder room.

If Bradley had to choose a favorite bathroom design in her portfolio, it would be this guest bathroom. "Incorporating a strong, geometric pattern through the use of white, rectangular mosaic tiles with black grout created the illusion of space," she says.

A sculptural freestanding washbasin by Gessi is found in the first-floor powder room. The hex tiles are courtesy of Dear Human.

The neutral palette fosters a sense of calm and quiet, whether in the bedrooms or the common area, and gives the space a timeless appeal.

The entry hall has space to store boots and coats as you come into the home. The flooring throughout is high-quality vinyl that mimics the effect of a timber floor. “At first, I thought, ‘Everything else in this house is wood, how can we do a vinyl floor?,’” says architect Tom Knezic. “But nobody would do a hardwood floor in a cottage, because you don’t heat it all winter and they tend to buckle. The vinyl is a very premium product, and it looks fantastic—but it can freeze and get wet. It was perfect because you don’t have to worry about the kids coming in with wet clothes, or with sand on their feet.”

“One of the most interesting parts of the project was the foundation, as we used ground screws,” says architect Tom Knezic. “I’ve never done a foundation like this, but it’s really neat because you just screw into the ground, weld the beam on top, and you’ve got a foundation in two days. It’s a very light footprint, as we didn't have to do any blasting or chipping. We had to remove some trees to fit the cottage in, but we tried to keep as many as possible around the building—by using ground screws, you’re not damaging the roots of adjacent trees.”

“It’s only an hour and a half from the north edge of Toronto,” says Knezic. “But, because it’s water access only, it feels like you’re far away from everything—and you have a real sense of isolation.”

"I've always loved the way buildings look when they're under construction, and the walls of the office are basically like open framing," Davis says.

The Franklin stove adds an authentic touch to the updated cabin.

Top 9 Gardens of 2020: The verdant spaces nominated for the Dwell Design Awards help enliven their biophilic homes.

The concrete hearth at the fireplace has angled sidewalls and a bevelled edge.

Because the island is covered in a different stone, it reads like a distinct piece of furniture rather than just part of the kitchen.

Breccia Capraia marble continues from the countertop to form the backsplash and open shelving.

Chen used high-contrast materials to lighten the space, which has only one window. He lined the kitchen in glossy 3-D tile from Ann Sacks, and wall covering from Flat Vernacular. He removed the rear wall of the kitchen and replaced it with a sliding acid-etched glass partition, which picks up ambient light from windows in the service entrance. Chen installed drawers below the white marble countertops and swapped out overhead cabinets for full-height cabinets in the pantry. Under the glass partition, a thick counter of striped Kenya Black marble adds doubles as a bar top and work surface.