House tour: Country casual cottage

Room to grow -- thats what this couple craved after about 15 years of cottaging on Lake Joseph inOntarios Muskoka region. With two children in their 20s and a whole host of friends on the lake notto mention carloads of weekend guests the Oakville, Ont., pair was ready to stretch the squarefootage of their summer house.

With the perfect west-facing plot secured, the couple began the two-year process of designing andbuilding the 4,000-square-foot cottage with five bedrooms and five bathrooms. But though theycould now comfortably accommodate visitors, the homeowners wanted to ensure the space felt cozydespite its grand proportions.

Enter Port Carling-based designer Christopher Spraggett of The Summerhouse Group, who workedwith the couple on their previous cottage as well as their Oakville home. Light and airy were thewords that kept coming up, he says. But it was clear that the owners didnt want a stark whitecottage.

House tour: Country casual cottageSlideshow House tour: Country casual cottage

Grand cottage

The cottage evokes a grand, traditional vibe but still suits its rustic surroundings.

Living room design

For the living room, designer Christopher Spraggettchose a pale grey paint for the trim to subtly offsetthe white walls and draw the eye to the height of theceiling without stealing attention from thefurnishings.

Casual dining room

Slipcovered chairs keep the dining room arrangement feeling casual and cottagey, while the customoversized trestle table adds an air of antiquity.

Pendant lighting

Two copper lantern-style pendant lights add elegance to the casual dining room.

Kitchen design

Substantial millwork adds architectural interest to the kitchen, and reclaimed-hemlock floors lend asense of warmth and age. Christopher chose a medium grey paint for the island and a solid greyquartzite perimeter countertop as a counterpoint to all the white cabinetry. A striped runner and apendant light with a zinc finish infuse the space with a subtle nautical flair.

Muskoka room

From the furnishings to the floor covering, the Muskoka room is awash in blue and white. The gasfireplace's stone veneer brings an extra texture, as do details like the table lamps made from antiqueNepalese milk jugs.

Firepit

A grouping of Muskoka chairs around the firepit is positioned to take advantage of the sweepingviews. "We get to see killer sunsets," says one of the homeowners.

Irresistible land

The homeowners couldn't resist this piece of land near MacTier on Lake Joseph's northern tip

(prized for its rugged Group of Seven-esque landscape and sweeping views).

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