It is well hidden, tucked within the natural tree line on a peninsula of gently sloping pre-Cambrian bedrock at the shoreline. The main volume steps down the sloped landscape to provide a lower-level walk-out on the lakeside. Fixed and operable glass walls open to a wraparound deck, and a pediment-style gabled rooftop is intentionally exaggerated. Deep overhangs provide a sheltered space that mediates between the interior and the exterior landscape, while the geometric simplicity of the roof form provides a sculptural presence.

The all-wood exterior is echoed internally, where the living and dining areas float freely below the cathedral ceiling and walls clad in hand-brushed flat-cut oak boards with a soaped finish. Enveloped in raw materials and curated with area rugs and soft furniture in neutral hues, this large-scale communal room expresses a sense of rustic elegance and inviting warmth. Two fireplaces at either end reflect the vernacular context – a nod to the Canadian cottage tradition of wood-burning hearths as the primary source of heat and allure for gathering on chilly summer nights.

At 7,500 square feet, Muskoka Cottage is extensive. Upon approach, however, it is a much more modestly scaled, single-story dwelling in keeping with the original cabin-in-the-woods experience. The cottage comprises six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, an open-concept kitchen, living and dining room, a screened porch, a den, an office, a recreation room, a fitness room and an infrared sauna.