Available from Richard Scully and Associates of Harvey Kalles Real Estate for $12,790,000
While the old saying in real estate, “Location, location, location,” might feel a little worn down by now, there’s no disputing the fact that when you’re looking for a home, putting locality at or near the top of your wish list can pay huge quality-of-life dividends. And when you’re shopping for a Muskoka cottage, it’s arguably even more important. The location of a property impacts almost every aspect of cottage life, from how much privacy you can expect to how long it will take to drive or boat to town to what kind of view, if any, you’ll have of the sunrise and sunset.
A seasoned sales representative in Muskoka luxury real estate, Richard (Rick) Scully knew right away he was looking at something special when he first visited a property on the southern shores of Lake Rosseau. “This property was centrally located,” he recalls, “but privately situated.” The future owners could be in nearby Port Sandfield or Port Carling in minutes, but then slip home to a private oasis nestled away in the trees.
Something fairly unique, too, was the exposure. The cottage faces northwest, and enjoys good all-day sun throughout the summer. “The property is tucked away from the main boat channel,” Rick explains, “but because of its proximity to open water, you get views of both sunrise and sunset for June, July, and August. That’s really special.”
Ideally situated on over two acres of beautifully pined land, the cottage and complementary boathouse provide more than enough room for large gatherings and entertaining. At 4,500 square feet, the main cottage boasts five bedrooms and five bathrooms. At the heart of the open concept main floor layout is an exquisitely appointed chef’s kitchen with a large island and elegant lakeview dining area. On one side of it a cozy seating area with a stone fireplace and vaulted plank ceiling provide a delightful space for conversation. On the other side, a Muskoka room, also with a stone fireplace and vaulted ceiling, opens on to an expansive deck overlooking the lake.
At the water’s edge, guests will enjoy the ultimate lakeside-living experience in enviable luxury. A magnificent double-slip oversized grandfathered boathouse includes three bedrooms, a three-piece bathroom, a generous living room, a full kitchen, and a lavish covered porch with glass railings and drop down electric screens.
Rick has heard that the property may once have been the site of an old lodge, and he can see possible echoes of that history in the large stone stairs that wind down from the cottage to the lake, and in the 200-foot dock that runs along the shoreline from one end of the property to the other, two features that may have evolved from earlier versions of themselves. “Back in the day, the old resorts and estates used to have decking all along the shore, where the steamships would come in to drop people off, and huge, sprawling docks for swimming and sunbathing,” he explains, “but you don’t see too many of them left anymore.”
Like the cottage, new-built in 2016, and the boathouse, thoroughly renovated at the same time, the topography and landscaping contribute an undeniable stateliness to the property. The cottage sits amidst stands of towering pines, the staircase that descends to the shore is comprised of colossal slabs of rock and neatly skimmed on one side by a crisp black railing, and the generous windows and decking speak to abundance and long summer days.
In the architecture, Rick sees elements of crossover style—a combination of traditional elements with contemporary. While many of the features, such as stone fireplaces, wide-plank flooring, and detailed millwork, are hallmarks of classic Muskoka, the buildings’ expansive windows, bright white walls, and clean horizontal lines pull toward a modern aesthetic. The overall effect is broadly appealing and, because it does not fit entirely in either tradition, achieves a kind of timelessness that honours both our fondness for the past and our desire to put a unique stamp on the present.
Even if location, location, location were the only thing this property had going for it, it wouldn’t last long among Rick’s listings. In fact, since this 10-bedroom compound has got just about everything else going for it too, from grand style to inspiring views, it won’t be long until some lucky person is pondering a hard decision: Stay up for the sunset, or get up for the sunrise?
“The property is tucked away from the main boat channel, but because of its proximity to open water, you get views of both sunrise and sunset for June, July, and August. That’s really special.”
–Richard Scully
