A 650-square-foot cabin, located on a picturesque island
in Lake Rosseau, perfectly exemplifies the maxim that
thinking big doesn’t have to mean being big.
Guest accommodations can run the gamut from basic bunkies outfitted with the bare essentials to grand multi-bedroomed lodgings scarcely less luxurious than the main cottage. In a recently constructed cabin on one of Lake Rosseau’s islands, the owners have found the perfect happy medium between these extremes.
Its first advantage, though, has everything to do with the realtor’s maxim: location, location, location. Situated among a handful of historic buildings on this small family-owned island at the core of Muskoka’s beating heart, guests are apt to spend some time waving at passing steamships on their daily tours, and are certain to be delighted by fantastic views of the lake and majestic sunsets. A stay in the cabin offers all the tranquility of island life, including peace, solitude, and island breezes, while some of Muskoka’s best sights, restaurants, and golf courses are just a short boat ride away.
Every element of the dwelling is rendered in delightful detail, beginning, before you even enter the cabin, with a charming series of flagstone pathways that wind across the island, connecting the guest house with the main cottage, a two-storey boathouse, a boat port, vegetable gardens, and the laundry shed. To access the cabin, you descend a short flight of flagstone steps to find it nestled among the pines close to the water’s edge.
Exposed rafter tails and copper flashings give the cabin an old-Muskoka feeling, while an Enviroshake roof echoes the texture of classic shakes, but has the benefit of a much longer lifespan. Clad in prefinished wood siding in a traditional v-groove, and complemented by a warm granite chimney, the exterior is evocative of a storied English country cottage, recast with a distinctly Canadian flair.
Built by Earl Ferguson Construction on the site of a cabin which had been in the owner’s family for generations, the elaborate timber frame design pays fitting tribute to the island’s woodsy setting.
Beneath your feet, reclaimed stained oak floors supply texture and the vintage touch while providing a resilient surface for cabin traffic. And the curious eye will delight to discover small acorn embellishments in the beamwork and oak leaves hand-carved into the custom fir beams and doors.
Those beams, along with exposed rafters and textured walls, give the home a refined feeling, without losing the cabin charm. Sixteenfoot ceilings in the living and dining rooms and strategically placed transom windows in shed dormers allow in as much natural light as possible, while providing maximum exposure to the cabin’s beautiful surroundings. Predominantly white and off -white tones in the furniture and décor harmonize with the warm wood accents and create fluidity from room to room, while providing an understated backdrop to key pieces, such as an antique cart table at the heart of the living room.
All this natural simplicity is tempered perfectly with many luxurious touches worked into every room of the house. From heated floors throughout to a deep soaker tub with a view of the lake in the ensuite bathroom and a high-efficiency wood burning fireplace, guests in the cabin are treated to the good life in every way.
"The challenge of building on Muskoka’s big lakes, in many instances, is in creating spaces that speak to a lifestyle requirement while conforming to municipal size restrictions."
Bill Ferguson - Earl Ferguson Construction
Natural light spills from two windows over a quartz countertop and, for the modern touch with the vintage look, the refrigeration unit and dishwasher are panelled to blend in seamlessly with ample custom-distressed cabinetry. A ceramic cook top with quartz backsplash and custom range hood provide a sleek canvas for the culinary art, and a chrome bridge faucet introduces a classic
touch at no expense to functionality.
Fulfilling the adage that good things come in small packages, this cabin offers its visitors the sweetest of treats: simplicity touched with luxury.
