The pivot
From renovation to new build.
The story of Chown Cottage began with an existing cottage on the shores of Lake Joseph. Our clients hoped to renovate, alongside plans for a new garage and boathouse. We approached the property holistically from day one — designing all three structures in tandem so they would read as a single, unified family compound rather than separate additions.
As the renovation drawings developed, the scope grew. New roof, new windows, new mechanical and plumbing, kitchen and baths, additions. Trade quotes varied widely. The cost gap between renovating and building new began to narrow. After analysis, we presented the clients with a clearer path: sometimes the best renovation is a thoughtful new build. They agreed, and the real design work began.
The Lake
Designing for the water.
A single inspirational photo from the clients became our guiding light: the idea of blurring the line between inside and outside. On the lakeside, we placed two sets of doors with eight inches of solid wall between them — an almost unbroken connection to the water. We filled the gable end at the fireplace with glass, opening the living area to light and view. Roadside windows strike a careful balance: generous, but private.
Drone Shot of the final product with all three buildings.
The Site
Letting the land lead.
Muskoka zoning shaped every move — site coverage capped at 10% across all structures. The north-facing orientation added complexity, so we ran solar studies and removed select trees to bring sunlight onto the boathouse rooftop deck. Topography became an ally. We split the cottage over levels that follow the land: garage lower level aligned with the driveway, garage suite above with views over the cottage roof, the cottage and boathouse held on comfortable walkable planes.
Sun Studies
Working with a north-facing site.
Lake Joseph’s setting handed us a north-facing orientation — a real constraint for a cottage where the long view sits opposite the sun. We modelled the building and its tree canopy across a calendar year, removed select trees only where they blocked the boathouse rooftop deck, and let the studies inform glazing strategy and outdoor living priorities.
Solar study showing on the boathouse roof top deck at all hours during the summer. We didn’t need to design for winter, as you only use this building seasonally.
TheDesign
Restraint as a design choice.
The architecture celebrates simplicity. We used standard parallel-chord trusses for the roof — nothing reinvented, nothing overworked — to maintain efficiency and keep cost in check. That restraint freed the budget for the parts that matter: interior finishes, exposed timber feature framing, custom details. A dark grey exterior palette lets the buildings recede into the trees.
Lower Level
Main Level
The Home
A home for the way they live.
Inside, the main floor became the heart of family life — open living, dining and kitchen for gathering, a primary suite for quiet, a generous pantry to support the entertaining that comes with cottage life. Downstairs: three bedrooms (including a bunk room for the kids), a small rec room, an office. A family of four can be together, or apart.
Gallery
The Final Product
A wider look at the cottage and its setting — Lake Joseph, October 2024.
In Print
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This project was part of a master planning project that included 3 buildings on the property: cottage, boathouse, and garage.
