Designing a custom cottage offers the unique opportunity to create a comfortable retreat that is physically and conceptually connected to its natural surroundings. By working with skilled design and construction teams, you can create a space that reflects nature and your unique lifestyle, without sacrificing modern comforts.
How to Design a Cottage that Blends Comfort and Nature
While everyone has their own conception of what a cottage should be, some of the most eye-catching and timeless cottages have designs that harmonize with the surrounding landscape. For those building in Ontario, cottage country has a unique, iconic beauty.
To make sure your cottage can blend comfort and harmony with nature, here are some of the main things to keep in mind:
Respect the Landscape and Terrain
When building a cottage somewhere like Muskoka or Georgian Bay, the site will have a significant impact on the final design.
The Canadian shield, mature trees and uneven shorelines are all common features in Ontario’s cottage country. While they can pose challenges during the design phase, designers shouldn’t try to ignore or minimize them. The best cottages incorporate these natural features into their finished designs.
For example, you can incorporate stone slabs to make it feel as if the structure grows from the landscape rather than dominating it. Rustic beams are another great option; they can give both the interior and exterior of your cottage a natural aesthetic.
Building around features like trees shows respect for the terrain while helping the cottage feel like an extension of nature. By respecting the site’s natural ecology, designers can create cottages that look like they belong.
Use Local Materials
While it may not be practical to use only local materials for an entire cottage, a few statement materials native to the area can help the cottage complement its surroundings.
A large pine beam or a natural stone fireplace can help the cottage feel organic and natural. Even a simple decision, like using locally sourced timber that matches other cottages in the area, will give the cottage a comfortable, seamless feel.
Blend Rustic Comfort with Energy Efficiency
Your comfort inside your new cottage doesn’t have to come at the expense of energy efficiency.
Many modern cottage designs use high-performance insulation that creates an airtight building envelope. Not only does this help ensure the cottage interior is comfortable throughout all of Ontario’s seasonal extremes, but it also means you can use natural sources of heat, like a wood-burning fireplace, to stay warm.
The cottage feels more comfortable while embracing traditional and natural sources of heat. In the summer, large windows that open to let in lake breezes can make the interior feel and smell like a natural space.
Plus, these more sustainable design choices can also help reduce the structure’s long-term environmental impact. So, your space feels more natural, while simultaneously helping preserve the surrounding environment that makes cottage country such an inviting place.
Design for Year-Round Living
There’s just as much fun to be had at the cottage in winter as in summer. With thoughtful design and smart features, you can make it practical and inviting for all four seasons.
From waterproof entryways for drying boots and cross-country skis in winter to screened-in porches for bug season and spring rain, your design choices can help you enjoy nature comfortably all year long.
Navigate Waterfront Zoning Regulations
In Ontario, building near a lake or in a waterfront cottage zone usually means you have to adhere to strict zoning bylaws.
By building close to the water, you can enjoy the natural sound of rolling waves, loon calls and much more, but it’s important that you know what you can and can’t do.
Choosing an experienced, local builder will ensure you have the necessary building permissions and permits to avoid costly setbacks. They’ll also know the best ways to incorporate the surrounding nature into the design of your dream cottage.
Start Designing Your Dream Cottage Today
Designing a custom cottage that combines comfort with the beauty of the surrounding natural world is far more achievable if you choose a builder with experience working in the region.
DeCarli Contractors has decades of experience building custom homes and cottages in North Simcoe and Southern Georgian Bay. We can bring expert craftsmanship and local expertise to your cottage project. Learn more and start designing your dream cottage today!
