ONTHE ROCKS

THIS CONTEMPORARY MUSKOKA COTTAGE CELEBRATES ITS NATURAL SURROUNDINGS.

AA TREE-LINED PENINSULA with panoramic lake views is a cottage-builder’s dream come true, so when designer Lorraine Franklin discovered such a site on the shores of Muskoka’s Lake Joseph, she knew she’d found the spot for her new cottage. “We came across the lot, which was perched at the end of a point, and we were blown away by the beautiful 270-degree view,” says Lorraine. With the lake on one side, Canadian Shield rock on the other and, crucially, enough prevailing breeze to keep the blackflies away, the location was a perfect canvas on which to create a dramatic modern lakehouse in harmony with its natural surroundings. Lorraine enlisted the help of Nelson Kwong and Neal Prabhu at nk Architect, with whom she had previously worked on the design of her Toronto house, and gave them a simple brief: a modern home that maximized the views, and used natural elements and colours to blend the house into the landscape. The architects took the assignment to heart, camping out on the property to get a feel for the land, the light and the remarkable Muskoka sunsets. Built by Tamarack North with site preparation by Hall Construction, the house is a split-level, two-volume structure affording distinct living spaces for Lorraine, her husband and their three adult children, along with stunning views of the lake, rocks and trees from every room. A wall of lake-facing windows fills the home with light while a bridge to the principal suite showcases the unique colours and textures of the exposed rock,

“The most important aspect of the house is the way the view opens up to you,” says homeowner and designer Lorraine Franklin (pictured with her husband). The effect is most dramatic in the kitchen and dining room, which overlook Ontario’s Lake Joseph on one side, and a rock face on the other. Custom banquette, Camilla Studio; table, Palazzetti; chairs, Elte; pendants, Hollace Cluny.