White & wood

Muskoka’s lovely Deerhurst Resort cottages are just the right amount of casual By Lisa Van de Ven

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This classically designed table — purchased, like most of the furniture, at G.H. Johnson’s Trading Company — is made of reclaimed wood, but looks smart dressed up. “You want the ability to make the space feel a little more formal on occasion,” Mr. Davis says.

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While the kitchen is open to the rest of the great room, Mr. Davis didn’t want it to be the focal point of the main floor. Whitewashed Shaker-style cabinets, white subway-tile backsplash and matching quartz countertops are clean and subtle.

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Whether your taste is formal or informal, these linentoned sofas fit the bill. Combine them for a sectional sofa, or keep them separate in a more traditional seating arrangement. “You can see yourself sitting around playing a game of Scrabble and also entertaining,” the designer says.

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“There’s an industrial undertone to the cottage’s design,” Mr. Davis says. The brushed steel pendant light from Restoration Hardware is one such example, and can be pulled up or down to adjust the lighting.

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The design team was after an eclectic style, though wanted to avoid the “second-hand feel” of many cottages, Mr. Davis says. These warm grey-striped chairs were the answer. Comfortable classics, they pick up on the hues of the sofas and fireplace without matching perfectly.

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The kitchen stools can be cranked up to adjust the seating height — perfect for children. And they’re casual enough that “you won’t be too fussed if your kids are climbing on them,” Mr. Davis adds. Light floods in through the prettiest of windows in the bright white interior of the Golf Cottages. Located at Muskoka’s Deerhurst Resort, the model is inspired by the casually chic Hamptons. “We went luxurious and grand,” says Matt Davis, principal designer with the Design Agency. “We took some of the elements that typically inhabit cottages — like mixes of furniture and styles — and gave that a nice designer twist.” The 1,720-square-foot unit, however, still retains cottage must-haves. A large stone fireplace and cathedral ceilings in the great room adds a sense of space and style. “You want to feel like you’ve got lots of room to breathe,” the designer explains. The Golf Cottages, by developer Skyline, range from 978 to 2,086 square feet and are priced from $399,900 to $634,900. The sales office is at 1235 Deerhurst Dr., Huntsville, and is open Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 1-866-791-4744 or visit owndeerhurst.com.