This sophisticated lake house was designed by Anne Hepfer Designs, located on the shores of Lake Joseph in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. This beautiful area is known as “cottage country”, an ideal location for those city dwellers desiring summer vacation homes. Located two hours north of downtown Toronto, the area features rocky outcroppings and heavy growth forests on a tranquil lakeside setting.
The designer was tasked with transforming a lodge-like residence into a serene retreat for a couple and their extended family. This home is nestled into the granite rock by the water’s edge, maximizing its ideal setting with soaring ceilings and expansive windows that frame the views. The interiors are in harmony with its surroundings, featuring clear pine walls and reclaimed wood flooring.
The homeowners are from Michigan, wishing to have a family retreat to share with their children and grandchildren. The interiors needed to reflect a casual yet polished aesthetic, with kid and dog-friendly elements. The couple enjoys the pleasures of cottage life—cooking, entertaining, bonfires… and of course boating—what this region is known for.
The interiors scheme is inspired by classic beach homes of Cape Cod and Nantucket. You will not find typical lake house decor in this home, instead, the designer opted for a serene color palette intermingled with eye-pleasing textures and patterns. Applying a soft palette allows the focus to be on the outside environment. White linen window treatments frames the windows and helps to not detract from the views.
Above: The home originally had dark wood ceilings, which the designer had painted in a crisp white. This helped to create a bright and airy feeling. The color scheme throughout the interiors features soothing colors of blues, greens, apricot, salmon, coral and rust. Natural elements were also introduced, such as driftwood and rustic metal. The overall effect gives a fresh, summery feel.
What We Love: This warm and inviting lake house offers the perfect atmosphere for a family to enjoy cottage life. The designer did a wonderful job of creating a spacious, open floor plan that flows effortlessly between spaces. Form and scale were key aspects of the project and it is evident the designer worked these elements well to maximize the use of space of views… Readers, what are your thoughts, could you envision yourself vacationing in this summer cottage?
Note: Have a look at another project we featured from the portfolio of Anne Hepfer Designs: Charming summer cottage on beautiful Lake Joseph, Canada.
Above: A three season screened in porch features a clear pine plank ceiling, Ipe flooring and hand-woven wicker furnishings, creating an indoor-outdoor connection. This space was an addition to the home, something that was surprisingly not already existing. In this region, they call it the “Muskoka Room”, something most home’s in the area enjoy due to the varying temperatures.
Photos: Virginia Macdonald
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