TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGE DESIGNS
We deliver Traditional Muskoka Cottage Designs suited to your lifestyle & location in Muskoka, Ontario.
CLASSIC & TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGE DESIGNS
Wood framed homes, cottages and boathouses are the most prevalent architectural form found on the Muskoka Lakes – Lake Rosseau, Lake Joseph, and Lake Muskoka.
Homes and cottages in Muskoka's traditional architectural style range from simple cabins by the lakeside to luxuriously appointed, expansive estate homes that include several wood fireplaces and an ensuite bath for each bedroom.
Muskoka's traditional cottage architecture commonly incorporates materials that are naturally occurring in the local area, including natural granite stone, softwood timber elements, wood siding & wooden interior paneling.
The design ethic of Craftsman style homes emphasizing exposed wood joinery and timber elements is characteristic in traditional Muskoka cottage architecture.
These homes remain a durable record showcasing the skilled craftsmanship of their builders.
TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGE DESIGNS
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EMAILFrom the very outset, we felt you were very much in tune with our approach to either an extensive renovation of the existing building or a completely new building.Leonard Lake
TRADITIONAL BOATHOUSE DESIGNS - MUSKOKA
Boathouses in Muskoka's traditional architectural style range from simple, single-storey & single boat-slip wood frame buildings all the way to large boathouses incorporating multiple boat parking slips and including upper-level living quarters and open sundecks.
The key considerations in boathouse design are weatherproof detailing, water-damage resistant material selection & structural design for the challenging & exposed shoreline environment. The attack of water, wind & sun on Muskoka boathouses is unrelenting.
Traditionally, boathouses in Muskoka have been supported by timber crib dock sub-structures. Modern boathouses are more commonly supported on a dock structure composed of welded steel construction, most commonly with cedar wood decking applied as a finished walking surface on the dock.
Large boathouses in Muskoka offer living spaces in which the characteristic sounds of lakeside living can be enjoyed, including the sounds of waves gently lapping at the shoreline and boats bumping against the dock.
Window box flower planters are a delightful & bright feature during Summer months at Muskoka's most beautiful boathouses.
ARCHITECTURAL STYLES GALLERY
CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGE ARCHITECTURE
BUILDING FORMS OF TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGE ARCHITECTURE
The building forms of traditional Muskoka cottage architecture commonly feature:
- Single storey, storey and a half, two storey, and two and a half storey plans
- Gable roofs ranging from modest to very steep slopes
- Roofs are commonly side gable, or cross gable forms
- Gable, Shed & Eyebrow dormers in upper-level half-storeys
- Dutch hip & Jerkinhead roof structures
- Decorative cupolas, sometimes including clerestory window glass
- Corbel braces supporting deep eave overhangs
- Finials of a variety of types may decorate gable end walls
SPACIAL ORGANIZATION OF TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGES
The spacial organization of interior living areas in traditional Muskoka cottage design is characterised by:
- Views to the waterfront and natural landscape features
- Great room, commonly with stone fireplace, lofty vaulted ceilings, and waterfront view
- Spacious, open interiors designed for hosting guests & entertaining
- Carefully considered transitions between home interior & the outdoors
- Decks or patios immediately adjacent to interior spaces
- Screened porch, or “Muskoka room”
STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS OF MUSKOKA COTTAGES
Traditional Muskoka cottage architecture most commonly employs conventional structural systems including:
- Post and beam structural frames
- Light wood frame floors, walls & roofs
- Engineered lumber structures - floors, walls & roofs
- Concrete foundations
- Stone masonry mass walls
- Steel structural frames – columns & beams
WINDOWS & DOORS IN TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGES
The windows & doors in traditional Muskoka cottage architecture usually feature:
- Large glass windows in great rooms capitalizing on the lakeside waterfront view
- Sliding or bi-folding patio doors connecting home interior to deck/ patio/ outdoors
- Segmented arch window & door tops/ divided-lite windowss in of Georgian & Craftsman style patterns
- Screened openings in porch, or “Muskoka room”
EXTERIOR FINISHES & FEATURES IN TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGE ARCHITECTURE
The exterior of traditional Muskoka Cottages commonly include:
- Natural granite stone masonry
- Sloped roofs with overhangs
- Cedar or asphalt shingle roofs
- Exposed rafter tails at soffit
- Finial ornaments on gable ends at roof ridge
- Clapboard/ bevel-profile wood siding with corner boards
- Wood board & batten siding
- Red cedar shingle siding (shingle-style exteriors)
- Exterior casings for windows & doors
- Wood decking, guards, railings & balustrades
- Granite flagstone, or brick paver patios and walkways
INTERIOR FINISHES & FEATURES IN TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGE ARCHITECTURE
The interior of traditional Muskoka homes commonly include:
- Views of the waterfront, hillsides, and forest
- Strong connection between indoor & outdoor spaces
- Natural daylight (daytime)
- Ambient & accent lighting (night-time)
- Kitchen sink & faucet centred on a window view to the outdoors
- Shaker-style kitchen cabinets/ Panel-style kitchen cabinets
- Wood panelling (durable despite humidity & temperature change)
- Wood flooring
- Natural granite stone flooring
- Tile flooring
- Wooden staircases and balustrades
