A family cottage in the Gatineau hills infused with Canadiana shifts its way over the edge of a cliff to command views of the adjacent lake. The retreat is gently embedded in the Canadian Shield; the sleeping quarters firmly set in the rock while the cantilevered family room dramatically emerges from this stone base. The modest entry visible from the road leads to an orchestrated, tranquil path entering from the forest-side of the house and moving through the space as it opens up onto the lakeside. The house illustrates a warm approach to modernism; white oak boards wrap from wall to floor enhancing the elongated shape of the house and slabs of silver maple create the bathroom vanity. On the exterior, the main volume is wrapped with open-joint eastern white cedar while the stairwell is encased in steel; both are left unfinished to age with the elements. On the lower level, the dormitory style sleeping quarters are again embedded into the rock. Access to the exterior is provided by a walkout from the lower level recreation room, allowing the family to easily explore nature. Natural cooling is provided by cool air rising from the lake, passing in through the lakeside openings and out through the clerestory windows on the forest elevation. The expanse of windows engages the ephemeral foliage from the treetops to the forest floor. The softness and shadows of the filtered forest light fosters an intimate relationship between the exterior and the interior.

A cast iron antique decorative piece adorns the brick backsplash behind the range and classic matte silver hood.

Shaw Nature Reserve / Woodland Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden Plantfinder

MG ProPhoto

Northpeak Design Photography

Embracing a traditional look - these clients truly made us 'green with envy'. The amazing penny round tile with green glass inlay, stained inset cabinets, white quartz countertops and green decorative wallpaper truly make the space unique

Jeff Dow Photography

Rosewood Custom Builders

David Patterson Photography

www.farmerpaynearchitects.com

Warm farmhouse kitchen nestled in the suburbs has a welcoming feel, with soft repose gray cabinets, two islands for prepping and entertaining and warm wood contrasts.

This guest bath has a light and airy feel with an organic element and pop of color. The custom vanity is in a midtown jade aqua-green PPG paint Holy Glen. It provides ample storage while giving contrast to the white and brass elements. A playful use of mixed metal finishes gives the bathroom an up-dated look. The 3 light sconce is gold and black with glass globes that tie the gold cross handle plumbing fixtures and matte black hardware and bathroom accessories together. The quartz countertop has gold veining that adds additional warmth to the space. The acacia wood framed mirror with a natural interior edge gives the bathroom an organic warm feel that carries into the curb-less shower through the use of warn toned river rock. White subway tile in an offset pattern is used on all three walls in the shower and carried over to the vanity backsplash. The shower has a tall niche with quartz shelves providing lots of space for storing shower necessities. The river rock from the shower floor is carried to the back of the niche to add visual interest to the white subway shower wall as well as a black Schluter edge detail. The shower has a frameless glass rolling shower door with matte black hardware to give the this smaller bathroom an open feel and allow the natural light in. There is a gold handheld shower fixture with a cross handle detail that looks amazing against the white subway tile wall. The white Sherwin Williams Snowbound walls are the perfect backdrop to showcase the design elements of the bathroom. Photography by LifeCreated.

This bathroom was so much fun! The homeowner wanted a farmhouse look and we gave it to her! She wanted to keep her existing maple vanity cabinet, but we updated the top with Super White Marble. We tiled the shower walls with 2 different tiles, a large grey tile and then a traditional white subway, adding a little metal detail between the 2. The flooring is a wood plank luxury vinyl tile and that completes the look. We just love how this one turned out!