public and private spaces. To the left of the
tower are the public spaces of the cottage
including the great room, kitchen and dining
areas. To the right of the tower are the
sleeping areas. It was important to separate
these functions in order to create privacy for
the bedrooms with a view of the morning
sunlight while offering the living and dining
areas views of the lake as well as exposure to
the afternoon and evening sun. The tower
also acts as a visual marker of the cottage
and there is a staircase on the lakeside of
the tower that leads to an observation deck.
Adjacent to it, there is a breezeway leading
to a rooftop terrace as well as another
sleeping area.
CHT WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DESIGN
ELEMENT IN THIS COTTAGE?
LA The most spectacular feature is that you
can take a timber staircase to a loft in the
tower and have an unobstructed view of
the lake and the Canadian Shield in four
directions. The owners love it. It will be a
special feature of the cottage.
CHT WHAT IS A COMMON MISTAKE
PEOPLE MAKE WHEN REMODELING/
DESIGNING AN OPEN CONCEPT SPACE?
LA Open concept does not need to mean
fishtank. I like open space that has various
areas defined by subtle changes in floor
level, partial screens, fireplaces or knee high
walls so that you can have different activity
hubs and social spaces. The ceiling can
remain at the same lofty height throughout.
This is particularly important when you want
family and guests that have different interests
or are of different ages to share the space.
Think about activity hubs first and the space
will pull together! BONUS TIP: Keep those
lovely high ceilings at least eleven feet high
but no more than twenty feet high. You will
thank me when you get your heating bill!
CHT WHERE DID YOU SAVE AND
SPLURGE?
LA Well, we certainly splurged on the
massive Douglas Fir timberframe and
oversized windows in the tower, great room
and dining pavilion. I sourced the timbers,
kiln-dried and clear (completely without
knots) directly from the West Coast. You
just cannot beat the strength and warmth
of British Columbia timberframes. When
you combine them with oversized sliding
window panels, you really are at one with
the outdoors. However, I will let you in on
a secret. We saved a small fortune on the
bedroom wing by scaling back the timbers,
using a lot of framed in lumber and dressing
up the frame. Oops, I said too much and
now you know one of my trade secrets! I like
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