A Vacation Cottage Calls A Lakeside Forest Clearing Home

Vacation homes come in all shapes, sizes and styles and each has its own charm and uniqueness. We’re particularly fond of vacation homes which are simple and modest and which allow the focus to be on the views or the beautiful landscape that surrounds them. One such example is a cottage located in Saint-Élie-de-Caxton in Canada. It was designed by YH2 in 2017 and it offers a total of 140 square meters of living space.

This is a structure with all the bells and whistles of a cottage, all updated to suit a modern lifestyle
This is a structure with all the bells and whistles of a cottage, all updated to suit a modern lifestyle
The architecture and the design of the cottage are very simple, pure as well as refined
The architecture and the design of the cottage are very simple, pure as well as refined

The house is designed to look and feel like a cottage. It’s small, simple and it has a very close connection with nature. It sits in a small clearing on the shore of Lac Plaisant (Pleasant Lake) and its openness to nature is expressed in many beautiful ways. First of all, the foundation of the house is invisible and this allows to have a very small visual impact on the site and to become closely linked to its immediate surroundings by not interfering with them too much.

The cottage sits in a small clearing on the shore of a tranquil lake so its immediate surroundings are vey peaceful
The cottage sits in a small clearing on the shore of a tranquil lake so its immediate surroundings are vey peaceful
The trees provide shade as well as privacy and they also frame the cottage in a really nice manner
The trees provide shade as well as privacy and they also frame the cottage in a really nice manner

This chic little vacation house captures the very essence of cottage life in a very natural and subtle manner. Although it definitely looks like a cottage, it does so in a modern and refined manner. Like any authentic cottage, it’s constructed out of wood, inside and out and it has a large gable roof which contributes to a very clean frame and a minimalist overall appearance.

The large gable roof extends outside to also cover a small porch just outside the living room
The large gable roof extends outside to also cover a small porch just outside the living room
The south-facing facade is fully open to the view of the lake and lets in lots of natural sunlight
The south-facing facade is fully open to the view of the lake and lets in lots of natural sunlight
The indoor-outdoor transition is seamless, especially in the case of the living area which extends onto the porch
The indoor-outdoor transition is seamless, especially in the case of the living area which extends onto the porch

This vacation cottage is clad in white cedar boards and is minimalist inside and out. The side facades have large, tall glass panels that let natural sunlight in and gorgeous views inside and which also ensure a seamless indoor-outdoor transition. The south side is all-glass and fully open towards the lake. It welcomes the view inside and it frames it like a beautiful painting.

Although there is theoretically a second floor, most of the spaces are situated on the ground level
Although there is theoretically a second floor, most of the spaces are situated on the ground level
Although the interior is clad in wood, it looks and feels very open thanks to the overall minimalism
Although the interior is clad in wood, it looks and feels very open thanks to the overall minimalism
The color palette is bright and includes various neutrals which contrast with the vibrant tones coming from outside
The color palette is bright and includes various neutrals which contrast with the vibrant tones coming from outside

Despite the small overall dimensions of the cottage, the interior is surprisingly open, bright and spacious. This is possible thanks to the glass openings, the bright and neutral color palette used throughout but also the double-height ceiling. All these elements would make the spaces feel cold and austere if not for the warmth of the wood and the gable roof.

The bedrooms are small, peaceful and very minimal in terms of furniture and decorations
The bedrooms are small, peaceful and very minimal in terms of furniture and decorations
The sleeping area on the second floor can be accessed via a staircase with a simple and clean design
The sleeping area on the second floor can be accessed via a staircase with a simple and clean design

The roof extends slightly outward to cover a small porch which acts as a continuation of the interior living spaces. The roof also makes the open sleeping area on the second floor feel really cozy and welcoming.

The upstairs sleeping area is open and cozy, sheltered under the gabled roof and with a very minimal decor
The upstairs sleeping area is open and cozy, sheltered under the gabled roof and with a very minimal decor