Having completed our client’s second home in New Orleans, they requested design assistance with a new boathouse at their summer island in Muskoka. The existing boathouse, slated for demolition, had a flat roof and bore no resemblance to the main cottage. Collectively, we devised a masterplan for the island siting the structure down the shore so not to impact views from the cottage. By aligning the new boathouse with sun angles allows our clients to enjoy both outdoor seating and beautiful sunsets over the water. The sun-filled living space on the second level, with it’s large stone fireplace, now has a more symbiotic relationship with the main cottage. A rich, cedar-lined ground floor, with it’s fully functioning boat slips, evokes the rich feeling of wooden boats once made in the area. The boathouse has become the perfect spot for the family to enjoy summer life on the water.