This residential project consists of an addition and renovations to a 1950’s summer residence on a lakeside property. The present owners of this recently acquired home desired a larger family room and a kitchen open to the adjacent living and dining spaces. In addition, new plumbing fixtures and appliances, floor and paint finishes throughout would serve to provide continuity between those rooms which were completely new with those where minor cosmetic changes only were required.

From a thematic point of view, inspiration for the design was drawn from the surrounding wooded lot, stone beach and lake. These local materials and textures influenced the new features and finishes. The new limestone floors with pebble inserts, strip wood floors, railings resembling flowing water weeds, river rock faced fireplaces and chimneys, and Douglas Fir heavy timbers   were consciously added to the mix. An oak tree, stripped of it’s bark, and positioned as a load bearing column doubled as a centre point from which a new axis connecting the kitchen with family room addition emanated. This interior tree became the central focal point of the renovated spaces.