Certain cottages are flashy extroverts demanding attention. But this one in the Haliburton Highlands is elegantly camouflaged.

The only things punctuating its dark blue façade are copper-coloured shakes that pop under the roof peak. Along the granite pathway and rocky outcroppings, plants are bordered by vibrant red mulch. It feels intentional yet approachable.

Set deep in the forest at the end of a winding road, the 4,000-square-foot cottage is comprised of a main floor and walkout basement and belongs to a professional couple from Burlington who have twin teenage daughters. The family had spent 10 summers on the site in a different cottage that was starting to show its age.

“The original cottage was small, old and on piers,” says designer Keely Gow of Muskoka-based JK Studio. “The own

See Full Page