Modern Cottages

Scandinavian-Inspired Living Room

Used rugs and tapestries add texture, pattern and warmth.

Cottage owners Juli Daoust and John Baker hired a contractor to paint the ceilings white, creating a uniform look with the walls and floor. Sliding glass doors, high ceiling and tailored furniture make the room feel light and airy. The unusual daybed sofa is a Shaker-inspired piece that's carried at their store, a Japanese and Scandinavian lifestyle boutique in Toronto.

Dramatic Fireplace View

Thrifty finds are given new life.

Juli and John found the sconces mounted on either side of the fireplace in the cottage's boathouse. Originally faux brass with white candles, they sprayed them matte black and added new bulbs. They left the stonework untouched to provide contrast in the mainly white space. The enamel bucket and teak tripod side table came with the cottage.

Pared-Down Dining Area

This dining table, by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, offers a modern take on antique style.

The chairs, all mid-century Danish Shaker designs by Folke Palsson and Jorgen Baekmark for FDB Mobler Denmark, were bought online for about $100 each.

Dramatic Modern Masterpiece

A glass terrace wraps around this cottage, offering views on Bachelor Bay.

When architect David Zacharko conceived his initial concept for this waterfront holiday home, he drew on his travels to California, Hawaii and Southeast Asia. "In those places, walls don't exist between the outside and inside," he explains. They don't seem to exist in this home, either — a breathtaking structure that seems to float on water or air, depending on where you stand.

Spacious Modern Living Room

Vintage mid-century-modern pieces mix with new classics.

Full-height windows frame ruggedly beautiful views in the cottage living room. A neutral palette and natural materials make the interior almost recede into the leafy landscape.

Contemporary Modern Back Patio

There's no need for a patio umbrella when surrounding firs offer shade and greenery.

And here's the exterior view. Custom-made glass doors disappear into pockets in the wall to fully open the living room to the outdoors. Potted plants bring colour to the backyard, where the owners set up a casual dining area.

Office On The Water

This spectacular work space seems to float above the bay.

Not for the easily distracted, Zacharko's office design features panoramic views of the waterfront. A glass waterfall desk disappears against the window, keeping with the ethereal feel of the holiday home.

Resort Style Poolhouse

Spare architecture and a crisp palette shine in this exterior.

You'd never know this cottage was in Ontario and not the tropics. The soaring peaked roof of the pool house has a dramatic silhouette against the sky. Wood decking frames the pool like a boardwalk, and fiberglass sofas add a glam note.

Bright White Cottage Living Room

Truss frame supports reference traditional farmhouse motifs.

Potted palm trees add a tropical element in this contemporary living room, accentuating its breezy Miami Beach vibe. Organic tree-stump tables are a warm contrast to the white furniture and polished-concrete floors.

Western-Inspired Living Room

White cottage meets rustic ranch.

This cottage's open design incorporates luxuriously tall ceilings and an abundance of glass to bring in light and spectacular views. In the garden room, a toy horse acts as a playful sculpture.

Modern Cottage Kitchen

This light-filled space is a natural gathering post in an open-concept great room.

This ultra-sleek kitchen, featuring glossy white cabinets, CaesarStone counters and stainless-steel appliances, makes cooking and entertaining a breeze. Industrial light fixtures reinforce the modern tone, while black accents ground the space.

Eclectic Cottage Dining Room

Diverse pieces create a charming effect.

In this dining room, mix-and-match chairs attest to the owners' sense of humour. While the corrugated metal wall is a reference to siding used liberally on agricultural buildings in the area, it takes on a distinct glamour when paired with a vibrant work by Justine Fernie, iconic Ghost chairs by Philippe Starck and an ethereal chandelier.

White Cottage Hallway Design

Add built-in storage to an open space.

In this hallway to the guest rooms, a few flourishes enter the clean-lined scheme, including an ornate mirror, a chandelier and a juicy yellow side table. The windows are cleverly framed in a floor-to-ceiling bookcase with display shelves that act like extra-deep windowsills.

Modern Rustic Living Room

Iconic furniture, like these Eames bent-plywood chairs, suits the streamlined interior.

With its wood panelling and furniture, this room is warm and inviting. This inglenook is a coveted hangout. Rough stone adds texture.

Sleek Cottage Dining Room

Floor-to-ceiling windows add drama.

This window offers an ever-changing landscape and expands the room visually. Blond wood and a panelled ceiling keep the look uniform, putting the focus on the sculptural lines of the Scot Laughton Jube Jube lights and Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs.

Sleek Modern Cottage

This Georgian Bay gem redefines waterfront style.

An emphasis on clean lines and natural materials keeps the focus of this cottage on the wind, water, rocks and sky outside. In fact, the cedar-clad, rectilinear structure appears to grow out of its rocky site. Architects Meg Graham and Andre D'Elia of superkül designed the remote island retreat.

Striking Cottage Fireplace

Tiger-stripe ledgerock in the fireplace and knotty-pine ceilings add colour and texture to an otherwise sleek living room.

A floor-to-ceiling door beside the fireplace connects the interior to the exterior. A colourful carpet adds a bright, country note.

Serene Blue Living Room

Swooping wicker chairs are like functional sculpture in this sitting area.

A maple window seat topped with a series of colourful cushions runs the width of the room, offering both seating and storage. Calm-blue walls, a patterned rug and a cable-knit pouf add colour and texture.

Beach House Patio

A wall of glass doors, low cushions on a wood deck and a mix of contemporary and ornate furniture give this backyard a unique, laid-back style.

Chic Cottage Living Room

Carved lanterns, Pucci-style printed pillows and seashells add pattern and texture to an all-white space.

Tropical Living-Dining Space

Wicker, raffia and rattan accents offer texture and a casual, beachy note.

Mixing playful, rough and unexpected objects with a sleek daybed and Saarinen-style table keeps this cottage from looking too precious. White paint, fabrics and Moroccan-style lanterns and cabinet lattice work create an exotic feel.