Buckshot Lake Waterfront Home

Project description

Surrounded by a naturally wooded lot on Buckshot Lake, the waterfront home is uniquely located on a peninsula, allowing the owners to enjoy a view of the lake from three sides. The prominent use of natural stone and exposed wood, both inside and out, has provided a casual yet elegant look that is typical of so many of Jim Bell’s homes.

“Thanks Jim for guiding us through creating our perfect personal paradise in the forest. After living here for 7 years, we have not found one thing we would change about the design,” say Lee and Greg, homeowners.

This waterfront home incorporates numerous high-performance home and energy-efficient features, including:

1. R32 insulation with ICF and a thermal mass from basement to attic
2. Windows awarded “Most Efficient” of the Energy Star program
3. LED lighting throughout the entire home
4. Geothermal heat pump system utilizing the lake as the heating/cooling source

Click on any photo to view the full image and navigate through the slideshow. View the drone video below.

This custom-designed cottage on Buckshot Lake is located in the township of Addington Highlands in Ontario. Classic Canadian Shield, this home resides on a peninsula that provides spectacular 270-degree views of the waterfront. Buckshot Lake, renowned for crystal blue water contrasted with rugged terrain, rock and pine forest, provides an amazing setting. The build utilized an existing foundation which served as part of the footprint for the new cottage.

As in all projects, Jim observed the site’s natural characteristics. He noted the significant incline down to the water. Also, the lot provides a view of the bay to the south, lake to the north, and across the lake to the east lending itself to fabulous sunsets. The views closest to the point of the peninsula are perfect for entertaining. A raised outdoor deck was incorporated outside of the screened room, ideal for taking advantage of the sunsets to the NW in the summer.

The clients had specified the sizing, space and the number of rooms required for the home. They had requested two rooms in the basement, a ground floor master and a loft guest room. The clients had expected to use the great room as an entertainment space and also requested an office. Part of the planning included loft space for the client’s mother who enjoyed summers at the cottage. At this point, a target budget was set.

Initially, Jim Bell presented three designs during the schematic design phase. Two 2D options for elevations were submitted and the colour scheme was edited slightly. At this point in the schematic design phase of the project, the budget was reviewed and modified. Once the colour scheme and architecture were approved, the project was moved into the design development phase. More detail was added to the drawings, including key structural elements and potential furniture layouts. Minor tweaks and adjustments were made to accommodate products and processes that were identified by Jim and the client.

The physical build occurred between the summer of 2011 and the spring of 2012. Jim Bell provided contract administration on the build and contracted construction management to partner Darryl Wilson. Darryl was the perfect choice for this build due to his attention to detail. The project utilized insulated concrete forms through trusted supplier Logix.

“We remember our first meeting with Jim … First impression, Jim is an excellent listener. We had done our research and were full of ideas on what we wanted in a home.

“Our dream home was not simple: curved walls, interesting roof lines, timber frame beams, oversized windows and doors, a massive fireplace. Jim made it all come to life on paper. Some of Jim’s best attributes were his calm manner, promptness and availability. He was always reachable or prompt in getting back if we or our general contractor had a question or an issue. This was so reassuring especially when you are in the thick of a project of this magnitude. Building a home from scratch is never easy, but Jim helped simplify some decision-making.

“His sample charts, for example, for the exterior of our home, had choices for colour/style/texture to help us envision where we wanted stone versus brick and wood siding.
 When we think back on our overall experience of building our beautiful home, hiring Jim to design it was one of the best decisions we had made. Thanks Jim for making our dream come true!!!!!!”

Lee & Greg