House Two: A Modern Cottage Rooted in Place

House Two is a study in restraint—an exploration of how simple forms, honest materials, and careful proportion can create architecture that feels both contemporary and deeply connected to its setting.

Located in a quiet, wooded neighbourhood near Georgian Bay, this home was designed as a modern cottage that settles naturally into its landscape. Rather than relying on dramatic gestures, the architecture allows light, material, and spatial flow to define the experience.

Thoughtful Form and Connection

The home is composed of two gabled volumes connected by a low, flat-roofed breezeway. This connector serves as both a functional and experiential hinge, organizing the plan while offering framed views through the site. The gabled forms reference familiar cottage typologies, but their clean lines and proportion give the home a distinctly modern character.

Natural Materials That Age Gracefully

Clad in natural eastern white cedar, the exterior was left untreated to weather over time, allowing the home to blend with the surrounding trees. This choice reflects Daymark’s philosophy: architecture should be durable, age beautifully, and feel integrated with its context. Carefully placed windows balance openness with privacy, bringing daylight deep into the interior while framing select views of the landscape.

Interior Flow and Spatial Clarity

Inside, the spatial sequence is carefully choreographed. A modest entry compresses the space briefly before opening into vaulted living areas filled with natural light. White oak floors and warm wood millwork add tactile warmth, while a restrained palette of whites and subtle black accents keeps the focus on proportion, light, and material texture.

Living, dining, and kitchen areas open toward views of the surrounding forest, reinforcing a seamless indoor–outdoor connection. Bedrooms and bathrooms are composed as calm retreats, maintaining visual and material continuity with the rest of the home.

Timeless Design, Thoughtful Living

At approximately 2,500 square feet, House Two shows that generosity in architecture is about clarity of design rather than size. Through simple forms, durable materials, and thoughtful detailing, the project embodies Daymark’s interest in homes that feel grounded, timeless, and quietly expressive—spaces shaped as much by how they are lived in as by how they are seen.

For additional information, and photographic spread catch the full project write up here!