Pine Island Cottage

Nestled on a secluded island in the heart of Georgian Bay, Ontario, Pine Island Cottage blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings. With interiors designed by Bureau Tempo and Thom Fougere Studio, this serene family getaway unfolds as a series of gathering spaces that gently cascade along the island’s sloped stone formations.

Mirroring the textural richness of the natural world, the interior is at once rugged and serene. A rough stone to sit on, an unexpected bit of rain — this is the kind of friction that dissipates naturally when we’re outdoors, bringing us into communion with nature. The texture of the wood grain walls, the sturdiness of the wrought-iron handrails, and the grip of the flamed stone underfoot in the shower all gesture at the notion of friction, rooting you in the moment and enriching your exchange with the space.

In the central living area, four distinct zones — kitchen, dining room, living room anchored by a fieldstone hearth, and outdoor porch — encourage togetherness, while the sleeping quarters, situated at a higher point on the island, offer a peaceful refuge.

Guests are welcomed by a pebble shaped oak door handle and led into a low, gently lit, oak-lined entryway. The space gradually opens as the floors terrace down, the ceiling height grows, and the material palette lightens, revealing the main living space.

Burnished concrete floors in the living space sit close to the landscape and reflections of colour subtly tint the neutral lime-plastered walls as the light changes throughout the day and across the seasons. Materials were selected for their ability to age gracefully, embracing the marks of time and use.

Distinct yet ever changing vistas of waters and skies are dotted with wind-swept trees and nearby islands in each opening of the cottage, made more potent by each enclosure.

“The design process for the cottage was as beautiful as the final product, with many personal discoveries alongside the client and site-specific cues that directly informed our decision making. The kitchen island as a ritualized gathering point was one such instance – it became not only an experiment with materiality, but also a highly functional element of the kitchen.” – Thom Fougere

At the heart of the home, the kitchen — complete with a pantry, bar and breakfast nook — is anchored by a fieldstone island evoking the feel of casual gatherings that often take place on the island’s rocky shores. The custom designed cabinetry is crafted of white oak, walnut, and limestone. Each detail and item was considered down to the ceramics, cookware, cutlery, and linens.

The pantry was reimagined as a functional market-style space with produce and food on full display. The pantry trays allow for easy transport of ingredients, coffees and cocktails, to and from the pantry or adjacent pewter bar.

“Lighting was often at the heart of the decision making process. We did not want to disturb the serenity of the darkness on the island and how finishes would feel when very dimly lit was paramount in selecting materials.”– Adam Robinson, Bureau Tempo

Beyond the kitchen, a custom heavy timber dining table and bench overlooks the sunken living room and hearth framed by the same fieldstone as the kitchen island.

Framed by a bespoke walnut sofa and integrated stair on one side and a fieldstone hearth on the other, the living space was envisioned as a calm place to gather, play, and entertain by the warmth of the fire.

The double-sided hearth is central to the cottage’s circulation, warming both the interior and the screened outdoor porch.

“When visiting the site early on with the family, we spent time walking alongside the mottled, stone-covered beach by the water. Translating that tactile experience into the interior in unexpected ways became a guiding goal in selecting materials. It often came down to finding the minimum touch with the maximum impact to achieve this.” – Thom Fougere

Repeated use of custom cast wall sconces and wrought iron handrails crafted by a local blacksmith create a tactile rhythm to the experience throughout.

The bedroom wings are connected to the main living area by a glazed, elevated breezeway. A guest bedroom and children’s room with bunk beds are located on one side, a private office and primary bedroom with ensuite on the other. A shift from concrete, to wood, to locally sourced Eramosa stone denotes the experience of traversing the cottage. The stone floor has been flamed to create a weathered, timeworn appearance and foot feel.

“Early conversations with the client about embracing patina and encouraging the use of materials that would age well, established a direction that led to rich material selections and a few unexpected pairings.” – Adam Robinson, Bureau Tempo

The primary bedroom features expansive storage, oak-lined at one extent blending with custom rug-fronted closets suspended on iron frames at the other to soften the room both visually and acoustically. Echoed use of fieldstone provides a backdrop to the bed and vanity opposite.

In the ensuite bathroom, a custom double-basin stone sink, a flamed stone shower floor, and a ceramic tub create a warm and tranquil setting for daily rituals.

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Location. Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada

Collaborators.
Interior Design. Bureau Tempo, Thom Fougere
Architect. Green Weiss Architect
Builder. Coulter Dawe & Associates
Landscape. John Lloyd & Associates
Photography. Alex Lesage, Thom Fougere

Details.
Plaster. St Leo (col. Herluf Trolles Gade)
Windows. Tilt Co
Wood Flooring. Moncer Flooring (spec. Premium European Oak)
Stone Flooring. Select Stone Supply (spec. Flamed Eramosa)
Countertops. Select Stone Supply (spec. Cascade Limestone)
Millwork. Barber Millwork
Masonry. DeWinter Masonry
Pewter Bar. Atelier Bernard Chaudron (spec. Raw Pewter)
Bathtub. Studio Loho (spec. Clay Series)
Custom. Halibut Woodworking, Kit Lighting, Mark Krebs