Ontario Beach House

The homeowners have ties to New England and envisioned their new beach house on Lake Erie to convey a similar feeling to the shingle style architecture they experienced in Nantucket and other similar Cape Cod communities. In terms of a space program, the residence needed to accommodate several overnight guests and have ample room for entertaining. This was a challenge as there were size restrictions to assure conformance with the adjacent homes, many of which were originally built as seasonal cottages.

In developing the design, the views to the lake and connections to the outdoors were fully exploited. This resulted in large, covered porches and extensive fenestration on the lake façade. However, the street façade was decidedly more formal and statelier, while still appearing welcoming to visitors and passersby.

In contrast to the more traditional exterior, the modern open floor plan provides a perfect environment for entertaining. The openness also promotes views to the lake from nearly every room. The owners also appreciate the elegance of minimalism, and therefore the home is filled with custom built-in storage to reduce potential clutter. The combination of contemporary design and traditional detailing results in comfortable spaces that are also beautiful and exude a sense of timelessness.