Horseshoe Bay House

This new lakefront home replaces a modest cottage on Horseshoe Bay on the shores of Lake Huron near Port Elgin, Ontario. The property occupies a sensitive site that is home to migrating birds and lies within a designated floodplain. With that, however, come sweeping views toward Chantry Island, its iconic lighthouse, and the surrounding bird sanctuary.

While rebuilding the existing cottage was possible, any expansion required that new construction be situated further from the lake. The resulting design introduces a two-storey structure that significantly increases the living area while respecting the limits of the floodplain. This new volume connects to the original one-storey cottage through a bridge-like foyer that serves as the home’s main entry.

Constructed on piers, the entire house sits lightly on the landscape. The one-storey portion features a vaulted ceiling with decorative wood trusses and tongue-and-groove pine cladding, creating a bright, open living space that feels both cozy and expansive. The two-storey structure, also gabled, includes living space on the main and upper floors with a garage below.

Between the two structures, the bridge foyer forms a sheltered courtyard on one side, protected from lake winds, and marks the main entry on the other. Large sliding doors open to an expansive lakefront deck, which connects to a covered outdoor lounge, allowing for a seamless indoor-outdoor flow.

The exterior palette evokes an East Coast charm with cedar shingles, light-toned siding, and soft grey metal roofing accented by grey decking. Inside, the open-concept kitchen, dining, and living areas flow naturally to the outdoor spaces, capturing the light and airiness of the lakeside setting. Upstairs, three bedrooms and two bathrooms line a sunlit hallway, culminating in a primary suite overlooking the lake through the one-storey roofline.

A true sanctuary on open water, this home offers ever-changing views of Lake Huron and the annual passage of countless migrating birds, creating an elegant balance of comfort, resilience, and connection to nature.