Weekend Getaway - Jenn Cranston's Lake Simcoe Cottage

I would love to have a beach home, or a lake home, or a summer cottage... somewhere near the water to get away to.
Canadian House and Home's June 2010 issue featured Jenn Cranston's cottage on Lake Simcoe.  While Ontario is not the type of tropical paradise that I'd normally gravitate too, this natural, white home caught me at first glance.  Let's start with the front deck.

all images via Canadian House and Home (digital edition)

The gorgeous, breezy fabric wrapped around the deck makes this area bright but still shaded.  Huge sliding doors blur the line between indoors and out.

You walk into the large main space from the deck.  The living room area is on the right.

Hello, painted white walls, white slipcovers and natural accents.  It's casual and calming - perfect for a getaway home!

The left side of the living room has a console table (or what could be called a "desk" if this wasn't a vacation home!) and some cushions for extra seating.

Beside this console is the kitchen, which has the same white palate and maintains the casual feel with open shelving.

I love the lamp on the kitchen counter - so unexpected!

There is an indoor dining area behind the folding chairs in the living room.  Again, the bench at the table and the rug keep the casual vibe going.

Through the doorway between the kitchen area and the dining area is a bunk room.

Yes, you do walk right through the bunk room into the master bedroom.  The floorplan shows that they are only separated by sliding doors.

While I love the look of this room and can appreciate the need for plenty of sleeping space in a vacation home, I find its location slightly odd.  Perhaps if I had children, I would want them sleeping that close to me, but for other guests, especially other couples, it's nice to have a guest sleeping area tucked away from the master bedroom.  However, given that there are only two twin beds in the bunk room, it does seem likely that this area is meant for children.

In any event, the master bedroom is beautiful and relaxing.

I love those side tables!

The rest of the bedroom is very simple.

There is hardly anything hung on the walls throughout the home, which is calming and somehow seems to give you space to breathe. 

Out back is another dreamy sitting area.

I believe I need this in our backyard.  (I think just the gravel area is actually bigger than our backyard...!)  That "sail" is probably my favourite item in the whole place!

Finally, the home is close enough to the water to have its own dock.

And while I'm sure it's not practical to always have that little setup out there, it looks like the perfect spot to spend a summer Saturday afternoon!

Well, what do you think?  Do you like the white and natural palate for a lake home or would you prefer something more colorful?