Our clients were looking to downsize from their Toronto home, simplifying their way of life as they moved into their retirement in Kincardine. Yet, the couple had very different styles and preferences. To meet this brief, our team designed a home that balances the personalities of both partners.

On one side, the house is modern—a sleek box sheathed in metal cladding. On the other, a pitched roof and warm cedar cladding evoke a traditional style. Architects mcCallumSather created the dual design to reflect the style preferences of the two owners, a retired couple who downsized from their life in Toronto to the lakeside town.

The two aesthetics come together not only in the geometric forms of the home but also in the materials. Traditional choices like stone and wood provide warmth, but their installation is modern. Clean lines, crisp angles and smooth profiles appear on the stairs, kitchen, bathrooms and the living room’s wood burning fireplace. Mod colourful pendant lights over the kitchen island bring personality and colour to the main floor. Large windows flood the house with natural light and keep the focus on the stunning views of Lake Huron.

The couple agreed on many things when it came to the design. Most important, the home needed to be low maintenance and sustainable. Their goal was to maximize lifestyle and cut down on maintenance. At just 1,700 sq.ft., the design provides everything the couple needs.

The three-story plan has two bedrooms, a full bathroom and studio space for the owner’s business on the upper level. The main level includes an office, living room, mudroom and large kitchen surrounded by a wrap around patio. The lower level houses a workshop with doors that open directly into the garden.

Natural cooling through cross ventilation, triple glazed fibreglass windows on the lake facing side, a geothermal heating and cooling system, above code spray foam insulation, locally sourced materials, and planning for future solar panels balances energy efficiency, affordability and environmental impact.

For the couple at the heart of this architectural balancing act, the project was an opportunity to tailor their home to their lifestyle.

The design addresses all of their goals, to create one thing: home.