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Away Cabins
By : Dexign Matter Studio, Zoe Lee
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Accommodation, Restaurant & Bar / Lodging, Cottage & Cabin for Rent : Silver Certification
For this cabin getaway on Ontario’s Rice Lake, Design Director Zoe Lee channeled a creative combination of inspiration. “The design concept for Away Cabins was primarily a mix of tropical style, along with elements of local Canadian cottages,” says Lee.
This project reimagined five existing cabins as family-friendly getaways awash in wellness. “When I first saw the cabins, they were in poor condition,” Lee says. “They had very low ceilings and felt really dark. I wanted to create a bright, welcoming place where families could relax and enjoy each other’s company.”
She and her team increased the cabins’ ceiling height by removing the drywall ceilings to expose original structural roof beams, which were painted black for cool contrast. New windows – skylights in the Boat House and Lake House and triangular windows tucked under the eaves of the other cabins – imbue the spaces with natural brightness.
Wrapping the walls with shiplap signals the Canadian cottage vibe, while the choice of rattan as the primary material for furnishing speaks to the tropical tone of the design brief. Bunk beds in two of the cottages tick the family-friendly box, and increase accommodation capacity. One cabin even features a whimsical chalkboard wall that invites guests of all ages to unleash their creativity. Yoga mats in each cabin and an outdoor yoga deck elevate the wellness aspect.
“Away Cabins are fresh and welcoming,” says Lee. “They complement the natural setting but are true standouts from other cottages in Ontario.”
