Dramatic Contemporary Lakehouse In Pristine Forest

Striking, architect-designed, artist-owned, south-facing waterfront house, one hour (40 miles) from downtown Montreal, set in two acres of unspoilt deciduous forest, with 65m of lakeshore. The house is extremely luxurious while being crisp and minimal in its basic design and structure: open-plan, 60 feet wide, high ceilings (10ft 5' at the lowest point 22 ft at the highest), a dramatic roof-line and spectacular views to the lake and into the tree canopy. Facing South and filled with natural light, there are windows to North, South, East and West. One can see the entire east/west sweep of the house from either side, and can see from the main entrance of the house right through to the forest on the south side. The kitchen, dining room and living room combine with a large entrance-hall as a single bright open space, with a large (and functioning, usable) fireplace, and open with double doors to the deck, at the south, and the gazebo/sunroom at the west. The kitchen is large and bright with crisp clean lines, a huge island, and windows to the deck and to the forest to the north and south. The dining table comfortably seats eight, and can accommodate up to 14 as a crowd, with more than enough space for a larger table or extension. Between the dining table and fireplace is a grand piano, and beyond the fireplace/sitting room, are double sliding doors that open into the solarium. The solarium itself is a versatile three-season screened space with unusually high beamed ceiling. To the east of the kitchen the master bedroom is recessed, and from the bed one looks straight across the deck and into the tree tops. The bedroom has a large walk-in closet and is open on the north side to the master bathroom, with glass shower, modern bathtub and large double washbasin. There are views into the woods from the window of the bathroom, and a view of the lake from the bathtub itself. On this floor there is a also a modern three piece bathroom, and a child's bedroom with a custom-built bunk bed set into the corner at the level of the windows, looking out into the woods in two directions. The staircase to the lower level is open to the main living space and leads to a family room with film projector and roll-down movie screen. There is also a murphy bed and a "Harry Potter" cupboard under the staircase. To the east is a laundry room, a bathroom with a steam shower, and study/office with custom furniture, bookshelves, desk and so-on, with windows onto the forest to the east and lake to the south. This room also has french doors opening to the south and can easily be set up as a bedroom. To the west of the family room is an intergenerational apartment which is currently used, primarily as storage, and has a large 4 piece bathroom and a double guest room that looks out past large boulders into the forest As well as the main entrance, there are doors to the deck from the solarium and the kitchen, and a second entrance at the lower level, on the south side, opening into the family room. The land itself slopes southwards down to the lake, dock and fire-pit. In summer, the forest is very lush, thick with fireflies from late June to early august, and the house is barely visible through the foliage from the dock and lakeshore. The path between house and lake winds through the woodland and there are many beautiful wild plants and flowers, including pink lady slipper orchids. The lake is clean and very swim-able - the dock is large - 400 square feet - and the canoeing/kayaking/paddle-boarding is wonderful. In autumn, the trees are spectacular, and the light that fills the house is tinted by the colours of the turning leaves, which surround the house in every direction. In winter, the forest becomes a snowy wonderland, and the lake freezes hard, offering ice-skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. In addition to the available parking at the house (parking for 3 vehicles, which goes up to 8 if people don't mind blocking each other) there is a large parking lot approx. 200m away. The surrounding environment here is quiet, with very little traffic on the road - the closest house is 150 feet away, and the neighbours' properties are invisible from the house when the trees are in leaf.