Beaver Island Guest Cottage and Boat Shed

This island guest cottage is located a short distance from the main house, and it shares many architectural details with the main house. Carefully situated among towering pines and boulders, this cottage gives a sense of separateness, yet it also maintains a connection to the main house. Lots of windows give views of the surrounding lake.

The boat shed features clerestory windows, mahogany doors and exposed rafter tails. This 264-square-foot boat shed provides enough storage for four or five boats and all of their accessories.

The cottage floor plan follows the slope of the land down to the lake. The varying floor and ceiling heights make the relatively small rooms seem bigger than they are. Every nook and cranny is used to its maximum potential, with ample use of built-in desks, couches and cabinets.

The interior pine woodwork wraps and flows from room to room, as does the wide pine board flooring. Simple painted walls and custom light fixtures complete the interior. The sitting room easily accommodates eight people for conversation or a roaring game of Monopoly, and as easily converts to a spare bedroom with the built-in day bed/couches.

A small office off the main sitting area offers a quiet place to work while overlooking the lake. The bedroom features a cathedral ceiling and indirect lighting; the bathroom has a corner shower and two corner vanities. Pine board wainscoting is featured throughout both rooms. Ordinary materials were turned into a rustic cottage classic with a great deal of attention to detail.

Location: Meredith, NH
Designer: Dave Norton, Cormack Construction Management
Square Footage: 924