Unboring Projects: A Revamped Lakehouse on Howe Island

V+R Design brings Scandinavian warmth and sculptural lighting to a beloved family retreat.

Photography courtesy of V+R Design.

Perched along the Saint Lawrence River on Howe Island, this cottage has been a retreat for a Toronto family of five for years. Following an 18-month renovation, V+R Design turned its attention to the heart of the home: an open great room encompassing the family room, dining area, kitchen, and foyer.

Rather than erase the cottage's past, the designers chose to work with it. When replacing the existing fireplace proved challenging due to the island's remote location, V+R instead decided to preserve it, making the vintage fireplace a focal point within the newly modernized space.

Left: Random Light Suspension by Moooi in the living room; Right: Multi-Lite Suspension by GUBI above the kitchen area.

As V+R describes it, the redesign was guided by three defining elements: “warm wood elements, curated Moooi lighting selections, and a breath of fresh Scandinavian flair.”

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Learn more about this project and V+R Design.

A True Collaboration

The project also reflects a longstanding relationship between V+R Design and LightForm’s very own Christine Vieira, who worked closely with the V+R team on the lighting selections.

“Vanessa and I have been working together since before I even joined LightForm. Our aesthetics, personalities, and overall sense of design align so well that the design process feels like a true collaboration. I genuinely feel like I’m part of the process, and it’s an honour to help bring light to each of her projects.” 

- Christine, GTA Sales Area Manager, LightForm

Lighting the Lakehouse

Supplied by LightForm, the decorative lighting plays a starring role in bringing that vision together.

Coppelia Suspension Light by Moooi above the dining table

Moooi’s Coppelia Suspension makes a dramatic statement with its delicate, expansive structure and constellation of small points of light. Nearby, the brand’s Random Light II Suspension brings a softer and more playful presence with its iconic web-like spherical form. Completing the lighting selection is GUBI’s Multi-Lite Suspension, a 1972 design by Louis Weisdorf whose adjustable shades bring both sculptural character and versatility to the space.

Left: Coppelia Suspension Light by Moooi; Right: Multi-Lite Suspension by GUBI above the kitchen area.

Each fixture is distinct, but together they complement the warm wood and clean Scandinavian influences running throughout the home, adding moments of personality without overwhelming its relaxed character.

For V+R, the finished space is a “harmonious blend of natural beauty, modern aesthetics, and functional design” that honours both the family’s history with the cottage and the character of its Howe Island surroundings.

PROJECT: 1000 Islands Lakehouse, Howe Island 

INTERIOR DESIGN: V+R Design 

LIGHTING: Supplied by LightForm 

FEATURED LIGHTING: Coppelia and Random Light II by Moooi; Multi-Lite by GUBI

Explore Scandinavian Lighting Designs.