nortehaus

A Nordic and Japanese Inspired Escape in the Woods

Suspended over the forest floor and surrounded by tilting timbers, rich loam, and a gently flowing, fern banked river, this modern woodsy retreat cloaks guests in all things hygge. Inspired by the simple lines of Japanese and Nordic cabin architecture and the sharp angles and curbed flows found in nature, this vacation home rental in Canada stands like a dark slash in the forest, elevated above ground and enclosed by operable panes of glass, intentionally created to be a secure place of rest, contemplation and sweet retreat.

Conceived to be the slow, quiet refuge of an international family escaping the urban grind, this built-from-the-ground-up personal getaway entered the rental market when the family left Canada to take up residence in Europe. Designed by MAFCOHouse, the home’s minimal design places the focus on the remote environment surrounding it, a deeply intimate riverfront plot where ferns poke through the needle-padded ground and the stream’s pure, swirling waters invite a cold plunge or invigorating swim. 

An outdoor patio extends beyond the living room’s floor-to-ceiling glass walls, both spaces offering relaxing in your own private clearing. Light wood clads the home’s interior and built-ins, accompanied by cool greys and bone-to-sand design accents that offset the home’s rich ebony exterior, which is made more dramatic when banked by drifting snowfall. One showpiece is the home’s deep, dark stone soaking tub set by the window at the foot of the bed in the primary bedroom.

AROUND

Located in the Kawartha Lakes region approximately two hours northeast of Toronto, this vacation home rental in Canada was created as a refuge. The mostly rural area offers the opportunity to unplug and unwind and to pursue simple recreation such as foraging, fishing, wading and rock skipping. A series of small communities surrounding the nearby lakes’ shores offer services and entertainment—craft breweries, maple syrup farms, local food markets and small, family-run cafes, bakeries and diners. 

Outdoor recreation is the region’s primary draw, with hiking trails that become snowshoe or cross-country ski routes in winter, fishing and ice fishing according to the season, and mountain biking in both summer and snow (with fat tire cycles). Some 250 lakes and rivers dot the Kawartha Lakes area, and the home benefits from life-giving waters right out its front door. Bathed in forest inside and out, the private cabin boasts velvety black, starlit skies as the backdrop each night, as well as rejuvenating silence.

LOCATION

Norland, Ontario, Canada. Nearest airport: Toronto (2 hours)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year round