The design brief for the renovation of this cottage was simply to organize the spaces so that one always had a view to the exterior, and not to overpower the lush, green site. The renovation therefore was contained to the existing footprint of the original cottage, but tested the limits of the existing structure as it was gutted, openings were moved or extended, beams were re-enforced, and then re-clad or, in some cases, left exposed. The 900 sqft space was maximized and to capture views of both the forest and the lake. The asymmetrical roof line supports a two-bedroom loft area overlooking the living spaces below; corridors were eliminated in the new design, and the principal rooms were oriented to the panoramic views from the wrap-around corner windows. The exterior of the shell was re-finished with vertical, cedar siding, extra-wide trim on Marvin aluminum-clad awning windows, and a new galvanized aluminum roof to reflect heat.