New family cottages
Cottages planned around how the family uses the property: the number of guests, the time spent outdoors and the storage that life on the water needs. Built so the cottage can grow with the family.
SERVICES
RESIDENTIAL
Custom Cottages
Custom cottages planned around the family, the lake and the seasons you use them, from early planning through construction, on the lakes we serve in Kawartha Lakes.
01 / OVERVIEWCUSTOM COTTAGES
CUSTOM COTTAGES
A cottage built around the family and the lake
A cottage is where the family spends its best time together: long weekends, summers on the water and the seasons in between. A custom cottage is planned around how your family uses it, and around a lakefront lot that is often harder to build on than a lot in town.
Henley Contracting builds custom cottages on the lakes we serve in Kawartha Lakes. Some families want a cottage for the summer season. Others want one they can use all year, or a cottage now that can become a full-time home later.
The early decisions shape everything that follows: how the cottage will be used, how the lot is reached in each season and what the property's approvals allow. They are worth working through before the plans are settled.
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01 / PROPERTY
The shoreline, the grade and access to the lot come first.
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02 / USE
Seasonal or four-season, and who will be there.
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03 / PLANNING
Approvals, scope, budget and schedule worked out early.
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04 / CONSTRUCTION
One team on site, with clear updates from start to finish.
02 / WHAT WE BUILDCUSTOM COTTAGES
Cottage projects we take on
Four-season cottages
Cottages built to be used through the winter, with the building envelope, heating, water and access planned for every season from the start.
Cottage renovations and additions
For families who want more from the cottage they already have: more space, better comfort through the seasons or a layout that suits the family today. See Major Renovations and Home Additions.
Boathouses and buildings around the cottage
Boathouses at the water's edge and other buildings on the lot, planned with the cottage so the property works as a whole. See Boathouses and Garages & Accessory Buildings.
03 / APPROACHCUSTOM COTTAGES
What matters when planning a custom cottage
Six things shape every cottage. Working through them early keeps the design, the budget and the schedule pointing in the same direction.
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01
Shoreline and grade
How the land falls toward the water and where the cottage can sit on the lot.
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02
Access
How equipment, deliveries and crews reach the property, and how that changes through the seasons.
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03
Approvals
Lakefront properties may come with their own approvals and requirements. They vary by municipality and by property, and are worth confirming before the design depends on them.
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04
Services
Water, septic, hydro and heating, planned for the seasons you will use the cottage.
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05
Use
Who will be there, how often, and the space you need for guests, gear and time outdoors.
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06
Timing
When you hope to use the cottage, and the order in which decisions need to be made to get there.
04 / IN FOCUSCUSTOM COTTAGES
Seasonal or four-season
One of the first questions on a cottage is when you will use it. A cottage opened in the spring and closed in the fall is planned differently from one used through the winter, and many families want a cottage now that can become a full-time home later.
Deciding this early shapes the building envelope, the heating, the water and septic systems, and access to the lot. It is much easier to plan for four-season use from the start than to add it afterwards.
- How often you will be there, and in which seasons
- Who will use it: the family, guests, or several generations
- Comfort through the colder months, if you plan to visit in winter
- Access to the lot in every season
- Room to grow: space that can be finished or added later
Thinking of living on the water full time? See Waterfront Homes.
05 / PROCESSCUSTOM COTTAGES
How a custom cottage project works
At the lake, decisions made in a hurry on site cost more than they would in town: the lot is harder to reach and the building season matters. We work to avoid that by getting involved before construction starts.
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Discover
Tell us about the property, what you want to build and roughly when. Tell us about your project. It takes a minute.
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Plan
We look at the lot, its access and shoreline, how the family will use the cottage, any plans you already have and the budget range you are working within, and turn your ideas into a clear scope.
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Design
Plans are developed or refined alongside your designer and other specialists, so design, approval and construction questions are answered together, then priced and scheduled.
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Build
Our project team, carpenters and trusted trades build the cottage, with the work planned around access to the lot and the seasons. You are kept informed at every stage.
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Complete
Final details, a walkthrough together, and the handover of your finished cottage.
Already have plans? We can review them with you and price the build.
06 / SERVICE AREASCUSTOM COTTAGES
Where we build custom cottages
Not sure whether your property is in our area? Tell us about your project and we will let you know.
Lake areas
We build custom cottages on these lakes.
07 / WHY HENLEYCUSTOM COTTAGES
Why families build cottages with Henley
Property-first thinking
We start with the lot. Its shoreline, grade, access and services shape the design, not the other way around.
Clear project planning
Scope, budget, approvals and schedule are worked through before construction begins, so the build runs on decisions already made.
Built for how you use it
Seasonal or four-season, every cottage is planned for one family and one property.
Construction coordination
Our project team, carpenters and trusted trades work together through the whole build, with clear updates from start to finish.
Regional experience
A family-run, local builder with our head office in Oshawa, building in town and on the water across Durham Region and Kawartha Lakes.
RELATED PROJECTSCUSTOM COTTAGES
Selected projects
Kawartha Lakes
QUESTIONSCUSTOM COTTAGES
Frequently asked questions
Can't find your answer? Tell us about your project and ask us directly.
What is involved in building a custom cottage?
A cottage moves through a few stages: understanding the property and how your family will use it, confirming the approvals the lot needs, developing or refining the plans, pricing and scheduling the work, construction, and a final walkthrough and handover.
Should my cottage be seasonal or four-season?
It depends on when you plan to use it, now and later. Four-season use affects the building envelope, heating, water and septic, and access to the lot, so it is best decided early. It is much easier to plan for from the start than to add afterwards.
What approvals does a cottage property need?
It depends on the municipality and the property. Lakefront lots may come with their own approvals and requirements, so we recommend confirming them early, before the design depends on them. We can help you work out what your property needs as part of planning.
Where do you build custom cottages?
On the lakes we serve in Kawartha Lakes. They are listed on this page under Where we build. If you are not sure whether your property is in our area, tell us where it is through Start Your Project.
Can you renovate or add to the cottage we already have?
Yes. Our Major Renovations and Home Additions services cover cottages as well as homes, whether you want more space, better comfort through the seasons or a layout that suits the family today.
Can you build a boathouse or garage with the cottage?
Yes. Planning a boathouse or garage together with the cottage keeps the design consistent and the construction better organised. Approvals for structures at the water vary by property, so they are worth confirming early.
What should I have ready before starting a cottage project?
It helps to know the property address or location, how your family will use the cottage, your rough timing and the investment range you have in mind. Surveys, plans or photos of the lot are useful if you have them, but you do not need them to start the conversation.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE
Tell us about your project.
A few details is all we need. Sarah from our office will text you shortly from (905) 576-9714.
