As part of a commission that included the Connecitcut Lake House, JCA re-envisioned a cottage sitting close to the property's main house.

The cottage, whose interior measures only 20' by 13', was chopped into tiny rooms which were squeezed beneath a storage attic. Our aim was to overcome the tight quarters, creating an open and generous interior.

To do this, we removed the attic to create a cathedral ceiling, and braced the roof with minimal, custom designed, steel rod collar ties.

On the upper floor, rooms were replaced by open sleeping lofts, clad in wood, that float lightly within the walls of the building. Tall closets create visual privacy between lofts, and conceal HVAC equipment.

On the lower floor, we tucked a wall of bookshelves under a light steel and wood staircase. The stairs seem to float, but are actually suspended from above by a steel rod balustrade. Opposite the stair, we combined two narrow windows into one generous picture window facing the lake. A restored stone fireplace anchors one end wall of the living space, while a compact kitchenette and an unobtrusive entry to a full bathroom - tucked behind the kitchenette - anchor the other.