Many existing homes force you to adapt your lifestyle to the constraints of the existing layout. 

A custom home offers a level of personalized luxury that’s nearly impossible to achieve unless you build from the ground up. 

We buy many things that fit our lifestyle or match our personal tastes, such as cars, clothes, or watches.

Why should your home be any different? 

With our complete suite of design-build services, you have a unique opportunity to create a luxurious property that truly expresses your individuality and achievements.

This article provides some of the best design trends that will empower you to create a true singularity in Ontario’s Cottage Country.

1. Embrace Sustainable Living in Ontario’s Great Outdoors

According to the Canadian Psychological Association, getting out in nature can improve your mental and physical health. Living in nature is even better.

Now, imagine your custom home built in harmony with the natural landscape and sustainable design elements.

Some of these eco-friendly features can even have positive financial benefits.

The following design elements can transform your custom home into a beacon of green luxury.

Automate Indoor Temperature Control With Smart Thermostats

Manually adjusting the thermostat can be inconvenient, inefficient, and a nuisance. 

With smart thermostats, you can easily control your indoor environment with minimal effort. 

These devices learn your schedule and adjust temperatures automatically for optimal comfort and energy savings. 

You can manage settings remotely through a smartphone app to ensure your home is always at the perfect temperature. 

Smart thermostats reduce energy bills, enhance convenience, and provide greater control over your home’s interior climate.

Become Energy Independent With Solar Panels

Solar installations allow you to go “off the grid” and become independent from unreliable power sources. 

You can cover your rooftop with photovoltaic (PV) panels or build a solar field in an open area to generate electricity.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant offers homeowners up to $5,000 for energy-efficient retrofits and an additional $600 for pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations. 

An interest-free loan of up to $40,000 is also available to support these energy-efficient home improvements. 

These incentives make solar panel installation an intelligent investment that can reduce living costs and benefit the environment.

Energy-Efficient Windows Maintain Comfortable Interiors

Faulty window insulation can cause high energy bills and uncomfortable indoor temperatures. 

Energy-efficient windows have multiple panes, special coatings, and gas fills to enhance thermal performance. 

Whether running the heater or air conditioner, reaching your targeted temperature will take less energy. 

Energy-efficient windows also block UV rays, reducing the accumulation of solar heat while protecting furniture and floors from fading. 

Install energy-efficient windows to lower utility costs, maintain consistent interior temperatures, and contribute to a more sustainable home.

Illuminate Your Custom Home With LED Lighting

Since its invention, the lightbulb has seen major innovations that led to the development of LEDs. 

LED lighting uses 90% less energy and can lower electricity costs significantly. These lights can last up to 10 years, which reduces the frequency of replacements. 

Use LEDs for better lighting and employ various colors for an enhanced ambiance.

2. Mirror the Natural World With Biophilic Design in Your Custom Home

Imagine stepping into a space that feels alive and connected to nature. 

Biophilic design allows you to incorporate nature-inspired elements into the interior of your custom home. 

Studies have shown that biophilic design also improves overall health and well-being. 

Consider these three biophilic design elements to enhance your space.

Let There Be Natural Light

Floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights, and open floor plans can flood your interiors with an abundance of natural light. 

These design elements allow the sun’s warmth to fill your space, improving your mood, reducing stress, and boosting productivity. 

Connect to the beauty of Ontario’s Cottage Country and enjoy a healthier living environment by embracing the sun’s restorative power.

Surround Yourself With Indoor Plants

Indoor plants purify the air and add a touch of rejuvenating greenery to your space. 

According to NASA’s research, at least one plant per 100 square feet is recommended for optimal air purification. 

To purify the air in a 3,000-square-foot custom home, you would need 60 plants. 

This reduces toxins, enhances oxygen levels, and promotes relaxation. 

During the design phase for your custom home, our team can help you create a comprehensive indoor plant layout.

This will ensure your plants get enough light and simplify maintenance.

Build Your Custom Home With Natural Materials

Using reclaimed wood, natural stone products, and other sustainable materials creates a fusion between your home’s design and the natural environment. 

These materials can also add warmth, texture, and authenticity to your custom build. 

The finished product is a tactile and visually stunning structure that fosters a deeper connection with nature.

3. Control Your Environment With Smart Home Technology

At Gilbert + Burke, we design and build homes where you can enjoy all the luxuries of modern living while secluded in Ontario’s great outdoors. 

Our smart home technologies enhance comfort, efficiency, and convenience. 

Combine this with solar panel installation, and your custom home will run virtually by itself. 

Take a look below at technologies that will transform your home into a tech-driven haven optimized for your lifestyle.

Protect Your Investment With a Home Security System

It’s just humans you have to worry about. You need to know what critters are lurking on your property to prevent accidents, protect your pets, and safeguard your infrastructure. 

Modern security systems integrate cameras, sensors, and alarms into one cohesive unit. 

Real-time monitoring and alerts ensure your home is always protected. 

These systems can be managed right from your smartphone, giving you peace of mind wherever you are.

Automate Your Custom Home With Voice-Controlled AI Assistants

AI assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Nest allow you to automate and streamline household tasks. 

Custom homes with these systems make it easy to control lighting, play music, or check the news with a simple voice command.

With these AI assistants at your fingertips, your daily life will become convenient, connected, and coordinated.

Install a Wireless Audio System in Your Custom Home for Seamless Sound

A fully integrated wireless home audio system will make high-quality sound accessible throughout your custom home without complex wiring. 

Control these systems via apps and stream music from your devices to create an interconnected audio environment.

Smart Kitchen Appliances Reduce Workload

Have you ever felt that whenever you invite people over for a meal, you don’t get to connect with them?

With smart kitchen appliances, you can take meal preparation to the next level.

Picture yourself cooking a gourmet meal while catching up on the latest with those who matter most.

Our expertise in smart home design empowers you to create a kitchen where you can prepare meals with minimal effort.

4. Build a Custom Outdoor Space for the Ultimate Vacation Experience

While a unique indoor space can enhance your living experience, Cottage Country’s awe-inspiring landscapes make this place magical.

Few regions can match the backdrop of wide-open skies, lake horizons, and centuries-old forests for your outdoor living space.

With our complete suite of design-build services, you can let your imagination run wild to create an area for dining, entertainment, and relaxation.

Our ability to blend these spaces with the natural environment will have you wondering where your property ends and nature begins.

Here are some of the best types of custom outdoor spaces.

Upgrade Your Custom Home With a Modern Boathouse

Custom boathouses are a must-have for any lakefront property.

First and foremost, you need to protect your boat during the winter months to increase its longevity.

Storage costs can get out of hand and getting it back in the water is a hassle.

But the best feature of a boathouse is its ability to be customized for leisure, hobbies, or entertaining.

Envision a boathouse with a rooftop seating area, a mini-bar, or a deck for swimming.

With Gilbert + Burke’s custom boathouse designs, your lakefront property will become the ultimate vacation destination.

Enhance Your View With a Rooftop Terrace or Elevated Deck

A rooftop terrace atop your custom boathouse or an elevated lakeside deck offers iconic views you will never forget.

When you’re standing at the edge, it’s almost as if you’re walking on water.

These custom builds can feature firepits, plush seating, and expansive designs to accommodate larger gatherings.

Elevate your lakeside living with a towering structure that puts you on top of the world.

Outdoor Kitchens Keep Traditions Alive

Some meals just can’t be cooked indoors. It goes against tradition. Steaks, ribs, or good old-fashioned burgers must be prepared in an outdoor kitchen or custom-built BBQ pit.

Or you may love gourmet pizzas. If that’s the case, a wood-fired brick oven might be more suited to your taste buds.

With Gilbert + Burke building your custom outdoor space, you only need to tell us your favorite meals. 

This knowledge will guide our team to design an outdoor space that matches your vision for food-centric entertainment.

While your custom design will be tailored to your needs, we also understand that food brings people together.

Our outdoor kitchen designs are the perfect culmination of functionality and aesthetics to impress your guests while you cook up a storm.

5. Design Health-Focused Spaces for Overall Well-Being

Traditional home designs often overlook key aspects of health and well-being. 

But what if you could incorporate a yoga studio, weight room, or purification system?

This is the power of custom home building.

Some may think you must make concessions to build your paradise in Cottage Country.

Not with Gilbert + Burke by your side. 

Our complete suite of design-build services enables you to customize a room for whichever health-focused features match your lifestyle.

Which design elements will you choose to enhance your well-being? 

Check out our favorites below.

Create a Personalized Wellness Space in Your Custom Home

You can’t put a price on your health. Whether you’re in the city or on holiday in Cottage Country, it should be a top priority.

At Gilbert + Burke, we encourage you to incorporate health-focused designs into your home.

Home gyms, saunas, and even outdoor running trails provide an effective way to maintain your health.

With Gilbert + Burke as your design-build firm, your custom home can have everything you need to live a healthy lifestyle.

Breathe Free With Advanced Air Filtration Systems

While you might be surrounded by the fresh air of Ontario’s Cottage Country, there may be pollutants that can cause allergies.

Advanced air filtration systems can capture particles as small as viruses, improving indoor air quality. 

Reducing airborne contaminants helps prevent respiratory issues and allergic reactions.

This helps improve your overall well-being and foster a clean living experience.

Harness the Cleansing Power of Water Purification Systems

Access to purified water is essential for maintaining good health and hygiene.

If your water comes from a groundwater source, it is vital to install water purification systems.

These systems remove heavy metals, chemicals, and other impurities to make water safe for drinking, cleaning, and bathing.

Your Personalized Paradise Awaits at Gilbert + Burke

At Gilbert + Burke, we strive to go beyond conventional home building and create something special for you and your family.

We understand that building a custom home is a huge endeavor.

It can also be a life-changing experience.

Your vision is the driving force that gives rise to a truly spectacular structure.

You are the artist and we are the brush.

This is what makes Gilbert + Burke different.

After completion, imagine bringing your loved ones to your custom-built luxury home and telling them the story of how you inspired every detail.

Your legacy deserves a home. Build it in Cottage Country with Gilbert + Burke.

Schedule a call today.