Luxury Cottages
For The Perfect
Family Getaway
Custom & Luxury Cottages in Simcoe County
Are you ready to bring your family’s vision for a
cottage in Simcoe County to life with a
builder you can trust?
At Gilbert + Burke, our expert team designs and builds your dream custom cottage
that perfectly fits your family’s goals and helps build your family’s legacy.
For over 20 years, we have created stunning, unique cottages throughout Simcoe County
and greater Ontario, helping each one of our clients experience a truly exceptional lifestyle space for
their family.
Your Dream Cottage In Simcoe County Doesn’t Need To Be Complicated
We know that building anything can be stressful. That’s why our design process is set up to be as stress-free as possible.
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Design Questionnaire
Tell us your vision for your new cottage.
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Preliminary Concept Design
We provide a 3D image and floor plan so that you can see your vision coming to life.
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Project Development
The design and plans are finalized and permitting begins
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Construction Agreement
A groundbreaking date is set and we begin building!
What Makes Gilbert + Burke Different?
We believe everyone building a custom luxury cottage or home deserves a builder whose process and experience delivers the exact design your family wants and helps build your family’s legacy.
That’s why we make sure every client experiences…
- Exceptional communication
- Expert interior & exterior design
- Transparency in every step
- 20+ years of custom building expertise
And all backed with the Gilbert + Burke brand and reputation
We contracted the services of Gilbert & Burke Design and Build to renovate our existing cottage and then add on a major addition. The quality of the work was exceptional. Close attention was paid to details and they were proactive in identifying design options that saved time and money. G + B has a very creative, well seasoned and experienced team and provided all round great customer service. They were always responsive to our questions and very proactive in solving all construction issues. We are extremely pleased with the end result.
We have been working with Gilbert + Burke over the last 3 years on the design and construction of our new home on Lake Simcoe. I think one of the most remarkable things is that as the project draws to a close, we will be sorry to say goodbye to the Team. We have very much enjoyed working with this team, even when the inevitable bumps in the road happened. We have never doubted that they had our best interest at heart, and knew they were working to give us the very best home they could within the budget. We love our new home and we have lots of good memories of working through the project. Thank you Gilbert + Burke for making our family dream a reality.
Over the past few years I have had the pleasure of working alongside Gilbert + Burke on various projects. Gilbert + Burke's team is truly professional from the bid stage, down to the final completion. Questions are answered promptly, coordination between trades is spot on , communication through out the project is excellent, and the staff is always very friendly and happy to help however they may be needed.
The Gilbert + Burke is a team of truly talented individuals committed to the project for close to a full year. We encountered crumbling lathe and plaster, a bat colony in the attic and a tow-foot-high crawl space under the house. With each setback, Gilbert + Burke dug in their heels and found often ingenious solutions that spoke to their decades of experience and depth of character. The challenges were many but we really felt that Gilbert + Burke were as truly invested in our project as we were.
Gilbert and Burke completed our cottage on Peninsula Lake in Huntsville in 2019. Their team lead by Brian Gilbert was outstanding. From permits to finishing touches, we were guided throughout the process. Our site super intendant took every detail of the cottage personally and was as proud of the results as we were. Their design team took great care to ensure that the cottage match our personalities and goals. Nothing was ever “cookie cutter”. Everything was designed to our thoughts and dreams. The team was flexible and communicated very effectively throughout the build. We do not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking to build, renovate or fix.
Having worked with Gilbert + Burke in the past, we knew that there was nobody else that we trusted in completing our dream. On this project, we tasked them with a tight deadline for completion and even with some setbacks in permits, they were able to deliver. Everybody that was associated with this project was so professional and committed to the end goal. The final result was more than a kitchen or a place to retire, but a warm and inviting place for friends and family to gather for many years to come.
Gilbert + Burke have a professional approach through the entire project process from the first client meeting, to the preparation of a project budget, to establishing a build time-frame, and most importantly their commitment to organization and client communication, made all aspects of the build and enjoyable and rewarding experience. From the start through construction completion, delivery and deficiency resolution, Gilbert + Burke have proven that they are the ones who deliver your dream on time and on budget.
We really appreciated the prompt, friendly service. Brian Gilbert is an excellent representative and his integrity to get the job done at the cost and time projected is of great value. It was a pleasure doing business with Gilbert + Burke and I would highly recommend them to others.
I have built three houses in the past and have worked with many contractors and sub contractors and this was the first time ever that I had one show up on time, do quality work, and within estimate. 3 out of 3, in my opinion.
Wonderful to work with. It was a pleasure to have them in our home and we are very pleased with the results. Looking forward to working with Gilbert + Burke in the future
My family and I are very pleased with the completed project on my house! It looks great! Just what it needed!
What a great team at Gilbert + Burke! They took our vision and transformed it into reality. We love our new space.
The entire Gilbert + Burke team was a pleasure to work with. They were experienced, competent, and exceptionally organized.
Working with Gilbert + Burke was a pleasure. Their workmanship and thoughtfulness throughout the project was amazing.
The Complete Guide to Building Your Custom Cottage
Industry-leading advice to help you design and create the perfect finishing touch to your cottage.
get Your e-book
Here’s what you’ll find inside:
Section 1: Planning to Build
Section 2: Finding the Right Builder
Section 3: Developing a Budget
Section 4: Choosing Your Site
Section 5: Designing Your Home
Section 6: Getting the Required Permits
Section 7: Starting to Build
Download our Ultimate Guide to Designing Your Home & Cottage today.
All you need to know about embarking on the adventure to design and build your own home or cottage.
The journey of designing and building a custom home or cottage is a long one—but it’s so worth it. Whether you’re building a retirement oasis or creating a home for your expanding family, there are few things as important as finding the right builder, creating your plans with intention and covering all of your bases well. We’re experts when it comes to designing luxury homes and cottages, so we gathered all of our expertise and actionable tips in our new handbook—The Ultimate Guide to Designing Your Home & Cottage.
Download our Ultimate Guide to Designing Your Home & Cottage Ebook today!
Your Custom Cottage Builder In Simcoe County, Canada
Whether it’s a rustic design with natural elements or a more contemporary look with clean lines and large windows, our team is here to help you achieve the cottage you envisioned.
We are committed to open communication, quality craftsmanship, unmatched customer service, and eco-friendly design.
From conception to completion, our seasoned team of designers and homebuilders will be with you every step of the way.
At Gilbert and Burke, we know how hard it is to get away from the office and the daily grind of life. It’s difficult to find time to spend connecting with your loved ones doing the things that refresh you.
That is why we build custom getaway cottages for people in Simcoe County. We think it’s important to get away every now and then, and disconnect from technology and work life.
Our cottages are completely custom-built, so you can tailor yours to match your lifestyle and priorities perfectly.
Give us a call today to start the conversation about your custom cottage in Simcoe County!
If you live near or in Simcoe County, you will know how much there is to do and experience here. There is plenty of outdoor beauty and fun attractions to explore. A few of the coolest Simcoe attractions include:
- Base Borden Military Museum
- King’s Wharf Theatre
- Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
- Sainte-Marie among the Hurons Historical Site
- Centennial Park
- Sunset Point Beach
- Couchiching Beach Park
- Horseshoe Resort
- Elmvale Jungle Zoo
- Spirit Catcher
- Earl Rowe Provincial Park
- Happy Paddling
Bounded by Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe, there are plenty of water adventures to be had in Simcoe County, as well as lots of other outdoor fun!
The Simcoe County Tourism site describes the area like this:
Experience the best of winter and the great outdoors, right here in Simcoe County. Only an hour north of Toronto, it’s the perfect destination to escape the city for a visit. Try a ski or snowboard lesson, go snowshoeing, rent a snowmobile, or try out ice fishing. We even have outdoor skating rinks and trails to enjoy, snow tubing and sleigh rides for the whole family, or cross country skiing if you prefer to ski uphill! There is so much to enjoy in Simcoe County this winter – an outdoor spa, winter glamping, shopping galore, beverage tastings, and some amazing culinary experiences.
With all the fun to be had in Simcoe County, it’s the perfect place for a getaway cabin!
Simcoe County is located in the central portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. It stretches from the shores of Lake Simcoe to the shores of Georgian Bay, and forms a part of the Greater Golden Horseshoe area.
It is split into two subregions, “South Simcoe” and “North Simcoe.” North Simcoe is a bit less industrial than South Simcoe.
If you would like to build a getaway cottage in Simcoe County, give us a call at Gilbert and Burke. We serve the Simcoe County area code, 519, as well as surrounding area codes.
Contact us today to start the conversation about your custom cottage! We look forward to hearing from you.
Custom Cottage FAQ’s
A custom cottage is very similar to a custom home – both refer to having a beautiful custom place for you and your family. Each has it’s own unique qualities, but the main difference is a home is the primary residence, and a cottage is your vacation property.
No, unless you build a smaller custom cottage. Because a cottage takes the traditional things a home does (foundation, walls, plumbing, design, etc), the average cottage costs the same as a home.
It usually depends on the complexity of the design and the size of the build, but from start of design, through project development, to completed construction in typically 12-18 months.
Yes, as long as it is insulated well enough to withstand the winter and has adequate heat to live in and keep all water lines from freezing.
We begin with the initial consultation, followed by a preliminary concept design, and then project development. Once everything is approved, we break ground and start building your cottage!
We build custom cottages throughout Ontario and the greater Toronto region. Please visit our Locations Page or Contact Us to see if we serve your area!
Locations we serve include:
