The Muskoka Cabin | Craft & Bloom

The Muskoka Cabin is one of the first international projects of Tel Aviv based design studio, Craft & Bloom. Located in Muskoka, Ontario, two hours north of Toronto, the cabin is an extremely personal proj- ect of Craft & Bloom co-founder, Emma and Ofer Shahar. The 100 square-foot (9 square meters) cabin is situated on Emma’s mother’s property on a densely forested hill that overlooks Sucker Lake - a small and intimate lake. The lake-view is framed via an 8x8 foot glass window. Situated minutes away from the main cabin on the property, the Muskoka Cabin is an accessory structure with no running water or electricity. Its compact proportions and off the grid character were chosen specifically for lodgers to find solace in a contemplative space, while meshing in with nature and avoiding municipality permits.

Local burnt cedar planks were chosen for the Muskoka Cabin’s exterior, keeping it in dialogue with main property cabin, which is cladded in painted wooden black slats. Contrary to most of Craft & Bloom’s de- sign job’s, they enlisted themselves as the contractor/builders. In true alignment with the design studio’s ethos, the Muskoka Cabin’s interior is left clean to allow for a magnitude of activities. Craft & Bloom’s dedication to creating calming environments for their clientele can be felt throughout the interior from its use of natural materials and thoughtful spatial details. The interior walls were constructed with local birch plywood sheets. The cabin can easily be morphed into the inhabitant’s dream retreat for yoga, medi- tation, writing or a quiet sleep in the forest.

The construction of the Muskoka Cabin took place over two consecutive summers of 2017 and 2018, when the studio invited friends and family spanning from Germany, Israel, France and the Americas to join the mission. Some took more initiative in the build, others cooked, some cleaned and some serenaded the team with music and beautiful words and all were equally valuable. Since the construction of the Muskoka Cabin, Craft & Bloom has extended their international reach with retail design projects in Melbourne and New York City. The husband and wife design duo have partnered with craftsman in each project location, delving into each local scene to create a holistic and culturally in-tune approach to design.

Linens by Meira Sitton
Hook by KROFT
Water Jug by MIMA
Lantern by Menu
Furniture Fabrication by Etherington Designs