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JB Designs, 616 Queen Street East, Sault Sainte Marie, ON (2026)

04/21/2026

This home had great bones, but the original yellow-beige siding and brown accents made it feel flat and dated.

The biggest change was shifting the entire exterior palette to a classic blue and white combination. The new color scheme instantly gives the house a fresher, more timeless look while helping it stand out from the neighbouring homes.

To add more character and curb appeal, I introduced traditional white trim around the doors and windows. That extra detail helps define the architecture and gives the exterior a much more custom feel.

On the front section of the house, I added blue shake siding to the lower portion to break up the elevation and create more visual interest around the entry. We also updated both the front door and garage door, which made a huge difference in making the home feel more polished and intentional.

Out back, the darker blue siding ties the house and garage together, It is a great example of how the right exterior finishes and a stronger color palette can completely transform the look of a home without changing the structure itself.

Which change made the biggest impact for you?

04/20/2026

Day 6 of the Modern Northern Ontario Lake House walkthrough is all about the exterior experience of the home.

From the front approach, I wanted the house to feel low, wide and grounded into the landscape rather than sitting on top of it. The long rooflines, natural stone, warm wood detailing and expansive glass create a modern design that still feels connected to Northern Ontario.

The front entry was designed to feel dramatic without being overdone. A large covered arrival court frames the glass foyer, while the surrounding rock outcroppings and landscaping make the home feel like it has always belonged on this site.

Moving to the back of the house, the terrace becomes the main gathering space. Large sliding walls of glass open the kitchen, great room and bedrooms directly onto the patio, creating one continuous indoor-outdoor living area. There are separate zones for dining, lounging, grilling and quiet morning coffee, but they all still feel connected.

The waterfront was designed to feel like its own private resort carved into the Canadian Shield. Layered stone terraces step down toward the water, creating different moments along the shoreline. There is a tucked-away fire pit area, a sandy beach for paddle boards and swimming, and a covered pergola with an outdoor kitchen and dining area right at the water’s edge.

At night, the entire property takes on a completely different feeling. The house glows from the inside out, the landscape lighting highlights the rock formations and trees, and the reflections across the water make the whole property feel calm, warm and almost cinematic.

04/19/2026

Day 5 of the Modern Northern Ontario Lake House walkthrough takes us into the west wing of the home.

The guest suite was designed to feel calm, warm and private. Rich walnut ceilings and herringbone floors bring depth to the space, while the floor to ceiling windows on both sides make the room feel much larger than its footprint. The decorative breeze block wall adds privacy without sacrificing light, creating a quiet retreat that still feels connected to the outdoors.

The walk-through closet was designed more like a boutique dressing room than a traditional guest closet, with open walnut millwork, integrated lighting and plenty of storage.

Connecting the guest suite and bunk room is the Jack and Jill bathroom. I wanted it to feel elevated, but still practical for families and guests. Terrazzo floors, warm wood vanities, soft plaster walls and full-height shower glass keep the space bright and timeless, while the dual access layout makes it easy for both rooms to use comfortably.

The bunk room was designed with flexibility in mind. Built-in bunks, integrated desks and hidden storage make it functional for kids, guests or even a cottage sleepover weekend.

The gym might be one of my favourite spaces in the house. Floor to ceiling glass overlooking the lake turns a workout room into something that feels much more like a wellness retreat. Even on the coldest Northern Ontario mornings, it would still feel bright, connected to nature and worth spending time in.

Renderings by JB Designs

04/17/2026

The guest spaces in this lake house were designed to feel warm, relaxed and a little more playful than the main living areas.

I kept the same overall palette of warm wood tones, soft neutrals and layered textures so everything still feels connected to the rest of the house, but this wing gave me a chance to have a little more fun with the details.

The guest suite leans into bolder art, deeper colors and a slightly moodier feel. I wanted it to feel memorable without losing that calm, comfortable atmosphere. The green feature wall, warm walnut tones and statement artwork add personality, while the lake views and soft furnishings keep it feeling peaceful.

The ensuite bathroom was designed to feel much larger and brighter through the use of floor to ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light. Even though the room is more enclosed, the glass creates a connection to the outdoors and makes it feel open and airy. For privacy, I added strategically placed landscaping and decorative fencing outside the windows so the room still feels private without losing that natural light.

The bathroom itself layers soft neutral finishes with warmer wood tones, bronze accents and more playful wallpaper to give the space some personality. I liked the contrast of the calmer palette against the stronger pattern and color.

For the powder room, I wanted it to feel moodier and more dramatic. The darker wallpaper, rich walnut vanity and softer lighting make it feel a little more intimate and unexpected, almost like a boutique hotel moment tucked into the house.

The game room and media room follow the same idea. Warm wood, soft lighting and layered materials keep everything feeling elevated, but there is still a sense of fun with the pool table, foosball, movie setup and popcorn station.

I wanted this side of the house to feel like guests had their own private retreat, with spaces to relax, unwind and enjoy being at the lake.

04/16/2026

The primary suite was designed to feel calm, warm and connected to the lake.

I wanted this space to feel more relaxed than the main living areas, with softer lighting, layered textures and a quieter palette built around warm wood tones and neutrals. The bedroom is simple and understated, letting the view take center stage. Walls of glass open directly to the terrace, creating that seamless indoor-outdoor feeling that runs throughout the entire house.

The herringbone floors, wood feature wall and soft textiles help bring warmth into the space, while the pops of color in the pillows, artwork and drapery keep it from feeling flat or overly minimal.

I went a little bolder in the bathroom. The deep blue-green tile felt like the perfect contrast to the softer tones in the bedroom and ties back to the lake outside. Paired with warm wood cabinetry, bronze fixtures, backlit niches and the freestanding tub, it creates a space that feels rich, inviting and a little more unexpected.

The goal for the entire suite was to create a private retreat that still feels connected to the rest of the home and the landscape around it.

Renderings by JB DESIGNS

04/14/2026

The foyer and great room set the tone for the entire house.

I wanted this space to feel open, dramatic and connected to the landscape from the moment you walk through the front door. With 15-foot ceilings and walls of glass, the view becomes part of the design and helps blur the line between indoors and out.

My approach to modern design has always been that it should feel warm and inviting, not cold or overdone. Clean lines, warm tones and layered textures can make a modern space feel timeless and comfortable at the same time.

The palette throughout this area is grounded in warm wood tones, natural stone and soft neutrals, with subtle pops of color brought in through the furniture, art and accessories. The goal was to create a space that feels elevated but still relaxed enough for everyday life at the lake.

This is part of my JB Designs Modern Northern Ontario Lake House concept, designed to feel contemporary, warm and deeply connected to the outdoors.

Renderings by JB Designs

04/13/2026

What if a modern lake house was designed specifically for Northern Ontario living?

Warm wood, stone, oversized windows, seamless indoor-outdoor spaces and a kitchen designed around the view.

My take on modern design is that it does not have to feel cold or sterile. It can be warm, inviting and layered. Clean lines. Warm tones. Natural textures. Spaces that feel elevated but still comfortable enough to actually live in.

We are kicking off this walkthrough series with the kitchen because it is truly the heart of the home. I wanted it to feel connected to the landscape, with the lake view becoming the focal point and everything else layered around it.

Instead of traditional upper cabinets along the exterior wall, I designed a glass wall with open shelving to maximize the view and bring in as much natural light as possible. Storage is built into the oversized island, the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry wall and the long run of lower cabinets beneath the windows.

The palette is grounded in warm wood tones, soft neutrals and natural stone, layered with copper pendants, oil rubbed bronze fixtures, a dark bronze range and hood, seaglass lighting and subtle pops of color in the dining area.

Welcome to the JB Designs Modern Northern Ontario Lake House walkthrough series.

Renderings by JB Designs

04/05/2026

A little touch of spring for your feed.

The original home was very 80s builder grade. It lacked curb appeal, character and any real sense of arrival. But the bones were there.

With a darker exterior, a redesigned front entry, flower boxes, a metal roof detail, fresh landscaping and more traditional architectural details, the entire house takes on a completely different personality.

Swipe to see the actual before photo, followed by two JB Designs renderings showing what can happen when you look beyond what a house is and start thinking about what it could become.

Which version would you choose: daytime or evening?

Renderings by JB Designs

04/04/2026

From dark wood panelling and dated built-ins to a space that feels warm, bright, and made for real life.

For this den renovation, we wanted to keep the original character of the room while completely changing the feeling. The ceiling beams stayed and fireplace updated, but everything around them was softened and elevated with lighter finishes, custom cabinetry, layered textures, warm wood tones, and comfortable furniture that makes the space feel inviting the second you walk in.

One of my favourite details is the custom bar and storage wall. It gives the room so much function without taking away from the relaxed feel of the space.

Swipe to see where we started. The transformation is pretty incredible.

What would you keep from the original room?

04/03/2026

Most foyers are treated like pass-through spaces. We wanted this one to feel like a true first impression.

What was once a basic builder-grade staircase and empty two-storey wall is now one of the most dramatic spaces in the house. Custom wall mouldings, warm wood tones, layered lighting, oversized tile, a statement chandelier, and fresh white railings completely transformed the feeling of the entry.

The goal was to make it feel elevated, timeless, and much more custom without changing the actual footprint of the home.

Swipe through to see where it started. The before and after almost doesn’t feel like the same house.

JB Designs

04/21/2026

04/20/2026

04/19/2026

04/17/2026

04/16/2026

04/14/2026

04/13/2026

04/05/2026

04/04/2026

04/03/2026

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm