A Soulful New Build Rooted in Nature

From the very beginning, this project was about more than creating a house. It was about creating a feeling—a place that felt rooted to the land it sat on, where history and whimsy could quietly coexist. The goal was to create a structure that felt historically and architecturally suited to the magical wooded lot and sparkling waters cresting its banks. As important as the exterior was, the interior needed to function seamlessly.

Design: Sam Sacks Design | Photography: Lauren Miller

A Story That Spans Continents

This wasn’t Sam’s first time working with her client. Their previous project had leaned into the client’s California connection, weaving in Spanish Colonial elements like tumbled stone, wrought iron, and breezy white walls. Cartwright Point picks up where they left off, but brings in a richer, European blend: think reclaimed terracotta floors, Catalan ceilings, and arched doorways—all grounded with Victorian baseboards and a classic English face-frame kitchen. And while the architectural nods are decidedly worldly, everything is filtered through a deeply Canadian lens. The color palette is restrained and calming—soft French grays, creamy whites, and warm oak tones—making space for both nature and family life to shine.

Designed for Real Life

This is a home that feels elegant but never overly precious. Sam designed it for a family of five—two surgeons and their three young kids—along with the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who come to visit. So yes, there’s reeded white oak and custom brass shelving, but also… IKEA cabinets. The pantry and laundry room feature clever, budget-friendly hacks that ground the space without compromising style. “The fireplace was meant to be stone and plastered, but the price ballooned,” says Sam. Instead, the team crafted a curved surround out of metal and fireproof cement board—and honestly? You’d never know.

Other sneaky-stealth moments include a Wayfair front door, a Home Depot sink in the powder room (modified to float!), and the cozy family room’s Funky Mario Bellini-style yellow sofa from Eternity Modern. High-low at its finest.

Room by Room, a Mix of Calm and Character

The kitchen sets the tone with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter cabinetry, brass pulls from Forge Hardware Studio, rustic stools from Wayfair, and a dreamy Florian Schulz light the client sourced all the way from Germany. In the formal living room (which isn’t formal at all), a pair of Clad Home sofas anchor the space, while a custom coffee table designed by Sam herself adds character. The dining area flows seamlessly from the kitchen, softly lit by a sculptural sconce from Gallery L7 and an iconic Noguchi lantern.

Upstairs, the primary bedroom frames the wild river beyond with vaulted ceilings and beams. It’s serene, but never stark. The primary bath keeps that same energy, offering a moment of calm with a freestanding tub from Strom Living and a Kingston Brass faucet.

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Every space—from the snuggly family room to the sweet kids’ bath in Farrow & Ball’s Ammonite—feels thoughtfully layered, but never overdesigned.

Another playful and chic kid-friendly space from the home.

Timeless patterns in the guest bedroom.

A hint of color in the laundry room makes this functional space intentional.