Slideshow: Lakeside living

The living room has a drop-dead view of Lake Ontario thanks to panoramic windows. "We wanted to appreciate the view, not distract from it with colour," says interior designer Jan Brown of C3D Design in Aurora, Ont. Although the symmetrical layout and tailored sofettes lend themselves to a more formal setting, the details (like the sage sisal rug, embroidered cushions and airy linen drapes) make the room welcoming.