Your cottage is more than an asset.
It’s an heirloom.

Steep Hill Studio offers full-service design, engineering and oversight for cottage restoration and development in Muskoka, Ontario.


We are your local experts in the complexities of high-performance building and creating spaces that will endure for generations.

GET IN TOUCH
SteepHillStudio_SleepingCabin_Exterior_1.jpg
Sleeping Cabin Details - 1 of 1 (1)-VSCO.jpeg
Sleeping Cabin Details - 1 of 1-VSCO.jpeg
SteepHillStudio_Cabin_Office_DoorHardware_2.jpeg
SteepHillStudio_Cabin_Office_Bookshelf_Doorway_3.jpeg
SteepHillStudio_Cabin_Office_Windows_Wainscoting.jpg
SteepHillStudio_Cabin_Lighting_Pendants_1.jpeg
Screenshot 2026-03-11 at 24131PM-VSCO.jpeg

What challenge are you currently facing?

Steep Hill Studio can help with every facet of cottage restoration and development.

  • We start by aligning your vision with site and budget realities to establish a disciplined project plan before you commit to a full team or expensive design work.

  • We create spaces designed for lakeside relaxation, built for multi-generational enjoyment. From structural drawings to interior design - we ensure that the beauty in the design is backed by building science.

  • We provide the oversight and site-level stewardship required to simplify complex delivery, manage the budget, and protect your investment. We insulate you from the time, stress and decision fatigue that comes with remote projects.

OUR SERVICES

OUR WORK

TESTIMONIALS

  • "Professional, detail-oriented, and saved us a lot of time. Highly recommended for anyone managing a build from a distance."

    —Ryan C.

  • "David is incredibly professional and a leader in his field with regards to engineering, new materials and methods to align your project with today's highest standards."

    —Alex D.

  • "The regular updates and site reports provide great peace of mind when we aren't there. Reliable, professional, and a great advocate for any cottage owner."

    —David K.

  • "David Ruhl brought tremendous value to the project, right from his first visit to the site where he immediately grasped the vision we were hoping to achieve."

    —Kate C.

  • "Dave created a floor plan with elevations and a lighting plan including many details we hadn’t considered. His conceptual skills were strong and creative, always seeing the forest through the trees. He contributed such valuable insight at the planning stages and continued problem solving every detail right to the end."

    —Cindy M.

THE TEAM

We’re Dave and Lee, an engineer and a designer, and we’ve spent the last decade working on homes and cottages, both inside and out.

Steep Hill Studio is named after our own cottage in Muskoka, Ontario. It is where we call home and a place we’ve designed and built ourselves, with care, over time.

We have a deep appreciation for this beautiful part of the world and understand first hand, the high stakes of cottage stewardship.

ABOUT US

EXPLORE THE RESOURCE LIBRARY