Lakeside cottage living in a ten-home enclave.

Belfast Lake is a private ten-home community in Richmond Hill, and this 2021 cottage-style home sits at the edge of a six-acre lake — the kind of backyard where the water does the decorating. The wrap-around front porch, board-and-batten trim, and decorative shutters give the exterior a relaxed, unhurried character that carries through the whole property.

Inside, the layout moves in a sensible way: an office with glass French doors sits just off the entry, the kitchen opens to the family and dining area, and upstairs the owners suite has a private screened balcony overlooking the lake. The suite includes dual closets with custom shelving, a soaking tub, and a tiled walk-in shower. Out back, a screened porch with an electric fireplace, a craftsman-built pergola, and a pool with a tanning deck give you more than one reason to stay home.