This dreamy treehouse cabin is less than three hours north of the city

In a maple grove two and a half hours north of Toronto, three new luxury treehouses offer a calm, minimalist escape with a distinctly Scandinavian feel.

Hårtwood (derived from the Swedish word for “hardwood”) encompasses 15 acres on a secluded back road next to a nature preserve near Minden. Pulling in, the first thing you see is a dark, low building with a skirt of tiered wooden decks and fairy lights strung between tall hardwoods.

The Hydda, meaning “hut,” is a reception area and wine bar that also serves as a gathering place for locals and guests staying in the nearby treehouses. It features a wide quartz bar, biodynamic wines, a wood fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows that open to the patio. “My vision was a hut in the middle of nowhere where there’s something hot on the stove and something warm in your glass,” says Lauren Green, who co-owns Fort Treehouse Co. with her husband, Cam. “Everything just feels really cozy.”

Ten years ago, after taking a course on building sustainable treehouses in Vermont, Cam returned to the couple’s home in Carnarvon, Ontario, with plans to build his own elevated structure on their property. “Cam was always interested in treehouse-building,” says Lauren. “It took some more convincing for me, but between my love of design and experiential travel, one day I was like, Wait a second—we could actually build something really beautiful.” The couple opened their first treehouse structure, the Baltic, in 2020, and they’ve been fully booked ever since. So, in 2022, they decided to expand the nest.

Their idea was to provide nature-based stays that connect people to the forest with minimal impact on the environment. Therefore, the entire space is off-grid: the treehouses are warmed with hydronic radiant-heated floors and propane fireplaces and powered by two dozen solar panels. “We wanted to prove that high-design spaces can be sustainable and can be built anywhere with very little impact,” says Lauren.

Back in the forest, three paths branch out from the Hydda and wind between tall maples. The structures are far enough apart to feel private but within walking distance in case a large group wants to book all three. Perched above the ground, they’re clad in black cedar shakes that were diagonally custom-cut. The resulting pattern evokes dragon skin or fish scales, which pleasantly contrasts against the lighter tones of the forest.

The interiors are minimally designed using natural materials: the heated floors are concrete, and the walls and ceiling are panelled with Baltic birch. “It feels like you’re inside a tree,” says Cam, who explains that the spaces between the panels allow the trees to bend and sway without compromising the houses. “We needed something that could shift and move over time.”

Each treehouse was designed with a natural flow. All three have sunken living rooms oriented around large windows that immerse you in the forest, with dots etched into the glass to prevent bird crashes. The design ethos was to keep the space small and distraction-free to let guests unwind, so the only form of entertainment is a record player and small vinyl selection that includes the likes of the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac.

It was also important to the couple to seek out Canadian brands and products. The soft beds and pillows are made by Ottawa-based company Obasan; the bath products are by Telford Basics, in Prince Edward County; and most of the lighting comes from Luminaire Authentik, which is based in Quebec.

At the centre of Hårtwood is a belief in quality and comfort as tools for deeper connection. Lauren sees the treehouses not as an escape but as a way to immerse yourself and be present in nature. “When people feel at ease, they’re more open to what’s around them,” she says. “You notice the forest differently.” After a night suspended among the trees, waking to birdsong and leaf-filtered light, it’s hard not to agree.