A Lake of the Woods dock in Kenora, rebuilt for rising water with a floating boat slip, angled ramp and composite decking supplied by Lumber One.

There's a particular kind of quiet that settles into a room built with real wood. Walls and floors rarely get the credit decks and docks do, but together they're the backdrop to every morning coffee and rainy-day card game.

A floating dock is one of the most approachable DIY projects out there. Unlike a fixed dock, it doesn't require driving posts into the lakebed, it adjusts naturally with water level changes, and may be best for Whiteshell area cottagers

A well-placed fire pit, a modest deck, a pergola for your morning coffee, or a run of cedar planters to frame: there's no shortage of DIY projects you can accomplish on a weekend at the cottage.