Okanagan Villa

Redefining Casual Luxury on the Lake

What started as a simple bathroom renovation quickly grew into a full-home transformation—one that would span two years and touch every corner of this extraordinary lakefront villa. With panoramic views of Okanagan Lake and strong architectural bones, the home already had character. But our clients were ready for it to evolve—both in how it looked and how it functioned. With a growing family, a busy social calendar, and a deep love for good design, they asked us to help breathe new life into their cherished vacation property.

The design vision? Casual luxury—a home that felt both elevated and easy, timeless but current. A place where every room invites you to relax, recharge, and connect.

Designing for Life, Not Just Living

At the heart of this project was a reimagined floorplan—one that could keep up with a full house. The original layout didn’t offer the flexibility our clients needed, so we set out to create a more intuitive flow throughout the home. This meant better zones for gathering and retreating, seamless transitions between indoors and out, and purposeful sightlines that would showcase the incredible natural surroundings.

Designing for a family home—especially one that hosts often—requires more than just visual impact. It’s about choreography: where people walk, gather, pass plates, and pause. Every space had to support real life, and feel just as good at 7 AM coffee as it did at midnight drinks.

A Layered Approach: Light, Texture, and Tone

Each room in Okanagan Villa responds to its own light story. Some spaces are drenched in golden afternoon sun, others are cool and shaded. So we curated the materials, textures, and colours room by room—picking up on these subtle shifts in tone and mood.

We leaned on wall coverings to create depth and intimacy, especially in the larger spaces with soaring ceilings. The scale of the home meant the details had to carry more weight—literally and visually. Every textile, artwork, and accessory offered something tactile, interesting, or emotionally resonant. Comfort wasn’t just a feeling here—it was a material palette.

Letting the Landscape Speak

With uninterrupted views of the lake and a landscape that feels almost cinematic, our role wasn’t to compete—it was to complement. That meant sourcing artwork that had emotional draw but never overpowered the view. It meant using finishes and tones that felt quiet, grounded, and expansive.

The home’s placement allows the landscape to feel like a living part of the interiors. We treated the windows as frames—composing sightlines and moments of pause that celebrated the setting. The natural world was the true star of this home; our job was to build a stage worthy of it.

From 2000s Glam to Something More Enduring

Before the renovation, the home leaned heavily into early-2000s finishes: crystal chandeliers, deep cherry woods, and glossy surfaces. But rather than erase its personality, we chose to reinterpret it.

We kept the architectural strength intact but added nuance—soft shadows, layered neutrals, and modern fixtures that bring quiet drama. Paint played a major role, along with unexpected touches of colour and contrast. What once felt heavy and ornamental now feels tailored and intentional.

Carte Blanche and Creative Instinct

Every designer dreams of a project where trust is the foundation. With Okanagan Villa, our clients gave us complete creative freedom—and that trust made all the difference.

It allowed us to go with our gut, to play, to explore ideas we might not have otherwise brought forward. But more importantly, it let us reflect back a version of their lifestyle and values that felt even more “them” than they expected. It’s a rare joy to hand over a finished space and hear, “I didn’t know I wanted this.”

A Home That Holds More Than Furniture

Ultimately, Okanagan Villa is a home that holds memories, movement, sunlight, and soul. It doesn’t shout. It hums. It feels as good barefoot on a Tuesday as it does dressed up for a weekend celebration.

To us, that’s the true meaning of luxury—it’s not the price tag or the polish. It’s the feeling of being known, of being at ease, of living in a space that reflects your story with confidence.

Whether you’re dreaming of your own lakefront escape or ready to reimagine the home you already love, we’re here for the adventure.