For Tracey Wikenheiser, a tuxedo was the spark. When she imagined her dream home, she pictured that timeless pairing of a black jacket with a white shirt – sharp and seductive, crisp and classic. “I wanted that sexy Old Hollywood vibe,” explains the Kelowna-based designer and owner of decor and clothing shop La Bonne Vie. But since her household isn’t, in practice, home to swinging starstudded soirees, but instead a big family, including Tracey, her husband, two kids, three dogs and a cat, functionality was also key.

“Everyone needed to be able to roam freely, with no roped-off rooms or designs vacuumed into the carpet,” she says with a laugh. The polished result – which Tracey dubs “Hollywood Regency meets Art Deco” – took five years to achieve. The design process started after Tracey opened her shop in 2005 (she was inspired by “so many gorgeous decor finds”), but it wasn’t until 2009 that she kicked her home’s design into high gear. To raise money for an orphanage in Haiti, Tracey launched a tour of local designers’ homes – and her own was on the list. “That lit the fire I needed to get it done,” she says.

Books on display
“I think books should be displayed,” says homeowner Tracey Wikenheiser. “I like them stacked, with things around them and on them. I’ve seen some designers stack them to the ceiling, and I think it’s fabulous!” Adding a few home decor accessories also creates beautiful ways to display books.
Living room
The great room may be a tribute to old Hollywood decor (down to the framed photograph of James Dean), but the bold blend of colour and pattern creates a sleek modernist edge that’s ready for its close-up. “They were so naughty, but they could get away with it,” says Tracey of the era’s icons.
Mantle decor
Hard meets soft in this eclectic accessory pairing that came together through decorating the fireplace, as the clean lines of the sculpture showcase the exquisite feathers of the African juju headdress.
Library style
Of her stylish library, Tracey explains, “I believe fashion goes hand in hand with design.” Bonus? Arranging books of varying size and typography offers an inventive way to experiment with contrast in old Hollywood decor. It is one of the many beautiful ways to display books.
Pet style at home
Taking a pouty cue from moody but handsome James Dean, Tracey’s beloved French bulldog, Roxie, poses for her glamour shot in true old Hollywood fashion.
Dining room
The “softer” area of the house is flooded with light, courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows and bright touches like the shaggy white area rug. “To create a sense of cohesion, the pieces all need to speak to each other,” says Tracey.

What’s your favourite colour combination?
After black and white, I use grey and orange a lot, especially if it’s for a client with a masculine chic aesthetic. But I tend to stick to neutral palettes and then add hits of colour in a rug, cushion or a piece of artwork.
Family room
A wall of black and white family photos acts as a focal point in the family room and are a great wall to fill your blank walls. Tracey’s photographer sister snapped most of them, but the photos of Pakistan were taken by her grandfather during his air force tenure. “I want to be surrounded by things that are precious to me,” says Tracey.