When designer Kelly Sigsworth first saw this lakeside vacation home in Kelowna, BC, she knew she could loosen up its dark appearance and dated layout to create a luxury retreat perfect for its owner who is fond of entertaining. Her plan – a full reno, plus a light, bright palette and thoughtful, inviting furnishings – made way for an airy getaway that’s ready to party.

Set in British Columbia’s lush Okanagan region, this 4,700-square-foot residence is an escape for a busy professional who likes to hosts guests, both inside by the fire and alfresco by the pool. Its lakeside setting signalled an immediate resort vibe but it was at striking odds with the home’s interior. “The layout was chopped up into a series of small rooms and the finishes were very dated, with dark cherry wood floors and window frames and lots of heavy wrought-iron flourishes,” says designer Kelly Sigsworth of Kelowna’s Isabey Interiors. “It was more old-fashioned Mediterranean than breezy BC.” Her plan was to replace the small rooms with contemporary open floor plans conducive to entertaining, lighten up the overall palette and implement striking, yet laid-back materials, including quartz and white oak.  Kelly says, “It’s now got a beautiful modern aesthetic, yet it’s still warm and welcoming.” In other words, a home made for vacations and get-togethers.

LIVING ROOM

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte DESIGN, Kelly Sigsworth, Isabey Interiors, www.isabeyinteriors.com. White Dove WALL PAINT, Benjamin Moore. All LIGHTING, Robinson Lighting, robinsonlightingcentre.com. MILLWORK, Green Triangle Contracting, greentrianglecontracting.ca.  COFFEE TABLE, Four Hands, fourhands.com. RUG, Jaipur Living, jaipurliving.com. THROWS, VASES, Furnish by Isabey Interiors, furnishbyisabey.ca.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte | SECTIONAL, COFFEE TABLES,  Moe’s Home Collection, www.moeshomecollection.com. RUG, Furnish by Isabey Interiors, furnishbyisabey.ca.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte DESIGN, Kelly Sigsworth, Isabey Interiors, www.isabeyinteriors.com. | White Dove WALL PAINT, Benjamin Moore. All LIGHTING, Robinson Lighting, robinsonlightingcentre.com. MILLWORK, Green Triangle Contracting, greentrianglecontracting.ca.  COFFEE TABLE, Four Hands, fourhands.com. RUG, Jaipur Living, jaipurliving.com. THROWS, VASES, Furnish by Isabey Interiors, furnishbyisabey.ca.

In the living room, Kelly implemented changes from the top down, updating the existing dark-brown ceiling fan with white paint. “I liked preserving this original aspect and also the ceiling’s circle feature, which complements the other curved architectural aspects, like the backyard-facing windows,” she says. These were also painted white. Bevelled quartz surrounds the fireplace, which has a vent that takes the heat out of the home, a crucial detail for a summer property. Rift-cut white-oak millwork continues the warmth of the floors and sleek integrated panels above the fireplace hide the TV. A built-in quartz bench offers a seat where guests can take in the view to the lake and fluted white-oak panels behind it get even more interesting when layered on a black background that creates graphic definition. The beachy sectional, both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, frames two coffee tables. “They add visual interest and fill the large space nicely, without being one overly dominant piece,” says Kelly. She replaced a dividing wall with new, eye-catching wine storage that acts as a fun focal point, while still maintaining the first floor’s open feel.  

KITCHEN

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte | Island Dekton COUNTERTOP, Cosentino Group, cosentino.com. CHAIRS, Rove Concepts, roveconcepts.com. APPLIANCES, Trail Appliances, trailappliances.com. White VESSELS, TRAYS, Furnish by Isabey Interiors, furnishbyisabey.ca.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte

The custom kitchen boasts a concealed pantry and smaller prep kitchen, an integrated coffee station, a wine fridge and a wet bar with liquor and wine dispensers – the bottles are concealed behind custom millwork. Kelly enlivened the mostly oak kitchen with pops of white, a black island addition, that acts as a table, and black accents. “I chose contrasting colours to create two separate, but coexisting, spaces: one for seating and one for entertaining,” she says. “They layer in visual interest to the space.” The island’s table is crafted from Dekton, a highly durable material from Spain. Dark chairs coordinate nicely with the tabletop stone and are upholstered in easy-to-clean leather. The focus on smart, built-in design continues throughout the kitchen. Kelly says, “The fridge and freezer are hidden behind the fluted panels to make them look like an accent wall. I used a push-to-open feature so no hardware distracts from the design.” The range hood also offers concealed storage (there are six cabinets here) and it’s finished with painted, fluted MDF. “The fluting adds to the minimalistic design and helps soften the space and balance out all the stonework.” The pendant light has a dynamic presence that doesn’t overwhelm the space. 

“Since there’s no formal dining space, I wanted the island to serve as a comfortable dining table with a more casual feel and low countertop that lends itself to easy entertaining.”

BEDROOM

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte | ARTWORK, Furnish by Isabey Interiors, furnishbyisabey.ca. Grey QUILT, Annie Selki, annieselkie.com. SINKS, Cosentino Group, cosentino.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte

The primary bedroom feels like a luxury retreat within a luxury retreat. Facing the bed, a cool black tub is in plain view on elevated on a porcelain tile base. “The placement was selected so the owner could enjoy the beautiful view while using the bath,” says Kelly. “It also to creates a non-traditional space that feels more like a luxury hotel than a residence.” Artwork, centred directly behind the bed’s velvet headboard, sets a colourful tone that Kelly says is fun, while the lights play up on that non-traditional tone. “I wanted the lighting to have more interest than just regular bedside lamps would. These pendants have textured glass that creates a moody ambiance and I staggered them for interest.” The ensuite’s fluted oak and porcelain slab walls are softened by the soft curves of round backlit mirrors. The custom vanity features two integrated sinks and the black ceiling hung towel bars connote contemporary cool.

“This is a sexy space that’s different from the rest of the home.”

GUEST BATH

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte

The guest bathroom feels bright and fresh with a floating white-oak vanity, complete with two sinks, and a fun herringbone floor. “The tiles were a cost-effective choice and they create the texture that this smaller space needed,” says Kelly. “The dark grey is a nice contrast to the warm oak.” The powder room features the same main-level floors and some fluting details. The veining in the stunning integrated sink echoes that in the porcelain wall tiles, but the lighting might be the star of the show. “I selected a cluster of pendants to set the ambiance for the whole room. They have this beautiful, crystal-like reflection that bounces off the walls.”

ENTRYWAY

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte

Kelly designed the entryway as a multi-purpose space. “It’s made for entertaining right now but the pool table can be easily swapped out for a dining table and a more traditional configuration,” she says. The stairs’ custom metal screen was designed with care. “I wanted to parlay some interest here as it’s the first thing you see when entering the home. It’s a unique feature that’s a contrast to the rest of the space and it doubles as the required safety rail for the stairs, but in a creative way.” Two TVs hang above a built-in bar, while a custom bench and bar top, on either side of the pool table, provide spectator-sport seating.

“The best indoor/outdoor design is beautiful and functional. It should focus on how people like to live.”

BACKYARD

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte | LOUNGERS, Rove Concepts, roveconcepts.com  Black SIDETABLES, Moe’s Home Collection, www.moeshomecollection.com. UMBRELLA, Beach Comber Home Leisure, bhleisure.com MUSKOKA CHAIRS, Wickerland, wickerlandpatio.com  SOFA (on the dock), SECTIONAL, COFFEE TABLE, Beachcomber Home & Leisure, bhleisure.com. FIRE TABLE, Canada Outdoor Kitchens, canadaoutdoorkitchens.com. SCONCES, Robinson Lighting, robinsonlightingcentre.com  Synlawn TURF, SYNLawn Canada, www.synlawn.ca 

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Delichte

The original backyard had the barbecue area and pretty pool already in place, but Kelly wanted to update the layout and furnishings. She replaced the deck’s dark stones with pale, modern pavers, rebuilt the dock to include a seating area and added in zero-maintenance astroturf, which looks like the real thing next to the row of privacy cedars. Old loungers with heavy wrought-iron frames were ditched in favour of more minimal styles. Kelly says, “The add a modern feel to the otherwise craftsman, traditional-style of the home.” New sconces on the stone pillars further that modernity and provide ambient lighting that’s a warm complement to the fire table, which is flanked by sleek sofas in the seating area closest to the house. A bar area with high stools allows guests to enjoy views of the lake and pool. Beside it, a wide-shade umbrella swivels to move with the sun and beat that Okanagan heat in the summer time. “Everything is extremely functional and, most importantly, ready to welcome the owner or guests with equal ease.”