Gibsons, Sunshine Coast, BC

The house had good bones and a remarkable setting: a 0.46-acre lot of mature evergreens and ocean views, five minutes' walk from Secret Beach. Inside, it was frozen in time — oak cabinetry, laminate counters, vinyl floors, and rooms that turned their back on the view.

The renovation was shaped around natural light, warmth and a stronger connection to the outdoors. White oak floors run throughout, the kitchen opens to the water with Caesarstone counters and Fisher & Paykel appliances, and a Bellfire fireplace anchors the living room. Bathrooms became quiet, spa-like rooms with heated floors, European tile, and a floating tub in the primary suite.

Outside, new cedar siding, a metal roof, generous decks, and irrigated gardens give the house its new silhouette — while the timber-frame garden cottage was transformed into a warm, plywood-lined studio for guests.