This Galiano Island Cabin Brings Two Families Together Outdoors

Despite its location on a secluded spot of over three acres of forest and meadows on Galiano Island, this cedar-clad cabin was never meant to be a solitary escape. Designed for two families, the 2,055-square-foot retreat includes two angled volumes, a wedge-shaped deck and a standalone bathhouse—creating a home that’s both private and communal, where the residents come together in the middle around an open-air kitchen.

READ MORE: Getaway Guide: How to Spend One Perfect Day on Galiano Island

“We imagined this being a place where we lived communally but preserved the possibility for privacy,” says designer and homeowner Edward Ozimek. “The wings were designed to be connected by an outdoor living space that would act as a gathering place for the two families, while the respective wings act as private destinations.”

That became the grounding vision for Ozimek and a close friend, who was also his former thesis advisor in architecture school. Though they bonded over a shared curiosity about communal living, the two families approached the project with different ambitions—one side more minimalist, one envisioned more as a vacation retreat. Completed in 2023, the final design reflects both: two wings with two philosophies, physically and conceptually linked by a central deck.

The south side, designed for Ozimek’s family of four, embraces minimalism and immersion. Spanning just 680 square feet, the rooms are compact and multi-purpose: all four family members sleep side by side in a low-ceilinged sleeping area with floor-to-ceiling windows. “For me, the notion of a cabin is about tucking in at night, getting cozy,” says Ozimek.“But you’re nestled right up against nature.” In the summer, the large windows open to the forest. “You’re hearing the crickets and the frogs, and yet somehow still feel very tucked in and protected,” he says.

“For me, the notion of a cabin is about tucking in at night, getting cozy. But you’re nestled right up against nature. You’re hearing the crickets and the frogs, and yet somehow still feel very tucked in and protected.” 

The tight setup encourages movement throughout the day. “Our box was made so that the area where you sleep was not a place where you study,” he explains. “If you want to do something, it compels you to leave and come to the common areas or outdoor space.”

In contrast, the north wing leans into a more traditional floor plan. With 845 square feet, it includes defined bedrooms and individual study desks for each family member. “The concept was that the three family members could be in different rooms at different times,” says Ozimek. “They could get away from each other inside.”

Large custom cedar walls slide across openings on both wings, acting as both a physical and emotional threshold. “You can position, open and close them to the degree that you want privacy,” says Ozimek.“There’s this idea that we’d flow in and out, but you could always tuck back into your own private world.”

Initially, he sketched his own family’s wing even smaller; he was drawn to compact living after his years in New York and Chicago, where neighbours waved across narrow alleys.“It looked weird; it didn’t feel like equals,” he admits. So he reshuffled the floor areas of the two volumes—not to make them identical, but to create a sense of balance and cohesion. “They’re not parallel, and they’re not perpendicular,” he says.“They give this sense of being connected, but at the same time pulling away.”The structures “lift off” from the site, rising slightly off the meadow to feel attached yet distinct from the landscape.

While the dream eventually shifted after the other family moved out, the design remains a reflection of that original intent. The self-contained north wing now hosts visiting friends and relatives, while the open-air kitchen remains the heart of the home. (It also nabbed a Western Living Design 25 award this year).

READ MORE: WL Design 25 Winners 2026: Solid Form (Cabin 1+1 Open Air Kitchen)

Anchored by a board-formed concrete fireplace and countertop, the communal kitchen is inspired by Ozimek’s childhood memories of camping with his grandparents in Ontario. “Those were the best coffees I’ve ever had in my life,” he recalls. “We sat at the picnic table with a heavy sweater on because it was cold, and the day would warm up and we’d sip our coffee. And my grandfather would make kielbasa and cook the eggs in the fat that came from the sausage.”

Today, those cherished breakfasts have grown into larger meals shared with a revolving door of guests. Although the cabin isn’t quite what the family envisioned at the start, it’s still become a home shaped by connection and different ways of living. “We’ve had so many people love being there,” says Ozimek.“It makes me think that maybe I’m on to something.”

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Edward Ozimek’s Local Favourites

For breakfast

Nothing’s better than strolling down to Oxeye Galiano on a Saturday morning for a modern Pacific Northwest-inspired breakfast and then heading back to the cottage with a bag full of their to-die-for crullers, baguettes and sourdough bread that make even New Yorkers want to fly back for more. It’s a Gulf Island gem.

For dinner

My favourite changes with almost the same frequency that I go out to dinner—Vancouver is blessed with a constantly evolving array of great restaurants. Lately, though, I’ve been enjoying heartier foods with richly layered flavours and it is hard to beat Zarak for this type of cuisine.

For coffee

Moja Coffee on Commercial Drive makes the best espresso drinks in the city, and sitting across the street from Moja with my partner on a bench under the cherry blossoms of Napier Greenway while sipping a morning flat white is my favourite way to start the day. It’s our own little hanami. I also love strolling to Mercato Di Luigi with my sons in the late afternoon for coffee and hot chocolate and then sitting outside watching traffic race down 12^th Avenue while chatting about everything and nothing at all.

For design shopping

Itsumo in Vancouver is stocked with an array of beautiful Japanese wares—it’s a constant reminder of the simplicity and elegance of both traditional Japanese living and well-crafted everyday things.