WL Design 25

WL Design 25 Winners 2025: Mountain Glow-Up

This isn’t your grandpa’s rustic cabin—it’s a bright, stylish retreat perfect for après-ski lounging.

By Kerri Donaldson /
Tina Kulic

When it comes to a ski chalet makeover, the team at Project 22 Design didn’t just refresh this space—they redefined it. Their mission: transform a dated Whistler living room into a bright, modern mountain retreat. Principal Denise Ashmore and her talented crew (senior designer Jaclyn Walker and designer Camila Proa) drew inspiration from Italian ski chalets, blending classic alpine charm with open-concept design, exposed beams, expansive glass windows framing the mountain views and a light, fresh palette. The result? A space so inviting you might just skip the slopes.

Tina Kulic

At its heart is a fluted black marble fireplace, strikingly paired with light oak flooring and warm-toned millwork. Original fir beams got a refresh with a surface treatment that lightened up the wood and removed its orange tone, while a clunky timber staircase was upgraded to an airy metal design with open treads that let the light through. A custom mesh partition and skylight allow natural light to flood the space, seamlessly merging indoor and outdoor vibes. This isn’t your grandpa’s rustic cabin—it’s a bright, stylish retreat perfect for après-ski lounging (or for skipping the ski part entirely).

Project: Snowridge living room
Designer: Project 22 Design
Collaborators: Vision Pacific, Whistler  Tile Corp., Williams Joinery, Bluebird  Finishing, Vosse Stone, Noble Electric, Warren and Wayne Wood Co.
Location: Whistler

Meet all of the 2025 WL Design 25 winners here.

Kerri Donaldson

Kerri Donaldson

Kerri Donaldson is an assistant editor at Western Living (and sister mag Vancouver) where she writes about future design stars for the regular “One to Watch” feature and home design stories. Pitch her at [email protected].