Meet the 2026 WL People’s Choice Winners

Thousands of votes, eight standout projects: meet the designers and designs Western Living readers chose as this year’s favourites.

Dozens of standout projects: the Western Living People’s Choice Awards, presented by Thermador, hand the judging over to you.

One project from each of our 2026 Designers of the Year finalists was entered in its respective category, and readers cast their votes. You voted. We counted. Here are the 2026 winners.


Architecture

Winner: Courtyard House, RUFproject

Courtyard House by RUFproject in Vancouver, winner of the 2026 Western Living People’s Choice Award for Architecture
Courtyard House by RUFproject. Photo by Andrew Latreille.

Readers were drawn to this home, which reimagines the detached house as a private yet light-filled dwelling centred on a courtyard. Passive design strategies, durable timber construction and layered spatial connections help integrate nature into an otherwise urban infill home.

Read more about RUFproject, our 2026 Architectural Designer of the Year.


Emerging Architect or Residential Designer

Winner: Discovery Island Family Retreat, Studio Balcaen Kwan

Discovery Island Family Retreat by Studio Balcaen Kwan, winner of the 2026 Western Living People’s Choice Award for Emerging Architect or Residential Designer
Discovery Island Family Retreat by Studio Balcaen Kwan. Photo by Janis Nicolay.

This multigenerational, off-grid family retreat brings together three modest cabins arranged around a central courtyard and connected by decks and pathways on a forested coastal site overlooking the Strait of Georgia, Desolation Sound and Hernando Island.

Read more about Studio Balcaen Kwan, our 2026 Arthur Erickson Memorial Award winner.


Interior Design

Winner: Coastal Retreat, HB Design

Coastal Retreat by HB Design on Salt Spring Island, winner of the 2026 Western Living People’s Choice Award for Interior Design
Coastal Retreat by HB Design. Photo by Ema Peter.

Soaring timber ceilings, a textured stone fireplace and moody natural materials in earth tones define this coastal family retreat, echoing the wild and remote Salt Spring Island landscape it inhabits.

Read more about HB Design, our 2026 Interior Designers of the Year.


Emerging Interior Designer

Winner: Eclectic Loft, Quintessential Living

Eclectic artist live-work loft by Quintessential Living in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant neighbourhood
Eclectic Loft by Quintessential Living. Photo by Tracey Ayton.

An 855-square-foot live-work artist loft—the designer’s own—is transformed into an eclectic, layered home that softens its industrial character, including exposed brick and metal beams, with patterned textiles and vintage furniture.

See more of Quintessential Living’s Eclectic Loft.


Furniture

Winner: Art of Nursery, Justin L. Segal for Storkcraft

Sicily crib from the Art of Nursery collection by Justin L. Segal for Storkcraft
Art of Nursery by Justin L. Segal for Storkcraft. Image courtesy of Storkcraft.

This sculptural collection of nursery furniture is designed with longevity in mind, including convertible bassinets that can become toy boxes or bookcases after babyhood.

Explore Storkcraft’s Art of Nursery collection.


Industrial Design

Winner: Pixi, Nikki Alagha Design

Colourful Pixi modular wall shelving system by Nikki Alagha Design
Pixi by Nikki Alagha Design. Photo by John Bello.

This modular wall system turns ordinary walls into customizable compositions of connected shelves and decorative tiles. Made from wood and metal, the colourful components can be rearranged into everything from floral bookshelves to large-scale feature walls.

See more of Nikki Alagha Design’s Pixi system.


Landscape

Winner: West 22nd Avenue Project, CYAN Horticulture

Woodland-style front garden at CYAN Horticulture's West 22nd Avenue Project in Vancouver
West 22nd Avenue Project by CYAN Horticulture. Photo by Dave Demers.

This Riley Park home in Vancouver features a low-growing “woodland floor” front garden that pairs diverse foliage with limited hardscape: three locally quarried sandstone boulders, natural pavers and a neat line of rectilinear concrete leading to the front entrance.

See more of CYAN Horticulture’s West 22nd Avenue Project.


Maker/One-of-a-Kind

Winner: Matmul, Jamie Girouard

Matmul handmade hooked rug by Jamie Girouard
Matmul by Jamie Girouard. Photo by Jamie Girouard.

This handmade hooked rug uses geometric forms and layered colour to turn the visual language of mathematics and computation into a richly textured, functional work of art.

See more of Jamie Girouard’s hooked-rug work.


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The editorial team at Western Living loves nothing more than a perfectly designed space, place or thing: and we’re here to tell you about it. Email us your pitches at [email protected].