6 Homes with Quintessential Summer Vibes

If reading Carley Fortune books and watching The Summer I Turned Pretty have taught me anything, it’s that I love a beach house. And that I wish I could spend my summer days near the water, eating freshly shucked oysters and watching the sun dip below the horizon.

Since it’s now June and the weather is starting to warm up, this desire has intensified. So, I found myself digging into the WL archives to find coastal homes that give off the same vibes as my favourite summer content—and I was not disappointed with what I found.

Gather ’Round

This West Vancouver home is filled with private, quiet spaces for the owners and their teenage kids—but also a ton of areas that bring the family together. Unsurprisingly, the open-concept main floor is one of them. Who wouldn’t want to hang out and take in those sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean? Check out the rest of this Sophie Burke-designed harbour house.

Tread Lightly

Despite being on a beach, this home didn’t have much of an ocean view. And then Nigel Parish of Splyce Design showed up. He replaced and reoriented the bulky main staircase with barely there steps that are suspended by thin aircraft cables. Now, air and light pour in. See the before and after renovation photos.

Make a Scene

When designers Chad Falkenberg and Kelly Reynolds first stepped into this Sunshine Coast home—seeing the views, the flagstone fireplace and the owners’ collection of mid-century furniture—they realized they had a challenge on their hands.

“The view is so amazing that when you walk in, everything else is backdrop,” says Reynolds, “and we had to make sure it was quiet. We didn’t want to out-stage the setting.” It’s why they went with simple white walls, oak floors and teak cabinetry. Step inside this coastal getaway.

Coast Along

The owner of this waterfront home was seeking a casual, easy feel that evoked a beach house. So, the team at Measured Architecture brought in concrete floors and comb-faced stained western red cedar panelling.

“He came to us showing pictures of cabins and beach houses that weren’t fussy,” says principal Clinton Cuddington. “He wanted to be able to walk in with sandy feet.” Find out how this vision was brought to life.

Throw a Curve

To maximize views, the team at BattersbyHowat gave this Sunshine Coast home a slight boomerang shape. This structure not only mirrors the rocky bay below, but also directs the views from inside to various moments along the shore. The main room, for example, looks out over the Strait of Georgia—but the master bedroom is angled toward a point. Explore this modern dream home.

Sail Away

Cedric Burgers describes this residence as an oasis of serenity and it’s pretty hard to argue with him. Louvered fins made of anodized aluminum, placed at just the right angle, simultaneously maximize the home’s views and privacy. “It creates the feeling of being at anchor on a luxury yacht in a secluded sunny anchorage,” he says. Tour this West Vancouver home.