The Most-Read Western Living Stories of 2025

We editors have our own favourite stories from 2025, of course, but it’s always fun to look back and see what articles delighted our readers over the course of the year. As usual, you’ve proved you’ve all got impeccable taste. This year’s list of the most popular stories is a mix of gorgeous home profiles, inspiring local travel tales and our signature design award programs. Thanks for reading in 2025, and we can’t bring you more of what makes the West great in 2026.

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Our Readers’ Favourite Stories of 2025

Credit: Yellow Point Lodge

10. Vancouver Island’s Ladysmith Mixes Small Town Charm with Big City Culture

If you’re looking for an island getaway, Ladysmith delivers, reports writer Anjini Snape, who put together this guide to the charming beachside town.

9. Why Nelson, B.C., Is the Small Town You’ll Want to Move To

Another delightful small town made the cut for this year’s list of most popular stories: senior editor Stacey McLachlan’s trip to Nelson, B.C., fell hard for the Kooteneys.

8. Our Favourite Pieces from the New 2025 Ikea Stockholm Collection

When Ikea dropped their first new Stockholm collection in years, we were first in line to take a look at the design-forward pieces—and found plenty to love among the Scandi-cool wares.

7. Before and After: A Kits Point Beach House Gets a Cozy, Global-Inspired Makeover

The homeowners of this Kits Point spot wanted the design to be inspired by the West Coast, but also by their international travels and Afghani and Indian backgrounds. With the help of PlaidFox Studio, a dream beach house was born.

6. This Gorgeous Remote Cabin Took Just Two Days to Build

Remote construction often has its challenges—but this gorgeous home for two Vancouverites was built on site in just two days. And thanks to its low-impact prefabricated design, it also isn’t short on style.

5. Before and After: A Westside Split-Level Gets a Dramatic Makeover

The homeowners of this westside split-level had lived in their 3,200-square-foot home happily as they raised their daughters, but as the kids got into their teens, the family realized they needed a little more room to breathe. One Seed Architecture arrived on the scene to help the property reach its full potential.

 

4. This Mid-Century Modern Palm Springs Home Renovation Is Pitch Perfect

For this midcentury renovation in Palm Springs by Vancouver designer Stephanie Brown, the challenge was to celebrate heritage while avoiding 1950s kitsch. Here’s how she cleared that hurdle and created a pitch-perfect Cali retreat.

3. Inside a Modern Mountain Sanctuary Built Into the Squamish Wilderness

Architecture firm BattersbyHowat worked some magic on this jagged lot in Squamish, B.C., settling a 5,000 square foot house deep into the mountainside to truly honour the landscape—and take advantage of the stunning views.

2. The Winners of the 2025 WL Design 25 Awards

The People’s Choice voting component of our WL Design 25 awards program drove record traffic, but readers were also delighted to discover the winners of our second-annual project competition.

1. Designers of the Year 2025: These Are This Year’s Winning Western Canadian Designers

Our annual celebration of the best in Western Canadian design puts a spotlight on designers across a wide range of disciplines. These are the architects, interior designers, furniture designers, ceramicists and jewellers who wowed our judging panel (and, apparently, our readers!) in 2025.