Designing for Forever: A Deep Cove Family Home Eight Years in the Making

Timing is everything. And sometimes the right home takes eight years to find you.

That’s how long Shaun and Georgina Wysiecki had spent eyeing “The Point House” from a couple doors down in their Deep Cove neighbourhood—admiring, dreaming, manifesting. The property had everything they wanted in a forever home: forest and ocean views, room for their family to grow, and a dramatic river rock fireplace anchoring the living room.

“That property, that view—it’s a magical property for sure,” says Jamie Deck, creative director at Shift Interiors. “They never thought it would ever go for sale.” So when it finally did, the Wysieckis jumped at the chance, bringing with them two kids, three dogs, a strong vision and a little bit of luck. Together with Shift Interiors, Evoke International Design and Struction Projects, they set out to breathe new life into the 3,600-square-foot house, which had sat empty for nearly a decade, and turn it into a home built to last.

From the start, the goal was to create a long-term retreat that could evolve with the family’s needs. Rather than chasing trends or filling space with decor, it was about providing room to breathe as they started a fresh chapter. “They don’t like a lot of things in their space,” says Deck. “We just put the key pieces in, so they can grow over time and collect things.”

Colour and materiality were another key piece. The initial concept had extensive wood panelling, with the clients gravitating toward forest green and navy blue. While the palette echoed the surrounding nature, it risked feeling dark and heavy during West Coast winters. “It’s grey 70 per cent of the year, so using bright whites and [colours] like that in Vancouver is critical, otherwise you end up in a very dark environment,” explains Deck.

To lighten the overall mood, the Shift team layered in soft whites, natural stone and earthy textures. “You don’t notice the colours because they are the right tone and the right shade,” says Shift interior designer Florencia Munaretto. “It makes sense in the house. It feels like that because things were really thought out.”

With kids, pets and a love of entertaining, the space also had to feel functional yet casual. A taupe sectional, large oak dining table and open-concept layout made the living area feel welcoming and flexible enough for large gatherings. Overhead, organic Bocci lights add softness while natural textures help warm up the home’s clean lines. “I think the space is quite architectural, so it could come across as cold modern,” Deck notes. “So we were really mindful of the textures that we used in the space, making sure that we had the earth elements.”

Just beyond the living room, full-height glazing frames the ocean view, offering a constant, calming backdrop. In the summer months, large sliding glass doors open onto a patio that extends the living and dining areas for indoor-outdoor hosting. “We just really wanted to create an environment for them that was really healing and peaceful,” shares Deck.

Moving into the kitchen, a hidden mini bar, designed with Shaun’s love of hosting in mind, is tucked behind pocket-style cabinet doors that slide out of sight when open. “They really knew what they wanted,” notes Deck, speaking to the collaborative design process. “It was so nice to have [the clients] share what their need was.”

Originally, the Wysieckis had envisioned a bold, all-green kitchen, but the Shift team suggested a more nuanced approach. “I always ask the clients: ‘Do you want that long-term?’” says Deck. “We can easily change drawers that are green versus a whole wall.” In the end, the team balanced playfulness with practicality: deep green drawers paired with light wood millwork, black brown cabinets and earthy countertops.

The forest green was then reapplied to other spaces, like in the powder room and a colour-drenched mudroom. “We feel that’s a better investment long-term,” Deck adds. “That’s a utilitarian environment that we made look kind of fun.”

Beyond the kitchen, flexibility and functionality continue to guide the design. Right off the powder room, a children’s playroom doubles as a guest suite—and eventually a media room when the kids are older. Here, the Shift team leaned into storage with a full wall of custom millwork that hides away toys, books and collectibles. From that same wall, a built-in Murphy bed provides space for visiting relatives.

“We have to be able to transition the rooms naturally,” says Deck. “We’re always looking at how the space functions architecturally.”

Back in the living room, millwork was used again strategically. The recessed media wall once felt disconnected from the rest of the furniture (like “a hole in the wall,” as Munaretto puts it). To tie it all together, the team added wood panelling that extends from the edge of the TV unit toward the glazing. The result is one continuous plane of millwork that grounds the room and draws your eye outside. “It leads your eye to the big window, to the water,” says Munaretto. “It’s just one way of incorporating that holistically.”

But beyond colours, furnishings and finishes, it’s about seeing it all come together. And after waiting almost a decade, the Point House finally feels like home. “We really wanted to create for them a space that was timeless from the beginning,” says Deck. “So that 20 years from now, they could still be enjoying the environment.”

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