Homes

Inside Knight Varga’s Fabulous Vancouver Christmas Makeover

From a Christmas tree made of books to a twinkling canopy bed, Knight Varga Interiors transforms a historic wood-panelled library into the ultimate holiday party pad.

By Anicka Quin /
Photos by Janis Nicolay

When designers Trish Knight and Nicole Varga of Knight Varga Interiors agreed to participate in the 2025 Homes for the Holidays charity event at Cecil Green Park House in Vancouver, they knew which room they wanted to transform with holiday spirit: the library. “With its wall panelling and the brick fireplace and all the books, it reads very masculine,” says Knight. “And we wanted to turn it into the ultimate bachelorette pad.”

A Christmas tree made from books and warm white lights takes centre stage in Knight Varga Interiors' festive Vancouver library.
The team designed this ingenious “tree” in the bookshelf by flipping books around to their paper edge in a triangle design, and then outlining the shape in white lights. Photo by Janis Nicolay.
A canopy bed decorated with lush evergreen garlands and twinkling Christmas lights in a historic wood-panelled Vancouver room.
“Lighting is just so important anytime, but I think it’s really important during the holidays,” says Knight. “It needs to be warm and low—so we added a little bit to absolutely everything.” Even the bed frame is glowing with twinkle lights, along with a lush garland from Hilary Miles Flowers. The bedding is from St Genève in soft blush tones and creams. Photo by Janis Nicolay.

Recent editions of this longtime annual event bring together designers to help raise money for YWCA BC’s Housing Action Fund. Each designer is assigned a space at UBC’s historic Cecil Green—from the entry to the conservatory to the porte-cochère—and is then paired with a florist and a retailer to magic it up for the weekend. It’s a little injection of warmth on what is typically a rainy November weekend—and a chance for visitors to bring a few ideas home to their own space. “We want Christmas to be over the top when you walk in the door,” says Knight, “but we want you to be able to take something away, too.”

A fluffy white sheep-shaped bench beside a glowing brick fireplace decorated with evergreen garlands.
The bow-sporting sheep—dubbed “Philippe Sheep” by the duo—is actually a bench from Once a Tree. He was a particular hit with kids, who loved to climb and sit on him. Photo by Janis Nicolay.
A decorated Christmas tree beside an elegant candlelit dining table in a historic Vancouver home.
A Christmas tree and candlelit dining table bring holiday warmth to the historic library. Photo by Janis Nicolay.

READ MORE: Homes for the Holidays: A Victoria Family Home Gets Decked Out for Christmas Past, Present and Future

For this big-city bachelorette design, Knight and Varga brought in furniture and decor from Once a Tree, and even had a bathtub delivered from Robinson Lighting and Bath for the event—though the clothes on the rack nearby actually belong to Varga. “Nicole has a fancier life than I do,” jokes Knight.

“Well, my clothes do,” Varga quips back.

Designers Isabelle MacMillan, Nicole Varga and Trish Knight arranging an elegant Christmas dining table with flowers and candles.
“The tabletop is always important with Homes for the Holidays, because we want to give people ideas they can do at home,” says Varga (centre, with designer Isabelle MacMillan, left, and Knight, right). Hilary Miles Flowers created the arrangement down the centre of the table, and the design team clipped ornamental birds to the napkins—each designed as a pretty pink bow. Real candles bring a warm flickering glow to the table. Photo by Janis Nicolay.
An elegant Christmas table setting with blush-pink bow napkins, bird ornaments, cream flowers and taper candles.
Blush-pink napkins, delicate bird ornaments and flowers dress the holiday table. Photo by Janis Nicolay.
A close-up of a pale pink napkin tied into a bow with a decorative bird, arranged on white dinner plates.
A small ornamental bird completes the bow-shaped napkin at each place setting. Photo by Janis Nicolay.

READ MORE: A Very Coastal Christmas: Inside a Sunshine Coast Lake House for the Holidays

A Christmas tree decorated with glowing warm white lights, silver starburst ornaments and delicate glass decorations.
Warm lights and silver ornaments add sparkle to the Christmas tree. Photo by Janis Nicolay.
Christmas presents wrapped in dark patterned paper and cream paper with blush satin ribbons beneath a decorated tree.
Satin ribbons add a soft finish to the gifts beneath the tree. Photo by Janis Nicolay.
A miniature illuminated gingerbread-style house displayed on books inside a dark wooden bookshelf.
A glowing miniature house nestles among the books. Photo by Janis Nicolay.

READ MORE: Home Tour: Inside a Grande Dame Shaughnessy Home Dressed Up for the Holidays

Homes for the Holidays runs November 21 and 22, 2026, at Cecil Green Park House. For more information, visit homesfortheholidays.ca.

This story originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Western Living.

Anicka Quin

Anicka Quin

Anicka Quin is the editor-in-chief of Western Living magazine and the VP of Content for Canada Wide Media. If you've got a home design you'd like to share with Western Living, drop her a line at [email protected]