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

Not everyone needs a house on a lake, but everyone should have a friend who has a house on a lake. Finding that perfect pal—the one with a waterfront property on a serene, gorgeous body of water, with a kitchen designed for entertaining and enough room to comfortably sleep your whole crew—is a true Christmas miracle.

One Vancouver family of four is happy to be that miracle for their loved ones. When the couple purchased vacation property on a remote Sunshine Coast lake, the intention was always to be the hosts with the most. “They both have really tight-knit, big extended families and longtime friends,” says Trish Knight of Knight Varga Interiors. The Vancouver design firm—led by co-founders Knight and Nicole Varga—was brought on to the project with a mandate to create lasting magic. “They really built the home with the intention of creating a legacy and keeping it in the family forever,” Knight says.

The Sunshine Coast is typically recognized as a summer destination, but Knight and Varga created a bright, laidback abode that’s perfect for escaping the city year-round. For the holiday season, floral designer Jehna Chrysler of Hilary Miles Flowers brought in festive greenery and foraged boughs to match the home’s natural materials. “We didn’t want to be too traditional in our colour palette,” explains Varga—bright reds and greens, while jolly, wouldn’t quite vibe with this home’s white oak floors, greyed-out blues and natural stone. “When it came to the decor, we wanted it to reflect the landscape and be earthy and coastal,” adds Knight.

Winter guests entering from the home’s driveway (the “back” of the house, as the lakeside is the face of the project) are welcomed by a door hanging made from evergreen branches tied up with a soft striped linen bow. Just through the door there’s a clear view straight through to the lake, framed by a vaulted ceiling punctuated with natural wood beams. Varga notes that it was important for the space to look grand from both the driveway and the lakeside, and the imposing stone fireplace does the trick. “You can see the stonework throughout the whole upper floor,” she says.

At the base of the double-height fireplace is the living room, where an oversized sectional and equally oversized coffee table invite exceptional coziness. The custom table is intentionally rustic: “You can put your feet up, your dog can run across it, you could spill on it—it isn’t precious,” Knight points out. The Christmas tree adopts the home’s warm neutrals and gentle textures, with wool-wrapped baubles, crepe paper ornaments and tiny knit stockings hanging from select branches. Varga describes it as “a soft coastal calm, simple but elevated.”

Speaking of elevated, even the bunkbeds are stylish in this guest-ready home. One room fits four queen-sized beds but still feels bright and airy thanks to the beds’ perpendicular positioning and white shiplap wall detail. It was designed for the couple’s son (plus friends, cousins or anyone else lucky enough to get an invite). “It’s not just for kids,” says Varga. Adds Knight: “If dad or mom goes up with a bunch of friends, those beds are just perfect.”

Outside, the designers couldn’t resist decorating the dock with a 10-foot tree and twinkling lights. “The dock is the essence of the lake; it’s where a lot of time is spent,” says Varga. It’s a holiday vignette that’s fit for a Christmas card—and a good spot for a little break from houseguests, no matter how beloved: “It’s a nice, quiet opportunity to enjoy your favourite place with a bit more stillness,” Varga says.