Western Living Magazine
2026 Kitchen Design Tip #5: Make a Modern Kitchen Feel Original With Traditional Materials
2026 Kitchen Design Tip #4: Use Bulkheads to Cleverly Disguise Plumbing Systems
2026 Kitchen Design Tip #3: Embrace the U-Shaped Island for Entertaining
Recipe: Hopcott Farms Beef Short Ribs with Black Pepper and Sweet Soy (Sườn Bò Nướng)
Recipe: Gai Lan, Ginger and Anh and Chi’s Chilli Oil (Rau Xào Sả Ớt)
5 Scone and Biscuit Recipes to Try This Week
Tofino’s Floating Sauna Turned Me Into a Sauna Person
A Wellness Getaway in Squamish Valley: Off-Grid Yurts, Sauna Cycles and River Calm
Local Getaway Guide: A Peaceful Two-Day Itinerary for Harrison Hot Springs
Protected: Audi Elevates the Compact Luxury SUV
New and Noteworthy: 10 Fresh Home Design Finds for Winter 2026
The Best Home Accessories Our Editors Bought in 2025
Photos: The Western Living Design 25 Finalists Party
2025 Architects of the Year MA+HG On Their Favourite Things
Maker of the Year Winner Andrea Copp’s Local Favourites
A kid-proof (and dog-proof) kitchen from HB Design.
Everything about this summer cabin on Mayne Island is designed to be beautiful, yes—but with a casual durability that isn’t precious. “The clients entertain a lot—they have three kids, and their kids bring friends,” says designer Jennifer Heffel of HB Design. “And they have two older dogs. They wanted it to be durable—he was much more about function over aesthetics.”
So what Heffel delivered was both beauty and resilience: the flooring is actually a vinyl product called White Oil from Duchateau, which is based on the look of the flooring company’s hardwood line, and you’d be hard pressed to spot the difference. In the kitchen itself, Heffel evoked the sea, sand and sun of cabin life with the classic pale blue beadboard cabinetry (Farrow and Ball’s Parma Gray) paired with modern Caesarstone counters in Frosty Carina. And a live-edge bar area on the island—harvested right from the site—keeps the space warm and welcoming.
READ NEXT: More Expert Tips for a Beautiful and Functional Modern Kitchen
The editorial team at Western Living loves nothing more than a perfectly designed space, place or thing: and we’re here to tell you about it. Email us your pitches at [email protected].
Are you over 18 years of age?
Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox 3 times a week.