Search

The Kalamalka Lake Home Pays Homage to its Mid-Century Roots Through a Modern Lens

12.20.18 | By
The Kalamalka Lake Home Pays Homage to its Mid-Century Roots Through a Modern Lens

We’ve seen what Nathan Buhler’s BLDG Workshop can do (remember the Bunkie prefab cabins?) and just recently he collaborated with his interior designer sister, Adrianne Bailie, on a project much larger in scale. For the Kalamalka Lake Home, located in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, the pair had to make the decision to either tear down the 1970’s original house and start over or to renovate it. Buhler chose the later and worked to design the house in a sustainable and cost effective manor that preserved the lot’s vegetation.

The original house was divided up, dark, and wasn’t designed to enjoy the lake and surrounding views. It was transformed to allow in as much natural light throughout the day through carved windows and skylights.

The contemporary exterior features contrasting colors and textures with charred cedar cladding (Shou Sugi Ban) and smooth white finishes that pay homage to its mid-century roots.

An Ipe wood deck retracts to reveal a hidden hot tub. When it’s not in use, the hot tub is covered and ready for outdoor dining.

The side facing the lake was opened up with tilt slide windows that dissolve the indoor/outdoor barrier.

Right by the lake, a Beach Hut was built to host a casual seating area next to the water.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.