Peek inside a contemporary heritage home on Okanagan Lake

Story of a lake house

Historic houses are not without their challenges. Period details, dark rooms and poky floor plans can all wreak havoc with our modern lifestyle. When that home is part of a local heritage-conservation area, the renovation restrictions can be even more daunting. Add an owner who happens to be a designer, and the stakes get interesting. How do you honour the past while modernizing for the present? That was the challenge for Terry and Hilde Schneider when they bought the home in 1991.

The Adams house, as it’s known, sits in a prime location on Okanagan Lake in downtown Kelowna, B.C. Originally built in 1922 for William E. Adams, a prominent local businessman, it was styled in a Georgian-revival manner with classical proportions and formal details. The interior had become a mishmash of original features and dated renovations, including a 1950s wood-panelled kitchen with avocado-coloured appliances and an array of tired wallpapers. Hilde decided to keep the original floor plan but update everything else. With an eye for design, she stayed true to the spirit of the house while infusing it with a modern flair.

As the Schneider family grew, they added a great room and a guest bedroom followed by a full wing in 2006. Hilde kept the new architecture similar to that of the original house. Inside, she decorated with updated traditional pieces that reflect the heritage of the house yet work perfectly in a modern context. Her love of New England–style homes is evident throughout, but particularly in the stunning great room with a view to the lake. “For 23 years, we’ve enjoyed this commanding view of Okanagan Lake. It stops you in your tracks every time you see it.” In other words, it was well worth any challenges the couple faced while making the home their own.

P.S. This home once belonged to the family of our home editor, Emma, who spent her summers here as a teenager!

Add textured accessories to a neutral room

A rough-hewn wooden stool, a knitted pouf and natural wood branches bring a rustic elegance and energy to the great room. If you prefer muted, monochromatic colour palettes, liven up your space with tactile materials like wicker, latticework, nailhead details or patterned fabrics.

Get this look: Chair, Restoration Hardware.

Go for a traditional claw-foot tub in a modern bathroom

A reproduction bathtub and painted wainscotting in the new lakeside addition recreate the historical tone of the original house. Choose a traditional-looking faucet and hand-held shower to complement the look.

Get this look: Tub, Vintage Tub & Bath.

Max out kitchen storage with floor-to-ceiling cabinets

Choose a counter-depth fridge and slide-in range over standard models to create a sleek, professional-looking kitchen without breaking the bank on high-end luxury appliances. Extend cabinets right to the ceiling and finish with crown moulding to make the most of your storage space.

Get this look: Stools, Design Within Reach.

Pull furniture away from your walls

A tufted loveseat and a wicker bench fill a light, airy corner in the new wing. Put a bit of distance between your furniture and the walls to create breathing space and make a room seem bigger. An area rug placed underneath the grouping anchors the vignette and makes it feel complete.

Get this look: Loveseat, Chintz & Company. Rug, Hiprugs. Accessories, HomeSense.

Play up an intricate bed frame with a bold feature wall

In the bedroom of the new wing, subtle floral wallpaper and a dramatic grey curtain serve as backdrop to an elaborately carved bed. Updated traditional pieces like the mirrored nightstand bridge the gap between the historical and the contemporary.

Get this look: Bed frame, Sears. Nightstand, Pier1.

Set up your outdoor space with handy furniture

An all-weather console table is a great spot to store items that are used on a daily basis. Keep towels, lanterns and mesh food covers close at hand, so you’re not always having to run inside.

Get this look: Table, Pier1.

Create a breezy, shaded retreat

The original deck of the house was topped with a sun-shading roof complete with fans to provide some much-needed relief from the hot Kelowna sun. Bright turquoise and mossy-green accessories energize neutral patio furniture.

Get this look: Accessories, HomeSense.

Tie rooms together with an accent colour

Adjacent rooms in the new addition (pictured above and left) are unified by a warm grey. Even a small accent like a tray or the border on a mirror is enough to bring a sense of coherence to the whole space.

Get this look: Mirror, Wayfair.

Things to do in Kelowna

Terry and Hilde shared their top tips for visiting their home town.

1. Don't miss Quails’ Gate Winery’s Old Vines Restaurant, jogging along the lakeside boardwalk or taking in a free summer concert through Parks Alive.

2. Get outside and explore the long sunny days with very little rain (Kelowna has a desert-like climate) make this a golfer’s paradise, with more than 20 courses. There are also wine trails and of course stunning Okanagan Lake with its beaches, sailing and swimming.

3. Shop till you drop! Hilde’s top picks for interior design heaven: Olive & Elle, La Bonne Vie, Cranberry Junction, Baths by Design, A Touch of Class Upholstery, and Beachcomber Home & Leisure, to name a few.

For more information check out Tourism Kelowna.