Slope Style - Whistler Magazine, Winter/Spring 2023

This article was written by Lise Boullard and originally published in the Winter/Spring 2023 issue of Whistler Magazine

Since it was established in the late ’60s, Whistler has grown from a cozy, quaint mountain town to a world-class, four-season resort. Here, four Sea-to-Sky area interior designers share what’s hot on the Whistler design scene.

Natural Wonder

Designer Michelle Gemmill works alongside her husband who runs the home building company Kits Construction, and for the last two years the couple have lived in the Whistler residence they built for their family. Featuring an open concept layout and floor- to-ceiling windows that showcase the lush surrounding forest and mountains, Gemmill’s residence is typical of the biophilia-inspired architecture and design esthetic taking hold in Whistler, where nature becomes the focal point.

With the advent of passive housing and the use of triple-pane windows, it’s now possible to install floor-to-ceiling windows in an area where temperatures drop steeply in winter months, Gemmill says. Bringing the outside in also extends to the materials and colour palette applied inside mountain homes. “I use a lot of deep reds, greens and blues, [representing] the water, trees and leaves. You want to feel like you’re part of nature when you’re in a place this beautiful,” she continues.

Scandinavian Style

Whistler homes are moving away from the rustic, exposed beam chalets of days’ past to a sleek, streamlined, open-concept esthetic that reflects the resort’s position as a decidedly upscale destination.

Designer Ashley de Boer, who lives in Squamish, is relatively new on the interior design scene, but has made her mark as
Sarah Richardson’s design assistant on HGTV’s Mountain Escape (which first aired Wednesday, October 19). The designer says she’s seeing signs of Scandi style everywhere in the Sea to Sky corridor. “Whistler is steering away from the traditional A-frame chalet and more into rectangular-shaped homes with larger windows,”

De Boer explains.
Greys used to be popular but De Boer says that warmer tones

like browns and beiges are making a comeback. “They create a softness and a coziness,” she notes, emphasizing the importance of layering soft textiles and textures to create balance and harmony so that the home doesn’t feel sterile.

Smart Storage

Mud rooms are a must for a mountain resort residence: When you’re looking at the building plans, “take your mud room and double it,” says Gemmill. That means ample space for both winter and summer activity gear and accessories—skis, ski boots, snowboards, cross-country skis, bikes, gloves and helmets— constructed with materials and finishes that withstand wear

and tear.
For their Northern Lights Project, Sea-to-Sky area lead interior

designer Jessica Routhier, the team at GNAR Inc. and builder Peak Ventures created a large functional mudroom with durable non-slip flooring designed to withstand wet ski boots. The space features open cubbies, multiple hooks and vented benches with concealed heaters, which are “great for drying outdoor wear after a wet day on the slopes,” says Routhier.

And not only do Whistler guests and residents need a place
to store their gear, they also need to maintain it. Ultra high-end Whistler homes often have boot dryers installed, De Boer says.

Black Accents

Lynn Gentile, founder and principal designer at Cabin Fever Interiors, has worked in the Whistler area since 1996. She says black accents are a big trend in Sea-to-Sky homes at the moment, “whether as an exterior colour, feature wood, metal seen in hardware, lighting, bathroom fixtures or furniture,”
she explains.

Gentile and her design team have used black in surprising
and unexpected ways in recent projects, whether it’s a feature wall imprinted with a vintage black and white photo of a Whistler chairlift on a wood paneled wall, or a black metal sink popping against a vanity constructed of raw saw-cut wood.

Winter Warmth

No mountain resort home should be without a fireplace. “We have beautiful hot summers but in the winter you really want to cozy up by the fireplace,” Gemmill says. But not all fire features are created equal. “If you can do a wood-burning fireplace, it just gives a different feeling than gas,” she continues.

The designer also loves the new trend she’s seeing of including wood storage right next to the fireplace. “Then you don’t have to go outside; it’s right there handy. And I love bringing wood inside because it creates a sense of warmth,” Gemmill explains. De Boer agrees that fireplaces are a must, and in Whistler she’s noticed a gravitation towards large, oversized styles that become a focal point.

Upscale Finished and Amenities

Its world-class reputation means Whistler tends to attract a more affluent clientele who values high-end finishes, fixtures, décor and interiors. De Boer says paying attention to the details is crucial when it comes to impressing jet-setting renters and owners. “The metal finishes and the quality of the bedding and the towels go a long way in creating those retreat- type environments that feel elevated and luxurious,” explains the designer.

And after a long ski or snowboard day, amenities like a sauna or a
hot tub are also a welcome luxury, De Boer notes.

It all sounds fabulous.