“Lake Bonavista is a beautiful and mature community in Calgary, surrounded by nature reserves and small community lakes,” interior designer Stephanie Martin tells us. “The older bungalows in this area are highly sought after, turning over with beautiful and respectful renovations. This particular home faces onto a green space and is surrounded by well-loved gardens maintained by the homeowner.”

The original home had undergone several homeowner renovations, including an addition, prior to the current stewards. “Our clients then lived in the home for several years before they enlisted our firm to reimagine their space,” Stephanie explains. “The renovation included utilizing the floorspace of an unused bedroom to create a much larger ensuite and second dressing room, as well as introducing an entirely new aesthetic throughout.”

The clients are a busy couple—both lawyers—and shared in great detail their love of travel, entertaining friends, and unwinding in their home, so it needed to act as reprieve from their busy careers. “In terms of style direction, however, their preference was for our team to design based on their personalities and our own interpretation of how the home would best reflect them,” the designer explains. 

Before the renovation, the space had finishes that were quite dark and felt dated, with many original features and cabinetry remaining. Stephanie’s goal was to infuse the home with a fresh and cohesive aesthetic while increasing functionality, tailored specifically for the couple’s lifestyle. 

“Our design features a warm, rich, and layered palette with intersecting materials and plenty of texture,” she says. “We wanted to create a space that felt mature and sophisticated but equally full of interest.” She relied on a mix of statement materials, like graphic stone and mirrored finishes, resulting in a striking interior style that doesn’t quite fit into any predefined aesthetic. “Instead, I would describe it as an interior of intrigue that will stand the test of time,” she reflects.

The renovation began in May 2024 after four months of design work and took six months to complete. The clients stayed away from the home near completion to allow for an exciting reveal of the completed space. “Our team, along with the team of Marvel Cabinetry and Renovations, welcomed them home on possession day with a celebratory mimosa to tour their renovated home room by room,” Stephanie recalls. “The clients were blown away by their home, completely reimagined.”

The clients concluded it best: “Stephanie and her team have talent second to none. She delivered an exceptional short list of options with all of our major choices, simplifying the process for us. Not once did we ask her to go back to the drawing board. We just had our first dinner party, and our friends were visibly enamored with the end product, and specifically some of the more unique touches.”

Take a tour in the slideshow.