I’ve always dreamed of owning a waterfront home, and this new build design by Daphne feels like perfect inspiration with every detail suiting this modern lakehouse in Ontario. The dark brown exteriors wood and the warm neutrals and reeded millwork in the kitchen, paired with a cozy fireplace (it just wouldn’t be complete without one). The mudroom is a dark, moody green and the bedroom and ensuite are layered with soft neutrals.

There’s a reason JM Design won two awards for this moody olive kitchen and marble ensuite at Project Dufferin. The earthy tones, olive cabinetry, warm gold accents, and soft marble surfaces all come together to create a really refined warmth across both spaces. No surprise this one was awarded Best Kitchen and Best Bathroom in Traditional and Transitional Design by UnCommon Ottawa. Great work, Jessica! We can’t get enough of your designs.

Part of photographing interiors is really about understanding the designer’s style and what matters most to them in the spaces they create. In this playroom designed by Rebecca of Maison Ellie, the colour-driven design takes the lead. The soft palette of blues, pinks, and purples shows off Rebecca’s signature touch: fun, functional, and full of personality.

One of my favourite things about shooting interior photography is seeing designers like Jessica, who are so talented at creating inviting spaces that work perfectly for families. She designs homes with intentional details like optimal storage, like in this custom home which is meant to be her client’s forever home. I’ll take you through this project so you can see how Jessica makes the design flow throughout the spaces.

Stepping into this lakeside home was like entering a cozy retreat in Muskoka. It was a strange experience seeing the home owners working from their home offices and working a full day myself from this lodge, yet feeling like I was on vacation and should be sitting by the fire with a book or taking a canoe on the lake. I’m not sure I’d have the will power to wake up to that view every morning, making my coffee while surrounded so by natural materials (both inside the house and out), and still force myself to sit at my desk and be productive for several hours—especially in a home thoughtfully built with passive house design principles.

As mentioned in part one, this space was designed for the client’s grandchildren, so it needed to feel both comforting and inviting, but maintain a mature feel that extends to the rest of the home and, as always, Rebecca nailed it. Soft neutrals and sweet, thoughtful details create a welcoming space and keep clients happy.

Rebecca of Maison Ellie describes this bedroom, though set in the middle of a major Canadian city, as “Country Charm,” and she truly transformed the space to reflect that vision perfectly. Designed with her clients’ grandchildren in mind—and if that doesn’t melt your heart, I don’t know what will—the room features a soft neutral colour palette with pops of blue and yellow throughout, including a custom built-in bunk bed that add even more charm.

We had the privilege of photographing this project for Jessica of JM Designs, and to say we loved it would be an understatement. From clever storage solutions and a refined colour palette to hidden appliances and thoughtfully planned spaces, this home shows what careful design can achieve in a modern Ottawa family home. Every detail was considered to support real life while maintaining a practical and polished feel. Don’t worry—we’ll walk you through every room, including the newly redesigned patio (it’s heated… and yes, we’re jealous).

One of my favourite parts of my job is walking into an interior shoot and being surprised by the space —sometimes the designer will send us photos or renderings beforehand, but the real impact comes when it’s fully styled and we’re seeing it in person for the first time. It’s been a couple of months since this shoot and yet this modern warm-toned kitchen still lives in my head rent free.