Vibrant Hillside House in West Vancouver, BC
September 7, 2026
Design: Frits De Vries and PippyLui Design Studio
Location: West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Photos by Provoke Studios
The Vibrant Hillside House was the personal residence of designer Phyllis Lui, aka PippyLui, and became one of her most personal and challenging design projects to date. Designed for her family of four, including two young children and pets, every decision had to balance beauty with the realities of everyday family life.
Durability, storage, functionality, and finishes that could stand up to years of wear and tear were carefully considered, while custom elements throughout the home were designed to make the space feel unique and distinctly their own.
The renovation journey was anything but straightforward. Originally purchased during the pandemic, the project faced the supply chain delays, material shortages, and rapidly escalating construction costs that became synonymous with the era.
Then midway through construction, a significant structural issue was discovered: the original home had been built without proper footings. As a result, the second floor had to be raised and the main floor reconstructed, adding considerable complexity, time, and cost to the renovation.
Despite the unexpected challenges, the project became an opportunity to rethink the home from the ground up. The result is a highly personalized family home that combines thoughtful functionality with character, designed not only for how the family lives today, but to evolve with them for years to come.
How did designing your own home, especially with two young kids and pets, influence your design choices compared to client projects? What were the unique challenges and joys of being both the designer and the homeowner?
I knew the limitations of certain products so needed to carefully consider them in all my choices. As well unique challenge of being both the designer and the homeowner was that I had knowledge of too many products and styles so narrowing it down proved to be a challenge!
Vibrant Hillside House in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – Property Information
- Architect: Frits De Vries – https://frits.ca/
- Project size: 6300 ft2
- Site size: 14500 ft2
- Completion date: 2023
- Building levels: 3
- Photographer: Provoke Studios
Interior design: PippyLui Design Studio – https://www.pippylui.com/
Vibrant Hillside House, West Vancouver, British Columbia images / information received 070926
Location: West West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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