Country Homes
September 5, 2024
Carey And Angela Price Create Their Forever Home In Kelowna, B.C.
For Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, being surrounded by nature is an antidote to life in the white-hot glare of professional hockey. Known for his calm demeanour on the ice, the 2014 Olympic gold medallist was born in Vancouver and raised in Anahim Lake, B.C. In 2011, Carey and his wife, Angela, who owns clothing brands ByAngela the Label and fan apparel line Line Change, bought a rustic house with mountain views in Kelowna, B.C., as an off-season escape. In 2019, they decided to make it their permanent home to share with kids Liv, Millie and Lincoln. “We love anything that gets us outdoors,” says Carey. “Kelowna is our sanctuary; it’s very relaxing while still offering plenty of adventure.”
Carey and Angela initially considered moving to a new house in the area, but they couldn’t find anything comparable to what they already had. So, they decided to stay and soon hired designer Kyla Ray to renovate, redecorate and carve out a more private guest space. “The house had an unusual layout and needed personality,” says Kyla. “The plan was to do a reno, but it quickly snowballed in scope.”
For Carey, an ideal day in Kelowna is dropping the kids off at school, working out in the Fun House, including time in the sauna and cold plunge pool, then getting outdoors to hunt, fish or scout. After school, he’ll take the kids for horseback riding lessons and enjoys riding himself. “When I was travelling for hockey, I missed a lot. It’s been fun to get more involved in the day-to-day stuff with the kids,” says Carey, who played a heroic 2021–22 season, despite grappling with a debilitating knee injury. “This is a place where we plan to make a lot of memories. When I’m here, my focus is on family, health and wellness, and enjoying the time I have with my kids.”
The project involved raising the roof by five feet to make room for an airy guest loft while the main floor would be expanded and redesigned with a more open-concept layout, making it easier to oversee the kids. Over the four-year long reno, the house grew by almost 800 square feet.
Homeowner Angela Price and daughter Liv in the gallery-like foyer, which has a sculptural hanging rack for coats.
Kyla describes the style as “modern farmhouse,” including shiplap, black fixtures, textured grasscloth and fireclay tile. “Angela was really inspired by Montauk, New York, and she doesn’t like too much color,” says Kyla with a laugh. “So the palette is black, white and hints of grey, with lots of custom white oak millwork for warmth.”
Carey and son Lincoln hanging out in the living room.
An open-concept plan is perfect for the kids to easily move through. The sectional is upholstered in performance fabric to withstand spills. To temper the lighter tones, punchy black elements are a recurring motif, seen in the stained shiplap panelling, metal railings, pendants, window frames and even the shower enclosures.
Angela wanted an organized space with lots of natural light, since the house doubles as a photo studio for her clothing brands. The airy and clean-lined kitchen fits the bill, and it has plenty of storage behind white oak cabinets.
“Organization is key to a seamless routine for balancing work with our busy family life,” says Angela, pictured with Carey. “Cooking is my therapy, and wellness and healthy eating are so important to us. The kitchen renovation has elevated our experience.”
Around the corner in the dining area are built-ins with a smoothie station.
In the principal bedroom, the panelled walls and angled board-and-batten ceiling provide texture. Glass doors lead to a patio.
The ensuite’s Dekton floor flows into the wet room. The trough sink, and steel and glass enclosure have a similarly industrial vibe.
Angela’s dressing table in the principal closet occasionally doubles as a desk.
In the living room, glass panels slide open, making it easy to access the outdoor kitchen.
Kyla added this neon sign in the playroom to riff off the jungle-themed wallpaper.
Diamond-shaped floor tile and a sleek tub keep the kids bathroom from feeling juvenile.
The bench in this bathroom is great for tub time and holds toys in Avonite drawers.
“They really wanted that indoor-outdoor living space,” says Kyla. An outdoor kitchen with a smoker, pizza oven and fridge is on the other side of the fireplace.
The spacious two-level guest loft boasts three beds.
Angela chose several photos with references to Montreal for the guest loft gallery wall, nodding to the Canadiens.
Out back is a separate building with a living space, kitchenette, gym, bathroom with steam shower, infrared sauna, and a full-height cold plunge pool on the deck. This is Carey’s domain, coined the Fun House. “When I need time to myself, I head to the Fun House. I’m known to really dig in to a hobby and that’s where I do it.” An avid angler and hunter, Carey even has a dressing station here for deer and other game. The adjacent covered bay accommodates the family’s Airstream camper.
The back of the Fun House has a glass sliding door that lets light stream in to the gym while a covered bay shields the Airstream camper. The stainless steel cold plunge pool on the deck converts into a hot tub.
Post-reno, the house is now primed for entertaining friends and family like Carey’s mom, Lynda, who is chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation, and his dad, Jerry. “Our doors are always open,” says Carey. “We love sitting around the firepit with family and friends on summer nights.”
Janis Nicolay
House & Home
Ron Hart Architecture (architecture)/Kyla Ray (design)/Alexander Suvajac (landscape design)