London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Oct 20, 2025

A Three-Level Redwood Deck Spurs a Spellbinding Link to Nature Near Cascade Bay

A Three-Level Redwood Deck Spurs a Spellbinding Link to Nature Near Cascade Bay

After purchasing a home on Harrison Lake in British Columbia, a local family uses sustainably produced redwood to nurture harmonious indoor-outdoor living.

With its storied past and majestic present, Harrison Lake has long been an alluring mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a flavorful feast of hiking, fishing, and boating excursions. While it attracts visitors from across the globe, the lake’s size-it is the largest lake in Southwestern British Columbia-allows for plenty of pockets that radiate both seclusion and serenity. In one of those calm plots, a multi-level residence rests along the forested shores, delicately blending into its surrounding natural habitat.



Composed mainly of wood, glass, and stone, the striking home sits tucked away in a quiet cove on Harrison Lake, located at the tip of the Cascade Peninsula, just two hours east of Vancouver.

Originally built in 1999, the home switched ownership two decades later in 2019 when a local family with strong ties to the area purchased it to be used primarily as a weekend retreat. Along with the mesmerizing views enveloping the property, current homeowner Ed Watkins explains it was the sentimental value of the site that sealed the deal. "I grew up living in the Harrison Lake area, and met my wife on the beach at Harrison Hot Springs some 44 years ago. My grandfather and father also logged the area back in the 1950s and 60s, and actually had a logging camp on the lake in Cascade Bay near where our cabin is located."



To foster a more intimate connection with nature, the current owners, who bought the home in 2019, remodeled the original decking area, expanding it to offer an additional 1,200 square feet, spread across three levels.



A glass railing system was installed across the various levels as a way to capture unobstructed lakeside views.

While the home overall featured good bones, it lacked the strong indoor-outdoor connection the Watkins Family desired, so once the acquisition was complete they quickly began remodeling. "We decided we wanted a covered outdoor space with a fireplace so we could enjoy the deck not only in the warm summer months, but also in cooler weather," says Watkins. The project resulted in an expansive, three-level deck, which added 1,200 square feet of outdoor living space to the home.



The owners replaced the original decking material, which was pressure-treated pine, with a clear redwood grade, allowing the deep, reddish hues to contrast with the sparkling blue water steps away.

"The lower front deck hangs out at the water’s edge, capturing great views of the lake and surrounding mountains," states Watkins, "and is mostly used for lounging around on sunny summer days." The upper deck, which he notes is relied on for outdoor dining and entertaining, includes a covered barbeque and outdoor kitchen, as well as enough space for ample seating. Stacked stone hugging the fireplace stretches from floor to ceiling, adding texture and sophistication. "The fireplace area has been a great year-round spot for family-and-friend gatherings."



The covered section on the upper deck features a vaulted timber ceiling.



Stone and redwood harmoniously mingle in the covered outdoor area, creating a cozy hub for small- or large-scale entertaining, with the open-air layout facilitating consistent waterfront breezes.

When it came time to select the material for the deck, the family opted to shift away from the original pressure-treated pine and chose sustainably harvested Humboldt Sawmill redwood for both its natural durability and rich variations of color. "We liked the contrast between the dark red and white colors of the redwood," recalls Watkins, noting how the species not only complements the home but also the local environment. In addition to the main, three-level deck, the family also used redwood deck boards on the home’s rear barbecue area, as well as the space leading down to the boat dock, which further enhanced the dwelling’s cohesive style.



Various seating areas can be found throughout all three levels of the deck, offering differing views of the natural surroundings.



Redwood deck boards continue to the covered barbeque area located on the back of the house.

"The home is obviously in a breathtaking location, right on the water's edge, surrounded by lots of natural beauty and natural materials. The choice of anything other than a durable, natural wood species for the decking would have clashed with the design and overall setting," states the Humboldt Sawmill team. Given how the home is located in a high-fire hazard area, the family took extra steps of precaution by selecting redwood decking treated with a Class A exterior fire retardant, Thermex-FR®, from Chemco, Inc.-a material that may be used without restriction in fire hazard areas.



The west side of the deck near the principal suite features a covered workout area.

"We look forward to enjoying lounging, dining, and entertaining on all areas of the redwood deck, which blends in with the natural beauty of the surrounding forests and water," adds Watkins. "We couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out."



A peek at the lower-level front deck, overlooking Harrison Lake.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
Bessent Accuses China of Dragging Down Global Economy Amid New Trade Curbs
U.S. Revokes Visas of Foreign Nationals Who ‘Celebrated’ Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
DJI Loses Appeal to Remove Pentagon’s ‘Chinese Military Company’ Label
EU Deploys New Biometric Entry/Exit System: What Non-EU Travelers Must Know
Australian Prime Minister’s Private Number Exposed Through AI Contact Scraper
Ex-Microsoft Engineer Confirms Famous Windows XP Key Was Leaked Corporate License, Not a Hack
×