Hornby Island Haven: Norra Hem Guest House Is A Luxe Escape In The Heart Of Nature

With its white sand beaches, wild forests and laid back vibe, Hornby Island has been a restorative summer escape for my family since I was a kid. But my family’s recent stay at the luxurious Norra Hem guesthouse took our Hornby R&R tradition to a completely new level.

Nestled in a clearing on the side of a mountain overlooking the sparkling Pacific, Norra Hem (Swedish for North House) has been owned by the same family for two generations.

In 2022 it was renovated, and redesigned by Hanne by Design, using lumber from 25 Douglas fir trees that had fallen during a storm. The 2 bed 1 bath home features an airy open-concept layout with natural light streaming through its many large windows. Beautiful hardwood flooring, a calming neutral palette, and surreal views create a sense of being completely enveloped in nature.

Not to mention that the setting is the stuff of fairytales. When we pulled into the driveway after making our way along a long winding forest road, we were greeted by a deer who stood in a field of fuchsia foxtrots and daisies, looking at us curiously as butterflies fluttered about.

Sometimes family vacations can get a little tense, but the guesthouse’s serene environment was so peaceful that it was impossible to be anything but blissful for the entire trip.

The care and attention given to each and every detail in the home – from the beautiful gold cutlery, to the Chemex pour-over coffee maker, to the sink-into-me Bay Window bench that we dubbed ‘the nap trap’, inspired us to slow down and mindfully enjoy each and every meal, conversation and experience together.

I woke up one morning from the deepest sleep in Lastlight flax linen sheets on a Restwell mattress, and I lay there, still. I swear I could feel the soul of the room, the natural materials: live edge wood slabs in the peaked roof ceiling, nubbly woven wool floor mats – rejuvenating me on a deeper level than I’d experienced before.

Although we didn’t ever feel like leaving the guesthouse, (it was that comfortable), it was conveniently located a short drive from all of our favourite island hot spots.

My mom, brother and I took some time to revisit the places where we had made so many summer memories over the years: Whaling Station Beach with its white sand and sandstone formations, Helliwell Park with its undulating cliffside trail overlooking teal bays, and the Co-op grocery store. We even made a point of driving by the beach cabin we used to rent every summer.

Although our accommodation at Norra Hem was more luxurious than our previous stays, it was equally as relaxed—the ideal space for making memories my family won’t soon forget. —Lise Boullard

Photos by Hanne by Design