Frind Estate Winery — timber-framed entry portico with stone columns, landscaped approach, and tasting room exterior at the former Bennett Estate on Okanagan Lake, West Kelowna — designed by Eurohouse Studio

Frind Estate Winery

Residential to Commercial Conversion — Boucherie Road, West Kelowna — Design & Construction Supervision by Eurohouse Studio

Eurohouse Studio

From Private Residence to North America's First Beachfront Winery

Eurohouse Studio was retained to design and supervise the conversion of a historic lakefront residence on the former Bennett Family Estate — the home of former BC Premier Bill Bennett — into a commercial winery tasting room for Frind Estate Winery. The property sits directly on Okanagan Lake in West Kelowna, surrounded by old-growth Ponderosa pines, and has since become known as North America's first beachfront winery and Canada's most-visited winery, welcoming over 10,000 guests per week during peak season.

Project
Frind Estate Winery
Location
Boucherie Rd, West Kelowna
Type
Residential to Commercial
Use
Winery Tasting Room
Heritage
Bennett Family Estate
Scope
Design + Supervision
Interior Design
Eurohouse Studio
Supervision
Eurohouse Construction

Tasting Room — Design Renders

Eurohouse Studio's concept renders for the tasting room interior — exposed timber trusses, brick accent walls, custom tasting bars with stone countertops, geometric pendant lighting, and herringbone hardwood flooring framing panoramic Okanagan Lake views.

Frind Estate Winery tasting room render — exposed timber trusses, brick walls, custom tasting bars, geometric pendant lighting, and Okanagan Lake views — by Eurohouse Studio
Tasting room — exposed trusses, brick walls, and lake-view glazing
Frind Estate Winery tasting room render — wine display storage, custom bar counters, and herringbone flooring — by Eurohouse Studio
Wine display walls, tasting bars, and herringbone flooring
Frind Estate Winery tasting room render — ornamental entry door, tasting counters, and exposed timber ceiling — by Eurohouse Studio
Entry perspective — ornamental doors and full tasting room composition

Converting a private residential home into a public winery tasting room is one of the most complex transitions in construction. The occupancy reclassification under BC Building Code triggers a complete reassessment: structural capacity must support commercial assembly loads, fire separations between old and new construction must meet current code, egress paths must accommodate public occupant counts, accessibility must be upgraded to barrier-free commercial standards, electrical systems must handle commercial lighting and refrigeration, and plumbing must support public washrooms and commercial food service. On the Frind Estate project, these requirements had to be navigated while preserving the heritage character of the Bennett Estate — a balance between regulatory compliance and architectural sensitivity that demanded precise coordination across every discipline.

Completed Tasting Room

The finished tasting room — Eurohouse Studio's design realised in timber, brick, stone, and steel. Custom tasting bars with illuminated Frind Winery signage, exposed cedar trusses, wine bottle displays, and panoramic lake views through floor-to-ceiling glazing.

Frind Estate Winery completed tasting bar — illuminated signage, exposed timber trusses, brick walls, and geometric pendant lighting — designed by Eurohouse Studio
Completed tasting bar — illuminated signage, timber trusses, and brick walls
Frind Estate Winery tasting bar in operation — stone countertops, wine displays, exposed cedar ceiling, and brick feature walls — designed by Eurohouse Studio
Tasting bar in operation — stone countertops, cedar ceiling, and wine displays

The completed tasting room honours the Bennett Estate's heritage while delivering a commercial hospitality space capable of serving thousands of visitors weekly. Exposed timber trusses reference the original residential roof structure, brick accent walls add warmth and texture, and the custom tasting bars — with their X-brace steel detailing and stone countertops — provide both functionality and architectural character. The design frames Okanagan Lake through full-height glazing, connecting the interior experience to the lakefront setting that makes Frind Estate one of the most distinctive winery destinations in North America.

Lakefront Estate

The Frind Estate property on Okanagan Lake — the former Bennett Family Estate with direct beach access, old-growth Ponderosa pines, sculpture gardens, lakefront seating, and private dock. The setting that earned its designation as North America's first beachfront winery.

Frind Estate Winery lakefront grounds — sculpture, Okanagan Lake beach, dock, and mountain views at the former Bennett Estate in West Kelowna
Lakefront grounds — Okanagan Lake, beach access, dock, and mountain views
Frind Estate Winery exterior — timber-framed entry portico, stone columns, and landscaped approach at the former Bennett Estate in West Kelowna
Entry approach — timber portico, stone columns, and estate landscaping

Residential. Commercial. Heritage. Delivered.

From private homes to public destinations — Eurohouse Studio designs and supervises conversions that bridge the gap between what a building was and what it needs to become.

Start a Conversation →