This year’s home, unveiled at 1077 Manhattan Drive [Tickets available here], carries not only the promise of a life-changing prize but also the mark of a designer whose career is only just beginning to take flight. Victoria Morphy, the creative mind behind the 2026 Dream Home, first went to school for event planning. It was there […]
This year’s home, unveiled at 1077 Manhattan Drive [Tickets available here], carries not only the promise of a life-changing prize but also the mark of a designer whose career is only just beginning to take flight.
Victoria Morphy, the creative mind behind the 2026 Dream Home, first went to school for event planning. It was there she got her first taste of design, realizing she was drawn less to the logistics of events and more to shaping the spaces where those events took place. That discovery shifted her path, eventually leading her to launch her own business, 12|26 Design Co. — a nod to her December 26 birthday. Now four years old, 12|26 has grown into a thriving design company with projects ranging from restaurants and med spas to residential developments and public gathering spaces across Southwestern Ontario.
Design, Morphy admits, has always been in her blood. Growing up with a mother who is an interior designer, she was exposed early on to the craft. Watching her mom’s projects unfold left a lasting impression, and she credits that influence as one of the main reasons she chose to pursue design herself. Even today, her mother occasionally joins her on projects, a collaboration that ties her career back to her roots. “She’s been such a big inspiration,” Morphy said. “I couldn't have done it without her.”
Based in London, Morphy has already built an impressively varied portfolio. She has designed golf course clubhouses, amenity spaces in high-rises, and even partnered with her mother on certain projects in a professional capacity. “I like to be able to do a little bit of everything,” she said, adding that the diversity of work has shaped her approach to design.
When she was brought on to design the Dream Home, Morphy approached it with both imagination and restraint. She wanted to ensure the house felt current, but not so tied to 2025 trends that it would quickly feel dated. “I like to keep it current, but not in a way that in a couple of years you’ll say, ‘oh, that was so 2025,’” she said.
Instead, she leaned on timeless architectural details given a contemporary twist. A series of elliptical archways inspired by cathedral forms became a design thread running through the house. Visitors spotted it in the kitchen cabinetry, the circular dining table, the curved fireplace detail, the office, the custom basement metalwork and wine display, and again in the upstairs primary suite. “Because it’s a Dream Home, you can push boundaries and show something a little more unique,” she said.
Colour was another area where Morphy stretched her creativity. Usually known for her neutral palettes, she surprised herself by drenching the office in a deep merlot purple. “I love a moody space,” she admitted. “If I can colour drench an office, a powder room, or a basement, I probably will almost every time.” The bold choice drew praise from visitors who noted the extra care and attention to detail throughout the home.
Asked to name her favourite space, Morphy hesitated. “I love each space for its own reason,” she said. “That’s the beauty of design — creating a special moment in every room.” If pressed, she points to the kitchen and main living area, which she calls the anchor of the house. “The kitchen is the heart of the home. That’s where everything branches from, and where we introduced the curved details that carried throughout.”
Working with Bridlewood Homes, Morphy said she was given remarkable freedom to execute her vision. Builder Carmine Gargarella trusted her instincts, offering support while encouraging her to run with her ideas. “That freedom was really fun,” she said. “Especially for a project like this, where you want to give people something they haven’t seen before.”
The Dream Home also introduced her to local artisans and makers in Sarnia. Through collaborations, she discovered woodworkers and artists whose contributions added character to the project. “It spoke to the type of community Sarnia is,” she said. “Supportive, talented, and full of people who want to help each other succeed.”
For Morphy, the project is both humbling and exhilarating — a chance to showcase her work on a stage unlike any other. At just the beginning of her career, she has already proven that her design sensibility is sophisticated, versatile, and distinctly her own.
“I still can’t believe it sometimes,” she said. “It’s been a crazy ride, but I’m grateful for every project I’ve been able to take on.”
One lucky ticket holder will eventually hold the keys to this $1.46-million prize, or choose $1 million in cash instead. But for now, those who have walked through the house have already experienced Victoria Morphy’s dream up close — translated into wood, colour, and curve, one thoughtful detail at a time.
