A delicate balance between conservation and transformation to suit the needs of a Rosemont family.
This duplex in Old Rosemont had only had three owners since its construction in 1929 ! With children growing up and overseas relatives frequently visiting, the first floor apartment was no longer adequate. How to transform a duplex into a single-family home without distorting this architectural gem of the 1930s ?
To achieve this objective, the architects chose to leave intact most of the existing rooms with their large wooden trims and antique plaster mouldings. At the back, a fine line is traced between the conserved and transformed portions. Articulated by a new white wainscot staircase framing a large skylight, the entire back of the house is bathed in natural light. A new glazed door in the rear façade links the kitchen to its terrace. A large trap door cleverly hidden in the wood surface provides convenient access to the basement. At the back of the yard, the hemlock fence is both bike storage and a large sliding door for parking a car. This beautiful Old Rosemont home is ready for another 100 years of family life !
Interior remodeling of a 70s townhouse in Outremont
The original construction of this townhouse suffered from numerous defects. Uninsulated concrete block exterior walls and several major structural issues provided the opportunity to redesign the interior. Like the great horned owl which does not build its own nest but rather improves that of another bird, this client wanted to improve several rooms of her future home: reconfiguration of the entrance and staircase, transformation and opening of the kitchen to the living room. On the second floor, the bathroom is enlarged to accommodate an Italian shower and a large bath. Adjacent to the basement parking garage, the laundry room, mechanical room and storage room are revised. The custom-made furniture’s ash wood is what warms the whole like the straw of a nest.
Familiar with major renovations, this contractor client wanted to completely strip the ground floor interior of her new triplex in Ahuntsic, Montreal. While the dwelling was in overall good condition despite years of wear and tear, she didn’t see herself living in a typical 1970s layout.
Conscious of the need to reorganize the rooms to accommodate the family as well as to open the living areas to the courtyard, the architects nevertheless proposed to preserve and enhance several elements of the original dwelling. The long plastered walls defining the central circulation are painted terracotta to match the pink granite inserts of the original terrazzo floor. The new white painted steel railing brightens up the whole with its integrated planter.
The front rooms retain their white oak marquetry with walnut inserts, whose new varnish emphasizes their raw beauty. The softer atmosphere of the living rooms is enhanced by the built-in furniture’s cherry wood. Revaluing 70s interior heritage in 2022, an audacious but judicious choice!
In the heart of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, this magnificent century-old house with its sumptuous interiors was disfigured in the 1960s by an unfortunate courtyard extension. How could the kitchen be redesigned and an inviting access to the courtyard be provided without disfiguring this ancestral home?
In addition to repairing the structure and brick cladding, the extension walls were pierced with large openings to take better advantage of the beautiful southeastern light. The kitchen now opens onto the annex, connected by the extension of its counter which becomes a bar, then a cushioned bench perfect for enjoying an aperitif! The whole leads to a large sliding wooden door which offers a striking view of the courtyard.
The aesthetic blends contemporary minimalism with ornamental details typical of days past. Stained red oak floors, natural white oak cabinetry, textured glass and powder-coated steel, white marble and solid wood millwork blend naturally with the Victorian interiors of this Montreal heritage building. Improved insulation and the use of natural materials help curb the carbon impact of this beautiful transformation in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.
Major interior remodeling of a single-family home in Cartierville
Built by a developer nearly twenty years ago, this single-family residence no longer suited the needs of the family who had lived there since the birth of their children. The cramped kitchen, separated from the former boudoir and living room, took little advantage of the natural light available on the site.
By transforming the boudoir into a large dining room and opening it to the kitchen, the interior of the house took on a whole new look. Many of the original components, including the staircase and the floors, were restored. The addition of integrated furniture, including the desk and its library on the second floor and the dish cabinet on the ground floor, opened up the space. The patio door was replaced by a high window to extend the kitchen to the exterior walls and provide a double view of the courtyard and the new living room. The happy family can now see clearer with these two beautiful openings, nicknamed the “bifocals”!
A 1960s bungalow redesigned after a fire at Ferme-Sainte-Thérèse in Laval
The scene is heartbreaking but hopeful. Along with their architect, a young family visits its bungalow, devastated by fire. The objective is to build back… better ! The existing residence’s footprint is preserved to reduce the project’s environmental impact on this picturesque site bordering the Mille-Îles River. Inspired by the neighborhood’s old wooden cottages, the simple two-sloped volume is punctuated by a transverse dormer housing the master bedroom. The living areas on the ground floor are made that much vaster by the cathedral ceiling above. The grey stone masonry with its great metal roof confers a timeless air to the building, contrasting with the changing colors of the lush neighborhood. Reflecting the cycle of seasons, the Phoenix of the Thousand Islands rises from its ashes!
How to enlarge and modernize a charming 1950’s residence without spoiling it ? This is the challenge that this young family set for the remodelling of their new home. Located a short walk from Monkland promenade in the beautiful Notre-Dame-de-Grâce district, the building was not particularly appealing with its small gloomy kitchen, its narrow entrance and its outdated interiors. By building an extension for the dining room and master bedroom on the south side of the lot, the house enjoys many more generous views of the spacious backyard. All built-in furnishings, from the kitchen to the small office, closets and vanities, are finished in white oak, just like the new windows with their deep frames.
Outside, the dark blue stained cedar siding complements the typical Montreal red clay brick. The pitched roof follows the angle of the existing false mansard. The whole is harmonious, warm and welcoming. Decidedly, the young family is in heaven in this charming house from another century!
How to live in the city without compromising high quality outdoor spaces? Located in the heart of the “Cité-Jardin du Tricentenaire”, the small serial house type MC1 takes up the challenge! Rethought from the inside, it is now adapted to the needs of a young family. The strategic transformation of its dormer window increases the living space upstairs while maintaining its original footprint. The compact and functional living spaces on the first floor are organized around a central circulation and offer numerous visual breakthroughs to the outside. The soft and homogeneous palette of interior finishes contrasts with the site’s lush vegetation.
The quality of the intervention is based on its simplicity. In respect with the historical context of this post-war neighborhood, the original features of the small house have been maintained, preserving its charm. The new, very generous openings at the rear transform the residence into a veritable observation and interaction device with the garden. This approach enhances the ideals that founded this low-density urban development, which still serves as a model for rethinking the city… in times of pandemic !
A family builds a new intergenerational chalet above their ancestral Mont-Tremblant cabin dating back to the 1940s.
When everyone was going up north, the family lived in tight quarters in this modest, self-built cottage nearly 60 years ago on a beautiful lakefront property. To preserve the family’s heritage but also to limit the building’s footprint, the architects decided to support the expansion with a new post-and-beam frame over the original structure. The restored old cabin accommodates a part of the family in this new intergenerational residence, which now includes a second upstairs cabin with a mezzanine suite and a large shared basement.
The gabled design is characterized by a large dormer window on one side and an upper level terrace on the other to enjoy scenic views of the woods and lake. The very large windows flood the red pine and Douglas fir interiors with warm and inviting natural light. The thick walls offer superior insulation with the bottom part finished in limestone and upper in cedar shingles. The volume composes an almost monumental architecture, softened by the use of natural materials in harmony with the vegetation. The family is now ready to resume its traditional festivities for many generations to come !
An Upper Westmount Victorian home is refurbished to better open onto the garden and its pool.
Built in 1910, this house on the hill had an addition built in 1928, a concrete swimming pool back from the 1970s and some interior upgrades with varying degrees of success over the years. The purpose of the project was to preserve and enhance the original Victorian-style character of the house, so all the interventions were done in accordance with the architecture of the time. Strategic openings, a new terrace and the redesign of the swimming pool have improved the free-flowing layout at the rear of the house.
On the garden level, a former dark laundry room now offers a beautiful spacious and bright family room. The varying ground levels allow direct access to the English garden. By maximizing the windows, modifying the position of mechanical and service areas, the architects have created new, bright living spaces while showcasing this beautiful example of Victorian architecture of Upper Westmount.
