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      Jean Verville Architecte inserts gridded steel lightwell into Montreal home

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      Canadian studio Jean Verville Architecte has created a theatrical interior inside a Montreal house by adding a large steel structure capped by a skylight that casts dramatic shadows.For the project, called MSO; Play/Pause, the studio completely reorganised the interior of the building and built a 12-metre-high steel lightwell in the centre of the three-storey house.

      Top image: the steel structure casts dramatic shadows. Above: it runs through the house
      The house belongs to a pair of actors, Sophie Cadieux and Mani Soleymanlou, so Jean Verville Architecte designed them a  home that could double as a performance venue.
      “We subtracted floor sections from the heart of the house to insert the steel structural installation, ” studio founder Jean Verville told Dezeen.
      “The rooms on the outskirts have been kept but redistributed to new versatile functions.”

      Light from the skylight is scattered across the ground-floor kitchen

      The steel installation measures five by five metres. A skylight caps the structure, turning it into a lightwell that casts theatrical shadows in the rooms.
      Its addition breaks up the shapes of the existing rooms, creating an interesting new layout for the owners as they go about their daily lives.

      The steel grids create decorative shadows
      As the structure unfolds over the three floors of the four-bedroom house, it creates what the studio describes as “pauses,” with functional spaces at the bottom of the building followed by living spaces and then bedrooms.
      “We start with the first two scenic pauses on the ground floor with the kitchen and the multifunction room,” Verville said.
      “Then the six scenic pauses of the living spaces and artistic creation to then end with the two scenic pauses of sleeping breaks. Each space has been designed to be versatile and re-modelable with a new function, nothing is permanent!”

      A greige hue was chosen to enhance the shadow play
      Metal grid screens and low walls were also added to the interior to create intriguing divisions between the spaces.
      The studio chose a monochrome greige colour for the interior to underline the shadows and light patterns created by the steel structure, and to work as a background for potential future theatre events in the house.

      Jean Verville Architecte creates “luminous” white triplex in Montreal

      “The great calm of monochrome greige and the changing and dancing light offer as much visual spectacle as inspiring spaces for theatrical rehearsal, and even soon the possibility of performance before a small audience,” Verville said.

      Jean Verville Architecte shot a series of playful images with the owners
      To capture the final result of the renovation, the studio shot a photo series of the MSO; Play/Pause space with photographer Felix Michaud that features the owners in different staged situations inside their home.
      Jean Verville Architecte recently finished another Montreal project, a white triplex adorned with gold windows. Previous projects on Dezeen include an electropop-informed installation created with students in Quebec City.
      Photography is by Studio Jean Verville Architects and Felix Michaud.

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      Ali Budd Interiors transforms Muskoka log cabin into art-filled cottage

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      Toronto studio Ali Budd Interiors has transformed a dated wooden log cabin into a comfortable Canadian holiday home, with a wood-lined sunroom, vintage rugs and art by Andy Warhol.The studio was asked to renovate the cottage in Muskoka, Ontario and turn it into a neutral but comfortable backdrop for its owners’ extensive art collection.
      “As the clients are big art collectors, we wanted to not only design the perfect space for the family to enjoy the surrounding nature, but create the perfect canvas to showcase their artwork,” founder Ali Budd told Dezeen.

      Top: monochrome furniture in the Great Room. Above: a crumpled newspaper artwork by Paul Rousso

      In each of the cottage’s rooms, fabrics designed to withstand an “indoor-outdoor” lifestyle are chosen for their practical but chic appearance.
      Mindful of Ontario’s extreme climate and the many visitors who are invited to enjoy a family’s second home, the studio made sure to choose materials that will endure considerable wear and tear.
      “While maintaining the charm of a cottage, we modernised the space by mixing textures, incorporating custom furniture designed by Ali Budd Interiors, and adding hints of black to give it that contemporary look,” explained Budd.

      Ali Budd Interiors chose materials for their ability to withstand wear and tear
      Ali Budd Interiors’ design choices balance this practical need with its clients’ love of both white interiors and natural wood.

      Mjölk Architekti updates Czech cottage with burnt-wood cladding and revamped interior

      In the cottage’s Great Room, the main living room, these design elements include neutral-coloured armchairs and a sofa by Ali Budd Interiors that have been fabricated by Cooper Brothers.

      Monochrome furniture surrounds a bespoke coffee table
      A pair of plush shearling ottomans from Luxe Pour Maison sits nearby, complemented by a bespoke Ali Budd white oak coffee table topped with a white Corian surface. A newspaper artwork by Paul Rousso adds colour to the room.
      The cottage also has a Muskoka room, a type of screened-in porch that acts as a sunroom. In this instance, it acts as an open-plan living room attached to the property’s dining area.

      Patterned Moroccan poufs add colour to The Muskoka Room
      The dining area is complete with a custom-made white Ali Budd dining table, and an iconic Campbell’s soup artwork by Andy Warhol. Black and white chairs from Restoration Hardware are positioned around the monochrome table.
      The Muskoka room’s panoramic windows give guests the feeling of being outside while they lounge on a custom curved grey sofa that hugs the room’s curved walls.
      “There is so much beauty outside this property, and we wanted to ensure that all of those elements shone through,” said Budd.
      Other interior highlights in the Muskoka room include a central round coffee table by Garcia Group, and vintage rugs and colourful Moroccan pous from Mellah Rugs.

      An iconic piece by Andy Warhol hangs in the dining room
      Throughout the house, colourful accents such as these poufs add bright texture to an otherwise white and minimal backdrop.
      “As we were working with a monochromatic palette, we were able to layer different finishes and textiles to create something part eclectic and part chic,” continued Budd.

      Porcelain countertops are seen throughout the sleek kitchen
      This monochrome theme is particularly emphasised in the black and white kitchen. Perhaps the most pared-back and modern of the cottage’s rooms, exposed natural beams are the kitchen’s only hint of the former log cabin.
      Durable porcelain forms the room’s countertops, and a Sonneman pendant light is suspended over the sleek kitchen island.

      An original artwork by Douglas Copeland fits between the staircase’s wooden beams
      More exposed beams above the cottage’s wooden staircase perfectly frame an original painting by Douglas Copeland, its bright colours offsetting the plain white walls on which it hangs.

      Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage saved by Art Fund campaign

      Upstairs in the main bedroom, a black woven bed from American brand CB2 continues the cottage’s overall monochrome theme, while wiggly Graffito-print cushions by Kelly Wearstler soften the room’s clean lines.

      Graffito-print cushions add pattern to an otherwise minimal bedroom
      A final standout feature is the cottage’s renovated powder room. Originally one of the most dated-looking parts of the property, Ali Budd Interiors redesigned the room with bespoke millwork and an elegant custom-made mirror.
      Ali Budd Interiors is a female-led Toronto-based firm founded in 2010.
      More cosy cottages include this off-grid cabin in upstate New York and another log cabin renovation for a lake house in Quebec.
      Photography is by Ali Budd Interiors.

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      Ménard Dworkind creates retro coffee bar in downtown Montreal

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      Canadian studio Ménard Dworkind has unveiled a retro-themed coffee bar featuring Rubik’s Cube mirrors and a floor tiled to look like checkerboard Vans shoes.Situated in downtown Montreal, Caffettiera Caffé Bar features a monolithic black terrazzo bar that welcomes people into the open space.

      Visitors are greeted with the terrazzo bar upon entering the cafe
      Combining refreshments and a retail display, this main bar emphasises Caffettiera Caffé Bar’s social focus and curves down to meet the checkerboard mosaic floor.
      “The checkered floor was inspired by Vans checkered shoes,” Ménard Dworkind co-founder David Dworkind told Dezeen. “As Guillaume Ménard and I both grew up in the 90s we tapped into our own personal nostalgia.”

      The checkerboard mosaic floor is influenced by Vans shoes

      The cafe’s owner wanted to bring Italian coffee culture for Caffettiera Caffé Bar, where customers are encouraged to linger over a cup.
      “We placed a footrest at the coffee bar so clients can stand there and have a chat with the barista,” said Dworkind.
      “We included a long, standing bar in the middle of the space to increase the density of people with spots in the cafe, which helps to encourage socialising”.

      A standing bar encourages socialising
      Curved mirrors are mounted onto faux-wood plastic laminate panels, a retro material that aims to connect customers through a sense of nostalgia.
      “The 90s theme was the driving force for the colour palette”, explained Dworkind. “The use of plastic laminate fake wood panels on the wall and bright colours were all popular in the 90s. The Rubik’s Cubes to frame the mirrors in the bathrooms is another example of something from our personal memories of the 90s”.

      Rubik’s Cube mirrors feature in the cafe’s bathrooms
      Circular tables boast a variation of five coloured laminates in graphic shapes and framed photographs of iconic fashion models from the decade embellish the walls.
      Tables sit alongside two comfortable tan leather banquettes that face the main bar, making use of the small but open space to create a sociable atmosphere.

      90s nostalgia is emphasised by photographs from the decade
      All of Caffettiera Caffé Bar’s available space offers a chance for customer interaction. The banquettes intersect at a self-service station, behind which a backlit planter is enhanced by the mirrors’ reflection.
      “The long shared banquettes provide the option of sticking the round tables together, and since it’s linear people are actually all seated together”, explained Dworkind.

      Reupholstered vintage chairs match tan leather banquettes in the seating area

      Batay-Csorba designs Milky’s coffee bar in Toronto without furniture

      Curving furniture echoes the shape of the mirrors. Rounded vintage chairs sourced from classified ads have been reupholstered in the same tan leather as the banquettes.
      Continuing the cafe’s curving lines, the ceiling’s exaggerated cornicing is another retro visual element. As with the main bar and the checkerboard floor, the cornicing seamlessly blends the walls and the ceiling together.

      Dynamic blue cornicing brings the ceiling to life
      Lambert & Fils pendant lights are suspended from yellow telephone wire above the seating area, bathing the tables in a warm glow.
      Traditional Italian food products are displayed on a long shelf behind the main bar, where a selection of sandwiches and pastries are served. Cafe merchandise is also for sale.

      The products stocked on the large shelf behind the main bar
      Italian signs illustrating where to pay and order slide along an orange painted steel beam above the bar. Their locations can be rearranged by staff depending on each day’s flow of customers.
      Various 90s books, toys and stickers feature in Caffettiera Caffé Bar’s windows, and around the space, making it a wholly nostalgic experience.
      A similarly retro feel can be found at Baseball, a food court in Hong Kong designed by studio Linehouse, influenced by 70s films.
      Co-founded by Ménard and Dworkind in 2017, previous projects from the Montreal-based studio include a kitsch Chinatown-themed pan-Asian restaurant and a recreation of a 1970s New York pizza parlour.
      Photography is by David Dworkind and Alison Slattery.

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      Warm beige hues update Résidence Esplanade in Montreal

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      Design pair Michael Godmer and Catherine Lavallée created a sequence of meditative, beige-tone spaces in the partial renovation of this home in Montreal. Résidence Esplanade is situated in Mile End, a trendy area of Montreal host to various eateries, coffee bars and vintage stores.
      The property was originally built as two separate apartments, but five years ago was converted into the two-floor house it stands as today.

      The colour beige has been applied throughout Résidence Esplanade

      Much of the property’s unique decor details were eliminated during the renovation works. Its new owner, a young professional who collects furniture and works of art, tasked Michael Godmer and Catherine Lavallée with designing a slightly more distinctive interior.
      “We wanted to add identity to the house’s soul,” Godmer told Dezeen.

      Michael Godmer and Mathieu Turgeon renovate their Montreal design studio and home

      He and Lavallée have, for now, overhauled the home’s upstairs landing, study and one of its bedrooms – the rest of the rooms will be worked on at a later date.

      Walls in the bedroom have been loosely limewashed
      The three revamped areas have been completed in various shades of beige, a colour that the design pair says is “reminiscent of the soft winter light” that they saw on the first day they visited Résidence Esplanade.
      In the bedroom, walls have been loosely rendered with lime paint that leaves behind an eggshell-coloured finish.
      A tall wardrobe inlaid with cane panels has been set towards the rear of the room, while a white-oak sideboard has been set beneath the window so that the owner can display personal trinkets or ornaments.
      In the corner of the room is also a blush-pink slouch chair.

      In the study, a work desk has been set into a niche in the wall
      Limewashed surfaces continue into the home’s study. An oak work desk has been built within a niche in the wall, accompanied by a simple black tub chair and a spherical pendant lamp that dangles from the ceiling.
      Textural interest is added by the corrugated panelling that has been set at the back of the niche.
      Finally, fluted glass doors with buttermilk-coloured framing have been fitted in front of each of the rooms on the first floor.

      The back wall of the niche is corrugated
      Godmer and Lavallée say they plan to apply a similarly calming aesthetic throughout the rest of the home when they start the second phase of the renovation.
      “We are also looking at adding a mezzanine and a rooftop terrace for [the owner] to enjoy summer days having views of Mont-Royal mountain,” added Godmer.

      Fluted glass doors have been installed on the home’s first floor
      Résidence Esplanade is one of several homes that Michael Godmer has designed in his home city of Montreal. Others include Elmwood Residence, a Victorian-era townhouse in the Outremont neighbourhood which Godmer updated by creating a sequence of monochromatic living spaces.
      Earlier this year, Godmer also made over the Montreal home that he shares with his partner, Mathieu Turgeon and their two poodles. Inside, it boasts fresh white walls and an array of wooden fixtures and furnishings.
      Photography is courtesy of Catherine Lavallée.
      Project credits:
      Design: Michael Godmer and Catherine LavalléeConstruction: Frédéric LalondeCabinetmaking: Il Fabrique

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