We first met Justine and Mathieu in 2016 when we helped them remodel and furnish the main floor of their NDG home. With great synergy and style, we were thrilled when they called us three years later to help them build their dream home. They had an opportunity to purchase a lot in Lorraine, so they decided to take the leap and move their young family of four out of the city. Today we’ll be sharing some design details from our Urban to Suburban project with a full home walkthrough!
We originally received a preliminary layout that was drafted by an architect. Our clients felt like space could be maximized – and that we did. We re-worked the interior footprint and ended with a very different final layout that had less wasted space and a better overall flow. We included an oversized great room, a large central kitchen, a showstopper entrance, and a hidden man cave, or as our client likes to call it: his speak-easy.
Once the layout was confirmed, it was time to work on the finishes and all of the details that would make this building Justine and Mathieu’s dream home. Their aesthetic is right up our alley. They appreciate beautiful architectural detail paired with contemporary clean lines. With no closed vestibule, we had to make the entrance special so we incorporated traditional wall trim that accentuates the arched doorways and carries up the main staircase. One of the challenges we faced when designing the entrance was where to end the floor tile. We ideally wanted to carry the wood throughout but we required the functionality of having a tile as guests walk in, so we opted for a beautiful mosaic tile in-lay. This home does not lack any character and that’s apparent as you first walk through the doors.
From the main entrance, there’s a full view of the dining room through an arched doorway, featuring a deep green panelled accent wall, hints of the coffered ceiling in the dinette, and custom-built cabinetry in the den. You almost don’t know what to look at first!
Having previously decorated our client’s last home, we incorporate some of their furniture into the decor like this solid wood dining table and chairs. The green accent was brought back into the space via the art that hangs over a metal buffet that is both beautiful and functional.
If you continue your path from the entrance to the back of the home, you will pass beneath a set of arches that hold the entrance closet on one side and a darling little powder room on the other. The powder room is tucked under the staircase, therefore the ceiling height is noticeably low compared to the rest of that level. Instead of seeing it as a loss, we used it as an inspiration for the room and accentuated it by painting it black. The bold wallpaper not only respects our monochromatic theme but also brings in the forest that surrounds the property.
The oversized great room located in the back of the house is where all of the action happens. Meals are shared around the island or at the dinette table while the kids enjoy the family room. We defined this vast, open space by installed a coffered ceiling over the dinette that divided the kitchen and the living room. The custom cabinetry continues in the living space with a practical white shaker media unit and again the art brings in the outdoors and carries through the same deep green found in the dining room and on the velvet dinette chairs.
It was very important to the homeowners to take advantage of the sun in the kitchen so we incorporated a corner full of windows to the right and an unobstructed island that’s ideal for prepping large meals or entertaining family and friends. Mixed metals is a common design element that we included throughout this home, and the kitchen was no exception. The brass hardware pairs beautifully with the Hudson Valley pendants, yet the silver faucet relates to the stainless appliances.
The mudroom sits just off the great room and is the main entrance for the family and most guests as it connects to another entry that leads outdoors as well as to the garage.
As we move upstairs, the symmetry found in the staircase and the hall is definitely eye-catching. The third level is an open mezzanine to be used as a guest suite for overnight stays equipped with a small living room and full bathroom.
Double doors lead to the principal bedroom that has an equal amount of symmetry. We wanted it to feel cozy and casual. Liveable luxury was what we were aiming for with the decor throughout this project.
We had fun with the kid’s bathroom by including these oversized wall sconces and once again bringing in some mixed metals. The large double vanity means that no one will be fighting for the sink or counter space in the morning!
Finally, our walkthrough is concluded with the exterior space that sits just off the closed veranda. Continued symmetry was an important factor in the design of the exterior space. The rectangular pool is surrounded by green and the diamond-shaped pattern on the flooring mimics the wall trim found throughout the home.
I almost forgot about the best part! One of the secret surprises of this home is our client’s hidden speak-easy that is only accessible through the walk-in pantry. If you weren’t specifically shown this room, you would never know it’s there! We didn’t do much in terms of the design in this space other than specifying its location, the layout, and selecting the paint color, but it’s still one of our favorite rooms in the house. The grungy bar that was made to resemble our client’s favourite bar in New York City, the original barber chair, and the walls that are covered in memorabilia and personal photos make this space so cool and unique. If you know Mathieu, you would understand how much this room represents him and what’s important to him. An inviting boys hangout that is quirky, fun, and colorful.
This really was a full circle project for us where the design was executed efficiently from the very beginning. We worked on the preliminary layout, and finally produced full construction plans, selected all of the fixed finishes and lighting, and sourced the furniture and decor. The client coordinated the project in conjunction with their contractor and did a fantastic job. It’s so rare that a client will respect the design 100% when we are not implicated in the coordination of the renovation and these clients did just that – asking us for direction in all of the right moments. They enjoyed the process and experience so much that they are seriously considering selling this dream home to build another one.
If you’re planning on building your dream home and don’t know where to start, give us a shout and we’ll explain how we can help!
Design by: Hibou Design & Co.
Construction by: ACL Construction
Photography by: Drew Hadley
