Project: Maison Merveilleuse / Location: Montreal, Canada / Designer: Imagine studio design / Photography: Annie Fafard & Guillaume Gorini
This 1,500-square-foot townhouse in the Pointe-Saint-Charles neighborhood of Montreal is the home of Mélodie Violet, founder of interior design firm Imagine. Violet sought to modernize the 19th century home by reconfiguring its layout, strengthening structure and giving it an elegant, welcoming feel.
Because the front of the building houses the Imagine office, Violet also wanted to create a clear separation between her workplace and private living quarters. To avoid having to add a door to the main entrance, she instead installed two doors in the foyer—one leading to her office and the other to her home—and eliminated a staircase leading from the foyer to the second floor.
[ Read More: This Home Blends Cali Chic with Energy Efficiency ]
Violet chose dark anthracite cabinets to set the kitchen apart from the rest of the space. An island, finished in anthracite on the kitchen side and matte black on the other, is positioned where the floor elevation shifts—an architectural constraint—further differentiating the kitchen from the dining and living areas.
White Carrera marble countertops with dark gray veining visually tie the cabinets to the walls, while recessed handles, integrated appliances and ample storage, including a walk-in pantry, keep the aesthetic clean and contemporary.
[ Read More: A Utah Residence Uniquely Shaped by its Site ]
A new staircase installed next to the original brick chimney provides access to the second floor. Formed of folded sheet metal and suspended by thin steel bars, it is anchored on the first floor by two walnut steps that are illuminated by spotlights diagonally mounted on an adjacent wall. Of course, safety was key, but Violet also wanted a modern design, “like a light sculpture that blends perfectly into the home and offers an interesting contrast, while being transparent.”
The second floor was reconfigured to replace two bedrooms and two bathrooms with a master suite, two bedrooms, and a family bathroom. Both bathrooms feature white marble flooring with gray veining, but in different formats. In the master suite, large tiles are paired with white walls for a refined look, while the family bathroom is lively, thanks to blue-gray walls that offset mosaics on the floor and matte white wall tiles.
Throughout the home, white oak flooring lends warmth to the restrained palette of materials and colors, as does the lighting scheme, which favors discreetly integrated fixtures for their minimalist appeal.
