Major renovation on the banks of the St. Lawrence
Home Port
Completion date
2024
Project manager
Caroline Tourigny
Photos
André Doyon
Clients: A couple with four grown children looking for a welcoming and functional family home.
This contemporary haven, a true anchor for the family, is designed to embrace life at every scale. In constant dialogue with nature, the house combines modernity and natural elements, offering open, bright living spaces where natural light highlights clean lines and generous volumes. Here, the river subtly integrates into the owners' daily life, revealing changing panoramas with the seasons. Materials, textures, colors, and finishes embody the owners' vision: a timeless place where elegant simplicity meets contemporary refinement, inviting moments of peace, whether spent alone, with family, or friends.
Generous Spaces
The extension of the house, both at the front and rear, lowered the new spaces to ground level and revealed 12-foot ceilings, creating airy volumes. Here, indoor and outdoor blend seamlessly, with multiple views of nature infusing each room with a calming atmosphere. The entrance hall, with its expansive volumes and full-height windows, gently integrates into the surrounding landscape. The immense artwork by Pascal Grandmaison seems tailor-made for this space, with its woody and earthy tones punctuated by red and blue, visually connecting the outside with the inside.
Staging
A few steps lead to a custom-cast concrete staircase. Although massive, it appears surprisingly light thanks to its floating design without risers, seemingly suspended in space. Cast from the same concrete as the floor covering the entire ground level, this staircase creates perfect continuity, as does the built-in storage unit that runs almost the entire depth of the house. Everything here is a unifying thread, from the materials to the volumes—no interruptions, only harmony.
Ascending the stairs, you reach the central living room, an elevated space that is the sole remnant of the original 1980s Spanish-inspired home, now framed by the two new wings. From this viewpoint, what could have been a constraint becomes an asset, orchestrating a spectacular staging of the river.
Transitioning from the entrance to the vast windowed living space, the living room offers a 360-degree view. The sleek furniture by Edra, with its clean lines and adjustable backs, allows the occupants to face either the interior or exterior, regardless of the angle chosen.
Floating Steps
Crafted from white oak—the same wood that covers the upper floor and the ceiling of the living space—the staircase leading to the upper floor is a masterpiece of lightness and finesse. Floating gracefully, it rests on fine stainless steel rods, leaving a subtle gap between the wall and the steps to enhance its airy character. Vertical stainless steel balusters further accentuate its elegance, achieving a perfect balance between solidity and lightness.
Endless Panorama
Fully windowed, the large living space opens up across the full width of the property. The outdoor arrangement, terrace, and infinity pool blend harmoniously with the natural river landscape, visible from the living room, dining room, and kitchen. This continuous link with the outside makes every space a prime observation point.
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23Living Room with a View
The view of the river invites you to descend a few steps to reach the lower landing, where the large, welcoming living room stretches out. A refined palette of natural neutrals and grays—from light to deeper shades—blends with vibrant touches of red-orange, creating a warm ambiance.
This living room, designed for adapting to life's moments, allows the occupants to settle comfortably on two chaise lounges, perfect for an intimate tête-à-tête, or to enjoy the modular, sleek furniture for accommodating a large group. Vibrant chairs by MDF Italia, in dynamic orange, add warmth and flexibility, harmoniously connecting the different furniture elements.
Sharing and Lightness
Designed to host numerous guests, the dining room invites warm gatherings around two large joined tables, ideal for family meals or receptions. Above, oversized interwoven ring pendants, draped in fabric, float with simple elegance, adding softness and lightness to the space.
The spectacular wine cellar, spanning two floors, becomes a feature of the living space. The upper section, adjacent to the dining room, allows you to admire the neatly arranged bottles, while the glass floor reveals the lower section, accessible from the basement, inviting discovery.
Exquisite Perfection
In this kitchen, designed to blend aesthetics and practicality, every detail reflects exceptional care. Custom-built anthracite-stained oak cabinets stretch to the ceiling, maximizing space while giving the room a sophisticated visual harmony. The meticulous organization continues in the back kitchen, where tall cabinets store small appliances and pantry items. Every object has its place.
Freed from upper cabinets, the kitchen feels light, while the porcelain countertop and backsplash with a marble effect add luminous refinement. An oversized stainless steel hood, with horizontal lines, completes this minimalist vision, adding an industrial touch that harmonizes and streamlines the ensemble. At the center, the island naturally draws the eye: its massive raw stainless steel countertop, indestructible, extends into a wooden table, creating a favored gathering spot for the family.
Intimate Refuge
Upstairs, the master suite unfolds like a true sanctuary of tranquility, embracing the river view. Functional and refined, the walk-in closet spans the entire width of the house, harmoniously connecting the bedroom, private lounge, and bathroom. This spacious dressing room, accented with navy blue, is divided into two distinct zones—one for him and one for her, in perfect symmetry. Between the two storage-rich areas is a vanity displaying carefully chosen pieces.
Island of Serenity
Overlooking the pool, dock, and river, the generously windowed master bedroom becomes a place of serenity where indoor and outdoor meet. The clean lines of the furniture and calming tones amplify the natural light that floods every corner of the space. Here, as in the rest of the house, every inch is designed to preserve the view and capture the light: floor-to-ceiling windows, integrated and invisible screens by day, and discreetly integrated ventilation and heating systems.
Minimalism and Light
The bathroom embodies a minimalism imbued with softness. Bathed in natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, it offers a soothing and airy environment. The large spalted maple vanity, set on legs, creates an impression of lightness and weightlessness, while the freestanding faucets on either side of the vanity add a touch of elegance.
The suspended mirrors, dual sinks, and soft lighting framing the vanity create perfect symmetry, reinforcing the calming harmony of the space. The stone floor echoes the vanity's tones, while the pure white porcelain tile walls amplify the brightness. Behind smoked glass doors, a spacious, enveloping shower completes this intimate oasis.
Private Lounge
In their quarters, the owners have a private lounge to retreat to, escaping the bustle and activity of family life. Furnished with soft and comfortable seating, this lounge invites relaxation, whether for diving into a good book or enjoying a moment of television.
Energizing Gym
A healthy mind in a healthy body. This famous adage comes to life in this gym located above the garage. The massive exposed beams add character to this space, isolated from the rest of the house. Equipped with professional-grade mats and equipment, the room is designed for an efficient workout in the comfort of the family residence. An ingenious solution was found for lighting: long light strands were installed along the ventilation system, adding both an aesthetic and functional touch.
Relaxation and Entertainment
Far from dark, closed-off basements, this bright space enjoys abundant natural light through an intimate English courtyard and a large patio door. Designed as the ultimate entertainment space, the basement houses a bar, billiards table, home theater, and the lower section of the wine cellar. Everything is in place to offer hours of conviviality and fun, a space where young adults enjoy themselves as much as their parents.
Natural Harmony
The old orange roof tiles have given way to a sleek architecture, perfectly integrated with the surrounding canopy. Large golden-brown wooden doors warm up the light gray brick walls, while the gray wood garage adds a note of sophistication. The textures, colors, and lines create a soothing visual effect, and the courtyard, designed for family living, includes additional parking on permeable pavers that also encourage vegetation growth.
Limitless View
In the garden, the desire to preserve an unobstructed view of the landscape is realized through generous fenestration and a railing made of thin corten steel slats, adding a touch of artisanal elegance. Sculptural and lightweight, it subtly defines the terrace and outdoor kitchen while discreetly framing the infinity pool. This airy structure allows the river scenery to dominate the backdrop, offering a perfect visual continuity between the house and the surrounding nature.
Collaborators : Maurice Martel architect, Vertige Paysage and Les Lieux