Decorating & Design
This Actor’s Montreal Loft Is A Study In Contrasts
Published on October 22, 2018
Actor Amélie B. Simard’s Montreal loft in the city’s Le Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood — a hub of lively cafés, restaurants and shops flanking the mountain — is a little bit glam and a little bit rustic, loaded with personality yet serene and soothing. It perfectly reflects Amélie, who can rock the red carpet and her partner’s T-shirt with equal panache. She has made a name for herself on the small screen, appearing in Quebec television shows, like District 31 and Les jeunes loups.
It was love at first sight when she found this 850-square-foot loft, which is located in a converted 100-year-old school. “Every time I come in, I say, ‘Home, sweet home,’” says Amélie. Click through to see inside the actress’s personality-filled space.
Despite its large size, the living room feels cozy and inviting, thanks to the geometric-patterned rug, the low-slung sofa laden with throw pillows and the warm patina of the reclaimed-wood coffee table. The glossy armoire is a sleek counterpoint.
The view from the second-floor sleeping loft.
In the dining area, a dark grey accent wall and paintings by local artist Lysa Jordan and Amélie’s partner, Jonathan Sbrollini, draw attention to the soaring ceilings. The wood and metal table and an eclectic collection of chairs speak to her affection for mixing materials.
Amélie’s penchant for mixing old and new, vintage and modern, and sleek and rough defines her decorating style. “I’m often inspired by a piece of furniture or object and then the room design just creates itself quietly in my head,” she says.
A wire pendant light and ceramic water dispenser cradled in a wooden stand are sculptural elements that draw the eye.
In the compact kitchen, a utensil rack over the sink keeps clutter off the counters and adds an artful touch.
The black and white palette in this corner of the living area complements the industrial aesthetic of the metal staircase and raw cinder-block wall. A leather butterfly chair and bold artwork (above the stairs) by Amélie’s stepmother, Brigitte Leclair, act as graphic punctuation marks.
The living room’s accent color is carried into the sleeping loft, a serene tone-on-tone space where texture is added via the coverlet, rag rug and whitewashed shipping pallet. The dream catcher is a find from a trip to Mexico.
Amélie loves that cafés, bakeries, and the butcher and fruit shops are within walking distance of her loft.
Maxime Desbiens
House & Home September 2018