Condos
March 24, 2016
Small Space Tour: A 540-Square-Foot Industrial Loft
Despite its small size, this industrial loft in downtown Montreal has some big design features. With two large, light-flooded windows, three floor-to-ceiling cabinets and a disappearing kitchen, the space may be compact – but it’s completely functional. When approaching the design, homeowner and interior designer Carl Lapointe used minimalist, elegant decor and played up the loft’s architectural details. “My main interest was to emphasize the height of the ceilings and the gorgeous windows,” he says. “I didn’t want to create any obstructions or divisions within the space.” To that end, he used furniture to define distinct zones that flow fluidly into one another. The result is a space that feels much larger than it is.
Carl didn’t want the kitchen to be the focal point of the loft, so he concealed the fridge behind a cabinet front (not shown) and integrated the sink into the Corian countertop, which looks more like a console than a kitchen counter. White lacquered upper cabinets blend almost seamlessly into the wall. The two wide doors open upward to access multiple shelves easily. A 12′-long backlit backsplash emphasizes the room’s width with one continuous horizontal line, while its warm glow has a softening effect on the space.
The one thing all small spaces could do with more of is storage. “It’s impossible to live in a small space without a wardrobe to organize all your things,” Carl says. So he created an entire wall of tall cabinets that blends in quietly to maintain the minimalist look. They store everything from coats and boots to the iron and vacuum.
A low coffee table is unimposing, while the swivelling leather chair can be used in different arrangements. Carl entertains more often at his cottage outside the city, but did want to have a comfy spot for guests here. He maximized seating in the living room with a clever double-sided sofa, which also serves as banquette seating at the dining table and as a guest bed.
Color pops with purpose on a salvaged table lamp, which was found in a New Jersey vintage store, and according to the shopkeeper, was used on French movie sets.
The walnut headboard and bed frame add warmth to the industrial yet serene space. Crisp Italian bed linens, an antique pillow sham and grey wool drapes provide soft, luxurious textures.
To further max out storage, Carl outfitted the wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinets with shelves, drawers, shoe racks and baskets.
A bathtub was removed to open up the bathroom. The finishes here — Brazilian slate wall and floor tiles, the rich zebrano wood vanity and lustrous off-white tiles — reflect the ones used in the rest of the loft, creating order from one room to the next, a trick that ultimately makes both the bathroom and the living area feel larger.
The loft’s floor plan, illustrated by Justine Wong.
André Rider
House & Home September 2014
Carl Lapointe