Celebrity Style
April 7, 2022
Actress Karine Vanasse Invites Us To Her Stunning Home!
Quebec actor Karine Vanasse buzzed around a lot before her 35th birthday, absorbing a love of interiors with every change of scene. There were urban lofts in Montreal and New York City, a beach shack in Los Angeles and a romantic cabin in the forest in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Along the way, the actor appeared in films such as Polytechnique, Séraphin: Heart of Stone, Switch and Set Me Free, and garnered acclaim for her roles as Colette Valois in Pan Am, Margaux LeMarchal in Revenge and Lise Delorme in Cardinal. In 2020, done with her always-on-the-move lifestyle, she bought a quaint three-bedroom farmhouse in the Eastern Townships, where she now lives with her four-year-old son, Clarence. “I love having my home base in Quebec,” says Karine. The farmhouse is nestled in the picturesque village of Knowlton, Que., a 70 minutes’ drive southeast of Montreal. Dripping with charm, the house is clad in shingles and topped with a gambrel roof so it looks like a barn. In our April 2022 issue we chatted with Karine about how she took her Eastern Townships home from blank canvas to timeless beauty.
When Karine first saw the interior, it lacked a pulse. To revive it, she turned to designer Audrée Kemp Bélanger of AKB Design — au revoir, bland kitchen! They wanted to bring a feeling of history into a dwelling that had none (it was built in 2016). “The interior was a blank canvas without personality,” says Audrée. “Our objective was to make it feel timeless, classic and a touch modern.” Today, beams, shiplap and hefty wood doors are cosy and comforting, with lively wallpaper, statement lighting and Karine’s impressive art collection just some of the highlights of the stellar redesign. We chatted with the actor to find out what makes this place feel like home sweet home.
Scroll down for the Q&A and a tour of this stunning home!
H&H: How did you meet Audrée, and why was she the right designer for this project?
KV: I’ve known Audrée since childhood. I knew she would give this house the classic base it needed and, at the same time, I would be able to bring touches that would represent my personality. I wanted a country-city blend. The mix of our styles was perfect.
House & Home: What drew you to this house and to the area?
Karine Vanasse: I was living in a loft in Montreal during the pandemic, and it didn’t feel right. I wanted to be outside of the city with my son. I explored the area with a dear friend of mine who lives in the Eastern Townships, then she told me the house I loved was for sale. The exterior is so charming; it’s in a farmhouse style, but it’s unique and unconventional. I contacted the real-estate agent and visited the house on the same day. I made an offer and that was it!
H&H: That farmhouse kitchen is dreamy! Tell us about the transformation.
KV: The original island was smaller, and the kitchen didn’t have a presence. It was packed with cupboards that were there for function, but they clogged the windows. Now, with the Miralis kitchen, everything is executed beautifully; everything has a dedicated spot, and the space isn’t needlessly packed with cupboards. I especially love the glass cabinet that displays my collection of pottery. When beloved pieces are tucked away, you forget about them.
H&H: Are you a collector? Where did you buy the pieces?
KV: It’s mostly pottery from younger ceramic artists in Quebec. I love to collect pieces and support these makers.
H&H: The house is fairly new; why didn’t the existing style work for you?
KV: It was a big, open, predictable main floor without a division in the entranceway. Also, the first thing you see is the kitchen, so it had to shine. I was moving from a big loft, and I didn’t want open space. I wanted
to feel like I was entering a home — I wanted a sense of discovery, where everything wasn’t on display right away.
H&H: What moves did you and Audrée make to give it personality?
KV: We brought in textures to give the impression that you’re looking at something designed a long time ago, from the herringbone tile in the vestibule to the panelling by the staircase to the shiplap and beams used on the walls and ceiling. The base is mostly white, but it’s interesting because of the textures. We made sure the shiplap on the ceiling is high-gloss — that’s what I remembered from the houses I loved in L.A.
H&H: What part of the kitchen do you love most?
KV: I love to sit at the island. It’s so comfortable, and the marble gives it that timeless vibe, like it’s been here for decades. It reminds me of a house in Britain. I also like the balance of contemporary and classic elements in the kitchen. I love to cook here and have people over.
H&H: Your home feels grown-up and sophisticated; how does that square with family living?
KV: The tan stools and beige-grey sofas are from Perez Furniture and have washable textured fabric, so stains don’t show that much. We’ve been here for months with those pieces and they’re pristine. Even the rugs are light colored — but for messy meals, I’ll put something underneath Clarence’s chair.
H&H: The art in your home is so striking! What works are you drawn to?
KV: One of the reasons why we planned for white walls on the main floor — with the exception of the wallpaper in the powder room — is that the art stands out, like a gallery. The paintings and photography mean a lot to me, and I want to enjoy them.
H&H: Audrée tells us that only the best materials and furniture were used in the renovation. Why was that important to you?
KV: I love the duration and life of an object itself; I love to know that someone made it. There’s a story behind each piece I touch daily, like those solid brass Armac Martin cabinet pulls from England. I also changed all the doors in the house; they’re heavy, made of oak or lacquered poplar. They add strength to the home, and they’ll age well.
H&H: How did you come to choose the wallpaper in the powder room?
KV: There’s a photograph in my living room of a white rabbit in the woods. It’s rare to see a white rabbit in the summer. I love that piece. When I saw the wallpaper with figs, rabbits and swallows, it was perfect. It’s whimsical and feels fitting in an old house.
H&H: What’s your favorite room in the house?
KV: The kitchen! It’s so true that it’s a main element in a home; it’s where you spend most of your time, and that’s certainly true for me. The kitchen renovation changed everything.
H&H: Do you spend a lot of time at home, or are you working on a show right now?
KV: I’m at home a lot while developing projects. I just did a CBC TV series that’s coming out later this year, Bones of Crows. It’s about residential schools and most of the crew is Indigenous and female. It was intense subject matter, but so well developed.
Maxime Desbiens
House & Home April 2022
Designer: Audreé Kemp Bélanger