Decorating & Design
June 26, 2024
A Retired Couple Builds Their Dream Kitchen And Bathroom On The Richelieu River
With the prospect of retirement looming large for homeowners Nathalie Giguère and Alain Jobin, they were ready to leave the city behind and indulge their love of boating. They found a generous swath of land on the Richelieu River in Noyan, Que., an hour south of Montreal, and began envisioning what they wanted their new home to look like. It had to include a large kitchen where they could host their grown children. “We wanted the whole house to reflect a farmhouse style: classic and timeless, both outside and inside. Something warm and welcoming!” says Nathalie. “Our criteria for the project was to have a lot of natural light with beautiful windows, a large island with four seats to gather at, light-colored cabinets and a walk-in pantry with lots of storage.”
Nathalie and Alain found designer Audrée Kemp Bélanger of AKB Design in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., via Instagram. Her work struck a chord: they recognized that she was particularly adept at the relaxed, modern farmhouse look. Scroll down for a look inside!
“They wanted a timeless home with a twist of modern, a lot of wood, warm elements and many windows to let the outside in,” says designer Audrée Kemp Bélanger (pictured left) with Kim David-Lemelin. “Nathalie and Alain have both stopped working and they love boating, so they were looking for property on the water with a big garden in the country to host their children and grandchildren. This is their last house, their dream home.”
The large oak island has storage on both sides. Items that aren’t frequently used are tucked into cabinets under the stool. Finished in a dramatic dark stain and embellished with shiplap detailing, the five-by-nine-foot island has major impact.
The generous four-and-a-half- by 10-foot pantry is accessed through a wooden pocket door with traditional mullions that easily tucks away. Open shelves inside house dry goods and pretty copper cookware, plus small accessories like the toaster.
As the project was nearing its end, Audrée suggested finishing the window wall and range backsplash in zellige-style tile, which has a slightly imperfect, artisanal look. The aesthetic also leans heavily on the wooden beams. One is embedded in the vent hood. Another runs across the ceiling nearby, subtly delineating the kitchen from the hallway.
The wall behind the vent hood was also adjusted so space could be dedicated to making a larger walk-in pantry. “We make full use of the pantry,” says Nathalie. “Everything is in there, all our small appliances that help us prepare breakfast: a coffee maker, toaster, panini grill and microwave… I couldn’t do without it.” Because the pantry has so much storage, it eliminated the need for uppers and offered an opportunity to tile the walls.
“We love using brass for all the lighting and hardware, and polished nickel for the plumbing fixtures,” says Audrée. “The brass and wood bring a lot of warmth.” Two large pendants feature polished brass strapping.
The architectural plans had been drawn up already, but after looking at the kitchen layout, Audrée suggested making a bank of windows overlooking the garden slightly smaller to accommodate a built-in hutch. “I always include a hutch with glazing if I have the space, because it’s a great opportunity to display beautiful objects like a collection of dishware,” she says. “For me, a hutch is a strong statement in a kitchen, and a signature move.”
In the principal ensuite, a matching beam is installed over the huge window, a recurring motif that ties the two spaces together. “Wood brings so much warmth and soul,” says Audrée. “It’s important to mix different kinds of wood for character and richness.”
The principal ensuite carries through many of the same design signatures as the kitchen (and the same paint color, Benjamin Moore’s Simply White), which gives the home a cohesive look. Instead of quartz counters, though, Audrée opted for Bianco Carrara marble on the counters, floor and shower niches.
For the shower walls, she chose a tile similar to the one on the kitchen backsplash for the same imperfect, artisanal look. In a twist, she set the tile here in a double row pattern. A pony wall clad in beadboard helps conceal the toilet and adds country charm.
A beam is inset into a wall to highlight the sculptural tub. “The wood and the linen-cotton curtains bring in a lot of warmth, which helps soften the marble tile and counters,” says Audrée. “And the room has a beautiful view of the river through the big window.”
For Nathalie and Alain, this house represents a fresh chapter in their lives, and they can’t wait to start writing it. “We love the orientation and design of this house. It invites us to spend as much time as we can here,” Nathalie says. “And the sunsets are magnificent!”
Keep scrolling for elements of the look!
Alessandra wall mirror in Brass by Etta Avenue. $168. Wayfair Canada
Floor-mount tub filler in Champagne Bronze by Delta. $1,858. The Home Depot Canada
Wood stool in Natural Ash. $169. Zara Home
Rattan box in Yellow by Bayou Breeze. $218. Wayfair Canada
Simply White (OC-117), Benjamin Moore
All products featured on House & Home are independently selected by our editors, however when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are shown in Canadian dollars and are accurate on the date of publication.
Maximes Desbiens
SIP Kitchens & Baths
Audrée Kemp Bélanger and Kim David-Lemelin