Celebrity Style
February 5, 2018
Go Inside An Actress’s Glamorous Montreal Loft
Montreal designers Alexandre Blazys and Benoit Gérard of BlazysGérard are used to working with stars, but last year, when an award-winning actress asked them to check out her new loft, they were surprised to see that she had fallen tête-over-heels for a space in a converted turn-of-the-century factory. Located in Montreal, the roughly 1,500-square-foot loft with a second-storey crawl space felt like a dark, edgy men’s club. “She wanted something comfortable, airy and luminous, and she got cement floors and black marble instead,” jokes Alexandre. See how the BlazysGérard team infused the space with its new owner’s modern feminine style.
Montreal designers Alexandre Blazys (standing) and Benoit Gérard of BlazysGérard.
A plush cobalt sofa provides a hit of soft texture. “Our client is very sensitive to how things feel against her skin. She likes sensual fabrics like velvet and cashmere,” says Alexandre.
The Old Hollywood glamor and sink-in luxury of a velvet sofa makes it the best seat in the house.
A tall bookcase creates a sense of intimacy in the living area and provides a tidy way for the homeowner to display personal treasures. “She’s not one to hide things away,” says Benoit. “She likes to be surrounded by beautiful things.” To create a more private principal bedroom, Benoit and Alexandre added a wall behind the bookcase, which also allowed them to build in a two-storey walk-in closet.
The homeowner found this antique wooden dining table in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Alexandre and Benoit added custom white-lacquered benches to complete the sleek look. “We chose benches rather than chairs because we didn’t want to overcrowd the space,” says Benoit. “It’s like a modern picnic table.” Large-scale art, casually placed on the floor, and pendant lights give the dining area a “country vibe that reflects the client’s casual, market-to-table approach to cuisine,” says Alexandre.
A metal shelf suspended from the ceiling provides extra storage and defines the kitchen area without blocking the natural light that pours in through a skylight. Details such as velvet-covered barstools and unexpectedly delicate light fixtures inject glamor.
The lively wood grain of quartersawn oak cabinetry adds warmth to the kitchen. To complement the loft’s new light and airy look, Bianco Gioia marble replaced the original black honed marble countertops.
A sculptural staircase leads to a guest bedroom and office. In the lower-level lounge, an antique settee was updated with white paint and sage green velvet.
After a day on set, the homeowner retreats to a tranquil bedroom with dark green feature walls (inspired by a hue in the living area rug) and a streamlined four-poster bed piled with handmade blankets and oversized pillows.
Large ceramic tiles and an ornate pendant light are a play on scale in the bathroom.
Adrien Williams
House & Home December 2017
Alexandre Blazys and Benoit Gérard of BlazysGérard