Condos/Apartments
A Tech Exec’s High-Rise Condo Is Awash In Icy Blues
Published on October 11, 2024
Three years ago, before tech VP Ziad Slim purchased his two-bedroom condo in downtown Montreal, he assumed the developer would allow him to tweak and customize the builder-basic design. He was wrong. The main sticking points were the odd, two-tier island with a built-in dining table and the bland white palette throughout.
To reconcile his vision, Ziad called on designer Luke Havekes for a three-month-long renovation. “For Ziad, it was less about style and more about function,” says Luke. “Smaller spaces mean every inch counts; you have to be strategic. We made a lot of practical changes so he could host a dinner party for six or lay a buffet on the island.”
Scroll down for a look inside this high-rise condo in Montreal!
The graphic foyer gets a shot of texture from the faux silk wallpaper and practical outdoor rug.
“In the morning, I gravitate to the living room, where I watch the sunrise and listen to music. Later, it’s the office-den where I work and then watch TV,” says homeowner Ziad Slim. “I like the vibrant downtown view, and I can walk to work underground without my winter jacket — Montreal winters are quite something!”
In the living areas, Luke chose pieces in a smaller scale, including a vintage-style mid-century sofa and tub chairs. “We played with proportions to get more seating in the space,” says Luke. “We brought in furniture with slender arms and legs, and low-slung pieces that don’t block sight lines and have a light and airy feel.”
A floating bookshelf doubles as a bar.
Plush, overdyed rugs, shagreen-look wallpaper and floor-to-ceiling drapes are cocooning in the den, and the glassy, mirrored buildings surrounding the high-rise inspired the blue accents throughout.
Luke commissioned a metalworker to custom build a steel island that was as large as possible but would still fit in the elevator in one piece. ““I love the new island. There’s space to sit down, and I like the integrated wine fridge.” says Ziad. “I love a chilled bottle of wine. The integrated fridge holds so many bottles at just the right temperature.”
The orientation of Ziad’s bed takes advantage of the views. Blackout drapes are a soft backdrop to the room’s hard surfaces.
In the ensuite, charcoal grey walls set off the white ceramics.
Ziad works and takes video calls in the den. The overdyed Turkish rug was an indulgent splurge
Maxime Desbiens
House & Home
Luke Havekes