City Homes
February 28, 2023
Inside A Montreal Home Designed To Withstand Life With Four Kids
The owners of this 6,000-square-foot house in Côte-Saint-Luc, QC wanted a home that better reflected their personal style. “My clients wanted a house that matched their young and vibrant personalities,” says designer Eugenia Triandos, co-founder of Hibou Design & Co. The house had a dated look, with formal spaces and a fussy aesthetic that didn’t suit the large family’s active lifestyle. The homeowners needed space for their boys to play and quiet nooks where the adults could retreat for some downtime.
The project began with the renovation of the kitchen — but after its success, the scope expanded into a complete renovation of the house (including a must-see staircase!). The designers first order of business was sourcing durable materials that would survive life with four kids, without compromising on their refined style. Next up was ensuring that every room of the house maximized its full potential. “We are happy to see that our clients are using every square foot of their home now!” says Eugenia.
We recently chatted with the designers to learn about this unique project. Scroll down!
H&H: What was your inspiration for that showstopping staircase?
HD: The house already had a central staircase that we knew we wanted to revamp. Since it was visible from almost every room and angle of the house, we wanted to make it a work of art. We designed a sculptural curved railing made out of solid gypsum plaster, complete with a stained white oak handrail that harmonizes with the hardwood floors.
H&H: Why did you add a marble tread?
HD: The view when you enter a house is always important to us, so we decided to accentuate the staircase by adding marble to the first step. We also highlighted the steps with a recessed LED strip that runs through all four floors.
H&H: Can you tell us about your choice of materials in the kitchen?
HD: We went for a classic white kitchen with shaker cabinets, a marble backsplash and countertops and unlacquered brass hardware that will patinate over time. We used a lot of marble in this house and got creative by selecting different slabs for each application. The marble used in the kitchen was repeated on the first step of the staircase seen above!
H&H: Did you run into any unforeseen challenges?
HD: The area of the pantry with shallow display shelves was actually built around an old chimney that we couldn’t remove. We weren’t really sure what to do with the space, so we were pleasantly surprised to see how many beautiful cookbooks our client had to fill it with. It ultimately became one of our favorite details.
H&H: Where do these beautiful marble block sinks come from?
HD: There are two powder rooms on the ground floor. Both of them were custom-designed with marble sinks made by local craftsman, Stone Age.
H&H: Do you have a favorite design moment in this project?
HD: The arched doors at the entrance bring major impact since they are the first thing you see when you enter the house. We love that they set the tone for whole space!
H&H: Tell us about those fabulous living room sofas!
HD: The sofas in the living room were custom made by a local furniture manufacturer. We chose a stain-resistant fabric from Perrenials because we wanted a rich color, but we wanted them to remain practical for young children.
H&H: Do you have any tips for designing a home for a big family?
HD: Function comes first! We incorporated elements that would make life easier for parents, such as a mudroom, where each member of the family could have their own locker.
The light and airy family room features a marble fireplace and arched built ins that display the family’s cherished tchotchkes.
A luxe home office features ceiling box moldings and custom built-ins topped with marble.
A second powder room is located off of the home office and features fluted wood drawers that warm up the marble vanity.
In the principal bedroom, a luxe marble bedside table is complemented by brass sconces and a dark blue velvet bed frame.
The spa-like principal bathroom wows with a rounded tub and walk-in shower.