City Homes
This Montreal Home Straddles The Boundary Between Indoors and Out
Updated on November 17, 2023
“The omnipresence of gardens and the abundance of natural light are completely unsuspected in such an urban environment,” says Christian Laporte of La Shed Architecture. The Montreal design and architecture firm recently transformed a historic duplex home into a serene oasis in Montreal’s Rosemont-Petite-Patrie neighborhood. The homeowners, Mathieu and Marc-André, are avid collectors and gardeners, so creating a space where they could showcase their favorite items, relax and spend time outdoors was high on the design brief. Scroll down for a peek inside their stylish Montreal home!
The Montreal house has an unassuming traditional exterior surrounded by lush greenery.
The ultramodern interior features white oak built-in cabinets that extend throughout three levels, creating a lovely rhythm in the space. The coffered divisions between each cabinet serve as handles, while decorative objects from Mathieu and Marc-André’s collection are placed in custom cubbies.
An airy family room with a striking fireplace provides a warm and unifying gathering place. Classic Eames chairs are perfectly paired with an olive-colored sofa and an overflowing plant.
In the kitchen, white Corian countertops blend in seamlessly with the bright walls and polished concrete floor, while an integrated stove upholds the island’s sleek aesthetic. Thonet stools round out the Scandinavian vibe.“Marc-André has a passion for tableware and he collects kitchen accessories and vintage pieces, so he wanted a lot of storage,” says Christian.
The kitchen’s back wall opens directly into the garden — giving home chefs the feeling of cooking al fresco.
The millwork from the kitchen extends into the dining room and serves as a buffet.
“To continue the overarching theme, the same built-in storage extends into the basement. This visual link between the floors is accentuated by stairs with open railings,” says Christian.
A minimalist bedroom is punctuated with tchotchkes and a book collection.
In the bathroom, glass walls and white mosaic tiles blur the boundaries between the rooms, while natural light floods the space.
An English courtyard is protected from onlookers and provides the basement living room with plenty of sunlight.
Mathieu, who created the backyard garden. has a background in landscape architecture. “We wanted the garden to be seen from every angle of the house — from the basement, you can still enjoy views of the garden through the large sliding doors,” says Christian.
Beyond the backyard, the house contains several defined green spaces, including the roof of the garage which became a vegetable garden. “Mathieu takes care of the front and back gardens, while Marc-André manages the vegetable garden, which in the summer, is absolutely lush,” says Christian.
Maxime Brouillet