FRENCH GIRL CHIC
Bringing Parisian charm to a petite Montreal abode, the new girl in town makes a name for herself in the creative community.
NOWADAYS, THE MOST
important factor to consider when choosing a home might not be the space’s size, condition or location, but how Instagrammable it is. Just ask Lauren MacLean, whose Parisianstyle gem on the outskirts of Old Montreal has attracted quite a social media following.
“Showing you my space one small square at a time,” reads Lauren’s Instagram profile, @livingbylo, a gallery of modern French decor inspiration. She works in IT but has a passion for design and began posting pictures of her quarters two years ago upon moving from Aurora, Ont., into the charming bijou apartment. Her page quickly grew a healthy following of decor and design enthusiasts who can’t resist double-tapping.
The open-concept studio is a dream for anyone with a weakness for Parisian architectural adornments, and it has enough character that its modest 500 square feet, wee kitchen and lack of closets aren’t a problem. “It’s tiny, but I always favour the style and feel of a place over the square footage.”
It’s the high ceilings, grand windows, hardwood floors and stunning wall panelling that Lauren fell in love with. “I feel very lucky to have found the place; it’s the perfect envelope for my style,” she says. And since she embraced these old features, the space didn’t require much work. In fact, it was freshly painted, so all that was left for Lauren to do was change some hardware, conceptualize a layout and furnish the entire studio from scratch.
Lauren’s main goals were to complement the architecture by employing a pared-back scheme, letting just a few key pieces shine. “I wouldn’t want to take away from the beautiful character of the space,” she explains. She settled on a mixture of styles, pairing Mid-Century Modern furniture with the French-inspired bones, and was sure to add in plenty of greenery, feminine touches and look-at-me extras. “Keeping the foundation minimal is key to making an elegant eclectic style work,” she says.
Case in point: Clean-lined elements like the mid-century-style sofa, media console, armchair and side tables are elevated by textiles and accessories in airy pastel colours, which work well with the natural light welcomed in
by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Hits of strong hues in select furnishings and accessories play into the eclectic look without taking the spotlight from the architecture.
The pieces of art, however, are total scene-stealers. The large portrait of a girl acts as the focal point, tying together the home’s palette and demanding attention as you enter the apartment. “In a small space, you think you have to play it safe and downscale everything,” says Lauren, “but the drama of having such a big piece among its petite surroundings is such a cool juxtaposition.”
The artists behind the paintings, as well as other creative types Lauren met while decorating her home, have since become her friends – the space has offered her a social network that surpassed handheld screens and moved into face-to-face relationships. Lauren now collaborates with members of Montreal’s artistic community, who hold photo shoots in her place and take advantage of her eye for interior design.
Who knew living in a gorgeous abode could expand your social network? It’s something to consider when you’re looking for new quarters.