NEW CLASSIC

A thoughtful reno that relies on traditional architecture and the always fashionable pairing of black and white makes what was old new again in a home designed for gracious living.

A thoughtful reno relies on traditional architecture and the always chic pairing of black and white to make what was old new again.

They say you never get over your first love. That’s how it was for this homeowner. When he and his partner moved to Rosemère, Quebec, where he grew up, they ended up in a house that had captured his heart 30 years ago. “As a kid, I fell in love with the architecture, especially the large columns,” he says. “When we decided to leave Montreal for the suburbs, I found out that the house was on the market. The beautiful yard and spacious interior won us over in the end.”

“Black imparts elegance and makes some really beautiful details pop.” — homeowner

What neither partner loved about the 2,200-square-foot home was the decor. It begged for a complete overhaul. It was dated and in need of modernizing. And major design flaws like three separate staircases, access to the garage through the basement only, and a living room that felt claustrophobic due to low ceilings would require structural work well outside of either partners’ skillsets.

Gold accents enliven the black and white kitchen giving it a luxe, current feel.

“We love that the house has a whole lot of different vibes to offer.” — homeowner

Designer Catherine Morote from Frank & Sullivan in Rosemère was called in to redo the place, oversee the structural work, and to collaborate with the returning Rosemère resident, who has a passion for decorating. “We were tasked with updating the aesthetic while still respecting the home’s essence and classic architecture,” says Catherine, who says the couple wanted a modern look, distinct from the Colonial-style interior.

The living room underwent a major structural overhaul, with an upstairs mezzanine sacrificed to take the room’s ceilings to soaring new heights. Other, more straightforward moves – painting the doors black, the moulding and woodwork white, and staining the floors dark – added glamour and a clean-lined look that both homeowners love. “The decor is neutral, yet it enjoys some rather dramatic touches like the checkerboard tile, oversized canvases and linear lighting,” says one homeowner about his former and renewed residential crush. “We love that the house has a whole lot of different vibes to offer.”

“We wanted to give each room a soul of its own while still tying the whole home together.” — Catherine

“Everything was streamlined to make the space more relaxing,” — homeowner

An indigo wall makes the bed and streamlined headboard the focal point in the airy master bedroom.

PHOTOGRAPHY DREW HADLEY

DESIGN, Catherine Morote, Frank & Sullivan; TILE, Theza; TABLE and MIRROR, Maison Corbeil.

The mostly white upper hall went from dated to dramatic with black accents. “Black modernizes,” says one homeowner. “Since the house has a lot of windows, we could get away with using it quite nicely.” LIGHT, Luminaire & Cie.

before

The designer’s first focus was to give the foyer enough presence to match the imposing exterior. It was out with the flowery wallpaper and yellowish wood stain and in with a chic black-and-white checkerboard floor that establishes the home’s striking palette. The sweeping staircase – with its handrail and treads treated to a dramatically dark paint, and risers and spindles in white – carries the colour scheme to the second floor (opposite, bottom right), creating visual unity throughout the home.

OPPOSITE Refined elegance characterizes the sleek new black-white-and-gold kitchen that’s night and day from its former woodsy, dated look. The cabinetry has a subtle satiny matte finish; gold handles add lustre. The cabinets above the range were clad in a stunning marble look-alike tile that brings even more emphasis to the gold-tone range hood, the undisputed centrepiece of the space. The formerly U-shaped kitchen was Sleek smooth porcelain tile that looks like marble imparts a timeless elegance to the revamped kitchen. changed to an L-shape layout to make room for the large island. The homeowners chose the largest single piece of quartz possible so the countertop would not have joints, and the island was designed around it. DESIGN, Catherine Morote, Frank & Sullivan; CUPBOARD, Miralis; FAUCET, Delta; LIGHT, Luminaire & Cie; STOOLS, Maison Corbeil.

before

Less ostentatious than before but also more glamorous, the dining room proves that in good design, less can be so much more. Modern Italian furnishings, stunning wall-to-wall, floorto-ceiling sheers, and a black wall that lets a stunning painting take pride of place are all that’s needed to complete the space. “We wanted a classic closed dining room to enjoy more traditional get-togethers,” says one homeowner. TABLE AND CHAIRS, Cattelan italia; LIGHT, Luminaire & Cie; ART, giantart.com. before RIGHT

Cali vibes reign in the living room, where major changes were made. “We went from an eight-foot ceiling to 22 feet by getting rid of the mezzanine room above,” explains designer Catherine Morote. Another notable addition: two enormous windows that flood the room with light. The generously scaled sectional in neutral grey keeps the mood light and airy – a world away from the cramped pre-reno feel. SOFA, Huppé Furniture; LAMPS and PLANTS, Maison Corbeil.

ABOVE The homeowners wanted the den to have not only a different feel from the mostly white living room, but a whole other raison d’être. With The Great Gatsby as their inspiration, Catherine fashioned a space that’s glam and masculine, and has the decadent luxury that F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel evokes. Forest green walls, leather chesterfield sofas and dark built-ins and fireplace surround create a clubby feel, so it’s no wonder the couple dub the space their “scotch room.” Sleek contemporary side tables and lighting, and black and gold accents ensure the space looks traditional, not dated. STORAGE, Frank & Sullivan; SOFA, Meubles Jacob; COFFEE TABLE, Maison Corbeil; RUG, Crate and Barrel.

before

A dated sauna, bidet and laundry room were nixed to make way for a sumptuous shower and stunning soaker tub in the ultra luxurious master bath. Entire walls are clad in large 24- by 48-inch marble-like porcelain tiles for a simple elegance; Catherine used a mix of black and white, and matte and glossy for visual interest and to relate back to the home’s primary palette. “Everything was streamlined to make the space more relaxing,” says one homeowner. STORAGE, Miralis; PANEL, Céramique Theza; BATH, Neptune; FAUCET, Alt-Acqua. before

Upstairs, an accent wall in blue (the couple’s favourite colour) brightens the revamped master bedroom. The quilted headboard with built-in lighting and bedside tables create a pleasing symmetry, as do the sloping ceilings, which all combine to make the platform bed the focal point in the large, airy space. BED and SIDE TABLES, Huppé Furniture; BEDDING, Maison Simons; LIGHT, Artemide; CUSHIONS, C&M Textile.

before