Seeing the possibilities helps a Montreal-area realtor revamp her mid-century ranch for modern family life.
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TEXT EMMANUELLE MOZAYAN-VERSCHAEVE AND KATHLEEN DORE | PHOTOGRAPHY DREW HADLEY | STYLING CAROLINA AUZ
Seeing the possibilities helps a Montreal-area realtor revamp her mid-century ranch for modern family life.
Who better than a realtor to see the potential of a property? “The house had been for sale for eight months when I decided to visit,” says its present owner, a real estate agent, about her 1950s ranch bungalow on Montreal’s South Shore. The previous owners had lived there for 60 years; it was pristine, but dated. “They had maintained it perfectly, had put all their love into it,” she says. “Everything was spotless, but nothing had ever been changed. It was a bit like a museum.” But her expert eye immediately saw the possibilities: “In my work, I often see how people have difficulty imagining what a place could become once renovated. I see it right away.” One look and she knew she could give it new life as a bright, modern home for herself and her four-year-old daughter.
Although the owner didn’t change the footprint of the 2,350-square-foot house, she completely reimagined how to use the space, switching up rooms to better reflect a modern lifestyle. A family room became a welcoming new kitchen; the former dining room became a family room; the old kitchen was turned into a bathroom; and one small bedroom became an office while another was transformed into a luxurious master bath. It was a sophisticated and complicated rethinking that resulted in a transformative improvement of flow between spaces.
That cohesion was reinforced by the owner’s natural talent for design, and she let her love of modern and mid-century lead the way. “I like this ’50s style of house, where everything is on one floor,” she says. She also preserved certain favourite original elements like the terrazzo floor in her office. Elsewhere, she opted for light-toned maple floors and shopped locally as much as possible. “I like natural materials, quality objects and I prefer local made-in-Quebec products,” she says.
The newly bright, open and modern spaces maximize comfort for her and her little girl, just as she’d originally envisioned. It’s a world away from what she had first encountered, but like the previous owners, she put all her love into it, and it shows.
TWO 1930S-STYLE LEATHER ARMCHAIRS AND A CARAMEL COLOUR SOFA BRING WARMTH TO THE MOSTLY TWO-TONE PALETTE.
A MODERN CHANDELIER LINKS TO THE LIVING ROOM SCONCES AND IS LIKE A CONTEMPORARY WORK OF ART.
THE FIREPLACE AND LARGE ISLAND MAKE THE KITCHEN A DESTINATION.
YELLOW ACCENTS WARM THE ROOM VISUALLY AND WORK WELL WITH THE YELLOWY BRASS SHADE OF THE FLOOR LAMP.
LIGHT FLOODS INTO THE HOME OFFICE WHERE THE FURNISHINGS ARE RESTRAINED, LETTING THE TERRAZZO FLOOR TAKE CENTRE STAGE.
ROUNDED SHAPES IN THE MASTER BATH – THE SINKS, SCONCES AND TUB – SOFTEN THE MOOD.