This 1920s art deco building in Montreal has taken on a new, contemporary twist, thanks to designer Julie Charbonneau. She originally purchased its penthouse as a showroom where she could flirt with fresh fashions in design. But if a fire burnt down her Toronto home last year, she moved herself and her daughter briefly to Montreal to wait out the rebuilding process. The spacious and bright attic has been home for today, and it embraces Charbonneau’s French design with fresh, high-contrast lines.
at a Glance
Who lives here: Julie Charbonneau along with her 8-year-old daughter, Alexia
Location: Montreal
Size: 3,250 square feet; two bedrooms, two bathrooms
That’s intriguing: This building once housed a printing firm.
Esther Hershcovich
Charbonneau maintained the structure as accurate to the original state as possible, including brick walls and the concrete columns. Following an unsuccessful attempt to salvage the first wooden floors, she replaced them with a budget-friendly white epoxy.
Charbonneau made this table. Its diameter that is 7-foot fits up to 10 chairs. The natural lines of the Bocci lighting fixture match the area’s industrial advantage.
Light fixture: Triede Design; dining chairs: Avant-Scène
Esther Hershcovich
The open layout is created for entertaining many guests. The lighting may be controlled to various mood settings in an iPad, courtesy of AVI Design.
Floor lamp: Tolomeo, Michele De Lucchi for Artemide
Esther Hershcovich
Oversize arched windows are the pinnacle of architectural interest in Charbonneau’s home. She opted to accentuate them by leaving them discovered in the primary living space.
Esther Hershcovich
An oversize shag rug helps to define the seating area. This space, with its own swivel chairs facing the dramatic custom wood media centre, is Charbonneau’s favorite spot in the home. She says, “It’s a wicked sound system, also.”
Gray swivel chairs: Triede Design
Esther Hershcovich
When guests come in, they visit this formal sitting area, with its Rauschenberg paintings, custom tiled chairs and wine collection on decorated glass shelves.
Esther Hershcovich
The foyer includes two charcoal drawings, part of Robert Longo’s “Men in the Cities” body of work. An upholstered leather bench helps make a gracious entry and offers a seat for pulling on boots before heading outside to the snow.
Floors: Saraceno Granite; paint: Chelsea Gray, Benjamin Moore
Esther Hershcovich
A tall coat closet made of rosewood sits in the foyer, also. “The idea was to not show the hinges,” says Charbonneau.
Esther Hershcovich
The kitchen strategy included an island with granite counters that were white. When Charbonneau was advised the bit of oil wouldn’t fit within her building’s elevator, then she covered half of the island. “Sometimes a battle brings out the best,” she says.
A wall has been brought forward just enough to put in a line of accent lighting to her cooking area.
Esther Hershcovich
A skylight and overhead spotlights make the glossy kitchen look extra bright. The kitchen also includes two dishwashers with pullout freezer drawers flush with the cabinetry.
Rosewood doorways beyond the kitchen match exactly the foyer’s coat closet design. These lead to Charbonneau’s daughter’s bedroom. The door on the right leads to the master suite.
Esther Hershcovich
Charbonneau made her master bedroom with light colours and luscious fabrics.
Esther Hershcovich
The upholstered headboard is custom designed to include a background for the two nightstands.
Table lamps: Flos; portrait: David Drebin
Esther Hershcovich
A large portrait by Martin Rondeau, a Montreal artist, hangs over a freestanding tub in the master bath.
Esther Hershcovich
His-and-her wall-mounted vanities face a walk in shower in the master bath. The spacious frosted glass door leads to the toilet.
Esther Hershcovich
Charbonneau designed daughter Alexia’s room with an extra twin bed for a visitor. A Paul Beliveau painting hangs on a custom wall-to-wall headboard.
Esther Hershcovich
An Egg Chair overlooking downtown Montreal sits in the corner of Alexia’s room.
Esther Hershcovich
Off the foyer, another bath ties in with the rest of the house with a rich, dark rosewood vanity and wood-lined wall.
Esther Hershcovich
A massive shower opens up the room and contrasts with the dramatic vanity.
Esther Hershcovich
The primary living room includes a view of St. Patrick’s Basilica, just a couple of steps away from her building’s front door.
Esther Hershcovich
Julie Charbonneau snuggles with Alexia on among her favorite swivel chairs. While both are living here just briefly, Charbonneau is likely to build a rooftop patio adjacent.
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