BEVERLY II RESIDENCE
The Beverley II residence is located in a charming semi-detached house dating from 1930 in the heart of Town of Mount Royal. Like the garden city houses of that era, it was very partitioned and dark. The family, who love to entertain, contacted Humà Design + Architecture to redesign the ground floor while preserving its original character. The mandate was therefore divided into two zones, the entrance and the living area. This meant redesigning the front veranda to create a more defined main entrance, separate from the office area, and considering the possibility of building an entrance closet. It was also essential to redesign the kitchen and dining room and make the space larger and brighter.
CLIENT :
Privat Client
LOCATION :
Town of Mount Royal, QC
YEAR :
2021
AREA:
N/A
DISCIPLINE :
DESIGN D'INTÉRIEUR
PHOTO/3D :
Maxime Brouillet
Several layout options were considered, some of which included an extension, but ultimately, a space optimization exercise was chosen. The trick was to reposition the basement access under the stairs and eliminate the secondary entrance and its small veranda to convert them into a kitchen space. The entire area of the staircase hall, kitchen, and dining room was reconfigured. It was important for the clients not to create a large open space across the entire floor, which would distort the nature of the house. A large useful wall running through the house therefore serves to divide the space. Several functions were integrated, including the entrance closet and a large broom closet on the hall side and the refrigerator and built-in oven area on the kitchen side. Given the limited space, the kitchen layout is unconventional. At its heart is a large island crafted from wood veneer matching the color of the house's original moldings. It faces the dining room and allows customers to interact with their guests during evenings.
The island is highlighted by a large linear volume of black-stained wood with custom-made round handles. It houses the pantry and the hidden breakfast nook. Slightly set back, in the former secondary entrance, is the cleaning area with its deep counter and large corner window opening onto the backyard. The work is delicately executed, such as the walls covered with woodwork panels that accentuate the character and the new marble landing that restores the nobility of the restored original staircase. The use of curves in several places softens the work, particularly for the island counter, which frees up space even where circulation areas are sometimes limited.
At the front veranda level, the main entrance needed to be given more presence. For the layout, the idea was to create two office areas on either side of the entrance by creating dividers. These wood and textured glass walls, with hinged sections, quickly conceal the daily work clutter when visitors arrive. Integrated furniture was developed to create the two offices, a filing cabinet, and an entrance bench. The creation of the cathedral ceiling, the new radiant floor covered with slate installed in a herringbone pattern, and new windows accentuate the desired effect. Supporting the clients throughout the project, right down to the choice of furniture, helped complete the established vision to ensure the project's harmony.
