A loft with defined spaces

Housed in a historic building, this Montreal loft of 120 m^⁠2 was renovated in order to circumscribe the bedroom space, then to balance the dining and living areas while keeping the original architectural volumes and maximizing natural light.

Emmanuelle Mozayan-Verschaeve
special collaboration

Seduced by the character of this interior dressed in bricks, exposed beams and arched windows, the owners bought this loft located in the heart of Old Montreal in 2019. They then contacted Cyrille Maurice, president of the architecture firm and of interior design 101 Design, in order to find layout solutions that meet their tastes and their needs.

“They explained to me that they wanted to create a physical barrier between the bedroom and the living room. It wasn’t so much the lack of privacy that bothered them, but rather the fact that there was no demarcation. We suggested that they create a glass roof with fairly imposing black uprights, 3 inches wide, to ensure a masculine and industrial style that matches the building well while allowing light to pass through,” explains Cyrille Maurice.

Another major element to change: the wood-burning fireplace equipped with unsightly exposed flues. It no longer met the standards in force in Montreal and spoiled the view to the outside. The designer replaced it with an island incorporating a double-sided steam fireplace.

“It’s an interesting electrical system because it generates smoke, which gives a very realistic fire effect,” he continues. The module of the new fireplace also includes a storeroom accessible from the dining room. This linear composition is pierced with a generous window in order to clearly see the flames, and its height is perfect to visually separate the living room from the dining room while clearing the panorama.

In addition to distinguishing the two common living areas, the fireplace has two different sides. On the dining area side, the hearth is embedded in a “pyramidal” recess, while on the living room side, it is integrated into a flat rectangular surface. “It allows you to have two styles: a more rustic one in the dining room and a more contemporary one in the living room,” explains the designer. This atypical and ingenious element covered with waxed concrete transforms the atmosphere of the loft thanks to its volumes with ideal proportions for this configuration.

Daring and well-balanced colors

The image of the loft is often associated with a large, airy, cold and immaculate space. This one is the antithesis of this type of minimalist habitat thanks to its warm original materials, the introduction of the large central module integrating the fireplace, but also the addition of vibrant colors.

Omnipresent in this interior, shades of blue are warmed up by accents of golden yellow. The recently changed navy kitchen cabinets will look for the bluish reflections of the marble backsplash. Located at the other end of the open area, far from the large windows, this room intended for the preparation of meals has gained in brightness since the flues of the old chimney have been eliminated.

In the office, scarlet red is very stimulating and conducive to work. In this studious space used regularly, the choice of ergonomic furniture and adequate storage makes each task more efficient. Convenient for reading comfortably, the sofa bed also allows you to transform the room into a guest bedroom.

Marriage of materials

The industrial style is distinguished by the marriage of raw materials such as wood, leather, brick, metal, as well as by natural colors and black. Here, the steel structure of the canopy and the new ebony spotlights that highlight the wood of the ceiling beams reinforce the sought-after industrial spirit.

“We put little golden ties on the lights; they are discreet, but they create a different atmosphere because they add a bit of shine”, informs Cyrille Maurice, who is delighted to have taken up the challenges and respected the budgetary constraints despite the high cost of the island integrating the fireplace. .