The dream house, the one found not far from the village of Lac-Brome, in the Eastern Townships, had the volumes, an inviting exterior and land that ticked all the boxes. Inside, however, it lacked that cohesion that makes you feel at home. Connecting the interior to the exterior is the mission entrusted to the La Nony Famili interior design and development team, which has made it a haven not to be left.
Returning from Europe after more than 25 years abroad, it was in her native region that the future owner*, a native of Sherbrooke, wanted to put down roots. The initial plan, concocted with her British partner, was to find land in the countryside where to build the idealized nest. While doing research, the couple came across a house located behind the village of Lac-Brome, which made them deviate from their objective.
Located on a three-acre wooded lot, from which the neighbors are imperceptible, the residence displayed mid-century lines and a Japandi style that appealed to the client, who “fell in love with the house on the spot” or rather with her potential, as she will discover a few minutes later by opening the door to a completely different universe.
“It wasn’t to my tastes,” she said politely, as if of a dish that horrifies us and that we try to decline without offending the cook. The kitchen and bathrooms needed to be changed. The walls, clad in dark oranges, browns, and yellows, were also crying out for help. “We said to ourselves that it was nothing that a brush stroke couldn’t correct. » The house had beautiful volumes, a solid frame and an abundance of windows. However, a strong intervention will be required to give it its energy. current.
Entrust the keys to specialists
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY NONY FAMILI
The television is excluded from the main living room. Instead, we dedicated a room to it, into which a cozy velvet sofa was placed.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY NONY FAMILI
From the “bizarrely shaped” island, the designers also kept what was salvageable and filled in with something new.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY NONY FAMILI
The initial idea was to replace the stainless steel fireplace which clashed with a wall of brown tiles with contrasting joints. It found its place in the decor when we replaced the covering with discreet tiles.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY NONY FAMILI
A bookcase adorns the wall with lightness.
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“I like decorating, but with a full-time job, I couldn’t see myself redoing an entire house,” says the buyer, who recruited La Nony Famili to help her with this task. I presented them with an “atmosphere” board. When they came back with the drawings, I told myself that I could have easily spent a year trying to achieve the same result. »
PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY NONY FAMILI
All original cabinets have been salvaged and restored with new custom-made surfaces, including handles. Monochrome ceramic tiles cover the backsplash and floors and let green nature take center stage.
His wish was to honor the style of the house, without falling into caricature with a decor that seems straight out of an episode of Mad Men. The designers knew how to target the essence of the style, adapting it to current tastes.
PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY NONY FAMILI
The ceiling drop which overlooks the staircase has been covered with wooden slats which accentuate the japandi style of the decor and warms up the stone of the entrance, like the lime walls.
Although it is sometimes easier to start from scratch, the ecological approach was favored. Apart from the bathrooms which had to be completely redone, as many components as possible were preserved, including the moldings, the floors, the kitchen cabinets, the appliances and the chimney hood, which was simply covered with an envelope minimalist more suited to the decor.
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PHOTO BY ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY NONY FAMILI
Curtains on rails were preferred. Lighter and more discreet than rod curtains, they disappear to make way for the landscape.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY NONY FAMILI
The furniture, in American cherry in the common rooms, is covered in walnut in the bedrooms and the office where it helps to create an enveloping atmosphere.
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PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY NONY FAMILI
Of the original bathroom, where a brown ceramic podium elegantly replaced by marble, only the shower and the location of the pipes have been preserved.
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Knock on wood
“What’s interesting is that it was a really good base, but poorly finished. The interior needed to be brought back to the same level as the shell,” notes Aza Lussier, who pilots La Nony Famili with her partner, Fred Nony.
PHOTO MARTIN LAPORTE, PROVIDED BY THE NONY FAMILI
Aza Lussier pilots La Nony Famili with her partner Fred Nony
To lighten the decor and highlight the windows, the strategy was to free the walls and concentrate the rich and enveloping textures in the center of the volume. The furniture was stripped down to the essentials, but custom-made by Gaïac ébénisterie, a craftsman from Cowansville. In American cherry in the common areas and walnut in the bedrooms, it injects warmth into each room.
PHOTO ULYSSE LEMERISE BOUCHARD, PROVIDED BY NONY FAMILI
In all the rooms, the curves coexist with the clean lines of the furniture and soften the decor.
People who enter the McPherson residence often remark that it resembles its occupants. It is refined, simple, welcoming. “It’s the greatest compliment anyone can give us,” says Aza Lussier. What we want is for the decor to look like it was designed by our clients. There’s a lot of work behind it, but the goal is for it to seem natural and for the concept to stand the test of time. »
After completely renovating the interior of the residence, the couple called on the same duo to decorate the exterior and add a terrace. “This is our home,” concludes the occupant. Unless we have to leave, I see no reason to change houses. As a good Quebecer, I knock on wood [ce qui ne manque pas dans la résidence McPherson]. We are delighted and we are here for good! »
* To maintain her privacy, the owner preferred that her name not be disclosed.
Visit the La Nony Famili website