The owner’s tour | A custom condo with lots of storage

Geneviève Simard and Mark Vallée started their life together in a tiny 350 ft condo², in Griffintown, which was to serve as a base for the entrepreneur. They lived there for two and a half years, until in September 2018 they moved into a spacious 1032 sq.²which met their exact needs.

Danielle Bonneau
The Press

The beginnings of their life together allowed them to know two things: they loved Griffintown… and they would never have too much storage space. When they toured the sales offices in the bustling district, they were seduced by the Bassins du Havre, on the edge of the Lachine Canal.

“We were looking for the flexibility to modify the plans,” explains Mark Vallée. After living two and a half years in a small condo, we had very specific ideas of what to do and what not to do. »

“I do a lot of decorating of condos and what’s glaring in the neighborhood is the lack of storage,” says Geneviève Simard, who is an interior stylist. We didn’t want to lose a square inch. We didn’t want to have a corner that wouldn’t be used. We spent a lot of Friday nights with a bottle of wine, making plans. We wanted all our things to fit well everywhere, so as not to be cluttered. »

Tips

They are particularly proud of the clean-lined living room which nevertheless remains warm. Two large wooden panels sit on either side of the TV. To achieve this effect, the corner reserved for a washer and dryer, as well as the small corridor leading to it, were eliminated in order to enlarge the second bedroom, behind the wall.

“A cabinetmaker made the entire wall, on which the TV is mounted and all the cables are concealed, explains Mark Vallée. There are two wooden panels. Behind the first, next to the backlit bar, is our glassware. When you push the other panel, you enter Geneviève’s office. Storage has been integrated at the bottom of the TV. There are drawers that serve as filing cabinets, rather than just shelves. We’re both in business, we have a lot of paperwork to put away. »

Opposite this wall, a library has been designed to house the owner’s comic book collection and some interesting visual elements. Other file drawers have been incorporated.

The master bedroom has also been personalized.

“We expanded the walk-in and we put doors in a glossy navy blue, which flashes a lot, he continues. The bed has also been designed specifically for the room, with sockets for charging your phone or tablet.

And the washer and dryer? They have been strategically placed in the hidden chamber. Stacked, they are hidden behind a sliding door, next to a wardrobe transformed into a storage cellar, for 555 bottles.

This room also serves as an office and guest bedroom. The two poufs from BoConcept each convert into a single bed. Glued together, they are a bit larger than a double bed. “Because my office is on casters, I can move it around easily,” explains Geneviève Simard. When our friends come to bed, they have plenty of room to sleep. I call it room four in one. »

Change of air

They live on the seventh floor of the third (and penultimate) phase of Bassins du Havre, called Signature, which is more upmarket. They preferred to have a view of the inner courtyard, which is very quiet, rather than of the Lachine Canal, in order to enjoy the late afternoon sun on their very spacious balcony.

Four years later, Mark Vallée has reoriented his career and works a lot from home. He also needs an office. Both snowmobile enthusiasts, they will settle in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. They will (obviously) customize their next condo, while not looking to replicate what has been accomplished. “The condo in Griffintown will remain unique,” ​​they assure. Many pieces of furniture having been made to measure, they will move leaving almost everything to the future owners.