Wood Residence in Montreal, designed by Vives St-Laurent, approaches renovation through careful retention and exact interventions. The project works within a layout typical of Westmount homes, where the staircase and the sequence of living room, dining room, and kitchen define the structure of daily life. Instead of reworking the plan, the design sharpens its logic, allowing each space to read clearly while introducing new material definition.
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The entrance sets the direction immediately. A checkerboard floor in Alpi Verde and Bianco Carrara marble establishes a graphic surface that carries both weight and restraint. The oval window, a defining feature of the facade, informs the geometry of the entry furniture. A seating element and vertical storage unit align with its proportions, allowing the window to guide the composition rather than act as decoration.
In the living room, built-in bookshelves extend across the wall, framing the fireplace and reinforcing its role within the space. The natural stone mantel remains visible and grounded, while the shelving introduces rhythm and structure. A large bay window opens the room toward the front yard, where a mature tree becomes part of the interior experience. Furniture stays low and controlled, allowing light to define the atmosphere.
Material decisions across the project respond to its intended resale while maintaining clarity. Pale white oak replaces the original flooring, bringing a lighter tone that shifts the interior without disrupting its character. This approach continues in the staircase, where the redesign aligns with the house’s existing language. Moldings integrate the structure into the surrounding walls, while a painted steel handrail sits recessed within the stringer, adding a precise linear detail that reads quietly but intentionally.
The kitchen remains at the rear, following the original plan. An anthracite French door introduces contrast and establishes a direct connection to the terrace. Marble surfaces define the workspace, with the countertop providing continuity with earlier material choices. The addition of an island organizes circulation and supports everyday use without interrupting the room’s proportions.
Beneath the staircase, a powder room appears almost invisible. A hidden door aligns with the wall moldings, maintaining visual continuity. Inside, a solid marble sink acts as a single sculptural element, connecting back to the entry floor while holding its own presence within the compact space.
Upstairs, three bedrooms and two bathrooms follow a more private rhythm. The primary suite defines this level. A new ensuite bathroom expands the experience through proportion and material weight. Two French doors with textured glass allow light to pass while maintaining separation. A wall-to-wall vanity with a thicker countertop introduces a stronger horizontal line, while the walk-in shower references boutique hotel layouts, guiding the spatial arrangement without excess.
Across the project, Vives St-Laurent works through alignment rather than contrast. Moldings, materials, and structural elements connect through consistent detailing, allowing new interventions to sit within the existing framework. Wood Residence holds onto its original identity while adjusting its surfaces, proportions, and transitions to meet current expectations.
