Montreal Home - Winter 2015-2016

WINTER ISSUE

FAMOUS

BY DESIGN At home with George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg

STYLISH SLUMBER Today’s trends in bedroom furnishings and linens

GLORIOUS GIFTS Find the best presents VERY VERMONT A unique home in the

Green Mountain State

$6.95

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DIGITAL EDITION AVAILABLE Read Montreal Home anywhere, instantly.

Subscribe at digital.movatohome.com

THE WINTER ISSUE

Publication # 41959020

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Knowledge and culinary architecture since 1908.

La Cornue cookers unite tradition and technological innovation, and above all are born from a passion for culinary art. Their elegance and exceptional performance are a true testament to an expertise that is recognized and appreciated around the world.

www.signaturebachand.com 2

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A prestigious line of

legendary kitchen ranges

8140 Décarie Blvd, Montréal 514 344.2425

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Original art... for the original you!

34, Saint-Paul ouest Montréal (Québec) H2Y 1Y8

T : 514.845.2525 F : 514.845.2124 info@galerielebourget.com

www.galerielebourget.com

ALEKSANDRA Promenade de soirée, 30 x 60 po.

66, Saint-Paul ouest Montréal (Québec) H2Y 1Y8

T : 514.848.8944 F : 514.848.7230 info@leluxart.com

www.leluxart.com

Martin BEAUPRÉ Et si la lune guidait tes pas, 40 x 40 po.

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301, Saint-Paul Est Montréal (Québec) H2Y 1H1

T : 514.845.2121 F : 514.868.1119 info@galerieemeraude.com

www.galerieemeraude.com

Sarah MURPHY I Love Moonlight, 30 x 40 po.

66, Saint-Paul ouest Montréal (Québec) H2Y 1Y8

T : 514.848.8944 F : 514.848.7230 info@leluxart.com

www.leluxart.com

Patrick PÉPIN Arise, 60 x 60 po.

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MAKE YOUR DREAMS A RÉALITÉ

for your trust in our company for over 20 years.

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2355-C Aut Transcanadienne, Pointe-Claire Quebec, H9R 5Z5 (514) 694-4600 www.hemsleys.com

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IGNITE SOMETHING O N LY T H E P E R F E C T C U T C A N U N L E A S H A DIAMOND’S BRILLIANCE.

H E A R T S O N F I R E S T O R E S , A U T H O R I Z E D R E TA I L E R S , H E A R T S O N F I R E . C O M

Exclusively available at:

2355-C Aut Transcanada, Pointe-Claire, Quebec H9R 5Z5 514.694.4600 | hemsleys.com

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Photo: Michel Gibert. Special thanks: SANAA-Building, Zollverein World Heritage Site. Fabric Sculpture by jj-meyer.com. *Conditions apply, see store for more details.

l’art de vivre by roche bobois

Manufactured in Europe.

Satellite sofa, design Sacha Lakic.

G3 coffee tables, design Johan Lindstén.

Lady B armchair, design Cécile Maïa-Pujol.

MONTRÉAL 505 Avenue du Président Kennedy Tel. 514-350-9070 montreal@roche-bobois.com

LAVAL - Quartier Laval 660 Boulevard Le Corbusier Tel. 450-688-6000 laval@roche-bobois.com

BROSSARD - Quartier DIX30TM 8440 Boulevard Leduc Tel. 450-656-8440 brossard@roche-bobois.com

Interior design services* and complimentary parking 12

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www.roche-bobois.com

TORONTO 101 Parliament Street Tel. 416-366-3273 toronto@roche-bobois.com

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Fireplace: View Bell Large 3

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8909 Henri-Bourassa Blvd. E., Anjou www.neefireplaces.ca Toll free: 1 800 665 6662

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EDITOR’S LETTER

STEPHANIE WHITTAKER Editor-in-Chief stephanie@movatohome.com

AS A CANADIAN who loves winter, I am a member of a small minority. There was a time when I would grumble – just like everyone else – about the cold, inclement winter weather. And then, a few years ago, I realized that winter offers advantages that other seasons don’t. I’m not referring to the opportunity to skate on a frozen pond or to ski down a mountain, although those pursuits are both delightful.

I’m talking about being indoors – quiet, contemplative and creative. Winter is the perfect opportunity to plan your next home project. You’ll probably defer the execution of any renovation work to the warmer weather of spring. But this is the perfect time for planning home improvements because you’re indoors, where you can scrutinize your house up close and decide what you most want to do.

In this issue, we take you into superbly designed homes that will inspire you in the design of yours.

And if you’re contemplating a bedroom makeover, do read Susan Kelly’s story about trends in bedroom furnishings and linens; it’s full of great advice on how to turn your slumber space into a relaxing sanctuary.

We also visit internationally renowned designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg at their home in Toronto. Like all intriguing homes, theirs is a clever mélange of furnishings and art that they’ve layered on over the decades they’ve been together. Their home serves as a delightful example of how the best interiors evolve over time.

p.s.

There are several ways you can stay in touch with us:

@leahlipkowitz, @movatohome

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@leahlipkowitz, @movatohome

170, RUE PEEL MONTRÉAL | 514.932.3306 CELADONCOLLECTION.COM

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CONTRIBUTORS

SUSAN KELLY As days grow cooler, thoughts turn to a warm duvet. What lies beneath and overtop is a lot of style, as contributor Susan Kelly discovered. In talking to the experts, she learned that it’s all about artful expression in a way that is meaningful for you. “The bed in 2016 will become a more personal and cozy space and will set a warm tone for the rest of the room,� she says. Susan is a frequent contributor to Montreal Home who specializes in writing about style and decor.

SUSAN SEMENAK Susan Semenak is a Montreal writer and artist who is still finding new gems in her favourite city. These days, Villeray calls with its many redesigned houses, cafĂŠs and shops. The family duplex she writes about in this issue got a new personality when a woman and her partner overhauled the house her great-grandfather had built, creating a bright and edgy new space. “It makes me wonder what’s inside all those other old places around the neighbourhood,â€? Susan says.

Volume 7, number 6, Winter issue 2015 / 2016 Date of issue: December, 2015

4020 St. Ambroise Street Suite #367 Montreal, Qc. h4c 2c7

PUBLISHER Leah Lipkowitz ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Hana Rakovski

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephanie Whittaker

Tony Whitney writes about lifestyles, the automotive industry and business for magazines and websites in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. His main focus is automobiles, fine watches and luxury merchandise. In this issue, Tony writes about hybrid and electric cars that are as luxurious as they are environmentally friendly.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Jennifer Mula

ART DIRECTOR

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Mark Ruzayk

Tova Zajdel

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

TONY WHITNEY

Call 1-855-410-4663 movatohome.com sales@movatohome.com

Phillipa Rispin PRODUCTION ARTIST Marieve Gagnon EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Wendy Loper ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Carmen Lefebvre

CHIEF STRATEGIST Sheila Toby ACCOUNTING Joseph Tsang DIRECTOR OF SALES Kelly Chicoine ACCOUNT MANAGER Joanne Mayoff

Diane Dollisen LEGAL DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTORS

ISSN

1920-1370 Montreal Home

Tracey Arial

magazine Inc. 2015. All rights

Julie Gedeon

reserved. Any copying or

Susan Kelly Susan Semenak Tony Whitney

reproduction of content without the written permission of Montreal Home magazine is strictly prohibited.

Publication # 41959020

PHOTOGRAPHY Brandon BarrĂŠ Ulysse Lemerise Susan Teare Adrien Williams

STYLISTS & SCOUTS Nadine Rodrigue

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Printed in Canada

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CONTENTS

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ON THE COVER

The home of designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg is filled with a collection of meaningful and beloved objects

GOOD FIT

A pre-engineered home is perfectly adapted to its site

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OPEN-DOOR APPROACH

CMT Design specializes in well-crafted doors from Europe

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HAPPY GIFTING!

Our annual holiday gift guide helps you find the perfect presents for those you love

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FABRICS | DRAPERIES | BEDDING | BLINDS | ACCENTS Custom-made|Ready-made

FREE SHOP AT HOME SERVICE

CUSTOM BEDDING AND WINDOW COVERINGS NEW TOLL-FREE NUMBER 1-855-5DECOR5 (533-2675)

Shop online for:

www.fabricville.com

•Custom-made •Drapery Curtains + Blinds Fabric

7 LO C AT I O N S I N M O N T R E A L PARE and DECARIE | DORVAL GALERIES L AVAL | L ASALLE | ST-BRUNO GREENFIELD PARK | PL ACE VERSAILLES THE WINTER ISSUE

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CONTENTS

26 THIS JUST IN

An array of new items for your home

18

EDITOR’S LETTER

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GIFTS, GLORIOUS GIFTS Our annual gift guide has something for everyone

40

THE DESIGN DUO AT HOME George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg relax in their art-filled Toronto home

52

GOOD FIT A pre-engineered home is perfectly adapted to its site

76

ALL IN THE FAMILY A Villeray home is modernized by a family’s fourth generation

88

OPEN-DOOR APPROACH CMT Design specializes in well-crafted doors from Europe

102

WINE WOW Contemporary-style cellars allow oenophiles to store their wine in style

106

CAREFULLY CURATED Every antique that Cedric DuPont sells is specially chosen for its beauty and value

110

VIRTUAL FURNITURE STORE Ordering online saves homeowners money

116

MOUNTAINSIDE MAGIC A Vermont home is surrounded by the beautiful Green Mountains

128

OPEN FOR BUSINESS An established company specializing in plumbing fixtures welcomes the public

90 STYLISH SLUMBER

Hot trends in furnishings and linens allow for beautiful bedrooms

TEMPTING TIMEPIECES

Parmigiani Fleurier watches let you keep track of time in lavish style

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Gift Baskets The perfect presents for those you love

Visit us in-store or online for a pleasing array of gift baskets and arrangements

6205 Couture Blvd., Montreal 514-325-2020 www.berchicci.ca 25 THE WINTER ISSUE

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DESIGN

1. CHEESE, PLEASE Host a memorable dinner party with this cheese fondue set by Swiss Cross.

The fondue pot and matching forks feature a white cross painted on red enamel.

Includes 22-cm enamelled cast-iron pot, black metal stand, six forks and two-way burner. From a new collection exclusive to Linen Chest. $99.95.

——— Linen Chest www.linenchest.com

2. WARM FOCUS Get toasty warm this winter.

The View Bell is one of many styles of fireplace available from Dutch manufacturer Bellfire. With their clean and contemporary design, these gas fireplaces allow the fire to remain the focus of the room.

——— Fireplace by Maxwell 1380 Pemberton Ave., North Vancouver www.maxwellfireplace.ca 604-987-1293

WINTER 2015/16

3. WRITE IN STYLE This bureau plat in tulipwood, rosewood and ormolu from the atelier of Théodore Millet is graced with the elegant cabriole legs typical of Louis Xv style.

Its top surface boasts the original gold tooled brown leather writing surface within a rosewood border and ormolu scalloped border. It is finely chased throughout with all original gilt.

——— Cedric DuPont Antiques 3415 South Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach, Fl. www.cedricdupontantiques.com 1-844-249-9078

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Entertaining THE ART OF MODERN

EVEN DURING THIS TRADITION-FILLED TIME OF YEAR, WE BELIEVE IN MODERN LIVING & ENTERTAINING. FROM INSPIRING LIVING ROOMS TO SPIRITED BARS TO FA B U L O U S ACC E S S O R I E S , O U R CO L L E C T I O N I S DESIGNED TO ELEVATE YOUR HOME AND GIFT LIST D U R I N G T H E H O L I DAYS A N D B E YO N D .

MONTRÉAL, QC | GRIFFINTOWN | MGBWMONTREAL.COM

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DESIGN

1. CUDDLE IN COLOUR Meet Lenny, part of the vibrant furniture collection at Fama Living.

Both chair and footrest swivel.

Stretch out in comfort in a myriad of colours, in your choice of fabric or leather. Free delivery nationwide.

——— Fama Living Montreal 2000 St. Laurent Blvd., Montreal www.famaliving.ca 514-840-0990

WINTER 2015/16

2. ALL THE RIGHT ANGLES The Suspens dining table is all about angular yet sleek modern style.

It features a curved sheet-metal base in steel with a honeycombshaped top in 10 mm-thick aluminum. We show Suspens with a matte white lacquer finish, but it’s available in a large array of materials, colours and dimensions.

——— Roche Bobois 505 President Kennedy Ave., Montreal www.roche-bobois.com 514-350-9070

3. BREATHE EASY Oxygen is a line of self-aerating wine glasses.

The high-quality lead-free crystal stemware with smooth rims features an elegant wave motif.

It’s designed for top-notch oxygenation without prior decanting. Set of four. White wine: 12.5 oz.

(350 mL). Red wine: 19.5 oz. (550 mL). Made in the Czech Republic. $39.95.

——— Linen Chest www.linenchest.com

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4. NEW HORIZON The Horizon series of radiant gas fireplaces has a new member, the H6.

It boasts a large viewing area and a powerful secondary heat exchanger that promotes convective warmth.

Tapered sides and a shallow firebox allow for smooth installation, including in tight corners. The H6 can also heat multiple spaces with the Valor remote blower kit accessory.

——— Valor Fireplaces www.valorfireplaces.com

UNIQUE ARCHITECTURAL FREEDOM TO CREATE YOUR CUSTOM HOME BONE Structure® has developed and patented a steel construction technology inspired from the aerospace industry to build stunning custom homes that produce zero waste and save up to 90% of energy. They are impervious to mold, rot, termites and are designed to withstand Canadian winters, hurricane-force winds and California earthquakes.

www.BONEstructure.ca

Precision is in our bones

Want to move into your BONE Structure custom home next season?

It’s time to start planning !

Book an appointment today!

Call 1 855 978 2663

SAN FRANCISCO . VANCOUVER . CALGARY . EDMONTON . MONTREAL . REGINA . WINNIPEG . TORONTO . OTTAWA . ST JOHN’S ©2015-2016 BONE Structure ® The illustrations can differ from the actual model. Architectural works relative to BONE Structure homes are subject to copyright laws. The simple fact of using or copying the plans of BONE Structure, in part or in whole or to fabricate or build directly or indirectly a home based, in whole or in part, on plans, scale-models or model homes of the 29 THE WINTER ISSUE former, without the express consent of BONE Structure might constitute an infringement to copyright laws. *Meccano and Lego are registered trademarks.

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LIFESTYLE

1. CURVY COFFEEMAKER ——— Designed by Michele De Lucchi for a collaboration between Italian greats Alessi and Illy, the Pulcina espresso maker uses data from Illy’s r&d laboratory to

THERE IS SOMETHING SO GRATIFYING about proffering the perfect gift. Who doesn’t thrill to the look of joy on the face of a loved one who has just opened that present you so carefully selected? If you’re wondering what to give your loved ones this holiday season, read on. Montreal Home’s annual holiday gift guide helps you find the perfect presents for those you love … and what a gift that is!

make a great-tasting cup of coffee without the so-called Stromboli-volcano effect that is common to espresso makers. Available in 1-, 3-, and 6-cup versions ($88, $100, $132).

——— Alessi www.alessi.com

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2. PITCHER PERFECT ———

3. MARVELLOUS MUGS ———

Designed by Alfredo Häberli for

Mulled wine, eggnog or just a hot

Georg Jensen, the Peacock pitcher in

cuppa – they’ll all look and taste

sleek stainless steel will add a grace

great in these Artesano mugs made

note to any festive table. 11" H,

specifically for hot beverages.

one-litre capacity. $223.

———

———

Villeroy & Boch

Studio Brillantine

www.villeroy-boch.ca

www.studiobrillantine.com

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LIFESTYLE MONTREAL WINTER 2015 / 2016

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4. DE-STRESS ———

5 7

5. SEASONAL SCENTS ———

6. KINCHU CACHE ———

7. TOAST YOUR TOES ——— Among its many online

A relaxing session with artisanal

Eucalyptus joins the seasonal

Britto Charette’s globe-

spa products will help reduce

fragrance of pine in Jo Malone

shaped Kinchu pot opens

offerings, Kaufmann

stress during this busy season.

London’s Pine & Eucalyptus

at its meridian to reveal a

Mercantile suggests leather

Handcrafted in Canada and

scent collection. Immerse a

smooth interior, making it

house shoes for men and

scented with essential oils,

friend (or yourself!) in the total

perfect for stashing a coveted

women. We show the men’s

the T. Langhans line of natural

experience of scented candle,

collection of small items. The

version: hand-cut, vegetable-

luxury spa products makes for

room spray and diffuser.

globe’s top is crowned with

tanned leather, wool felt

a welcome gift – for others and

The holidays will have never

a decorative baby bird. In

insole, natural leather outsole,

yourself, too!

smelled as good.

porcelain, with 24k Italian

handmade in the USA.

———

———

gold or platinum finish.

It also comes in black pebbled

Available online; Victoria Park

Holt Renfrew

9" H x 8" diameter. $250.

leather. $166.98.

Medi Spa, Westmount;

1300 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal

———

———

Select Roots locations for the 2015

www.holtrenfrew.com

Britto Charette

Kaufmann Mercantile

holiday season

514-842-5111

310 NW 26 St. Suite A.,

www.kaufmann-mercantile.com

Miami, Florida

1-844-716-8511

www.tlanghans.com

www.bchomeusa.com 305-640-5005

gift guide

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LIFESTYLE

gift guide

1. SUBLIME SCENT ———

2. URBAN TIMEPIECE ———

Sublime Vanille is the first

This watch is directly inspired

offering from Creed’s Royal

by a 1950s-era Baume &

Exclusives collection. Its

Mercier timepiece. Within a

careful blend of vanilla and

43 mm-diameter steel case, its

tonka beans is rendered

satin-finished blue dial also

smooth, fresh and light

displays date, day, month and

with sparkling notes of

moon phase. It’s driven by a

Italian lemon. The result is a

Swiss-made mechanical self-

universal scent for both him

winding caliber visible through

and her.

a transparent sapphire crystal

———

case-back and is water-resistant

Holt Renfrew

at up to 50 metres. Decidedly

1300 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal

urban, it is worn on a black

www.holtrenfrew.com

alligator strap.

514-842-5111

——— Hemsleys Jewellers 2355C Trans Canada Hwy., Mega Centre, Pte. Claire www.hemsleys.com 514-694-4600 1 3

2 4

3. REQUIRED READING ———

4. VELVETY AND VERSATILE ———

Just in time for its 20th anniversary, the New York-based

This beautiful piece in velvet can be used as a coffee

architecture and interior design firm Janson Goldstein

table or simply as an ottoman. Luxurious details include

has released Work. This book is a glimpse into the firm’s

crystal buttons and chrome nailheads. 17" h x 36"

diverse practice, which ranges from artisan-crafted

diameter. $599.95.

custom furnishings, to highly personalized homes and

———

apartments, to large-scale urban retail, hospitality and

Linen Chest

condominium projects. $96.

625 St. Catherine St. W. #222,

———

Promenades Cathédrale, Montreal www.linenchest.com

Available online at

514-282-9525

www.amazon.ca

gift guide

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LIFESTYLE MONTREAL WINTER 2015 / 2016

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6 8

5. WARM GEOMETRY ———

6. PORSCHE PEDIGREE ———

7. RICHLY RENDERED ———

8. GIVING GIFTS, GIVING BACK ———

The Geo printed fully-lined

The new Porsche Macan GTS

Home is where we love to live.

wool-blend coat from Edit by

features a v6 bi-turbo engine

Make someone happy with a

Skin-pampering products from

Jeanne Beker will keep you

delivering 360 hp and 369 lb.-ft.

miniature plaster sculpture

L’Occitane en Provençe (we show

warm in style. It can be

of torque, combining a high

of his or her home, an eternal

a shea butter set) will restore

paired with five-pocket mid-rise

level of typical Porsche driving

keepsake. The building’s front

anyone after a busy day. Purchases

ponté pants for equally

dynamics with outstanding

facade is sculpted by artist

also benefit Dress for Success,

stylish comfort.

everyday utility. Leather and

Lisa Elin with all the fine

giving back to those in need this

———

Alcantara trim, optional led

details – such as bricks, roof

holiday season. The purchase of

Hudson’s Bay

main headlights, online services

tiles, window sills – rendered in

certain gift boxes will provide a

585 Ste. Catherine St. W.,

and Apple CarPlay add up to a

depth. Starting at $4,500.

$10 donation per box to help outfit

Montreal

thrilling driving experience.

———

a woman for her job interview.

www.thebay.com

———

Archytexture

———

514-281-4422

Porsche Prestige

www.archytexture.com

L’Occitane en Provençe

3535 Cote-de-Liesse Rd.,

www.ca.loccitane.com

Ville St. Laurent

1-877-212-0238

www.porscheprestige.com 514-356-7777

GIFT GUIDE Winter 2015 2014 /2015 /2016

gift guide

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LIFESTYLE

GIFT GUIDE Winter 2015 /2016

1. CHEESE, PLEASE ———

2. AMAZING MAZE ———

The Antipasto cheese board

Maze is the name of this au

makes for a rustically elegant

courant style from Edit by

serving piece. In white marble,

Jeanne Beker. It’s a smooth

mango wood and brass, it

slide of a sweater dress

handles cheese, sausage, cured

designed to slip on with no

meats, and other goodies with

zippers or buttons, for a

elan. 23" l x 8.75" w. $148.

sleek silhouette.

———

———

Anthropologie

Hudson’s Bay

www.anthropologie.com

585 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal www.thebay.com 514-281-4422

1 3

3. SWEET TREATS ———

4. SNUGGLE UP ———

What are the holidays without goodies for dessert or snacking?

Ripples of inviting texture make this luxuriously

Even the “olives” from La Cure Gourmande are sweet – they’re

soft faux-fur throw irresistible. The weather

chocolate-coated roasted almonds! Visit the store or shop online for a pleasing plethora of tasty morsels with a French twist.

——— La Cure Gourmande 1500 McGill College Ave., Place Montreal Trust, Montreal www.curegourmande.com 514-700-1058

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outside might be frightful, but keeping warm is always delightful. $170.

——— Pottery Barn www.potterybarn.com

LIFESTYLE MONTREAL WINTER 2015 / 2016

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5 7

5. A TASTY READ ———

6 8

6. LIGHT UP THE NIGHT ———

7. A WRISTFUL OF JINGLE ———

8. A SOUND IDEA ——— Each pair of Music Muffs by Yatra

Montreal Cooks presents 80

The flickering light of a soy wax

Give someone a bunch of

recipes from 40 of Montreal’s

candle in the oversized mercury-

bangles from Montreal

has been outfitted with advanced

most talented and unique

glass cardamom and vanilla

silversmith Cynthia Hawkes.

audio technology that can answer

chefs. Written with the home

candle bowl adds warmth and

They’ll jingle like bells but

calls, control volume and shuffle

cook in mind, this cookbook

a bright glimmer to a mantel

look a good deal nicer. Thinner

through playlists at the touch of

is designed to make recipes

or console. Filled with scents of

hammered bangles from

a button. Soft, premium faux

from fan-favourite restaurants

spices and citrus, this antiqued

Hawkes’s The Basics line:

fur, a relaxed, adjustable fit, and

achievable for everyone.

mercury-glass bowl also adds

sterling silver $44, bronze $30.

a durable nylon braided cable

Montreal Cooks is written by

wonderful fragrance to a room.

———

ensure they’re ready for a walk

Tays Spencer and Jonathan

11" diameter, 4.75" h.

Folklore 1

through any winter wonderland.

Cheung, chef and owner of

———

4879 Sherbrooke St. W., Westmount

———

Appetite for Books.

Pottery Barn

514-486-8852

8" X 10" hardcover,

www.potterybarn.com

Yatra www.shopyatra.com

264 pages. $37.95.

——— Appetite for Books 388 Victoria Ave., Westmount www.appetitebooks.ca 514-369-2002

gift guide

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DESIGNED TO BOOST YOUR EXCITEMENT AT WILL

THE ALL-NEW 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA Starting from

$37,700*

TEST-DRIVE THE ALL-NEW 2016 MAXIMA AT THE GROUPE NISSAN GABRIEL. GIVE IT SIX SECONDS, AND YOU’LL NEVER LOOK AT A 4-DOOR THE SAME WAY AGAIN. Feel 300 horsepower push you deeply into a sculpted sport seat for an exhilarating drive.

Visit us on site, or book your test drive online or by phone.

www.nissanmontreal.com 7010, boul. Henri-Bourassa Est, Anjou, QC H1E 7K7

514 324-7777 4777, rue d’Iberville, Montréal, QC H2H 2L9

514 254-7777 3500, rue Jean-Talon Ouest, Montréal, QC H3R 2E8

514 509-7777 4400, boul. Métropolitain Est, St-Léonard, QC H1S 1A2

514 365-7777 12260, rue Sherbrooke Est, P.A.T. QC H1B 1C7

514 645-7777

S T-JACQ U E S

7050, rue Saint-Jacques, Montréal, QC H4B 1V8

514 483-7777

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*Price represents the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) plus freight and PDI, as well as all other applicable fees, levies and duties. Price excludes license, registration, insurance and applicable taxes. Dealer may charge additional administration fees, which may vary by dealer. Dealership may sell for less. Equipment, specifications and price are subject to change without notice.

DESIGN

AN ORGANIC ACCRETION The Toronto home of designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg is filled with a collection of meaningful and beloved objects

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN PHOTOGRAPHY: BRANDON BARRÉ

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DESIGN MONTREAL WINTER 2015 / 2016

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(Opposite) The duo’s home is a mix of high and low, objets d’art and “stuff.”

The everyday items beautifully inlaid in a Japanese pearwood marquetry

DESIGN

table are augmented by assorted hand and foot carvings.

YABU PUSHELBERG is a world-renowned name in interior design, with the Toronto firm doing about 90 per cent of its work outside Canada.

The eponymous principals kindly let us get a glimpse into their lives when all the travel is done and they’re relaxing back at home in Toronto, where their path together in life and work began and continues.

Besides their Toronto house in the Bennington Heights neighbourhood, George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg have three other homes, each one different in style from the others. In New York City, the two designers live in one of the Perry St. apartment buildings designed by Richard Meier, towers that exhibit the architect’s signature light, white, bright modernist aesthetic. To get away from the city, they have a house on the beach near Amagansett, with two walls open to the ocean, that George calls “a piece of heaven.”

When they want to really escape it all and go somewhere warm, they head for their “little old joint in Miami” (George’s words), a Florida bungalow with a pool. And when they’re back at home base in Toronto, they live in this house, what he rather disingenuously calls a Georgian cottage. •

(Above) In the master bedroom, Alvar Aalto’s Zebra armchair (model no. 37) offers a seat beside Simon Gavina’s stool, Omaggio To Andy Warhol. A steatite sculpture, Sedna,

“We’ll buy things we love, high and low.”

by Adamie Alariaq, sits beside it.

The Triennale floor lamp was designed by Arredoluce. On the wall are two acrylics by Yoshitomo Nara: Pee, and Pee – Dead Of Night.

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DESIGN

In the living room, an Accord chair by Jacques Guillon sits in front of a large canvas by Yayoi Kusama titled My Heart. The Fornasetti screen beside it is one of several that Glenn and George own.

The Mid-century Modern chair in white leather is a “picker” that they “rehabilitated.”

“We’re not big mansion boys.

Our homes are all tied together by art and how well they sit where they are.”

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When George had a special birthday coming up, Glenn commissioned a portrait of him

by British painter Julian Opie. The chair in front, from Milan, was found at a flea market. The cast bronze stool – Ass Chaps – is by Simon Gavina.

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“They’re all sweet,” Glenn says. “We’re not big mansion boys. Our homes are all tied together by art and how well they sit where they are.”

Tied together by art – their Toronto home is all that and more. It’s chock-a-block with art and objets and, well, stuff. “We’ve become collectors of stuff,” George says.

But before we explore the stuff of their Toronto life, let’s discuss that “Georgian cottage.”

True, from the front it does look like a quaint little one-storey house, but step through the yellow-painted front door and suddenly everything opens up. The house overlooks a ravine, and when George and Glenn bought it 15 years ago, they “ripped the back off” and built three storeys that are generously glazed at the back and give a feeling of living in a tree house. Despite having outstripped its cottagey heritage and now being 3,000 square feet, the house does, indeed, sit well where it is, and so does the stuff inside it.

The duo does not draw a strict distinction between decorating for themselves and for their clients. They and their design business are now known for a relaxed, modernist style infused with warmth. It wasn’t strictly like that at the beginning.

When they started out in business, they were “young, naive and in love with design,” according to Glenn. “But we could look at scraps and make magic out of them,” he adds.

Both from Ontario, they had met in 1972 while attending Ryerson University.

Their big break came in 1985 when they got a call to design the Club Monaco shop interiors. As their reputation grew, “somebody stumbled across our work published in a magazine in Japan, and they flew us over to Taipei,” Glenn recounts. “We started working in Taipei on a department store, and we made friends in Japan, and all of a sudden in our career we were doing all these projects in Asia. Everything leads to something else. We worked with Holt Renfrew; Holt Renfrew led to Bergdorf Goodman, which led to Tiffany’s and Carolina Herrera.” •

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DESIGN

The Swan Back sofa in the living room, designed

by Vladimir Kagan, looks like a sectional but is all one piece. Generous fenestration at the back of the house makes the ravine ever-present.

“We’ll be happier if we make more work more like us, and if we do what we like, the clients will follow.”

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A pair of armchairs by Jean-Michel Frank flanks a Traccia table by Méret Oppenheim and Simon Gavina. Enooky Oquataq’s Caribou Antler sits atop a nearby cabinet. In the background is the dining table designed by George to “make the frame disappear,” with an oil painting – Gras II – by Eelco Brand behind it.

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DESIGN

The staircase’s sinuous railing was an element the couple made sure to keep during renovations. A large print by Thomas Ruff – w.h.s. 10 – appeals to them for its colour and because it “scintillates.”

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DESIGN MONTREAL WINTER 2015 / 2016

The bird-legged Traccia table is by Méret Oppenheim and Simon Gavina, crafted in gold leaf and cast bronze. What George calls “Jetson-ish” solid-silver footed bowls and ashtrays were picked up in Mexico City and are by an unknown designer.

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Like all new designers starting out, in the beginning they had to please their clients, but as time went on they developed a personal style that showed in their work. Then they realized that clients were coming to them for a reason.

“We said ‘Why don’t we design more things that we like rather than what we think other people might like?’ That was a revelation,” Glenn says. “We’ll be happier if we make more work more like us, and if we do what we like, the clients will follow.”

George and Glenn define their style as mostly contemporary but heavily influenced by their experience. “We’ve learned from what we’ve been exposed to and where,” George says. “Our best interiors have some resonance that came from somewhere. They have more layers to them that make them richer. They can be understood not just by the design cognoscenti.”

Resonance, layers, richer – it is thus with their home, too. The place doesn’t look decorated per se, but more as if possessions just accreted. It’s highly personal and idiosyncratic.

There is much original art – for instance, contemporary paintings by Julian Opie and Yayoi Kusama (whom Glenn calls a “rock star of contemporary art”), and a Fifties-era Accord chair

by Quebec artist Jacques Guillon. There’s custom-made furniture, including the minimalist dining table designed by George himself.

But Glenn and George also have what they call “pickers” (items picked up from the curbside or second-hand stores and lovingly reinterpreted rather than restored) and furnishings and objets “with no pedigree.” Thus George’s description of their possessions as “stuff.”

“We’ll buy things we love, high and low,” George says. “Our collection is not time-specific. We just choose whatever resonates with us.”

Whatever they choose, it’s resonating on the right frequency. The home is comfortable yet chic, just like its owners. •

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ROOMS WITH A SWEEPING VIEW Homeowner gets a turnkey home in the Laurentians

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN • PHOTOGRAPHY: ULYSSE LEMERISE • STYLING: NADINE RODRIGUE

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LORNE SCHECTER WAS WORRIED. The foundation for his new country home, being built

by BONE Structure on Lake Ouareau, had been laid, and it seemed too small.

Lorne admits that he’s not one for understanding blueprints, so he’d already had one site visit from Michelle Tremblay, vice-president (and co-founder with her husband) of BONE Structure. Tremblay walked the site with Lorne before construction began and laid out sticks

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along the ground to show him where each wall would be, so he could visualize the rooms.

Lorne’s anxiety was assuaged then, but now it was back. “When the foundation was poured, it seemed very small to me,” he recalls. “Michelle actually came to the site and, on the foundation, showed me where each room would be to make me feel comfortable that I had adequate space. Where the master bedroom was I said ‘I can’t even fit a cot,

never mind a king-size bed.’ She proved to me that I can fit my king-size bed; I can fit my end tables; I can walk out onto my patio and there’s no problem. We laugh about it today.”

When asked about this, Tremblay says simply, “This is what we do. If something happens, we’ll be there for the client.” That approach is indicative of the care that BONE Structure, a Quebec company that specializes in building custom homes, puts into the homes it builds

DESIGN MONTREAL WINTER 2015 / 2016

and its commitment to keeping clients happy.

Lorne didn’t know this when he first sought a builder, but happenstance seemed to lead him to BONE Structure. “I read a magazine and saw a picture of one of their homes,” he says. It was love at first sight. “I like ultramodern style, and I wanted an all-glass house because my property is on a lake,” he says. “A week later, I was at a client’s home. She and her husband were rebuilding their cottage and her

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husband, who is an engineer, recommended BONE Structure. They showed me their site, and I called BONE Structure the next day.”

The appeal of BONE Structure homes is that they are pre-engineered and then erected on-site. Because all the components arrive together, already made, there is no need to do wholesale clearing of the site to allow heavy machinery to manoeuvre. The ground where the foundation will be laid

is cleared, but the surrounding trees and other elements of the landscape remain as undisturbed as the homeowner wishes.

Another advantage is that there’s no waiting around for the various tradespeople to come and work on one element, such as plumbing, and then wait while, say, the floorers come in, and then wait for the millwork to be cut and installed. In an ordinary build, the stairs are delivered near the end, but BONE •

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Structure delivers the stairs the same day as the rest of the parts. Marc-André Bovet, Tremblay’s husband and the president of BONE Structure, likens it to building a giant Meccano house.

“Everything is decided beforehand,” Tremblay explains. “All the pieces are pre-measured, and it’s easy to work within the structure. The trades won’t fight because everyone has room to work without compromising. We can schedule the trades

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accurately.” As a result, building is quick. In fact, says Tremblay, “Lorne’s home was delivered more than three weeks early.”

“They started the teardown of the existing house in October 2014, and the house was finished in May 2015,” Lorne says. “It was a turnkey operation; BONE Structure did everything, from getting permits to helping me find furniture. They really held my hand, made the process idiot-proof. Hugo Beauregard, the construction foreman, was great.”

(Left) A table and chairs from Maison Corbeil fit stylishly into the dining area, which is adjacent to the kitchen and living room. The light fi xture is a series of black rectangles called Revealed, from Swarovski.

(Right) Maple cabinetry in the kitchen is a warm counterpoint to the cool-coloured flooring by Céragrès in 24-by-24-inch slabs.

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Lorne got the stone fireplace wall that he wanted in the living room. The fireplace itself is surrounded by Atlantic Black granite. Sofa, coffee table, chair, lamp: Maison Corbeil. Clear panels instead of railings show off the structure of the staircase, which has hickory treads that match the engineered floor.

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Lorne is president of L.E.S. Financial Services, a company that provides life and disability insurance to doctors across Canada.

He’s a busy man with little time to fuss over building details. He also needs a place to entertain clients, and a cottage on the lake would be the perfect place. “Not only is it a great place to entertain clients,” he says.

“The bedrooms are at opposite ends of the house so there’s maximum privacy when my kids, who are now older, come to visit.”

That perfect place is now reality. He has a 2,350-square-foot country home with an open floor plan and all the windows he could desire to enjoy the view of the lake and surrounding mountains. He has the bright, ultramodern house he wanted that reflects his personal style.

It all happened more easily than Lorne expected. “Once the interior walls were up, I could start visualizing what the rooms would look like,” he says. “I worked with Nadine Rodrigue, BONE Structure’s director of •

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“ I read a magazine and saw a picture of one of their homes. It was love at first sight. “

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DESIGN

Tremblay says that certain considerations affected the home’s design: “The view was paramount. The site was beautiful. Lorne wanted high ceilings, lots of windows, lots of light...”

The master bedroom is upstairs and is one of Lorne’s favourite places in the home because of the view and the balcony, where he can sit outside and have coffee.

interior design. She gave me ideas, she provided samples, she was very accommodating.

“The whole place was custom-made: while the interior was being finished, we changed a few things. Nadine suggested the wine cellar. She came up with some ideas to make the house look even better – for instance, we made a change midway through to the railing for the stairs, making it all glass. Nadine presented everything in pictures on the computer so I could understand.

“Nadine also helped with the furniture.

I’d see something I liked and brought Nadine with me. She had the measurements and could tell me if a piece would work. She helped tremendously.

“I entertain here on the weekends, and friends, clients, family – everyone is amazed. The whole place looks even nicer than I anticipated.” •

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LIFESTYLE

TIME FOR LUXURY

It takes many hours to hand-craft an exquisite Parmigiani watch

BY TONY WHITNEY

LIFESTYLE

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IN THE OPULENT WORLD OF FINE SWISS WATCHES, there are many fabled brands, some of which date back more than a century. But it is a relative newcomer that’s been capturing attention recently: Parmigiani Fleurier.

The company was launched less than 20 years ago by the Swiss horologist Michel Parmigiani, whose background includes years of work restoring historical mechanical clocks and watches.

“After graduation in 1974, I was hesitating between becoming an architect or a watchmaker, but curiosity made me decide to become a watchmaker,” Parmigiani says.

He says he was inspired by his country’s venerable history of watchmaking. In Val-deTravers, the area of Switzerland where he lived, there was a school specializing in the craft. “At that time, there were 40 families involved in watchmaking,” he says, adding that in earlier times, people in rural areas often divided their time between farming and watchmaking. “I was always fascinated in the watchmaking heritage of the region and decided when I opened a workshop in 1976 to focus on restoration, which sometimes involved pieces 400 or 500 years old.”

During that time, the quartz revolution was devastating the mechanical watch industry and many watchmakers went out of business.

Parmigiani says restoration was an alternative to manufacturing. “I worked on old pieces that amazed me for their quality and precision,” he recounted in a recent interview while visiting Canada. “I was surprised that watchmakers many decades ago were able to produce such precision, which even today is a challenge.”

Parmigiani soon began creating unique pieces for collectors. One of his best restoration clients was a wealthy collector in Switzerland whom he first met in 1980 and who later encouraged the young craftsman to create his own brand. •

Photos courtesy of Parmigiani Fleurier

“I worked on old pieces that amazed me for their quality and precision.”

(Opposite) Pershing Tourbillon.

(This page, from top) Ovale Pantographe.

Ovale Pantographe detail.

Tonda Pomellato Arabesque Inspiration - black.

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LIFESTYLE

“I was surprised that watchmakers many decades ago were able to produce such precision, which even today is a challenge.”

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Parmigiani Fleurier was launched in 1996.

“We stay true to our founding values, namely the restoration of artifacts from the past and the ability to draw knowledge from this heritage to create the mechanical constructions of the present,” Parmigiani says.

The company is the only premium watch manufacturer to operate a restoration department. Says Parmigiani: “For many of the world’s top watchmakers, Parmigiani is the only restoration shop that they will use.”

Fleurier, on the edge of the Jura Mountains, has been one of Switzerland’s watchmaking epicentres for many decades.

Parmigiani created a sensation in 2006 when he produced the Bugatti Supersport driving watch, inspired by that automaker’s $2.5-million Veyron supercar. The watch, of unorthodox design, won awards around the world for its craftsmanship and originality; the fi rst one made was given to American fashion magnate Ralph Lauren, a car fan and Bugatti owner.

Currently, Parmigiani offers several haute horlogerie collections that include everything from sports watches with numerous special features to simple designs inspired by mid20th-century styles.

More than 95 per cent of the watch components are produced in-house. Each watch is hand-made and takes about 400 hours to create. The company ensures exclusivity by restricting annual production to 6,000 pieces.

Parmigiani is eager to increase his company’s selection of women’s watches, which would buck the industry standard of producing more products for men. “Right now, the mix is 60-40 (per cent) in favour of men’s watches,” he says.

“But our aim is to make this 50-50, partly because women are showing more interest in mechanical movements nowadays.” •

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LIFESTYLE

(This page, from top) Kalpa London Underground.

Bugatti Super Sport.

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LIFESTYLE

Michel Parmigiani

“We stay true to our founding values, namely the restoration of artifacts from the past and the ability to draw knowledge from this heritage to create the mechanical constructions of the present.�

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Toric detail

The Ovale Pantographe is typical of Parmigiani’s work. The watch has an oval face and the hands intriguingly telescope to follow the hour numbers accurately. “My inspiration came from a 200-year-old pocket watch I was restoring with hands that expanded and contracted to fit the face,” Parmigiani says.

He applied the technique to the modern timepiece. “Each hand on the Ovale has 31 individual pieces,” he says. As with all Parmigiani watches that have leather straps, the band on the Ovale is produced for the company by Hermès.

One of Parmigiani’s most technically sophisticated products is the Tonda 1950 Tourbillon, which uses the most complex and difficult-to-produce extra features in watchmaking.

Tourbillons were developed during the 19th century to enhance pocket watch accuracy and are exceptionally difficult to manufacture, which is reflected in their cost. They take many hours to create and assemble. The result is a highly accurate timepiece with its tourbillon visible through the face crystal and its operation looking, as Parmigiani points out, “almost like the watch’s beating heart.”

Such timepieces have earned Parmigiani w ide spread re sp ec t a mong prem iu m watchmakers, horological enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. •

Parmigiani Fleurier watches are available at Palladio Jewellers 855 W. Hastings St., Vancouver www.palladiocanada.com 604-685-3885

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DESIGN

NEW LIFE FOR AN OLD FAMILY HOME

The inside of a typical Montreal duplex is modernized and lightened up

BY SUSAN SEMENAK PHOTOGRAPHY: ADRIEN WILLIAMS

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On the main floor, the living room, dining room and kitchen share an open space infused with light from the skylight.

Bleached hardwood floors and pale birch plywood panels lend warmth to the all-white walls and cabinetry.

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THE HOUSE IN VILLERAY that Catherine Villeneuve remembers from her childhood was a classic Montreal duplex with a long corridor that ran all the way from the front entrance to the little kitchen at the back. It was a house her great-grandfather had built, a place infused with warm memories where four generations of her family had lived.

As a child, she’d hardly noticed that the hallway was dark and cramped, with small bedrooms squeezed along one side. Or that the

only natural light came from windows at the front and back of the house, leaving a whole swath of interior cast in shadow.

But when Catherine and her partner, Alexandre Larocque (she’s a teacher and he’s an emergency-room physician) moved in, they began to re-imagine the old house. “It was a traditional house with ogee moldings and carpeting everywhere. And it was so dark, especially in winter,” says Catherine. “We wanted something bright and modern.” •

“We didn’t want everything to be white or lines that were too straight or symmetrical.”

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“All of this creates a certain dynamic connection between the skylight and the two floors of the house.”

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They hired NatureHumaine because they loved the young Montreal architecture and design firm’s way of interplaying edgy modernism with warm wood, whimsical shapes and bold colour.

Under the supervision of general contractor Sienna Construction, the interior was gutted to turn two existing flats into a single two-storey dwelling with a large open kitchen, living room and dining room on the main floor and three bedrooms, an open office and large bathroom on the second floor.

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NatureHumaine’s owner-architect, Stéphane Rasselet, says bringing sunshine into the middle of the house proved to be the biggest challenge. Direct light came in only from the front and back. But the front facade looks out onto a busy street. And the rear of the house faces north, so the light is not particularly bright.

To shield the homeowners from the street without blocking the light, Rasselet designed opaque sliding interior doors, which run the full width of the house, separating the living

area from the entrance. Then he added a double-height light well topped with a skylight that floods the middle of the house with bright, glorious light. • (Opposite) The wall that separates the stairway from the dining room folds into a bench outfitted with a folded metal insert painted black. It serves as a design element and back rest.

(Below) Birch plywood panels were layered, laminated and cut into oblique shapes by the South Shore firm Aux Bois d’Oeuvres to inject movement into the overall design.

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“It took many cuts and re-cuts to get it just right. We took the angles very seriously.”

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Tearing down the walls throughout the main floor changed the way the family lives and entertains. Before, when the small kitchen and dining room were separate, Catherine often felt isolated while she cooked. Friends would be clustered in different rooms. But now everyone mingles, and conversation flows freely while Catherine, a passionate home cook, does her thing. The new kitchen boasts ample cabinets and counter space, including a long stainless-steel-clad island counter that features two heights – one for work preparation on the kitchen side and another higher one with bar stools on the dining room side, where guests perch to watch while she cooks.

From the start, Catherine says, one of her fears was that the house would feel too cool and static. “We didn’t want everything to be white or lines that were too straight or symmetrical,” she says.

Rasselet devised a theme of diagonal lines in a restrained palette of white, black and blonde-wood tones. All the kitchen cabinets are white, as are the walls throughout the house. But the shelving and living room furniture is black and there are a few strategically placed punches of colour – yellow on the first floor and turquoise on the second floor. •

Rasselet says a large portion of the budget was directed toward the detailed woodworking that recurs throughout the house. The kitchen cabinets are made of matte-finished lacquered panels and the sides of the island counter are faced with birch plywood cut to exacting specifications. “It took many cuts and re-cuts to get it just right,” Rasselet says. “We took the angles very seriously.”

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“It’s a traditional house that got a bright, new personality.”

To create a feeling of movement, Rasselet worked with woodworkers at Aux Bois D’Oeuvres in Delson to create elements with irregular shapes. For example, the wall separating the stairway from the main floor is a series of birch plywood panels cut into oblique shapes with v-grooves. It folds over at its base to become a long bench at the dining room table, which is itself a long, irregular rectangle that seats up to 12 people.

Above the dining area, Rasselet installed a dramatic x-shaped support in black metal, which holds a trio of pendant lights that seem to hover in midair.

“All of this creates a certain dynamic connection between the skylight and the two floors of the house,” Rasselet explains. “There’s something very theatrical about the way this space opens up.”

There’s drama, too, in the angles at which the white metal table legs, counter supports and stair rails are set, evoking the asymmetry of a stand of birch trees in the forest. Carrying the diagonal theme upstairs, the bathroom’s grey porcelain tiles are marked with a pattern of black and white chevrons.

Catherine says everyone who rings the doorbell, whether it’s first-time guests or the pizza delivery guys, is surprised by what’s inside. “It’s a traditional house that got a bright, new personality,” she says. • A turquoise vanity creates an aquatic ambience, the homeowner says. The bath and shower are tiled in grey mosaic tiles (from Céragrès) inlaid with a geometric pattern.

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17999A J.A. Bombardier • Mirabel, Qc • J7J 2H8 • Tel: 450-951-8878

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“It’s a one-time investment that forever enhances the look and value of the house.”

GETTING A HANDLE ON THE

BEST DOORS

Beautiful interior doors can enhance the look of any home

BY JULIE GEDEON

CMT Design 8965 Champ d’Eau St., St. Leonard 514-327-6549 www.cmt-design.ca

QUALITY DOORS AND WOODWORK can transform an aging home into an elegant abode. “It’s a one-time investment that forever enhances the look and value of the house,” attests Carmine Muccino, owner of CMT Design in St. Leonard and Laval.

His showroom/warehouses contain an impressive array of wooden doors crafted in Italy.

“Every panel is finished separately before a door is assembled so that you don’t see unpainted portions when the wood expands or contracts,” Muccino explains. “This is especially important in our North American homes where humid summers and dry winter heating make it a challenge to maintain 30 to 40 per cent humidity.”

CMT Design (named after Carmine, his brother Mario, and father, Tony) is very much a family business. Muccino’s cousin, Steven Barbato, works as production manager in the plant.

Antonio Muccino started out building cabinetry and coffins in Italy. He’s been involved with Valentino Furniture in St. Leonard for more than 40 years. CMT Design has been in business for 12 years, supplying Montreal, Ontario and the U.S. All doors are made of solid birch, maple or mahogany, imported from South America. Polyurethane is applied for a scratch-resistant surface.

CMT Design installs every door within a rubber-lined frame to prevent wood-on-wood noise.

The one-and-three-quarter-inch thickness (as opposed to the one-and-three-eighths-inch standard) creates a superior sound buffer. “And we have 25 different glass options to permit natural light without sacrificing privacy,” Muccino adds.

The company has an inventory of about 1,000 doors. “If someone likes one we have in stock, we can usually install it the next day,” he says.

Five-panel doors in birch are currently most popular as homeowners opt for lighter walnut finishes, but customized orders are also welcomed. “Most of the photos or sketches I send to the manufacturer are no problem to do,” Muccino says.

CMT Design has also teamed up with Braga, a leading Italian manufacturer, to source pvc doors. “They’re very popular these days for condominiums because they look and wear better than white mdf doors,” Muccino says. “They have a modern look in a variety of pvc textures and colours that have been popular in Europe for years already.”

CMT Design can also build all of the baseboards, crown moldings, corner rounds and other woodwork. “Nice wood trims will instantly transform a home,” Muccino says. •

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DESIGN MONTREAL WINTER 2015 / 2016

SLEEP WELL Bedrooms are given the high-design treatment in furnishings and linens

BY SUSAN KELLY

DESIGN Winter 2015 /2016

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A FORWARD-LOOKING NOSTALGIA prevails as 2016 nears, with bed designers selecting the best of the past and taking it in a new direction. Bold strokes are called for: eclectic explorations, reinterpretations of classic styles, and fresh twists on existing trends. All in the name of creating a bed that’s a tour de force, a masterpiece of the master suite.

Playing it safe design-wise has become a big snore for some, it seems. Fresh and colourful options are trending at Roche Bobois, which specializes in luxury furniture with French flair.

“We find our customers want something truly different,” says Guy Philippe Bélanger, who manages the Paris-based retailer’s downtown Montreal store, “and to inject some colour, and not just on the bedding.” Take the Mah Jong bed, a twist on the iconic free-form modular sofa designed in 1971. The bed frame is padded and upholstered by hand to resemble a mattress holding a mattress, for a look both quirky and ultra-comfortable. To mix and match: fabric colours and divine prints by designers from the world of couture, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Sonia Rykiel or Missoni Home.

Another forward-looking design, the Fantasq bed, also “started off with the idea of a large cushion…” according to its designer, Samuel Accoceberry. The curvy modern shape manages to look both aerodynamic and organic at the same time. Covered in Roche Bobois’ exclusive Omega fabric, the bed’s entire surface can be upholstered with few seams. It comes in four colours besides neutral grey and taupe, including a soft blue teal, as well as many other fabrics from the Roche Bobois collection.

Bélanger agrees with the trendcasters who predict shades of blue from deep indigo to eggshell. “There’s no doubt they’re becoming important, especially warmer shades like turquoise,” he says.

New designers are putting their distinctive stamps on bedding collections as well, says Dino Bonomo, owner of Avenue Design in Ville St. Laurent. “People like Thom Felicia, a familiar face from television, or California superstar decorators Barclay Butera and Barbara Barry have curated new collections,” he says. “It’s a very exciting time in design now.” Many people still prefer to inject the latest trends through bedding, which is less expensive and easier to change than the bed itself. •

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(Left) Photos courtesy of Roche Bobois. (Below) Photo courtesy of Decorium

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However, when it comes to a new bed, many designers are updating the classics. A thinner profile and fewer embellishments can make a classic bed shape such as the sleigh, spindle or four-poster seem quite modern. As well, in 2016 a wood bed frame likely will be treated to a coat of paint in a shade of grey or white. On trend are antiqued finishes with a touch of silver or gold leaf, or panels of shagreen. Or perhaps a metallic

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wash on the wood or linens for an effect both retro and modern at the same time. Bonomo expects to continue doing a brisk business in custom upholstered headboards with transitional style. “Because it combines classic and contemporary in such a timeless way,” he says.

“Transitional is becoming the new traditional.”

And then there are those who prefer a more linear, but definitely chic, approach to

bed design. “The look today is very sleek and grand hotel, with a statement-making upholstered headboard,” says Suzanne Poulin, marketing manager for JC Perreault stores. It’s as if after all those years of buying hotel-collection linens, we want the rest of the bed to reflect that luxury aesthetic. Since five-star hotels usually have top designers, getting the look will mean laying out for luxe fabrics and •

(Above) Photos courtesy of Fabricville

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DESIGN

Photos courtesy of Avenue Design

paying attention to such details as tufted up- storage is minimalized or banished to the holstery, metal nailheads or covered buttons. walk-in closet. Having all that negative space With the bed as the focal point, the rest of also brings much-needed calm to bedrooms. the bedroom will be kept on the minimal side “People are thinking carefully about what they in terms of design, Poulin says, which means as live with,” says Poulin, who also sees a strong much clear, uncluttered space as possible and a call for beds made of recycled wood. contemporary look. The bed will have a slim, That impulse carries over into the choice of discreet profile, serving to showcase the mat- mattress. More than size or style, when it comes tress and bedding. To make it the centrepiece, to getting a good night’s sleep, it’s the mattress

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that reigns supreme. Quebec-based Essentia makes natural memory foam versions that are completely non-allergenic, says founder and ceo Jack Dell’Accio. “Choosing to live with organic and responsibly sourced materials is a growing trend,” he says. “And our mattresses also help make for a healthy bedroom environment.”

Most mattresses are made with synthetic fibres or foam, which may emit harmful

DESIGN MONTREAL WINTER 2015 / 2016

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compounds over time. Same goes for natural optimal rest and recovery, making them a organizations as Johns Hopkins Univercotton or wool stuffing processed with pesti- popular choice with professional athletes. sity and the Hippocrates Health Institute. cides and other chemicals. Organic mattresses “Approximately 20 per cent of National Natural fibres rule in bedding as well. Even Hockey League players are currently sleeping in cold weather, linen is hot, says Stan Leibner, such as those made by Essentia will not.

The right mattress is not just about com- on Essentia, and such teams as the Montreal co-owner of the Linen Chest stores in Canada. fort, Dell’Accio says. It can be engineered to Canadiens are exploring implementing the “It’s a natural luxury fabric, but also has a casual, offer posture support, improve blood circula- use of Essentia mattresses for the entire team,” almost homespun quality,” he says. Linen bedtion or extend rem sleep. Essentia specializes he says. Made in Canada, they also have the ding is ecologically friendly, can last a lifetime, in manufacturing mattresses designed for stamp of approval from such prestigious and the look and feel improve with age. •

Photo courtesy of Eastern Accents

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It is also anti-static and, like down, insulates in the winter and cools in the summer. From heavyweight burlap to fine handkerchief weight, linen provides a wide range of textures to mix and layer. The palette will be soft and natural in 2016, in shades of white, cream, grey or taupe.

Fashion designers such as Jason Wu and Michael Kors adorned runway models with fur stoles, and beds will get the same treatment

this winter. The newest bed accessory is the fur bed runner, a stole for the bed that drapes across the foot. “A big look is to have the natural linen duvet cover with a fur runner layered over it,” says Leibner. His stores carry an expanded array of runners, throws and throw pillows, with faux versions of Russian sable, Bengal tiger, and Siberian wolf added to more usual ones such as ocelot or mink.

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Many more trends will cross over from the world of fashion to bedding in 2016. “There’s a big movement towards a classically romantic look with a soft colour palette,” says Bozena Bortkiewicz, head of product development for Fabricville stores, which sell both custom and ready-made bedding. Look for runway-inspired and nostalgic watercolour or chintz-like floral prints, or solid colours on the pale and pastel side. •

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Photo courtesy of Eastern Accents

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All-over floral patterns are back in bedding large scale in duvet or pillow covers, or as a vogue, but not like your grandma’s. The newest discreet embroidered border for sheets and twist places the print in a band along the bot- pillowcases. Also in vogue: accent pillows tom of the duvet cover or pillow sham, shading with script depicting a single word such as “love” or “believe,” or longer quotes or sayings. up to a solid colour on the top.

This would also be a good time to turn This trend also extends to floral or botanical over a new motif. Birds and butterflies might prints, which might have words worked into be included in a f loral pattern, or one of the background. “As in fashion, there’s a lot the new botanical prints. The very trendy more personal expression going on in bedGreek key motif will be interpreted on a ding design,” says Bortkiewicz. •

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(Top) Photo courtesy of Roche Bobois. (Bottom) Photo courtesy of Maison Corbeil

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Quality isn’t expensive. cheap is expensive.

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Each RUG is a WORK of ART. Each instantly becomes a family heirloom.

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DESIGN

FOR THE

LOVE

of

FINE WINE

Company creates wine cellars for contemporary and traditional homes

BY JULIE GEDEON

DESIGN

Papro Wine Cellars & Consulting 1131A Leslie St., Suite 404 Toronto www.paprowinecellars.ca 416-264-2229

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STEP INSIDE AN OENOPHILE’S PARADISE: a walk-in wine cellar with glass walls and glass bulk-storage bins that display 7,500 bottles. It’s one of the approximately 70 wine cellars that Papro Wine Cellars & Consulting designs and builds for serious collectors in the Toronto region annually.

The cellars are also built for aficionados with fewer bottles. “We can basically fit any space, starting with – let’s say a reach-in cellar for 100 bottles,” says the company’s founder and owner Steve Papadimitriou.

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Papadimitriou had been in the construction business for 20 years when he decided a decade ago to specialize in wine cellars.

“I love wine,” he says. “And I could see people wanted to make their collections more of a focal point within their homes.”

He always begins by asking his clients about their available space and the number of bottles they would ideally like to store.

“I also inquire about their decor,” he adds. “We often incorporate wooden shelving in a more

traditional house, and use aluminum pegs, acrylic racks or the unique Cable Wine Systems for contemporary homes.”

Some collectors opt to have two cellars: one in a main living area and the second in the basement. Each cellar provides a sealed environment with a cooling system that maintains a temperature of 55 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity level between 55 and 70 per cent, which is perfect for storing both red wine and white. “Humidity control is •

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“I love wine. And I could see people wanted to make their collections more of a focal point within their homes.”

This cellar features a display table with an electric lift for large bottles that contain six or nine litres. The centre of the table can be raised or lowered for the display.

essential because as the temperature lowers, the relative humidity increases,” Papadimitriou explains. “We offer a yearly maintenance program to ensure the cooler is functioning optimally.”

The company has won the “Best of Houzz Design” award and Houzz’s “Customer Satisfaction” award in the past two consecutive years.

LED lighting that doesn’t give off heat is typically installed within most cellars. “The outside lighting is usually fine, as long as it doesn’t expose the bottles to direct sun,” Papadimitriou adds.

But back to the oenophile’s paradise. Tempered glass was used in this cellar for the walls, doors and bins. The glass is Starphire, a high-clarity version that contains minimal iron and, therefore, has less of the green-blue tinge that’s usually noticeable on large panes.

“It really allows you to see the true colour of the bottles and labels,” Papadimitriou notes.

The cost of cellars typically starts at $20,000 and can range up to six figures depending on their size and sophistication. •

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LOVING THE GILDED PAST Every piece at Cedric DuPont Antiques is carefully chosen

GROWING UP IN LE TOUQUET, an elegant vacation resort in France, Cedric DuPont started collecting antiques as a boy. When he was just seven years old, his parents, who were antiques dealers, lent him a small amount of money, which he invested in his own inventory. The agreement was that he would quickly reinvest any profit made from the sale of these items.

“I thought this was a pot of gold,” DuPont recalls of those early days before his family moved to Palm Beach in 1981. “I put all of my birthday and holiday money into this pot. I had an appreciation for quality antique pieces and bought what I could afford.”

He now runs Cedric DuPont Antiques, a two-storey, 20,000-square-foot gallery that he custom-designed in the heart of West Palm Beach’s famous Antique Row Art and Design District. The gallery boasts a modern exterior. Inside, though, it resembles a formal Parisian interior, accented with plaster crown moldings in one area and a limestone chateau decor in another.

DuPont designed a space in which his clients can view everything they would want in their homes in one location – from chandeliers and buffets to mirrors, tables, seating and accessories. “Clients can find everything under one roof, seeing all the pieces together before making a decision,” DuPont says.

Many designers fly with their clients from New York, Boston and Connecticut to visit the gallery. And if clients still have difficulty

imagining how a vignette would look, DuPont’s design team can Photoshop their choices into interior images to create a visual aid. He calls it “see it in your home.”

The gallery’s vast collection has captivated clients from as far afield as Moscow and Australia.

DuPont has recently been busy buying more Italian antiques to meet the desires of clients who own Mediterranean-style homes.

He is proud to offer quality and one-of-a-kind pieces that have a fascinating history and pedigree. “When I hear of an important European estate being sold, I hop on the next flight to see what treasures I can find,” he says.

“The collaboration between our private clients, designers and our team has allowed us to maintain a positive relationship over the years,” DuPont says, adding that he is proud that his company has been honoured for the past four years with the Five Star Diamond Award by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.

He thrives on the personal interaction in his business. “I love buying, restoring and selling, and I always meet the most incredible people,” he says. “It becomes a growing relationship. Since I hand-pick each item myself from private estates, I pass on the savings directly to my clients. I love the entire process.”

The company adds 40 new arrivals to its website monthly. “The growing collection is managed and updated daily, and is very easy to navigate,” DuPont says. •

“When I hear of an important European estate being sold, I hop on the next flight to see what treasures I can find.”

Cedric Dupont Antiques 3415 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida www.cedricdupontantiques.com 561-835-1319

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Fireplace: Infinite series

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8909 Henri-Bourassa Blvd. E., Anjou www.neefireplaces.ca Toll free: 1 800 665 6662

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THE VIRTUAL FURNITURE STORE Company sells high-end sofas and other furnishings at bargain prices

BY TRACEY ARIAL SHEER FRUSTRATION and an eye for quality led Nicholas-Karl Clément on a journey from importer to sofa salesman to part-time furniture retailer, all in his spare time.

His company, Ameublement Sur Mesure (Custom-Made Furniture), imports sofas and other furnishings to sell directly to customers via an online catalogue. The process cuts about 75 per cent off the retail price.

“If a sofa is worth $7,000 in a retail store, the infrastructure costs about $5,000,” says Clément.

“That really peed me off when I saw how cheap the furniture really is. My sofas are actually higher quality than those available elsewhere.”

Clément’s journey into entrepreneurship began during the summer of 2012, when he and his wife couldn’t find sofas for their new home. “We couldn’t find something of quality leather that was budget-friendly,” he says. “We looked for more than two months. We went to eight to 10 small micro-companies. We did find one, but it wasn’t really the right size. Another one worked, but it cost $7,000. We needed two!”

Clément noticed that all the sofas were from China and decided to try saving money by going directly to the source. “I had two friends who wanted sofas as well, so we imported a twenty-foot container of sofas,” he says.

The 10 sofas in that first container didn’t have dove-tail joints, resilient foam, quality leather and wood free of insect damage, so Clément sold them privately and ordered another container from another company. Then he did it again. And again.

“The fourth container was the golden one,” he says. “That’s the company that I’ve been dealing with. It’s been three years now, and I’m still dealing with that same company.”

That success inspired Clément to create his company and to sell via the online catalogue.

He also began showing his furniture at events to drum up sales. Every month, he makes changes to improve the quality and price of his merchandise. Recently, he hired an engineer in China to validate the quality of orders prior to shipping, for instance. He’s also optimized his shipping containers with chairs, tables and other furnishings, which led to a name-change and a website update.

He says his next step will be to create partnerships with companies to display his products in small showrooms in key cities for a commission. “I’m looking for retail partners in Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto,” Clément says. “Right now, I’m a one-man show, but I don’t want that to continue.” •

“If a sofa is worth $7,000 in a retail store, the infrastructure costs about $5,000. That really peed me off when I saw how cheap the furniture really is.”

Ameublement Sur Mesure www.ameublementdlx.ca 450-233-0290

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VANITA

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DESIGN

REINVENTING

THE WHEEL

A remarkable kitchen faucet with a design inspired by a ship’s wheel

IT’S BEEN SAID THAT YOU CAN’T REINVENT the wheel.

But Waterstone has done just that with The Wheel, a pull-down kitchen faucet that has an innovative look. Designed by Waterstone’s president, Chris Kuran, a former officer in the United States Marine Corps, it adds a nautical look to any kitchen.

Inspired by the traditional design of a ship’s wheel and made in the U.S., it boasts a prerinse spray arm that is spring-loaded and can swivel to reach every corner of the sink. The braking system prevents the spray handle from slamming back into place too quickly. Other characteristics include a 360-degree swivel spout and a single handle that adjusts the hot-and-cold control. The spray head extends 20 inches from the spout for a spray or aerated stream. The handle adjusts 45 degrees in each direction for clearance from the backsplash.

Made of solid brass, The Wheel is available in 31 designer finishes. It is compatible with reverse-osmosis filtration systems.

Waterstone’s distinctive kitchen faucets are built to last a lifetime and come with a lifetime functional warranty. •

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DESIGN

MOUNTAINSIDE MAGIC

A Vermont home is designed for enjoyment of spectacular views

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN • PHOTOGRAPHY: SUSAN TEARE

Respect the site; respect the environment: these were two considerations in locating and building this Vermont home.

It’s nestled partway down a hillside so it doesn’t interrupt the natural skyline. It’s also built to be energy-efficient.

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“Every room and space has some connection to the exterior…”

RESPECT THE SITE. That was the prime directive in building this mountainside home in Vermont. The homeowner, a Montrealer, wanted as many rooms as possible to afford views of the hills falling away below and stretching beyond to the horizon. The idea was that anyone indoors would be able to discover the property from all vantage points.

“If you have fabulous views, why have to look around something to take advantage of them?” the homeowner asks. Cushman Design Group (in the person of Milford Cushman, president, and Chad Forcier, project designer), designer Sara Tauben of SATA Interior Design, and project manager and contractor Travis Cutler, from builder Donald P. Blake Jr. Inc., provided the answer with a horizontal stretch of house nestled into the hillside halfway down the property.

“I love the way you experience the site as you float through the house,” Tauben says. “Every room and space has some connection to the exterior, which is incredibly dynamic when you’re in a nature setting, changing all the time.” •

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DESIGN

Designer Sara Tauben indulged the homeowner’s love of colour in every space. On the main floor, the living room, dining room and kitchen are open to each other but clearly delineated by varying ceiling heights and finishes. Many of the free-standing wood pieces (such as the dining table and chairs) were built by John Lomas Custom Furniture of Hinesburg, Vermont.

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Respect the environment was also a major directive. “The homeowner demanded that the building be extremely energy-efficient,” says Cushman. “This house meets double the standards of the Vermont code, and Vermont is much more stringent than most states. The homeowner also requested that the home be placed not at the very upper level but down from the crest, so the side hill plateau would be dominated by landscape and not architecture.”

Just as the interior is connected with the outdoors visually, Tauben ensured that

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the outdoors was brought indoors. Natural elements are in evidence throughout the 4,500-square-foot dwelling. For instance, in the space between the vestibule and the main building, a serpentine path of river rock is set into a slate floor. The path leads past some birch tree trunks (filling in a corner and extending into ceiling space) and on to a powder room with a hand-hewn sink carved out of a boulder

by Chris Curtis of Stowe’s West Branch Gallery.

“The birch poles were a playful choice,” Tauben says. “The whole hillside was birch

forest that we cut down. The poles bring the outdoors in, and they’re a great contrast to the primary colours in the house.

“Playfulness is part of my client’s sensibility.

This is a serious house, but we’re not taking it too seriously. It’s welcoming, playful, warm and humorous at the same time.”

And of course, wood brings the outdoors in.

Tauben used three woods throughout the house: cherry, maple, and dark-stained salvaged wood.

The walls are the same white, “a blank canvas for colours to fall into place,” says Tauben. •

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The sink in the powder room is just one of many natural elements that bring the outdoors into the house.

(Opposite) In the TV room and elsewhere, even the cement floors add colour to the decor.

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DESIGN MONTREAL WINTER 2015 / 2016

Cushman cites this as another example of Tauben’s commitment to ecologic principles: “Sara makes extensive use of natural materials, and many of them are indigenous to northern Vermont: maple, cherry,” he says.

“She was emphatic about how important it was that these materials would reflect the natural beauty of the area. She did an extraordinary job in creating in her composition of highlights, of light and dark wood, bringing

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together materials that keep the building very fresh and clean. And there’s the use of local stone mixed into this.”

Materials are locally sourced, and many of the finishes are done by local artisans and craftspeople, as are many of the fixtures and accessories throughout the home. Says Cushman, “This isn’t often thought of, but I believe this to be one of the hallmarks of greenness.

Sara is so gifted at looking at the talents of

local craftspeople and artisans and signing them on to become part of the house. That’s what I call local, the ecology of local money.”

Those locally made items often inject yet more colour into the place. Tauben makes extensive use of colour to satisfy a playful sensibility. It runs riot throughout the house, appearing in not only such expected places as upholstery and accessories but also more unusual locations. For instance, all the doors •

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“Playfulness is part of my client’s sensibility.

This is a serious house, but we’re not taking it too seriously.”

The master bathroom features a grey, red and white colour scheme that is echoed elsewhere in the house. Natural elements include river rock set into the floor. Cabinetmaker Derrick Barrett crafted all the home’s built-ins.

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DESIGN MONTREAL WINTER 2015 / 2016

(and some of the concrete floors) on the lower level are painted red and have cherry wood trim. Some of the colour comes from items Tauben sourced for the house, and some from the homeowner’s folk art collection. “I wanted to pick up on that in a sophisticated way, to be playful,” Tauben says. “Once you start, you play some more. This is the most colourful interior I’ve ever done.

“I do love the colour. As a design concept, the idea of respecting the exterior and doing a

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very colourful interior is often counter-intuitive.

I was wondering as I was filling the house with colour if it would clash, and no, it doesn’t. The exterior is also full of colour, and as the seasons change, you feel the colour on the interior differently. I don’t feel that you have to make a completely neutral interior in order to respect the beauty of your exterior landscape.” Indeed! • Inspiring views are always available from the studio.

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There’s been a major shift in the past two decades in the way kitchens are designed. As families increasingly gravitate to the kitchen as their go-to room, design has followed. Kitchens are now designed and built to be the centre of family life in most homes. In our next edition – Montreal Home’s annual Kitchen Issue – we’ll focus on all things kitchen, from ergonomic design and the latest materials to cookware and furnishings.

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MontrealHome-Winter2015/2016-EngFinal

BUYER’S GUIDE DESIGN VANCOUVER TRENDS 2015

AN ORGANIC ACCRETION Yabu Pushelberg www.yabupushelberg.com 212-226-0808 ~ 416-778-9779 GETTING A HANDLE ON THE BEST DOORS CMT Design www.cmt-design.ca 514-327-6549 NEW LIFE FOR AN OLD FAMILY HOME NatureHumaine www.naturehumaine.com 514-273-6316 MOUNTAINSIDE MAGIC Cushman Design Group www.cushmandesign.com 802-253-2169 SATA Interior Design www.satainteriordesign.com 514-792-2883 ~ 802-253-7794 Derrick Barrett barrettbuilt@comcast.net 802-793-7310 John Lomas Custom Furniture johnlomascustomfurniture.com 802-747-8564 ROOMS WITH A SWEEPING VIEW BONE Structure www.bonestructure.ca 450-978-0620 LOVING THE GILDED PAST Cedric DuPont Antiques www.cedricdupontantiques.com 561-835-1319

FOR THE LOVE OF FINE WINE Papro Wine Cellars & Consulting www.paprowinecellars.ca 416-264-2229 MORE THAN PLAIN OLD PLUMBING PMF Plumbing Supplies www.plomberiepmf.com 514-484-8002

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Linen Chest www.linenchest.com Essentia www.myessentia.com 888-764-4116 Roche Bobois www.roche-bobois.com 514-350-9070 Fabricville www.fabricville.com JC Perrault www.jcperreault.com

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T hingS wOrk bE T T Er whEn T hE y F iT. which is why we adapt hospital care to a child’s needs.

Funds raised by Opération Enfant Soleil are used to acquire the latest medical equipment and to create a better healing environment for sick children. operation enfant soleil.ca

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MORE THAN PLAIN OLD PLUMBING West-end company carries plethora of kitchen and bath specialties as well as basics PMF Plumbing Supplies

Photo courtesy of Kohler

514-484-8002

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7245 St. Jacques St., Montreal www.plomberiepmf.com

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In keeping with changing consumer tastes, PMF now distributes some 40 brands. Some of the newer ones and the intriguing items added to the collection include Panasonic (ventilation fans), Oliveri (coloured-steel kitchen sinks from Australia with integrated draining boards and work surfaces), Native Trails (kitchen and bathroom sinks and vanities in copper and sustainable materials such as barnboard), Victoria + Albert (bathtubs of volcanic stone from South Africa), Robern (Bluetooth-enabled bathroom cabinets with tv screens and speakers) and LaLoo (bathroom accessories such as towel warmers).

Until recently, PMF was strictly wholesale and open only to the trades and related professionals such as architects and designers. But with increasing interest in large, well-equipped kitchens and bathrooms, consumers want to see numerous items for themselves before they make a choice.

Thus “we’ve opened the valves, so to speak,” Quicquaro quips. “We have a 10,000-squarefoot showroom. We’re now open to the public and are open on Saturday. Our inventory and expertise are really something. We have nearly all items in stock. If something is needed quickly and we don’t have it, we can promise it will be in the truckload next week. Supply is a strong asset.

“About 85 per cent of our business is still the trades, but we’ll sell to anyone who comes and does not have an attributed dealer or designer,” Quicquaro says. “We don’t do design or installation, but our showroom associates will gladly help any customers find what they need.” •

Photo courtesy of Kohler

There’s a business in the west end of Montreal with a rather prosaic name: Materiaux de plomberie PMF / PMF Plumbing Supplies.

Like many business names, it doesn’t really do justice to the merchandise within. PMF is more than simple plumbing: It’s a source of all things bathroom and kitchen that are plumbing-related, from faucets in styles both classic and cutting-edge to vanities sleekly modern or sophisticatedly rustic, much of the merchandise on display in a 10,000-square-foot showroom.

Consumers are to be forgiven if they’re not familiar with the name. “When we were established 30 years ago, we were strictly a distributor of high-end plumbing products to dealers, developers and contractors for hospitality and residential projects,” recounts Pat Quicquaro, the company’s sales and marketing development manager. “We concentrated on luxury brands such as Kohler, Grohe, Hansgrohe and Duravit.

“As the plumbing industry landscape changed over the years, especially the past few years, plumbing has changed,” Quicquaro notes. “The bathroom used to be a little corner, maybe five feet by six feet, but today it’s an oasis of 12 feet by 15 feet or larger, with a steam shower, a whirlpool bath – you name it. Technology, products and choices have evolved.”

Quicquaro explains that, as bathrooms and kitchens receive more attention, demand for products at various price points has evolved. The market includes consumers looking for mid- to high-end range items, so the company has added such brands as Rubinet, Moen and Belanger.

Photo courtesy of Kohler

“The bathroom used to be a little corner, maybe five feet by six feet, but today it’s an oasis of 12 feet by 15 feet or larger.”

Photo courtesy of Native Trails

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