In Trois-Rivières, a house purchased off-plan has found its own identity in wise hands. Every little corner has been carefully redesigned in a desire to escape the impersonal aesthetic of mass-produced houses. Target reached: his style is unique. At its heart, a perfect working and living environment for those who inhabit it with an insatiable appetite for food. Welcome to Hubert Cormier’s decor!
It was a plot of land on the banks of the river that food doctor Hubert Cormier and his partner, Mathieu Malenfant, a doctor newly stationed in Trois-Rivières, initially dreamed of. Difficult mission and precise quest in a market that was booming at the time. The couple fell back on purchasing a semi-detached house on paper.
The space, spread over two levels, had several advantages, but an obvious lack of charm. Its configuration, poorly suited to the needs of the new owners, also required remodeling. After several attempts and as many sketches to reinvent their townhouse, the couple gave up. “Sometimes it’s best to leave it to the experts! », admits the duo with humor.
The whole has gained a rare functionality with the intervention of Perron Design and a personality like its occupants: serene and joyful.
The owners wanted to maximize storage, while keeping the environment uncluttered. “The main change was to review the reception. The vestibule was deconstructed to create a more open space and establish a link with the kitchen upon entry,” explains the designer in charge of the project, Maryse Tourangeau. The final picture is an open ground floor in a statement style.
Full-height integrated furniture now leads from the vestibule to the island and camouflages the bathroom and pantry, while providing maximum storage. In two of the three bedrooms upstairs, transformed into offices, custom furniture accommodates all the devices and files, and meets the need for efficiency.
Spread out on the ground floor, the atmosphere is serene upstairs, where the desire was to have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Some walls have fallen to make way for light. The opposite happened in the master bedroom, which was too spacious, in the opinion of the owners. It was instead divided to integrate a bathroom and a wardrobe room.
The kitchen, it goes without saying, was at the heart of the priorities and the living area. Vast and impeccably designed, it houses an array of accessories and small appliances, just like a passionate cook, blogger and author of several recipe books, including the latest, Bring me a ramen!, newly released in bookstores.
“I cook a lot for work and I’m always at home. And we love to entertain! We needed a pleasant and ergonomic kitchen,” he says. Numerous sub-storages, refrigerated drawers, automated systems for opening bins and cabinets were among his requests. Drawers, rather than cabinets, allow you to see the contents at a glance. Added to these elements are rare touches in a standard home, including a tea light hidden in the hood, as well as storage drawers for onions and bread.
“Since our client is a digital content creator and films or photographs his recipes, one of the objectives was to make this kitchen photogenic,” underlines designer Maryse Tourangeau. The hood creates an interesting focal point, whilst remaining minimalist in its form. The upper cabinets have been replaced by thin and light shelves. The fridge is hidden under wooden slats which echo the storage wall in the entrance.
The curves are omnipresent and soften the angles of the initial canvas. They respond to the vertical slats which cover the walls in several places in a clever play of contrasts between straight lines and curved lines. “Curves are really back in the spirit of the 1980s,” points out Maryse Tourangeau. We feel them globally in design and architecture. They have a comforting and warm effect. »
In this interior, airy and luminous, light is sovereign. “For us, it was essential,” says Mathieu Malenfant. When you go somewhere else, you often have the impression that it’s dark. » None of that in this well-thought-out decor, where the partitions are diaphanous to allow southern light to generously penetrate upstairs. Artificial lighting is treated with equal care thanks to a variety of luminaires which can be modulated using dimmers.
“Our customers weren’t afraid of color. Neither do we, emphasizes Maryse Tourangeau. Rather than working on it as an accent, we targeted shades in different tones to create a harmony that will last. The palette remains warm, with browns, beiges and even oranges, then we transition to slightly brighter colors in different tones of blue and green. »
Look for black and you’ll find it in tiny amounts. White, the common thread which particularly adorns the railings, partitions and taps, was essential to inject lightness into the decor.
“We had the chance to discover magnificent hotels while traveling,” emphasizes Mathieu. We love everything about these establishments: the smell, the bedding, the comfort. » “Hotel” has thus become the watchword which is particularly expressed upstairs. The impression is conveyed by an atypical configuration for a town house, and by noble textures and materials. “Even the mirrors are amber to create a “healthy glow” effect, notes Hubert Cormier. We feel a zenitude everywhere in this setting! »
