Montpellier House: Light, Texture and a Sense of Belonging

Nestled at the foot of Mount Saint-Bruno in Montérégie, on Montreal’s South Shore, the Montpellier residence quietly immerses itself in its rich, forested surroundings. Conceived as a space for refuge and contemplation, the home appears to slip into the landscape, its profile gently leaning into the slope of the mountain behind it. Surrounded by a dense canopy, the house becomes part of the natural environment rather than an imposition on it.

A collaboration between Montreal-based design studio Vives St-Laurent and ATA Architecture, the project spans three levels, including a partially buried garden level that subtly follows the land’s natural contours. This sensitive approach sets it apart from the more traditional 1960s homes in the area, allowing the residence to feel integrated and unobtrusive. Working within a pre-defined volumetric structure—shaped through early conversations between the clients and architects—the design team focused their efforts on establishing fluid circulation, generous openings, and an abundance of natural light throughout the interior.

At the heart of the plan lies an interior courtyard, while a fully glazed rear façade opens onto the surrounding forest. From the entrance, a linear vestibule leads to a slightly sunken living room, carved directly into the slab. Here, a fireplace anchors the space beneath a double-height ceiling, where a long vertical curtain further accentuates the room’s dramatic scale.

To the left are more private areas: a boudoir, office, workout room, and access to the basement. To the right, the living spaces: kitchen, dining room, and stairs leading upstairs. Intuitively arranged, the spaces provide a sense of openness, supporting the home’s calm and natural rhythm.

The material palette is subtle and nuanced, reflecting the occupants’ lifestyle—elegant, refined, and warm. In the vestibule, ceramic flooring in varied slate-inspired tones is laid in an opus incertum pattern. The architectural language, sober and geometric, is softened by subtle interventions—grounded lines on the fireplace mantle, and curves integrated into the furniture and walls.

The living room is defined by a linear volume clad in terracotta ceramic sourced from California, which highlights the fireplace—a favourite element of the client. Overhead, a Tekio pendant light made from washi paper casts a soft glow throughout the double-height space.

Natural white oak and dark-stained oak are used throughout, creating a rich but cohesive contrast. The dark wood dining room table is in dialogue with the lighter oak floor, while recurring curves tie the space into the broader design language.

The kitchen strikes a balance between sculptural presence and functional design. A central volume houses a hidden pantry and integrated bench, marking a natural transition to the dining space. The island, made from veined natural stone, becomes a dramatic focal point anchoring the room. Sliding doors conceal appliances and a coffee station, preserving the purity of the overall form. Large glass doors open onto a covered terrace, extending the kitchen outdoors and reinforcing the home’s relationship to its surroundings.

Throughout, vertical elements contribute to a serene atmosphere. White oak is used on floor-to-ceiling shelving in the boudoir and tall storage units, reinforcing a sense of height and calm continuity. Materials were selected not only for their visual harmony, but also to support a grounded, tactile experience.

The upper level is reached via a simple double-flight staircase, leading to the bedrooms and bathrooms. The spacious, secluded master suite includes two distinct walk-in closets and a bathroom that is both elegant and practical—designed to elevate the everyday.

The Montpellier residence is the result of a thoughtful and collaborative process between client, architect, and designer. Rooted deeply in its site and surroundings, the project is a quiet study in restraint and refinement—contemporary architecture shaped by nature, attuned to the rhythm of light, texture, and lived experience.

Credits

Firm: Vives St-Laurent

Contractor: Ouellette Habitations

Cabinetmaker: Ébénisterie Notre-Dame

Photography: Alex Lesage

VIEW STORY

Ashley Botten Design Crafts a Tailored Lake House Retreat

Inspired by high fashion’s attention to detail and fine tailoring, Ashley Botten Design (abd) takes pride in collaborating closely with clients who share a similar reverence for meticulous craftsmanship. This shared vision is beautifully realised in the renovation of a family lake house in Muskoka, Ontario, where abd seamlessly blends refined elegance with the casual ease of spending summers near the water. Tasked with updating the six-bedroom cottage, the studio’s approach honours both the home’s natural surroundings and its architectural heritage, creating a harmonious retreat that exudes quiet sophistication.

While the exterior bones of the cottage have remained intact, abd reimagined the interiors by removing select structural walls, enhancing the flow between spaces and carving out quieter, more intimate areas. Core features, such as the classic sash windows and the majestic flagstone hearth—a hallmark of the Muskoka region—were preserved. The studio’s distinctive touch is evident throughout, with custom-designed furniture thoughtfully tailored to each room, offering a personalised expression of the home’s unique character.

Ashley Botten Design excels in creating experiential interiors that resonate on a sensory level, and this project was no exception. The studio’s modern sophistication shines through in their meticulous attention to detail and calming sense of balance and proportion—principles that echo their broader design philosophy.

Upon entering the cottage, guests are greeted by a striking curved sofa that draws the eye toward the stunning lake views. Designed to comfortably seat up to six, the sofa is rich in micro-detailing, such as seamlessly railroaded fabric that wraps around the back without visible seams. This careful craftsmanship creates a subtle yet powerful visual impact, allowing the sofa’s expansive contour to flow uninterrupted.

Nearby, a custom curved bench in white oak hugs the sofa, transforming previously unusable space into a functional area for a small sculpture or a seat to remove shoes. The area is anchored by a sculpted carpet with three-dimensional patterns that cast blush shadows, creating moments of quiet luxury.

On the ground level, a bold interplay of materials creates a sense of dynamism. Wide-plank Douglas fir flooring contrasts with the straight-grained larch that encases the half-turn staircase, leading up to a catwalk hallway. The kitchen cabinetry, also in larch, pairs beautifully with slabs of honed charcoal bedrock on the countertops, backsplash, and range hood. This rich palette is further enhanced with an open aluminum shelf for displaying dishware and an island kitchen surrounded by nubuck leather counter stools.

The primary bedroom and ensuite adopt a softer, more subdued tone, with walls painted in a textured sea salt hue and woven linen window coverings that diffuse dappled light. The bed frame, tightly upholstered in wool suiting, along with strategically placed millwork, offers an alternative passageway to the ensuite, enhancing the room’s functionality and flow.

Throughout the house, abd’s attention to sensory experiences elevates everyday living. In the ensuite, the studio designed an extended metal towel rack that doubles as a resting tray for burning incense, infusing the space with a serene ambiance. Privacy is thoughtfully considered with glass pocket doors in the bar lounge to buffer television noise, while an upholstered pod near the living room serves as a cosy nook for children.

Ashley Botten and her team at abd are known for their curated approach, where every detail is intentional and fits naturally within the dimensions of a room. From the selection of nuanced materials to the positioning of furniture, abd’s work reflects a deeply refined appreciation of quality and artistry. This family retreat, with its timeless style and careful attention to refinement, is designed to evolve beautifully with use and memories, becoming a layered and beloved home for generations.

Credits

Design: Ashley Botten Design

Builder: Tamarack North

Photography: Patrick Biller

VIEW STORY

Bedroom Update with Luxaflex - The Reveal

Last week I shared the first part of our bedroom update with Luxaflex®, The Selection Process, and today I’m excited to share the reveal. In case you missed it, in the first instalment I talked about what we were wanting to achieve in terms of light filtering qualities and privacy during the day, and blockout at night. Following a home visit by Luxaflex to talk through the options, we decided on a combination of two products, the new Luxaflex LumiShade™ and the Duette® shades.

The LumiShades bring a textural softness to the space. 

Visiting the showroom to see how these products would work once installed was a key part of the process, as was testing out fabric swatches in our bedroom throughout the day and night. With three LumiShade fabric varieties on offer, I couldn’t go past the Luxury option, and to create the soft effect I was after I chose Flax, a pale beige colour. Fitting seamlessly alongside our recently painted walls in Dulux Mangaweka Quarter, the decision to install the blinds from the top of the ceiling and wall to wall as recommended to us by Luxaflex was integral to the overall result. By adding an element of textural softness and warmth, the LumiShades have completely changed the look and feel of the room. They also provide a fascinating play on light, achieved by simply rotating the fabric vanes. As we move them from one side to the other, the level of light and even the colour subtly changes. I love that on a particularly bright day when the strong afternoon sun streams in, we can control the brightness while creating beautiful effects with the light. We can also have the sliding doors wide open and walk easily in and out through the LumiShades.

By simply rotating the fabric vanes, we can filter the light and add privacy. I love seeing how small adjustments make subtle differences to the light and colours in the room.  

I chose Flax, a soft beige colour for the LumiShades and I love how it blends seamlessly with the wall colour. 

Here the fabric vanes are rotated closed, providing room darkening functionality. 

With summer heading our way that bright sun can also overheat the room, which is where the second product we installed comes in to play. Chosen as the ideal blockout solution for night time, the Duette shades also filter unwanted glare while defecting heat. So if for example, we are heading out for the afternoon on a hot summer’s day, we can drop the Duette blinds to keep our room significantly cooler. When it comes to winter, the Duette shades will dramatically insulate the room.

A combination of LumiShades and Duette Shades has provided the perfect solution. 

The Powerview Pebble is an added feature that makes the Duette Shades so easy to use. 

In addition to blockout, the Duette Shades provide the ultimate in energy efficiency by defecting heat in summer and insulating in winter.  

The colour I chose for our Duette Shades is Birch, a slightly darker beige than the LumiShades and walls to create a little more warmth, depth and contrast. In terms of blockout, they are the ideal solution - perfect for those Sunday morning sleep-ins!

In addition to the PowerView Pebble, we have installed the PowerView Automation Hub to activate both the Duettes in the bedroom and Silhouettes in our dining room with voice control.  

Available in different colourways, I chose an Oyster Pebble and White Remote to match the room. 

The Powerview Automation for the Luxaflex Silhouette® shades in our dining area has been such a dream, I knew I wanted the same for the Duettes. A completely cordless battery operated system, allowing you to open and close the blinds with the press of a button on the remote - the PowerView Pebble - I was excited to learn that we could install the Powerview Automation Hub to integrate with the upstairs dining room Silhouette Shades. Using the app on our phone, we can now use voice control to automatically control the shades no matter where we are!

My morning routine. The PowerView Pebble is programmed to operate both the Duettes and the Luxaflex Silhouette shades in the dining area upstairs.  

 

I love being able to have the LumiShades closed for privacy and to filter the bright light, while leaving the doors open to allow for a cool breeze.  

From start to finish, working with Luxaflex been a completely seamless and thoroughly enjoyable process. Once again, the products have completely elevated the space in terms of both aesthetics and functionality, and we are thrilled with the results.

Styling by Michelle Halford-Studio TDC / Photography by Helen Bankers / Assisted by Anton Maurer

Bordeaux Night Stands from BoConcept (gifted)

Still book by Natalie Walton (gifted)

Clothing by Juliette Hogan (brand partner)  

AD / This is a paid partnership post. I only work with products I love and all opinions are my own. For more information please visit my About Page.

VIEW STORY