A circa-1885 house in Montreal’s Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood has been renovated by local interior design firm MRDK, blending original character with contemporary updates. An oil painting by Montreal artist Rosalie Gamache hangs in the kitchen, serving as an anchor for the renovated space.
The painting features a figure emerging from a pool of paint or plaster, with thick liquid clinging to their body. The home around the canvas has received a fresh coat of paint, maintaining a sense of raw beauty. MRDK thoughtfully preserves historic details while introducing bold modern interventions.
Preserving Historic Details
In the kitchen, a honed Calacatta Viola marble countertop and backsplash build on the expressive beauty of Gamache’s painting. A thin ledge and a tubular hood wrapped in cool stainless steel are installed along the supersized backsplash wall, keeping the zone restrained and dramatic.
Ornate plaster ceiling mouldings and door trim are still present, honouring the house’s original character. They planned many updates as object-like inserts, introducing deliberate contrast rather than trying to imitate or harmonize with an earlier era of design.
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Contemporary Updates
The kitchen revamp continues the emphasis on geometric forms, with Calacatta Viola cladding the linear island. The island includes a central recess for an integrated planter that matches the cylindrical shape and stainless-steel finish of the sculptural hood nearby.
The fridge, freezer, wine cellar, and pantry storage are tucked into a tidy white-oak shelving system that runs as a continuous plane from floor to ceiling. An original beam continues right up to the edge of the top portion of these new inserts, clad in slatted wood to accommodate the home’s ventilation grilles.
The refreshed powder room continues the same palette, employing Calacatta Viola for a blocky custom sink, white oak for cabinetry, and stainless steel for curled Flos Foglio fixtures. MRDK says the existing house is neither treated as a museum piece nor stripped of its history.
Layering Updates Strategically
MRDK was well-acquainted with the property, having completed an earlier renovation of the upper floor in 2019. They took care to layer in new updates strategically, honouring and adding to the house’s history. By doing so, they have created a space that values both old and new, resulting in a unique and thoughtful renovation.
