Home in Montreal Indee Design | will become a “playhouse for children and adults” presented by News

Montreal-based interior designers Indee Design have completed what the studio describes as a “playhouse for kids (and adults!)” in the city. Called Atelier Chabot, the scheme transformed an existing duplex into a single-family home with select gaming-themed furnishings.

“On a mission to change the lives of a family, the homeowners tried to decide whether to travel the world by sea or buy a house,” explains the team. “This project combines two seemingly contradictory dreams. The concept of travel for these great travelers was the common thread of this project, which inspired the idea of ​​creating a space that awakens the inner child.”

Although the beams and brick walls of the original duplex were preserved, the unit underwent extensive renovations to remove sections that were too restrictive. A new vertical circulation space was created to connect the two floors, and the living room was placed in the center of the house to serve the surrounding rooms in a move inspired by Moroccan riads.

The main staircase is made of perforated steel panels, as well as the landing, catamaran netting and a slide on the kitchen table. Taking into account the owner's engineering background, the slide is designed to be the same width as the kitchen table “to create the essence of perfect geometry”.

The different rooms of the house are brought together using “original, playful and unexpected elements” that appeal to both children and adults. A rock-climbing wall decorates the children's bedroom, and a slide connecting the catamaran cage to the kitchen serves as an alternative to the stairs. While the grid evokes the image of a sailboat, the rock climbing wall is positioned to be visible from the first floor, decorated with maple panels and colorful accessories.

In the home, materials such as maple wood, blued steel and custom-made curtains “provide a theatrical effect, emphasizing the playful spirit of the space.” In addition, vintage items brought back from clients' travels fill the space, books and antiques representing cultures and world eras. In the bathroom, there is a selection of ceramic cement tiles, while recycled objects such as the clawfoot tub feature “joyful color palettes”.

“The perforated steel of the floors and stairs can turn dark blue-blue to black depending on the length of the day,” the team added. “The opening and perforation of the space allows for visibility while keeping the whole house visually coherent. In addition, a bluish color was chosen for cement tile ceramics by Ramacieri Soligo. In contrast to the dark color and to highlight the living space, the designer chose light colored woods such as maple and light cherry wood.

The house is one of several recently completed residential projects featured in our editorial. Last month, StudioAC unveiled a house in Toronto with an “unapologetically modern” gable shape, while Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture completed a set of minimalist concrete apartments on a cramped Tokyo lot. Late last year, IOAN unveiled a Joshua Tree residence made of natural materials against a desert backdrop.