PROJECT ST HENRI

For a young couple in a turn-of-the-century walk-up in Montreal’s hip St Henri neighbourhood, Arren redesigned their tired open-concept kitchen/dining room.

The brief was to both give the space more workable storage, and to create a design that referenced both old and new, mixing a contemporary sensibility with clean-lined Scandi cottage vibes and an opportunity to showcase collectibles and art.

This kitchen was featured in the Fall ‘26 issue of Style at Home

Kitchen - Cabinetry, countertops, hardware, appliances, lighting and island, Ikea. Backsplash tiles, Ciot. On the wall behind the sink, tiled floor to ceiling, art from Atelier Fleuriefem makes a statement, accompanied by vintage plates - one hand painted and Moroccan, the other abstract in enamel. The hand-painted ceramics are of course Casa Cubista available at Saudade Toronto. Opposite the main kitchen wall, you’ll find we maxed out storage using slim cabinetry to create an expansive wall-to-ceiling pantry. The playful ticking stripe skirt, in fabric scored from Spoonflower, hides an easily accessible washer and dryer. Above, a countertop gives room to sort and fold laundry, as well as hold cansiters, lighting and art. Centred in the open space is a form-meets-function mobile island in stainless steel with a butcher block top, which references the stainless major appliances in the space as well as offering more workspace. A couple of stools sidle up to the island, giving the perfect spot for a morning coffee.

Opening up onto the dining area, we kept the lines modern and functional. The bright hit of red in the bentwood chairs give a nod to the classic Swedish country colour, often paired with blue. Thanks to the bookshelf there’s open storage in abundance which gives plenty of space for cookbooks, plants and vases, as well as woven rattan storage boxes. An oversized paper lantern, which was a steal, makes a major statement without breaking the bank, and a painterly artwork, printed and framed by PosterJack, completes the space.

Photography, Phil Bernard