Moreau House

Résidence Moreau: Reinventing a Small Space with Warmth and intelligence

In Montreal, the Résidence Moreau is a small single-family townhouse that brilliantly
illustrates the art of transforming a small space into a warm and
functional living space.

With its 1,000 square feet on two levels, this home, built in 1885, has
undergone multiple transformations. Its garage, added in the 1960s, was replaced by
a kitchen during a renovation in the early 2000s that caused it to lose
its original character. Today, it is undergoing a complete overhaul, redesigned for a
young family looking for space and comfort.

A smart reconfiguration for an optimized space

The biggest challenge of this renovation was to create a second bedroom upstairs,
which originally only had one. The existing configuration did not allow this,
requiring a major reorganization of the space. To achieve this, the staircase,
previously located in the center of the house, was moved to the side, freeing up valuable
volume for the layout of the bedrooms. This repositioning also made it possible
to create a small, optimized entrance with storage under the stairs, reinforcing the
functionality of the ground floor.

The upper floor now accommodates two bedrooms: a master bedroom, decorated with a
retractable desk designed for teleworking, and a child's bedroom for the growing
family.

The ground floor has been restructured to optimize the living spaces, in particular by
bringing the bathroom down to this floor. The latter has been completely redesigned to
combine aesthetics and comfort: a podium bath, ideal for the child, an interior window
bringing a touch of light, and a terracotta ceramic covering, creating a
visual continuity with the kitchen.

Warm minimalism, inspired by the past

While the renovation of the 2000s had erased all traces of the original heritage, this
project sought to rediscover a certain authenticity, without falling into
pastiche. The choice of materials and colors reflects this approach:

• Red pine floors, a local wood, with wide and long boards, evoking
those used at the time of construction

• Monochrome and elegant kitchen, warmed by terracotta tiles that
recall Italian garages and dialogue with the past of the place.

• Chrome accents, a nod to the influences of the 70s.

The arched openings, present in the layout, also contribute to this
sensation of softness and fluidity. They soften the rigidity of the volumes, bringing an
organic and enveloping touch to the space.

A vibrant and joyful palette

The designer imagined a bold and coherent color palette, infusing energy
and warmth into the space without falling into a childish aesthetic. Green, pink and
terracotta harmonize subtly, creating an atmosphere that is both lively and
soothing. These carefully tested shades bring a strong identity and a common thread to the
entire project, while remaining suitable for an interior shared with
a young child.

The lighting was designed to support this chromatic dynamic, playing with
sources of natural and artificial light to enhance the materials and accentuate the
feeling of well-being.

A restricted but generous space

Despite its modest dimensions, the Résidence Moreau never gives the impression
of being cramped. Every corner has been optimized, every choice has been carefully considered to
combine functionality and aesthetics. With a limited budget, this transformation brilliantly illustrates
how a narrow space can become generous, bright and full of character.