My Houzz: Ecofriendly and Salvaged Style in a Montreal Triplex
Repurposed materials, graywater reuse, and no-VOC paints make for a resourcefully earth-friendly home in Quebec
Esther Hershcovich
April 7, 2013
Houzz Contributor. I am very inspired by anything design. I live in Montreal and feel that our city is unique in its strong sense of art and culture.
Houzz Contributor. I am very inspired by anything design. I live in Montreal and... More
Shortly after buying a triplex in Montreal, first-time homeowners Dominique Leroux and Anne-Marie McSween attended a local environmental rally that made them rethink their design approach. The two spent the next couple of months researching ecofriendly design methods, then enlisted architect Vouli Mamfredis of Studio MMA to do the renovation, which lasted a year and included reusing as much leftover material as possible from the gutted interior.
Most of the salvaged original wood framing became the new flooring, while local artisans repurposed the rest into kitchen cabinetry, a dining room table, stair treads and more. Even Leroux's and McSween's families stepped in to donate unused wood and furniture. "Everything has a story," says Leroux.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Dominique Leroux, a software engineer, and Anne-Marie McSween, an attorney
Location: Hochelaga-Maisoneuve district of Montreal
Size: 2,480 square feet; 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 1 shower room (top 2 floors only)
Budget: $115 Canadian (about U.S.$113) per square foot
Most of the salvaged original wood framing became the new flooring, while local artisans repurposed the rest into kitchen cabinetry, a dining room table, stair treads and more. Even Leroux's and McSween's families stepped in to donate unused wood and furniture. "Everything has a story," says Leroux.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Dominique Leroux, a software engineer, and Anne-Marie McSween, an attorney
Location: Hochelaga-Maisoneuve district of Montreal
Size: 2,480 square feet; 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 1 shower room (top 2 floors only)
Budget: $115 Canadian (about U.S.$113) per square foot
The couple lives on the two top floors while renting out the bottom floor. On the second floor, Mamfredis removed walls to open up the kitchen, dining and living areas.
The woodworking crew at Construction BFG built the dining table from the reclaimed basement wood. McSween's uncle gifted the dining chairs, which are teacher's school chairs he collected over the years.
The woodworking crew at Construction BFG built the dining table from the reclaimed basement wood. McSween's uncle gifted the dining chairs, which are teacher's school chairs he collected over the years.
The minibar countertop in the kitchen is made of old flooring.
Bar stools: local artisan Mat-Pel; suspended lights: Le Lampiste de Beloeil; cabinet wire mesh: Richelieu
Bar stools: local artisan Mat-Pel; suspended lights: Le Lampiste de Beloeil; cabinet wire mesh: Richelieu
The corrugated metal backsplash is repurposed from another one of Manfredis' projects, and the homeowners repurposed countertops that a local Mountain Equipment Co-op store was getting rid of.
McSween and Leroux installed a heated floor system in both the kitchen and bathrooms.
The concrete floor contains a residue from aluminum lights and is covered with a green epoxy. The floor did not go exactly as planned, however, and the couple ended up with a textured effect.
McSween and Leroux installed a heated floor system in both the kitchen and bathrooms.
The concrete floor contains a residue from aluminum lights and is covered with a green epoxy. The floor did not go exactly as planned, however, and the couple ended up with a textured effect.
An Envirosink sink brings graywater to a 4,500-liter (1,180-gallon) cistern under the house, which provides water for the toilets.
Countertop: ceramic tile, Céragrès
Countertop: ceramic tile, Céragrès
The columns used for the 9 1/2-foot ceilings are made of salvaged wood picked up at AIM Recyclage, a scrapyard in Charlemagne. The homeowners used Eco-Selection oil on all the exposed wood.
A small porch off the kitchen has shade in the summer and is where they enjoy having breakfast.
Paint: Papier Japonais 6195-21, Sico Ecosource
A small porch off the kitchen has shade in the summer and is where they enjoy having breakfast.
Paint: Papier Japonais 6195-21, Sico Ecosource
Directly across the kitchen is a wall hiding the pantry and boiler. The couple placed their piano in a central location so they can play it anytime during the day.
Paint: Omelette 6093-74, Sico Ecosource
Paint: Omelette 6093-74, Sico Ecosource
Leroux, along with McSween's father, cleaned and stripped a pallet that previously had been used for roofing material and turned it into a coffee table.
The homeowners left the brick exposed to add texture. They also left the metail rail that runs along the wall to the outside that keeps the house from slanting.
They're still deciding whether or not to add art to the walls. “When you put up a piece of art, eventually you stop seeing it," Leroux says. They are considering leasing art from a local gallery.
The homeowners left the brick exposed to add texture. They also left the metail rail that runs along the wall to the outside that keeps the house from slanting.
They're still deciding whether or not to add art to the walls. “When you put up a piece of art, eventually you stop seeing it," Leroux says. They are considering leasing art from a local gallery.
The couple brought oak, natural latex and wool to local furniture maker Meubles Re-No, who built this sectional sofa with the materials. The piece was then covered in organic hemp fabric from Rawganique, where the couple purchased all their fabrics in the house.
Leftover tiles from McSween’s parents' renovation make up the second-floor bathroom's counter. “We got whatever material we can from everyone," says McSween. They used the same tile in the other bathroom.
Rainwater from the cistern under the house is used to flush their Caroma toilets.
The poster above the toilet was made for Leroux as a birthday gift. It's the form of a bicycle that was created using words that describe him.
Rainwater from the cistern under the house is used to flush their Caroma toilets.
The poster above the toilet was made for Leroux as a birthday gift. It's the form of a bicycle that was created using words that describe him.
Both Leroux and McSween are avid bikers, so they enlarged their main entry door to facilitate easier transportation of their bikes.
The metalwork on the stair rail is by Soudure René Thibault. The wood stair treads are made of the basement framing.
The third floor has the master bedroom, the master bathroom, a living niche and this shared office space with a floor-to-ceiling library. The wood used for the shelves has been recycled three times: It was originally used for a garage, then a chicken coop.
A large built-in desk hugs the exposed columns. Two colorful hammocks with suspended lighting hang near Leroux's guitar collection.
A large built-in desk hugs the exposed columns. Two colorful hammocks with suspended lighting hang near Leroux's guitar collection.
Prior to the couple's buying the home, their similar schedules were a bit of a nuisance. "We were biking back from working and then running to get the shower first,” Leroux says.
To fix the dilemma, a large shower room in the center of the third floor includes two showerheads. A light dome brings in natural light, and the frosted glass on the sliding barn door is made from the house's old windows. The corrugated metal is from the same repurposed project used in the kitchen.
To fix the dilemma, a large shower room in the center of the third floor includes two showerheads. A light dome brings in natural light, and the frosted glass on the sliding barn door is made from the house's old windows. The corrugated metal is from the same repurposed project used in the kitchen.
On the other side of the top floor is an open, sun-filled room with doors leading to the master bedroom and master bathroom. A futon opens up for visiting guests.
Mat-Pel crafted the bed and side tables based on Leroux's design.
"You always want to hang your clothes on the doorknob, so I made a strip of wood with doorknobs," Leroux says. He made the piece from leftover scraps of wood and recycled porcelain doorknobs from ÉcoRéno.
The curtain holder was made using curved electricity pipes.
The curtain holder was made using curved electricity pipes.
A large piece of frosted glass repurposed from a porch door brings in extra light to the bathroom.
Paint: Arôme de tabac 6074-63, Sico Ecosource
Paint: Arôme de tabac 6074-63, Sico Ecosource
Sliding doors throughout the home maximize space.
During the renovation the homeowners opened up access to the roof by adding a stairway.
The stairway leads to this 11- by 20-foot rooftop deck with views of Montreal and the Olympic Stadium. An herb garden includes thyme and chives.
The original architectural structure of this greystone was kept intact. The only viewable change is the modern doorway to the second floor.
See more photos of this home
See more photos of this home
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Gorgeous!! Those bookshelves are unbelievable !