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Summary
- Style
- Contemporary Kitchens
- Designer(s)
- Claudine L’Heureux
The Parisien Kitchen
Contemporary Kitchen
In Morin-Heights, the house peeks out from among the tall trees. You arrive along a peaceful street, with that distinct feeling of having left the hustle and bustle behind. This is where a family with a love of nature and a busy lifestyle has chosen to make their home.
The kitchen was designed to reflect this setting. The fieldstone of the facade extends into the interior, where wood is paired with white lacquer, linen, and rattan. The Dekton countertop and backsplash complete this interplay of materials, bringing warmth and light together. In a new home, these materials immediately create a sense of depth and familiarity that would otherwise take years to develop.
The forest remains a subtle presence in the texture of the stone, the grain of the wood, and a muted, enveloping colour palette that brings the outdoors in.
The Kitchen Island: Part Furniture, Part Sculpture
The kitchen island perfectly captures this dialogue. Custom-designed and crafted by the cabinetmakers at Ateliers Jacob, it deliberately departs from the conventions of standard kitchen cabinetry, taking its cues instead from bespoke furniture.
Warm-toned varnished wood defines the piece; the framed panels and decorative base draw inspiration from traditional furniture, while the large, continuous countertop and understated composition give it a more contemporary feel. Above all, however, it is the rounded forms that transform its appearance. Sharp corners give way to gentle curves, the wood grain follows their contours, and the eye naturally moves around the piece.
Opposite the island, the range hood becomes the focal point of an almost architectural composition. Its generous silhouette, framed by two tall cabinet columns, evokes a fireplace, while oak moulding accentuates its base. The induction cooktop almost disappears into the light-coloured countertop: an interplay of presence and subtlety that perfectly captures the kitchen’s design philosophy, balancing traditional elements with contemporary lines.
A Palette Borrowed from the Landscape
Both inside and out, fieldstone sets the tone. Repeated on the kitchen wall from the exterior, it creates a sense of continuity between the home’s architecture and the surrounding landscape.
Throughout the space, the materials echo one another. Oak, with its rich, warm tones, adds depth to the composition; light-coloured surfaces enhance the natural light; while brass echoes these amber tones through subtle accents. Above the island, fabric lampshades introduce a more classic silhouette.
The overall design bridges two styles: contemporary in its forms, yet more familiar through materials and details that already seem to have a soul of their own.
Arches, Sightlines, and Forest Glades
The arches echo the island’s rounded shape on a larger, architectural scale. One opens onto the pantry, framing a large window overlooking the trees directly beyond. The curve frames another opening, drawing the eye toward the landscape beyond. A perspective that keeps the outdoors in view, even within the most functional part of the home.
The pantry provides additional space for storage and food preparation while remaining connected to the rest of the home. Just a few steps away, the bar area offers a setting for another side of family life. The warm-toned oak, fluted glass, open shelves, and dedicated refrigerator create a more intimate atmosphere, where guests can pour themselves a drink without stepping away from the conversation.
Throughout the day, the space takes on different roles, but the heart of the home remains unchanged. A kitchen designed around a family that loves being together, welcoming guests, and bringing the natural beauty of Morin-Heights into their home.
At the Centre, Nothing but Life
his layout would have been quite different had the island been designed to accommodate every kitchen function. The sink is instead positioned along the perimeter, leaving the large countertop entirely unobstructed and keeping cleanup tasks away from the centre of the room.
For a family with two children who loves to entertain, this open surface serves multiple purposes without requiring any rearrangement. It’s where meals are prepared, served, and enjoyed; when friends arrive, serving dishes can be set out without having to work around a faucet or a sink full of dishes.
This versatility in what gives the island’s central position its true purpose: more than just a workspace, it becomes a gathering place around which daily life unfolds.
