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Project: Complete interior design, custom kitchen, living/office/reading space, platform library, turnkey renovation
Location: Rue Chateaubriand, Villeray, Montreal, Quebec
Service: Interior design, technical plans, custom cabinetry fabrication, turnkey general contractor — Groupe Cartier
Every dollar invested in this project honors its owners. That conviction guided the Groupe Cartier team throughout the renovation of this Chateaubriand Street residence in Montreal’s Villeray neighborhood — a project where elevated design signature, impeccable technical precision, and thoughtful jobsite management combined to deliver an exceptional result, completed while the family lived on site with their two young children.
Renovating an occupied home with a family and two children on site is one of the most demanding challenges in residential renovation. Groupe Cartier implemented rigorous dust containment and protection protocols, ensuring the comfort and safety of the family at every stage. The brand-new staircase was carefully protected with custom-adapted solutions, and all material cuts were made outside to minimize interior impact.
A structured, respected schedule allowed every trade — electrical, plumbing, ventilation — to be coordinated with a precision that eliminated errors and delays. The detailed technical plans produced by Groupe Cartier’s designers served as the absolute reference for all contractors, from day one to the last day on site.
The kitchen was transformed from the ground up. Everything changed position — oven, refrigerator, sink, dishwasher — a total reconfiguration made possible by precise layout plans that guided electrical, plumbing, and ventilation adjustments without a single error. A new hood duct was created, and the plumbing was completely redone.
The Miralis cabinet fronts combine three exceptional materials: black Fenix — an ultra-matte surface that is extremely scratch-resistant, fingerprint-resistant, and remarkably easy to maintain — walnut veneer that brings warmth and organic nobility, and similaque for lines of absolute purity. The Silestone by Cosentino quartz countertop and backsplash complete this palette with a refined, hygienic, and visually striking surface.
The island rests on a custom powder-coated black steel structure fabricated by Allwood in Montreal — a strong architectural piece that visually anchors the entire kitchen and speaks in perfect harmony with the black Fenix cabinetry.
The microwave and all small appliances were integrated into a walk-in pantry completely concealed behind invisible-hinge doors. Closed, these doors blend seamlessly into the cabinetry line — nothing betrays what lies behind them. Open, they reveal an organized, fully equipped storage space of remarkable functionality. This is one of the most distinctive signatures of this project: total functionality without ever compromising the purity of the design.
In this project, natural light is not an accessory — it is a design material in its own right. The massive 16-foot patio door floods the space with brightness, transforming the kitchen and living area into an open, vibrant interior in constant dialogue with the outdoors. This design decision responds precisely to the clients’ expressed needs and amplifies the sense of space in every corner of the room.
On the upper level, the living space was completely reimagined to respond to multiple precise needs. A custom platform library was designed to maximize storage underneath — an ingenious solution that gains space without ever visually weighing down the room. The space also integrates a dedicated area for the piano, planned from the very first sketches to sit naturally within the room’s volume.
Integrated LED lighting, specifically requested by the clients, gives the space a young, dynamic, and contemporary ambiance that the children love. The mandatory emergency exit was integrated invisibly into the cabinetry — a technical constraint transformed into a design detail.
The client, a passionate architecture enthusiast with high design expectations, demanded a strong and cohesive signature across every aspect of the project. Groupe Cartier’s designers responded with plans of rare precision — documents that allowed the electrician, plumber, and installers to work in perfect coordination, without ambiguity and without error.
It is this rigor in conception that makes perfect execution possible. And it is that perfect execution that ensures every dollar invested in this project truly honors the people who live in it.
From the first design plan to the final precise installation of custom cabinetry, Groupe Cartier assumed full responsibility for this project — in turnkey mode, with the rigor of a general contractor and the sensitivity of an interior designer. The result is a space that fully reflects the owners’ vision, the quality of the chosen materials, and the expertise of the team that brought it to life.
Planning a turnkey renovation in Montreal? Contact the Groupe Cartier team for a personalized design consultation. Every great project starts with a conversation.
