A couple was searching for a place to raise their children when they found a neglected 100-year-old home in the hip Mile End neighborhood of Montreal. At first glance, they knew the structure needed a lot of work — the passing of time and many sloppy renovations were distorting the uncluttered dream they had in mind. So they called on la SHED Architecture to perform a drastic makeover that gutted the interiors and rear exterior but kept the front of the address preserved. "Being very warm and welcoming, they wanted a residence in their image, with spaces that are clean, friendly, livable, and organized," said Sébastien Paren, one of the firm's founders. For the common areas, the team devised an open layout that would be flooded with light from windows lining the double-height kitchen. Then, they chose materials such as local pine, white-painted steel, and concrete to outfit a modern aesthetic that would still be durable enough for a young family. And once that was complete, the renovation moved outside. The main living area easily opens into a courtyard, where the equally cheerful siding is comprised of eastern cedar arranged in a herringbone pattern. In the end, the couple realized their dream to start anew by reimagining a place from the past.
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