Crisp white walls and exposed brick serve as the perfect canvas where these ingenious first-time homeowners blend their powerful, eclectic sense of style. Johan Högdahl, an art director in advertising, is from Sweden, and his design is distinctly Scandinavian. His girlfriend, Marie-Laurence Tailleur Tremblay, a product designer and interior architect, has a design based more on instinct. “I know it when I see it,” she states. “If I see something I love, I will not think twice about it.”
After moving into their newly renovated Montreal walk-up past May, the couple collaborated on incorporating their favorite classic pieces and vibrant artwork to make something which’s clearly their own.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Marie-Laurence Tailleur Tremblay and Johan Högdahl
Location: Mile End district of Montreal
Size: 700 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Laura Garner
The minimalist bedroom reflects Högdahl’s Scandinavian design. Soft white linens and warm light complement the exposed brick wall and patterned Marimekko bedspread.
Laura Garner
The dining area is exactly what sold the few. “When we watched this space, we only knew it’d be perfect for our own lifestyles,” states Tailleur Tremblay. This pair of six three-legged Hans Wegner chairs was a splurge from neighborhood secondhand store Showroom Montreal.
Laura Garner
A number of original and classic artwork adorns the dining room walls. A classic 1960s map print in the board game Risk hangs on a white wall; it had been found at neighborhood print store Monastiraki.
Högdahl constructed the 10-foot-long dining table from wooden planks affixed to metal legs. “It was really amazing to finally have this perfect space where we can entertain all of our friends,” he states.
Laura Garner
The dining table is set with accessories that were Scandinavian.
Laura Garner
The living area has a vibrant collection of flea market finds, consignment store purchases and furniture inherited from friends. Artist Annie Hemond-Hotte, a friend of the couple, made this large abstract canvas that makes a focal point on the brick wall.
The classic Gaetano Pesce La Mama chair almost did not make it in their home. It did not fit through the front entrance, and had to be hoisted up on ropes and lifted in their apartment through a rear window.
Laura Garner
This hallway artwork is just another classic.
Laura Garner
The open office space gets plenty of bright afternoon light. The desk is just another DIY job of Högdahl’s; he constructed the piece with salvaged wooden stairs in the local house that was being demolished. “One thing I love about Montreal is the way everybody is really into reusing and repurposing materials in innovative ways. It is amazing what you can discover left out on the street sometimes,” he states.
Laura Garner
This vibrant canvas was a gift from the couple’s artist buddy Pierre Julien.
Laura Garner
The couple purchased this antique red wagon in the Montreal flea market Marché St. Michel, since it reminded them of the comic series Calvin and Hobbes. “We somehow managed to get it for under $30,” Högdahl states. “The vendor thought we were purchasing it for our kids.”
Laura Garner
Although small, the kitchen handles to be practical and fashionable. High-gloss white cabinetry gives a neutral backdrop for the couple’s antique kitchenware and bits of Högdahl’s Finnish blown-glass collection.
Laura Garner
From the only bathroom, pewter-gray walls counter tops bright white fixtures and classic subway tile.
Laura Garner
Colorful Marimekko towels provide a shot of color into the tiny modern space.
Laura Garner
The couple, seen here, chose not to get a tv. “I believe that all too often, the tv becomes the focal point of a living space,” Tailleur Tremblay explains.
As for the space, it’s a work in progress. And that is just the way they like it. “There are no rights or wrongs when it comes to decorating your house,” Tailleur Tremblay states. “Our house will never be finished — we constantly find new inspiration which we want to bring within these four walls.”
Sofa: Klippan, Ikea
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