David Desharnais trusts his designer’s breakaway home decor
HAB HAVEN
David Desharnais trusts his designer’s breakaway home decor
BY JULIE GEDEON
STYLING: LEAH DAGHER
As the Centre for the Montreal Canadiens, David Desharnais knows the importance of passing the puck to a teammate who’s in the best position to score a goal. He took the same winning approach in decorating his new South Shore home.
He spoke with friends – former teammates Maxim Lapierre and Steve Bégin and race car sensation Jacques Villeneuve – about their decor and then recruited their designer, Marie-Christine Lavoie, to create an inviting home within his newly built two-storey, three-bedroom house.
“David is a dream client,” says Lavoie, who also hosts the Design V.I.P. television show on Canal Vie. “He told me he wanted a contemporary look for comfortably entertaining family and friends, and then he put his trust in me to deliver it. I didn’t have to run anything past him for approval.”
Lavoie admits David looked a little nervous when she mentioned that she wanted to punctuate a living area with yellow chairs and cushions. “I always like to put a splash of colour in a contemporary look,” she explains. “The golden yellow brings the predominantly grey tones to life.” David was delighted with the results.
Practicality went hand-in-hand with posh in Lavoie’s design. She worked around David’s existing grey divan by juxtaposing the yellow leather chairs in a way that encourages conversation. “When there’s a game that he and his buddies want to watch, they can turn the seats around on both ends of the couch,” she adds.
New-to-the-market porcelain tiles made specifically for wall surfaces confer the kind of straw-like texture Lavoie sought while also providing the required heat barrier from the fireplace. “I love how these particular tiles fit together for a seamless wallpaper look,” she says.
The 100 per cent wool black Berber rug contrasts with the yellow and enables visitors to enjoy the space without fear of dirtying the carpet. The charcoal full-length drapes accentuate the 11-foot-high ceilings with a subtle shimmer.
David can immediately change the mood with the press of a button for the overhead lighting from Zone.
Lavoie’s contemporary lounge milieu extends to the eating area, where she chose a bar table and stools made of reclaimed teak.
The pendant lamp above is a work of art with every detail painstakingly hammered into the aluminum hood. The interior reflects the golden glow of the sunny chairs and cushions.
A beer parlour and billiards room are clear indications that the house is a bachelor’s pad. The forest mural in tones of grey and white establishes an expansive atmosphere in the billiards area.
Mindful that David might one day want to share his home with someone of the feminine persuasion, Lavoie incorporated a flexibility that could easily add yin to the current yang.
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Marie-Christine Lavoie, who launched her own furniture collection at J.C. Perreault Laval in April, is expanding her website at www.mariechristinelavoie.com.
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New-to-market porcelain tiles from BAB Custom Surfaces by Design are specifically for walls that need heat barrier protection from a fireplace. The oversized bright yellow leather chairs from J.C. Perreault Laval open up a secondary casual living area, with the leather banquette from Maison Corbeil doing triple duty as a coffee table, footrest and/or extra seating for buddies to watch a game. Black cushions: Simons; yellow cushions and wine glasses: Crate & Barrel.
7320 and 7334: A contemporary lounge atmosphere incorporates the casual eating area with a bar table and stools from Artemano. The reclaimed teakwood won’t mind some wear and tear when the guys come over for a beer and to watch a game. The hand-chiselled aluminum lamp from Crate & Barrel casts a sunny glow to match the living area’s chairs and throw pillows.
7369: A bar table and stools from reclaimed teak add warmth to a contemporary kitchen whose grey theme echoes throughout Desharnais’ purposely masculine abode. Domed server, wood tray: Crate & Barrel.
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Made-to-measure charcoal drapes from C&M Textiles accentuate the 11-foot-high ceilings. The grey divan is the only piece that Desharnais already owned; the bright oversized chairs were selected by Marie-Christine Lavoie to add some punch. Lavoie found the exotic accents she wanted at Pier 1 Imports, Artemano and HomeSense. Fur throw: Simons.7344:
A grey forest mural expands the billiards room with the illusion of depth and mystique. The frosty trees complement both the grey billiard table and dark wood flooring. Three pendant lamps from Maison Corbeil are lined up for the proper overhead lighting. The billiard set provides the focal points of colour.
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Habs Centre David Desharnais is pleased with the decor, which suits his needs for a contemporary, convenient and casual home life that welcomes family and friends with easy entertaining.
