GOOD BONES
Couple gets a spacious home with BONE Structure’s framing strengths
BY JULIE GEDEON
PHOTOGRAPHY:OLIVIER SAMSON ARCAND
STYLING:NADINE RODRIGUE
Marie-Eve Dufour and Claude-Etienne Fournier never tire of the nature that filters through the expansive windows of their unique home in Val d’Or, Quebec. “We live in a regular suburban neighbourhood, but our densely treed lot gave us the privacy to be able to invite the beauty of all those trees into our daily lives,” Marie-Eve says.
The couple found the contemporary spaciousness for their dream home when they came across models built by BONE Structure, a Quebec-based company that specializes in building custom homes. “It’s amazing how the steel framing let us have such a large and open kitchen, dining and living area without any interior load-bearing walls that would block our views,” Claude-Etienne says.
Nadine Rodrigue, a BONE Structure interior designer and project manager, embraced the couple’s idea of making the main living area the heart of the home. “With two toddlers, this family spends a lot of time preparing and sharing meals,” she says. “So we gave them windows spanning two storeys alongside the dining area so they could feel as if they’re outdoors year-round.”
The vista is similarly enjoyed from the walkway adjoining three bedrooms on the upper floor. “I love how this entire open area basks in natural light,” Marie-Eve says.
Abundant kitchen cabinetry and bedroom built-ins give the home the clean ultramodern lines that Marie-Eve sought. A playroom adjacent to the foyer enables these parents to keep an eye and ear on their son and daughter but also keeps toys out of the way.
The minimalist approach is personalized with such upscale touches as the Victoria + Albert Amalfi standalone bathtub and Kohler Stillness faucet that create an oasis for Marie-Eve off the master suite. “The tub really is as comfortable as it looks,” she says. “And I love that Nadine has selected boutique items that you won’t find everywhere, because they make this home distinctly ours.”
Quality finishes extend to the kitchen where the Kohler Stages sinks are equipped with AxorCitterio kitchen faucets. The naturally oiled black walnut island and customized exotic wood dining table add warmth that Rodrigue contrasts nicely with marginally industrial Castelli lamps by Sonneman, suspended by stainless-steel cables, and grey leather and chrome bar stools and chairs.
Marc-André Bovet, BONE Structure’s CEO and founder, embarked on a better way to build homes in 2005 after his detailed plan to renovate a house ended with him living in a motel with his wife and four children because of construction delays.
The former Bombardier manager gathered automotive and aerospace experts to look at how to build homes differently. “Our pre-engineered components all clip together like they’re adult Meccano and Lego sets,” he explains. “There’s no sawing, drilling or welding on-site or when the subcontractors arrive to install the electricity, plumbing and mechanical elements.”
