Montreal-based firm Indee Design unveils its latest project: the Plateau Kyoto Residence. This renovation transforms a compartmentalized single-family home in the Plateau Mont-Royal into a true “still journey,” where mid-century style and a passion for Japan come together to create a bespoke sanctuary for a young family.

A luminous vision

Indee Design’s starting point was clear: to rethink the dynamics of a home with undeniable charm, yet no longer suited to its occupants’ needs. The challenge lay in reshaping the volumes to introduce a fluid, intuitive flow, allowing a couple and their two children to settle comfortably for the next twenty years.

The vision is rooted in a delicate balance between aesthetics and functionality: a modern space with clean lines, imbued with a warm character that evokes the passage of time.

“Clients aspired to a home where fluidity, light, and efficiency come together to enhance the existing structure—particularly through a bold staging of the courtyard and a luminous opening on the front façade,” explains Florence Charron, interior designer and founder of Indee Design.

A natural connection

Rather than reinventing everything, Indee Design redefined the spaces to create open, connected living areas. By repositioning the staircase, the designer expanded the living space and established a seamless connection between the ground floor and the upper level. The home now fully opens onto the garden, offering a soothing continuity between indoors and outdoors, envisioned as an end-of-day retreat.

Every decision was guided by a simple idea: to design an environment that facilitates everyday gestures—where people naturally gather, share meals, play music, or enjoy a film together—while making storage intuitive, fluid, and almost instinctive.

“The harmony of the project stems from a fully open space where connections between each zone are achieved through subtle proximity and rigorous alignment of lines,” adds Florence Charron.

Between Meditative Retreat and Family Gathering

This project skillfully blends intimacy and conviviality, offering each family member a personal retreat while orchestrating vibrant shared spaces. Drawing inspiration from Japanese minimalism and a reinterpreted 1970s retro aesthetic, the design embraces the philosophy of “less, but better” as its guiding thread.

“All furniture was entirely custom-designed to precisely meet the occupants’ needs while integrating seamlessly with the architecture. From the rear extension to the front of the house, every intervention reflects meticulous attention to use, detail, and spatial experience,” notes Florence Charron.

In the extension, a suspended bench appears to float in front of the window, extending the view outward and gently connecting to a wall alcove designed to house a bonsai, creating an inspiring, meditative space. Above, maple shelving interacts with a central unit structured into four distinct compartments, integrating both a concealed video projection system and storage. This volume is framed by a solid surface inviting seating, while responding to existing structural constraints.

Further along, the painted steel staircase rests on a glass block structure and conceals storage behind integrated doors, combining lightness and functionality. The kitchen revisits its original walnut cabinetry and stainless steel countertop—entirely reworked—complemented by new modules and a ceramic backsplash, asserting a restrained, contemporary materiality.

A sense of conviviality also emerges through a circular maple banquette distinguished by its subtle design. Conceived for comfort without weighing down the space, it relies on discreet engineering connecting solid wood elements, some anchored directly to the floor. The central table, featuring a rotating top, encourages sharing and family moments.

A Playful and Artistic Universe

The children’s play and reading area is delicately integrated into the architecture, nestled between walls and windows to benefit from abundant natural light. Plywood panels incorporate climbing holds, a bench, and a bookshelf, while the adjacent perforated pegboard wall evokes traditional workshop aesthetics.

This expressive touch extends into the children’s bathroom, where the wall forms a playful monster silhouette suggested through sconces, a round mirror, and a wall-mounted sink. A removable slide on the staircase even allows miniature cars to race down, illustrating the firm’s attention to playful detail (see Atelier Chabot).

Art punctuates the spaces with precision, bringing both character and lightness. Vintage movie posters coexist with monster-inspired imagery from the Machines de Nantes universe, creating an eclectic dialogue. This diversity is expressed through works of varying styles, including a striking central piece above the table by Sticky Peaches, acting as a visual anchor.

Finally, the integration of a signature color—chosen with emotion—completes this cohesive, distinctive, and deeply intimate environment.

“The Plateau Kyoto Residence is a lasting living space, balancing intimacy and conviviality, designed to evolve with its occupants while offering a constant visual and emotional anchor,” concludes Florence Charron.

Through this project, Indee Design demonstrates that a successful renovation goes beyond spatial reconfiguration—it involves sculpting an atmosphere where every detail becomes a driver of well-being.