Cottage De Bordeaux: A Contemporary Retreat in the Laurentians
Laurentian Mountains of Quebec to define the spaces while still leaving the open flow between the game room, the large entrance hall and the living room. "We were looking for a way to psychologically separate the entrance to the game room," he explains. "The Elm logs divide the space without cutting it up so it seems larger and less confining. At the same time, the tree trunks give one the sense of being in a wooded grove, so it serves as both an important architectural feature and aesthetic styling."
"People love these tree trunks and the exotic wood flooring. These are basically the two elements that people always ask me questions about," Tremblay says.
Other wood accents in the cottage include an open frame solid wood staircase connecting the cottage's two floors. The stairs are made from wood similarly sourced from the owner's fields in the Laurentian Mountains.
In describing his work and his design ethos, Tremblay says, "I like to work in a contemporary spirit, meaning that I value the light, open spaces and the use of warm and natural materials." In terms of architectural genre, Tremblay notes that he "love[s] the mid-century style and also the Scandinavian style." The clean, modern lines and natural attitude expressed in applications throughout the Cottage De Bordeaux are examples of crisp, functional design and the use of natural materials, contrasting textures and beautiful woods.
"The rustic effect counterbalances the minimalism of the built-in furniture that is installed along the windowless wall," said Tremblay. "This glossy black and white furniture, without handles, is very clean and contemporary. I think the combination of the different materials and new development can create spaces that are bright, warm, rich and open, that comfort and appease, while being functional for the life of a family today."
"Since one of the goals of this project was to open the living spaces in order to get the best possible light, the use of raw material for the wood structure has emerged to deliver a warm feeling to those new areas," he added.
The homeowners were very involved in the entire cottage renovation project. "They initially saw the Guajuvira in the showroom of a wooden floor distributor," says Tremblay. "I think they are very happy with the cottage and enjoy being in such a beautiful place."
— Eric Joseph Tremblay/Boom Town, Atelier d'Architecture
Frequently asked questions
What wood species was used for the flooring in Cottage De Bordeaux?+
The cottage features Guajuvira, an exotic wood flooring. The homeowners originally discovered it in the showroom of a wooden floor distributor.
Why were Elm tree trunks used as a design feature in the cottage?+
The Elm logs were used to psychologically separate the entrance to the game room from the large entrance hall and living room without cutting up the space. They divide the area while keeping it open and give the sense of being in a wooded grove.
Where was the wood for the cottage sourced from?+
The Elm tree trunks and the open frame solid wood staircase were sourced from the owner's fields in the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec.
What design style influenced the Cottage De Bordeaux?+
Architect Eric Joseph Tremblay drew on mid-century and Scandinavian styles, working in a contemporary spirit that values light, open spaces, and warm natural materials. The result features clean, modern lines combined with contrasting textures and natural woods.
How does the built-in furniture contrast with the rustic wood elements?+
The built-in furniture is installed along the windowless wall and is glossy black and white with no handles, giving a very clean and contemporary look. This minimalism is counterbalanced by the rustic effect of the raw wood elements.
Why was raw wood used for the structural elements?+
Since one goal of the project was to open the living spaces to maximize light, raw wood was chosen for the structure to deliver a warm feeling to the new open areas.