Sarah & Phil | Lived Spaces | Habitat Series | Montréal, QC

One of my favourite parts about doing this series is that it gives me the opportunity to meet new people. Being welcomed into someone's home with a camera in hand examining and documenting the space and the way they live is a very intimate experience. Gotta love people with an open mind and who are willing to reveal themselves to the outside world. 

Last weekend I got the chance to photograph Sarah & Phil's apartment on Saturday and then take a trip to the country together for some apple picking on Sunday. I guess that you could say that we really dove into getting to know each other. Sarah, a lover of botanicals, is not only responsible for greening the apartment but also the co-founder of a magazine dedicated to plants called Bosquet (www. bosquetmagazine.com). As for Phil, he's quite the talented artist and most of the pieces on the walls are created by him. It is nice to see how their individual styles have blended so well together and how they have adapted elements in their space to make it more functional. A well-balanced design hybrid. Merci encore!

Who: Phil & Sarah
People who you share(d) this space with: Walter White jr., our cat!
City: Montréal
Neighbourhood: Plateau Mont-Royal

In three words how would you describe the design, atmosphere/mood of your space?
P: warm, relaxed and woody

What is your favourite room? Why?
S: The office in the front. Most of my plants are there because the room is filled with sunshine all day long. This is also where we work on our projects, so we each decorated our workspaces which makes the room really warm.
P: I'd have to agree on that.

What is the best decorating "find"/DIY in your space?
S: There are so many! Wooden furniture, plants ... but I would say our shelves in the kitchen. We removed the cabinets and I love seeing the porcelain cups and colored plates.
P: This past summer I just built a washing machine cover-up wall/counter. It really changes a lot since we can have a view of the kitchen from every room.

Most treasured item(s) in your space?
S: The Dining Table.
P: The Litterbox. I can't imagine living without it.

What elements are essential to you in creating a space that feels like home?
S: Plants.
P: Custom furnitures.

What is your best memory from this space?
S: When we got Walter!

Weekends are for...
S: Workings on my different projects and going to the eastern townships
P: Seeing friends.

Your favourite Montréal coffee spot is...
S: Our Moka percolator.
P: MELK, on Monkland St. in NDG.

The best thing about the neighborhood you live in is...
S: Laurier park
P: it's proximity to friends, it's centrality to other neighborhood. Also, the subway station is on the corner, that's a big plus in the winter.

A perfect day in Montréal goes like...
S: A bike ride, a trip to the public market to buy flowers, a few stops at garage sales, a dinner at the restaurant and an evening on a terrace with friends
P: Anything that begins with a bacon and eggs breakfast and with a nap in the middle of it. It could be a good workday at the studio or a visit to the museums and galleries.

If you could travel anywhere next, where would it be...
P&S: We have a bunch of good friends that recently left for Vancouver, we would love to get to visit the northern west coast with them.

Katie | Lived Spaces | Habitat Series | Toronto, ON

Over the past few months I've been bouncing back and forth between Montréal and Toronto quite a bit. In addition to celebrating lots of love and bumpy bus rides, this opportunity allowed me to expand my Habitat series to a new city- Toronto! The first apartment featured in the Toronto edition is that of my friend Katie. I met Katie through my friend Bev who happened to be the first person I explored this series with (remember this place?). Moreover, Katie and Bev are longtime buds with Anna who now lives here but who used to live in this apartment prior to her move to Montréal. Tackle one part of the triangle and then get them all... and boy oh boy I'm sure glad I did! Trifecta connection aside, it's been so interesting to document the spaces of three individuals who know each other well. Looking back on these spaces there are definitely aesthetic and design similarities which speak to what these ladies have in common. One reason why I do this project is because it feeds my fascination with how space and human behaviour intersect to create a home that reflects ones lifestyle and individuality. And well, I think that Katie's space represents just that- a relaxed atmosphere home to tons of books and spinets of inspiration throughout.
On a side note, when I started shooting the apartment it was a bright and sunny afternoon turned torrential downpour as we moved out to the balcony. Besides having to move our post shoot party indoors, in the end I didn't mind having a little wind in our hair.

Habitat Series #5 

Who: Katie Smith
City: Toronto
Neighbourhood: Little Italy

In three words how would you describe the design, atmosphere/mood of your space? 
Modern meets vintage.

What is your favourite room? Why?
It isn’t too hard to choose when you live in a studio apartment! But I’ll go with my balcony – I love having dinner or drinks out there on warm summer evenings.

What is the best decorating "find"/DIY in your space?
My antique wooden blanket box; I got it at a flea market in the Laurentians for a song.

Most treasured item(s) in your space?
Probably all my books, or the green canisters passed down to me by my aunt. I love the Cy Twombly cabbage print that hangs above my bed, too.

What elements are essential to you in creating a space that feels like home? 
Good lighting and a workable kitchen.

What is your best memory from this space?
My friend Anna lived in this apartment before me, and we’ve both hosted some pretty great pizza parties here over the past few years.

Weekends are for…
Eating and drinking wine with friends.

Your favourite Toronto coffee spot is…
Empire Espresso.

The best thing about the neighbourhood you live in is...
Little Italy has such a great energy to it, especially in the summer. And it doesn’t hurt that there are so many great places to eat nearby and a beautiful park a few blocks away.

A perfect day in Toronto goes like... 
Sleeping in, going to yoga, reading/sunning/picnicking in Trinity Bellwoods, and then heading to Chinatown for dinner with friends at Mother’s Dumplings followed by late night drinks in Kensington Market.

If you could travel anywhere next, where would it be... 
Iceland!

Jason & Marielle | Lived Spaces | Habitat Series | Montréal, QC

I spent the past few weeks on the road and it feels good to be home. Having been welcomed into the homes of many friends along the way reminded me that home, whether temporary or permanent, is what you make it. I'm excited to tell the story of my most recent journey soon and in the meantime, here's the next house tour in my Habitiat series. 

Habitat Series #4

City: Montreal

Neighbourhood: The Village

Who: Jason Davidson & Mirielle

People who you share(d) this space with: 

J: A fellow Edmontonian, and occasionally friends new and old.

M: Jason, a friend from my first year at U of A.

In three words how would you describe the design, atmosphere/mood of your space?

J: Urban cabin chic?

M: Bright, welcoming, cabin-y.

What is your favourite room? Why?J: My bedroom: it’s a perfect, sunny place for reflection and studying.

M: While I love how bright and airy my room is, the front room is my favourite because of its great light and good bones.

What is the best decorating "find"/DIY in your space?

J: The vintage Ministere des Forets calendar from the Saint Michel flea market and a plant pot made from old books.

M: The chairs we found on Kijiji and Craigslist. They strike a nice balance between contemporary and classic shapes.

Most treasured item(s) in your space?

J: The hand-made quilt my friend sewed for me while I was working in northern Alberta and the nesting crates also created for me by a friend.

What elements are essential to you in creating a space that feels like home?

J: A healthy amount of vegetation, things that remind me of past memories and places, and Edison light bulbs!

M: Room for welcoming others.

What is your best memory from this space? 

J: Breaking in the new apartment with visitors from back home!

M: Making my first turkey dinner with friends who were far from home on Thanksgiving.

Weekends are for…

J: Catching up on sleep from a busy week, bike rides and coffee/wine dates with friends.

M: Catching up on sleep, exploring the city and seeing friends.

Your favourite Montréal coffee spot is…

J: I’m a fan of Pikolo Café because of its wonderful loft study space, but for a spot closer to home, Pourquoi Pas usually does the trick.

M: Myriade. Better looking coffee spots exist around the city, but I have yet to taste better coffee.

The best thing about the neighbourhood you live in is… 

J: Quiet, safe neighbourly vibe, big trees, beautiful walk up apartments and an “off the beaten track” sort of charm.

M: Its proximity to Parc Lafontaine.

A perfect day in Montréal goes like… 

J: Bike ride, stop in a thrift shop with a coffee, nap in the park followed by a chill soirée at a pub. I suppose if it’s snowy, skating on Mont Royal is a close second.

M: Sleep in a bit, make a nice breakfast, go for a walk up the mountain, grab a coffee and spend the evening with friends.

If you could travel anywhere next, where would it be... 

J: Argentina, Iceland or Germany. Or the Great Bear Rainforest along the West Coast of Canada.

M: I’ll limit myself to within Canada and say Newfoundland and Labrador.