Laurence & Alexandre’s Montreal Mix
Name: Laurence and Alexandre
Location: Petite-Patrie; Montreal
Size: 940 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year

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Alex and Laurence were looking for an unusual place. A merge of the functional “Batcave” and the artistic grandiloquence of the Mysore Palace in India. They found this apartment, with enough wall space to hang all of Alexandre’s artworks (from past exhibitions) and Laurence’s numerous travel souvenirs.
The apartment is full of architecturally strange surprises. A few steps that lead to the living room. A few others that lead to the DJ booth in the dining room. A small open office/music space adjacent to the kitchen. A shallow closet in the dining area now converted into a bar that can easily be hidden.
A window in the living room that overlooks another window in the bedroom. All of these things make this apartment peculiar, fun and intriguing. The only big embarrassment Alex and Laurence have is a box that they never opened since moving in!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: ” I would still like to write concrete poems, but I can only do it sometimes.” Ian Hamilton Finlay
Inspiration: We were looking for something between the sober-functional Batcave and the artistic grandiloquence of the Mysore Palace in India. We found this space that used to be owned by friends and it became clear for us that it had enough walls to hang all of Alexandre’s artworks (from past exhibitions) and Laurence’s numerous travel souvenirs. The empty spaces are filled with plants because they neither exist in the Batcave nor the Mysore palace. Plus, this potted nature is essential in our home for our happiness and sanity.
Favorite Element: The living and dining room are perfect for reading, entertaining and having friends over, as well as dancing. Adjacent to the kitchen, the “extra” room is perfect for impromptu conferences and musical moments. We also loooove to have breakfast on the huge patio during summer.
Biggest Challenge: Lack of natural light. Also, the strange steps in the living room built in the late 1990s.
What Friends Say: Can we come back soon?
Biggest Embarrassment: A box we never opened since we moved in.
Proudest DIY: The 24-karat golden plated garden dwarf made by both of us at our very first weeks of dating. Also, customizing most of our pieces of furniture.
Biggest Indulgence: Alexandre: The bar in the cupboard’s dining area and the compost bin (making my own earth is my most evident hippy side). Both: The outdoor garden.
Best Advice: Always replicate exactly what your neighbor does. I’m kidding! Be yourself. Of course be yourself. Always hesitate before buying something new, but go-fast if you are able to see the potential of a found object.
Dream Sources: Marché aux puces St-Michel, garage sales in the Eastern townships, antique boutiques in the South-East of Montreal. Every country we ever visited.
Resources
ENTRY
LIVING ROOM
- Teak sofa bought at St-Michel Flea market. We made the cushions with a second hand pair of jeans found on Plaza St-Hubert.
- Shelving : basic Ikea pine boards dyed by Laurence.
- Diptych from the series Hazel house, AlexandreCv 1/1, 2011
- Photograph “Seegmuller Tower in the Rhin, Strasbourg” from Alexandre’s exhibition, Proof 20, 2012 Toronto
- “Chicago L train interpretation”, Chicago architecture fondation
DINING ROOM
- Golden Ganesha brought recently from our last travel in Madurai, India.
- Large photo of a group of unknown kids biking, found in the basement of the former City Hall of Saint-Pierre, in Montreal.
KITCHEN
BEDROOM
- Photograph ” Salle de jeux pour enfants, estrades populaires”, from the series ” Hippodrome de Montreal” by AlexandreCV 1/6, 2013
- Bed: Ralph Laurent sheet cover
- Frame with dancers: Clefs et couteaux & Couteaux et clefs . Serigraphy by Emilie Bouchard, 2/7, 2006
- Nightstand: old bench from my friend dad’s place
BAR
OFFICE/DEN
- A litography from Louis Bouvier, unname
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