“The retail business is not dead and I strongly believe in the success of independent boutiques,” Marie tells us. She’s actually the third generation of business owners in her family. Her flat is a true representation of the aesthetic she’s chosen for the shop, like lots of pastel tones and carefully curated items.

My Style: It has always been difficult to define the style of decor I like. Since I was a little girl I’ve loved to change things around me. I usually move furniture and objects around the house on a regular basis. I constantly say goodbye to stuff to welcome new ones. I like natural and organic materials, like wood, wool, rattan. I like cozy and warm atmospheres with pops of color, which put me in a good mood. The sight of a color like yellow or pink will make me smile and feel good.

Inspiration: I rely a lot on feeling. A shape, a color, a marriage of two different objects. I am inspired by memories of trips I loved, mainly those in California but also in Lisbon and Mexico. I get inspired by Pinterest and Instagram.

Favorite Element: A touch of yellow here and there! I added this color five years ago with my Solar chair in my living room and it influenced everything else since then. Yellow is the sun; it’s good for morale.

Biggest Challenge: We live on the ground floor so the apartment lacks in natural light sometimes. Living in an old apartment also has its constraints like not having enough electric plates or having questionable light fixtures.

What Friends Say: “We feel at home.” Which is very nice because we don’t feel like we have the perfect house—super neat, tidy, and clean where everything is in order in every corner, so we are glad that our friends or family feel good when they come over.

Biggest Embarrassment: The basement. It is not renovated nor designed and it is quite difficult to turn it into something pleasant to hang out in.

Proudest DIY: Ooh! Our paddles in the dining room always amaze people when they come over. Dan and I made them ourselves at the workshop around the corner so it’s also a nice memory. I’m also really proud of all the things I found in the trash, on the street, or at flea markets. It takes so much time and especially patience to find real treasures. I’m attached to the story and the memories of these finds.

Biggest Indulgence: Still to come, but we have been looking for a dining table for two years now. With time, our budget increases, but we have specific criteria and this makes the task quite long.

Best Advice: The rule of three colors is a big lie. And also learn to let go of things, but also to like what you have.

Dream Sources: We love to encourage local businesses and craftsmanship, so our table will probably be bought at Du Design, Retro and Kitsch. I love to hunt for secondhand pieces and my two favorite addresses are Éco Dépôt and Rétro Pop. Bouche Bée, my shop, also gives me access to many pretty things.

ENTRY

• Pots — BOUCHE BÉE
• Illustration — Toffie
• Pink dresser, mirror, plate — Vintage

LIVING ROOM

• Sofa Soederhamn — IKEA
• Tables — IKEA
• Shelves — IKEA
• Ladder — IKEA
• Cat cushion — Society6
• Banana cushion — HM
• Five roses cushion — Fotofibre
• Nantes cushion — Etsy
• Flower cushion — Mexique
• Illustration eye — Toffie Affichiste
• Illustration — Elaillce chez BOUCHE BÉE
• Illustration serigraphie — Ana seixas
• Illustration Kale — Pony mtl
• Illustration Québec map — Moon and Sparrow
• Mirror — BOUCHE BÉE
• Tapestry — Urban Outfitters
• Yellow Chair Solar, Blue armchair, Table, Desk chair (DIY for the color) — Vintage

DINING ROOM

• Illustration Montreal — Marlone chez BOUCHE BÉE
• Illustration flower — Karina Isabelle
• Frames — BOUCHE BÉE
• Rug — Online chez BOUCHE BÉE
• Candle — BOUCHE BÉE
• Yellow shelf, yellow light fixture, table, chairs, teak dresser, frames — Vintage
• DIY Paddles — Atelier DIY chez L’atelier du coin de la rue

KITCHEN

• Brush, dish rag — BOUCHE BÉE
• Salt & pepper shakers — BOUCHE BÉE
• Illustration Vegetables Young America Creative — Picnic
• Table — La petite boite co. 
• Rug — BOUCHE BÉE
• Pots and vases — Vintage
• Shelves in the window — DIY

BEDROOM

• Nordli white dresser — IKEA
• Tarva wood dresser — IKEA (out of stock) 
• Sheets — URBAN OUTFITTERS
• Lemon cushion — The butter flying chez BOUCHE BÉE
• Cushion “bouclettes” — BOUCHE BÉE
• Pot — La petite boite co. chez BOUCHE BÉE
• Basket — L’atelier de Léo chez BOUCHE BÉE
• Mirror — HOMESENSE
• Night tables, shelves, rattan deco items on the wall, vase — Vintage
• Curtains, lamp, jewelry holder — DIY

Thanks, Marie and Dan!

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