
Victoria by Mitchell Sweibel Studio
In the heart of Montreal's historic Westmount neighborhood, Mitchell Sweibel Studio has reinterpreted a classic Victorian semi-detached home for a growing young family.
Stripping the house back to its bones, retaining only the original staircase, the studio reestablished the home from within, crafting an interior that balances contemporary clarity with a quiet reverence for the past.
The transformation began with a complete interior gut, a necessity revealed through early structural assessments. What followed was a reimagining of domestic life inside a protected architectural envelope. The first floor now unfolds through a sequence of generous, connected rooms. A formal parlour greets guests at the front, a subtle nod to the home's roots, while the rear opens into a large kitchen and dining area, conceived as the social nucleus of family life. Uninterrupted sightlines allow for a sense of openness and ease, with thickened wall segments guiding circulation while also serving practical roles, concealing storage and mechanical infrastructure.
Upstairs, the private realm is shaped around dualities: movement and stillness, openness and seclusion. The sunroom was sensitively adapted into a shared double office, accessed via a discreet opening from the family room. Elsewhere, entrances are treated as quiet architectural moments, thresholds that frame transitions rather than announce them. The parents' bedroom, accessed through a full-height doorway, is introduced as a moment of pause in the layout, suggesting a deliberate hierarchy of spaces. The ensuite bath is minimal and light-filled, while the children's bathroom incorporates playful geometry in its use of square vanities and scaled tiles, design elements that offer visual interest without sacrificing restraint.
Throughout, the material language is grounded in honesty and tactility. Smooth plaster walls, walnut millwork, and low-relief tile offer warmth and depth, while micro cement surfaces lend a refined textural quality to the bathrooms. Despite the contemporary overhaul, the preserved staircase banister acts as an anchor, an artefact that bridges the memory of the original house with the present. The exterior remains largely untouched, save for new windows, a fresh acrylic finish, and a restored porch, allowing the house to continue contributing quietly to the surrounding streetscape.
Related Content
Office AIO has transformed this traditional noodle house into an atmospheric dining destination that seamlessly blends heritage with contemporary design.
High-tech facial destination pioneer Formula Fig reimagines the modern wellness experience through thoughtfully designed spaces that blur the lines between science and nature.
In the heart of Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, design studio In Addition unveils a new retail destination for luxury luggage brand July.