When the time comes to undertake renovation work, look for expert advice: getting started with your renovations, it is easy to be disoriented by the scale of the project. Where to start? Which contractor to choose? What are the trends? Interview with Élaine Fortin, associate designer at Bipède ( www.bipede.ca ), a multidisciplinary design studio in Montreal.
Office Renovations
For Élaine Fortin, 2024 will mark the great return of Terrazzo, this avant-garde material that has become more accessible to the general public. “It’s a rich material that adds texture and has a strong personality. It comes in all kinds of colours, either very contrasting or in softer shades,” she says. She specifies that it is available in prefabricated slabs, allowing you to carry out various jobs such as floors, counters, or even backsplashes.
The other trend this year is the appearance of curved lines, which we find, for example, in kitchen islands with rounded corners. “The environment is transformed into a softer geometric universe: arches, cylindrical shapes, and spherical shapes” come to dress the space. According to the designer, it is perhaps “a response to the wave of more angular shapes and patterns in recent years.”.
Renovate differently
Ecological renovations and local materials are popular (see our article on eco-constructions: https://www.bardagi.com/les-eco-constructions). Far from the fashion phenomenon, for Bipède, it is important to favour local wood species such as ash, maple, white oak, or walnut. The company spontaneously offers its customers “natural, noble, durable materials that resist wear but also stand above the overly marked fashion phenomenon.”. The designers also work while respecting the structure of the properties. Each project is unique and demonstrates a clever marriage of original architectural details with contemporary elements.
What are the steps?
The first step is to identify your needs. “If possible, waiting until you have lived on the premises before renovating allows you to properly assess the work to be carried out and have time to reflect, which allows you to gain some perspective,” advises Élaine Fortin. Then, it is wise to seek advice from your municipality on the deadlines for obtaining renovation permits, “especially if you plan to enlarge or modify the exterior facades of the property,” she adds.
According to her, hiring design professionals for your renovations will also lead you to push your thinking further and see design options that you had not imagined. The discerning eye of an expert also detects more easily what is achievable and what is not. Finally, in the same way as a real estate broker, the design firm will support you throughout the process, offer you its expertise, and allow you to avoid several mistakes along the way.
