Montreal Couple's New Apartment Gets a Vibrant, Nature-Inspired Interior

Designer Luke Havekes transformed a 1,195-square-foot new-build apartment for a young couple, replacing neutral finishes with warm hues and playful, animal-themed decor. The redesign uses butter yellow plaster and colorful furnishings to give the space a sense of identity and warmth, moving away from typical new-development anonymity. The result embraces lightness and color to reflect the homeowners' personalities.

The project unfolded on the 27th floor of a downtown Montreal complex, where the couple initially found the developer's neutral palette too anonymous for their taste. Havekes applied Venetian plaster over the building's signature concrete ceilings and columns, softening the industrial feel while introducing three distinct warm tones throughout the unit.

Personal history anchors the design: a lamp from Richard's father's office, a mid-century tapestry, and a horse painting gifted at the wedding. Midway through the renovation, the couple learned they were expecting, converting a planned office into a nursery. The homeowners initially balked at the yellow but grew to appreciate it as they experienced it through different times of day.