Project B

Uniting esthetics and cutting-edge technology, the kitchen’s design was planned down to the smallest detail. Visible hardware was used sparingly, for example, and a quiet, automated opening and closing mechanism was installed on drawers and cabinet doors. Most appliances are concealed to preserve the space’s minimalist look, and the lines of the flooring extend all the way to the kitchen island and refrigerator door. The solid wood island is equipped with a built-in stovetop activated by touch controls (no buttons are visible). A retractable range hood is hidden in the counter when not in use, which is common sight today but nothing of the sort existed in 2012; La Clef de voûte was the first North American business to introduce these systems. This innovative project also includes a kitchen nook fitted with a charging port for the robot vacuum, storage space with large, quiet sliding panels, a projector concealed in the drop ceiling and a hidden counter extension with automated deployment.

Designer Christian Bélanger
Entrepreneur Sodero

Project B

This project’s intricate design and clever mix of materials presented an exciting challenge for La Clef de voûte. An art and design enthusiast, the client was involved in every step of the process, including the planning stage. Every piece of this imposing staircase, which features a built-in railing for a streamlined design, had to be fitted with great care. The quartz slab at the foot of the staircase echoes the countertops and unifies the space between the kitchen and the stairs; the quartz landing was installed before the flooring to ensure a perfectly level surface. Another striking design element is the trapdoor under the stairs, which leads to a basement room. The mixed proportions of a series of panels and cabinets, seen in the background, are another point of interest. The layout is repeated on the second floor and integrates storage and a sliding door leading to a bathroom.

Designer Christian Bélanger
Entrepreneur Sodero

Laurent, owner

What do you love most about your business, La Clef de Voûte?
Our desire to craft beautiful things, and to make them in a different way. We are always refining our techniques and seeking out new ideas. We try to pinpoint exactly what the client wants and deliver something durable, innovative and stylish.

What do you love about your job?
The trade is constantly evolving to keep in step with each new technology and material that hits the market. Our architects, designers and clients make it possible for us to create a wide range of unique pieces from all sorts of materials. Nothing is ever routine; the objects we craft are one-of-a-kind.

What is the most memorable project you worked on?
The Bic house was an amazing feat. The plans were drawn to our specifications and the whole thing took us three years; it was our biggest project by far. So many of our creations are scattered throughout the house—they’re in the kitchen, the bathrooms, the stairwell, the walk-in closet, the cellar. We even designed a heated exterior table. When it comes to a project like this, our task transcends woodworking. We’re rearranging space.

Project SA

A modern, welcoming space that plays on shadows and light. The walls and stairs are panelled with back lacquered MDF and the same material, in white, is used in other areas to brighten up the room. A thread of light runs across the top and bottom edges of the walls. Built with LED technology, this intimate lighting scheme is an inventive and eco-friendly addition to the space. Touch panels on the walls control the home automation system and the black quartz of the kitchen island adds character to the room without detracting from its minimalist style. Concealed appliances preserve the area’s streamlined profile and make optimal use of the space. Taking this design from idea to reality was a stimulating technical challenge.

Designer Alain Carle

Project SA

Upstairs, every inch of space is put to use. A storage wall covers nearly the full width of the house, offering endless possibilities. There is also a generous walk-in closet, bathroom storage and the owner’s home gym.

Designer Alain Carle

Alexis

What do you most enjoy about working for La Clef de Voûte?
I love the projects we take on. Our aesthetic—with its modern lines, minimalist style and clean design—is one I’m naturally drawn to.

What do you love about your job?
Working with wood. It really is that simple. I love how it smells—the way it looks and feels. And we’re always learning on the job because tools, materials and techniques are constantly changing. Each innovation brings its own set of technical challenges and things will keep evolving over the next 10 or 15 years—that’s the beauty of our trade.

What is the most memorable project you worked on?
A Westmount home was quite an adventure. We worked on the interior and exterior of the house using a variety of materials—from cedar planks to a new material imported from Europe (a combination of plastic and cement). Harmonizing the inside and outside of a home was an exciting challenge.

Project FD

A visual design enthusiast, the client called upon La Clef de voûte to reface his kitchen cabinets. A year later, the project had taken over the entire house. Uneven foundations required that measurements be taken at every opportunity to ensure a flush installation. The imposing 16-foot kitchen table is made of Corian—a dense, heavy composite surfacing material. Steel reinforcement was required to preserve the table’s streamlined silhouette and to avoid using more than four legs. The design, styled to follow the lines of the floor tiles, required careful planning. To ensure the flooring aligned perfectly with the space’s structural elements—and with the table legs—nothing could be left to chance, not even the placement of the wood planks on the ceiling. Special attention was paid to the contrasting nuances of the space throughout the design process, with a view to promote overall balance.

On the second floor, the height of the room is emphasised by a tall alcove and glass floor.

Architect Simard Architecte

Project FD

The home’s style is transposed to its exterior facade. Quartz stairs blend into the landscape. The client asked that “Swiss Pearl”—a thick, heavy material imported from Germany—be used both inside and outside the house. The material’s bulk made the process of integrating it into walls—and constructing the knobless doors—a real challenge.

Architect Simard Architecte

Alexandre

What do you most enjoy about working for La Clef de Voûte?
We’re a small team and very tight-knit. That feeling of connection in the workplace isn’t something you’ll find in a large, impersonal factory.

What do you love about your job?
I’m especially drawn to the human side of the trade. We put a lot of work into each stage of the production process and I take pride in delivering a quality final product to a satisfied customer. It’s very rewarding; I see it as part of my paycheque.

What is the most memorable project you’ve worked on?
Every project is memorable. I can think of one project that was especially interesting, but what set it apart wasn’t the production aspect—it was the human side of the equation that made it special. The client was a pleasure to work with. He treated us like guests in his home, not hired hands. We must have redone the entire house—we did the bathroom, the bedroom, the bed—it took us six months. We used a new kind of hardware to build electric drawers for the kitchen. We had never done that before. We repeated the same design concepts from room to room to create a uniform look.

Project E

The subtle nuances of its details add depth and charm to this bright, uncluttered design. The Corian sink recedes into a seamless one-piece countertop built from the same material. The cabinet doors, drawers and steel-reinforced shelving were made with a mix of wood and matte lacquer, while a panel conceals the refrigerator door and harmonizes the space.

Audrey

What do you most enjoy about working for La Clef de Voûte?
The beautiful pieces we create. I love watching ideas turn into real-life objects. In my job, I get to work on every single item we make. I inspect each piece before delivery to make sure it’s absolutely perfect.

What do you love about your job?
I like putting in an honest day’s work, especially when it comes to the bigger, more challenging projects. In this trade, the deadline is usually our biggest obstacle. Designing a project and selecting materials can be time-consuming, so when it’s finally time to work on the piece, we sometimes have to pick up the pace to meet the deadline, which I always find really motivating.

What is the most memorable project you worked on?
It was a major contract for a client in Bromont. We redid the home’s interior from top to bottom. The clean, uncluttered design demanded a high level of precision—everything had to be perfect. I remember that the staircase was so big we had to construct it horizontally in the workshop.

Project D

One of Christian Bélanger’s signature design elements is a balanced mixture of functional, interlocking forms. The foyer’s structural design is a perfect example. Any screws used to assemble the pieces are concealed and a small island made of solid wood draws attention to the room’s artwork, which is an important feature of the space. Integrating the undermount sink with the room’s wood finishes added a layer of complexity to the project. The client was given maintenance instructions to avoid water damage.

Designer Christian Bélanger

Project D

A clever combination of wood finishes adds charm and character to this living space. The vanity, drawers and armoires were custom designed and crafted to meet the needs of the space’s occupants, with a walk-in closet behind the unit. The division of clothing storage areas had become a point of contention for the couple, but La Clef de Voûte’s craftspeople struck on the idea of a low, transportable wall to separate each person’s space.

Designer Christian Bélanger

Julianne

What do you most enjoy about working for La Clef de Voûte?
I like the friendly atmosphere of smaller businesses. We get to do different things and watch the creative process unfold from start to finish.

What do you love about your job?
I enjoy manual work—I love handling raw materials, working with wood. I also appreciate the ingenuity required to design a piece. The plans the architects draw up can be pretty daring; it’s our job to find the creative solutions that will get us there.

What is the most memorable project you worked on?
A kitchen island. I worked on that project from start to finish – from the first drawing to the big reveal. The client wanted a metal finish, so we worked with MDF and metal. Believe it or not, we ended up using a finishing technique they use on car bodies. The client was very pleased with his new unit—it was a total success.