The Daoust Design Studio – A little gem from the 19th century

In 2015, while simply looking for a nice house in which to set up the Daoust Design Studio, Katerine Daoust, our founder, came across a real gem: Maison Gentle in Saint-Eustache.

History with a capital “H”

Maison Gentle was built in 1828 by James Gentle, a merchant of that time. It became the unwilling scene of the Rebellion of 1837 when it was stormed by the Patriots and then passed into the hands of English army soldiers. During this troubled period, some sixty houses in Saint-Eustache were burned down. However, Maison Gentle was fortunate enough to be spared from the flames because it belonged to an Englishman. 

At the end of the 19th century, the Pesant family installed their butcher shop on the premises. In the mid-1980s, the property was purchased by Luc Marineau, who undertook a major restoration. Later, a couple of artists bought the building, making it their cozy nest and studio.

From Maison Gentle to Daoust Design

As soon as we acquired the Maison Gentle, we carried out significant work to make it more suitable for the specific needs of a design company. As it is a heritage building, the renovation work was subject to a number of architectural constraints. And since the Daoust Team never leaves anything to chance when it comes to design, we did everything in our power to inject elegance and conviviality into the space, while also maintaining its historical footprint.

Thanks to its previously integrated skylights, the structure is bathed in an extraordinary luminosity. Openings were made to allow this beautiful natural light to circulate freely. The interior walls were stripped to make room for the wonderful original stone, which has been completely re-mortared. The structure also required reinforcement so that it could adequately bear the weight of the new furniture, especially the imposing marble and quartz countertops.

The basement houses the materials library. Completely open plan, the ground floor is a very welcoming gathering place for clients and the Team. A magnificent attic office area was created upstairs as a space where we can give full rein to our creativity! 

The work we did has in no way compromised the character of Maison Gentle. On the contrary! The stone is more prominently featured than ever, and original elements were recovered and perfectly integrated into the space. This is particularly true of the old wooden exterior doors, which have been reused in the interior.

Constructing well-being

Day after day, our Team works with clients to create spaces that promote good living. Katerine’s goal in acquiring Maison Gentle was to provide clients and the Team with an authentic, unparalleled environment featuring a creative space for the ultimate in inspiration and stimulation.

For a first-hand look at the completed project: click here.

In 2016, the City of Saint-Eustache awarded the Prix du Mérite Patrimonial, Restauration Category, to our Maison Gentle project.

Photo credit: Saint-Eustache city archives.