Modern kitchen featuring calacatta viola marble home design with stainless steel oven, wood cabinets, large windows, and a plant.

Historic Montreal Home Transformed with Bold Calacatta Viola Marble and Contemporary Art

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Written by Seth Sebastian

2026-10-01

Historic elegance meets modern art in Montreal’s Pointe-Saint-Charles

An evocative oil painting by Montreal artist Rosalie Gamache commands attention in the kitchen of a historic 1885 house in Pointe-Saint-Charles, a true calacatta viola marble home. The artwork depicts a figure emerging from a pool of paint, capturing the imagination with its fluid, muscle-like textures. This captivating piece is set within a recently renovated space designed by local interior firm MRDK, blending the old with the new while respecting the home’s original charm.

Kitchen with marble counters, stainless oven, spice rack, abstract art, white walls in Montreal home.
Modern kitchen in Montreal house by MRDK, with marble countertops and backsplash, stainless steel oven and hood, spice rack, and framed abstract artwork on the white wall.

Calacatta Viola: A marble masterpiece for your residence

The kitchen showcases a striking Calacatta Viola marble countertop and backsplash, extending dramatically to the ceiling. The marble’s expressive, fibrous veining complements Gamache’s artwork seamlessly. Enhancing this feature is a tubular stainless steel hood, maintaining a clean and dramatic aesthetic across the space.

For another inspiring marble transformation, discover Kfir Galatia Azulay’s marble artistry that breathes life into architectural forms.

Kitchen with wood-paneled walls, marble island, wooden stools, hanging light, plant on counter.
Modern kitchen in Montreal house by MRDK with wood-paneled walls, a marble island with two wooden stools, a hanging light fixture, and a plant on the counter.

Preserving history with modern touches in a renovated home

While embracing modern inserts, MRDK preserves the house’s historic details like ornate plaster ceiling mouldings. Updates were added thoughtfully, like furniture pieces enhancing the architectural narrative rather than rewriting it. These deliberate contrasts create harmony between the historic and contemporary elements.

Modern kitchen with marble island, wood-paneled cabinets, bar stools, hanging light, large plant.
Modern kitchen with a marble island, two wooden bar stools, wood-paneled cabinetry, a hanging light fixture, and a large potted plant.
White ceiling medallion with empty hole above wood-paneled walls in a historic Montreal home.
Decorative white ceiling medallion with an empty central hole above wood-paneled walls.

A kitchen design of geometric precision

The kitchen island extends the geometric theme, clad in Calacatta Viola with a central niche housing an integrated planter. Essential appliances are cleverly integrated into a sleek white-oak shelving system, running seamlessly from floor to ceiling. An original beam adds to the visual warmth alongside the house’s original pine floors, contributing to the overall interior design.

Small room with wooden bookshelves, marble countertop, toiletries, modern lights, wooden floor.
A small room with built-in wooden bookshelves, a marble countertop with toiletries, modern hanging lights, and wooden flooring, viewed through a doorway.
Wooden bookshelf filled with colorful books, modern metallic wall lamps mounted above.
Two modern metallic wall lamps are mounted on a wooden bookshelf filled with colorful books.

Stylish continuity in the powder room

Continuing the design language, the powder room features a custom Calacatta Viola sink with a sculptural flair. White oak and stainless steel accents, including Flos Foglio fixtures, maintain the elegant palette seen throughout the residence.

Explore how H3O Architects revitalized Casa Plató with subtle elegance and modern charm, akin to Montreal’s historic home renovation.

Curved wood-paneled room divider with hidden doors, matching flooring, minimalist interior.
Curved corner of a modern, light wood-paneled room divider with hidden doors, set on matching wood flooring in a minimalist interior.
Minimalist study area with long bookshelf, built-in desks, chairs, computers, light wood flooring.
Long wooden bookshelf with built-in desks, chairs, books, and computers in a minimalist study area with light wood flooring and walls.

Respecting the home’s rich history

“The existing house is neither treated as a museum piece nor stripped of its history,” describes MRDK. Known to the property since their 2019 upper-floor renovation, MRDK’s strategic updates enhance the home without overshadowing its character. Their approach balances new layers with historic integrity, honoring the residence’s storied past while adding to its narrative.

Source: azuremagazine.com

Frequently asked questions

What is featured in the kitchen of the historic home?

The kitchen showcases a striking Calacatta Viola marble countertop and backsplash, extending dramatically to the ceiling, complemented by a tubular stainless steel hood.

How does MRDK approach historic home renovations?

MRDK enhances the home without overshadowing its character, preserving historic details like ornate plaster ceiling mouldings while integrating modern elements.

What artwork is present in the kitchen of the Montreal home?

An evocative oil painting by Montreal artist Rosalie Gamache, depicting a figure emerging from a pool of paint, commands attention in the kitchen.