As part of the Houston Avenue Bar & Grill’s rebranding strategy, our mandate was to fully transform its Laval location. The objective: to craft a bold, immersive dining experience across 7,500 square feet—reimagined from the ground up with seamless flow, distinctive atmospheres, and a strong visual identity.
Designing within a space of this scale came with its share of challenges. We needed to maximize seating without compromising on intimacy, integrate the kitchen and pass located at the entrance into the overall guest experience, and ensure the ambiance remained warm and vibrant whether the restaurant was bustling or quiet.
We approached the layout with a flat-plan strategy, prioritizing circulation, rhythm, and immersion. To give each zone its own soul and narrative, we named them early in the process: La Bibliothèque, La Serre, La Mer, Le Bureau, Le Carrousel, Le Jardin, Le Foyer, La Terre, and Le Salon. These names shaped our design decisions around materials, lighting, and furnishings—and ultimately shaped the guest experience.
Each space delivers its own story: Le Bureau features plush banquette seating for more intimate moments; La Terre, a sculptural wine bar; Le Jardin, a sensory path framed by lush plants and a central tree; and La Mer, an elegant oyster bar. La Serre, flooded with natural light beneath a plant-covered pergola, is anchored by a floral mural by Manon Leblanc, which inspired the project’s earthy colour palette—deep burgundy, mossy mocha, and soft rose replacing the brand’s original bold reds.
To define each zone without physical walls, we layered contrasting materials—wood floors, area rugs, patterned tile—and varied ceiling treatments, from mouldings to suspended greenery and wood pergolas. Every element was designed to engage the senses: rich textures, custom lighting, and unexpected artworks. A soft pink archway added in Le Foyer helped anchor the volume and resolve an otherwise empty vertical space.
The result is an eclectic yet refined setting, where each zone offers a distinct experience within a cohesive, theatrical, and emotionally engaging whole. A space designed to be discovered, inhabited, and remembered.
