Photography by Chris Amat, courtesy of Ste.
This is what I imagine it might feel like to dine inside an Impressionist painting, like Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party: Recently I’ve been poring over the interiors of St. Lawrence, a French-Canadian bistro in Vancouver, sent to us by local design studio, Ste.
The space was formerly a butcher shop. Now even the entryway is blue, complete with the original gates.
The designers took on a “full gut” renovation, replacing the butcher display case, laminate floors, and palette of “mostly white and brown” with an old-world-inspired interior.
The millwork was inspired by an old Quebecois armoire: “It has this straightforwardness that feels humble and really works in the space,” the designers say.
The textured walls were a two step process First a plaster finisher applied a layer of troweled on plaster then the design team asked the painter to mix a diluted paint...
...wash The chef and one of the co owners went through wall to wall washing on the diluted paint finish while the the other following behind would wipe it dry Stanghetta says
Most of the antiques that fill the interior (“family photos, silverware, and old French cookbooks”) are from Poirier’s collection.
Adding to the vintage feel: custom St. Lawrence plates from Cascadia Tableware.
“The service stations are some of our favorite pieces, inspired by old telephone stands like our grandmothers had,” the designers say.
Rich hues on the backs of the service stations, and on a heavy curtain that separates the front dining room from the smaller back bar areas.
Behind the curtain: a small hallway leads to the chefs’ counter and small bar. The articulating wall lights are from wholesaler Mercana.
A vignette in a recessed niche.
In the next room, a small bar is to the right.
Behind a row of brass taps, a blue-and-white backsplash in tiles by The Winchester Tile Company in the UK.
Cocktails and dried flowers on the bar top.
The chefs’ counter has above-bar metal and wood storage shelves.
The designers salvaged a row of bar stools and had them reupholstered in Kabuki Twine by Robert Allen.
Vintage paintings, lit from below.
The front dining room, looking toward the entry.
Above L: An iron chandelier is “a simple fixture that seemed like something you’d find at your grandmother’s home,” the designers say.