Global Souvenirs and All-Around Amenities in Montreal

Like most parents, Bela Xavier and Andres Escobar wanted to get their family out of an urban setting and into a roomier house with distance where their kids could roam. After locating a house near the water off West Island in Montreal, the couple started to overhaul the entire mess. “We removed layers of wallpaper, an old smelly olive green carpeting, as well as old ceilings which were rotten with water damage,” remembers Xavier. Except for one small stairway wall that contributes to the basement, the international couple — Xavier has Mozambique roots, and Escobar includes a Colombian background — revamped everything, including their own diverse, global style on the way.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Andres Escobar, Bela Xavier and sons Joshua and Corey
Location:
West Island, Montreal
Size: 5,000 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a basement having a wine cellar

Esther Hershcovich

They maintained the general layout of the home’s original structure from the living area but enlarged the openings between spaces. Metal stair frosted glass keep the room open and railings.

The wall of masks in the entryway was motivated by a prototype for a restaurant Escobar designed. Since the pair travels, the set grows. The shelving to the right used to maintain Escobar’s office; today it displays travel mementos.

Esther Hershcovich

Escobar designed the Macassar Ebony media wall unit so that the TV would be flush with it.

Seating: designed by Andres Escobar, made by Mirage Upholstery; ottoman: cowhide, Natuzzi

Esther Hershcovich

A wood chest with ivory details hails from Xavier’s birthplace in Mozambique. Atop it on the far right is a precious pot given to Escobar by Princess Amira al-Taweel of Saudi Arabia.

Lamp: Fringe 5, designed by Edward van Vliet for Moooi; wall treatment: silver-gray Venetian stucco

Esther Hershcovich

Wanting an alternative-style fireplace, Xavier and Escobar purchased one from a regional antiques store. A flat mirror provides a sense of thickness and bounces light around the room.

Esther Hershcovich

The living area leads to a stunning kitchen and dining room, the site of several dinner parties.

Chandelier: Swarovski; flooring: Earl Blue granite; cabinets: cherry

Esther Hershcovich

The kitchen is a mixture of wood and shiny surfaces, two of the couple’s favorite finishes. The backsplash is constructed of beveled mirror mosaics. What was a window is now an open passing into a sunroom.

Esther Hershcovich

In the winter the cedar-framed sunroom, or conservatory, is an excellent location for enjoying the opinion of this snow-filled pool and yard.

Armchairs: Poltrona Frau; round sofa: suede, designed by Andres Escobar, made by Mirage Upholstery

Esther Hershcovich

Escobar left the exterior structure as is, opening the doors and window into the sunroom and adding the same stone walls used within the home.

Esther Hershcovich

In the remodeled master bath, a top horizontal mirror hangs above an ebony vanity to add definition. This area was a small bedroom, and the entry was closed off from the main stairway.

Tub: Cube Series, Wetstyle; faucet: VC848A, Cube Collection, Wetstyle

Esther Hershcovich

The couple transformed what was the garage into a guest suite. A recessed ceiling with semiflush lighting solved a low-duct problem.

Esther Hershcovich

The guest area is often employed by Xavier’s mother. White and white family images in matching frames create a gallery wall opposite the bed.

Esther Hershcovich

A pocket opens into a 5- by 8-foot guest toilet.

Esther Hershcovich

A stairway leads from the guest package into a split-level basement full with a family room and wine cellar. The remaining side of the stairs is the sole remnant of the home’s original structure.

Esther Hershcovich

Both use this refrigerated cellar when entertaining and then have pride in their own wine collection. Whale-tail wooden stools made of laminated timber sit with a console pub they bought in Indonesia. An alabaster lighting fixture casts a soft glow.

Large decanters have an impressive collection of corks from bottles enjoyed over the previous three decades.

Esther Hershcovich

The couple built a double-car garage, where they often host parties in summer. The back wall holds a collection of mirrors and license plates.

Esther Hershcovich

A Trevi barrel sauna from the terrace is used both in summer and winter. The terrace also has a spa and barbecue grill, and to the right is a treehouse Escobar constructed for both boys.

Esther Hershcovich

The garage into the left was inserted to replace the one they turned into a guest suite.

Esther Hershcovich

Andres Escobar and Bela Xavier will celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2013 and are excited to share many more years into their dream home.

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