By Anne Stairs

What’s it like to be a leading home designer in Knowlton and then build your own house in the Conference? “Get help,” was Kirk Lawrence’s short answer. When stressing over equally beautiful colour or textile, it is good to have an outside opinion, he says. “I was reminded that what appear to be simple choices, can be not so straightforward when it’s your (own) home.”

From antiques to interior design

Kirk started out in Knowlton in the 1980’s dealing in glassware, china and antiques. During that time, he was often recruited to stage homes for the house and garden tour, which eventually led to launching an interior design business with local aesthete and artist Jane Walker, before going it alone.

Over the years, Kirk has had a hand in many of the areas’ finest homes. Louise Penny has brought Kirk in on many projects; the cozy Three Pine’s Café bears his stamp. So naturally Tempo was nosy — along with many other Knowlton neighbours — when it came to wondering what he would do as both designer and client working for himself and partner, Walter Marinelli.

Stepping inside the new home

Well … step inside their new home and the light-filled foyer opens out with sight lines through the cathedral ceiling of the living room, through multiple windows and glass doors, out to the three-season porch, and beyond into a woodlot of mature trees.

A key feature of the large porch, nestled in the heart of the home, is its glass doors on three sides from the main bedroom, living room and kitchen. Soft gray gives the main floor interior a muted glow while sloping rooflines, angular intersections, and barn beams do the heavy lifting for character and warmth.

The kitchen/dining room space has huge island counter topped with quartz and butcher block, providing Walter loads of space to cook and entertain.

On the lower level, 9-foot ceilings, wide hallways, recessed lighting, glass doors, and plywood walls and ceilings finished with painted mouldings, lend a sleek and simple vibe.

A lifetime of collecting on display

A lifetime of collecting, estate sales and English and Art History degrees to boot has enabled Kirk to distill the best of his collections and displayed around the home. A love of place and Quebec are reflected in the spectacular antique furniture and furnishings including a Gaspé hooked rug of John Mitchell’s, small scale carvings of saints, church replicas and fleurs de lys.

Dafne, their Labernese, did not opine about the new place, but her tail wagging was interpreted as unqualified approval.