Old LaSalle will always have a special place in my heart. My grandfather lives close by and I have vivid memories of riding my bike in fall, imagining the inside of all the different houses. It was so nice to visit Ryan and Monique Diotte, who are pretty much a match made in interior design heaven. Monique, the more design oriented of the two, grew up on the water (evident in the slightly nautical theme here) and Ryan, the “doer” as he calls himself, seems to do everything with the perfect amount of quality and care.
The Diottes always kept their eye on this street and even this house in particular with its reclaimed brick exterior. After they won over the former owner, they gutted the interior and reimagined it as a great place to entertain and cook. Outside of their day jobs in accounting, HR (and renovations), the couple run a boutique catering business, Willow Road Kitchen, serving up honest & inspired food, prepared here in their bright and wide-open kitchen.
Ryan’s uncle, carpenter Joe Diotte, head of Joe Diotte Cabinetry Design is to thank for these beautiful custom shaker cabinets. The brass pulls and other hardware by Rejuvination along with the custom iron work of the island by Cunningham Sheet Metal Windsor add the right touch of industrial charm. It was hard for me to choose, but I think their Cambria countertops are the showstopper here.
It’s evident in the placement of cookbooks and top shelf alcohol, that the couple loves to entertain. Monique’s whiskey and scotch collection is displayed in their “smoking room”. Rather than opting for a TV over their fireplace, they’ll be hanging the home’s original drawings.
The mixture of vintage pieces with the walnut and geometric flooring from Rose City Tile creates a warm “lived in” feeling. The lucky devils managed to salvage a vintage couch and dresser from the basement along with original window paned doors from an old Detroit manor and other affordable pieces from Dusty Loft Antiques & Collectibles in Amherstburg.
Their home is also a perfect example of how important it is to choose right paint colours – this Benjamin Moore selection allows natural light to travel from room to room, bouncing on mirrors and shiny details.
Now that their renovations are nearing completion and these two never seem to slow down, I can imagine now would be the right time to start following Ryan and Monique at Willow Road Kitchen.
Contact Information:
@willowroadkitchen
(519) 982-5599
willowroadkitchen.com
Congratulations to you both…a wonderful article and so happy to see your new website.
Thanks for following Manya!