The Thoughtful Abode of Alain Desgagné and Caroline Sidaros
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Designed for everyday life and easy entertaining, the couple’s multifunctional “hybrid room” blends cozy minimalism and clever, hotel-inspired design. | Photo Courtesy Of Centura Montréal -
In their Frelighsburg home, Alain Desgagné and Caroline Sidaros created a peaceful sanctuary where GLOCAL ceramic tiles by Centura unify interior and exterior spaces with elegance and practicality. | Photo Courtesy Of Centura Montréal -
Photo Courtesy Of Centura Montréal -
Photo Courtesy Of Centura Montréal -
Extending naturally from the kitchen, the tiled terrace’s thoughtfully chosen materials meet the calm of Frelighsburg’s landscape, creating a sunlit space for dining and relaxation. | Photo Courtesy Of Centura Montréal
In the quiet Quebec village of Frelighsburg, designers Caroline Sidaros and Alain Desgagné have created a home that does more than sit within its landscape — it listens to it.
The home’s clean lines and simple shapes ensure its presence is at once striking against the backdrop of lush greenery and in harmony with it.
Both Caroline and Alain work in design, but this project — shaping their own home — was deeply personal. The goal was not to build a showpiece, but to design a place in which each space is pleasant to live in and easy to maintain. That mindset guided every decision, from spatial planning to material choices. What emerged is a house that doesn’t try too hard — a house that feels warm, intentional and lived-in from day one.
Inside, the home flows in a way that mirrors how the couple moves through their day. Rooms aren’t sealed off but connected, offering flexibility without sacrificing intimacy. A central hybrid space serves as both a lounge and an occasional guest room, using a minimalist curtain system instead of walls. In the kitchen, a lack of upper cabinets ensures the space opens up seamlessly into the rest of the house.
The outdoor terrace connects from the kitchen, with a generous dining table and relaxed lounge area — perfect for sharing meals with friends or quieter moments soaking in the forested landscape. In summer, the pool area becomes the family’s go-to retreat, its surface framed by slip-resistant tiling from Centura. For Caroline and Alain, their choice of easy-to-maintain tiles was practical as much as aesthetic. “The tiles remain comfortable to the touch even in full sunlight, and require minimal maintenance. This was essential for us, as we want to enjoy our time here rather than worry about upkeep,” says Alain.
As with many gracefully understated homes, materiality plays a quiet but crucial role. For the interior, the couple chose porcelain tiles from Centura’s GLOCAL collection, offering visual continuity and grounding the spaces with soft, natural tones. Their matte finish and subtle texture keep the mood understated, while the practicality of the material supports the couple’s everyday needs — whether it’s guests coming in from the pool with wet feet or muddy boots from a forest walk.
There’s no single “statement piece” in this home. Rather, the statement is in its restraint. In how each element supports the couple’s rhythm. In how the house respects the natural beauty of its surroundings. In how each choice reflects the couple’s shared values: warmth, simplicity, and an appreciation for design that serves real life.
