The A List

The A List: Les Ensembliers

Partners in business and in life, Maxime Vandal and Richard Ouellette, respectively, architect and interior designer founded Les Ensembliers, an award winning interior design firm. With offices in Montreal and Toronto and a presence in New York, Les Ensembliers has positioned itself as a unique 'nouveau monde' signature.

Partners in business and in life, Maxime Vandal and Richard Ouellette are, respectively, architect and interior designer. Their company, Les Ensembliers, won many awards and has successfully delivered projects in Canada, the United States and in Europe in the last 13 years. The firm was featured as one of only 96 global design firms in the prestigious Andrew Martin Interior Design Review 2015 and selected as a finalist for the 2015 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Les Ensembliers also participated in the 44th Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York in 2016. Richard Ouellette is the designer of the 2017 fabric collection for Brunschwig & Fils, a curator for CuratedKravet website and the designer of a carpet and rug collection for W Studio. With 35 employees, offices in Montreal and Toronto and a presence in New York, Les Ensembliers has positioned itself as a unique 'nouveau monde' signature.

Architect Maxime Vandal and Interior Designer Richard Ouellette, Founders of Les Ensembliers

Chic black and white entry way by Les Ensembliers

Craftsmanship takes front and center stage in our design process. With our integrated structure (architecture + design + construction) we can include the artisan into the design process at the early stages of all projects. This allows us to bring the craft into the concept and enhance it to the end in every aspect from the surfaces to the last detailed objects.

View of the living room of a beautiful Palm Beach Villa by Les Ensembliers

Art, beautiful prints, and a striking Glass Chandelier by The A List Les Ensembliers

What does "Made in Italy" mean to you?

Innovation through history. Italian design has always been one step ahead since the Renaissance. “Made in Italy” means embracing the roots and constantly revisiting the present.

Who/what has inspired the most your work and style?

As a design duo in life and in business, Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé embrace the vision that we have about style, history, and creativity in all aspects of life. Mies Van der Rohe will always be a guide in formality and proportion. If we can achieve harmony with simplicity and balance, then we have succeeded. But you can always dress it up with sophistication and style as Oscar de la Renta would...it is always a question of balance, style and taste.

A french armchair lined with glittering fabric,Chinese porcelain and a beautiful brass side table

Light gold walking closet by The A List Les Ensembliers

Describe your design approach and philosophy.

Building meaning into beauty is truly what we stand for. We want to take our clients to the moon and make them feel at home.

What is the one design/decor you cannot imagine your clients (or yourself) living without?

Art - it is the soul of a space. Whether a collection or a single piece, it is what defines the character of a home. A home comes to life with art.

What is your idea of the “ultimate luxury”?

Serenity is the ultimate luxury. Being off the grid... For us, time spent in the country at our farm, surrounded by nature, beauty and being together is the upmost luxury.

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