AKB Design: sustainable refinement by Audrée Kemp Bélanger

When design becomes an art of living

In the tumult of express trends and disposable interiors, Audrée Kemp Bélanger cultivates another path: that of the long term, noble materials and the link between home and nature.

Landscape architect by training and founder of the studio AKB Design studio, she has been designing spaces that exude coherence, softness and lasting elegance.

In Quebec, his name has become synonymous with design that is both refined and soothing, shaped to last.

From nature to space: an inspired trajectory

Trained at the Université de Montréal, Audrée began her career in landscape architecture, a school that taught her to read the site, the seasons and the light.

After graduating from high school, she traveled to Australia and Italy, exploring large gardens and summer villas, and nurturing a global vision of the living environment.

In 2010, she founded AKB Design, a studio that combines landscape and interior design from the outset.

“I wanted to treat the outdoors as an integral part of the home.” – Audrée Kemp Bélanger

This link between inside and outside will become the studio’s signature: every façade, every terrace, every window finds its echo inside, in a harmonious continuity.

Contemporary pool by AKB Design, surrounded by deckchairs and a wooden pavilion, set in a green setting for a refined, natural ambience.
A courtyard designed as a real living space, where furniture, light and textiles extend the comfort of the home outdoors.

A studio with a human face

Based on Montreal’s South Shore, AKB Design is a deeply feminine adventure.

Around Audrée gravitate six collaborators: Kim, Jessica and Audrey, interior designers. Karine, landscape architect, Cindy, assistant and network manager, and Sylvie, photographer.

This team works hand in hand on every project, with the same watchword: attention to detail. From the first meeting to the last candle placed on the table, everything is designed to bring the home to life in a subtle balance between function and emotion.

Portrait of the AKB Design team in a luminous kitchen, illustrating the harmony between creativity, expertise and timeless design.

The elegance of made-to-measure

Each project begins with an in-depth consultation, often lasting two hours, to understand lifestyle, style and expectations. This is followed by a detailed fixed-price quotation per room, then a ten- to twelve-week design process: plans, 3D views, material samples, final presentation and review included.
This rigorous method is accompanied by an almost artisanal respect for materials: solid wood, natural stone, brass, polished nickel – materials that can be repaired, patinated and enhanced in beauty.

“I want the homes we design to be beautiful today, but even more beautiful ten years from now.”
– Audrée Kemp Bélanger

It’s this view of time that makes all the difference: where contemporary design sometimes sacrifices durability for novelty, Audrée places durability at the heart of the creative process.

Emblematic works

Some of AKB Design’s creations have become iconic in Quebec:

  • Petit-Lac-Magog, Rock-Forest: Nestled by the lake, this favorite home embodies the sensibility of AKB Design. From the design of the spaces to the latest accessories, every detail has been carefully considered to create a home that is elegant, warm and perfectly integrated into its environment.
Bright kitchen from the Giroux project by AKB Design, with light marble island, cream custom cabinetry and vintage suspension, reflecting timeless elegance.
Living room in the Giroux project by AKB Design, open to the lake, with cream sofa, floral cushions and natural materials, evoking a soft, soothing atmosphere.
Light-filled dining room from the Giroux project by AKB Design, with rattan furniture, white table and potted orange trees, in a natural, Mediterranean ambiance.
Light-filled veranda from the Giroux project by AKB Design, furnished with rattan armchairs, floral cushions and a rounded coffee table, in a natural, soothing atmosphere.
Warm entrance to the Giroux project by AKB Design, with natural wood staircase, classic chest of drawers and bouquet of white hydrangeas, symbolizing a refined, welcoming style.

  • Deslandes, Magog: Located on the shores of Lake Memphremagog, this residence underwent a complete transformation in which every room was carefully redesigned. Clean lines, a soft palette and a balance between light and material reflect AKB Design’s signature: natural elegance and absolute coherence between architecture and landscape.
Deslandes project kitchen by AKB Design, with wooden center island, gold faucets and cream finishes, illustrating a timeless, warm style.
Dining room in the Deslandes project by AKB Design, with large windows overlooking the lake, solid wood table and beige curtains creating a soft, elegant ambience.
Living room in the Deslandes project by AKB Design, bathed in natural light and overlooking Lake Memphremagog, combining noble materials, beige tones and wood furniture for a soothing atmosphere.
Room from the Deslandes project by AKB Design, combining natural tones, wood ceilings and soft textiles for a warm, refined atmosphere on the shores of Lake Memphremagog.
Master bathroom in the Deslandes project by AKB Design, with island bathtub, gold faucets and light marble walls for an elegant, timeless atmosphere.
Built-in desk in natural wood in the master bedroom of the Deslandes project by AKB Design, bathed in natural light and decorated with neutral tones and organic materials.

These projects embody a rare balance between classicism and modernity, comfort and precision, functionality and beauty, and all their creations can be discovered on the official website. akbdesign.ca

At home: Quebec design as an open book

To celebrate the studio’s 15th anniversary, Audrée Kemp Bélanger publishes À la maison a 432-page book written and printed entirely in Quebec. A veritable visual manifesto, the book captures the essence of AKB design: timeless interiors, bathed in light and rooted in their climate.
This project also marks a historic first: it’s the very first high-end design book in French dedicated to Quebec know-how.

“I couldn’t understand why there weren’t any beautiful design books in French in Quebec, with our houses, our light, our climate. So I did.” – Audrée Kemp Bélanger

Cover of the book À la maison - Intérieurs intemporels et élégants by Audrée Kemp Bélanger, featuring a refined hallway by AKB Design, between classicism and contemporary softness.

The book led to the creation of Maison AKB, an online boutique dedicated to the art of living according to AKB.

Maison AKB: from project to object

Visit maisonakb.ca you’ll discover a refined universe where every object is an extension of the AKB Design philosophy. Linen in European linen, vases with pure lines, hand-crafted candles and exclusive wallpapers make up a collection designed to bring the softness of the studio into everyday life.
These wallpapers, true works of art, are inspired by the original watercolors created by Audrée’s grandmother, a professional watercolorist who blew out her 92 candles. Her delicate, light-filled motifs reflect the same sensibility found in AKB’s designs: a balance between elegance and emotion.

Audrée Kemp Bélanger presenting the Lise de Maison AKB x Station D wallpaper, adorned with blue hydrangeas inspired by original watercolors, in a bright, flowery interior.
Lise wallpaper , Maison AKB x Station D
Exclusive designs created in collaboration with Station D, transforming walls into elegant, timeless backdrops, bringing character and warmth to any room.
Designed and printed in Quebec, easily removed without damaging walls.

This openness to the object is a natural extension of the studio’s approach: to offer continuity between architecture, furnishing and decoration, so that design is accessible not only in construction, but also in everyday rituals.

The collections, available in Canada, can also be delivered in France on request, directly from the AKB Design team.

An influence that transcends borders

While the company’s base remains in Quebec, AKB Design now carries out projects remotely in California, Dubai and even France.
Exchanges are based on architects’ plans, with the studio designing interiors, providing plans, renderings and material selection, and remaining available for follow-up.
This mastery of remote working opens up a new field: that of exportable design, rooted in a craftsman’s ethic but capable of dialogue with foreign cultures.

The legacy of a look

With AKB Design and Maison AKB, Audrée Kemp Bélanger weaves an invisible thread between architecture, nature and emotion.

His interiors don’t seek to seduce the moment, they aim to soothe and last.
Through it, design asserts itself as a complete art of living, where luxury is no longer a matter of pomp and circumstance, but of precision and soul.

And this is undoubtedly where its modernity lies: in its ability to reconcile beauty with truth and comfort.

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