Tiina Vahtola, Restos, For the Birds
Let's Do This
Story through Design with Tiina Vahtola of Talo Studios
I’m a naturally curious person (which is probably why I have this newsletter). One day, a friend of mine casually mentioned that she was working with her sister, Interior Designer Tiina Vahtola, to revamp local Lebanese pastry shop Maison Halwa. She was doing a lot of digging around and many of the items were locally sourced treasures.
I wanted to know more. Where did she find these items? What were her challenges? What was the end result?
I reached out to Tiina Vahtola, Interior Designer & Founder of Talo Studios to share her process.
Before we dive into your refresh of Maison Halwa, can you let us know a little bit about yourself and your background?
I’ve been re-arranging rooms for as long as I can remember. On snow days as a kid, I’d re-arrange my bedroom and pour through my mom’s interior design magazines for ideas. After high school I spent three years studying interior design before relocating from Ontario to Vancouver. After 15 years on the west coast, working across various design sectors, I moved back east to Montreal and started Talo Studios.
My favourite part of design is the curation, or collecting of things — whether it be the materials going into the space, sourcing unique art pieces tailored to the client, or hunting for vintage treasures. This project was especially fun because I got to collab with my sister — a fellow creative. We thought a lot about how the brand and design should reflect the same story, and how to bring that feeling into the space.
What were you looking to achieve with the design of Maison Halwa?
The goal was to create something rooted yet current — a kind of modern souk. We wanted the patisserie to feel warm and welcoming, with Middle Eastern heritage expressed through texture, tone, and form. There’s grit in the patina, softness in the palette, and a quiet rhythm that invites people to linger.
How did you incorporate owner Michèle Halwaji’s Lebanese roots into the design?
We started with storytelling. The design is layered with references to Lebanese craft and tradition — warm plaster tones, arched mirrors, and unlacquered brass all speak to an artisanal heritage. We poured through old family photographs and selected a collection of images from family gatherings — often centered around food — and framed them in vintage frames we sourced specifically for the space. We also embraced the concept of hospitality — how people gather, how sweets are shared — and made sure the space reflected that openness.
What was the most challenging part of the design?
Finding that balance between authenticity and refinement. We didn’t want the space to feel themed or overly polished — it needed soul. Sourcing materials that felt aged but durable, and integrating cultural references without being too literal, required a lot of intention. Also, working within a tight footprint meant every decision had to serve both form and function.
What’s your favourite design detail?
I love working with contrast — light and shadow, soft and structured — and that shows up here in how we blended polished and imperfect surfaces. The butter-yellow café curtain in the front window softens the space and lets the light pour in, creating a cozy little corner. It also frames the dark green Maison Halwa logo from the street, adding contrast. I’m also really drawn to the textured plaster walls; they bring so much warmth and history, like the space has been there forever
Shop the look — can people buy anything from your design?
Yes! The glass pendant lights are refurbished vintage fixtures from Spazio Antiquités Architecturales, one of my favourite places to wander through in Montreal. The wall sconces are from CB2, and the black organic shaped side tables are from Article. Most of the other items are a mix of second-hand or vintage — sourced from thrift shops, vintage dealers, and a lot of digging through Facebook Marketplace.
Tiina’s Fave Montreal Addresses
Fripe-Prix Renaissance Saint-Jacques
ARTÉ 1810 William St, Montreal
Spazio Antiquités Architecturales
You can find more of Tiina Vahtola on her website and Instagram.
Maison Halwa is located at 123 Laurier O. Montreal, QC H2T 2N6
You can also find Maison Halwa on Instagram here.
Photo of Tiina Vahtola by me, the rest are by Tiina.
Canada’s 100 Best Restaurant List/Michelin Stars are Out + My Alternative List
Food is so important in Montreal and we are so lucky to have so many wonderful restaurants. Canada’s 100 Best Restaurant list is out and 31/100 are in Montreal (one is listed under Verdun).
The Quebec Michelin Stars are out too! You have to sort by distinction to see which got stars. Congratulations to all those on this list!
These are wonderful, (mostly) special occasion restaurants. But, there are so many other restaurants to explore too! They might not be super fancy, but they are run with love and the food is great. Here are a few of my lower-key faves:
Mayicha (Verdun) - Congolese & Senegalese I mentioned this one in my very first newsletter.
Shanghai Fuchun Xiaolong (downtown - near College de Montreal) - Soup Dumplings
Pikliz (St-Henri) - Caribbean
La Chilenita (Plateau) - Chilean (try the soup!)
Avesta (downtown - in the new Chinatown are) - Turkish (there’s even someone making fresh bread!)
Do you have any under the radar favourites?
Also here is my essential ice cream map - use it to find your fave! Just save it to your phone and refer to it whenever you want.
Things to Do: Parc des Rapides (Bird Sanctuary) in LaSalle
I feel like I know the Island of Montreal pretty well, so when I was told about this Bird Sanctuary I wanted to check it out. According to the official website, it’s a popular spot for anglers, surfers (!) and bird watchers.
I think for me the main attraction would be bird spotting, and any kids that are into nature and animals would probably enjoy it.
Also to do:
Centre Sanaaq - I was made aware of this amazing place via a private text group via Montreal with Kids. It’s huge! And it looks lovely for younger aged kids.
I’m sure that I’ll forget and mention shops, books, etc. twice so be kind.
Here are a few Canadian/Quebec/Montreal based brands/shops I’ve discovered:
Little Pépites (Mom & Kids) (Quebec)
Pigeon Says Yes (Mom & Kids) (Canada)
Siella (bras and underwear) (Montreal-based)
The Leftovers - Mom & Kids secondhand (Montreal-based)
I recently photographed a family that had this clock, which is totally unique and such a statement. You can read it from both sides!
I’ve been really into Wet Leg lately. They are coming to Montreal this fall if anyone else loves them too.
I love this poster of Montreal stairs. It would be a great souvenir or gift to someone moving away.
This movie looks like all sorts of yes to me. I really want her bangs and always have but I just can’t imagine with all the humidity/hats we have here. Any thoughts?
I have been secretly obsessing over finding the perfect barrel pant which I feel would make my life right. Many affordable options are sold out, others feel like they might be really wide, and some feel out of my budget. I don’t know… any leads?
A bit of a ridiculous gift but fun to look at.
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Michelle Little is a photographer who specializes in family, maternity, newborn, headshots and boudoir. I offer studio, in-home and outdoor photography. You can see her website here and get in touch here.
I also have an insanely popular photography newsletter you can sign up to here for news, mini session announcements and more. Once a year I giveaway a free studio session to a lucky subscriber (maybe that’s why it’s insanely popular?)