The owner’s tour | Facing the river at Cap-Santé

Owners open the doors of their exceptional residence to us, offered on the resale market.

Emmanuelle Mozayan-Verschaeve
special collaboration

This artist’s house built on route 138, just four years ago, in Cap-Santé, benefits from beautiful architectural volumes and generous glazing maximizing the view of nature.

“It has always been one of my dreams to settle down by the water,” says Christian Duguay, originally from the North Shore. We chose Cap-Santé because I really like this region and there is a good symposium here. As I paint and sculpt, it’s interesting”, specifies this former helicopter pilot and locomotive driver.

A fixed idea

In search of a house, the couple finally let themselves be seduced by a piece of land with a breathtaking view of the St. Lawrence. “There is exceptional depth on the river and the forest on the other side. My idea was to create trails behind because we have a lot of space that we can take advantage of for walking, continues the retiree. We said to ourselves that it was our fifth and last house and, over time, we had learned to identify what we wanted. »

No question of having a basement, but rather a concrete slab to avoid flooding, which the couple has already paid for in other properties. No window to the east either, as Christian’s father had always advised him, to ward off wind and storms.

“We have the best neighbors in the world, but everyone keeps their privacy, because I can’t see their home and vice versa thanks to this exhibition”, underlines the master of the place. Another priority: create a cathedral ceiling, which generates beautiful interior volumes.

Also an industrial designer, the owner drew up all the plans for his house and chose to set up his workshop on the first floor, the second hosting the common areas (living room, dining room, kitchen) and private areas (two bedrooms and a bathroom). bathroom). The workshop part could easily be transformed into a family room and an additional bedroom, especially since there is already a second bathroom on this level.

Refined planning

The masters of the place took two years to finalize the interior as they wished, notably introducing an atypical fireplace mantle. “The house is unique, there are no others like it and we have decorated it to be linked to the sea”, he continues.

This sea, or rather this river that they love so much, they coasted a little too close to it at some point. “We lived on the edge of the water, but after a storm, we lost 10 feet of ground in depth and 5 feet in height. Access was no longer direct, I needed a ladder to get to the beach…”, recalls the owner. His wife had nightmares about it and they found here the advantage of seeing the water, but without risk to their home.

The place is quiet, but tourists regularly pass by and do not fail to stop to see the works of the artist exhibited outside. “They also look at my old car and I like to chat with them,” says Christian Duguay, who decided to put his house up for sale because his wife has Alzheimer’s. They will therefore return to the Sept-Îles region to be close to their families.

“My mother had this disease, I have seen the journey and since I am more aware of the resources that are offered there, it will be easier. It is certain that we leave a little backwards, because we like the house, that we have a good bond with our neighbors, which is rare, and that I have started to make friends in the arts. Future occupants will surely enjoy living here, especially since the rooms are bathed in natural light. »