My first house | Mélissa Bédard, happy owner

By moving into her first home last June, Mélissa Bédard realized a dream. But before settling into her new home with her large family, the singer swapped her microphone for a hammer in order to renovate and decorate her home. All stages of this adventure have been documented in the show my first house. Overview, in four points, of this new feature of Canal Vie.

Veronique Larocque
The Press

Foray into the Bédard-Fortier family

my first house is not a renovation show like the others. Don’t wait for the unveiling of a redecorated room at the end of each episode. Rather, the series follows chronologically all the stages that Mélissa Bédard, her husband, Karl Fortier, and their six children went through, from the visit to the notary until the move. “We will see the house transform as we go,” explains the singer and actress.

A true incursion into the daily life of the Bédard-Fortiers, my first house contains touching moments not usually seen in a decorating show. In the first two episodes, Mélissa Bédard is also very moved when she talks about her purchase. Why ? “Like other people, I live with a baggage that means that I haven’t had the chance to be said yes on the first try. I had to work hard to get my house,” she confides to The Press.

Well surrounded

Built a little over 10 years ago, the property acquired by Mélissa Bédard had to be renovated to suit the needs of the family. Bedrooms and a bathroom have been set up in the basement, while the upstairs bedrooms and common areas have been redecorated.

Not very good with her hands (“Some people will think I’m kidding, but it’s true!”, she says in an interview), Mélissa Bédard was able to count on those close to her to help her carry out his project well. Her best friend, carpenter-joiner Joanie Chevalier, is also the site manager.

“My family completely stopped for three months to give us the biggest helping hand. […] We did everything. It makes me very proud,” she explains, adding that certain specialized tasks have obviously been entrusted to professionals.

Mélissa Bédard was also able to count on the creative touch of designer Antoine Laurier, to whom we owe the decorations of the houses ofDouble occupation these last years. “I didn’t see anyone other than Antoine for the project. Antoine is professional and at the same time, he is natural, he is bubbly “, says Mélissa Bédard, who had previously participated in the show Featured decoranimated by the designer.

Black room

After talking with the happy owner, Antoine Laurier drew up the design of the different rooms on paper. “It’s really as if you took us and you put us in decoration”, illustrates Mélissa Bédard about the rooms of each member of the household.

Her favorite transformation? “One of the rooms where we dared the most was our bedroom. Since I spend a lot of time outside the house, I wanted Karl, when he comes into his room, not to be a girl’s room. I wanted a room that was quite neutral, but masculine at the same time,” she explains, before revealing that her bedroom is completely black, even the ceiling. Gray accessories, floor-tone chests of drawers, and an illuminated wall panel complete the decor. ” That’s wonderful ! “Enthuses the actress.

Another favorite piece? The kitchen, with its white cabinets, its 10-foot walnut island and the huge family photo hanging on the wall. “That’s what I wanted the most,” says the former tenant, who had not dared to install many executives in the semi-detached where she lived before.

Precious advices

Different tips for future owners are sprinkled throughout the series. Two months after the end of the renovation work in her house, what advice does Mélissa Bédard have? “Always do business with professionals,” she replies, thinking especially of plumbing and electricity. Yes, it will cost you more, but it will cost you less than having to replace your house. »

Before buying a property, she also suggests clearly identifying your needs and avoiding choosing a house that is too big and too expensive. “You have to be rational. Put your family in the middle, outline it with a square and tell yourself that you just need that, ”illustrates the new owner.

Setting a budget and sticking to it is also important to him. “If something happens, I still want to be able to pay for my house,” she concludes wisely.

my first houseTuesdays, at 7:30 p.m., on Canal Vie