The owner’s tour | A giant, a mound and many possibilities

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

It was an inn, a chalet, a main residence, and even a hall for festivities. Bordered by Lake Louisa and perched on top of a mountain in Wentworth-Nord, in a lesser known area of ​​the Laurentians, this very large property is in search of its next destiny.

When Danielle Touchette and Mario Goulet got the keys to this 5,000 sq. ft. Laurentian home^⁠2 (464 m^⁠2) in area, it had been on the counter for several years as an inn, formerly known as Domaine de l’Étang. Ideal characteristics – namely two large common rooms and numerous bedrooms and independent rooms – to meet the needs of the couple’s project: “We were looking for a place to establish a center for the elderly. When we came across this property, we found it interesting and we acquired it,” says the duo, originally from the northern crown of Montreal.

Unfortunately, during the conversion process, complications and administrative hassles knocked on the door, forcing Danielle Touchette and Mario Goulet to change their plans. They then made a chalet out of it, on the fringes of their country-style main residence (farm house) in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, and considered renting the premises during the week for events such as congresses or meetings.

But two years later, after fitting out the premises to their liking and ordering the necessary furniture, they finally decided to live there permanently and resell their property in Sainte-Anne. “Once everything was finished, we never rented once. We found it too beautiful! “, slips the couple, who have fixed their penates there until this day.

Abundance of space

One of the most impressive rooms is undoubtedly the gigantic family room, renovated from top to bottom, with its vertiginous cathedral ceiling and its remarkable wood-burning fireplace. It’s hard to imagine that when the house was bought, it housed… an indoor swimming pool. “There, it was a 16′ by 32′ swimming pool, which we converted into a living room while fitting out, on the floor below, a garage that can accommodate four vehicles”, explains Mario Goulet, specifying that the adjacent sauna has meanwhile been preserved.

Now bathed in light thanks to a large peripheral window, this room is capable of accommodating large groups; the current owners can attest to this, as one of their daughters celebrated her wedding there during the pandemic, when the reception halls had all closed their doors.

Another common space, surrounded by a wooden gallery in height and also equipped with an imposing fireplace, is very user-friendly. The kitchen has also benefited from a complete makeover, now featuring a central island and a wood-burning oven.

On the bedroom side, there are seven (one of them currently serves as an office), scattered over the three floors of the building, all giving access to one of the five bathrooms, as well as to the galleries outside, with which the house is generously provided. The list of renovations continues to grow, with the garden level having undergone a major renovation to be 100% habitable, the roof redone in 2022, or the discreet installation of heat pumps to increase the energy efficiency of the residence.

With such a configuration, several perspectives are emerging for its next vocation; one could think of a multi-generational house, a return to basics as an inn or chalet to rent for major events; so many projects allowed by residential and commercial zoning.

Of a confidential nature

One cannot speak of a property without specifying the environment in which it is established. In this regard, some great assets are emerging. Located at the top of a small mountain, with elaborate landscaping, surrounded by wild nature and enjoying precious peace, it is located on a plot of 250,000 sq.^⁠2 (23,088m^⁠2) and provides access to navigable Lake Louisa, hiking trails (marked when the house was an inn), cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. “It’s very quiet, we don’t really have any neighbours, we don’t see cars passing in the street,” the couple said.

Wentworth-Nord, about twenty minutes from Lachute and a mere 40 minutes from Morin-Heights, is a more confidential sector of the Laurentians and less crowded than other areas. Mario Goulet and Danielle Touchette, who between them have a lot on their shoulders for the maintenance of this vast residence, are now targeting Mirabel or Saint-Colomban, for a family reunion, prospecting a large plot and a more modest living space. . “We have the idea of ​​traveling more and putting a small budget on a motorhome,” they consider.