An atmosphere that is both warm and monastic reigns in the Montreal condo of Véronique Lacoursière and Florence Pelland Goyer, located on the border of Mile-Ex and Outremont.
“We fell in love as soon as we entered here,” recalls M.me Pelland Goyer, in the middle of the vast apartment which is distinguished by its high coffered ceilings, old brick walls and open-plan rooms.
Housed at the top of a triplex built in 1923, this condo underwent a major transformation around thirty years ago. Its owner, an architect by profession, took the opportunity to tear down the partitions and open the ceilings. The result: an airy and bright loft.
“We touched almost nothing. Everything was perfect like that,” adds this renowned sommelier who plans to settle in Sutton to create a boutique hotel with her partner, the advertising executive Véronique Lacoursière. The latter had already taken a first step in Estrie, three years ago, by opening a café in Knowlton.
“It’s a big life change,” summarizes M.me Pelland Goyer, while glancing around.
On the living room wall, dozens of empty wine bottles are lined up on the shelves of the library. Each of them has its own story, she confides, smiling. Other bottles, these full, fill a unique cellar which serves as a glass partition between the stairwell and the dining room. On this side, a large refectory table seems to await the arrival of guests.
“This apartment is a perfect gathering place. We’ve had some people here! At Christmas, we had 22 people,” says the former co-owner of the wine bars La Buvette chez Simone and Bar à Flot.
The art of receiving
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
The roof terrace overlooks the neighborhood.
The kitchen, very functional, perfectly suits the hospital spirit. Its large worktops, its wide passages, its generous cupboards and its square island where three guests can sit make it both a perfect culinary laboratory and a reception room.
I cook a lot, and this kitchen is a dream. Everything is at a good distance, without getting lost.
Florence Pelland Goyer, co-owner
Another table, even larger, awaits the guests. It occupies a spacious terrace built on the roof of the triplex. It is accessed by the external spiral staircase, located at the rear. At the very top there is a remarkable 360-degree view of Montreal, with Mount Royal in all its splendor.
This terrace in fact dominates the entire neighborhood. Only the bell tower of the Sainte-Madeleine parish church, located a few blocks further, stands on the horizon. We can also see the very distinctive Van Horne warehouse.
“It’s the ideal place to get a tan,” says Mme Pelland Goyer.
Meditative atmosphere
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
There is a meditative atmosphere here.
Curiously, there is also an atmosphere in this apartment that encourages meditation. Its high ceilings, Spanish windows, hot water radiators, built-in furniture and the half-arched passages leading to the two bedrooms give it the vague air of a religious building.
The original hardwood floors and ceramic fittings in the bathroom perfectly enhance this relaxing atmosphere. “It’s true,” confirms Florence Pelland Goyer. “We can be very zen here. »
The rays of natural light, which pass through the majority of the rooms thanks to the French doors, reinforce this peaceful spirit.
To take full advantage of the sun, an old south-facing balcony has been transformed into a pretty glass roof. “The previous owner grew several plants there. It was magnificent,” recalls Mme Pelland Goyer. This original corridor, which looks like a greenhouse, leads to the second bedroom, at the very back.
“It was actually a room devoted to yoga before,” the latter recalls.
Another bedroom at the front, used as an office, can also be used as personal space.
Trendy neighborhood
The two owners not only fell in love with the apartment on their first visit. They were dazzled by the wealth of the neighborhood.
“Everything is within walking distance, both for essential purchases and for culture. Just go out and walk to a multitude of small shops, grocery stores, bars and restaurants. But there is also a bookstore, a theater, a cinema… and the SAQ,” says the sommelier.
The move to Estrie marks a major stage in life for the two Montrealers. “It’s a big decision. But we are excited about this project. We found an extraordinary place in the heart of Sutton. And we will only be an hour and a quarter from Montreal,” they conclude.
Consult the property file
The property in brief
Asking price: $950,000
Municipal assessment: $773,500
Year of construction: 1923
Dimensions of the house: 136.5 m2
Property tax: $4,890
School tax: $588
Energy costs: $1750
Broker: Marc-André Fortin, Engel & Völkers Montreal