Owners open the doors of their exceptional residence to us, offered on the resale market.
Posted at 12:00 p.m.
A small house for rent in Saint-Lambert caught the attention of Hélène Carpentier and Karl Fournier in 2013. Little did they know they would buy it, then be forced to demolish it, the the following year, when they would begin expansion work. In 2015, they were able to build a brand new home, a rarity in the neighborhood.
“We didn’t like the brick and we wanted to change it. We had permission to remove it before building two additions, including a garage, on each side of the house, which dated from 1947, explains Mr. Fournier. After removing the brick on two walls, the workers noticed that the walls were unstable. Structural engineers from two different companies found that the house was dangerous and could fall down in a gale.
“The City gave us a demolition permit while specifying that we had to respect exactly the location of the old house and the planned additions. So we could start all over again. It was a blessing in disguise, even though the costs increased. We recovered wooden planks, which are found in different places in the new house. »
-
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
This bright space located at the back of the house, next to the kitchen, is lined with huge windows. Steel beams were installed to keep the spaces on the ground floor as open as possible.
-
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
The kitchen, very modern with its lapitec worktops and stainless steel appliances, has an old character. The wood facing of the cabinets and the island is made of reclaimed wood.
-
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
The large French windows, which run along the dining room, give access to the terrace.
-
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
The ground floor is very open, so that the light circulates freely. The living room, at the front of the house, is also very bright.
-
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Upstairs, the master bedroom overlooks the green roof, laid out over the garage.
-
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Clover and tomatoes grow among other things on the green roof, lined with cedars. A spa is also located there.
-
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
This upstairs room, with a library, is used as an office.
-
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
The basement is lit by large windows. It has a spacious training room.
-
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
The owners practice many outdoor sports. They store their equipment in a space that their relatives call “the mini La Cordée”.
-
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
View of the terrace at the back
1/10
Brightness first
Hélène Carpentier liked the light in the old house. “We installed large windows in the back, to take advantage of it,” she says. We have a glazed solarium in one corner, where we see the sun all day and great sunsets in the evening. Several windows go all the way to the floor. The spaces are open, because we wanted it to be lit both in front and behind, and we really like to receive people. When we are in the dining room, which is more towards the living room, we are always in contact with those who are in the kitchen. »
The site manager they hired used to coordinate the construction of industrial buildings and multi-storey residential buildings. He had steel beams installed to keep the spaces on the ground floor as open as possible. He also used his expertise to build a green roof over the garage.
We wanted to put a spa, so the structure was made accordingly. We placed bins with cedars all around for privacy.
Karl Fournier, co-owner
“We have enough room to grow tomatoes in pots and peppers, among other things,” adds his spouse. We have direct access from our room. It’s very nice. But we enjoy the spa more in winter, when we happen to go cross-country skiing. »
A gym-style basement
The owners, who each have two grown children, are very sporty. When the son of Mme Carpentier, who lived with them, left the house, the basement became a place of training.
Everywhere in the house, stylish wardrobes walk-in abound. In the basement, very bright, a lot of storage space has also been integrated.
“People call it our mini La Cordée,” reveals Karl Fournier. There’s equipment for scuba diving, and pretty much everything you can think of as an outdoor sport, including mountaineering. »
Their home has become too big for their needs. They plan to retire in eight years and are already beginning to prepare. They bought land in Eastman, where they plan to build a house that is less spacious, but just as bright as the one in Saint-Lambert, on one level. They do it in advance in order to carry out the work gradually.
The property in brief
Asking price: $2,800,000
Year built: 2015
Rooms: The detached house, located at 585, avenue de Sanford, in Saint-Lambert, has 17 rooms. The ground floor, very open, is lined with huge windows and patio doors to the rear. Upstairs, the master bedroom overlooks a green roof, fitted over the garage. There are three bedrooms upstairs and a fourth bedroom in the basement, three bathrooms and a powder room. A triple-sided wood-burning fireplace warms the atmosphere downstairs, as does reclaimed wood from the old house, incorporated in various places throughout the abode.
Living area: 2739 ft2 (254.5m2)
Land area: 6188 ft2 (574.9m2)
Municipal assessment: $1,668,600
Property tax: $14,011
School tax: $1321
Real estate broker: Rosaire Boutin, Sutton-Actuel Group