The owner’s tour | Historical and panoramic in Lévis

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

Difficult traffic on bridges during rush hours often discourages people from Quebec from settling on the South Shore. This was the case for Anne Rouleau. But a large ancestral house built on the banks of the river made him change his mind 10 years ago. She never regretted it.

On the river path, which connects the Chaudière marina to the Rivière-Etchemin park in Lévis, Anne Rouleau’s house stands out in several ways. First, its red brick cladding is unique and betrays its era.

“In the 19th century^e century, the English came to settle down to export wood from Beauce to England, says the owner. So that the ships did not travel empty to America, they filled the hold with bricks. Several buildings in Quebec are built with this red brick. »

According to his research, the land was awarded in 1835 to businessman Joseph McKenzie. However, the archives do not specify the date of construction of the residence or its purpose. However, the architecture suggests that the house was a hotel or a business before becoming a semi-detached building. Whether it is the wooden flourishes that decorate the stairs, the raised ceilings or the rounded wooden wall, the finishes are more chic than those of most buildings of the time.

For a century, families succeeded one another in the property. Anne Rouleau displays photos found during her research in the vestibule. Then, the building was converted into a single-family home 50 years ago.

The house still has two doors on the front, but the main entrance is at the back. It is accessed by crossing the courtyard with a magnificent view of the river and the bridges of Quebec.

Big house, big spaces

Over the centuries, walls have been knocked down to create openings, doors have been converted into windows, cupboards have been added. However, the most visible change is undoubtedly the renovation of the kitchen.

The kitchen leads into the dining room and living room, both located at the front of the house. At this location, a staircase provides access to the second floor. The conversion of the semi-detached into a single-family home created a spacious upper floor with three bedrooms, a large bathroom and another living room.

On the third floor, the attic was converted by the previous owners. This floor resembles a large loft where the master bedroom, an office and a full bathroom are located.

During the layout, skylights were added so that light and views were optimized.

“We see bridges from Quebec to the Île d’Orléans bridge,” says Jo-Ann Massé, who has always lived in the neighboring house and who joined the visit. On each floor, the horizon expands. »

The most beautiful view is in fact on a small balcony on the roof, accessible by a retractable ladder. There isn’t much space: two chairs, a bistro table and two glasses of wine, all you need to admire the sun setting behind the bridges.

To change life

The size of the rooms offers modern comfort in this almost bicentennial house. However, everywhere, details recall the past and the age of the property. Whether it’s the brick wall in the staircase, a relic of an old fireplace, the wooden framed windows or even the moldings.

The spacious ground floor also allowed Anne Rouleau to start a business and offer cooking workshops.

Now that the business is operating at full capacity, the family residence has become too small to accommodate all the customers. The businesswoman has rented premises and is now looking for a new home closer to her work.

“Either my business stops growing, or I move,” explains M.^me Roll. It took me a year before I decided to sell, because we are happy here. »

With summer coming, he will miss the afternoons in the swimming pool by the river. But the owner is ready to pass this happiness on to another family.

Consult the property file