The owner’s tour | In constant connection with nature in Lac-Brome

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

Danielle Bonneau
The Press

Emilie Geoffroy and Antoine Morrissette dreamed of a chalet in the heart of nature where they could regularly recharge their batteries and which they could also rent out. They wanted it to be both contemporary and warm, in the Eastern Townships. Unable to unearth the rare pearl, they instead had it built in the middle of red maples and trembling aspen trees, a few minutes walk from Brome Lake.

The couple bought a wooded lot in 2018. Wanting to make the most of it, they contacted architect Ravi Handa, because they really liked a chalet he had designed in Ontario.

“We renovated our first property in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce with the _naturehumane agency and we had a great experience,” explains Emilie Geoffroy. We wanted to make it beautiful. It was our first new construction. We had a vision, but we definitely needed help because neither of us is in the architectural business. We didn’t want to miss our shot. »

“We wanted to reduce our footprint on the land as much as possible to leave a lot of trees around,” she says. We wanted to have the feeling of being in nature. »

Inside, they wanted the warm ambiance of a log cabin, but with a modern twist. The cathedral ceiling is thus covered with poplar slats. The wood-burning fireplace and gathering spaces, where they could receive their loved ones, were among their priorities. As for the bedrooms, in keeping with the spirit of the project, they are not particularly spacious.

“At the chalet, the rooms should be smaller than in town,” says Antoine Morrissette. We have built-in storage so that nothing is lying around and for storing suitcases. We sleep there, we read a book, we take a nap when we come back from skiing, but we play outside and spend time in the common areas. »

Four months in the countryside

The construction of the chalet was completed in January 2021, in the midst of a pandemic. The couple lived there for four months, until April. “We really fell in love with the chalet,” says the owner. We thought we were going to keep it for a little while. But when we started the project, we had no children. We now have two little girls aged 4 months and 20 months. We don’t come as often as we would like. »

What she likes the most? Silence, tranquility. “You feel that you can rest as soon as you set foot in the door,” she notes.

“It’s a little cocoon,” adds Antoine Morrissette. At the same time, there are so many beautiful windows and beautiful light, it’s like being in a tent and looking at the stars through the roof. The luxury of having a new construction in wood is to have been able to position it to maximize light at the pace of the day. Through the window at the top of the cathedral ceiling, the midday sun illuminates the entire house. The windows are perfectly positioned to seek light in all seasons. We always look outside. You feel like you are in a museum admiring a work of art, but at the same time you listen to the fire crackling in the hearth. »

Outdoors in all seasons

They carefully chose the location of the chalet, in Lac-Brome, about an hour from Montreal and 10 minutes from the ski slopes of Bromont and the village of Knowlton. In the summer, they have access to Brome Lake and a small beach.

“It’s very beautiful during the four seasons, underlines Emilie Geoffroy. There are always outdoor activities to do. »

They knew from the start that they would not be going to the cottage every weekend and they had taken into consideration the rental potential of the house. The latter was thus designed to accommodate eight people. But another project monopolizes the new parents and they have to admit that with their young family, they lack time. They want others to enjoy the nest they helped create.