Breakthrough | Desjardins Bherer

The site appealed to the visitors, two entrepreneurs in search of a new home. They were enchanted by the size of the property, the surrounding area and the view of Montreal. This house, which had been renovated in 1990, struck them as the kind of place where they could finally settle down.

They could see the potential of this place, but decided to meet with the designers to confirm their impressions before signing an offer to purchase. Enchanted by Marc Bherer's proposals, they seized the moment.

To connect the residence and its occupants to the surrounding nature, the living areas - living room, dining room and kitchen - were moved down to the basement level. A portion of the original ground floor was then removed, opening up the space, letting in the light and allowing for a new mezzanine. The square footprint of the original house was expanded with an extension enclosed with a curtain wall.

This opened up the living and dining rooms to views of the swimming pool and courtyard beyond. An adjacent covered terrace accommodates living and dining room furniture, as well as a fireplace, to create a welcoming and friendly outdoor living area. When summer comes, the interior and exterior of the house are in symbiosis and become as one.

The porcelain floor tiles, wood ceiling and carefully selected furniture in the indoor living areas create a sleek yet comfortable look. The colourful chairs brighten up the room, and the portrait of Jack Nicholson enlivens the space. A wood suspension lighting fixture, floating elegantly above the table, provides a focal point of interest. The fireplace warms the room in winter from a block sheathed in black concrete panels. Ingeniously, the outdoor portion of this volume provides storage space for pool accessories.

The kitchen, nestled under the mezzanine, features a bright white decor of lacquer and bleached oak. A service kitchen, set to one side, has also been provided for food preparation. The couple takes great pleasure in entertaining family and friends!

Due to the abundant fenestration as well as the riser-free staircase and its glass guardrails, one’s attention is immediately drawn to the exceptional view out to the courtyard and the valleys beyond. This is true upon entering the house. Rather than obstructing the view, the airy chandeliers in the expansive entry hall enhance it. To the side on the same landing, a block beautifully finished in wood houses a cloakroom and a powder room.

One of owners uses the former, rejuvenated living room as a space for receiving her clients. Her office is behind the central doors of the library, where the dining room used to be. The large windows let in daylight and offer views to the surrounding forest, and a fireplace clad in bush-hammered Saint Marc stone majestically anchors the end of the room.

The upper floor houses the bedrooms, bathrooms and a laundry room. Each room has large windows for ample views to the out-of-doors, just like the other rooms of the house. The mezzanine with its glass railing enlarges the space, and the artwork enlivens it with a touch of colour.

Nestled into the surrounding forests and valleys, carefully chosen and tastefully furnished, this residence manages to reflect the welcoming personalities of its owners with a warm living space that feels connected to nature, just as they had hoped.

Photography: André Doyon