The owner’s tour Living all year round in Mont-Tremblant
Owners open the doors of their exceptional home, offered on the resale market.
Posted on Nov. 22, 2021Christiane Desjardins Special contributionThe unexpected arrival of the car clearly did not please the dozen wild turkeys pecking on the ground. The imposing birds moved away slowly, without nervousness, gurgling. The gurgles of the turkeys make a nice song. It's a gift, because we have an appointment here, in this house, which has the color of their plumage.
The arrival of turkeys, deer and other small animals no longer surprises the owners of this house, perched high up in Mont-Tremblant. Despite the proximity of the ski resort of the same name, and its satellites, the place has kept its natural aspect and remains well wooded. Our house this week is located on chemin de la Grosse-Roche, not far from Lac Tremblant. Decided to leave Montreal to come and live all year round in the Laurentians, Simon and his wife had visited several properties before falling in love with this one in 2015. “A crush”, summarizes the owner of the place.
1/8What they particularly liked about this house, which had been built 25 years earlier, was its location, its slightly more contemporary architecture than what they had seen previously, the lines of the "Board and Batten" exterior cladding, and the fact that the interior had undergone beautiful renovations. The yellow of the coating did not please them at all, on the other hand. "With the red windows, it was McDonald's," recalls Simon. Painting the exterior of the house was one of the first things they did.
Pale black, anthracite gray, in these waters. This is a classy color that goes well with the red of the roof and the openings. It's amazing what a brush stroke can have as an effect. Seeing beyond appearances, knowing how to appreciate the quality of the building and the materials, perceiving the potential, is quite an advantage when looking for an existing house. In this area, the owner is rather well trained. A carpenter by training, he is also a building contractor and a partner in a company that builds luxury homes. Called to use good materials and good techniques, he admits that he knows how to recognize the value of things. That of the sheet metal roof, to name only one, did not escape him.
From Montreal loft to the countryside
The pandemic and its friend, telecommuting, have prompted many people to leave the city to settle in the regions. For his part, the master of the place has been in this reality of remote work for 15 years. Being there often, it was important for him, as well as for his spouse, to feel in a house, not in a chalet, he notes. Especially since the family, which has two children, left a very contemporary Montreal loft to come and live in the North. When the couple entered this house for the first time, on a certain Friday evening, six years ago, they were won over. We understand why.
We'll believe it if we want to, but houses have an aura. During our visit, the almost November sun was pouring in from all over the ground floor, to light up the living areas. There was an atmosphere of joy and well-being.
The kitchen, dining room are open plan, but have well defined areas.
The owners have slightly rearranged certain parts to improve storage and make everyday life easier.
Very close to the entrance, a room allows you to get rid of coats, boots, bicycle helmets, and so on. Practical for the visit, but especially for this very active family, with children of 11 and 14 years old. Closer to the kitchen, a wardrobe has been transformed into a pantry. The ground floor powder room is flanked by a laundry room.
The property has four bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs, as well as a basement which the owners have undertaken to finish during the pandemic. The house sits on rock, and in some places the concrete slab has bent to the whims of it. Far from serving the cause, these asperities have been used to create zones. In addition to a TV room and a games room, we discover in particular a kind of high side, which was previously on the sand. Now that it is concreted, leaving a height of six feet under the beam, the place can serve as storage or a wine cellar.
Everyone out
1/3This family of skiers and mountain bikers is well served here. The ski resort is a few minutes by car, and about thirty minutes on foot. And there is no shortage of places to practice mountain biking, including the very grounds of the property, where a trail has been laid out. In winter, young people add jumps, to practice their flips, on skis.
The outdoors being part of the family's DNA, it was imperative for the owners to take care of the outdoor areas. Especially since this aspect of the property had not been touched up for 30 years, says Simon. The couple, who are not lacking in taste or ideas, have rebuilt or redesigned stairs, terraces and walkways with particular concern for drainage. The multiple outdoor areas, including the spa section, the large terrace and the fireside, are all open-air living spaces.
The owners had another project on the go: the construction of a very modern concrete swimming pool, which would accommodate, and even take advantage of, the sloping ground. As the couple decided to sell, with the idea of building somewhere in the region, it will be up to the next owners to take up the idea, or to go there with their own inspiration...
Consult the property descriptionThe property in brief
Year of construction: 1991Asking price: $1,465,000Evaluation: $636,300Property tax: $4852School tax: $598Land dimensions: 70,611 ft2Number of rooms: 19Description: House with detached and heated double garage, in a well wooded area, in Mont-Tremblant. The property is accessed by a semi-private road, which serves two other properties. Broker: Marie Sicotte, Groupe Sutton Centre-Ouest
