ENCHANTING TALE
Twists of fate lead couple to charming Laval home in storybook setting
Today’s featured house could easily be used as an illustration in a fairy tale.
Its lovely antiquated look, unique wooden plank driveway, and secluded setting among tall mature trees would perfectly fit the narrative of a princess hiding from some malevolent parent or entity. But there is no need to invent such a tale, for the real story of this home and its owners is just as enchanting as any fable. It combines chance encounters and intriguing twists of fate and love.
It all started in 1886 when the house was built in Lévis, near Québec City, in the French colonial style prevalent in those days. It was characterized by a steep roof of great height over a squat structure flush with the ground. The original building was just over 850 square feet. Nothing is known of the builders or the first owners, but for 100 years, the house did what it was meant to do — it provided shelter and protection to several generations of dwellers. Then, 110 years after being built, it was dismantled (being a pièce-sur-pièce structure made it an easy operation). The home was sent on a long journey to a quiet Laval district along the Mille-Îles River, where it was rebuilt and expanded over the years. A cosy entranceway was added on the right side and a family room on the left side.
But owners kept coming and going every few years. Just like the struggles in most fairy tales, it was as if the house couldn’t find the right people to settle it. Meanwhile, Jeannette Bourget and André Lescouarnec were experiencing losses of their own, as both of their partners passed away within a few months of each other. They had known one another when they were adolescents, but had lost touch over the years. When they met again, love sparked and all that was needed was another twist of fate to settle this new-found love into the perfect home.
“One of André’s daughters called us one day and said there was this pretty little house for sale and insisted we go for a visit,” Bourget explained. “She had even made an appointment for us on that day.” They were not keen to visit, Bourget admits. The couple went anyway, so as not to disappoint Lescouarnec’s daughter. As soon as they set their eyes on the house, they knew they had found their love nest. Not only was it exactly what they were looking for in terms of space, location and atmosphere, but it was in mint condition despite its venerable age. Thanks to the previous owners, the interior didn’t even need a coat of paint. It also came with a few extras, such as lace curtains and a magnificent wood stove. It was just meant to be.
This was in 2011. The couple soon moved in together and have been living happily ever after since then.
Bourget is an artist by trade. She works with stained-glass materials, making lamps and chandeliers in the Tiffany style as well as stainedglass windows like the one on the front door of the house. Her creations are found throughout the home. In the kitchen, a pair of lamps hang over the granite countertops. The small space is crammed with cooking implements, illustrating her love of cooking and entertaining. The backsplash made of white ceramic tiles blends in well with the cream-coloured cupboards. Both of these elements give an old-fashioned look to the room. Even the knots showing through the coat of paint on the cupboards add a touch of whimsy.
As in all houses of this period, the wood used for the structure, from the wide floorboards to the white painted planked wood ceiling is Eastern white pine. In the dining room, the bamboo chairs of the dining set look comfortable, but a bit odd in the decor. They belonged to Lescouarnec and the couple didn’t see the point of changing them. They give the room a quirky look that elicits a smile. The living room is opulent with its leather armchair and sofa, wide fireplace, cherished antiques and stained-glass lamps, which are Bourget’s creations, of course. The fireplace mantel was cut from the same beams used for the ceiling. These beams are 26 feet long in some parts as they stretch the width of the house.
A later addition to the house is the family room, which boasts a Royal Bélanger cast-iron wood stove dating from the mid-1930s. Not only is it decorative, but it’s also in perfect working condition and the couple spends many an evening cozying up to its warmth. As mentioned before, this magnificent heirloom with its shiny chromes and ceramic tiles with pink flowery motifs came with the house. More bamboo furniture can be found in this room, including a glass-top round table and chairs.
“This is where we eat most of the time,” Bourget said.
From this room, one can see all the way to the kitchen at the other end of the house. It is a design characteristic of the ground floor that all the rooms are linked in a row. There is no hallway, and therefore no wasted space.
A narrow staircase with antislip strips leads to the upper floor and the master suite. This room is quite huge (18’ x 36’), occupying the whole width of the house. The king-size bed stands proud between two windows. The fringed curtains and quilted bedspread suit the country charm conveyed by the slanted ceiling and hewn beams. Like in all rooms, Bourget’s glasswork is well represented here by two side lamps and a smaller one on the dresser. Each piece is made by hand using the traditional method of cut glass bound by copper wire. Bourget has 45 years of expertise and works mostly to order. Her son Eric is following in her footsteps and has a boutique in St-Hilaire. You can see their fine work online at tiffanylavallois.ca.
It may not be grand, awe-inspiring or richly furnished, but this house has soul. Maybe this is because it finally has a perfect match in its owners.