OPEN TO A CHANGE
Couple’s Ste-Marie condo has modern interior with a great view from the balcony,
Ghislaine Laforest and Michel Forrest are born and bred Quebecers, but their similar family names — a source of some amusement when they first met — reveal their heritage. According to Laforest, her ancestors came from France, while Michel’s originated in Ireland.
The couple enjoy words and language. Until she retired, Laforest worked for the Office québécois de la langue française. (Her English is fluent, as is her Spanish.) Forrest, who is still in the workforce, is a proofreader with Éditions Yvon Blais and specializes in legal publications.
In 2014, Laforest started preparing for her retirement by embarking on a second career as a home-based travel agent. In the same year, the couple also moved to a new condo. They had been living in the Gay Village for many years, but the complex where they lived was being poorly managed and they decided it was time for a change.
Their current abode, which is in the Ste-Marie neighbourhood, has an open living/dining and kitchen area, two bedrooms (one functions as a home office for Laforest’s travel agency business) and a glass-enclosed balcony that offers views of the Jacques Cartier Bridge.
They also have access to a communal terrace on the roof. The interior is modern with composite wood flooring and exposed concrete ceilings. The décor is neutral pale grey and white.
Q What made you move to SteMarie rather than stay in the Gay Village? I gather you liked that area?
A We did, but then we found this place, more or less by chance. We had done the usual research and were on our way to look at a place that sounded interesting, but on the way, we saw a DuProprio sign on the sidewalk. We did in fact check out the first condo, but this one was much better.
Q In what way?
A Well, there was the view of the bridge but also, the condo was fairly new. We’re only the second owners. The people who sold it to us were a couple of young lawyers. They were planning to have a family so they needed more space.
Q Was the condo big enough for you and Michel?
A Actually, it’s slightly smaller than the one we had in the Gay Village. It’s only 750 square feet, but the main thing was that it had two sizable bedrooms. I use one as my home office, but we also have a futon in that spare bedroom, so we can accommodate guests.
Q Given that this condo was smaller than the one you had before, did you have to get rid of a lot of your furniture?
A Not really. Everything fitted in nicely, though we did buy a second couch to match the first one.
(Laforest indicates a burgundy leather two-seater which, she explains, they found secondhand on Kijiji. Above one of the sofas hangs a couple of colourful masks of the type used in Carnival celebrations.)
Q Where did your masks come from? A The red one comes from New Orleans. The other one is from Venice.
Q Did you pick them up on your travels? A I did. One of the reasons that I became a travel agent is because it gives me the opportunity to visit other countries, usually at discount prices. In the past year, I’ve been to Vietnam, Curaçao, Jamaica, Colombia, Mexico…
Q Lucky you! I notice you’ve got lots of ornaments in your glassfronted display case. Are those also from your travels? A They are. I like to pick up souvenirs. The cowbell came from Switzerland and this little elf is from Poland.
(From the living room, we walk into Laforest’s home office. A map of the world hangs above her desk and to the right of it, a collection of family photos. Over the futon is a striking picture of yellow sunflowers in a blue vase.)
Q Tell me about the painting. A We had this in the bedroom in our previous home. I decided to keep it because I’m fond of these bold, Provençal colours. I think the painting really brightens up the room.
Q You said that Michel painted some of your other pictures? A He did. He wants to get back to that when he retires. He comes from a talented family. The painting beside the dining table was done by his cousin.
Q And where did your white leather barstools at the breakfast counter come from? A They belonged to the previous owners but we liked them, so they left them for us.
Q What about the chandelier? A (Laughs.) Believe it or not, although it looks like crystal, it’s plastic! That belonged to them, too. I keep meaning to change it but it gives out such good light, that we’re leaving it where it is.