LOG HOME IN THE WOODS
Retired couple enjoying peace and quiet in Ste-Adèle
After retiring from their busy professional lives, Marie-France Daniel and Raymond Mongeau longed to live in a beautiful natural setting surrounded by peace and quiet. So in 2007, the couple bought 15 acres of lush woodland near SteAdèle in the Laurentians. As luck would have it, the real-estate agent knew a sales representative for Finnish company Honka, which specializes in building log homes. The representative invited them to visit his house, which was one of the manufacturer’s model homes. The couple were so delighted by what they saw, they decided to use Honka’s expertise to build their new home. Honka uses certified Scots pine trees, also called Finnish pine, to manufacture its logs. The benefits of this species is that it grows very slowly, thus making the wood exceptionally hard and able to withstand extreme weather conditions and changes in humidity levels with little or no cracking. In Finland, more Scots pine trees grow than are harvested, so it is also an ecological choice. Being an engineer by trade, Mongeau designed the house himself instead of hiring an architect. After six months of intense brainstorming, research, planning and designing, the plans were ready to be sent to Honka for approval. Each log and lumber component was then cut to size, numbered and loaded on to a cargo ship.
The voyage across the Atlantic only took two weeks, but the inspection and customs clearance of the shipment almost took as long. Finally, when work began, the construction of the home was completed in 12 weeks by three local craftsmen. The result is a rustic and elegant looking log home with Scandinavian accents that can be seen on the window frames on the outside of the home. Built on a hill for maximum sunshine and three kilometres away from the main road for privacy, the home is of moderate size, measuring 9.75 metre x 12.80 metre (32 feet x 42 feet) with two levels. The pièce-sur-pièce structure is made of 20.32 cm x 25.4 cm (8 in. x 10 in.) thick milled logs with patented built-in seals designed for each piece to fit tightly against each other, making the walls airtight and very solid. This refined process makes additional insulation unnecessary. As a result, the house stays warm in winter and cool in summer. “We installed air conditioning, but never turn it on” Daniel said. The roof is covered with brown metal sheets secured in the batten-seam method, so no nails or screws are visible from the outside. Simple living and being close to nature is the basic concept of the interior design. No frills, no unnecessary embellishments were added, and the furniture is kept to a minimum. The effect is a warm, Zen-like, peaceful atmosphere. Natural wood is omnipresent from top to bottom in the home. Because the logs and planks were treated against insects and mould by the manufacturer, there was no need for any additional treatment. The ground floor includes a vast 6.1-metre x 9.14-metre (20-foot x 30-foot) open-concept area as well as the sleeping quarters. Thirteen windows light up the spacious area and offer beautiful views of the wooded surroundings. No curtains are necessary, as there are no neighbours in sight. The kitchen corner was designed for sheer convenience and not for show, with limited countertops but plenty of storage. “It is quite enough for our needs,” Daniel said. Next to it, the dining area features
an antique pinewood table with lyre-shaped legs. It has been in Daniel’s family for 75 years, and after passing from one member to the next, it was her turn to inherit it. Above the dining set hangs a very beautiful and colourful mosaic stained-glass Tiffany lamp. When an uncluttered living space and interior decor is the goal, it is important that each piece of furniture or accessory be chosen with thought and care. In the living room, a leather sofa and La-Z-Boy offer comfortable seating. But it is the stunning ergonomic rocking chair with its footstool that is the pièce-de-résistance. Made by Jean-François Dugal in old Quebec City, it is more than just a chair, it is a form of utilitarian art. Two very rare types of wood were used, Birdseye maple for the
lighter shades and cocobolo from Central America for the dark pieces. The various parts are assembled by mortise and tenons. There are two bedrooms on the ground floor, both rather small and oddly shaped. In the master bedroom, a comforter with tree patterns covers the double bed. And on a dresser stand two African sculptures bought by the couple during a photo safari. Though they come from a world away, they fit quite nicely in the Nordic decor. The paintings however, are the work of two Quebec artists. The guest bedroom is just as spartan in furnishings with a double bed and a nightstand. The small table might look like a wooden sculpture, but it is actually two log wall joints left over from the
construction. There are other similar side tables in the house made from leftover building parts. They were too beautiful and practical to discard, the couple said. The spacious bathroom located between the two bedrooms is all in wood with an earth-toned ceramic floor and the decor looks very much like that of a sauna room. On the same level, we find Mongeau’s home office. The wall next to the bookcase shows the intricate way the log beams are fitted together. The staircase leading to Daniel’s domain on the mezzanine that spans half of the house, was designed to blend into the decor and not obstruct the view by having open steps and black metal rods instead of balusters. The vast upstairs 6.1 m x 9.14 m (20 ft x 30 ft)
open space with a vaulted ceiling combines Daniel’s home office and reading room. The bookcase occupies the entire far wall, encasing two small windows. Here again, minimalism is de rigueur. For their retirement Mongeau and Daniel aspired to a life of joyful simplicity, as close to nature as possible, and devoid of all the unnecessary trappings and gadgets of modern society. After long and busy careers, they certainly have achieved their goal of a laid-back lifestyle with this beautiful architecturally built and cosy log home tucked away in the woods.