Country Homes
June 22, 2024
The Most Picturesque Quebec Cottages And Country Homes
Quebec’s Eastern Townships has a rich history that translates into gorgeous heritage homes. Nestled near mountains and lakes, this piece of paradise in Quebec’s cottage country is a huge draw, and homeowners lucky enough to own a vacation retreat here often play up its inherent architectural distinction. Come take a tour of some of the best Eastern Townships cottages featured in the pages of House & Home, from Les Ensembliers’ Humminghill Farm to Scott Yetman’s charming château.
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A Charming Modern Farmhouse In Bolton, Que.
For Alex Gosselin, arriving at Argyll Farm is like taking a breath. The Bolton, Que., property that she shares with her husband Sebastien Kaine and their two boys is a little more than an hour’s drive from their Montreal home — just long enough to decompress from city life. What started as a weekend escape has become a passion project for Sebastien, who raises Wagyu beef on the property, and a way of life for the whole family. “It’s not that I don’t feel at home in the city, but I really feel at home at the farm,” says Alex.
That feeling of contentment is exactly what designers Richard Ouellette and Maxime Vandal of Les Ensembliers were hoping to achieve. In fact, it was a deeply personal project for them. Argyll Farm, which includes a circa-1886 five-bedroom farmhouse, is just down the lane from their own country retreat, Humminghill Farm, and they have known the couple for years.
An Enchanting Château In Knowlton, Que.
A house with a past demands an owner who can imagine its future, so when lifelong antiques collector Scott Yetman walked through the gates of this property in Knowlton, Quebec,. he knew it was the one. The property, complete with vaulted ceilings, wood-burning fireplaces and massive wrought-iron gates is surrounded by almost seven hectares of rolling hills with a view of Lac-Brome beyond. “Entering it was like stepping back into another time, into the country houses and châteaux of Normandy,” says Scott of the 5,000-square-foot, three-bedroom home. “But it wasn’t one of those McMansions made to look like a faux château. There was something so simple and sensible about it. Once we saw it, we just couldn’t stop thinking about that house.”
A Sophisticated Guest Cottage In Magog, Que.
During the dog days of summer in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, it’s all about hiking, cycling, boating, lakeside lounging and easy-breezy entertaining. Mizia Emond-Lavoie and her partner love to get away to their Magog, Que., home on Lac Memphramagog, just 120 kilometres southeast of Montreal. Drawn to neutral palettes, the warmth of wood, and with an affinity for classic, timeless design they already enjoyed at their other homes in Montreal and Florida, the couple looked to Mélanie Cherrier and Laurence Pons Lavigne of Blanc Marine Intérieurs to pull off the design of their new guest house.
An Eastern Townships Home With A Dreamy Backyard
Landscape architect Nathalie Desjean of StuartWebsterDesign took care of everything in this expansive backyard, adding a new deck and coping made from St-Marc limestone in a honed finish. “Our plan was to do laps every morning but, of course, kids, friends and even our dog, Echo, use it all the time,” says Nathalie’s client. The 10-foot depth and broad steps are accented by in-pool lighting that is dramatic in the evening, and the naturalized look blends seamlessly with the backdrop of waving pines.
A Layered Country House In Knowlton, Que.
It’s not often you know a house is The One without even stepping through the front door. But for artist Ronda Diamond and Richard Cherney, a lawyer, a video tour was all it took to fall head over heels for this Knowlton, Que., charmer — which came impeccably furnished, down to the last detail. “It was just so pretty,” says Ronda. Montreal designer Luke Havekes had bought the hilltop house as an investment, then gutted and decorated it. “It’s in an area that’s more Hamptons than mountains, with pastoral fields, farmland and horses,” says Luke. “This house is layered and eclectic in a pared-down way, not packed to the rafters — it feels full and cozy.”
Les Ensembliers’ Sprawling Eastern Townships Estate, Humminghill Farm
Richard Ouellette and Maxime Vandal, the duo behind Montreal design firm Les Ensembliers, have always loved a beautiful garden. But here at Humminghill Farm, their weekend home near Knowlton, Quebec, they’ve created something that’s a lot more than just an aesthetic masterpiece. Their 32-hectare property is also a working farm, with a serious vegetable plot, honeybees, chickens and a sugar bush that will produce gallons of maple syrup. The coach house is clad in Eastern cedar shakes that will grey over time, and the architecture nods to vernacular farmhouses in the area.
A New England-Style Retreat In Knowlton, Que.
“It was a dream of mine to have a house in Knowlton, Quebec. I loved the village and the overall feeling. I told myself, when I was ready, I’d buy a house here. When the time came, I saw five houses with a realtor and, voilà, found my place,” says designer Luke Havekes, who turned his builder-basic home into a layered, New England-style country home boasting warm color and texture. “I planned the interiors to showcase my large collection of objets and antiques. Bringing them to Knowlton made the house feel rich and collected immediately.”
A Quaint Cottage On Libby Lake
Lysanne Pepin, who owns the Montreal boutique Maison Pepin, wanted a traditional New England aesthetic for her four bedroom, 1,800-square-foot cottage, located on Libby Lake in the Eastern Townships.“The cottages in this area have been kept within families and passed down through the generations. I pictured something New England-style, a quiet place where I could bring my friends and my dog,” says Lysanne.