Country Homes
See A Newly Built Home Inspired By Rural Quebec’s Picturesque Landscape
Published on July 30, 2024

When architectural designer Douglas Dawson’s sister asked him to design her new home in the Laurentians just north of Montreal, he decided to build a love letter to Quebec. Born and raised in la belle province, Douglas has fond memories of skiing at Gray Rocks, a resort close to Tremblant, and touring the quaint villages of Île d’Orléans near Quebec City. “I was inspired by traditional saltbox houses you find in the area with the steeply peaked roofs,” he says. “They have real character with their board-and-batten siding and sash windows.”
The project kicked off in early 2020, with Douglas collaborating with architect Dina Sarhane of DS Studio, and Montreal designer Yves A. Lefebvre tackling the interiors. Douglas’s sister had left Montreal years earlier and loved the country setting of the Laurentians, but wanted a more private new home that had main-floor living. “I wanted to be able to walk out my front door and get lost in the woods hiking or cross-country skiing,” she says.
The overall interior aesthetic, conceived by Yves, is also steeped in Quebec culture, albeit from a different region. Yves once had a place in La Malbaie, a town on the St. Lawrence River. “My client visited me there and fell in love,” says Yves. “La Malbaie inspired a lot of the texture in these interiors — the wood walls and the exposed joists on the underside of the cathedral ceiling, and all of the mouldings.”
Scroll down for a look inside this Farmstead-style home!

Architectural designer Douglas Dawson (left) with his sister and her golden retriever, Ellie, on the front steps. While driving around looking for properties, she spied a lot with many pluses. It was flat, a rarity in the mountains, and on a lake with a ban on motorboats. The existing bungalow, though, was a teardown. “It had no charm,” she says. “I wanted to build something with a deep connection to the surroundings.”

For the architecture, Douglas stayed true to his vision. The exterior of the 2,350-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom structure — three adjoining, understated volumes, each topped with a steep metal roof — evokes old French-Canadian farmsteads that would fit right into an A. Y. Jackson painting. “I wanted the house to look as though it had always been here,” says Douglas.

Instead of incorporating eavestroughs, stone drainage surrounds the house; water flows into special channels notched into the wood decking.

The foyer opens to the center of the house, where you’ll find the kitchen, dining area and a living room with soaring ceilings, board-and-batten wall panelling and an eclectic collection of furniture and accents. The lighting often leans more traditional, an effective contrast to the airy, modern envelope. The room’s large scale chandelier brings drama and emphases the vaulted ceiling; a salvaged fireplace mantel from an antique shop adds character.

Black accents and a charming wall clock bring contrast to the white kitchen.

Colorful moments, including the pop of bright blue in the kitchen, are a pure reflection of the owner. “She has a very vibrant personality,” says Yves. “That’s all her.” As are many of the decorative accents, which come from the client’s personal collection or have been passed down through her family. That includes the French Canadian art hung on the walls, the shelves lined with local pottery and the furniture, much of which was hand built in Quebec. “I cherish every piece,” says the owner. “There’s a certain quality I appreciate when things are made right here at home.”

The board-and-batten motif continues in the principal bedroom. A wall of glazing offers an exquisite view of the lake.

In the principal bathroom, a large window above the tub frames the woodsy setting like art. The space is bright yet inviting. “White spaces best showcase natural light,” says architect Dina Sarhane.

Two bedrooms are located on either side of the house, in the smaller volumes, to give guests maximum privacy, with extra sleep space tucked in the basement.

The covered terrace is a particularly beautiful reference to the area’s classic country houses, many of which are decked with similarly sweeping verandas. Facing the lake and more than 60 feet long, the terrace combines an outdoor living and dining area lit by giant pendants, perfect for whiling away languid summer evenings.

The covered space is connected to a uncovered patio just off the principal bedroom that’s great for afternoon sunbathing. “I’m basically always outside when it’s warm,” says the owner, who’s lived here full time since 2022. “The terrace faces northwest, so it’s an amazing place to watch the sunset.”
Justin Van Leeuwen
House & Home
Douglas Dawson (architectural design)/Yves A. Lefebvre (interior design)