Lucille Bonneau* and Martin Desgagné were far from retirement when they began to dream of the home where they would like to spend their old days, in Chicoutimi. This one, inspired by the house they own in Florida, would be on one level, without stairs or basement. It would be a friendly place to bring together family members and friends, both indoors and outdoors.
They started their project five years ago when a wooded plot of land located in a small private sector, five minutes from downtown Chicoutimi, caught their attention.
“You had to be visionary,” admits Lucille Bonneau. The other three houses on the roundabout were built and there was a lot of work to be done to prepare the land. A first entrepreneur hesitated. But we moved forward and we were well supported, both by the team that built the house, Habitations DLC, and by the team that did the landscaping, Réflex Paysage. »
They could have built their home in the highest section of their property.
The fact that from above, the view of the roofs of the city’s houses was not so beautiful also influenced their decision. They chose instead to create a warm cocoon, at the foot of an imposing rock wall.
“We don’t need a big yard,” explains the happy grandmother of four grandsons aged from two and a half to 6 years old. And we didn’t want to maintain a large plot of land. Part of it has also been preserved in the wild. »
After deforesting the area, during the summer of 2019, the owners decided to move their future home closer to the rock wall, which borders the back of their yard.
“I wondered, at first, if it was going to be stifling and if I was going to like it,” admits Lucille Bonneau. We both come from Roberval and we are used to having a vast view of Lake Saint-Jean. Our country house is also on the edge of a lake. But the effect given off by the rock wall is warm and you feel like you are in a private space. We love it. »
Initially, the couple planned to create a natural spa, to the left of the house, at the back. Blasting had been carried out at the same time as the house to fit it out. Dave Jean, from Réflex Paysage, instead suggested installing a swimming pool as an extension of the house.
“To do this, we had to dynamite the land 10 feet from the house, which was built,” explains Ms. Bonneau. He insisted, saying it would be much more beautiful, and we let ourselves be tempted. But the people who carried out the blasting in the summer of 2020 were very worried. They took great precautions and we couldn’t wait to get it done. Fortunately, everything went well. Now that everything is done, we are happy to have taken the risk. »
Her husband swims more than her in the pool, she points out. His favorite part is the small beach, which was incorporated at his request. “There’s a foot of water, I sit there with my little babies and I have fun,” she explains. It was important for me to have this little corner there to enjoy with the children. The 6 year old now goes into the big pool. »
She also really likes her swing, which is located outside the glass fence surrounding the swimming pool. “I have my coffee there every morning when the weather permits, I read my Press, I do my crosswords. It’s my favorite little spot in the morning and evening, when we open the fireplace. »
She appreciates the privacy provided by the immense rock wall, which surrounds the back of the courtyard. This, she discovered with pleasure, changes with the seasons. “In spring and fall, when there is heavy rain, two small natural falls form,” she explains. In winter, there are big icicles, it’s super beautiful. Then in summer, the rock releases heat, creating a microclimate. Often, there is no need to heat the pool. »
She and her husband know they are lucky. “We started at the bottom of the ladder and we are proud of where we have reached,” underlines Ms. Bonneau. We appreciate every thing we have. »
