A dilapidated barn was updated for modern living by architectural studio La Firme, located on a country property in Mansonville, a village in the Potton township of the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. The old shed was disassembled and relocated to another area on the farmhouse property. This 4,500 square foot dwelling is used as a retreat for a couple of city dwellers and their children to gather and celebrate.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECTS La Firme and Michel Lemieux CONTRACTOR Gerald St-Pierre LANDSCAPE DESIGN Alain Roy INTERIOR LIGHTING La Firme CABINETRY La Belle Gueule de Bois METALWORK Précinox Métal
ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE
The architects were keen to preserve the vernacular architectural qualities of the original building. The initial structure has therefore been fully recovered. Each piece of hemlock in the siding and structure was numbered and then reinstalled: it was this framework that guided the organization of the space.
INTEGRATED WITH ITS ENVIRONMENT
It must be said that the site, camped at the foot of Mount Owl’s Head, offers a grandiose view that the architects took advantage of through generous windows. From there, the ancestral agricultural landscape remains almost intact.
A REDESIGNED INTERIOR SPACE
The floor that once housed the livestock has become the main living level. It offers residents different degrees of privacy thanks to its multiple areas: open, half-open, and closed. But above all, its 30 feet in height make it a space that breathes and that connects majestically with the natural setting.
On one side of the dining area is the kitchen, featuring pale green cabinets complimented by white countertops. The light fixtures above the island are Louis Poulsen pendants. The island counter stools are the NILSOLLE Bar stool, birch – IKEA, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue.
Materials
- Exterior cladding: natural Hemlock
- Exterior deck, staircase, and entry bridge in white Cedar
- Interior floors: main floor: white oak
- Interior floors: upstairs: painted hemlock
- All custom furniture: white oak
- All cabinetry in the kitchen: lacquered MDF
- Marble in the kitchen: Bianco Carrera
What We Love: A 100-year-old barn structure was completely transformed into a stunning modern barn house for family getaways. The new design is sited to maximize views of the spectacular pastoral landscape while also framing views of the mountains in the distance. Offering a sense of tranquility, this would be a wonderful place to escape with loved ones and feel connected with nature.
Tell Us: What do you think of the overall look and feel of this barn house? Would this be your idea of the ultimate family retreat? Let us know in the Comments!
Note: Have a look at a couple of other wonderful home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign from the Canadian province of Quebec: Modern cottage retreat in Quebec on the shores of Lake Champlain and Sugar factory turned into ‘sweetest’ industrial-chic loft in Montreal.
The entry into this modern barn house is enclosed in glass, gaining access to a double volume dining room with a soaring 35-foot glass wall. The dining table is encircled by black Wishbone Chairs by Hans Wegner. The windows frame views of the magnificent Sutton Mountains and serene agricultural landscape.
The dwelling is nestled into the hillside, accessed via a footbridge that leads into the main part of the barn house on the middle level. A basement and a first level complete this three-story dwelling.
The upper level encompasses four bedrooms and three bathrooms, configured in a U-shape. This creates an opening with views down to the dining room below.
The basement level of this home contains a utility and mechanical room, along with a mudroom and a garage.
The property features a patio, swimming pool, lush gardens, and breathtaking views of the Sutton Mountains in the distance.
PHOTOGRAPHER Ulysse Lemerise Bouchard
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