Laval's Chartrand House is a warm, fieldstone relic from the 1700s

On a magnificent 4,830 square meters (52,000 sq ft)Less than a stone’s throw from the Mille-Îles River lies a sprawling Laval residence known as Chartrand House.

Built around 1750 in cut stone and fieldstone in the St-François district, the house was the home of the Chartrand family for at least eight generations.

The current owners, Mario Lalonde and Josée Royal, have moved across the river from Terrebonne for more outdoor space and most importantly to be near the water.

“We were driving our convertible on a beautiful, sunny day in July 2009 when we stumbled across this house for sale. Mario stopped to look around the property, no one was home, motioned for me to come and look inside through the window,” Royal said.

“Wow! We fell in love when we saw the thick stone walls and the wooden ceilings and floors. We wanted it. It was a real gem. We would never have thought of buying a parent house. Our dream came true in October 2009 true,” she added.

There was a lot to do at the house. The bathroom on the first floor was dated. The shabby walls of the summer kitchen were clad with pine slats. Lalonde and Royal were surprised to discover newspapers from the 1930s and 40s still in good condition when they opened the floorboards. The house required further renovation and repair work, but Lalonde says he is adept at building and fixing things.

Warm earth tones pay tribute to the house's era. — Warm earth tones pay tribute to the house’s era. Photo by Perry Mastrovito /Montreal newspaper

The brown-stained cedar windows on the facade contrast with the gray stone and silver tin roof. Lalonde designed and built the porch using cedar wood, which he then glazed in a natural color. Stones collected from a nearby field were used to finish the underside. The wrought iron bars, often seen in an X or S shape on outdoor brick or stone walls, are called anchor plates. They reinforce masonry walls to prevent them from bending outward and collapsing.

Royal chose warm, earthy tones for the living room, in keeping with the style and era of the house. Some of the decorative elements replicate the textures found in the ceiling, wide floorboards and brickwork. The two love seats with embossed floral patterns are upholstered in cognac Amesbury Spring fabric by Bugatti Design in Anjou and upholstered by Lalonde. The fringes of the lampshade on the table are also cognac-colored. A painting of three geese by Royal’s sister Manon Royal hangs above the wood-burning fireplace. There is a tall pine cabinet and a rustic high table crafted from logs and adorned with a woven basket of silk flowers and cattails. South-facing windows provide plenty of warm light.

In the master bedroom, the bronze headboard and footboard have thin metal rods that look antique. Photo by Perry Mastrovito /Montreal newspaper

In the hallway is the master bedroom. The queen bed is draped in a light gray and white cotton sheet punctuated with red flowers on a slightly darker gray background. It softens the mood of the room while adding a subtle touch of color. The bronze lacquered headboard and footboard feature thin antique-style metal rods. The front legs of the cherry wood bedside tables have the same rods. Pine boards of different widths on the wall behind the bed add to the rustic look.

A wooden bin in the dining room is filled with newspapers, some from the 1930s and 40s, which were discovered under the summer kitchen floorboards. Photo by Perry Mastrovito /Montreal newspaper

Lalonde and Royal have completely redesigned the downstairs bathroom. Old chandeliers installed by the previous owner are about the only things salvaged. The rustic pine counter in blue and natural tones was designed by Le Géant Antique in Sabrevois. A wide beam spans the ceilings of the master bedroom and kitchen. Moldings give the ceiling a distinctive and interesting architectural design. The abundance of wood is complemented by nuanced earth tones in the ceramic tiles.

They have put a lot of energy into making their nearly 275 year old home comfortable while respecting its rustic character. Nowhere is the fruit of their labor more evident than in the kitchen. Remodeled with pine cabinets that have knots the size of a porthole, pay homage to the simple designs of the past. It is an element that gives this old house its character and soul. A striking antique-style black and chrome Heartland electric range was found at JC Perreault in St-Roch-de-l’Achigan.

As a nod to the simple designs of the past, the kitchen has been remodeled with pine cabinets with branches the size of a porthole. Photo by Perry Mastrovito /Montreal newspaper

Another Le Géant Antique creation is the pinewood island with a butcher block worktop that hides the dishwasher. A solid wood Ochsenjoch pendant light with two cast-iron rings hangs above the island. The lamp on the window dresser is made of cast iron and has the shape of an old wood-burning stove. Royal got it as a gift.

A striking architectural element in the dining room are wooden panels that partially cover the thick stone walls. The panels are divided into two cabinets for storing spirits and wine bottles. Carved motifs on the surface of the solid wood dining table are repeated on the backrests of the chairs. The cognac upholstery is the same as the loveseat in the living room. Another, larger Ochsenjoch pendant light provides the main lighting. In a corner of the dining room is a wooden bin with newspapers, some from the 1930s and 1940s, that Lalonde and Royal discovered under the floorboards. In 1935, according to newspaper ads, you could buy roast beef in a Montreal butcher’s shop for 29 cents a pound.

A striking architectural element are wooden panels that partially cover the thick stone walls. Photo by Perry Mastrovito /Montreal newspaper

Since the ground floor offers a lot of living space for Lalonde and Royal, the second floor is mainly used as a storage room and as a guest room. The cracks and rough texture of the original pine floorboards and stairs are a beauty for fans and owners of old homes.

Quebec is one of the few places in North America that still has fieldstone houses built in the 17th century and earlier.

“This parent company is just fantastic,” said Royal. “Especially because of its architectural structure. Clad in fieldstones, it is not new and always needs to be cared for, embellished and cherished. This is our greatest joy, because we must remember and preserve the past.”