Marie-Claude Pagé and Stephan Vincent spent nine years restoring a heritage house in Old Sherbrooke to its former glory. At the corner of Dominion and Victoria streets, the residence built in 1906 does not go unnoticed.
With its semi-circle parking lot, its two brick chimneys, its numerous paned windows and its wooden galleries, the house is a reminder that the industrial era was prosperous for the city of Sherbrooke.
It was the grandeur of the pieces that seduced Marie-Claude Pagé and Stephan Vincent almost 10 years ago. The blended family needed space. “We wanted a house where everyone can have their own bubble,” says the owner.
The house has two living rooms, five bedrooms and an office, so no one has ever stepped on their feet. “There were a lot of renovations to do,” Mr. Vincent remembers. But we didn’t need to tear down walls or change divisions. That was a big plus. »
The couple wanted to make the house more contemporary without distorting its style or its history. To do this, the plaster walls were first redone. Then, aged marble was installed in the entrance hall to accentuate the period look.
On either side of the entrance is a living room. With its 10-foot ceiling where wooden beams are visible and the fireplace mantel with sculpted details, the place was undoubtedly used in the past to receive many dignitaries. The dining room can accommodate a table of 12 people.
To receive guests and take care of the children, the first owners undoubtedly hosted a governess. A service staircase connects the kitchen upstairs.
The master bedroom was so large that Marie-Claude Pagé and Stephan Vincent divided it to create a wardrobe and makeup area. They also redid the adjacent bathroom. Two other bedrooms, an office and another bathroom are also located on the second floor.
Although they received a document upon purchase detailing the history of all the owners, Marie-Claude Pagé and Stephan Vincent do not know who had the house on rue Victoria built. The document begins with the words “Act of Convenience” for a mere $600.
The couple knows, however, that one of the former occupants, Jan Pick, was a regular pheasant hunter on Providence Island, south of Lake Memphremagog.
With the two bedrooms connected by a cedar closet, on the third floor, the couple never felt the need to finish the basement. The concrete floor, stone walls and huge open area offer many possibilities.
Almost his entire career, Stephan Vincent has worked as a landscape architect. He created his dream project in the backyard of his house. “We spoiled ourselves,” he admits.
The covered balcony gives access to an outdoor kitchen. Behind the counter, there is a sink and two barbecues: the first is charcoal and the second is gas. Further on, a very large bed is placed near a pool with four falls. The east-facing courtyard also has a dining area, a fireplace and a vegetable garden.
These improvements as well as the repair of the French drain, the repair of the steel roof, the sanding of the floors, the renovation of the kitchen and the bathrooms have been expensive over the years. However, the municipal assessment has hardly changed in 10 years.
“It’s practical, the taxes are low,” observes Ms. Pagé.
The couple based themselves on recent transactions in the neighborhood to set the sale price. He now awaits the family who will add their name to the history of the Victoria Street house.
