Lac Sainte-Marie: A High-Performance Chalet in the Laurentians

Ultimate Windows, Doors & More

4 days ago

3 min read

5,000 sq ft | LEED Gold | Energuide 86 | Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard, Laurentides

Saint-Adolphe-d’Howard sits about ninety minutes north of Montreal, in the lake country that has drawn people out of the city for generations. Surrounded by trees on an elevated lot, this property gives a charming and organic first impression. A gravel lane, a cedar facade and a covered entry with stone steps invite you in. Nothing about the front elevation hints at what is behind it.

The rear of the home is a different experience entirely: the 5,000-square-foot chalet reveals itself, opening up on multiple levels to become a true escape. The lower level features a full-width deck including a seating space, hot tub, cold plunge, and an extended stone lounge area. The main level features a 3-season covered patio which overlooks the lake.

Lac Sainte-Marie was designed by Design Elitek and built by Écohabitations Boréales. Ultimate Windows, Doors & More in Montreal was pleased to work with the homeowner, making careful design choices that balanced budget and performance needs, while maintaining a consistent appearance for the home.

It was built to LEED Gold and holds an EnerGuide rating of 86. LEED Gold is one of the highest tiers in green building certification, covering energy use, materials, and overall environmental performance. The EnerGuide 86 score sits well above the average new Canadian home, on a scale where 100 represents net-zero, thanks to expert craftsmanship, material & fenestration choices.

The front of the home features a custom Marvin glass entry door with sidelites and transoms, providing a sneak peek at the interior and what lies beyond. The entryway is flanked by Marvin Elevate Casement windows on each side. A mixture of Simulated Divided Lites (SDLs) and clear glass on the front of the house offers character without becoming too busy.

On the rear elevation, casements are set over rows of fixed windows. SDL detailing is removed from the lake-facing elevation of the home, with clear glass offering unobstructed views from every room.

The main-level great room is the natural heart of the home. A combined open living area, dining room and kitchen that opens through two wide sets of Marvin Ultimate Bi-Fold doors to the elevated patio.

The patio is a three-season room, extending the living space dramatically: covered, heated, and fitted with a powered retractable screen system that closes it off completely when needed. The result is an insect-free outdoor living space that gets real use well into the shoulder seasons, and the reason those bi-fold doors will spend a lot of time open.

Most of the fenestration is Marvin Elevate, the right call for a project where performance and budget both matter. The Ultimate Collection is reserved for the bi-fold doors, where the larger spans and the frequency of operation justify it. Hardware is dark bronze throughout, chosen to closely match the Pebble Grey window finish so that the hardware and frames read as one thoughtful unit.

The EnerGuide 86 rating and LEED Gold certification both come from treating the envelope seriously. High-performance Elevate units carry a meaningful share of that number in a Quebec climate which sees seasonal extremes ranging nearly 80°C.

Lac Sainte-Marie - A house designed to keep you outside as long as possible, built well enough to handle everything a Quebec winter can deliver.