Location : St. Theodore de Chertsey : Only one hours drive from the center of Montréal. Eighteen kilometers past Rawdon on the highway 25 North in the direction of St. Donat. From the airport : approximately the same drive time.
Total living space is approximately 2600 square feet all on one level. This is now my principal residence : it is available to rent on short terms only : i.e. one week or less. Or it can also be optioned for exchanges(?).
Locale – Setting : A short 7 kilometer drive from the town center of Chertsey, the house is located on a semi private “domain” : there are only 5 residences on this 125 acre property. A ½ kilometer long private road leads in, where the houses are then spread around a large oval road about 1 kilometer in size. All the homes are actually quite separate : this house having the most privacy of all. It is located in the center of the ring road and is also on a hillside with privacy from the other houses views. The house also has its own semi circle drive of over ½ kilometer in length : and two entrances with cement block posts and wooden gates.
Forest : “Old growth forests” : We try to estimate their height ? Some trees must be 150 feet or more now. These are also private forests belonging to the property, which have been cleaned over the years so it is more like a park forest than wild scrub. In the winter this is an amazing place to see.
Views : As there are large deck balconies on all sides of the house : you have great views everywhere : the gardens on two sides and from the front, a vista view of a spreading uninhabited valley and mountain on the opposite side. The mountain takes the evening sun and also seems to capture all rainbows after a shower. (The pot of gold is in the same spot it seems with these rainbows : yet we have not yet gone to find it). Although not in open view, in the valley, there are two rivers : the Jean Venne (small) and also the larger Oureau. The Jean Venne is accessible by forest trail just below the house. In the spring the sounds of the Oureau are very audible with the overflow of melting snow filling the rivers.
The House Itself : This was originally built in 1977. The house is called a “Pan Abode” : which is basically a Cedre Log fashioned construction (think Cedre logs on a Lego style building fashion). The main structure (including the basement is in block and stucco : although this is all hidden by wrap around decks on all sides of the entire house. The walls are literally 4 inches thick solid cedre log. No insulation ! The logs themselves have an R 40 factor ! Warm to the touch even in the dead of winter when it can go to -40 C outside. The entire house is of British Columbia cedre. The interior ceilings and walls are also all solid cedre !
Furnishings and Décor : Hardwood floors are throughout the house with the exception of the kitchen which is grey slate, and the greenhouse which also has pale green ceramic tiles. Furniture is mostly Indonesian redwood I have collected with a mix of other antiques. Windows abound here : all rooms have huge thermo panes. From the outside of the house you can in fact from most angles see completely through the house. Like living outside in some respects.
Sleeping Facilities : Two closed Bedrooms : both with double beds and ventilating windows with screens. There is also a “Guest House” with a double bed and also a fold out double sofa bed (See Guest House section).
Bathroom Facilities : The main bathroom has lovely antique fixtures : one lion’s foot bathtub in front of a 12 foot full floor to ceiling window overlooking the north garden. I found the most wonderful pedestal antique sink many years ago : a true pedestal sink in cast iron that must be at least 100 years old or more. The bathroom also has antique wall vanity cabinets. A shower is in the sauna room below the kitchen.
Sauna : Below the kitchen is a large hot steam sauna room : all cedar walled. Timer controlled. Two 8 foot benches can accommodate 4 or more persons.
Office Area : The second bedroom functions now as an office (with the guest house it is not needed now for my own use). We have two telephones lines which allows us to use internet freely without tying up thee phone line (or at least one of them). Fax, scanner and photocopy machine also equipped. This room is also used as a TV area : complete with TV, VCR, DVD, and home theatre sound system. There is also a second office area or lounge area facing the greenhouse room. It is supplied also with phone and internet, scanner, and printer. Both phone lines also have individual portable phones as well.
Kitchen facilities : The kitchen is probably the main focus area in the house most of the day. It is quite large : in all around 400 square feet in size. In the center of the room is a large 4 x 4 wooden center island. Ample counter space and cabinets : participation friendly space for the cooks who like assistants ? ( Some do ). As for the groceries: there is a large side by side stainless Frigidaire Gallery refrigerator –freezer. A black enamel and stainless gas stove is another treat for the designated cook. To clean up you also have the assistance of a stainless Smeg ultra quiet dishwasher. Plus there are more cooking appliances and gizmo’s than you could wish for.
Even in preparing at the double sink you have an entire wall of window which views onto the main deck : while you work you can see countless birds all over the two large feeders. There are two entrances off the kitchen : one to the north garden facing the guest house, and one onto the main sun deck (All doors in the house are full pane glass doors). A staircase from the kitchen goes down to a sauna room.
Living room : Dining room : Music room : This main room area of the house is very open concept. It is in an L shape configuration and probably covers around 800 square feet ? The principle feature in this room is, I suppose, the large open style wall fireplace. A large wicker couch and matching arm chairs face fill in this living section. The dining room has a wonderful old antique Queen Ann style table and chairs : which will easily and comfortably sit 8 or even 10 persons. Over the years I have collected Turkish glass ceiling lamps which are now all over the ceiling above the table. Wonderful sight, and very warm in effect. The dining table is in front of a 3 panel floor to ceiling main window : the view is the entire valley and mountain on the far side. Off the living room area is a sitting area – music room ? With Piano. From this room there are French doors leading onto the main deck
Decks : The main deck wraps around the house and connects from the music room area to the kitchen. This Deck is large : probably over 1000 square feet. We have 6 wood lounge chairs and a teak dining table with 4 chairs ; and umbrella. Off the dining room there is also a east facing long veranda along the entire side of the house (On the high side of the split level). Great space to sit on a summer evening after dinner to catch the sunset on the mountain.
Greenhouse : Off the second office area or sitting room is the greenhouse which has 20 foot ceilings. Ventilated windows with screens are on 3 sides. You access the pool deck from the Greenhouse through French doors.
Guest House : A separate “Cabin” just off the North garden is our Guest House. Same Cedar log construction as the main house. Again also with many windows and window screens for air circulation. The house has hardwood floors and one warming combustion wood stove. Basically it is one very spacious room (about 400 square feet), with a double platform bed, and a fold out sofa bed also if needed. A closed bathroom has a shower.
Pool : Presently there is a 12 x 24 foot pool (this is an above ground pool but I had it enclosed in an all sided deck so it has almost an ingound pool impression). Most of the sides are now also overgrown with rose bushes.
Gardens : Best way to describe this is to say please just look at the pictures. I probably have over 50 rose bushes now : plus all kinds of perennials and a few flowering trees. There are plenty of well established herbs plants open for the cooks to use at will. Automatic watering is done by timers.
Everyday Nature Guests : It seems that over the years the woods creatures are either proliferating or just wanting to become my friends. In the winter, deer wander all around the house and even walk on the driveway : a snowball throw away ! That closes. The two large bird feeders are wild with activity : especially in the winter. Sometimes there are hundreds of birds feeding at the same time ! (Along with 5 or 6 chipmunks who hang out for the overflow). We also have about 12 doves that now visit daily, plus the group of Bluebirds, Cardinals, Blackbirds, Orioles, Grosbeaks, and even one Red Headed Woodpecker. In January of this year (2005) a family of Partridges arrived : even they hang out at the feeders. Amazing as they are the size of a big chicken. Other on and off visitors are Porcupines, Red Foxes, the odd Skunk, and Mr. Raccoon.
House Amenities / All included in rental price :
- Heat and Hydro. (Heat is electric : but there is a back up Propane furnace also) ;
- Satellite TV including movie channel packages (excludes pay per view channels) ;
- CD / DVD / VCR : Home theatre sound system ;
- All bed and bathroom linens and towels / duvet / pillows, etc. ;
- Fully equipped kitchen : dishes, cutlery, glassware, and all utensils ;
- Security night lighting on automatic sensors for the exterior of the house : plus the entire
drive way and forest are lit up at night on ten - 8 foot light posts : with timers ;
- Alarm system : with fire and heat sensors : connected to Protectron Alarms.
Around the area : Chertsey has most amenities you would need. A large Provigo grocery store is also set up with a fully stocked SAQ (Quebec Liquor and Wine store). There is also a large hardware store, a post office, and a pharmacy. There are a number of ski hills in the vicinity : LaReserve in St Donat is probably the largest and best known : this is only about 25 minutes drive directly North of Chertsey on the highway 25. Also : there is a small ski hill in Chertsey itself : Mont St. Calm. Rawdon also has a ski hill and Mont St Come is also about 30 minutes away just North and East. Many many lakes are all over the area. Plus other than the two rivers just below the house there is a wonderful little falls just off the property which is a sunning and swimming spot many people like to visit in the summer. Chertsey has 3 small restaurants also (albeit they are not “fine food” but basic fair).
Health Facilities : There is a CLSC in Chertsey. (CLSC is Quebec health care facility for basic non hospital required services). A full facility hospital is in Joliette.
Rental Rates : In CDN $ : see below.
There is also one time exit cleaning fee of $60 Cdn on top of these prices . There are no taxes applicable.
Note : Prices are subject to a 5% increase on any rentals arranged by or referred by Rental and Realistate Agents. Any fees or commissions for my rentals will be agreed to by the agent and myself prior to a lease confirmation. Additional fees or commissions in excess of the 5% will be paid for by Leighton Barrett.
Weekly : $1000 (all year except X mass holidays & new years).
High season (from June 1 to Sept 15 ) : $1400.
Week of Christmas or New Years : $1750.
Minimum stay is 3 days : $250 per day.
Long Term : This property is not available for long term or monthly rental.
Payment Terms & Payment Options : Short term rentals : require full payment at time of booking / signing the rental contract.
Payment methods : Paypal preferred (direct payment from bank to bank account) or by MasterCard, Visa or American Express through Pay pal. Or : International Money Order or Certified Check. Payments or deposits can also be sent in USD funds by express mail from the USA : courier preferred from outside of North America.
Payments or deposits sent in US funds will be calculated at the current exchange rate and applied to the rental fee. Balances of rental fees are payable on occupancy. Currency exchange to Cdn $ can be calculated easily at the following Web site link : ( XE.com ) “The Universal Currency Connection”.
