A once-abandoned Canadian chalet has been brought back to life with custom furniture and characterful antiques from the designers' travels

There's something so cozy and comforting about countryside homes. The raw materials, the beautiful landscapes, and the tranquility of their location make them all the more desirable.

And when you think of a home in the Canadian countryside, charming log cabin decor and beautiful chalet properties instantly come to mind. They reflect the rural setting and feel right at home in the landscape.

Designer Luke Havekes has owned several properties in the country outside of Montreal, but when he came across this chalet home, he instantly fell in love with it – the perfect place to enjoy cooking, hosting, gardening, and exploring the surrounding countryside. Here, we take a look inside.

'The house is located about one hour outside of Montreal in an area called the Eastern Townships. The area is known for its skiing, vineyards, and generally beautiful country landscapes with rolling hills and sweeping views,' says homeowner and designer Luke Havekes M.Arch.

'The house is just outside of a village called Knowlton which was founded in the mid-1800s. The gated property is close enough to the village that you can walk to the bakery, épicerie, or post office but on a completely private five-acre piece of land with no visible neighbors.'

The location was a real selling point of the property, benefitting from the perfect balance of rural while still being within easy reach of amenities. But the house itself was what really caught Luke's eye, despite it having been left abandoned for almost a decade.

'The house was a typical French Canadian style log house built in 1968. Double story with a steeply sloped roof with huge curved projecting eves and small peaked dormer windows. The services of a Montreal Architect Adam Borowczyk were enlisted to break the mold and add more presence and charm to the exterior and interior spaces,' Luke explains.

The project was not without its challenges. With ambitious plans to update and modify the property, lots of planning and structural work was required. And the timing of the build couldn't have come at a more difficult time.

'Every challenge possible that could be faced with this project was faced! The closing for the property took place days before the beginning of the global pandemic. A build that was meant to take about a year ended up taking triple the time planned and triple the budget,' says Luke.

While the footprint of the property remained the same, a large steel beam was added through the main ridge of the house to provide much-needed support through to the basement, allowing them to add new dormers at the back of the home and reinforce the existing ones at the front.

'Soaring cathedral ceilings were also achieved throughout the upper floor of the house in every room. The upper floor went from feeling pokey and tight to airy and spacious,' Luke explains.

'The roof on the house is a nod to Quebec’s French history. The roof is in hand-folded steel applied in diamond panels, modified in the same manner that was historically used in Europe and New France.' The lower level needed work, too, so part of the remodel included adding windows along the basement wall to fill the space with light.

'The brief was to breathe new life into the shell of the building and retain any redeeming qualities or good architectural characteristics. Any interventions would be made to look like they were always there and enhance the overall feeling and features of what was intended to be a timeless quintessential Canadian country home.'

While maintaining the integrity of the house itself was an important part of the remodel, the interiors needed to pay homage to its roots while also creating a home that feels cozy, lived-in, and reflective of the homeowner. Something that's been achieved seamlessly.

The decor has been heavily inspired by Luke's travels – vintage and antique pieces collected from around the world have been displayed throughout the home. 'Masks collected from travels in Africa, antique prints and textiles from Japan, tapestries from France, Fortuny silk lighting from Venice, and an international selection of carpets from destinations like Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan anchor each room,' he says.

The attention to detail that has gone into decorating this home is second to none. Custom details are present throughout, from upholstery pieces in various rooms to furniture made specifically for the spaces they live in, including the 13-foot daybed in the dining room, a 14-seater dining table made from a single slab of walnut, and the pair of travertine nesting cocktail tables in the living room.

'There is also a large collection of antiques in the house from various periods and places. An Art Deco library table in the living room, a mahogany French commode in the entry, a serpentine mid-century sofa in the master bedroom, and a few Victorian pieces for good measure,' explains Luke.

That sense of old meets new continues throughout the decor, with contemporary artworks by Canadian artists mixed with antique pieces. The finishing touches have clearly been considered, too. Lighting was a priority, ensuring each room had the right ambiance and that the fixtures tied into the scheme beautifully.

'The living room and dining room have custom lights designed by my firm and made in Montreal from solid brass. Antique sconces are found in most rooms with original glass shades.'

The result is a home that feels timeless and authentic, and the use of 'noble materials' and considered finishes throughout allows the interiors to age and evolve over the years, creating a natural patina and a truly lived-in and loved home.

'It's an elevated version of the original which sat for decades untouched and preserved widely through neglect. The unique elements and details stand out but harmonize within each of the spaces giving them continuity and an overall feeling of timeless quality,' says Luke.

'Every season is different and brings different vantages and surprises. It's a very special home that was very well worth all the challenges and efforts spent to achieve!'

This chalet home might have undergone a serious remodel, but the sympathetic renovations ensured that the home still felt authentic to its roots. From the beautiful log cabin kitchen to the beautiful displays of collected antiques around the home, the design is sure to stand the test of time – and feels far from the abandoned chalet it once was.