Les Rochers

What is the story behind Les Rochers, what was your inspiration to create it?

I used to visit the Magdalen Islands as a kid, as my godparents had (and still have) a vacation home here. It has long been a popular destination for Quebec families. We’d pack everything into the car, go on a road trip and spend a few days at the beach, then come home. 

I didn’t go for 15 or 20 years and kind of forgot about it. At one point, my partner and I were looking for a vacation destination and thought about the Magdalen Islands as he had never been. We found out there were direct flights and hopped on a plane. 

For me, it was a rediscovery of the destination. We ended up going back a second time and a third, then eventually bought a house. Normally, we are based in Montreal but we spent all of the pandemic on the island. Now we do an extended summer on Havre Aubert and winters in Montreal. 

Originally, the property had only a historic house with a lot of land around it. So we built a new home for us as well as a guesthouse we named Les Rochers. It came about after architect friends visited one weekend and jumped on the project. Construction took place the following year and we began welcoming friends and family in 2019. 

The design is vernacular but with a contemporary interpretation. The shape of the house and the wood shingles are derived from traditional architecture but the windows and interior treatments are much more contemporary. The walls aren’t plastered, so the structure of the house is transparent.

How would you describe the atmosphere and the interior design of Les Rochers?

The feedback we receive from guests is that the windows are like ever-changing paintings. The house is located on a hill, with very few trees around it. So you can see the sea, the road and the neighbouring houses. The scenery is always different, depending on where you are in the house, the weather, the light and the time of day. 

To you personally, what is so special about Les Rochers?

It was a passion project to share the destination and create a certain level of comfort for guests. We wanted to achieve a balance between simplicity and luxury, so guests are comfortable but there’s nothing they don’t need either. 

What do you particularly like about the island?

There’s a real sense of serenity and it’s slow-paced, with nature, the beach and the ocean all around. We see guests arrive who have read the guide and know everything they want to do and everywhere they want to eat out. But often, they end up skipping these things to just watch the sunset with baguettes and cheese. It’s a very chilled vibe.