Class and Atmosphere

A Belle River couple enjoys the ultimate in indoor and outdoor living

When you drive toward Lake St. Clair in the summertime you are reminded of fun-filled vacations, the smell of sun tan oil and trips to old Ontario cottages with mismatched furniture. But the Trepanier-Dupuis home makes you rethink your idea of fun times – especially when you can live year-round with the utmost in style – both inside and out.

The great room, which adjoins the kitchen, is defined by a three-sided fireplace that is set into a meticulously constructed pillar of Virginia ledge rock. The effect is absolutely stunning.

“I never want to leave my house,” says Sandra Trepanier, a Belle River native who runs an insurance brokerage in town. “Scott makes me take a vacation once a year and that’s all I’ll do.”

Trepanier and her husband, Scott Dupuis, a tax accountant in Windsor, moved into their French Provincial-style home in October 2006. They have been living in Belle River since their marriage in 2004 and decided to build their own home after buying a lot from family friends. They wanted a lot with a view. Their design objective encompassed their entire space – including the half-acre backyard adjacent to Rochester Place Golf Course.

“We wanted a pool, and Scott in particular wanted a water feature,” Trepanier says, describing the backyard.

“Part of it was having the outside be more livable,” Dupuis adds.

Trepanier and Dupuis discussed their ideas for their front and backyard areas with Ryan and Matt Pawluk from Lakeshore Landscaping in Windsor. Trepanier knew the style she wanted and had an idea of what plants and trees grow well in the area, but they depended on the Pawluks to develop the overall look. Ryan Pawluk appreciated the clean and modern style the couple wanted and convinced them to include lighting and concrete work. The home’s interior and exterior style is symbiotic.

“They wanted a clean, sharp, contemporary look with a modern edge,” Pawluk says. “Clients have been showing an interest in that particular look, but Sandra has a good take on design. I think the front yard and the backyard accentuate the nice points of the home.”

Pawluk says the design was achieved by incorporating hard lines with concrete that frame certain plantings. The yard includes several evergreens, as well as boxwood bushes mixed with tall grasses. The landscaping was designed to include a noticeable feature for each season. The concrete work, by J. Savone and Sons, acts as a picture frame and highlights the greenery, Pawluk says.

The couple is pleased. They are planning their first big party, a charity golf tournament in July, in memory of Dupuis’ father, Ray Dupuis, who died of cancer in 2005. The plan is to have drinks served outside near the gas fire pit underneath the Brazilian wood pergola from Northern Exposure Decks and Fences in Windsor. Guests will undoubtedly notice the water feature. The two-waterfall feature operates by remote control from a concrete surround at the base of the covered back porch. The style is elegant and impressive.

The custom finished maple kitchen by BetterMade Cabinets is functional and spacious. The sleek door style, the stainless steel appliances and the long pulls all contribute to the contemporary feel the homeowners were looking for. Glass doors in the upper cabinets, large granite countertops, wide banks of drawers and the pot filler above the range keep things organized and beautiful at the same time.

Trepanier and Dupuis are quick to point out that they depended on expert trades people to implement their design ideas inside and outside their home. They stress that they wanted things as low maintenance as possible and their preference was to use businesses and trades people from Essex County, and with the help of their builder, Dave Reaume of Reaume Homes in Windsor, they were able to do just that.

The eight-foot-tall double front doors (Martindale Window and Door Inc.) look like leaded glass with a clean and modern design. The flooring throughout the home is natural bamboo. Nine-foot ceilings give the house a spacious feel. The kitchen has dark cabinets from BetterMade Cabinets, stainless steel appliances (The Lighting Boutique) and black granite countertops from Plaza Ontario Marble & Tile Inc., on Provincial Road. The kitchen island and three-sided fireplace (Scott Fireplaces) that adjoin the kitchen seating area and great room are Virginia ledge rock from Wisconsin, provided by Patene Building Supplies Ltd. “We wanted the kitchen to be a space the homeowners could enjoy and love being in,” says Vern Myslichuk of BetterMade Cabinets. “The generous size of the island doubles as a work surface and a place for guests to sit while keeping the homeowner company.”

The modern furniture and formal dining room and living area have a classic, but fun presence. Guests will be wowed by the large, square, dark wood dining table from Riverside Furniture. The lighting fixtures throughout the house are dramatic. Trepanier has a soft spot for chandeliers and there are several – all from The Lighting Boutique.

“People may think that you can’t get a lot of stuff in Windsor, but you can,” Trepanier says. “Nearly everything is local and we had a great experience with almost everyone.”

“People think you have to order from Toronto or the States, but we didn’t and you don’t have to,” Dupuis says.

The crystal chandelier in the dining room was the first thing Sandra bought for her new home. “You have to have the accessories,” she says.

There is an eclectic feel throughout the home. Most rooms are neutral, but each has a standout decorative feature. The majority of the furniture and the rugs come from Lionheart Collection on Howard Ave. The décor is personal, from the azalea-painted powder room on the main level, to Dupuis’ 1,500-bottle, temperature-controlled wine cellar in the basement. An amber-coloured chandelier adds an artistic touch to the stairway leading to three bedrooms. A traditionally decorated Jack and Jill bathroom adjoins two guest rooms. The master bathroom features both limestone and travertine tile, a soaker tub and a rainforest shower. The master bedroom is spacious and relaxing, with unique furnishings, including an iron and upholstery king-sized bed from Bedazzle in Tecumseh.

The house is impressive in a current and modern way. It’s the ultimate indoor space with the best accompaniment – the ultimate outdoor space.

“We didn’t want a lot of things going on,” Trepanier says. “We wanted a simple, modern house. We love it.”