With a background in fashion and beauty, Dominique Primeau has worked with some of the most elegant names in the industry, including Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, and has a keen sense for luxury living. He and his partner Ross Pattee brought elegant hospitality to the Quebec town of Montebello with a grand renovation of the local presbytery building. It was transformed into a boutique-style hotel catering to adults over 18, while also serving as home for the stylish pair.
Dominique is the general manager of The Manoir Chamberland, which offers luxurious guest rooms, a slick lounge and magnificent dining room, while Ross commutes to Ottawa to work as a lawyer. When the couple purchased the neglected building in 2015, it was in great need of repair, but Dominique’s eye for detail saw the potential.
“The place had good bones, but with leaks everywhere,” recalls the clever designer. “They were too numerous to count – in the attics, garage door, basement door, perimeter and basement. The chimneys were a hazard and ready to fall, as was the retaining wall off the veranda where the stones could be removed like drawers.”
With skillful renovation experience under their belt, Dominique and Ross were ready to take on the Montebello project. They had previously renovated a century-old home in North Vancouver before moving to Ottawa in 2015, when they began a two-year renovation on a house built in 1908. Working as a designer after years of expertise as the owner of a custom furnishing store, Dominique found the appeal of the new project was strong enough for the two of them to leave Ottawa for the quaint Quebec Village.
Not only does the interior space showcase the transformation, but the grounds have also been beautifully brought to life as an outdoor oasis. Decks have been added along with a hot tub, a wedding pavilion and pool with a 1,500 square-foot pool house that was designed and built by Dominique.
“The yard was a blank canvas of mostly weeds when we arrived,” says Dominique who adds that significant planting has taken place since. “We planted 450 cedars, 50 trees and over 50 rosebushes – and this is just the beginning!”
This summer Dominique and Ross will welcome guests for the weekend opening on July 1, but are also making rooms available for the overflow of tourists heading into town for Montebello Rock Fest over the June 23-24 weekend.
The splendid space is a tribute to their vision and Dominique’s talents, and will likely be home for the dynamic couple for many years to come. Along with rooms they still have to fill and a basement full of furnishings, they have many more ideas for evolving their splendid property.
Mary Taggart
