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La Cadrée Perchée Is a Mountain Home That Interacts With Nature

ByMyProperty Life

In the Laurentians of Quebec, where maple groves cascade down the slopes toward Lac Franc (Franc lake), a residence appears less like a built object and more like a natural extension of the land itself. La Cadrée Perchée, designed by L’Empreinte Design Architecture for its founder, Pier-Olivier Lepage, is a home where everyday living and the surrounding environment work peacefully together.

A wooden deck with a lounge chair, sheepskin throw, round ottoman, and side table overlooks a lush, green forest.

Perched among the treetops in Morin-Heights, the 2,100-square-foot home was conceived as both a workplace and a retreat. For Lepage, who spends long stretches working from home, the aim was to dissolve the usual distinction between interior and the natural world outside. Every space within the house is designed to direct attention outward: floor-to-ceiling walls of glass frame views of the outdoors as light, the sky, and landscaping evolve over time. “I spend a lot of time working from home,” says Lepage. “However, I concentrate better when I feel connected to the outdoors. Otherwise, I am distracted by thoughts of going out to enjoy the outdoors.”

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A modern home with a wooden deck and lounge chairs overlooking trees on the left, and a minimalist living room with a fireplace and brown seating on the right.

The building’s orientation faces east and west allowing Lepage to enjoy the sunrise and sunset, with the interior layout carefully considered as not to obstruct the views. At certain times, one can feel suspended above the cascading treetops, while at others, protected by the shade they provide.

Modern living and dining area with large brown sectional sofa, wooden table, and minimalist decor, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and wood-paneled ceiling and walls.

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Inspired by the principles of a radiator, the home’s form amplifies the sun’s presence without overwhelming its occupants. Wooden frames and its exterior walls increase the diffusion surface allowing for a balance of heat absorption and light reflection, while giving the illusion of a home filled with sunlight. This careful consideration responds not only to environmental conditions but also to the psychological benefits of light – supporting focus, calm, and seasonal well-being.

A modern living room with wooden ceiling and walls, large brown cushioned chairs, pendant lights, and a dining area in the background with ample natural light.

Even in summer, the home finds balance. Solar control strategies, paired with natural ventilation, maintain the interior climate, allowing the home to remain comfortable without concealing the nearby landscape that surrounds it.

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A modern black fireplace with a burning fire stands before large glass windows overlooking a deck with lounge chairs and trees outside. A wood coffee table is in the foreground.

A modern dining room with a large wooden table, minimalist decor, pendant lights, and floor-to-ceiling windows; chairs have white fur throws draped over them.

Inside and out, wood is the key material used. Its raw, textured surfaces mimic the bark of surrounding maples, while its warm tones give nod to the leaves. Even the ceiling, composed of simple furring strips, results in an economical yet bespoke solution. Minimalist interventions – like recessed furniture, a low-profile kitchen, and storage consolidated into central volumes – let the residence breathe and leave the forest as the home’s true ornamentation.

Modern kitchen with wooden countertops, built-in stovetop, glass jars with dry goods, and large windows overlooking a forested area.

A green glass bottle on a wooden cutting board sits on a counter in front of large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking leafy trees.

Modern minimalist bathroom with white cabinets, a round wall-mounted sink, an oval toilet, wooden accents, and a hammock chair partially visible on the right.

Modern interior hallway with white walls, wooden ceiling, built-in cabinets, and large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking trees; two brown poufs sit at the end of the hall.

The palette is kept deliberately muted. Bleached concrete floors add brightness and continuity throughout, white surfaces mirror the snowy landscape in winter, and mullion-free glass opens wide, leaving nothing to distract from the views.

Minimalist bedroom with white walls, built-in closets, a wooden bed platform, a wooden chair, and sunlight streaming through large windows.

A modern bathroom with large windows overlooking a forest, featuring a wooden platform, black chair with fur throw, white bathtub, and candles.

Though compact in footprint, the residence offers spaces tailored to both solitude and gathering. A sunken living room, inspired by Japanese kotatsu, encourages maximum enjoyment for get togethers around the fire. The bedroom – equipped with a desk, soaking tub, and expansive window wall – becomes a multifunctional retreat designed for productivity, rest, or relaxation.

Modern bathroom with a freestanding tub, wooden stool, black chair, and floor-to-ceiling window overlooking trees; minimalist decor with white walls and ceiling.

Two tree trunks stand in front of a modern building with a wood-paneled ceiling, balcony, and spotlights, with white chairs visible on the balcony.

Two outdoor terraces carved into the facade provide protected spaces to step outside year-round. In warmer months, they act as shaded spots for reading or dining, while in winter, the continuity of wooden ceilings and walls blurs the line between indoors and outdoors, inviting residents to inhabit the crisp air without leaving the warmth of home.

A modern building with vertical wooden siding and a covered porch, featuring a single chair and large stones beside the wooden deck.

A modern, rectangular wooden house with large windows sits elevated on a concrete base, surrounded by trees and dense green foliage.

For more information about La Cadrée Perchée by L’Empreinte Design Architecture, visit lempreinte.ca.

Photography by Pier-Olivier Lepage, courtesy of v2com.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

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