One of our main entries into Recollets Manoir is directly adjacent to the church. Most of our pedestrian guests enter through this gate. It is highly visible from churchgoers and from the small street. THIS IS NOT A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION!

Even with the gorgeous centuries-old carved stone pilasters that are a magnificent welcoming design element, the gate that our guests actually walk through is clearly not.

After over 14 years of being opened and closed by workers coming and going each day with materials and equipment, the gate is about to collapse. It is at least over 100 years old unfortunately, most of it is too far degraded to be restored. Aside from the letterbox, it needs to be changed and fast!

An enormous double french entry door has been recently installed in anticipation for creating a welcoming entry into the manoir for our guests. The problem is the narrow outdoor space between the door and the entry gate. There is no light, it is not paved or level, there is leftover construction debris. this tiny space might be the most powerful we have on the property -enough to change someone’s mood immediately -right now, not in a good way.

My dogs are adorable, however, they are very enthusiastic and they might not be as adorable to the guests as they want to say their welcomes with jumps. Then, they seek the opportunity to escape through the gate while no one is watching. This isn’t the best scenario.

Once through the huge french doors you enter the nearly-restored museum/gallery space - where we will display our discoveries and archaeological findings in the “cabinet of curiosities”. This will serve as the foyer where we will receive our guests. This spills into the cloister and billiard room and up the staircase directly to the bedrooms.

Just north of the church is a small parking lot where it is convenient for guests to leave their car.

This is the inside of the church which used to be the church of the Recollets since it was constructed between 1619-1623. During the French Revolution in 1789, the monks were expelled from the church and their convent. The convent was sold to private hands, and the church given to the commune and eventually renamed Eglise Saint Etienne. Today, the church has largely become a venue for concerts. However, the bells still ring every day and religious services are held once a month.

This is the existing bird’s eye view of the future entry garden. Even if we put one little potted plant there, it would be a vast improvement!