Homes Website – Winnipeg Free Press

Just one year old, this 2,101 sq. ft. two-storey home features luxurious finishes throughout.

Light, airy and just like new: Make this luxury home your own

Todd Lewys 5 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Thanks to U.S. tariffs and ever-rising construction material prices, it’s never been more costly to build a luxury home.

Add to that the possibility — due to those and other factors — that a home’s price could increase during the building process and you have a scenario that can be as stress-filled as it is exciting.

That financial pressure can prompt some buyers to forego desirable options and design features in an attempt to keep costs under control, which can leach some of the joy out of a time that should be filled with anticipation and optimism.

But every now and again, a gem of a luxury home comes up on the resale market.

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A toilet fail was caught in the nick of time

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

A toilet fail was caught in the nick of time

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Just reliving this experience sends a cold chill down my spine.

If my wife hadn’t spotted a minor issue with the handle of our main-floor toilet, there’s a good chance we would’ve endured a disastrous water breach in our house. And had that happened, the water would have flowed unrestricted for hours, likely damaging a good portion of our main floor — completely destroying our recently finished basement.

A few nights ago, my wife discovered that the main-floor toilet was no longer flushing when you pressed the handle. The two-piece had worked for two decades without faltering — part of the bathroom renovation I completed shortly after we moved to this property. As a matter of fact, in December 2016, I wrote a Reno Boss column about this bathroom, dubbed the “Coca-Cola Bathroom,” since it is adorned from top to bottom with Coke paraphernalia collected throughout the years.

After a brief inspection of the toilet, I found that the inner plastic lever had a non-reparable crack and could no longer lift the flush mechanism. It would need to be replaced.

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2:01 AM CDT

Marc LaBossiere photos / Free Press
The “Coca-Cola Bathroom,” as first showcased in a December 2016 Reno Boss column.

New book has a cornucopia of ideas for entertaining

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

New book has a cornucopia of ideas for entertaining

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Robyn Chubey’s creative ideas for decorating homes and gardens in every season, and her garden-to-table recipes to delight family and guests, are about to reach a new audience.

Chubey’s five-acre farm on the outskirts of Winnipeg — Prairie Glow Acres — is the showcase for her skills as a talented photographer, gardener, florist and decorator. Her social media followers (@life_of_glow on Instagram) are drawn by her innovative ideas and easy DIY projects for creating showstopping spaces, and she uses photography to tell engaging stories about life at home and in the garden.

Next March, she’ll launch her first book, Gather Together: Delightful Décor and Simple Recipes for Every Occasion.

“I was contacted by Quarto Publishing in spring 2024, and was asked if I had ever wanted to write a book,” says Chubey. “I’ve wanted to write a book for about 20 years. I said I would love to.”

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2:01 AM CDT

Robyn Chubey photos
Robyn Chubey uses pumpkins to create a welcoming entrance to her greenhouse.

Show homes still open for visitors after the parade

Lanny McInnes 3 minute read Preview

Show homes still open for visitors after the parade

Lanny McInnes 3 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

While the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s 2025 Fall Parade of Homes comes to an official close on Sunday, Oct. 12, that doesn’t mean your chance to visit Manitoba’s newest and finest show homes will end.

Almost all the show homes that have been part of this fall’s event will remain open for viewing well after the Parade of Homes ends.

MHBA builders have continued to see outstanding crowds at the 135 new homes in this year’s parade. The homes certainly don’t disappoint, offering an amazing array of design, style, quality, craftsmanship and choice for viewers.

Our Fall and Spring Parades of Homes are showcase events hosted by the MHBA that demonstrate the best that the new home building industry has to offer. Whether you’re in the market for a new home, considering a change or just looking for ideas for your current home, no other Parade of Homes in Canada provides the opportunity for people to experience such an extensive collection of new home concepts, features and decor.

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2:00 AM CDT

Supplied
Visiting a Manitoba-built show home is a great way to get ideas for the dream home you’d love to have.

Homegrown solution

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Homegrown solution

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

For the last two years, Dave Hanson, owner of Sage Garden Greenhouses, has been using Typha for mulching plants and improving soil quality. A sustainable product made from harvested cattail stalks, Typha holds significant potential for gardeners, says Hanson.

“The story behind Typha is incredible in so many ways,” says Hanson. “It is a Manitoba-made solution with ecosystem benefits to our lakes, but it’s not limited in its scope. As more gardeners discover Typha’s benefits as a mulch and soil amendment, it has the potential to impact the horticulture industry across Canada.”

Typha is an aquatic plant that functions as a bio accumulator. Typha plants naturally filter nutrient runoff before it makes its way downstream to freshwater lakes. Harvesting Typha plants at a critical time of its life stage has proven very effective at removing phosphorus, which is the key culprit behind excessive algae blooms in Lake Winnipeg.

Alec Massé, CEO and co-founder of Typha Co., is keen to spread the word about the many ways that Typha simplifies gardening.

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Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

Dave Hanson photo
Top-dress houseplants with Typha for a finished look. It improves moisture retention, too.

Making windows disappear

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Making windows disappear

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

It’s often the least sexy tasks during remodelling that prove to be the most important, but they tend to be overshadowed by the grandeur of a completed project. We’re talking the rough plumbing of a bathroom upgrade, the electrical required for the introduction of ceiling pot lights or building the sub-structure that supports a multi-tiered deck.

At a recent jobsite, it was phase one of a feature wall introduction that fell into the least sexy category.

The completed feature wall will be the showpiece of the home — an 18-foot-wide wall with a vaulted ceiling, including a floor-to-ceiling stack in decorative stone encasing a wall-mount fireplace, flat-screen TV and a wood-stained mantle, with cabinetry on either side.

Typically, a project like this would start with design layout to determine the exact measurements required to frame the centre stack, as well as the dimensions and elevations for the cabinetry and shelving on each side of the stack.

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Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

Marc LaBossiere photos / Free Press
Outside, the three former window openings are covered in Tyvek and sealed with Tuck tape to protect against the weather.

Bodacious bungalow

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Bodacious bungalow

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

As important as it is that a house be functional, it also needs to be inviting.

If the design is too clinical, and function trumps livability at every turn, the home will lack personality and style.

That isn’t an issue with Paradigm Custom Homes’ 2025 Fall Parade of Homes show home at 4 Bryce Blvd. in Oak Bluff West, says Sean Kirady of the Kirady Group at RE/MAX One Group.

“Right when you come in, the tones and finishes make it feel so warm and inviting,” he says of the 1,753 sq. ft. bungalow. “That said, this is also a very functional home. As is always the case with Paradigm Custom Homes, the home was designed to offer a perfect blend of function and style.”

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Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

TODD LEWYS PHOTOS / FREE PRESS
The 1,753 sq. ft. bungalow boasts plenty of space for a family.

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Mid-century modern marvel

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Mid-century modern marvel

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

Sometimes when you envision a home, it can come close to perfection.

That’s what happened in 1964 when architect Roy Sellors designed a 1,996 sq. ft. bungalow for an oversized lot at 71 D’Arcy Drive in University Heights.

Tucked away at the back of a narrow tract of land that backs onto the Red River, the sprawling home — which featured a mid-century modern design — was considered the in-thing.

The thing with home designs, though, is that some turn out to be special and have real staying power, while others turn out to be ordinary.

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Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

Todd Lewys photos / Free Press
This masterfully designed mid-century modern bungalow is a gem, inside and out.

Why visitors are flocking to this Winnipeg yard

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Why visitors are flocking to this Winnipeg yard

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

When Elizabeth Ochnio decided to become a member of the East Kildonan Garden Club in January, she couldn’t have imagined the new connections she would make.

Nor could she have foreseen the attention that her small urban garden would attract from individuals and other garden clubs.

“I feel amazing,” says Ochnio. “I’ve always gardened for myself, but now people come nearly every second day, and I love showing my garden.”

July is a popular month for garden tours in Manitoba because flowering plants are in their prime. But in Ochnio’s backyard, the flower show starts in spring with an abundance of allium, builds in intensity throughout the summer and reaches a crescendo of beauty in September. If mild conditions continue, Ochnio’s remarkable garden will continue to bloom well into October.

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Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

Colleen Zacharias photo
Elizabeth Ochnio with one of the many exotic Brugmansia Angel’s Trumpet plants she grows in her garden and overwinters indoors.

Rave reviews: two-storey offers flex space galore

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Rave reviews: two-storey offers flex space galore

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

While large families need ample space to function properly, that space must be well-ordered.

The reason is simple: a logical layout allows a family to live in a more organized and orderly fashion and to have different zones that allow for separation when private time is required.

Randall Homes’ new 2025 Fall Parade of Homes show home at 109 Mill Rock Road was designed to be exceptionally family friendly, says the sales representative for the 2,027 sq. ft., two-storey design, Davinder Thind of Century 21 Advanced Realty.

“People who went through the home on the first weekend of the Fall Parade loved the home’s layout,” he says. “It really works well for a large family.”

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Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS
Designed specifically for a large family, this 2,027 sq. ft., two-storey has space and style.

Well-built bungalow is a homey haven

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Well-built bungalow is a homey haven

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

These days, purchasing a brand-new house can cost a family $650,000 or more.

And bear in mind that’s for a house — whether it be a bungalow, two- storey or cab-over — that may not be landscaped or have a developed lower level, or even appliances. By the time all the dust settles, the total cost of finishing a new home can come to $700,000 or more.

Consequently, many families instead look for a well-maintained, fully developed resale home that falls in the $500,000 to $550,000 range. Problem is, such homes can be hard to find, especially bungalows.

But Phil Gear of The Moore Group (Century 21) and his teammate, Scott Moore, just listed a move-in-ready bungalow at 15 Guernsey Lane in River Park South.

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Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS
The 10-year-old, 1,284 sq. ft. bungalow is a turnkey treasure that families will fall in love with at first sight.

The proof will be in the roof

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

The proof will be in the roof

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

After upgrading the windows on the original portion of my house last fall, the prospect of incurring another major expense in the short term had me slightly concerned.

The shingles were replaced in 2005, which means they have entered the final third of their 30-year life expectancy, based on the IKO Cambridge product that was installed. I could only imagine what it would cost now to replace them, let alone in another 10 years.

To alleviate some of my worry, I began researching shingle maintenance and revitalization products.

To my delight, I stumbled across a company called Roof Revive on social media, which offers those things. I asked for an onsite visit to discuss the process, and that’s when I met Kevin Kelner, who had nothing but good things to say about the product.

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Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

The gutters are cleared of any asphalt granules so that we can monitor the shingles’ condition over the years following the Gonano application process.

Wonderful Wellington

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Wonderful Wellington

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

One of the most indelible images of Wellington Crescent is of the stately, early 20th-century homes lining the street amid stands of mature trees.

However, while those River Heights North classics garner attention for their distinctive designs, some of them can be quite dated inside. But that’s not an issue with the 1,565 sq. ft., two-storey home found at 1324 Wellington between Lindsay and Borebank streets, says Nicola Guttormson of RE/MAX Executives Realty.

“This home was actually built in 1986 and has been well maintained from the original design,” she says. “It’s an architectural treasure that was designed by some of Winnipeg’s most prominent architects, including Les Stechesen. As soon as you step onto the walkway that leads up to the home, you feel a serene energy.”

Indeed, there’s a certain magical energy that seems to radiate from the long, deep lot.

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

The masterfully designed home, with its large windows framing views of the mature trees, is beautiful inside and out.

Standout show home

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Standout show home

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

One of the biggest challenges a builder faces when creating a modern, open-concept home is to also make it warm and inviting.

It’s a challenge that Gino’s Homes’ design team took seriously when they were working on their new 2025 Fall Parade of Homes show home at 94 Butterfly Way in Sage Creek, says the home’s sales representative, Cam Ftoma of RE/MAX Performance Realty.

“What I really like about this home — it’s a raised bungalow — is that it’s not the same old, same old,” he says of the 1,570 sq. ft. residence. “This is an awesome home. It’s an absolutely great design from start to finish.”

And the start is resoundingly good.

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

The thoughtfully designed bungalow combines style, function and warmth.

A fence postscript

Marc LaBossiere 3 minute read Preview

A fence postscript

Marc LaBossiere 3 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

During a recent backyard deck upgrade and partial fence replacement project, the homeowners forgot to include one other section of fence that needed to be replaced. Luckily it was a fairly short section and I was able to squeeze the job into my summer schedule.

To get the project done as efficiently as possible, I once again co-ordinated with a landscaping crew. I’ve learned from experience that the fence-building process is greatly expedited if the post holes are pre-drilled before my arrival. In this instance, however, I had to dismantle the section of old fence before the new post holes were dug. So, I arrived early the day the landscaping crew was scheduled to do their work, and luckily the old posts came out without issue.

Using a handheld post-hole digger and an eight-inch auger bit, the team systematically re-drilled the five post holes to a depth of roughly 42 inches. The outermost hole was a bit tricky, in that the old fence continued from that corner towards the backyard — a section that was not being replaced. So, we temporarily moved the leg of older fence away from the outermost hole. Once the holes were dug, that post was immediately set to level and secured using quarter down limestone gravel. Then we re-attached the old fence section to the new post.

Using a stringline, the elevation was marked along the top of the other new posts and the tops were cut off, except for the two set roughly 12 inches higher to create a threshold for the 36-inch-wide gate. Each post was set using limestone gravel. A 2 x 6 cap was created along the back section that pivots roughly 90-degrees toward the gate area, which also has a 2 x 6 cap at a higher elevation to ensure the gate remains rigid over time, during the swinging action of opening and closing. With the caps in place, the upper, middle and lower 2 x 4 horizontal supports were added between the posts, creating the sections upon which the 1 x 6 fence boards could be affixed. To mimic the previous fence section replacement, the 1 x 6 boards were mounted along the exterior of the fence frame, showcasing the main framework inside the fencing.

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
The L-shaped fence section, including the gate, was completed in less than a day.

Fall Parade of Homes celebrates 45 years

Lanny McInnes 3 minute read Preview

Fall Parade of Homes celebrates 45 years

Lanny McInnes 3 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

Today’s the day — the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s 2025 Fall Parade of Homes officially opens at 12 noon, showcasing 135 new show homes built by 32 of Manitoba’s best home builders. The MHBA is proud to present the biggest and best Parade of Homes in Canada.

Show home hours in Winnipeg and surrounding areas are Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Each parade show home is also available for private viewings outside of the regular hours, and on Fridays. Private viewings are a great way to take additional time and have a more in-depth discussion with the sales staff. Contact the show home builder to book your appointment.

During parade hours, each parade show home will have staff ready to explain the special features of that home. Be sure to ask them about the builders, suppliers and materials used in the home. MHBA new home builders pride themselves on building the best new homes in Canada.

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

October 11, 2025

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