Homes Website – Winnipeg Free Press

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Windhover Orchard in Miami, Man., is named after the American kestrel, a small falcon found in Manitoba nicknamed ‘windhover’ for its habit of hovering in the air.

Family embraces challenges, rewards of launching a fruit orchard

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

Growing up on a farm near Boissevain taught Kelvin Hildebrandt many things. But becoming an orchardist has meant taking a comprehensive and strategic approach to acquiring a whole new set of skills.

In the process, Hildebrandt has consulted with local orchardists, including well-known growers like Betty Kehler and Bob Pizey who ran Plum Ridge Farm, a popular u-pick orchard located in the Interlake region near Teulon.

“They taught me a great deal,” says Hildebrandt.

Hildebrandt has also been influenced by Jean Spencer who owned a 150-tree apple orchard near Miami. “Jean was very welcoming and let me take care of her trees for a while,” he says.

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Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
A partial wall is introduced during the shell prep stage of a kitchen reno to better suit the enhanced design layout of the new cupboards.

Kitchen shell prep includes vinyl-plank flooring

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Kitchen shell prep includes vinyl-plank flooring

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

In my world, the difference between a kitchen facelift and a full kitchen renovation is whether a large percentage of the existing space remains, or the entirety is gutted and repopulated once the shell has been prepped.

At a recent job site, the homeowners elected to revamp the entire space, which involved tearing out all the old to make way for the new. And in this instance, the shell prep included adding a new partial wall to the design, and installing new vinyl-plank flooring before the cupboards are set into position.

Generally, I’ve always advised clients to keep their existing upper and lower cupboards, so no great changes are required. And should the esthetics badly need an upgrade, the cupboard doors and drawer fronts can always be replaced.

Beyond the cabinetry, a facelift may then involve new quartz countertops, sink and faucet, as well as a newly tiled backsplash, all visual upgrades to enhance a tired-out space.

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Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

MHBA photo
Next Saturday, the province’s best builders kick off a three-week showcase of 119 new show homes during the MHBA’s 2026 Spring Parade of Homes.

Spring Parade of Homes just a week away

Lanny McInnes 4 minute read Preview

Spring Parade of Homes just a week away

Lanny McInnes 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

Next Saturday, Manitoba’s best builders will begin a three-week showcase of 119 new show homes during the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s 2026 Spring Parade of Homes.

From Feb. 28 to March 22, people will have the chance to see the newest trends in homebuilding design and the latest fashions in residential décor. For those looking at buying a new house, the Spring Parade is the perfect way to see the best in today’s new housing market.

Not only does this year’s Spring Parade once again feature show homes in many of Winnipeg’s newest neighbourhoods, there are also great show homes available for viewing in communities outside the perimeter, including homes in Brandon, La Salle, St. Adolphe, St. Clements, Stonewall, West St. Paul, Oak Bluff West, Grande Pointe and Headingley. The 2026 Spring Parade of Homes is truly a Manitoba-wide event!

The MHBA Parade of Homes is also a great way for those who may not yet be in the market to build a new dwelling to get an up-close look leading-edge trends in residential technology, decor, finishings and fixtures.

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Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

Todd Lewys / Free Press
The Lucinda — a versatile, two-storey design by Hilton Homes — checks all the boxes for large families.

Highland Pointe two-storey built with family functionality, respite in mind

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Highland Pointe two-storey built with family functionality, respite in mind

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

Large families typically look for two things in a new home.

First, it needs to be highly functional with a versatile floor plan that can accommodate family life — and offer spaces where individuals can go to enjoy some much needed private time.

Second, the home must offer exceptional value, ideally coming in at a price tag under $700,000.

Hilton Homes’ two-storey Lucinda design checks all these boxes and more, says company owner Spencer Curtis.

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Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

Rebuilt and re-imagined in 2022, the 2,409-sq.-ft., two-storey home is a character-filled masterpiece from top to bottom.

Overhauled Kingston Row gem offers heritage charm, modern utility

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Overhauled Kingston Row gem offers heritage charm, modern utility

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

No matter how great a vintage home is, it can always be improved upon.

That’s exactly the case with a venerable 1938-built dwelling found on a fetching riverside lot at 207 Kingston Row in storied Elm Park, says Amber van den Broek of Re/Max Executives Realty.

“The home was re-imagined, expanded and rebuilt to modern standards by Macanta Design Build in 2022,” she says of the 2,409-sq.-ft., two-storey residence. “It was a complete rebuild from the studs from the ground up. The thought put into the design of the home is exceptional.”

That attention to detail is on display from the moment you set eyes on the house.

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Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

Supplied
The 1,859-sq.-ft., two-storey home is perfect for a large family, featuring an efficient layout that deftly balances style and livability.

Transcona two-storey designed with big households in mind

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Transcona two-storey designed with big households in mind

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

While a new home’s structure — the way it’s built — is important, so too is the way its interior is laid out.

Understandably, both features matter to prospective homebuyers, as one determines how well a dwelling will stand the test of time, while the other determines how livable a residence is.

It’s not a given that each new home design possesses the same level of overall efficiency. That’s because not every builder puts the same effort level into designing a home’s floor plan.

Suffice it to say Randall Homes’ design team spent a lot of time conceiving the layout of their new show home at 32 Jette Cove in Transcona’s Canterbury Crossing, says the sales representative for the striking two-storey home, James Conley of Re/Max One Group.

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Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

The beautifully designed home offers over 3,600 total square feet of space.

Space and style abound in Oak Bluff West bungalow

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Space and style abound in Oak Bluff West bungalow

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

There are times when luxury homes can be a bit puzzling in terms of how they were designed.

One of three things can happen when you walk in.

First off, a dwelling’s entrance, while functional, may be somewhat bland and disappointing. Then again, an entrance could be over-the-top in its design, offering lots of wow factor but little usability.

The entrance to an 1,898-sq.-ft. bungalow found at 43 Blacksmith Rd. in Oak Bluff West falls into a third category, says Viktoria Fazekas of Re/Max Executives Realty, with its well-considered design making a statement in a more subtle, elegant way.

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Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

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Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
After several attempts at restoring my HVAC system, a phone chat with the manufacturer’s customer service department expedited the control board re-programming process.

Furnace reboot: chilling for a week without forced-air heat

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Preview

Furnace reboot: chilling for a week without forced-air heat

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

In high school when I had spare time, I customized a 1952 Chevy half-ton truck. For vehicles of that era, most mechanical issues that arose could be addressed with a wrench and a screwdriver.

Nowadays, the technological advancements that heighten our driving experience often preclude those types of fixes, because new vehicles are heavily integrated with circuit boards and on-board computers. As such, when something goes wrong, a skilled technician is required to both properly diagnose and subsequently address the issue. It appears this is also true regarding most contemporary household systems, including HVAC.

Two Mondays ago, ironically while fixing the bulbs of a vintage electric fireplace, the smell of burned electronics began to permeate the room. Having just completed the fireplace repair, it occurred to me something within the box may have burned out. However, closer inspection seemed to reveal that the source of the smell was emanating from the floor vents, which could only mean one thing — the furnace.

In my house, a 19-kilowatt air-handler supplies forced-air throughout the home. Working in co-operation with a two-stage, three-tonne heat pump (tantamount to an air conditioner for cool air in the summer, that also supplies heating during the milder winter months), the air-handler behaves much like an electric furnace. When the system calls for heat during the winter, it first requests from the heat pump (provided the outside temperature is above the lock-out value of -12 C) the first heating stage to begin heating the house. If the house does not heat up rapidly enough as determined by the system, the second stage kicks in to create more heat.

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Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

Mavis Garrioch photo
Container-grown pansies provide a nearly endless source of fresh flowers for pressing and drying.
Mavis Garrioch photo
Container-grown pansies provide a nearly endless source of fresh flowers for pressing and drying.

The delicate art of pressing flowers

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

The delicate art of pressing flowers

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

When early explorers travelled the four corners of the world in search of botanical treasures and plant knowledge, they faced many challenges collecting and transporting live plant material. In the 19th century, the development of the Wardian case — a glazed box that held soil and water — enhanced the survival rate of live plants on long sea journeys.

But highly detailed botanical illustrations also served as a visual record for early botanists and scientists to study plants from distant parts of the world. The technique of pressing and drying all the parts of individual plants on paper made it possible to preserve plant specimens.

Today, herbariums around the world, including those at Manitoba Museum and the University of Manitoba, house extensive collections of pressed, dried plants stored in specialized, climate-controlled conditions. Scientists use these specimens to determine the rarity of species and understand environmental changes.

Enduring art form

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Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
The bulky Dimplex log-box electric fireplace is still in use within the corner entertainment cabinet shelving unit in our living room.

Old log-box electric fireplace still hot

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Preview

Old log-box electric fireplace still hot

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

A few days ago, something in my living room seemed slightly off. Once my focus shifted towards this oddity, I noticed our old log-box electric fireplace was no longer displaying its rolling flames, nor the lighted faux embers beneath its simulated burning logs. After nearly two decades of reliable use, this old unit had surely given enough — or had it?

In recent years, the desire to add a decorative fireplace to living spaces has become an ongoing trend. And for the most part, homeowners generally lean toward the latest and most enhanced models that offer a wide range of display options, including varied colours of “flames,” “embers” in multiple combinations, as well as adjustable “flame”-rotation speed and a wide selection of sizes.

These units are built slim and streamlined, allowing wall-mounting or inset installation options (provided the latter design includes an element that emits heat through a front-facing grill). Once prepped with the multi-faceted clear faux stones along the interior bottom of the unit, the fireplace can be mounted with ease, and simply plugs into any standard 15-amp outlet.

There are two such units in my own house — one in the basement rec-room, and another in the step-down dining room. I elected to mount these as inset installations, within fireplace stacks with mantles, and decorated with engineered stone.

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Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

MHBA photo
The Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s Spring Parade of Homes runs from Feb. 28 to March 22, and will feature 119 unique, newly designed homes from 31 different local builders.

Spring Parade of Homes just around the corner

Lanny McInnes 4 minute read Preview

Spring Parade of Homes just around the corner

Lanny McInnes 4 minute read Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

Despite the frigid temperatures in recent weeks, spring really is just around the corner and we are now only three weeks away from the 2026 Spring Parade of Homes!

The Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s Parade of Homes is the signature showcase event for our province’s residential construction industry. The twice-yearly event provides Manitobans interested in building their new dream homes an opportunity and experience unlike any other in Canada.

The MHBA’s 2026 Spring Parade of Homes starts on Saturday, Feb. 28 and runs through Sunday, March 22.

This year, we are proud to showcase 31 different builders in the Spring Parade. Our Parade show homes are located in 22 of Manitoba’s newest neighbourhoods and provide those looking to potentially find their new dream home with an opportunity to learn about the latest trends in new home and interior design, the hottest new residential technology, and cutting-edge building materials and systems.

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Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

Supplied
The 1,820-sq.-ft. bungalow is in like-new shape inside and out and offers around 3,500 sq. ft. of total living space.

Seven-years Old, like new

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Seven-years Old, like new

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

Two scenarios tend to play out when a family home has been inhabited for going on a decade.

The first is that it could look well-used, particularly inside. After all, things happen with families — frenetic early mornings with work and school days intertwining, not necessarily in smooth, orderly fashion.

Then, there are pets and entertaining, both of which — like high-paced family life — can cause wear and blemishes, no matter how careful family members might try to be.

Next comes scenario No. 2. Somehow, some way (yes, miracles do happen) a home manages to come through seven years of controlled chaos, emerging in near-pristine condition.

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Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

Ball Horticultural photo
For the richest, deepest colour, grow new Coleus Sun Sweet Paprika in full sun.

time to Plot those container gardens

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

time to Plot those container gardens

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

Whether you’re planning several container gardens this year or prefer to focus on one show-stopping arrangement, February is a good time for deciding what you would like to grow.

After all, garden centres throughout Manitoba are already a hive of activity with the arrival of pre-rooted seedlings for perennials and annuals combined with seed starting in preparation for spring sales.

There was a time when retailers waited until September to place their orders for plants for spring. But demand by gardeners is so strong for new and unique plants that many retailers now place their orders as early as July so they can be ready for peak spring demand.

It’s difficult not to indulge in impulse shopping at the sight of fresh new plants at garden centres. But if we take the time now to think about the types of plants that really worked for us last year in our garden spaces and the ones that didn’t — especially during hot, dry weather — it will be easier to make the best choices.

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Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

Offering a combination of river views, functionality and refined style, the two-storey, 2,875-sq.-ft. home is a modern farmhouse masterpiece.

Rural resplendence

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Rural resplendence

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

As a builder, it’s natural to feel a bit of trepidation when you’re blessed with a lot that — literally — has everything going for it.

In this case, Irwin Homes came up winners when they acquired a huge, beautifully treed riverfront lot in River Oaks North, which is in the RM of St. Clements just a short drive from East St. Paul.

However, as fortunate as they felt to be able to build on such an amazing lot, their design team was tasked with coming up with a plan that would mesh with the countrified surroundings.

After much brainstorming, it was decided that the dwelling’s motif would be modern-farmhouse.

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Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

Supplied
Lavish yet logical in its design, the 3,234-sq.-ft., two-storey infill home is a joy to spend time in surrounded by amazing views, natural light and fine finishes.

‘Complete package’

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

‘Complete package’

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

In many instances, infill homes are built as quickly as possible to maximize profit.

That certainly wasn’t the case with 766 Crescent Dr., says Scott Moore of Century 21 Bachman & Associates (The Moore Group).

“As it turned out, this home took about four years to build from start to finish,” he says of the two-storey, 3,234-sq.-ft., Nordic-inspired design, which sits pristinely on a well-treed 50- by-232-foot lot that backs onto the Red River. “This home was done the right way all the way through.”

Moore says the longer-than-normal time span required to complete the dwelling was down partly to regulations, partly attention to detail.

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Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

Todd Lewys / Free Press
Situated on a huge, mature corner lot in the heart of Tuxedo, the 3,511-sq.-ft., two-storey home is full of updates and modern functionality.

Tuxedo treasure

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Tuxedo treasure

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

As cherished an area as Tuxedo is with its mix of grand homes and expansive, mature lots, homebuyers often have one objection about the way many of the homes are designed.

That quibble is the stately homes often lack flow — both in terms of light and the navigability through and between spaces.

This is certainly not the case with a stately two-storey home found at 34 Birkenhead Ave., says Garrett Parker of Royal LePage Dynamic Real Estate.

“I think the first thing that hits you about this home is how wide-open it is,” he says of the 3,511-sq.-ft. residence, which was built in 1966. “When the outgoing owners got the home, it was quite chopped up and dark. They did a wonderful job of opening the home up to improve flow from space to space.”

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Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

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