Homes Website – Winnipeg Free Press

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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 Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

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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Tuxedo treasure

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Tuxedo treasure

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

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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Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

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.

Fireplace feature wall a new focal point for home

Marc LaBossiere 7 minute read Preview

Fireplace feature wall a new focal point for home

Marc LaBossiere 7 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

The completion of this feature fireplace wall project was particularly satisfying because it stretched out over six months, in three separate and distinct phases.

As specific tasks were achieved, the design began to take shape, transforming a rather mundane room into the focal point of the house. And thanks to the homeowners’ vision for the space, I was able to quickly adapt the necessary features of the project to suit several functions, albeit conveniently concealed behind the beautifully finished esthetic.

Along the back wall of the entertainment room (which had been an addition to the house earlier on), three windows made for a sunroom-like feel in the space.

With every exterior wall of the addition windowed-up, the only opaque wall was that which adjoined the existing house. As such, the TV was facing into the room such that, upon entry, one had to turn around to watch it. It was less than desirable, and an unfortunate waste of premium space.

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Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
The feature fireplace wall spans 19 feet, and showcases a stone-clad fireplace stack, hearth and mantle, with symmetrical cabinetry and floating shelves on either side.

Field of dreams

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

Field of dreams

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

Sandra Gowan is hard at work turning a new vision into a reality. Gowan is converting her Rosser-area hops operation, Prairie Gem Hops, into a U-pick flower farm.

Gowan has been growing commercial brewing hops since 2009. She started out with just three varieties of hops but by 2016 she was growing 19 different hops varieties, shipping both dried, vacuum-sealed hops and rhizomes to micro-brewers and home-brewers across Canada. “I trialed as many as 21 varieties,” she says. “I wanted to see which types could grow in our climate successfully.”

With mounting costs of production driven by a combination of rising input prices and labour needs, along with all the physical stresses of heavy lifting and packaging, Gowan decided it was time for a new direction. In 2024, she sold her last harvest of dried hops strobiles — the aromatic cone-shaped female flowers of the hops vine which are used in brewing to impart bitterness and flavour.

“My husband and I harvested the strobiles and then they were run through a hammer mill and pelletized,” says Gowan. “Breweries buy the pelleted form because it’s easier for them to work with rather than the whole cone. Most of my inventory went to Trans Canada Brewing Company which is based in Winnipeg.”

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Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

Sandra Gowan has been growing flowers alongside her hops operation for many years.

Third annual botanical show at The Leaf a truly creative Wonder

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

Third annual botanical show at The Leaf a truly creative Wonder

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

This weekend is your last chance to visit Winnipeg’s biggest fresh floral experience of the year. Since Jan. 15, the third-annual Fleurs de Villes show at The Leaf in Assiniboine Park has captivated a stream of visitors with imaginative botanical displays by local floral artists at the peak of their creativity.

Founded in 2015 by Tina Barkley and Karen Marshall, Fleurs de Villes is a hugely successful Vancouver-based luxury brand which showcases awe-inspiring flower displays in cities around the world. Each exhibition has its own theme. “Wonder” is the theme of this year’s event at The Leaf.

Consider for a moment the task at hand if you were one of the florists invited to participate in this unique opportunity to showcase your skills. Using a mannequin and selecting from a list of iconic natural landmarks, diverse ecosystems, rare botanical treasures and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon, your goal would be to create a one-of-a-kind creation using the language of flowers.

How hard could it be?

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Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

Assiniboine Park Conservancy photo
Pamukkale Terraces, a stunning floral mannequin by Angela Moisey Creative, is on display this weekend at Fleurs de Villes Wonder at The Leaf.

Live family life large in spacious Oak Bluff West two-storey

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Live family life large in spacious Oak Bluff West two-storey

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

These days, the trend is for two-storey homes to check in at somewhere around 2,200-2,300 sq. ft. in size.

Make no mistake about it — a home of that size offers plenty of space for a large family to spread out and live life in a very gracious manner.

That said, big households — say those with six or more members — often require an even larger domicile to facilitate an organized and (relatively) stress-free life.

After all, while bib broods enjoy spending time together, everyone needs their own space, too.

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Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

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The 2,735-sq.-ft, two-storey home was designed expressly to meet the needs of king-sized families.

Updated in style

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Updated in style

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

There are two key issues that can crop up when purchasing a home built a decade and a half ago.

The first is that the finishes could reflect the design trends at the time which it was built. Back then, the trend was for both flooring and cabinets to be of darker shades — either cappuccino or espresso.

Then, there’s the issue of how the dwellings of that era were laid out.

Today, many homes have a flex space next to the front door that can be used as either a home office or bedroom. In 2012, most homes didn’t have this convenient design feature.

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Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

Todd Lewys / Free Press
The 2,290-sq.-ft., two-storey home, which was built in 2012, features a fabulous floor plan and contemporary finishes from top to bottom.

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Brighter ideas improve outdoor solar light options

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Brighter ideas improve outdoor solar light options

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

This week has been frigid, and that’s putting it mildly (excuse the play on words).

When choosing the topic for this week’s column, my thoughts drifted towards warm recollections of exterior yard upgrades that inevitably highlight the benefits of solar lighting. Although a few solar motion lights were always mounted in strategic locations around the house exterior, recent upgrades in technology have really enhanced the outdoor experience from dusk until dawn.

The first attempts at solar lighting began roughly a decade ago, when the technology was still in its infancy. Although the goal of eliminating the need to run wiring to external locations for lighting was achieved, the fixtures themselves were rudimentary.

The solar panels for each light were rather small, and over time it became apparent the batteries did not have much of a lifespan. After their first winter, the fixtures needed to be replaced.

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Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

Newer side-mount motion-activated solar lights replace older, less-reliable iterations.

Spacious split-level design is move-in-ready

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Spacious split-level design is move-in-ready

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

With home prices steadily increasing, young families looking for a move-up dwelling are after two things.

Not surprisingly, the first is value. If you’re going to pay somewhere between $450,000 and $550,000 (or more) for a house, it should have a lot to offer in the sense that it should be largely move-in ready.

The second requisite is functionality.

When a family is young and growing, it’s crucial that a home’s layout possesses the flexibility to meet the needs of every family member.

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Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

Todd Lewys / Free Press
Immaculate outside and inside, the extensively updated 1,700-sq.-ft., four-level split possesses the livability, style and value young families are looking for.

Manitoba enterprise at forefront in bolstering soil structure

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

Manitoba enterprise at forefront in bolstering soil structure

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

Soil health has always been important to anyone who wants to grow plants that flourish but never more so than today. Soil degradation due to drought and extreme weather is a global problem that has a direct link to agricultural productivity and food security.

The status of soil health in Canada is not a concern limited to farmers and backyard gardeners. Scientists, policy makers and researchers are recommending urgent action to protect soils to safeguard the future of our food production.

In June 2024, following an 18-month study of soil conditions in Canada, the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry released the report Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human and Social Health. The report, which is based on testimony from more than 150 experts, concluded that soil in our country is at risk, with implications for food production, climate resilience and biodiversity.

Dale Overton takes soil health and its implications for fertility and food production seriously. His company, Overton Environmental Enterprises, manufactures several microbial products for large-scale agriculture as well as for the home gardener. Overton is deeply interested in regenerative farming practices and how biological amendments can benefit soil health, carbon sequestration and soil microbiomes, and boost growth rates and crop yields.

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Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

EcoTea photo
Grown with EcoTea, this healthy potato crop needed less synthetic fertilizer while providing a higher-than-average yield.

Kitchen facelift proves less can be more

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Preview

Kitchen facelift proves less can be more

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

Engaging in a kitchen renovation can easily become a very pricey adventure. As such, maintaining focus on only those aspects that absolutely must be updated while retaining others can help soften the financial blow.

By keeping the existing cabinetry throughout, the homeowners at my first project of 2026 slid into the new year with a reasonable kitchen-facelift price tag. And the results speak for themselves.

This kitchen had been renovated in the past, including the removal of a wall to open up the space. By doing so, the sink area remains on the inner wall, and includes an L-wing which creates a peninsula island. Along the back exterior wall, the stove is placed between two legs of another countertop area.

While this revised layout has remained functional for the subsequent years, the overall esthetic required an update. As such, a decision to replace the old Arborite countertops with quartz became the priority, along with updating the backsplash’s outdated style. To round out the reno, a new sink and faucet would also be introduced.

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Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
A new deep single tub sink replaces the old double with dish-rack extension, greatly increasing usable countertop space.

St. Adolphe bungalow all about space and flow

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

St. Adolphe bungalow all about space and flow

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

There’s nothing like entering a home and feeling an immediate sense of well-being.

That’s the sensation generated the instant you step into A & S Homes’ new show home at 15 Parkrose Pl. in St. Adolphe’s Tourond Creek, says Chris Dudeck of Coldwell Banker Preferred Real Estate, the sales representative for the 1,427-sq.-ft. bungalow.

“The first thing you notice is the sense of space,” he says. “This home is on a wide 51-by-120-foot lot, which is about the minimum standard out here. Because the lot allows for a wider design, you don’t feel like you’re walking into a bowling alley.”

Dudeck says that pleasingly spacious feel comes from a well-thought-out layout.

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Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

The 1,427-sq.-ft. bungalow — which offers more than 2,600 sq. ft. of total living space when the lower level is developed — benefits from a very well-rounded design.

Move-in-ready townhome great for budget-minded buyers

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Move-in-ready townhome great for budget-minded buyers

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

To say the least, the phrase, “affordable starter home” has become an oxymoron, of late.

And it’s something many young families searching for such a dwelling know from first-hand experience, as many such prospective buyers have a limited budget of $350,000 or less.

Consequently, if a home is affordable — say the price tag is somewhere around $275,000-$300,000 — chances are it will come with a lengthy list of upgrades and renovations that need to be addressed.

Those projects can involve much more than cosmetic fixes, with costly repairs to foundations and roofs redlining already-stretched budgets. In many instances, young families find themselves living in homes they can’t afford to repair — a horrible fix to be in.

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Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

Wilkens model wows with imaginative, functional design

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Wilkens model wows with imaginative, functional design

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

Designing an attached two-storey residence is never a straightforward task for a home builder.

That’s because they must deal with one key element that doesn’t arise when planning a single-detached home: lot size.

This is an important factor, as lot sizes have been shrinking due to the steady increase in property costs.

Whereas a two-storey attached home may have been built on a 30-foot-wide allotment a few years ago, sizes have now shrunk to as narrow as 22-24 feet.

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Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

The Wilkens — an imaginative two-storey attached design by Hilton Homes — is packed with style, livability and utility.

Drought-resistant plants provide perfect accents for distinctive décor

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

Drought-resistant plants provide perfect accents for distinctive décor

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

Gwen Beam finds the shapes, colours and textures of succulents irresistible.

She has been growing, designing and teaching others how to get creative with succulents for over 20 years. Her gorgeous succulent designs decorate her garden in summer everywhere the eye looks — mounted on the outer walls and entrance-ways of the house where she lives in Brandon, spilling over fences and adorning luxurious and imaginative planter displays on patios, pedestals and walls that divide her garden into intimate outdoor “rooms.”

Her taste for the unique and unusual extends not only to the diverse succulent varieties she seeks out, but also to the eclectic stone representations of heads used as planters to display her elaborate creations.

An avid gardener and active member of the Brandon Garden Club, Beam needed to make some adjustments in her approach to gardening after experiencing heart issues in 2008. Succulents are among the lowest-maintenance plants, so they were an ideal choice.

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Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

Gwen Beam photo
Trailing Calico Kitten Crassula forms the ‘hair’ on this stunning sculptural stone planter decorated with tender succulents which must be overwintered indoors.

Where there’s a wall, there’s a way

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Where there’s a wall, there’s a way

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

When finalizing plans to upgrade existing flooring in homes, other smaller yet imperative tasks often tend to present themselves as well.

At a recent job site, the entire main floor of the house was to receive new vinyl-plank flooring. Once the existing floors were fully prepped, priority shifted towards the wall dividing the kitchen and dining room areas — a wall that would be removed before the new vinyl was installed.

The square footage of this dwelling was not originally large, likely the reason for an addition to the backside of the house that serves as a main seating area.

To alleviate the confinement within the kitchen, the dividing wall adjacent the dining room had been fitted with an opening at some point. While this added to an open-concept feel, the homeowners decided the wall could be removed entirely, to better suit them.

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Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

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