Homes Website News – Winnipeg Free Press

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

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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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.

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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

Supplied
The Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s 2025 Fall Parade of Homes is the perfect opportunity to find the home of your dreams.

Reimagining the garden

Colleen Zacharias 5 minute read Preview

Reimagining the garden

Colleen Zacharias 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

Next week, close to 100 horticultural professionals from botanical gardens and conservatories across Canada and the U.S. will be in Winnipeg for the American Public Gardens Association’s 2025 Horticulture, Greenhouse, & Facilities Symposium, which will be hosted by Assiniboine Park Conservancy at The Leaf.

From Sept. 23 to 25, participants will explore innovative approaches to designing and operating conservatories and greenhouses and exchange ideas about reimagining public garden spaces.

Gerald Dieleman, senior director of horticulture at Assiniboine Park Conservancy, says it’s an opportunity to showcase The Leaf, one of the most significant horticultural projects in North America in the past 20 years.

One of the key conversations, he says, will be about how to enhance the garden landscape and elevate the horticultural experience for visitors.

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

JC Lemay photo
Plants are the main focus in this traditional landscape at Les Jardins de Métis in Grand-Métis, Que.

This timbered rustic retreat will wow you

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

This timbered rustic retreat will wow you

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

As exciting as city life can be, there are times when many of us dream of getting away from the stress of our high-paced, ultra-busy lives.

On challenging days, our thoughts often go back to time spent off-grid, either camping or at a cottage set well off the beaten path — times when life was quiet and filled with beauty.

When the frenetic pace of the city becomes too much, some people start looking for a way to lead a simpler life.

That could mean finding a place to raise a family in a safe neighbourhood that offers outdoor activities for kids, or downsizing to an area that promises solitude and tranquility after many years of commuting to the office in heavy traffic.

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Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

Built in 2016, this spacious home offers country comforts and energy-saving solar panel technology.

Phil Broomfield lectures on Thomas Hardy’s horticultural history

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Phil Broomfield lectures on Thomas Hardy’s horticultural history

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

It’s September, and just as the kids are back in school to gain knowledge, garden clubs and horticultural societies are planning program evenings that provide learning opportunities for their members and the gardening public.

Prior to the pandemic, few garden clubs used video conferencing services such as Zoom. But lockdown changed everything. Virtual programming not only allowed learning opportunities and networking to continue during COVID, but has since opened doors to a greater audience for both garden clubs and public speakers like Phil Broomfield.

Broomfield is a United Kingdom-based garden historian and storyteller who gives lectures to women’s institute groups, garden clubs, horticultural societies and other organizations whose members are interested in exploring the evolution of gardens, horticulture and design.

Broomfield, 44, is also a horticulturalist and owner of The Garden Doctor, a garden maintenance service in Bournemouth on the south coast of England.

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Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

Phil Broomfield photo
A traditional cottage garden frames Thomas Hardy’s birthplace cob and thatch cottage, built by his great-grandfather in 1800.

Finding a new (driveway) approach

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Finding a new (driveway) approach

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

I’ve been involved in reno projects that involve forming, pouring and finishing concrete, but those tasks have always been left to the certified professionals.

In the case of a recently proposed driveway upgrade project, the costs could have gone up substantially because of changes to city code involving a new driveway approach that ties into a right-of-way. Could we find a creative solution that would wrangle the overall project costs closer to the anticipated amount?

In replacing an entire driveway and approach, the overall square footage generally dictates the costs — the volume of concrete required can be calculated by multiplying the square footage by the average depth. When prepping the area, gravel is compacted within temporary wooden forms set along the perimeter of the driveway and rebar is strategically placed to reinforce the concrete once it’s poured. After the topside finishing is done, partial-depth lines are cut at set intervals to discourage haphazard surface cracks.

Typically, the calculated volume of concrete required also dictates the amount of rebar and the overall labour needed to complete the project. This past spring, a change in city code upended the initial quote that had been provided to the homeowner. Although the driveway is residential, it was explained to me that the city now requires all driveway approaches to meet commercial standards. In other words, the approach would require a much more invasive preparation, which of course means higher costs.

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Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

Marc LaBossiere photos / Free Press
To avoid added costs due to recent changes in city code, the old driveway approach was retained and topped with asphalt, while the concrete driveway pad was completely replaced.

How a shady pollinator desert became a flower-filled haven

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

How a shady pollinator desert became a flower-filled haven

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

Drive through any older, established neighbourhood in Winnipeg and you will see fully grown evergreen trees that dominate small front yard landscapes, often completely blocking houses from view. Decades ago, when the trees were small, they probably seemed like a very good idea.

While the growth rate of an evergreen tree is slow initially, it picks up once the tree is established. When conditions are optimum (full sun, well-drained soil), an evergreen can reach an impressive height of 19 metres and a spread of 7.5 metres — an elegant feature on a spacious lot but not ideal for a small urban property.

When Dawn Hicks and her husband purchased their bungalow on a quiet street in south Winnipeg in 1985, they inherited three existing evergreen trees that the previous owner had planted in the front yard. Nearly 40 years later, the trees had grown into monsters, their extensive root systems sapping moisture and nutrients from nearby perennials and plunging the Hicks’ 16-metre-wide front yard into deep shade with their spreading branches.

Shaded by boulevard trees, the aging evergreens started to decline.

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Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

Terra Nova Nurseries photo
A long-lived perennial, Bergenia Vintage Rose features glossy leaves and large clusters of bright rose flowers in spring.

Wolseley Classic boasts modern charms

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Wolseley Classic boasts modern charms

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

Few neighbourhoods in Winnipeg capture people’s imaginations the way Wolseley does.

With its delightfully diverse home designs, scores of mature trees and a high walkability score — not to mention all the cool little shops and businesses in the area — it’s a treat to live in, with its timeless beauty and central location.

However, if there’s one thing that gives prospective homebuyers pause about buying in the area, it’s the fact that many Wolseley Classics — homes that were built in the early 1900s — are dated. Which means that if you purchase a home in that storied part of the city, you might have to update one or more key areas.

There’s also the fact that some of the 100-plus-year-old homes come with quirky floor plans that tend to make for choppy, dark interiors.

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Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

The 1,426 sq. ft. two-storey Wolseley Classic has been remodelled and reconfigured to modern standards throughout.

Porch project got a tad prickly

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Porch project got a tad prickly

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

A dilapidated front porch in need of a facelift nearly led to adventures in bushwhacking when I had to work my way through foliage that had overgrown in recent years.

Although the homeowner prepared the porch by removing the old and weathered top-decking prior to my arrival, the bushes next to the porch proved to be a considerable challenge during this exterior upgrade.

During my first visit, and while the old porch was still intact, it was obvious the top decking boards were rotting and had begun to fail in certain areas. Upon a review of the porch’s undercarriage, it was determined the main beam and joists could be salvaged, having not been subjected to the same amount of weathering as the exposed lumber. The existing railing, which consisted of old-school spindles, would be replaced by an exterior railing that better suits the upgraded look of the porch once the new deck boards were installed.

As a first step, the porch was levelled by introducing adjustable deck jacks at all three post locations. Both old staircase accesses were removed and rebuilt by creating new stringers with 2x12 treated lumber that allows a deeper tread. With the structure once again fully framed, 2x6 top-decking was installed parallel with the front face of the house and along every stair tread. These tasks were relatively easy, unlike the next few, which involved negotiating the thicket of bushes along the majority of the porch’s perimeter.

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Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

A close examination revealed that the beam and joists could be recycled for the upgrade.

Classic lines, modern luxury: beautiful bungalow has it all

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Classic lines, modern luxury: beautiful bungalow has it all

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

Some homes naturally capture your attention, while others don’t.

Such is the case with Artista Homes’ new show home at 8 Bryce Boulevard in Oak Bluff West.

You can’t help but be instantly drawn to its sleek silhouette and clean lines, which suggest the 1,916 sq. ft. bungalow is of completely contemporary design. Yet it has a warmth that comes from what appears to be wood cladding on the front wall and surrounding the front entrance.

“It’s not wood,” says Phil Amero of Royal LePage Prime Real Estate, sales representative for the impressive looking bungalow. “Actually, it’s low-maintenance steel cladding that was made to look like wood. It combines perfectly with acrylic stucco and stone to give the home a soft, inviting exterior that blends beautifully with the countrified surroundings.”

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Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

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