Homes Website News – Winnipeg Free Press

The home was crafted to provide young, growing families with versatility and style.

Solid and stylish, Sage Creek home crafted with young families in mind

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

Building a new home properly involves far more than endowing it with a“wow” factor, both outside and inside.

Simply put, quality must be the main theme from start to finish.

That’s the approach the design team at Paradigm Custom Homes takes with every home they build, says Ryan Jones of Re/Max One Group.

“The first thing we do is start with elevated building specifications,” says Jones, who’s co-marketing their new 2,226-sq.-ft., two-storey show home at 3 Jontz Cove in Sage Creek with colleague Sean Kirady. “That’s the only way to ensure the home is built right. We start with the exterior and carry that standard through the rest of the home.”

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River Heights two-storey smartly melds contemporary and classic

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

River Heights two-storey smartly melds contemporary and classic

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

Once upon a time, a one-and-a-half storey home was built in 1927 on a choice 50-by-120-foot lot at 1493 Wellington Cres.

Then, some 85 years later, in 2012, its owner decided to give the home a dramatic facelift both outside and in.

“Its unique Arts and Crafts-inspired design begins with a gorgeous wood and stone exterior that catches your attention the instant you see it — it doesn’t look like it’s 85 years old,” says Scott Moore of Century 21 Bachman & Associates (the Moore Group). “That’s just the start. When you step inside you can hardly believe what you see.”

What you see, it turns out, is a stunning entryway.

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Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

The remodelled Arts and Crafts-inspired home catches your eye the instant you see it.

Extra steps ensure great stairs

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Preview

Extra steps ensure great stairs

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

When tasked with a project that involves the introduction of vinyl-plank flooring with underpad throughout the main level of a home, the endeavour usually includes a few stairs.

At a recent job site, the stairway leading to the basement had already been addressed during a previous renovation. As such, only the three stairs leading to the step-down addition required the flooring upgrade. No matter, just these three stairs still presented a few hurdles.

Most deluxe vinyl-flooring manufacturers offer “matching stair nosing” for the majority of their inventory. Instead of roaming the aisles of the big-box stores in hope of finding a close match in either PVC or aluminum, a nosing that is fabricated using the same vinyl style and colour is always the better choice. However, it’s best to inquire as to what type of nosing is available.

Although top-mount nosing can be satisfactory in some applications, the sleekest “look” derives from flush-mount nosing, as this type is simply an extension of the vinyl plank at the same elevation. However, there are a few things to consider before attempting the latter style of nosing.

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Yesterday at 2:00 AM CST

The rise of each stair is built to ensure the vinyl plank rise is installed plumb and level.

Get inspired, informed at the renovation show

Lanny McInnes 4 minute read Preview

Get inspired, informed at the renovation show

Lanny McInnes 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

The 2026 Winnipeg Renovation Show is only a few weeks away. The show traditionally kicks off the new year for home renovations.

Manitoba Home Builders’ Association renovator members are excited to once again be part of the Renovation Show, which is set to take place from Jan. 16-18 at the RBC Convention Centre.

Home renovations are a big part of our lifestyle in Manitoba. We historically spend more on home renovations per capita than residents of any other province, and Manitobans consistently spend more on renovations than on new-home construction. For those who are thinking of taking on a home renovation project in 2026, this is the show for you.

The Winnipeg Renovation Show provides consumers with the chance to visit hundreds of renovation product suppliers and contractors, all under one roof. It provides a one-stop venue for consumers to get a sense of the renovation market and see, touch and feel what’s new and exciting in home renovation technology and style.

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Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

MHBA photo
Manitoba Home Builders’ Association RenoMark renovators will once again be on hand at the 2026 Winnipeg Renovation Show with their Ask a Renovator booth.

Solid affordability

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Solid affordability

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

Young families with a modest home-buying budget have never struggled so hard to find a solid, affordable starter house.

It’s easy to see why. These days, starter homes in the $250,000-$300,000 price range — whether they need work or not — tend to sell fast, with bidding wars the norm in sought-after neighbourhoods.

That being the case, it’s all too easy for young couples to experience multiple bidding battles without a sniff of success.

In many instances, missing out on a dwelling might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Why?

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Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

The solid, well-loved bungalow offers exceptional value and livability throughout.

Baffling basement biffies

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Baffling basement biffies

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

I’m not often surprised anymore by what I’ll encounter when asked to update a basement bathroom. However, a recent flooring upgrade did catch me off-guard slightly.

Basement bathrooms present hurdles because their layouts are usually predetermined by the rough plumbing set within the concrete floor at the time the house was originally built. And short of spending a fortune to rearrange the sub-concrete services, adapting an upgrade to the existing layout quickly minimizes options.

This particular bathroom had been upgraded prior to the current homeowners’ purchase of the house. And although it remained functional, there were a few aspects leaving much to be desired, primarily the carpeted flooring. Although I understand the intention to keep a basement bathroom floor warm to the feet, wall-to-wall carpet does not belong in a bathroom, for what seem to me obvious reasons. No matter, the carpet was now coming out and new vinyl-plank flooring was to be installed.

Beyond the carpet, the bathroom floor in its entirety had been built up, with a sort of platform throughout for one reason or another. I suspect this could have also been to buffer the coldness of the concrete below from the space above, or maybe there were a few water leaks along the floor that are concealed by the framework. The homeowners decided to keep the platform and simply re-sheathe it with vinyl once the carpet and underlayment were removed.

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Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
A long, narrow stretch toward the toilet feels like walking down a bowling lane.

Creative touches set mood

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Creative touches set mood

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

It can take a deft touch to balance creativity and practicality when it comes to home design.

That’s why it’s so important for a home builder to think critically about how to infuse a residence with creative design touches without impeding livability.

That’s exactly the approach the design team at Hearth Homes took with their Astoria II model, focusing first on the dwelling’s livability then implementing creative design touches in a logical yet imaginative way, says Hearth’s design and marketing co-ordinator, Ryan Miller.

“People really liked the previous (Astoria) model,” he says. “But we had some ideas on what we wanted to do to make it better. The first thing we did was tweak the layout to make it more user-friendly.”

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Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

A serene, inviting feel pervades the kitchen and dining area thanks to a mellow colour palette.

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Open the door on a new look

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Preview

Open the door on a new look

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

Sometimes a main-floor update can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Other times, it may take a little more effort to create the desired look. An interior door upgrade can often change an entire esthetic — without hitting the wallet so hard.

However, swapping out old interior doors for new can be tricky, unless you go a little further, and replace the door jambs as well.

Homeowners often make the mistake of assuming installing new doors will be as simple as removing the old from their hinges and fastening on the new. Unfortunately, not all doors are tooled in the same locations. As such, this can affect hinge placement and striker locations — and if these don’t line up with the new doors, things can get ugly in a hurry.

Although it is possible to source new doors that happen to meet the location specifications of the existing hinges on the jamb, the hinges themselves may be of a different size and shape. As such, it may be best to then purchase doors slabs, un-tooled interior doors that can be fitted on site.

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Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
Removing the old door and jamb is the optimal approach to installing a new interior door, pre-fitted with a new jamb.

Smartly designed two-storey crafted to maximize functionality

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Smartly designed two-storey crafted to maximize functionality

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

Ideally, a new home’s design should be distinctive both outside and inside.

And while both qualities are important, it’s a home’s exterior that — for better or worse — sets the tone.

Get it right, and the home will catch the eye of prospective home buyers. That in turn usually prompts them to wander inside to see if its interior is as special as its exterior.

Signature Homes’ new spec home at 35 Chimney Swift Way in St. Adolphe’s Tourond Creek has been a hit on both fronts, says Cindi Burak, Signature’s sales manager.

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Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

The 2,184-sq.-ft., two-storey home’s interior matches its handsome exterior with a perfect blend of functionality and flair.

Smartly updated bungalow condo modern and move-in ready

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Smartly updated bungalow condo modern and move-in ready

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

When a home is 25 years old, it’s neither old nor young in terms of its design and relative age.

That said, there’s a chance it could reflect the era in which it was built. Which is to say it could be, well, somewhat dated.

Val Miller of Royal LePage Dynamic Real Estate says her new listing — a 1,450-sq.-ft. bungalow condominium found in a tidy, well-designed complex at 12-123 Victor Lewis Dr. in Linden Woods — definitely does not fall into that category.

“Pride of ownership shines in this beautifully maintained unit,” she says. “Not only have the original owners kept it in wonderful condition, but they’ve also updated it tastefully over the years.”

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Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

The spacious bungalow condo offers a contemporary updated interior and great location.

Great ideas for the gardeners on your list

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

Great ideas for the gardeners on your list

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

The thing about gardening is that it is a constant year-round pursuit. Always, the garden beckons. A gardener could be standing in the middle of a polar vortex and still be dreaming about a plant they want to try or the backyard oasis or private haven they desire.

Just as gardening leads to endless topics to discuss or dream about, there is no shortage of useful, creative and pleasurable gift ideas for gardeners.

Let’s start with stocking-stuffers. Every gardener on your list is going to want to attend Fleurs de Villes when it returns to The Leaf at Assiniboine Park, Jan. 15-25. Fleurs de Villes Wonder will feature incomparable floral mannequins inspired by the lavender fields of Provence, France, the Great Barrier Reef, the Amazon rainforest, monarch butterfly migration and more.

One-of-a-kind botanical creations capturing the beauty of the natural world will be brought to life by Winnipeg’s talented florists. Tickets to Fleurs de Villes Wonder can be purchased online at assiniboinepark.ca or in-person at The Leaf.

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Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

Colleen Zacharias / Free Press
Use the sturdy Gorilla Cart sold at Princess Auto for hauling your plants, soil, bark chips and more.

Daylilies star in documentary

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Daylilies star in documentary

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

If filmmaking is a visual art form and nature is a powerful inspiration for art, then why aren’t there more films about plants and the people who are passionate about them?

PlantPop is one of those rarest of things — a horticultural film studio that seeks out interesting stories about plants and how they inspire and improve people’s lives. PlantPop, based in Suffolk, Va., is the brainchild of Arthur Parkerson who owns Lancaster Farms, a major plant producer in Virginia.

In the past 11 years, PlantPop has produced over 400 short documentary films that explore the relationship between people and plants. Many of the films are under 10 minutes in length, some are 30 minutes long.

Daylily is PlantPop’s first feature-length documentary film (72 minutes in length). Directed by Maria Morris, this refreshingly beautiful and informative film captures the stories of growers, gardeners, breeders and plant enthusiasts who share a common love for daylilies.

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Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025

PlantPop photo
Daylily director Maria Morris (from left) with horticultural producer Kendahl Huber and PlantPop founder Arthur Parkerson.

Like a puzzle, fireplace surround comes together piece by piece

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Preview

Like a puzzle, fireplace surround comes together piece by piece

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025

Amidst a very hectic end-of-year work schedule, I was able to eke out a few hours over a couple of days to address a lingering upgrade in my very own step-down dining room, the main level of the addition to the house completed in 2018.

From the outset, the gap between the windows on the far wall had been fitted with an early-generation, wall-mount electric fireplace. Unfortunately, the brand did not offer many features, and always seemed bulky. So the space was about to change, for the better.

In recent years, electric wall-mount fireplaces have come a long way. Not only has pricing come way down and the range of sizes expanded, but the plethora of options on newer brands and models put my old bulky beast to shame. Moreover, the old fireplace had been mounted directly to the wall, without being encased (the vent for the heating on this particular unit pointed upward, ruling out an inset application). As such, we lived with it simply mounted to the wall as a stand-alone for the years that ensued after completion of the addition.

The upgrade design would feature a 66-inch-high build-out structure decorated in cultured stone, capped with a stained wooden mantle and a slightly bigger hearth below. After careful measurements, I decided to frame the main structure to a finished width (including drywall) of 66 inches, at a four-inch depth. The height of the hearth would match the five-inch height of the existing baseboards throughout, with a one-and-a-quarter-inch-high quartz slab at 74-inches wide and eight-inches deep, to serve as the hearth’s top.

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Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025

Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
The cultured stone encapsulates the new wall-mount fireplace, creating a prominent eye-catcher in the dining room.

Value-packed Sanford bungalow a refuge for empty-nesters

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Value-packed Sanford bungalow a refuge for empty-nesters

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

These days, affordability is a huge issue for empty-nest couples with budgets that fall short of the magical $400,000 mark.

Next to affordability, the two most important issues are condition and livability.

Which is to say a home should ideally be in move-in-ready condition, as absolutely no one — especially buyers on a modest budget — wants to sink another $20,000 to $30,000 into renovations just after purchasing a property.

Meanwhile, the home must also be functional, offering a user-friendly layout.

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Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025

Todd Lewys / Free Press
The four-year-old custom-designed modular home delivers over 1,500 sq. ft. of wonderfully livable space in a quiet country setting less than 15 minutes from the city.

Vibrant flourishes, deft floorplan set Yvonne II model apart

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Vibrant flourishes, deft floorplan set Yvonne II model apart

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025

As a home builder, it can become all too easy to become complacent.

The reason for that is simple: after you find a formula that works, the tendency is to keep repeating it because buyers seem to like it.

Oftentimes, that formula involves employing soft earth tones — variations on taupe, beige, brown and white — to create a feeling of warmth. Or grey, white and even black tones are used to endow a home with a more modern feel.

The result is show homes can morph together in buyers’ minds because — as beautiful as they are — their finishes weren’t distinct enough.

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Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025

The upgraded version of the Yvonne II design delivers a combination of style and versatility.

Century-old Wolseley home overhauled with young families in mind

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Preview

Century-old Wolseley home overhauled with young families in mind

Todd Lewys 6 minute read Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025

Consider for a moment a home built over 100 years ago in Winnipeg.

In most instances, people tend to visualize the same thing: a quaint-looking home with an interior that falls short of living up to modern standards for one reason or another. One of those reasons may be that dwellings a century or more older can often be quite spartan in their overall design.

For some reason, home designers of the era showed an oft-shocking indifference to comfort, and hence, overall functionality. Consequently, such houses tended to lack flow and be somewhat dull inside, design-wise.

Individual spaces — from living rooms to kitchens, bedrooms to bathrooms — tended to be small in size. Moreover, storage space was in short supply. As a result, when families looking for a move-up home often cross older homes off their list due to an overall lack of space and versatility.

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Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025

December 28, 2025

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