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New Homes

Distinct yet functional, the Ramona II offers over 1,900 sq. ft. of beautiful, creativity conceived space.

Creating a home in Highland Pointe that will be a joy to live in every day

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 25, 2026

As important a role as imagination plays in the design of a new home, it isn’t advisable to get carried away.

When that happens, a home’s design can quickly go from inspired to impractical.

With that in mind, Spencer Curtis and his design team at Hilton Homes reined in their desire to go all-out in creating a home that was filled with a host of unique design features.

“This is a cool home, but not so cool that it loses its function,” says Curtis, the company’s owner/designer.

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Renovation & Design

Colleen Zacharias photo The weeping form of Larix decidua Puli is flanked by the red foliage of Jack Frost maple trees — a cast of intriguing characters with sculptural shapes and textures.

A colourful cast of intriguing characters is the wow factor in this Winnipeg garden

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

A colourful cast of intriguing characters is the wow factor in this Winnipeg garden

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Jul. 25, 2026

There are top brand names that gardeners instantly recognize and seek out when they are shopping for plants. Brand recognition is a powerful driver that influences consumer choices. If the name Iseli Nursery doesn’t ring a bell, it should.

Iseli Nursery, located in Oregon, specializes in uniquely sculpted dwarf conifers that provide year-round colour and structure. Many of the selections are reliably hardy and adaptable to harsh northern climates such as Zone 2 and 3. Iseli Nursery also specializes in hybrid Jack Frost maples (Acer x pseudosieboldianum). A cross between the Japanese maple and the Korean maple, the Jack Frost collection offers outstanding colour and is hardy to Zone 4.

These popular premium plants are supplied to independent garden centres across the United States and Canada. Van der Meer Garden Centre in Île-des-Chênes is the primary source in Manitoba for Iseli plants.

“Iseli plants are as exclusive as it gets,” says Veronica van der Meer, retail store manager. “I would compare their key attributes to some of the esthetics that make a brand like David Austin roses so special. We have customers all the way from Calgary and places in Ontario who have driven to our nursery to buy the Iseli plants we sell, especially the maples.”

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Saturday, Jul. 25, 2026

Resale Homes

This masterfully remodelled, 3,390 sq. ft. bungalow is situated in the midst of a well-treed lot that backs onto Bunn’s Creek and the Red River.

North Kildonan home on spacious property has everything you need to relax and entertain

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

North Kildonan home on spacious property has everything you need to relax and entertain

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 25, 2026

Every home has a story, almost without exception.

That’s certainly the case with a sprawling bungalow situated amid a huge, beautifully treed lot in North Kildonan, says Glen MacAngus of Royal LePage Top Producers.

“When this home was built in 1957, it was a pretty good size,” he says of the home, which sports an impressively wide footprint. “Today, it checks in at 3,390 sq. ft. due to a pair of remodels. The first was in the early 2000s, while the second was in 2018.”

Suffice it to say, the well-maintained home is anything but a throwback to its late-’50s origins.

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Saturday, Jul. 25, 2026

Renovation & Design

Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press This new driveway and approach conform to building codes, while meeting the desired layout requirements of the homeowners.

Driveway to heaven: making concrete magic

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Driveway to heaven: making concrete magic

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 25, 2026

A rear deck was completed for these homeowners two summers ago, and their next major exterior project involved the introduction of a private driveway.

For years, their garage approach had been gravel, which had become a nuisance in winter — the snowblower regularly tossed stones while clearing snowfalls. So, they called upon me to arrange for a driveway estimate, and subsequently decided to proceed.

Unfortunately, weather delays pushed the project from fall 2025 until this spring. Although the crew was dodging rainstorms, the project did proceed, albeit a few weeks later than expected.

When it comes concrete, I’ve always deferred such projects to trusted sub-trades. Most concrete work requires heavy machinery and a skill set that exceeds my acumen. Although I have dabbled here and there (filling in breaches in a basement floor, and erecting a permanent post for a basketball hoop), big work should be left to those who are proficient within the trade and maintain a vigilant knowledge of current building codes. As such, I called upon my good buddy Roy Marques at Rokkon Construction.

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Saturday, Jul. 25, 2026

New Homes

Todd Lewys / Free Press The river and city view below is something to behold.

Penthouse at 390 The River offers breathtaking views and a blank slate for your imagination

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Penthouse at 390 The River offers breathtaking views and a blank slate for your imagination

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

Those looking to purchase a distinctive penthouse suite almost always have one issue to contend with: the need to remodel the suite to have it meet their needs and reflect their tastes.

As anyone who’s done that (or any renovation, for that matter) knows, it can be an arduous — and very dusty — process to tear everything out of a sprawling suite and then redo it.

There’s no need to deal with that process with a 2,098 sq. ft. penthouse suite at 390 On The River in the heart of downtown Winnipeg, says Viktoria Fazekas of RE/MAX Executives Realty.

“This is the last penthouse for sale in the complex,” she says. “The best part about it is that it’s in a totally raw state, which means it’s a blank slate. That gives the purchaser the opportunity to have the exact layout and finishes that they want.”

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Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

Renovation & Design

Three sets of three faux window shutters cleverly conceal the old abandoned window openings set in stucco.

Decorative coverings solve exterior problem

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Decorative coverings solve exterior problem

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

After completing a massive feature wall that includes a beautiful, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace structure with a large flat-screen TV above the mantel and an electric fireplace below — and a symmetrical array of shelving and cupboards on either side — all that remained was the finishing touches on the exterior side of the wall.

Before the project began, three windows had been filled in to accommodate the continuous vertical surface required to complete the interior project. Early this summer, I had occasion to finally address the final steps.

Unlike breaching an exterior wall for the introduction of a window, filling in an opening is far less complicated. With the lintel already in place, framing within the opening is not structural — it simply serves to provide a nailing surface upon which the drywall can be mounted along the interior side, and the exterior sheathing (in this case, three-quarter-inch plywood) can be fastened outside.

Once the stud cavities were filled with insulation and the separate areas were sealed with vapour barrier inside and Tyvek on the outside, the interior processes continued with coats of mud, the required sanding and two coats of matching paint.

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Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

Renovation & Design

Colleen Zacharias photo Annemarie’s Dream, a fully double Asiatic lily, comes into bloom just before L.A. Evening Star hybrid lily, situated directly behind, can steal the show.

Spacious rural garden makes smooth transition to urban space

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Spacious rural garden makes smooth transition to urban space

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to dig up some of their beloved plants when they sell their home and move to another property. But relocating hundreds of prized plants from an established and spacious rural garden to a blank slate is a whole other matter.

In 2023, Sandra Gessner Eggertson and her husband decided it was time to sell their three-acre rural property near St. Andrews. They purchased a home on a quiet street in Winnipeg where Eggertson planned to make a new garden. Their rural property was listed that fall and sold immediately. Eggertson moved in December, but first, hundreds of treasured perennials, including hostas and specialty lilies and iris plants, needed to be transplanted into pots.

With the assistance of a good friend — a fellow lily and iris enthusiast — the enormous task of digging and dividing took three months. The plant divisions were loaded into a truck and transported to her friend’s farmyard, where they spent the winter in a protected location with ample snow cover.

“First we placed bales of straw in the shape of a big square to act as a catch-all for snow,” says Eggertson. “The pots were placed close together inside the square and then covered with mulch. I had very few plant losses.”

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Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

Resale Homes

The unique two-storey home features a forward-thinking design that endows it with a timeless elegance from start to finish. (Todd Lewys / Free Press)

Forward-thinking design makes for one-of-a-kind home

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Forward-thinking design makes for one-of-a-kind home

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

It’s a simple fact of home design: some homes age well, while others don’t.

Then there are those homes that age exceptionally well, owing to forward-thinking designs that defy the unrelenting march of time.

One of those homes is 1 Dunbar Cres., a modern-themed two-storey residence that was built on an expansive 79-foot by 150-foot lot in 1988, the same year Canada hosted the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary (yes, that was 38 years ago).

While the home is nearly four decades old, its design has stood the test of time, says Natasha Kouk of Royal LePage Dynamic Real Estate.

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Saturday, Jul. 18, 2026

Resale Homes

The 3,200 sq. ft. cottage offers an amazing lakefront location, and was designed with flair.

Cottage at Falcon Lake offers country comfort, upscale charm

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Cottage at Falcon Lake offers country comfort, upscale charm

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 11, 2026

Imagine having built your dream cottage and then — just when you’re on the cusp of being able to enjoy it — having no choice but to sell.

That’s what happened to the owners of Block 9, Lot 4 in Falcon Lake, says Thor Sigmar of Whiteshell Cottages.

“An unforeseen set of circumstances happened where one of the owners isn’t able to make full use of the cottage,” he explains. “It’s unfortunate, but I guess life happens.”

As the old saying goes, one person’s misfortune is another’s good fortune — in this case because someone is going to benefit from the fact that the 3,200-square-foot, two-storey cottage was built to the highest standards, with no expense spared in any area of its design and construction.

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Saturday, Jul. 11, 2026

Renovation & Design

Marc LaBossiere photos / Free Press The prefab fibreglass shower stall required a custom tiled back wall to get the shower head at the proper height.

Making the best of a bathroom

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Preview

Making the best of a bathroom

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Saturday, Jul. 11, 2026

This bathroom project turned out amazingly well. However, its journey to completion was far from straightforward.

The homeowner had intended to tackle this renovation himself. But during a fencing project on his property, he asked if I could take a look at his ensuite, where the work had halted nearly seven years prior. It was apparent the seemingly “easy” upgrade presented several obstacles, some of which had not yet come into full focus.

After presenting an estimate on the project, my involvement began midway through the demolition process, which continued until most of the walls were bare and the existing sub-floor was removed.

Initial hurdles included blatant issues — the main venting stack, for example, was within the room, having been concealed inside the old shower stall wall (which no longer exists), and the water and drain feeds for a new wall-mount vanity had yet to be properly routed.

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Saturday, Jul. 11, 2026

Renovation & Design

Jennifer Dumore photo From left: A trio of flowering crabapple trees -- Courageous, Spring Snow and Thunderchild

Getting creative with flowering crabapple trees

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Getting creative with flowering crabapple trees

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2026

Flowering crabapple trees have come a long way since Spring Snow Flowering Crabapple and Thunderchild Rosybloom Crabapple were introduced to the market more than 50 years ago.

Spring Snow was developed by Bert Porter at his nursery in northern Saskatchewan in the 1960s. A completely fruitless tree with masses of fragrant white flowers, Spring Snow became the leading crabapple cultivar in North America. Hardy to Zone 2, it grows to a height of 7.6 metres with a robust width of 6.1 metres. While Spring Snow continues to be an option for consumers who do not want messy fruit drop, it is highly susceptible to apple scab, a fungal disease that thrives in wet weather, causing premature leaf drop.

Thunderchild Rosybloom Crabapple was introduced by Saskatchewan breeder Percy Wright in 1974. Slightly smaller than Spring Snow, Thunderchild’s glossy purple foliage made it a top seller for many years. Although resistant to fire blight, a bacterial disease that causes dieback of branches, Thunderchild is also highly susceptible to apple scab.

Another older variety, Pink Spire Flowering Crabapple, is also highly susceptible to apple scab.

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Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2026

New Homes

Illustration The thoughtfully designed two-storey home is spacious and functional.

Generous two-storey in Oak Bluff West makes you feel right at home

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Generous two-storey in Oak Bluff West makes you feel right at home

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 11, 2026

There’s nothing better than getting home, stepping inside and feeling immediately at ease.

That’s exactly the feeling you get when you enter Avanti Custom Homes’ upcoming show home at 14 Bryce Blvd. in Oak Bluff West, says sales representative Taylor Jaman of Century 21 Carrie Realty.

“This home features a great floor plan,” she says of the 2,482-square-foot two-storey home.

“It was built on a 72-foot by 142-foot lot. That allows for a more expansive floor plan. As a result, the home has a very spacious, open feel.”

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Saturday, Jul. 11, 2026

New Homes

TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS The 1,910 sq. ft, two-storey Florence is one flexible, fashionable and value-packed family home.

Brand new and ready for you

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Brand new and ready for you

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

The cost of a new home has increased exponentially in the past two to three years.

These days, it’s not unusual to see a brand-new 1,500 to 1,600 sq. ft., two-storey home sell for more than $600,000.

That’s a stiff price for any family to pay, especially when the cost of groceries and gas shows no signs of decreasing anytime soon. Fortunately, an occasional house comes on the market that delivers exceptional value.

The brand new two-storey at 43 Elk Meadows Pl. in Prairie Pointe is one of those homes, says Rob Hutchison of RE/MAX Performance Realty.

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Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

Renovation & Design

Marc LaBossiere photos / Free Press The vanity was moved forward to nearly meet the face of the wall next to the shower.

Not just a vanity project

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Preview

Not just a vanity project

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

The bathroom in the basement had become a place to avoid.

The shower stall had flimsy plastic walls resting on a decrepit base with the drain bagged up, indicating it likely had not been used in quite a while. Indications of water feed leaks were visible in various locations. The sink vanity was tucked a few feet into a cavity created solely because the main ducting along the ceiling forced an awkward design. And although the toilet worked, it was not in an inviting space.

During a basement renovation, this had became one of two projects within a project. With the laundry room nearing completion, my focus shifted to finishing the bathroom, which had undergone a complete gutting and redesign.

Although the main wall dividing the bathroom from the neighbouring bedroom would remain, an extra doorway beside the main bathroom door was added from the bedroom to create an ensuite feel.

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Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

Resale Homes

TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS The sharp-looking two-storey home lives larger than its listed square footage and has many modern upgrades.

Welcome home to Wolseley

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Welcome home to Wolseley

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

If there’s one thing about early 20th-century home design that stands out, it’s that they aren’t always big on livability.

Whether it’s the fact that people didn’t entertain as much then or weren’t at home as often, many homes from that era suffer from poor flow-through, a lack of storage space and rooms that are small and spartan.

In short, they can show a maddening indifference to comfort and occasional — and very welcome — touches of luxury.

Eric Neumann of Real Broker says his listing at 531 Craig St. in Wolseley isn’t one of those.

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Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

Renovation & Design

Darwin Perennials photo The new Salvia, Blue by You offers earlier blooming and up to five repeat blooming cycles.

Try growing Salvia and Veronica speedwell in your garden

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Try growing Salvia and Veronica speedwell in your garden

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Jun. 27, 2026

Salvia and Veronica speedwell are two of the most popular garden plants.

Both include varieties that produce dense, upright spikes of tiny purple or blue flowers and come in a range of colours and forms. Gardeners frequently confuse Salvia and Veronica, but there are distinct differences between the two.

Salvia, which is a member of the Lamiaceae family, has highly aromatic leaves, square stems and tubular two-lipped flowers. Salvia is also a significantly larger and more diverse genus than Veronica, with hundreds of different species of annuals and perennials.

Veronica, formerly classified in Scrophulariaceae, is in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. The leaves and flowers of Veronica are not known for fragrance. The stems are characteristically round, and the flowers are star-like with four spreading lobes that fuse at the base.

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Saturday, Jun. 27, 2026

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