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Supplied An illustration shows the thoughtfully designed Cambridge model from Kensington Homes.

Imagine the possibilities

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, May. 30, 2026

When people think about building a spacious bungalow, they often believe that 1,400 sq. ft. is the magic number.

After all, chances are a bungalow of that size is 200 to 300 sq. ft. larger than the one the homeowner grew up in. At the same time, it’s small enough to bring down construction costs — or is it?

The truth is, it doesn’t cost that much more to build a larger bungalow, say something in the 1,700 square foot range.

All you need is a slightly larger lot to accommodate it, and in most cases that’s outside the city, as lots outside city limits tend to be wider.

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Resale Homes

TODD LEWYS PHOTOS / FREE PRESS 259 Churchill Dr. is situated on a mature, extra-deep lot across from the river in gorgeous Riverview.

Charming family home in Riverview is a peaceful retreat

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Charming family home in Riverview is a peaceful retreat

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, May. 30, 2026

One of the most desirable qualities in a neighbourhood, aside from convenient location, is that it offers a palpable feeling of peace.

Yet, many desirable neighbourhoods within Winnipeg — River Heights, River Park South and Linden Woods, to name just a few — really aren’t that peaceful. That’s because they see significant traffic, which creates a sense of busyness that can be disconcerting. While you will get used to it eventually, it’s something you would gladly live without.

There are select few neighbourhoods around the city that are true enclaves, areas in which street traffic is mostly local and moves at a leisurely place.

Riverview is one of those neighbourhoods.

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Saturday, May. 30, 2026

Renovation & Design

Chris Lepard photo Rudbeckia Goldsturm (top left), Echinacea White Swan (lower left) and Echinacea Magnus coneflower (right) are built for resilience.

Smart planting

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Smart planting

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, May. 30, 2026

A garden may look effortlessly beautiful, but as with other facets of life, beauty is often shaped and cultivated.

No matter the size of the space you manage — whether it’s a large landscape or a postage-size patch — effort and strategy are required to achieve and protect the garden you create.

Wild swings in temperature, strong winds, heavy rainfall or long dry spells can disrupt the best laid plans. Whatever the weather, keep your garden looking beautiful by choosing reliable plants for areas that are at the mercy of the elements.

Practical methods that are employed early in the season will fortify your garden against water loss, improve drainage and help to maintain your garden’s beauty.

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Saturday, May. 30, 2026

Renovation & Design

Marc LaBossiere photos / Free Press After: new cabinets, countertop and sink have improved the space dramatically.

From drab to fab

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Preview

From drab to fab

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Saturday, May. 30, 2026

An untidy, dingy or even dirty laundry area is an oxymoron — an insult to cleanliness.

An uninviting laundry room can also lead to procrastination when chores demand action. During a recent gutting and remodelling of a basement, there were subsidiary projects that needed to be tackled, and the laundry space would prove to be the most dramatic transformation.

It’s quite likely that many homeowners have endured a less-than-favourable laundry space. Typically, home renovations start elsewhere, with the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring and painting usually taking precedent. The laundry room is often tucked away in a corner of the basement behind a closed door. It took years, even decades, before my own laundry room was upgraded, and boy, what a difference it has made in our day-to-day rituals. My wife said it best: “I used to hate doing laundry until the reno, and now I look forward to being down there.”

The basement renovation for my clients involved repositioning most inner walls to enhance the layout of the existing rooms. Although the laundry room square footage would diminished slightly as a result, the functionality would be greatly improved with the introduction of upper and lower cupboards for storage. A secondary “faux” wall would create a flat vertical surface upon which the cabinets could be mounted.

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Saturday, May. 30, 2026

Renovation & Design

Marc LaBossiere / Free Press The new basement configuration provides convenient access to nearly all the spaces along one main wall.

Not all basement doors are open-and-shut cases

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Preview

Not all basement doors are open-and-shut cases

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Saturday, May. 23, 2026

When it comes to basement overhauls, previous experience has prepared me for potential hurdles.

The usual suspects include uneven concrete floors, shabby ceilings and questionable window seals. And although I’m always prepared for the unexpected, a recent renovation threw a few extra curveballs my way.

Fortunately, I’m always ready to swing.

Once the basement had been re-framed, including introducing new walls to create a better flow in the space, subfloor panels were installed throughout to level the existing concrete floors, as well as to insulate between the planned vinyl plank and the cold basement shell. I had anticipated the extra height required to compensate for the rise in subfloor elevation when framing the doorways, but the existing ceiling joists (taking into account the gap needed to hang suspended tiles) no longer allowed for a traditional rough framing height of 81.5 inches for a standard 80-inch pre-hung interior door.

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Saturday, May. 23, 2026

Resale Homes

Todd Lewys photos / Free Press The backyard at 50 Manring Cove, Southdale, is a private resort featuring a large deck with hot tub, outdoor shower and a low-maintenance saltwater pool.

Renovated two-storey is move-in ready

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Renovated two-storey is move-in ready

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, May. 23, 2026

Not every home you see gives you the feeling that there’s something special about it.

But that’s the sense that you get when you glimpse 50 Manring Cove.

Its profile is extraordinarily clean, crisp and sharp. Clearly, the home has been impeccably maintained.

Terry Isaryk of RE/MAX Performance Realty says pride of ownership really shows at this 2,335-sq.-ft., two-storey residence, which was built in 1989.

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Saturday, May. 23, 2026

Renovation & Design

Mary Ann Shaw photo This front yard garden, which includes so-called deer resistant plants, is still visited by deer.

Even ‘deer-resistant’ plants can tempt hungry critters

Colleen Zacharias 6 minute read Preview

Even ‘deer-resistant’ plants can tempt hungry critters

Colleen Zacharias 6 minute read Saturday, May. 23, 2026

What does “deer-resistant” really mean?

With a growing deer population in Fort Richmond, resident Mary Ann Shaw is becoming increasingly aware that there is a distinct gap between assurances that a plant is deer-resistant and reality.

If there is one thing deer will tell you, deer-resistant does not mean deer-proof.

Shaw’s property is across the street from the 37.4-hectare Kings Park.

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Saturday, May. 23, 2026

New Homes

The five-acre infill site once occupied by the old Allard School will soon be home to 58 bungalow condos and 12 townhome condos.

Condo development breathing life into former school site

Todd Lewys 4 minute read Preview

Condo development breathing life into former school site

Todd Lewys 4 minute read Saturday, May. 23, 2026

Patience almost always pays off.

Because, let’s face it, many of the best things in life are worth waiting for.

This is a mantra that Karma Developments’ Myles Kraut has been living for the last six-plus months, as work preparing the site of the old Allard School at 130 Allard Ave. for his new infill condo development in Westwood, Glendale Estates, proceeded at a painstakingly slow pace.

“Remediation of the school took much longer than expected,” he says. “But it’s finally complete. I’m happy to say that rough construction on Glendale Estates is well underway. The piles for the homes are all in, and we are now pouring foundations.”

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Saturday, May. 23, 2026

Renovation & Design

Once the L-bracket is mounted along the perimeter, the main supports and cross section create a grid for the floating tiles.

Drywall or tiles with style? When it comes to replacing ceilings, you’ve got options

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Drywall or tiles with style? When it comes to replacing ceilings, you’ve got options

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, May. 16, 2026

Roughly a decade ago, a homeowner was adamant he wanted his basement ceiling drywalled, to match the style of the main floor of the house.

Although it was an older home, the basement had high enough floor joists above to allow for seven-and-a-half foot ceilings, completely drywalled. The project went fine, but several locations required quick access panels to reach service shut-offs and clean-outs. And therein lies the rub — why drywall a basement ceiling if a bunch of holes are required?

Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand why a client might insist upon a drywalled ceiling in the basement — it makes the lower level feel much like the rest of the house. However, most scenarios would not allow a clean installation of drywall, primarily because of the services that run throughout the lower-level ceiling joists: main ducts for the HVAC system, hot and cold water feeds, drain plumbing that connects to a main stack, and so on.

There are generally accepted alternatives in these cases, and they can be quite complementary when installed strategically.

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Saturday, May. 16, 2026

Renovation & Design

Jpg 1_classic perennials_Siberian Iris_Swans in Flight_ with low carpet of Cerastium tomentosum Snow-in-Summer Walters Gardens photo Siberian iris swans in flight with a low carpet of white-flowered snow-in-summer are classic perennials.

It’s bloomin’ plant sale season

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

It’s bloomin’ plant sale season

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, May. 16, 2026

It’s been a cool and windy start to spring this year. The anticipation of flowers — not a few pretty blooms scattered here and there but a lush and abundant flowering display — grows stronger each day.

Even small spaces can be filled with masses of vibrant flowers. For lasting appeal, choose quintessential perennials such as irises, peonies, clematis, delphinium, poppies, salvia, foxglove, clustered bellflower, daisies, speedwell, salvia, lady’s mantle, phlox, echinops (globe thistle), daylilies, snow-in-summer and more. You can also sprinkle in self-seeding annuals like snapdragons, cornflowers and calendula.

What could be more satisfying than a classic cottage garden look that features extravagant colour? Key factors include planting densely in groups of at least three. Choose plants of different heights, including ground covers, so that no bare ground is visible. You may also want to create curved borders and add a vertical structure such as an obelisk, trellis or arbour.

But above all, you will need beautiful plants that flower reliably.

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Saturday, May. 16, 2026

Resale Homes

This elegant 3,209 sq. ft. bungalow is in an amazing location.

ONE Fantastic find

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

ONE Fantastic find

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, May. 16, 2026

Every now and then, a home absolutely knocks your socks off.

One such home is at 45 Salme Drive in St. Vital.

Tucked away on the north side of the quiet street off St. Vital Road, the sprawling, 3,209-sq.-ft. bungalow — set back at the end of a long, tree-lined driveway — comes into view, introducing itself in a quietly regal manner.

It’s one of those homes that you didn’t know was there, and when you discover it, you want to find out more about it.

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Saturday, May. 16, 2026

New Homes

Todd Lewys / Free Press Space and style abound in this stately great room at Oak Bluff Condos.

Style and substance

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Style and substance

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, May. 16, 2026

If there’s one key to making the successful transition to being an empty-nester, it’s feeling like you’re not settling for less when you sell your longtime home.

And that means having to make few — if any — adjustments to adapt to the home you’re downsizing to.

That’s often easier said than done, because space and function are still high priority for empty-nesters.

After all, when you’ve lived in a 2,500-sq.-ft., two-storey single-family home for 25 years or more, the transition to a 900-sq.-ft., two-bedroom apartment-style condo can be rough.

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Saturday, May. 16, 2026

Resale Homes

TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS The masterfully remodelled condo is in turnkey condition and tucked away in a quiet, park-like setting in popular River Park South.

Fully remodelled condo in River Park South truly a turnkey treasure

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

Fully remodelled condo in River Park South truly a turnkey treasure

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, May. 9, 2026

When a condominium is 35 years old, it can be hit or miss whether it’s contemporary in style or a throwback to the era in which it was designed.

Charlene Urbanski of Lifestyles Real Estate says she just listed an apartment-style suite in a tidy building at 805 St. Anne’s Rd. that simply sparkles.

“I’ll be honest — many units in buildings this old tend to be dated,” she says. “But not this one. It’s been remodelled from top to bottom.”

In the process — the 1,180-sq.-ft., two-bedroom suite was completely renovated in 2022 — it was taken from drab to dynamic, says Urbanski.

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Saturday, May. 9, 2026

Renovation & Design

Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press Although the top decking hue has faded slightly, the canola oil has already lasted longer than the store-bought product applied years before.

The canola oil experiment, revisited

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

The canola oil experiment, revisited

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, May. 9, 2026

In late June of 2023, my Reno Boss column depicted an experiment using canola oil to treat my aging deck boards, and the column generated the most feedback I have ever received for any of mine to date.

Interest in the ongoing performance of the canola oil on my deck still finds my inbox with queries, on occasion. After receiving a couple of them recently, I thought it might be a good idea to revisit the experiment and discuss the results it has yielded.

The concept of using canola oil arose after having treated my front and rear decks once they began to fade. Both had been subjected to years of sunlight, and the resilience of the brown treated lumber had clearly dissipated.

My first attempt at rejuvenation involved an expensive Behr deep-penetrating oil product. The process involved clearing the entire deck surface, prepping the top decking by using a high-pressure spray wand, letting it dry and choosing an arid morning to quickly apply the expensive oil in such a manner that sequential lines of application would not reveal any overlaps.

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Saturday, May. 9, 2026

Renovation & Design

Syngenta Flowers photo Florencio begonias such as Florencio Cerise have bright-yellow centre stamens and superior heat-tolerance.

Beguiling begonias

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Beguiling begonias

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, May. 9, 2026

All it took was one look at Rodney Wohlgemuth’s begonias and I decided to break my own rule of not buying begonias before May 15.

Wohlgemuth owns Green Oak Gardens, located two kilometres east of Beausejour. The expansive greenhouses are tucked behind a large red barn in a picturesque rural setting with a winding creek and a sweep of mature trees in the background.

On my visit on May 1, the sun’s rays were warm and there wasn’t a hint of wind. I was primed to shop for plants.

Wohlgemuth grows a wide variety including annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. He especially loves begonias which are displayed throughout the main greenhouse — luscious begonias on plant tables as soon as you step inside the greenhouse, begonias in hanging baskets above you and begonias in beautiful mixed containers on the floor.

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Saturday, May. 9, 2026

New Homes

TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS The two-storey, 2,069-sq.-ft. dwelling takes full advantage of its prime positioning, offering incredible style, functionality and gorgeous forest views.

West St. Paul two-storey’s wooded lot perfect site for family life

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Preview

West St. Paul two-storey’s wooded lot perfect site for family life

Todd Lewys 5 minute read Saturday, May. 9, 2026

It’s an oft-repeated adage in real estate: location, location, location.

And while location plays a central role in determining the value and desirability of a property, there’s another factor that also contributes to a home’s allure: where it’s situated within a community.

The positioning of Hilton Homes’ new show home at 296 Masters Ave. in West St. Paul pays off in more than one way, says the sales representative for the 2,069-sq.-ft. home, Soren Frederiksen of Re/Max Executives Realty.

“I think the first thing to note about this home is that it’s on a corner lot that’s a very good size at 44-feet wide by 154 feet and 180 feet at different points,” he says. “Not only that, because of its positioning, there will also never be a home next to it on its right-hand side looking at it from the street.”

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Saturday, May. 9, 2026

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