Classic lines, modern luxury: beautiful bungalow has it all

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.

Bold and beautiful

As anyone who’s looking to buy a new home knows, real estate prices continue to climb.

There are multiple reasons for this.

First, there’s the cost of building materials, which are now being impacted by tariffs imposed by the United States.

Then, there’s the price of land. Building lots continue to get more expensive, much to the chagrin of prospective homebuyers.

Dream homes on parade

It’s hard to believe that we are only four weeks away from the 2025 Fall Parade of Homes.

The Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s (MHBA) Parade of Homes is the signature showcase event for this province’s residential construction industry, providing Manitobans interested in building their dream home an opportunity and experience unlike any other available in Canada.

The MHBA’s 2025 Fall Parade of Homes starts on Saturday, Sept. 20 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 12. People will be visiting Parade show homes in Manitoba’s newest neighbourhoods to learn about the latest trends in home and interior design, the hottest home technology and building materials, and to potentially find their dream home.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the MHBA’s Parade of Homes. Since 1980, the Parade has grown into the largest and most comprehensive home tour in Canada, and this fall’s edition features 135 stunning new homes on display. Having 135 different options available to visit — each one with its own layout, materials, finishes and designs — means our Parade of Homes gives Manitoba home buyers a unique opportunity to see and experience the widest variety of home building options in an actual home setting. An opportunity and showcase of this scope and size is uniquely Manitoban.

One cool kitchen

One of the most annoying things prospective new home buyers can experience when they view show homes is a condition known as the “duplication effect,” which occurs when two or more homes look virtually the same inside.

When this happens, people often roll their eyes, take a cursory tour and then leave.

So it’s extremely important that builders keep their designs fresh to fire up the imagination of those in the market for a new home.

That’s exactly what Signature Homes has done with the Fresco III at 23 Yaleton St. in Prairie Pointe.

Big, beautiful bungalow

It’s not something that happens every time you enter a house, yet step inside Irwin Homes’ timeless bungalow show home at 27 Oasis Bend in Bison Run and you feel an immediate sense of comfort.

The reason is that every design detail in the open-concept main living area unfolds before you in quietly sophisticated style.

“I would say everything just looks right,” says David Powell, the sales representative for the splendid 1,751 sq. ft. bungalow, which comes with a fully finished walk-out lower level. It features the latest in design and décor, which seamlessly combines to create a home that exudes a comfortable elegance.”

The large windows are among the first of the design features that jump out at you. Not only do they allow natural light to flow freely throughout the living area and downstairs in the bright rec room, but they also make a fashion statement.

Compact two-storey doesn’t scrimp on style

If there’s one thing that keeps homebuilders up at night, it’s coming up with a new home plan from scratch.

Imagine, then, having to come up with a new attached home plan that calls for the house to fit on a 24-foot-wide lot.

“Fortunately, we had a good idea of how to maximize functionality because we’ve been dealing with building homes on 24-foot-wide lots for awhile,” says Hilton Homes’ owner and chief designer, Spencer Curtis.

“This home, the Barnes, is a new design and it’s a bit smaller, so we really focused in on maximizing livability to deliver a more functional, affordable home.”

Mondo condo

With so many homes and condominiums being built at a furious pace these days, you might wonder if there’s still keen attention being paid to detail.

That’s not a worry with RidgeWood West Condominiums, Randall Homes’ latest attached townhome condo project in Charleswood’s RidgeWood West, says Glen Harvey, the sales representative for the condo development.

“I think the first thing that stands out about these townhomes is their exterior,” he says, noting that the show home checks in at 1,500 sq. ft. with a full basement and double detached garage. “With a combination of durable vinyl siding, acrylic stucco and stone detailing, they have a luxurious look to them that gives them great curb appeal.”

And while some condos set the bar high with the exterior and then fall flat in terms of layout and finishes, that isn’t remotely the case with this show home.

Elegant bungalow has everything you want

Drive through most neighbourhoods in the city and you’re bound to see the occasional infill home pop up amid rows of long-established homes.

They can be drab, quick builds that are executed with a palpable lack of imagination.

Even worse, two tall, slender homes might be built when a 50-foot lot is subdivided, dwarfing the smaller houses on either side and making the area feel crowded.

That isn’t the case with a new infill home at 411 Wallasey Street in Crestview, says Mauro Zappia of Zappia Group Realty.

Deluxe by design: Tuxedo stunner is a rare find

When a builder gets a huge infill lot to build on in Tuxedo, it’s a real coup. The opportunity to build a luxury home in that storied area doesn’t come along very often.

Consequently, it would be easy to get excited and set about building a luxury home that’s loaded with all kinds of flashy wow factor. Fortunately, the team at DLUX Design & Co. resisted that temptation, opting instead to build a home that is the essence of practical luxury in every aspect.

Garrett Parker, who’s marketing the home with colleagues Chris Pennycook and Val Miller for Royal LePage Dynamic Real Estate, says the 3,511 sq. ft. home was designed with great intention.

“Every element of the home was designed with ergonomic storage and purposeful planning in mind,” he says.

Impressive two-storey in Bison Run in Winnipeg is big on style

Admit it or not, but intuition — as subtle as the instinct can be — plays a big part in choosing the homes we live in.

That’s because when we enter a home, one of two things happens: we like the feel of it, or — for some hard-to-describe reason — we don’t.

Consequently, first impressions play a central role.

Fortunately, the Easton impresses the minute you step inside, says Lisa Castro, the sales representative for Broadview Homes’ new 2,135 sq. ft., two-storey show home at 273 Rangeview Way in Bison Run.

Say yes to your dream home

Making the decision to build a new home can seem like a daunting task.

For many people, it’s the largest investment they will make in their lifetime. It can be an intimidating process with a multitude of choices to make. In fact, many potential new home buyers imagine building their dream home but decide instead to buy an existing home because they simply didn’t know where or how to start the building process.

Buying a resale home is commonly seen by many as an easier option, but that, too, has its own complexities, especially in a tight resale market. As a result, building a new home has increasingly become the best option for many homebuyers. And there are tips that can help anyone begin the process of building their new home.

The first step is, of course, planning. And summer is a great time to do the planning and research needed to determine what you want and need in a new home. Pinning down your preferences — in terms of the size and functionality of the home, your lifestyle, life stage and location — will help you determine which neighbourhoods are best suited to your current and potential needs.

The Villas of Grande Pointe Meadows perfect homes for new beginnings

When empty-nesters look for a home to downsize to, they tend to look for a few key characteristics.

First — if possible — it needs to be in a quiet area where it’s possible to sit outside and enjoy a drink or the company of friends without traffic noise and sirens intruding on quiet contemplation or conversation.

Second, it must be a bungalow in order to maximize livability with knees and backs not being what they once were.

Third, it must offer ample space to spread out and enjoy life.

Plenty of room for the whole family

When a large family looks at what they desire most in a home, their first preference is always function.

That’s entirely understandable.

After all, home is where they’ll be spending the bulk of their time, activities and social commitments aside.

Big, growing families or large multi-generational families need a space that fosters both family time and privacy.

Come home to peace and comfort

One of the hallmarks of a top-notch luxury home is the aura it possesses. Which is to say that while its design is distinctive — as it should be — it wasn’t designed with the sole intent to impress.

Rather, a thoughtfully designed luxury home draws you in with an unforced sense of warmth and function.

Ryan Miller, one of Hearth Homes’ designers, says the family-run company’s new luxury show home at 19 Oasis Bend in Bison Run features a design that deftly combines fashion, function and serenity.

“The idea was to design a modern home that has a chic tranquility,” he says of the 2,349 sq. ft., two-storey residence. “We wanted it to be warm and inviting, but with a modern feel to it. As is always the case with our designs, function was the top priority. Luxury was then added after to ensure the overall design was as well-balanced as possible.”

Get inspired

Even though mortgage rates have come down substantially in the last couple of years, it’s still challenging for young families to find a new home that fits their lifestyle and budget.

For many families, the style of new home that comes the closest to meeting their budget is an attached two-storey home.

That said, those homes still aren’t cheap.

True, they tend to cost $100,000 to $150,000 less than a single detached two-storey home, but the reality is — at least withing city limits – they come with a price sticker that checks in at the $505,000 to $515,000 range.