Wonderful Wellington: Houses like this don’t come along every day

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.

This timbered rustic retreat will wow you

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.

Wolseley Classic boasts modern charms

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

Elegance all the way

If there’s one thing everyone wants when they come home after a long, challenging day, it’s peace and quiet.

And, if possible, a generous helping of beauty.

That’s understandable. Peace, quiet and beauty are balms for the soul. Too often, we don’t get enough of either in today’s fast-paced world. And there aren’t a ton of places within Winnipeg city limits where you can fully get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

But there is one such place in a little enclave tucked away at the end of North Drive where the old Wildewood Club used to stand.

Seeing is believing

Every now and then, as you walk or drive through a neighbourhood, you encounter a home that stands out from all the others on the street.

One such place is the 94-year-old, two-storey home found at 322 Queenston St. in North River Heights.

One of the first things you notice is the meticulous landscaping. Not a blade of grass is out of place, and all the plants, shrubs and trees that surround it give it a welcoming feel that’s amplified by its quaint, cottage-like exterior.

Right from the get-go, you sense there’s something special about the place.

Former cottage now a spacious house with loft

There are some communities that go unnoticed when they richly deserve more attention.

One such gem is the enclave of Spruce Bay Heights, which lies about 15 minutes north of Gimli.

Carved out of dense forest, it houses a wonderful collection of homes and cottages that are surrounded by mature trees that gives the residences — which are set well back on large lots — a pleasing sense of privacy and tranquility.

That being the case, not many of the homes come up for sale, because the folks who live there year-round or spend their summers there treasure being able to spend time in such a calm, laid-back setting.

This stylish condo awaits in a sought-after locale

When you think of Wellington Crescent and condominiums, you probably picture the prestigious, towering buildings on the street’s west side that are home to a host of luxurious suites.

When you drive south on the famous Crescentwood thoroughfare, your attention is often drawn to the right side of street by the fascinating row of monoliths. Which is a shame, because there are some special condominiums on the other side of the street — including the small cluster of skilfully designed townhouse-style condos on a compact tract of land just south of where River Avenue and Wellington meet.

“They were built in 1994,” says Andrea McDonald of Coldwell Banker Preferred Real Estate. “Just five were built, and they are all multi-level style townhomes.”

Those condos are now 31 years old, which means that — much like their brethren on the other side of the street — the units might reflect their age. Although 31 isn’t old in human terms, it can be in housing terms.

A gourmet’s dream

Sometimes, life takes an unexpected turn.

In this instance, a family built their dream home on a huge lakefront lot in Bison Run, expecting to spend many years enjoying all it had to offer.

Then, life happened.

“They were going to relocate here and now they aren’t because something significant came up to change their plans,” says Lisa Castro of Coldwell Banker Preferred Real Estate. “So, a home that was beautifully designed and built by Sterling Homes is available.”

A perfect fit for first-time buyers or empty-nesters

Homebuyers looking for a starter home often probably look at real estate listings and idly wonder if $300,000 gets you much anymore.

It’s a valid question.

At that price point, the reality is that a home might require numerous upgrades to endow it with modern function and style.

Colin McTavish of the new brokerage firm Real Broker says he and colleague Eric Neumann just listed a one-and-a-half storey home at 522 Craig St. in Wolseley that has much to offer for just under that magical $300,000 mark.

Stunning Headingley home feels like a private resort

For some reason, certain neighbourhoods just seem to fly under the radar.

One of those is Marston Meadows.

Situated on the north side of Roblin Boulevard, less than a kilometre from PR 334, the community is neatly tucked away on a mature tract of land that runs mostly parallel to the Assiniboine River.

Most of the homes there are not only buffered from Roblin by Marston Drive, but sit on huge, mature lots that are surrounded by old trees, making for a calm, quiet atmosphere.

Cosy home in River Heights has big appeal

When you’re looking for a starter home, it’s easy to write off a smaller house due to the possibility of space constraints.

That’s totally understandable, because when it comes to a home that’s 700 square feet or smaller, either it’s livable or it’s not.

Mike Leclerc of Royal LePage Top Producers says the 642 sq. ft. house he just listed at 421 Centennial Street in River Heights fits easily into the former category.

“This home’s floor plan is simply fabulous,” he says. “Even though it’s under 650 sq. ft., all the available space is very well used, and the home has also been thought out extremely well. It’s a very functional home.”

Fine dining

While a 24-year-old home isn’t old, you can be assured it was built at a time when home layout was in flux.

A house of that vintage was envisioned when traditional home design was transitioning to modern home design, with chopped up, darker homes giving way to brighter, open-concept ones.

Of course, change doesn’t always happen quickly, which could very well make for a house that’s caught between styles, with an awkward, quirky floor plan.

That absolutely isn’t the case with the splendid executive-style bungalow found at 33 Breland Bay in Royalwood, says Jennifer Queen of RE/MAX Professionals.

Make yourself at home

As exciting as it is to purchase a new home, there are two small but significant details that can add stress to the big occasion.

The first is that, in many cases, the home might need to be updated significantly in several areas.

That knowledge can create angst as you never know what you’re going to find when you start to tear out walls, pull down cabinets and rip out flooring.

Secondly, even if a home is move-in-ready, there are often elements that don’t line up precisely with personal preferences.

Relax and enjoy this gorgeous split-level

When a creative couple bought a 30-year-old split-level home in Transcona’s Lakeside Meadows 10 years ago, they knew they had taken on a project.

To put it mildly, the home was in dire need of updating.

Undeterred, they set about bringing the 1,776 sq. ft. residence up to contemporary standards.

The decade-long reno journey was a labour of love, says Shona Scappaticci of Vivico Real Estate.

Live the dream

There are times when appearances don’t always reflect reality.

That’s the case with a sprawling cottage that sits serenely on a huge, well-treed lot at block 11, lot three on Falcon Lake’s south shore.

From the front, it exudes modern-rustic charm — its wide front porch has a pristine pergola perched perfectly over the front door.

But then you glimpse the peaked roofline, which features a series of 10 large windows placed precisely over the glass-lined front door.