Parade of Homes

in Oak Bluff West. There are a lot of fire pits, play structures, as well as cooking and entertaining areas. It's definitely a neighbourhood where people like to be outside to enjoy their evenings and weekends," Saper says. Incorporating native grasses is a natural landscaping choice, since they're well suited to Manitoba's climate and require minimal maintenance. Popular choices in hard surfaces include gabion walls, made up of metal cages or cylinders filled with rocks, and Corten steel, which adds an attractive rust tone to planters, house numbers and other fixtures. Regardless of aesthetics, Pajot says it's important to consider how the space will be used, whether as an outdoor kitchen, lounge area, playground or all three. "In other developments it's a little tougher to get this kind of room and still be able to do a variety of things; Oak Bluff West is great for that." EXPAND your LIVING SPACE in OAK BLUFF WEST Jourdain Pajot thinks of himself as an artist — one who gets to work on a very large canvas. Pajot is the owner of Inspired Landscapes, a local company that does everything from planting trees and shrubs to building retaining walls and patios and designing outdoor living spaces. While no residential job is too big or too small, Pajot enjoys the freedom that comes with wide-open spaces. "The reason why I like working in Oak Bluff West is because of the size of the lots," he says. "The lots are nice and big, which is really great for a landscaper like myself to get in there to design and create something." "The front lawns are almost as big as the backyards. It gives you a lot of room to put in a whole bunch of different elements. You can have an area where you can entertain and you can also have an area where you have grass for the dogs or a play structure for the kids." Sarah Anderson, marketing and community relations manager for Qualico Communities, the developer of Oak Bluff West, says the lot sizes are a major attraction for homeowners. Wider lots — typically 70 to 80 feet — give Oak Bluff West a country feel while providing all kinds of opportunities to customize exterior spaces. "Our builders are enhancing their show homes by putting in a mix of trees and shrubs and getting pretty creative with rock details and house numbers," she says. "It's a way to add another element in the front yard. When you have such a big area to work with, it's nice to add a bit of window dressing, so to speak. It sets the homes apart and adds some visual interest," adds Anderson. When it comes to building a show home in Oak Bluff West, landscaping is a huge consideration for Avanti Custom Homes. "I want to ensure that the landscaping fits well with the design of the home we have built, whether it's the use of certain trees or larger rocks and elevation changes, so it enhances the exterior of the home," says Jason Jaquet, vice president of Avanti Custom Homes. Qualico Communities' design administrator, Alaina Saper says architectural guidelines were designed to give Oak Bluff West a pastoral feel. At the same time, they are meant to enhance features like trails and wetlands, which augment the walkability and liveability of the community. The primary objective of exterior guidelines was to spur creativity, and it's clear that this objective has been achieved. "You're seeing a lot of outdoor living style landscaping happening QUALICO COMMUNITIES — OAK BLUFF WEST "I want to ensure that the landscaping fits well with the design of the home we have built, whether it's the use of certain trees or larger rocks and elevation changes, so it enhances the exterior of the home." Q 16 Parade of Homes Spring 2020

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