Parade of Homes

>> Nestled in the heart of one of the most desired neighbourhoods of Winnipeg, Ridge- Wood West is the newest development in the Charleswood area. Potential residents have waited patiently for their chance to build a new home in the community they know and love, and last fall during the Parade of Homes, Ridge- Wood West officially opened its doors. "Careful consideration goes into planning a neighbourhood like this one. It's a community that has been years in the making and the re- sponse has been incredible," says Eric Vogan of Qualico Communities. "Many Winnipeggers have waited a long time to build a brand-new home in this treasured area, and the commu- nity is quickly growing." Phase 1A is nearing completion with residents eagerly taking possession, and parts of Phase 1B have been released with more home sites to follow throughout the year. RidgeWood West is home to nine different builders, three premium and six custom builders. Among the six custom builders is the well-known Hearth Homes. "Generally, we've built Hearth Homes in the south end of Winnipeg and jumped on the op- portunity to build in Charleswood. We've also spent quite a bit of time in this area growing up as our grandparents lived here. It's a good feel- ing to be able to say we are building homes in a neighbourhood that means a lot to us," says Adam Wickstrom of Hearth Homes. "A great deal of the interest in our homes is coming from residents who have previously lived in the area and are looking to build a new home and go beyond what's available in the Charleswood resale market," says Wickstrom. Matt Wickstrom, also from Hearth Homes, is quick to point out that another reason people are drawn to the community is because Ridge- Wood West respects the character that Charles- wood embodies. Original groves of trees have been preserved, pathways are connected to the Harte Trail, and wetlands surrounded by native grasses serve as water retention ponds integrating natural elements into all areas of the community. "Qualico has done an incredible job to ensure that the development fits in with the existing community of Charleswood. you can tell that there's a lot of pride put into RidgeWood West," says Matt Wickstrom. As you drive through the community, it's clear how much detail and craft goes into the exterior of the homes, but that creative focus expands be- yond the curb appeal and into the home. Adam Wickstrom says that many clients are focusing on the interior design functionality. "Our clients have especially been looking for more room in the kitchen and one of the solutions we've come up with is to build a bigger island and include a seating area," says Matt Wickstrom. "People are constantly focusing on getting the most out of their space and having it be multifunctional. Whether it's more room for baking around the holidays or squeezing in a few extra people at Thanksgiving Dinner, it helps make the kitchen flow a little easier," says Adam Wickstrom. WHIlE THE CUSTOm HOmES In rIDGEWOOD WEST ArE A BlEnD OF BOTH TrADITIOnAl AnD COnTEmPOrArY DESIGn, In THE EnD IT'S rEAllY ABOUT THE ClIEnT'S vISIOn COmInG TO lIFE. "A lot of the homes we're building are more on the traditional side with clean simple lines, crown moulding, lighter colours and lots of cultured stone," says Matt Wickstrom. Vogan believes the momentum and excite- ment about the community is building and that many Charleswood residents are happy with the way the community turned out. "It's really exciting to see previous Charles- wood residents start building new memo- ries in a neighbourhood that they've always loved." Building new MeMories in a Familiar neighbourhood Qualico Communities for Parade of Homes Magazine Parade of Homes Spring 2017 109

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