“A world of emotion”, is how Jennifer would describe the first time she and her family stepped into their new home. This would be the first time they were seeing it, with the moving truck parked on the street behind them.
As a military family, they are used to moving, but what makes this move unique is that they worked with a local builder from start to finish, virtually.
Lois Ruston, General Manager for R&M Homes, says this isn’t the first time they helped a client build their home from across the country but it is the first time that the entire process was completed virtually, without the clients ever having the ability to see their space before taking possession. With today’s technology, FaceTime, Google Duo, and Zoom, they can walk a client through the steps of building their home and picking finishings from start to finish. The pandemic forced many businesses to turn to these new technologies, but they are definitely here to stay. Brenda Barnes-Kilmury is the designer for R&M Homes, and she worked closely with the family in selecting cabinetry, flooring, lighting, and finishes.
The home is a 5-bedroom, 3 full bathroom bi-level located in Brandon. The interior walls are finished in soft shades of yellow and green; Honey Mist and Morning Tea. This creates a warm and bright feeling throughout the entire space. The cabinetry, by BDN LUX Kitchen & Design, is an alabaster design in Chantilly Lace, again keeping with the bright feel of the home. Jennifer fell in love with the countertops but was sold on the name; River Gold. It takes many things to make a house feel like a home and that can include your connection to your selections and their names. The countertops are a premium laminate, which is very durable, and used throughout the home in the kitchen and bathrooms. Jennifer and Sean’s wish was to have an earthy, cozy, grounded home and she says that R&M delivered. They wanted their home to feel a connection to the earth by using more soft, natural tones and finishes, and you can certainly feel that connection when you spend time in their family’s warm and welcoming space.
The primary bedroom boasts a custom walk-in closet and beautiful ensuite. The warm tones continue into the bathroom and the custom tile shower. The pebble stone tile base was a must for Jennifer and completes the space perfectly. The cabinetry and countertop continue on in this space creating plenty of storage.
Finding the right pieces for your home can be a labour of love, but Brenda and Jennifer worked closely together to find unique pieces that suit the décor of the home and the essence of the family that lives there. You will find colour-changing LED lights in the bedrooms throughout the home. The center is standard light, while the ring around the top shines a (changing) colour onto the ceiling. This is a fun and unique option, especially loved by the kids! The beautiful copper-finished arabesque globe chandelier in the entryway creates a warm centerpiece in the space.
You can’t help but feel warm and secure in this beautiful space. Jennifer notes that was very important to her in designing her home with Brenda and the R&M team. With the uncertainty of the pandemic and a family who is used to moving regularly, it was important that their new home embody comfort, security, and familiarity. Jennifer and her family feel that they have achieved this, with their oldest child noting that this is her favourite house of the many they have lived in across the country. You can tell that each detail was picked methodically and is a perfect blend with Jennifer and Sean’s style and décor. This continues into the fully finished basement, complete with 8-foot high ceilings, creating a bright and open space that doesn’t even feel like you are in a basement.
Jennifer said they didn’t fully grasp the perspective and ample space that the home provided until they were in it for the first time. Going through the build with R&M Homes was not your typical process for most clients, but Jennifer, Sean, and their children couldn’t be happier and settled into their beautiful new home. -DYH
