A Winner from Magnus Homes
Driving into the Pinery Bluffs neighbourhood of Grand Bend, visitors will see a sign that reads Living in Harmony with Nature. The winding road, terrain and mix of mature and new trees, along with the tastefully-designed homes, do make one feel a part of the natural environment. Among the beautiful dwellings is the 2025 Dream Lottery house at 10099 Pinery Bluffs Road, built by Magnus Homes. The serenity continues when you step inside. The spacious 2,870 square-foot, three bedroom bungalow — with a unique loft and open concept great room/kitchen/dinette — sits on three-quarters of an acre. The exterior Laffitt Stone in Oasis finish will hold its colour through the years and complements the elevation’s off-white stucco.
The timeless exterior features light-toned brickwork and boldly contrasting black window frames. Steep gable rooflines add architectural interest and curb appeal while framing the front entry.
Jaime Crncich, president of Magnus Homes, confesses that when she founded her company in 2020, she dreamed of designing the top prize for the lottery that has been supporting London’s hospitals since 1996. “When I started out, I made a Pinterest board of the Grand Bend dream home. It’s been a longtime vision,” she says. “Creating this home has been so validating.”
Ultimately what has remained from Crnchich’s initial vision is the stylish, epoxy resin freestanding bathtub in the wet room of the primary bedroom ensuite. “It’s a statement,” she says. “I wanted it to feel less like a tub and more like you’re swimming. It is a little bit sexy, as it’s clear.” The four-by-seven-foot windows provide loads of natural light in the bathroom and face the back of the property. The trees there provide cover while you soak in the tub, set on a luxurious porcelain tile, designed to mimic the look of natural travertine. “It feels like a spa,” says Crncich, who adds that this ensuite is her favourite room in the house.
The kitchen is defined by the range hood and hanging light fixture that echo the arches found throughout the home
The Magnus team created clean and modern lines throughout the home and included several other signature statements such as the gas fireplace, which has a White Onyx stone veneer from floor to ceiling. It will be a favourite gathering spot for family and friends.
Organic tones of soft browns, off-whites and “50 shades of beige,” Crncich jokes, are found in the furnishings and accent pieces. Along with the natural wood finishes, every area of the home is warm and inviting. Designed for maximum comfort, the rounded-back swivel chairs upholstered in faux sheepskin are particularly inviting in front of the fireplace. The camel-coloured chairs are roomy enough to sit cross-legged with a book or to meditate on the fire. This space feels like a sanctuary and that is the name of the Sherwin Williams calming colour selected for several of the spaces, including the great room.
The floor-to-ceiling windows frame a serene wooded view, flooding the room with natural light. A custom built-in banquette and oval dining table offers seating for 12 while
remaining cozy and comfortable.
Potted lights in the main living area with the 16-foot vaulted ceiling add a softness and can be dimmed if desired. There are touch lights by the fireplace and in other locations of the home that create a unique ambience. The natural morning light coming through the bank of windows in the back of the house bounces across the rounded dinette table, designed with a concrete-effect finish, which has the look and texture of resin. Seating for up to 12 includes a custom-built wraparound banquette, with upholstered cushions made by Katherine Jackson, owner of Sweet William Sewing Company. She also created the window coverings throughout the home. The sensuous textured art by Jules Bejnar, which overlooks the table, will tempt you to run your fingers across it.
Oversized patio doors surrounded by more windows off the great room open to a 20-by-30-foot composite deck. It is not only the perfect place for an evening gathering, but also a relaxing location for a morning coffee as the sun rises.
A micro-cement finish on the walls and ceiling creates a sense of depth and dimension. White oak accents pair beautifully with the darker tones, reinforcing the natural warmth that flows consistently throughout the home.
The white oak of the archways echoes from room to room, carries through to the beams, and matches the engineered hardwood floors, creating a cohesiveness and flow.
Floor to ceiling rift-cut cabinets in Revere Pewter ensures the kitchen feels like its own space in the open concept plan. Keeping the area tidy will be easy with built-in utensil holders, spice rack, dishwasher and fridge that create a seamless look. Delta champagne bronze hardware is used throughout the net-zero home, built to a 2050 code. A gorgeous arched dry bar provides more storage.
The arches are repeated by theMagnus team in the rounded range hood and the curved edges of the island, with its fluted end panels. The four rattan-backed barstools across the island tie in nicely with the end panels. The Taj Mahal-inspired Dekton Arga island counter — with subtle white and beige veins — is more resistant to scratches and heat than many surfaces. There was a “stop the press” scenario when the finishing touches were being made to the island countertop. “At the very last moment when it was being cut, I said, ‘Stop, stop! We don’t want mitered corners,’” Crncich says. “‘We want rounded.’”
The primary bedroom ensuite features a stylish epoxy resin freestanding tub in a wet room. A large window, a glass wall and an enormous mirror make this a brightly-lit oasis.
The pantry makes another bold statement with its walls and cabinetry in a wrought iron colour. Meaghan Howlett, the home’s interior designer, was involved in every stage of the build and brought the vision of the home to life. She and Crncich took a colour poll with the tradespeople to determine their preference for dark or light finishes there. Dark won the day and Crncich says it provides a deeply calming effect when one is busy in the pantry. A bar fridge, microwave drawer, overhead cupboards and another sink ensure a great working space for hosts.
It’s easy to bring groceries into the pantry through the mudroom, which is off the two-car garage. The garage has epoxy flooring and a three-by-four-foot dog shower in one corner that Crncich has been using to water the plants. The mudroom and the laundry area next to it are part of the utility corridor that continues the circular design flow. A powder room, in the same wrought iron paint colour as the pantry, is tucked into that corridor. The floating, rounded and fluted Calacatta marble sink, with grey and blue veins, was imported from Turkey. This cozy space has a USB outlet beside the black toilet. “This one’s for the men. You never have to leave,” Crncich says, with a laugh.
Lime-washed walls and integrated floating shelves in the white oak headboard enhance the serenity of the primary bedroom.
A wall of cabinetry in the laundry room provides more storage and the stacked washer and dryer maximizes space. The window over the sink that looks onto the winding road has chic striped cafe curtains. All the windows in the home are triple pane.
The warm tones continue in the bedroom corridor, which has two washrooms. The primary bedroom, which measures nearly 16 by 15 feet, has an integrated rift-cut white oak headboard featuring two floating shelves on each side that provide a clean and sleek look. The limewash wall elevates the whole room. Light switches and plugs are also placed in the headboard for maximum convenience. The snow-globe-like reading lights on both sides of the bed hang from six-foot wires and appear to float.
The second bedroom has twin beds with arched headboards and a floral theme.
The second and third bedrooms share a Jack and Jill washroom, with fluted tiles on the lower half of the walls that carry through to the shower, which has a niche light. The bathroom’s fun and durable penny tile is in a Moka finish. It pairs nicely with the Sanctuary-coloured walls and HanStone Aurelia quartz counter. The heated floors add more luxuriousness.
Two twin beds are in the second bedroom, which showcases floral artwork and bedspreads and has two nifty mint-coloured flower pillows. It’s a perfect area for a child’s sleepover.
The generous 14-by-6-foot walk-in closet has cubby holes, shelving, bars and drawers galore, fit for a queen’s wardroom and is accessed through the ensuite and second bedroom. It could be a great hiding spot for more sleepover fun.
The mudroom conveniently offers access to the garage, pantry and powder room.
In a home of many unique features, the 520-square-foot loft still stands out. Envisioned by Crncich as a wellness area, the birch walls and ceiling create a zen-like atmosphere, and the arches provide a feeling of spaciousness.
A wall of windows allows the natural world to be a focal point of your yoga class or workout or both. The pot lights, candles and greenery wrap you in calmness. Crncich says another option for the loft could be an inviting office to meet clients.
An expansive outdoor deck with a stunning natural backdrop offers additional space for entertaining and relaxation.
Like the loft, the unfinished basement offers many possibilities. With 10-foot ceilings, it’s a spacious area. Crncich says a bar, workout room and bedrooms could all be accommodated within the space, among other options.
A home inspired by nature wouldn’t be complete without a fire pit — with pine tree cutouts — to enjoy outdoors. Large, flattened rocks surround the pit and provide seating options. On a recent visit, the birdsong, gentle wind and earthy smells made for a relaxed atmosphere in the backyard. “It really is a cozy and inviting home” says Crncich, who is continuing her work in Grand Bend, developing the Sol Haven neighbourhood on its southern edge. In the first phase of the development, Magnus Homes will be building bungalows and two-storey homes, along with bungalow street townhouses. •
