by Wendy Livingstone, Postmedia Content Works
Photos: Shawn Fulton Photography
Recent years have seen many new beginnings for Josh and Mandy Kasper. The Regina area couple welcomed two children into the world and built their first new home.
A finishing carpenter by trade, Josh began to build the family’s home during a quieter period in his industry and, while that process was not without its challenges, he found it so enjoyable that he went on to help several friends build their houses and ultimately founded his own residential construction company: Homes by JMS.
One of those challenges took the form of record snowfalls during the winter in which they began construction on their home. “We were at the framing stage and the house kept filling up with snow – literally, sometimes six feet high,” said Mandy. “So Josh and I would be out there with snow blowers, blowing and shovelling snow out of the house. Then it would be a sunny day and it would start melting, and we were knee-deep in mud and sand. But, once we got through that stage, and we got the shingles on and the house was built to lock-up, we could just come in and do the work. It was such a huge relief.”
The Kaspers are glad they persevered through the difficult times. “We are really happy with the house. We did it together and we are still married! We both designed it; I do more of the colours and the finishing aspects, but my husband basically built it himself,” said Mandy. “He put his heart into this, and there are so many little features in the house that are just him – things that I would never have thought of. And there’s just something to be said when our kids are older: ‘your dad built this house!’ “
The couple’s tastes and talents joined forces to create the gorgeous, 2,400-square-home, which is located on an acreage just outside Pilot Butte, Sask. From the fireplaces, which are raised up so that little ones can’t get too close and burn their hands, to open-beam detailing in the ceiling, it has been designed to meet their specific needs, include their own personal touches and reflect both of their personalities.
“I like modern and contemporary; my husband likes the more rustic wood kind of thing, so it was a fine balance. In the upstairs, we have the rustic woods with the more modern stone, and in the basement, it’s the opposite – we have white, kind of sleeker cabinets, and then more rustic stone,” said Mandy.
The couple researched new styles and trends, while keeping in mind that they didn’t want to choose features that were too trendy and might look dated in a few years. “We found it hard to keep the balance: we wanted something that’s popular and trendy and looks good right now, but we don’t want to do a complete renovation in 10 years.” They chose classic styling for big ticket items (like counter tops and cabinets) which would be expensive to renovate later, but trendy colours in areas that can be easily re-painted.
She said it’s important to make a plan and try to stick to it. “Pinterest can be awesome and dangerous, because it’s hard – you keep finding things… ‘oh, what about this, what about this?’”
As part of their desire to make the home their own, certain aspects of it have been designed with individual family members in mind. The basement is open-concept so that the children have plenty of room to play, and the floor is carpeted to create a soft play surface, while a special nook serves as toy storage space. For Josh, a movie theatre room provides a great place to relax at the end of a hard day. Mandy has her own spot in the form of a craft area in the large laundry room.
But it’s not just the immediate family members that were considered in the home’s design. The kitchen and living area is open concept to allow for large family gatherings. “We have a very big island, about four feet by eight feet, so it’s nice – we can just plunk all the food on it and have a buffet,” said Mandy. “My husband is one of five siblings, and it’s a very big family. We love having them over. When we get together, there are sometimes 30 people just for dinner. My family is from Winnipeg, so when they come, they bring the dog, and we have a dog too, so it’s nice to have space for them.”
With a very successful build under her belt, Mandy can now offer some useful advice for other families that are involved in the home-planning process. “Remember, this is your house. Pick finishes that suit your personality, and don't worry what others will think. You have to live in the home, not them,” she said. “Accept compromises. Your budget may allow for a few luxury items but most of us can't have it all. Decide what features are most important to you and incorporate those items into the home. Most importantly, have fun! Enjoy the process and get excited about your new home!”
Wendy Livingstone is a writer for Postmedia Content Works, a custom content studio that creates, deploys and measures programs for brands.
