Artemis Homes is a Regina home builder that you can trust with one of life’s biggest investments – your home! In their latest article, meet their designer Erica! Artemis Homes is a Trusted Regina Custom Home Builder.
Artemis Homes combine the efforts of our awesome trade partners, high-quality materials and an effortless process to construct your dream home. One of our valued partners is Robinson Residential Design, they have decades of experience in the home design business and they are passionate about and experienced with providing well-designed house plans!
In addition to our working relationship with the Robinson home designers, we work with Erica Eftodie, an Interior Design Technologist who is also part of the Robinson Residential team.
Erica has a passion for interior design and organization! She joined Robinson Residential Design in 2021 and often gets to use her diploma in Interior Design Technology in residential projects. She has an eye for colour and loves creating 3D models in SketchUp. Erica enjoys working with intelligent, creative individuals and learning something new every day. Erica also enjoys a few hobbies – she plays the piano, and soccer and also enjoys playing with her kitty Terrance.
We sat down with her to ask her about her job and what she likes about working with Artemis!
What attracted you to interior design/decorating?
For as long as I can remember when I would walk into a room, I would imagine what I would do to make the space more beautiful. I would conceptualize all the ways I would improve the space and make it function better. I realized I had an eye for interior design when friends and family would always ask for my advice, and I genuinely loved helping them with their designs. Because of this, I decided to go to school to expand my knowledge and learn more about the field of interior design.
What is your favourite room to decorate? Why?
I enjoy designing the kitchen, dining, and living spaces the most because they are typically used the most. I like to challenge myself in making these harmonize together and set the tone for the entire home. These are also the spaces that generally have main features I like to make the accents. Whether it be beams, fireplaces, or a spectacular view, I enjoy making these areas stand out as features.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I look for inspiration all around me. When I go for walks in my neighbourhood, I like to see all of the character houses and what other people are doing with their homes. I follow many architectural and interior design accounts where I save inspirational photos on a daily basis, hoping I can one day personalize aspects of each design. I also look for inspiration from my coworkers who have outside-the-box ideas and the experience to help construct the design architecturally.
How is it working with Artemis & what do you like about our homes?
Artemis will allow designs to have quality products and materials in order for the concept to come together in a meaningful way. Attention to detail is important when a design package is created and Artemis takes the time to understand why you chose the finishes you chose and agrees to make each individual choice a priority to pulling off the entire look. They do not shy away from designs or cut corners because they are complex, expensive, or time-consuming, they put pride into their work and make the home beautiful so that the space can be enjoyed by anyone who resides in it.
What stands out about Artemis Homes?
It takes really great people to trust your process and take the time to listen and envision your design with you. The encouragement and support received in making your concept become a reality is unmatched. Working with people who care as much as you do about the overall outcome is extremely beneficial for any home designer. Myles specifically takes the time to hear my design ideas and does everything he can to make the concept a reality.
What’s your top design tip?
The best thing you can do for yourself when designing your own home is to not pay attention to fads but to stay true to your own taste. I would recommend keeping main finishes neutral so you can express your personality through interchangeable items, i.e., pillows, blankets, and patterns. This is the most cost-effective way to update the entire look of your home by changing out stylish items which will always look good with a neutral background.
"If you love the design and look of your home, it will never go out of style for you." – Erica Eftodie
We are dedicated to offering professional exterior and interior design, made with quality materials and extreme value. With over 450 builds under our belts as a team, we strive to meet the needs of your customers and strengthen the community one home at a time.
Check out the
Artemis Homes Trusted Regina Listing to read more reviews and to see all they do. Be assured their team has a personal commitment to exceed their client's expectations through quality service, build practice, construction, and value.
Artemis Homes is a Regina home builder that you can trust with one of life’s biggest investments – your home! In their latest article, they are thrilled to announce that they are now building at Westerra. Artemis Homes is a Trusted Regina Custom Home Builder.
Discover the great homes, green spaces, and gorgeous sunsets of Westerra.
This 490-acre Westerra Complete Community is located off Dewdney Avenue in West Regina, and offers a truly unique living experience. Here you will enjoy the convenience of living close to downtown, while feeling removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. This spacious and welcoming community is the perfect place to call home – whether you’re raising a family, happily retired, or at any stage in between. In addition to plenty of gorgeous green space, Westerra will also feature a retail shopping district, boutique shops on West Market Street, and a business park with convenient access to many employment opportunities.
“We are thrilled to be a part of Westerra. Westerra is a master-planned community and the next major growth area in the City of Regina. The community has a great small-town feel where you can get to know your neighbours. The location also supports all the anticipated job growth on the west side of the City, while still being the closest new neighbourhood to the downtown core. The future for Westerra is very bright.”
- Myles Winnicki
President, Artemis Homes
Artemis Homes Now Building At Westerra
Artemis currently have 4 lots situated on Mustard Street. Floor plans and final renderings will be shared imminently.
We are dedicated to offering professional exterior and interior design, made with quality materials and extreme value. With over 450 builds under our belts as a team, we strive to meet the needs of your customers and strengthen the community one home at a time.
Check out the
Artemis Homes Trusted Regina Listing to read more reviews and to see all they do. Be assured their team has a personal commitment to exceed their client's expectations through quality service, build practice, construction, and value.
The Trusted Regina team is thrilled to brag about Artemis Homes our newest Trusted Regina Partner! We are thrilled to welcome Myles and the team to the Trusted Regina Community of business operated with integrity. Artemis Homes is a Trusted Regina Custom Home Builder
Artemis Homes-Innovation, Comfort, Community
At Artemis Homes, they focus on building high-quality, single-family homes throughout the Regina area. The leadership team headed up by President Myles Winnicki & Chairman John Grant have decades of combined construction and customer service experience.
Artemis Homes are dedicated to offering professional exterior and interior design, made with quality materials and extreme value.
With over 450 builds across Western Canada under their belts, they strive to meet the needs of their customers and strengthen the community one home at a time. They work closely with the local home plan designers at Robinson Residential, and currently, Artemis Homes boasts impressive 11-floor plan options to choose from (and growing).
The Artemis team have build's happening across the city, from infills in the highly sought after Cathedral District to plots at Westerra, a 490-acre Community located off Dewdney Avenue in West Regina, that offers a truly unique living experience.
Myles (pictured right) runs a tight ship, and he is passionate about maintaining excellence in every aspect and at every stage of every build. When the Trusted team toured some of the current homes under construction we were very impressed by how clean and tidy the job sites are. Myles pointed out the details that matter to him, including the triple glazing, which is a standard feature in all Artemis Home. Myles is the face of Artemis and he has been involved within the construction industry for over 35 years. He started out as a construction labourer and over time he worked his way up the ladder gaining valuable experience on the way. He has developed a reputation within the industry for being immensely prepared and organized leading to an efficient build process. Myles truly understands what goes into building your home and he will ensure it is built right.
We take pride in our work and run our business with integrity. We truly love doing business in Regina and are proud to be part of this wonderful community. Trusting a good, reputable home builder with one of life’s biggest investments is very important and we don’t take your trust in us lightly. The Artemis team is committed to client satisfaction and we even offer a doorstep-to-deck warranty. That’s right, we stand behind what we build! - Myles Winnicki
WHY Choose Artemis Homes?
If you are looking for a Regina home builder there are many reasons we recommend considering Artemis Homes and we list a few of them below:
- They are a team of skilled individuals who stand behind the work they do. You can see their commitment to integrity from the planning stages all the way through to completion
- They put their all into everything they do, right down to the last detail. You want your home to be perfect…and so do they!
- They strive to be on the leading edge of home building innovation best practices.
- They focus on the details that matter. If you walk through their show home you won't fail to be impressed at features like the lighting and the mouldings.
- Their warranty- their industry-leading doorstep to deck protection. Two-year open warranty, giving you peace of mind.
As part of the Trusted Regina verification process, we spoke to several clients and suppliers to get a feel for how they operate. When we chatted to their interior designer Erica Eftodie, who is an Interior Design Technologist at Robinson Residential she said,
"Artemis will allow designs to have quality products and materials in order for the concept to come together in a meaningful way. Attention to detail is important when a design package is created and Artemis takes the time to understand why you chose the finishes you chose and agrees to make each individual choice a priority to pulling off the entire look. They do not shy away from designs or cut corners because they are complex, expensive, or time-consuming, they put pride into their work and make the home beautiful so that the space can be enjoyed by anyone who resides in it."
Check out the
Artemis Homes Trusted Regina Listing to read more reviews and to see all they do. Be assured their team has a personal commitment to exceed their clients' expectations through quality service, build practice, construction, and value
Building a Custom Designed Home – Step 1: The Perfect Plan
So, you’ve decided to build a custom home, woo-hoo!! Building a custom home is such a wonderful experience. It allows you to see your own imagination come to life in a home that is uniquely crafted for you and your family.
Now, where should you start?
You’ve probably already got some ideas in mind of what you’re wanting in terms of the floor plan or layout for your new home. Whether it’s three bedrooms on the main floor, or a mudroom off the garage to hide the family’s jackets and boots from guests, or maybe your kids are all grown up so having an office on the main floor is more important than an extra bedroom. Whatever it is, that idea in your head about what you want in your new home – that’s your wish list. So, before you get too far into the process, sit down with your family and write down everything that is on your wish list for your home.
Questions to ask yourself?
- Where do you want to live? (Smalltown, big city, close to parks and green space, close to schools, close to work, close to family, etc.)
- Have you picked a lot yet? Finding the right lot is crucial when thinking about your floor plan because the home will have to be drawn up to suit the lot.
- How many square feet do you want in your home?
- Bungalow or a two-storey?
- Do you want to have more bedrooms in your home, or would it be of more value to you to have that space for something else?
- Would you like to have walk-in closets in all of the bedrooms? Maybe just in the master?
- Are you wanting a 2 car garage, or 3, or more?
- Do you prefer an open concept layout or more closed off?
- Which direction do you want your windows to face in the living room? Do you want lots of sun, or not?
- Is a walk through pantry from the garage to the kitchen to allow you to put groceries away easily something you’d like?
- If a young family goes through A LOT of laundries, maybe it would make sense to have your laundry room close to the bedrooms?
- Is a wet bar in the basement something you’d like to make entertaining a breeze?
- What else do you have in mind for the home that’s important to you?
The perfect plan:
Once you have an idea of what type of home you’re wanting, we can show you a bunch of different plan options. We’ve got plenty of plans for you to look through at the office to give you a better idea of the kind of floor plan layouts and exterior looks that you like.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with designing your plan and need some inspiration,Emerald Park Homes Pinterest and Houzz boards are a great place find ideas. The Houzz board has photos of most of recently completed homes that you can browse through.
Before they get too far into the design process of your plan, it’s always a good idea to arrange a meeting with your builder. Together they can sit down and make sure that the kind of house you have in mind is going to fit into your budget. They will also be able to help you pick out the right lot for you and your family. It’s important to pick your lot early on as the house plan will have to be tailored specifically to the lot.
Designing your plan:
After you’ve determined your budget and chosen your lot, their team of designers will work together with you and their dedicated designer to take the ideas of what you like from all the different plans you’ve looked at and put them together into one perfect plan. If you find a plan that they have already had drawn and built before – like a show home perhaps – and you love it, you can always change it around and tweak it a bit to customize it to fit what you are looking for as an option as well.
After consulting with the designer to talk about your plan, they will create a preliminary plan for your home.
From there, they will take you through a virtual walk-through of your home so you can get a feel of what is really going to look and feel like once it is built.
You can make any kind of changes that you’d like to it. Once you’ve given it the thumbs up then it is ready for us to analyze and start working on pricing it out for you.
Keep in mind:
** Preliminary plans are one of the first steps to getting you a quote for your new home. But, it’s worth mentioning that there are other decisions that need to be made in order for us to do so accurately. Like what kind of finishings you will be wanting in your home, etc. But we’ll get into that elsewhere.
Whether you’re planning on building your dream home or buying a used home, the process to determine whether or not you are financially ready is the same either way. If you are financially ready to buy a home, then you are ready to build a home.
So, how do you determine if you are financially ready?
1. You should start by comparing how much you are currently spending on expenses and any debt payments to the amount of money you have saved up.
In other words, you need to get an idea of what your net worth is in order to know where you stand financially. You can do this by making a list! (We love our lists around here, that’s for sure!) Write down everything that you own that is considered an asset (your savings, investments, vehicles, home, etc.). Now write down all of your debts (student loans, credit card debt, your mortgage, etc.) and subtract them from your assets, and you have your net worth. Don’t worry about your income in this equation, this is just to give you an idea of your financial health.
2. Think about how much can you afford to spend on housing each month without risking your financial health.
Is what you’re spending now on housing about where you need to stay to keep your budget intact, or can you afford a bit more? The nice thing about building your own home is that you can make sure that you’re paying for what you actually want to have in your new home and not extras that you will never use. When you purchase a used home, that isn’t always the case. For example, if granite countertops are not important to you and you would rather not spend the money, but the previous owners installed new granite countertops… Guess what? The cost of that home included those expensive granite countertops.
3. Look into your credit score.
What is the status of your credit score currently like? Your credit score is a number that signals your financial health and is an important factor that lenders use when they are analyzing your credit for a mortgage. According to Equifax, a credit score of 660 to 900 is generally what you need for your credit score to be considered to be good, very good, or excellent.
4. Consider how much money you will need for the upfront costs of building a home.
Generally, you will need a down payment of at least 10%. This is where a lot of people think that building a home differs from buying a home. People often think that building a home requires interim or progress payments – which, many people are not in the financial position to comply with. However, that is not always the case.
We’re happy to inform you that, with Emerald Park Homes, in most cases, will finance your build to possession day (On approved credit).
Giving you time to sell your existing property without having to worry about paying progress payments or obtaining costly interim financing.
5. Now it’s time to shop around for a pre-approved mortgage amount with a bank, broker or lender.
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is an important step to take before you get too far into the building or buying process. It helps you get an idea of what sort of budget you have to work with to build your new home.
There are two basic affordability rules that will determine how much you can spend on your new home without risking your financial situation:
- Your monthly housing costs should be at or under 32% of your gross monthly income.
- Your monthly debt load (including your mortgage) should be at or under 40% of your gross monthly income.
Fellow Trusted Regina Partners, MacKay & McLean have some great information on a list of things you’ll need to have to get