A Home Worth Waiting For

STORY CLAUDIA FERRARO | PHOTOGRAPHY SANDY MACKAY

As seen in the Grey & Bruce Counties Spring 2026 issue.

“There’s honestly nothing we would change,” says homeowner and project manager Alex Neuman. With this thoughtful build, Candue Homes gives a growing Durham family something personal, peaceful and deeply in tune with how they live.

On a quiet street in Durham, Alex and Hannah Neuman are settling into a season of change. With a young son and baby girl, the couple knew their next move needed to be more than a new address – it needed to be a home that could grow with them. More than a build, the project became an exercise in patience, planning and trust.

“We wanted to wait until we had the right house before growing our family,” Hannah says. Having built before, they understood both the excitement and pressure that come with a custom home. This time, rather than rushing into their next chapter, Alex and Hannah allowed it to unfold slowly – waiting for the right lot, layout and moment to begin.

For Alex, the experience carried a deeper layer. As a project manager with custom homebuilder Candue Homes since 2016, he spends his days overseeing builds for others, but building his own family home placed him squarely on the other side of the process.

This experience gave Alex a new appreciation for the emotional weight behind every decision. He found himself standing where his clients often do – weighing options, second-guessing finishes and hoping the choices would still feel right years down the road.

“I was still the project manager,” he says, “but Hannah was definitely the client. That helped keep things balanced.”

The biggest challenge was finding the land.

After selling their previous home during the pandemic, the couple hoped to rebuild in town, close to family, friends and the community they loved. But suitable lots were hard to come by.

Candue Homes owner Don Tremble stepped in to help make their vision possible.

“Alex had a very clear idea of where he wanted to be,” Don says. “There was a property up on the hill that could be severed, so I bought it, split the lot and resold the house so he could build exactly where he wanted.” The result is a quiet in-town property tucked along a dead-end street, bordered by a tree line.

“That meant a lot to us,” Alex says. “We’re close to family and friends and that was something we didn’t want to give up.”

From the earliest planning stages, Alex kept a handwritten checklist – not of trends, but of how the home needed to function for their family. Hannah’s thoughtfully curated Pinterest board helped shape it, and the list guided the build room by room.

The design began with a Beaver Homes plan, later reworked and refined with D&R Built. Aitken Custom Framing Limited aced the complex roof design, taking the home from paper to exactly how Alex and Hannah envisioned. The standing seam steel roof was supplied by Ridgeway Metal Forming Inc. From there, the home became deeply personal.

The bungalow layout places the primary suite on one side of the home with children’s bedrooms on the other, allowing both connection and privacy. Above it all, vaulted ceilings rise through the great room, drawing natural light through expansive windows from Golden Windows Limited. Wilson Solutions provided and installed all window coverings.

“That ceiling was a non-negotiable,” Alex says. “We wanted that grand feeling the moment you walk in.” Where their previous home leaned into cool greys, this build embraces warmth – soft neutrals, natural wood tones, light-filled spaces and arched doorways that feel calmer and more enduring. Twelve Oaks luxury vinyl plank flooring in Toasted Almond grounds the main floor, while Linden Wood continues through the basement, offering durability without sacrificing warmth.

At the heart of the home sits an open-concept kitchen designed for daily life and lingering conversations.

Custom cabinetry by Barzotti Woodworking Ltd. extends through the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms, paired with quartz countertops sourced from The Old Barn. Delta fixtures add a refined finish, while Frigidaire Gallery appliances from Square Deal Neil’s TV & Appliances support a space meant to be used often and comfortably.

“It’s a really functional kitchen,” Alex says, pointing to the walk-in pantry and clerestory windows as personal favourites. Plumbing throughout the home was installed by Green Plumbing & Heating.

Tile selections from Cuneo’s Carpet One Floor & Home introduce texture throughout. In the mudroom, a bold checkerboard tile installed by Kuglin Contracting adds personality while remaining practical, tucked neatly behind a pocket door.

Trim and mouldings bring subtle architectural detail, complemented by custom built-ins completed by Alex himself. Board-and-batten accent walls add depth without cluttering the home. Paint for the home was purchased at Farlow’s Home Hardware.

Many of the trades involved have worked alongside Candue Homes for years, creating an important level of trust.

“Alex had strong relationships with a lot of our original trades,” Don says. “They made sure we were able to check off pretty much every item on his checklist. That doesn’t always happen.”

Throughout the home, craftsmanship carries personal meaning. A stone fireplace clad in Eldorado Casa Blanca RoughCut stone sourced from I-XL Building Products anchors the great room, installed by Hannah’s brother Riley Herman.

The Continental gas fireplace and heating and cooling for the home were installed by Pratt Plumbing and Heating. Nearby, a dining table handcrafted by her grandfather brings generations together beneath one roof.

Additional masonry and exterior siding complete the exterior, giving the home a cohesive, timeless presence. Lighting by Dingwall Electric runs throughout, with select Kichler fixtures adding warmth indoors. Permanent exterior lighting by Celebright offers year-round ambience.

The fully finished basement includes guest bedrooms, a play area and a games room centred around a pool table re-covered by Andy’s Billiards. A future bar is already planned, reinforcing the home’s role as a gathering place.

For Don, too, the project stands out. “It’s an in-town house,” he says, “but they turned it into a fully custom home. I like it so much that I’m planning to build the same design myself, with just a few changes.”

It’s a home built with intention and one meant to last. Today, the Neumans feel rooted and grateful as they watch their home fill with the everyday moments they planned for from the very beginning. OH