Custom Comfort In A Growing Community

STORY CAELI MAZARA | PHOTOGRAPHY SANDY MACKAY

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

Set in the Crimson Oak Valley subdivision near Kincardine, Angela and Paul Kensit’s custom home represents one of the earliest builds in what will be a 77-lot development by Bogdanovic Homes – a family-run builder and developer that has shaped the region’s residential landscape since 1998.

“Paul and I decided to build a new home in the Kincardine area to be closer to family,” Angela says. “I grew up on a farm minutes away from our new house and my parents and three brothers all have homes and properties in the same area. The new Bogdanovic subdivision seemed to fit all the criteria we were looking for.”

The lot measures roughly 80-by-135 feet and now hosts a two-storey home with an attached two-car garage (Peninsula Garage Doors) and finished basement. The house spans approximately 2,750 square feet above grade, with another 1,085 square feet on the lower level.

Angela and her family moved in during March 2022, when the subdivision was still in its earliest stages. “We were about the eighth house that was built in this subdivision,” she says.

The lot itself was a major draw. “It has a really nice backyard,” says Angela. “It backs onto a lot of trees and green space. We really liked that aspect of it. And we are really close to Lake Huron – you can often hear it.”

For Bogdanovic Homes, Crimson Oak Valley represents more than a single project. It reflects the company’s evolution from builder to builder and developer. Founded in 1998, Bogdanovic Homes remains a tightly run family operation.

“The core four,” Olivera Bogdanovic says, laughing, “is my father, mother, my brother and myself.” She explains how responsibilities are divided: “My mother Biljana and I run management. My brother Aleks completes estimations, and he and my father Steve are the site supervisors.”

That integrated structure allows the company to guide clients from lot selection through final finishes, a process Olivera says is especially important for first-time custom-home clients.

“They pick the lot, then we work together to pick a house plan,” she says. “After that, we figure out the materials so that we can come to an overall price.” Material selections are phased to prevent decision overload.

“At certain phases, the client will go to our suppliers and start making selections,” she says. “For flooring and cabinetry, Angela picked out her flooring and was able to take the flooring to the cabinetry suppliers.”

Angela credits that structured process with making what could have been an overwhelming experience feel manageable. “We hadn’t built a house before,” she says. “I had lots of ideas and things I knew I wanted to do, but Olivera’s really organized and quick to respond. She knew all the things we needed to decide, from first things and then the next step, and the next step.”

Bogdanovic Homes controls both the building and development sides of Crimson Oak Valley – which Olivera says allows for stronger design consistency without sacrificing individuality.

Angela and Paul’s home reflects that balance between cohesion and customization. Inside, the main floor is organized around an open-concept kitchen, dining area and family room. A wall of north-facing windows, supplied by Golden Windows Limited, floods the living space with natural light, while the kitchen features a large island with stone sourced and installed by KW Granite Countertops, custom cabinetry from Johnson Woodworks and a walk-in pantry. All window coverings were sourced through Wilson Solutions.

The family room centres on a gas fireplace with a sleek black shiplap surround, topped with a floating timber mantel and framed by built-in shelving. Engineered white oak flooring runs throughout the main living areas. Lockwood Painting completed the interior paint palette using Benjamin Moore paint to blend modern finishes with warmer, traditional elements. While Fairbro Electrical Services installed the electrical for the home.

“I love the clean lines of the new build but like the softness of adding vintage pieces,” Angela says. “The combination of old with new creates my desired sense of an inviting and comfortable family home.” An antique wooden cabinet from her great-great-grandfather anchors part of the living space, while deeper accent tones throughout the home – such as the deep muted green Shaker-style wall in Paul’s office – add contrast to the otherwise neutral base.

The mudroom and laundry area reflect Bogdanovic Homes’ emphasis on functional family design. Finished in white hexagonal tile with light cabinetry and extensive built-in storage, the space connects directly to the garage.

There are four bedrooms upstairs, while the finished basement houses a fifth bedroom, a full bathroom, gym and media room with a built-in bar and more storage.

On the exterior, the home’s facade combines stone, from West Shore Stone & Brick Inc., midnight black HardiePlank Lap siding and warm custom-stained timbers, a look that aligns with the broader architectural tone Bogdanovic Homes cultivates across Crimson Oak Valley.

The subdivision includes two-storey homes, bungalows and one-and-a-half-storey designs. One of Olivera’s goals is to create aesthetic diversity within the subdivision while still aiming for cohesion.

“The exterior turned out even better than I thought,” Angela says, and in fact it’s one of her favourite aspects of the house. From a builder’s perspective, Olivera describes the Kensits as ideal custom clients.

“Honestly, Angela took the lead on this,” she says. “She not only had all of her selections made in advance but was also confident in making them. I was there to takes notes, answer questions and ensure that all the orders were put through.”

It’s hardly surprising, since Angela works as a home stager, offering design and sourcing through her business Angela Kensit Home Staging Co.

Four years after moving in, Angela says she remains happy with the design decisions. “We’re still thrilled this many years later,” she says. For Olivera, the home stands as a model of what Bogdanovic Homes aims to deliver in Crimson Oak Valley.

As the subdivision continues to grow, that same balance, between individuality, livability and cohesive design, remains central to the builder’s vision. The Kensit home is a shining example of Bogdanovic’s commitment to that vision. OH