LIVING REFINEDâ„¢
Vo l u me No2 2020
SEVEN UPGRADES
BATHROOM BLISS
KITCHEN PARTIES
QUEEN OF COLOUR
Every Home Buyer Should Consider
The Spa-like Feeling of an OPUS Bathroom
Host Family + Friends in Your New Home
Find the Right Colours with our Decor Studio Team
Chapter
1 23 6 45 MAKING A HOUSE A HOME
400
Newmarket
DECOR STUDIO EXPERIENCE
Orangeville
24
48
Aurora
9
SIGNATURE 404 FINISHESâ„¢
HEADQUARTERS
Richmond Hill
410
27
410
407
Markham
North York
Brampton
Toronto
Etobicoke
ARCHITECTURE Georgetown THAT INSPIRES
401
Mississauga
Scarborough
OUR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITIES
Milton
EXCEPTIONAL CLIENT CARE
1
2
3
MAKING A HOUSE A HOME
DECOR STUDIO EXPERIENCE
SIGNATURE FINISHESTM
It’s the exceptional quality,
Our goal is to provide you
Your new home should
outstanding craftsmanship, thoughtful details and the personal touches that we put into every house that make it a home.
with expert advice and design options that help you personalize your home to your individual taste and budget.
feel special to you. What others may consider as upgrades, we offer to our clients as our Signature FinishesTM.
CONTENTS 4
5
6
ARCHITECTURE THAT INSPIRES
EXCEPTIONAL CLIENT CARE
OUR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITIES
Our homes’ exteriors
OPUS Homes has been
A roundup of some of our
convey a community theme
honoured with the industry’s
fine existing communities
and they blends into their
most prestigious awards
and others that are coming
surroundings, while speaking
for quality and customer
soon to the best locations
to the individuality of
service excellence. To
across the GTA.
their owner.
that we celebrate our accomplishments.
Making a house a home At OPUS Homes, we believe that a home is a very special place that we help create for our clients. Uncompromising quality is the foundation, design and craftsmanship are the bricks and mortar, and client care is the cornerstone of every home we build. But we don’t stop there. It’s the thoughtful details that we put into every house that make it a home. A welcoming porch that’s a beacon to friends and neighbours. A cozy family room to make warm memories. A beautiful backyard that echoes to the laughter of your kids playing. OPUS is Latin for “work”. At OPUS Homes, we consider it our life’s work to build you a home of which you can be proud of. We are third-generation homebuilders with decades of experience behind us and a clear vision in front of us. Thank you for letting us build your dream home.
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Andrea DeGasperis-Ronco
Michael Ronco
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Welcome to Living Refined ™ Refined living can mean different things to different people. But what we can all agree upon is, living well starts with a thoughtfully designed and impeccably crafted OPUS home. It speaks to the dreams of the people living in it and resonates with taste, character and personality. Through the pages of this magazine, we want to let you know what OPUS Homes is doing to make your home and life more beautiful. You’ll meet with some outstanding members of our team, get an insight into how we are taking homebuilding to the next level in quality and innovation, and be inspired by some of our worthy causes like our Families Helping Families program. Visit us on social media and give us your valuable suggestions and feedback. Happy reading! Follow US
THE DECOR STUDIO EXPERIENCE When you walk into the 3,800 sq.ft OPUS Decor Studio in Vaughan, our team will greet you, talk to you about what you want from your new OPUS home and guide you towards smart decisions that make sense for you. Our goal is to provide you with expert advice and design options that help you personalize your home to your individual taste and budget. After your purchase, you’ll be invited to attend our Studio where you’ll meet with knowledgeable experts, and together, you will select the features and finishes for your new home. A detailed checklist of what to expect from this meeting and how to prepare for it will be provided to each OPUS client.
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Kim
DĂŠc or Stu dio Man age r
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The Queen of Colour Meet Kimberly Bianchi, our in-house Decor Studio Manager and resident colour expert. She and her team will help you set the right tones in every room of your new home. They have taken the OPUS decor experience to the next level through the use of technology and their uncanny eye for tints, hues and shades.
Kitchen
The first time you host family or friends in your new home is special for so many reasons. For you, it’s the end of a long process. For them, it’s the chance to celebrate you and your achievement. For your future self, it’s a memory that will never fade. If you are like most people, you’ll spend a chunk of the day or evening with your guests in the kitchen. You should keep this in mind as you are designing your home. Consider more island countertop space for more seats or more room to stand and catch up. Also, think about how you want to configure your cupboards and cabinets to accommodate large serving dishes. Finally, lighting will be key. You’ll want to make sure it’s equally planned for CHAPTER
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evening soirées and sunny days.
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Parties
Holy Guacamole
1. 2 Ripe avocados de-stoned and cut up 2. ½ Lime squeezed for juice 3. 1 Garlic bud garlic pressed 4. 1 Tsp mayo or 1 tablespoon sour cream 5. 1 Tsp cumin 6. 1 Tsp sambal oelek (hot chili sauce) 7. Salt and pepper to taste Mash lightly with fork
Serenity In The Bathroom When you close that door, run that hot water and step in for a bath or shower, you’re washing reality away and living a blissful moment. As you’re planning your bathrooms, we recommend considering CHAPTER
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cupboards and vanities that make things easy to store and access so you don’t have to empty them to find what you want. We talk about things like shower heads and glass showers, and what your
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The Beauty of fresh linens Crawling into a clean, neatly made bed is one of life’s great joys. You feel so much more cozy and comfortable when the sheets are freshly cleaned. The smoothness of the sheets on your skin can’t be underestimated as a contributor to a great night’s sleep and to the level of hospitality your guests will feel, whether it’s conscious or not. We recommend owning two sets of sheets per regularly used bed. And we recommend investing in good sheets with high thread counts that will stay true over multiple washes. As you plan your bedrooms’ storage options, consider a shelf or drawer just for your linens. This will make changing your sheets less tedious.
true (sometimes unspoken) preferences are, and of course, there’s floor feel and colour. When you step out of the tub onto your heated bathroom floor and look down at your clean feet, you want them framed just right. As you move along the process, our Décor Studio Team will guide you through making the right decisions for every square inch of your bathroom. Kimberly Bianchi, Décor Studio Manager
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LUXURY UPGRADES HOME BUYERS SHOULD CONSIDER While OPUS Homes come with some standard features you probably won’t find anywhere else, upper tier options are still available and most of our clients take advantage of more than a few. Andrea and Michael have been in the home-building industry their whole lives. They’ve seen floor plans blossom into extraordinary realities with a push from home buyers who go the extra mile. Over the years, they’ve identified these seven luxury upgrades as ones that every homeowner should seriously consider.
The Magnificent 7 1
2
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Hardwood floors throughout the entire home for a classier look.
Higher ceilings and windows for a grander feel.
Built-in appliances for streamlined kitchens
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6
Larger basement windows (You’ll thank us when you finish your basement one day)
Pre-wiring for a smart home
4 LED potlights and smooth ceilings for a clean bright space
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Stone countertops for an elevated luxurious feel
Signature Finishes ™
Designing for your Spirit & Style
SUPERIOR COMES STANDARD Some of these standards include: · 9’ ceilings · Larger windows · Taller kitchen cabinetry · Glass shower stalls · Stone cast mantels in the family room · Double sinks and stand-alone tubs in the ensuite · Hardwood floors · Matching door handles and hinges · 10’6” raised ceiling in master bedroom · 8’ Front entry doors · Stunning architecture But the best of the Signature Finishes™ are in the gourmet kitchens where mealtime is always beautiful thanks to our beautiful cabinets, granite or quartz countertops, undermount sinks and upgraded faucets. * Although unlikely, finishes may vary, depending on community
*Represented images maybe different than actual Signature FinishesTM
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This is the time to GO GREEN™ An eco-friendly approach is important to us as home builders and parents. A core belief of ours is to give clients healthy, efficient homes and to ensure they have options in the Decor Studio. At the end of the day, an OPUS home is a better built and more energy efficient home. Speak to our team and we’ll tell you why.
Architecture
A home’s exterior conveys a community theme and blends into its surroundings, while speaking to the individuality of its owner. We’re proud of the OPUS Signature Architectural Details (part of our Signature Finishes™) that offer better durability, a timeless look and a lasting first impression. These include steeper roof pitches (when allowed by a municipality); 9’ ceilings to allow for spacious living, larger windows and an 8’ front door; premium brick and extra attention paid to randomizing patterns so each home is unique.
Michael Ronco Principal
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that inspires
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NEW HOME OPUS Homes is leading the way in making new homes more interactive and user-friendly! In what is a first in the homebuilding industry, every new OPUS home will now have key items bearing stickers with small QR codes, to help familiarize buyers with their new home’s features. Simply open the camera app on your phone and scan the QR code. Then hit the link and a video will pop up providing important details about the specific feature you’re looking at, including its operation and maintenance. It’s quick and easy…a touchless, educational way for you to get the most out of your new OPUS home!
Celebrating the Grand Opening of OPUS Homes, 2011
Andrea receiving The Riley Brethour Award
Celebrating the holiday season dressed in our PJ’s
Winning the Builder of the Year Award at the Vaughan Business Achievement Awards
OPUS Homes’ first Ground Breaking, Endeavour in Whitby, 2011
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Celebrating our successes in Client Satisfaction Achievement
CELEBRATIONS
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Our Team and our LOVE for what we do
Best Digital Marketing Campaign Whitby Meadows, BILD 2018
Finalist for the 2018 Homeowner’s Choice Awards
The Riley Brethour Leadership Award
Next Generation Award CIBPA
AWARDS Award of Excellence - Winner
Best Digital Marketing Campaign
Young Entrepreneurs Under 40 Award,
DHBA, 2020
Whitby Meadows, BILD 2018
Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards, 2016
Best Townhome over 2,000 Sq. Ft, Model LT-05. Stunning corner townhome design located
Tarion Homeowners’ Choice
Andrea DeGasperis-Ronco was recognized
in Whitby Meadows.
Awards, Finalist 2017, 2018 & 2019
as Young Entrepreneurs Under 40 who contributed to Vaughan’s prosperity.
Builder of the Year - BILD Finalist, 2017,
Best Non Sales Video
2019 & 2020
BILD, 2017
Landscape Ontario Award
Corporate Video.
of Excellence, 2015
Next Generation Award
Our River’s Edge Memorial Park
CIBPA President’s Ball, 2019
Builder of the Year
was recognized in the “Commercial
This award was established to recognize and
Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Business
Construction, Multiresidential &
pay tribute to members of the community who
Achievement Awards, 2017
Industrial over $250,000” category.
have made significant contributions within their business and professional fields.
Peoples Choice Award Finalist BILD, 2015
Project of the Year Richlands
Our Aurora Trails community was nominated
BILD, 2018
for a People’s Choice Award, based on input from the public and the building industry.
Riley Brethour Leadership Award BILD, 2018 The Riley Brethour Award was awarded to Andrea DeGasperis-Ronco to recognize her outstanding and consistent professional achievement in residential home building while demonstrating concern and involvement in the improvement of the profession and the Association.
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WHEN IT COMES TO EXCELLENCE, WE LET OUR HOMEBUYERS DO THE TALKING.
“ OPUS is unlike other builders, in that the service is totally there. That’s the most important thing to us.” The Daoud Family, Upper Mount Pleasant
“ We are impressed by the quality team at OPUS Homes” The Sharma Family, Upper Mount Pleasant
“ We are impressed by the quality of the product and the service that we received over the last year...” Celine J, Endeavour
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DREAM HOME “It is like a dream home and we do see the extra efforts by the whole team to make it
LOVE MY HOME
the way it is - It is just not about the house,
“I can truly say that I absolutely love my OPUS home
but the over-all experience…And it all started
– I don’t think I’ve experienced that love of a home
with a kind consideration. Thank you all!!!”
before. Thank you to you and your team for
Preeti and Rahul, Origins, Brampton
making this purchase such a great experience for me. I look forward to many years of enjoyment in my new neighbourhood. I have already told many people what a great experience I’ve had with OPUS
OPUS EXPERIENCE “I have so many praises to Andrea and her
Homes and I will continue to do so.” The Reid Family, Upper Mount Pleasant
team. They make us feel like not just VIP but like a family member. Overall, OPUS provides a pleasant experience and this kind of treatment is rare in GTA.” Richard L, Richlands
ATENTION TO DETAIL “Attention to detail has been above and beyond my expectations. Andrea, I just wanted to send you a quick note on how impressed I am with your staff.
THANK YOU “Every person we dealt with at OPUS was professional, accommodating, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Our first home was a
I’ve purchased many homes in my time and I can tell you that my experience with your staff has been a pleasure.” The Gunn Family, Endeavour
new build and unfortunately we didn’t have the same service, it was very frustrating. Your team proved that this process can be easy and dealt with professionalism. Thanks for my awesome house!”
YOUR TEAM
Christina & Gus, Whitby Meadows
Allow me to give my heartiest thanks to you and your team for building a fantastic house for me as one of the delighted customers. It has been a great purchasing experience due to your charisma,
Best Looking Homes “Andrea, we wanted to take a moment to thank you and the team. Right from day one, you have made the experience fun and exciting, with none of the worry that usually accompanies large purchases. The OPUS designs really stand out and are without a doubt the best-looking ones in this community. When the family outgrows this location, we’ll certainly reach out to hear about the projects on the go.” The Miculescu Family, Aurora Trails
leadership and the cheerful and efficient staff deserve great recognition. I truly believe OPUS will become the top builder among all. Thanks for all the value-added events and interactions with us. We can feel that you are doing it with your heart! Congrats to you and OPUS great success now and forever! Cheers and have a wonderful day! Sincerely, Loyal Customer The Luk Family, Aurora Trails
The OPUS HOMES team iS PART OF OUR DIFFERENCE
Carlo DeGasperis Co-Founder A pioneer and respected industry leader, Carlo (Andrea’s father,) helped lay the foundation of OPUS Homes and serves as a mentor and advisor to the company. CHAPTER
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Andrea DeGasperis-Ronco Principal & Co-Founder The third generation of a construction family, Andrea launched OPUS Homes in 2011 and leads the company with vision, passion and innovation.
Michael Ronco Principal With the experience of running a successful legal practice, and over ten years of on site construction experience, Michael is a Principal in the company now focusing on real estate law, land development and architectural designs.
Shivanie Balkaran Sales & Marketing Coordinator
Kimberly Bianchi Decor Studio Manager
Giovanni Cirillo Site Manager
Strong interpersonal and
With a deep-rooted passion for
With a Diploma in Construction
organizational skills, a real estate
design and helping clients, Kimberly
Engineering and Management from
licence and a keen ability to handle
makes the dĂŠcor selection process
George Brown College, Giovanni is
a variety of challenges are some of
an easy and enriching experience
passionate, dedicated and
the key reasons why Shivanie is an
for homebuyers.
detail-oriented.
Frank Frazao Site Manager
Morina Law Accounting clerk
Jimmy Rego Client Care Coordinator
Frank has 17 years of experience
Morina has over 20 years of
Jimmy is a breath of fresh air in
in site supervision and service. He
experience working with general
the Client Care realm. His friendly
complements his site management
accounting principles in Canada and
demeanor and positive outlook
skills with a methodical mind and
Hong Kong. She never shies away
makes him loved amongst clients.
client-focused approach which
from completing tasks efficiently
makes him loved by our clients
and accurately with great
and trades.
attention to detail.
invaluable asset to the team.
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Anthony Competiello Site Manager
Vince Ditri Senior Director of Contracts & Estimating
Vanessa Fiore Decor/Contracts Administrator
Anthony brings a wealth of
Vince brings a wealth of knowledge
Having studied acting and human
experience in the homebuilding
and takes personal pride in
resources, specifically contract law,
industry, working in diverse areas
delivering homes of the highest
policy inauguration, employee relations,
like Site Supervision, Customer
quality as he manages the
health and safety and administrative
Care, Health & Safety Management
contracts and permitting process
practices, Vanessa works as an
and Budget Control.
at OPUS Homes.
enthusiastic and proactive team player.
Alex Reid Senior Director of Construction
Anna Sestito Administrative Assistant
Carmela Simeone Accounting Manager
20 years of construction expertise
Anna has a sharp eye, approachable
Carmela has a diverse finance
has equipped Alex with a wide range
personality and a strong focus on
background and a can-do attitude
of skills and experience. Alex brings
client care. Her strong coordination
that makes her a key member of
passion and dedication to his work
and planning skills has made Anna
the team.
as he manages all field construction
the perfect fit to the OPUS team.
operations at OPUS.
BUILDING EXCELLENCE ACROSS T HE GTA Here’s a quick snapshot of the various communities where OPUS Homes has built, is currently building or has plans to open in the near future. From Brampton in the west to Whitby in the east and Aurora to the north, OPUS Homes has an impressive footprint across the Greater Toronto Area. Every OPUS community is distinguished by our hallmark of uncompromising quality and exceptional value.
48
400
Newmarket
Aurora
9
404
HEADQUARTERS Orangeville
Richmond Hill
410
Markham
24
27 410
407
North York
Brampton
Toronto Etobicoke
401 Georgetown
Mississauga
Milton
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OPUS CUSTOM HOMES
Scarborough
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DEDICATED TO GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES Uxbridge
At OPUS, we believe in providing help to those in need by giving back to the communities we build. That is why we 12
have developed a unique opportunity for our Clients to get involved in making an
3
impact within their new community that they will now call home. Our Families
407
Helping Families Program allows our Clients to select a charity that speaks to
Oshawa 412 Ajax
Whitby
them, from a list of our pre-determined charity partners, and upon closing OPUS will make a donation to the charity of our Client’s choice. We’d like to thank over
Pickering
400 of our Clients for getting involved in this endeavour and helping us make an impact in communities across the GTA.
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and many more.
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