Meet Jamie Marshall
The Designer Behind Lumber One's Custom Builds
Jamie Marshall has spent two decades shaping how the Whiteshell builds, one blueprint at a time. As Lumber One's lead in-house designer, Jamie has been turning cottage dreams, additions, and full custom builds into working plans, and one thing quickly becomes clear: his designs are considerate, personal, and like nothing else built in the region.
Roots in the Whiteshell
You have deep ties to this area. Where and when did that start?
My connection to the Whiteshell goes back to my family building a cottage here in 1954. We've cottaged here my whole life, and I moved out here permanently in 2006. I've been working for Lumber One for 20 years.
Where did that interest in building come from?
We're a family that's been here since South Shore opened back in '54, when my grandparents built a cottage on a piece of land. I have been working with my dad around our cottage since I was about 10. And honestly, as a kid, my favourite toy was Lego.
Tell us about your education and how you got into the field.
I have two degrees from the University of Manitoba: a bachelor's in Environmental Design, and a Master's in Architecture, graduating in 2007.
You were already working in construction before that?
I started framing cottages in the Lake of the Woods when I was 18. I framed houses in Winnipeg, renovated apartments in Winnipeg and that was all throughout school. I've been hands-on in this industry since I was 18 years old.
No Two Builds Are the Same
What kind of projects excite you most?
Larger scale projects are a little more exciting, a little more involved, but we don't shy away from small projects either. I come from a moderate-income family where you did a lot of stuff yourself, so I genuinely enjoy helping people build a cottage addition even if their budget is tight. There's a place for every type of customer at Lumber One.
How is building in Whiteshell different from building in Winnipeg?
The builds out here are far more detail-oriented. People are usually building their dream home, or their second dream home, and they're demanding greater precision and quality. They're not looking for off-the-shelf, big-box stuff. They want something custom. Everything here really is absolutely custom. Very rarely is anything the same.
Walk us through how a design actually comes together.
People used to come in with magazine clippings. Now it's screenshots on their phone, for example, this kitchen, that layout, this exterior. My job is to take all of that and put it into something that actually works together, and works for the site. That's why you'll never find two of our builds that look the same. We're not in the business of designing one cottage and repeating it.
You've also designed for some of the contractors on Lumber One's own build list. How does that come about?
One detail that sets Jamie's work apart from others is that he doesn't only design for homeowners. He has closely collaborated and designed homes for the contractors Lumber One works with every day
“Jeff’s home is a good example. I provided the floor plans and supported him through that build. That design goes back about 20 years now. It's a pretty cool dynamic, working with contractors who can also build, and then designing the place they live in.”
Get in Touch
If you have a lake country project in mind, big or small, first cottage or fifth addition, Jamie is the first call to bring your ideas, your inspiration folder, or a rough sense of what you want, and he'll help turn it into a real plan.
Give us a call at (204) 349-2294 or visit our Design Centre to learn more.
