One of the 16 homes featured in this year’s Parade of Homes, to be held July 11-12 and July 18-19, sits nestled behind the Owensboro Country Club at 510 Golfview Circle. Gary Winstead, a 30-year U.S. Postal Service retiree, commissioned JMJ Custom Homes to construct his 2,300 square-foot home, and rates this building experience as excellent.
“I haven’t had any problems at all, so I’m real pleased and happy with it. Everyone told me before that I would be, and I am,” Gary said.
Over the span of his 27-year building career, Rick Bivins (JMJ) has showcased 45 builds in the Parade of Homes. He said two things in particular are his specialty: “We never build the same house twice; we always build something different, unique to the homeowner, so truly custom. And tray ceilings, I like tray ceilings. I’ve done a lot of tray ceilings over the years—a lot.”
Upon entering the one-story brick Golfview residence, three eye-catching tray ceilings are visible in the dining room, great room and master bedroom. Each is intricately designed with extensive crown moldings, forming rectangular, diamond and octagonal shapes, respectively. “That was Rick’s design. I said I’m going to leave it up to you, and that’s what I did. He said he’d make it pop,” Gary said.
Gary was confident with Rick’s building expertise, as he had toured previous JMJ Parade homes. Those interested in building or remodeling can get a first-hand glimpse at the various builders’ craftmanship. Typically, a thousand people tour Parade homes each weekend. With COVID-19 guidelines, no more than 50 people will be allowed in any given home at the same time.
This build began in February. “I asked him (Gary) if he’d like to put it in Parade of Homes, because it was in a great location, and I knew it was going to be a nice house. I also knew the timing was going to be just right,” Rick said. In addition to the exquisite tray ceilings, the home’s large screened-in porch, cherry-stained cabinetry, granite countertops, large farm sink, stonework backsplash and complementary stonework fireplace were tailored to Gary’s specifications. He wanted his home’s exterior to blend with existing homes in the area, some built 30 years ago. His primary focus was the home’s interior.
The oversized light fixtures above the granite island and in the large dining room reflect the geometric tray ceiling motifs.
“I just build for the person; I don’t build for the Parade. I’m building his home,” Rick said. “My biggest thing is I try to make sure when I give somebody a price that the price is correct, not a ballpark figure. That’s a big deal to me; that’s how I would want to be treated.”
Although Gary is graciously sharing his home with the public during the Parade, he looks forward to simply enjoying the livability of his new home, particularly the porch, which receives morning sun and afternoon shade. “It’s so quiet around here; it’s hard not to enjoy it,” he said.
To this retired mail carrier’s delight, neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor COVID-19 stayed JMJ from delivering the swift completion of his new home.
Photos By Adam Paris 
