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Renovation & Design Articles

  • GARDENING: Build it and they will come

    Easy do-it-yourself backyard projects
    GARDENING: Build it and they will come

    The use of garden structures -- arbors, pergolas, trellises or obelisks -- can be traced back to the gardens of ancient Egypt, Persia and China, circa 2000 to 500 BCE. Used mainly for utilitarian purposes (to grow vines), it wasn't until the ancient Romans (circa 100), that garden structures were used . . .

    May 18, 2013

  • RENOVATIONS: Let the sun shine in

    Three-season rooms replacing decks
    RENOVATIONS: Let the sun shine in

    Since ageism is rampant and political correctness de rigueur in Manitoba, it behooves us to change commonly used expressions such as Old Man Winter to Elder Man Winter, and "damn mosquitoes" to "insufferable" pests. As a member of the baby-boomer generation, I object to the word old, much preferring elder, with . . .

    May 18, 2013

  • CONNIE OLIVER: Preparation key to achieving focal wall

    CONNIE OLIVER: Preparation key to achieving focal wall

    Creating a dramatic space doesn't require a lot of money or time. By using paint and a little imagination, you can transform a blah space into something spectacular over a weekend. Now that the weather is warm, you can paint inside the home and open up windows to let in fresh . . .

    May 18, 2013

  • MIKE HOLMES: Wrong remodelling invites a load of trouble

    MIKE HOLMES: Wrong remodelling invites a load of trouble

    Most people would agree that open space and natural light are good things to have in a home. They are also two of the top requests I hear when it comes to home renovations. But projects to bring both of these into your home can cause a lot of problems . . .

    May 18, 2013

  • ASK THE INSPECTOR: Stop water leakage in foundation bolt holes

    QUESTION: We have a 40-year-old bungalow. Over the past four years, one wall in the basement has been giving us a problem. If it rains, water runs out of the iron-rusted bolts, which I assume are the rods that attached the cement back steps to the house. It's only these . . .

    May 18, 2013

  • SOLUTIONS: Use pantyhose for long-term onion storage

    QUESTION: I would like to know what the best way is to store onions so that they will keep for a fairly long time. Thank you, Ruth (Shoal Lake, MB) ANSWER: My favorite onion-storage solution includes a pair of clean pantyhose. Place an onion in the toe and tie a knot . . .

    May 18, 2013

  • Sharing bedroom helps bring siblings closer together

    Sharing bedroom helps bring siblings closer together

    In the Panebianco house, sharing a bedroom is about more than saving space. Gerri and Sam Panebianco have chosen to put their sons, three-year-old J.P. and two-year-old Eric, in the same room because they want them to become good friends and develop social skills. "We want them to understand what it's like . . .

    May 18, 2013

  • RENOVATIONS: Gutter Talk

    Aluminum eavestrough beats vinyl in Manitoba's tough climate
    RENOVATIONS: Gutter Talk

    A friend told me recently about a linguist who reads English words to non-English-speaking people to determine what words sound the most soothing to them. The overwhelming favourite is diarrhea; the least-liked is cud. I think a similar case could be made for eavestrough versus gutter. Though eavestrough does not slide off . . .

    May 11, 2013

  • GARDENING: Cherry picker

    Hardy fruit choices for backyard growers
    GARDENING: Cherry picker

    In spite of the extreme climate, the Prairies can support a multitude of unique fruit crops such as dwarf sour cherry, seabuckthorn and northern hardy grapes that are not only hardy here but produce an abundance of delicious, fresh fruit, each with a unique combination of flavours and tastes throughout . . .

    May 11, 2013

  • Drought-tolerant seeds let lawns go green

    Drought-tolerant seeds let lawns go green

    URBAN lawns are under ever-increasing scrutiny when it comes to water usage. They're accused of using far too much water relative to what they give back. When I was growing up on the farm, the opposite was true. We had a massive lawn that served as the perfect spot for pickup games . . .

    May 11, 2013