GARDENING: Build it and they will come

Easy do-it-yourself backyard projects

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 . . .

RENOVATIONS: Let the sun shine in

Three-season rooms replacing decks

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, . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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. . . .

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 . . .

Simple solutions for that big storage bin

IT may not be sexy and it might not be first on your to-do list but give the garage a little TLC and you'll be surprised at how good it feels.Whether it's a true garage (originally meant for a four-wheel . . .