Cooking up a kitchen reno
Smart planning and design combine function and fashion
For years, my wife and I dreamed about renovating our kitchen, but work always got in the way. By the end of 2010, I'd published six cookbooks in seven years and that, along with my newspaper and other work, kept our kitchen humming. No time to rip it apart and rebuild. With . . .…
Big-box home design
Get high-end look without the high-end price
Recently, I visited a large and gracious custom home. At one point, my host, who had been explaining the origin of his fine interior finishes, pointed triumphantly to a clutch of handsome pendant lights. "We got them at Home Depot -- $59." It wasn't the first high-end home I'd seen outfitted . . .…
CONNIE OLIVER: Little throne room needn't look like a closet
Having a small space does not mean you have to curb your desire for grandeur. This quaint little powder room, photo courtesy of CIL Paints, is a perfect testament to that fact. Many would tackle the task of decorating this small bathroom with the usual square vanity, square frameless mirror and diminutive . . .…
MIKE HOLMES: A permit can save you from shoddy work
It's a new year and a lot of people are thinking about resolutions. Some people want to look better, some want to feel better, and some just want their homes to be better. That's what renovations are for. But if you want it done right, you have to plan it . . .…
ASK THE INSPECTOR: Check new-home fire codes when upgrading garage
QUESTION: I have a two-storey detached home in Whyte Ridge. The house was built in the early '90s. The living space is adjacent to, but not above, the attached garage. I want to undertake a "do it myself" project to retrofit my garage space so that there is a three-quarter-hour . . .…
HOP's handiwork revitalizes neighbourhood
Organization creating happy homeowners in West End
JUST call the brain trust at Housing Opportunity Partnership a persistent bunch. Why? Well, once they have a lot in their sights -- in this case a pair of lots located next to a former HOP-built home at 390 McGee St. in the city's West End -- they always get their . . .…
Help arrives to battle boredom
Home responds to S.O.S. -- Same Old Syndrome
Like most everyone, builders are creatures of habit. Consequently, it's understandable they might fall into the subconscious trap of designing homes that, while different outside, look annoyingly similar inside. If maple hardwoods, maple cabinets, granite countertops and earth-tone colours are your cup of tea, great. If not -- after visiting several homes . . .…
Purchasing new home now more affordable
The Bank of Montreal recently announced a five-year fixed mortgage rate of 2.99 per cent, the lowest advertised rate for that term by any major Canadian bank ever. Other banks and credit unions have responded to this with their own fixed rate deals, some a full point less than what . . .…
Almost perfect
Design change adds room to popular cab-over
When it comes to home designs, one needn't reinvent the wheel to create a winner. All that's needed are some revisions in key areas, Hilton Homes' Spencer Curtis said. "In the case of the Amherst III, it's one of our older, most popular designs. We took a familiar plan and then tweaked . . .…
Last days to gain insights at unique show
TODAY and Sunday are the last two days of the Kitchen Bath and Renovation Show at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. The show runs today from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. If Friday's crowds are any indication, this may be the most popular . . .…
Sweet starter in Wildwood Park
Great location, well-maintained
As most buyers looking for a starter home have come to realize, finding a good one isn't easy. The reason? It's difficult to find a solid starter for under $240, 000. Why? Simple: spend under, say, $200, 000, and you're looking at a home that might need $20, 000 or more . . .…
Sold & Offered: Jan. 21-12
SOLD River Park South Address: #106-1145 Ste. Anne's Road Asking Price: $257, 500 Sold For: $264, 500 Square Footage: 1, 150 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Taxes: Not yet assessed Listing Agent: Ken Maines, Maximum Realty, 999-9078 Royalwood Address: 19 Northwood Court Asking Price: $422, 900 Sold Price: $415, 000 Taxes: $5, 336 Square Footage: 1, 857 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Lot Size: 42 x 160 Listing Agent: Shawn Sommers, . . .…
Pros and cons of being an absentee landlord
IF the nature of your employment has you moving around a fair bit, it may be hard for you to get established on the property ladder. One option may be to rent a home and buy an investment property. When considering an investment property, Nadine de Palma, a financial adviser with Edward . . .…
The right stuff
Location, clean lines and superb finishes
How do you create a home that's organic, traditional and modern at the same time? You find the ideal lot on which to build. After all, you need a canvas on which to paint -- build -- a Prairie classic. "The outgoing owners actually sought out this location, " said Royal LePage . . .…
Resale homes market came close to breaking record in 2011
WINNIPEG — Winnipeg’s resale homes market had its best December ever, pushing unit sales for the year above the 13, 000 mark for only the second time in more than a century of record keeping. WinnipegREALTORS said 698 properties sold last month through its Multiple Listing Service (MLS). That was an . . .…