Lighten the mood with crackle paint

Dear Debbie: I have a large mahogany buffet and dining room table that were my grandparents'. The style is a little outdated for my taste. Can I paint these pieces without having them stripped? Also the backs of the chairs . . .

Posted: 2013-09-28

Autumn serenade

Saying goodbye to your garden and hello to the inevitability of a Manitoba winter

You know the drill. Once fall arrives, it's time to clean up debris around plants, destroy any diseased plant material and be sure to water your beds deeply so plants aren't going into winter without adequate moisture. Containers, too, need . . .

Posted: 2015-09-26

Energy audit helps maximize investment

It's a given you're not King Midas. So where exactly should you invest when it comes to ramping up your home's energy efficiency? Building envelope People want a "one-size-fits-all solution and that doesn't exist, " says Christopher Straka, whose Ottawa company designed . . .

Posted: 2012-02-04

Hire a pro to fix shoddy work

Question: I live in Thunder Bay. A few years ago, I had a backwater valve installed. The pit continuously fills with water and my husband drains it daily. I’ve had a few plumbers inspect it and nobody seems to really . . .

Posted: 2020-08-15

Upgrade windows for energy efficiency

UPGRADING windows is an investment that improves street appeal and makes a home more energy efficient. Retrofitting with Energy Starrated windows will improve the comfort of your home, but there are a few items to consider when choosing them. When looking for . . .

Posted: 2012-06-02

The tasteful garden

Add some wine and dessert to your flower beds

Would you like to enjoy some dessert and wine in your garden? I'm sure many say they already do this, but what about actually having these planted in your garden? Heuchera are summer-flowering perennials that will entice you not only with . . .

Posted: 2012-04-21

Good paint finish starts with preparation

IF you've been putting off painting that bedroom, or avoiding the painting project for the spare room, it's good to know painting is not as onerous a task as you might imagine. The key to a successful and hasslefree painting job . . .

Posted: 2008-07-13

Split personality

Wildwood Park home's lodge-style addition offers comfy contrast

What do you do when you're from Manitoba and you love the ambience of ski lodges in Alberta and British Columbia? Bring the lodge to you, that's what. Thus, when homeowners in Wildwood Park came to builder Cal Dueck with the idea . . .

Posted: 2012-01-28

Another brick in the yard

Backyard patio laid out one stone at a time

Welcome to paradise, otherwise known as Alan Shepard’s stunning yard. Oh to have his skills and work ethic to get to this level. Back in 2010, the Butchart Gardens-type vista you see before you today, was a bare backyard with a . . .

Posted: 2021-06-19

Spring projects already looking for attention

Mustard has big plans for his grandsons

Spring having sprung, we switch our focus from moving snow from here to there (especially this winter), to the much more pleasant “PROJECTS” department. And no question, probably as with so many of you, I have a lengthy list of projects . . .

Posted: 2022-03-26