DEBBIE TRAVIS: Modern Italian design has earthy origins

There is no mistaking the contemporary energy and confidence of Italian style. We are all familiar with the low, clean lines of furnishings conceived by today's brilliant Italian designers. They juxtapose modern materials -- plastics and steel -- with . . .

Posted: 2010-03-06

Many options to remove smell from leather furniture

Question: How do you remove the off-gas odour from a leather sofa? -Sue Answer: Whenever attempting to clean leather, you should always test cleaners on an inconspicuous area first and read the manufacturer’s instructions. Over the years readers have had great results removing . . .

Posted: 2019-05-18

Second chance for furniture

Accountant goes full-time into vintage furniture

Tara Jamieson is doing what she loves the most: playing with paint. Last year, after spending all of her spare time in her garage, sanding, stripping and painting the dressers, tables and nightstands she picked up second-hand, Jamieson decided it was . . .

Posted: 2012-01-14

Top backyard landscape design trends

Escape to your outdoor living room to relax, entertain and play

Following on the heels of what turned out to be a very big year for anyone who worked in the landscape design industry, 2021 is shaping up to be a monumental year. The scope of emerging trends for 2021 tell . . .

Posted: 2021-01-23

Decorate your home with a hot tin roof

When Mathieu Pronovost and his fiancée, Tania Passafiume, bought a home in Ottawa's ByWard Market area 18 months ago, they thought they were prepared. They had limited money, but lots of energy and family willing to help with sweat equity. They knew . . .

Posted: 2010-06-12

Strie finish works well for panels in a room

Dear Debbie: We are creating panels on our dining room walls with moulding strips, and I want to fill in the panels with a paler shade of the main colour or paint the panels white. Is there a paint technique . . .

Posted: 2013-01-26

Perfect mac and cheese all about the sauce

Question: I made mac and cheese, and on the first day it was nice and saucy, but the second day the sauce was absorbed by the pasta. Is there any way to prevent this? Also, how do you stop the noodles . . .

Posted: 2020-03-07

Wrap your hands around a toasty mug of hot chocolate

Question: Can you recommend a homemade hot chocolate powder recipe that I can keep on hand to portion out as gifts? Pat Answer: Holding onto a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day brings a certain warmth to frosty . . .

Posted: 2021-12-24

MIKE HOLMES:Renos aren't always sound investments

Homeowners plan renovations for different reasons. Sometimes it's because they've seen a friend's new kitchen or something on a design show that sparked their imagination. Other times it could start with a repair that turns into a complete makeover. But . . .

Posted: 2012-09-29

Five essentials for creating a lovely lavatory

The era of the trophy kitchen being the single most important room of the house appears to be fading. For Barbara Sallick, co-founder of Waterworks, bathrooms reflect a more personal style than the more industrial rooms where we roast our . . .

Posted: 2016-10-22