Roses prove to be worth the effort

We may be in an era of low-maintenance plants, but don't count out these classics

Who can resist a rose? Turns out that while most plant shoppers take time to stop and smell the roses on display at garden centres, sales of the flower are on a downward trend. In this era of low-maintenance plants, roses . . .

Posted: 2017-10-28

Vegetable oil removes grease from cast iron pans

Question: Do you have a solution on how to remove grease that seems to be baked onto the bottom of my old cast iron frying pan? I have tried some commercial cleaners, but they didn't work. Maybe you have a . . .

Posted: 2015-08-01

Warm lemons are easier to squeeze

Question: How can I get more juice out of a lemon? David Answer: A warm lemon will extract more juice than a cold lemon. Heat the lemon in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Next roll the lemon on the . . .

Posted: 2022-07-30

Boudoir boost

Bedroom the most neglected part of many homes

I've been thinking on the importance of bedrooms. In Canada, the bedroom is the most neglected room in the house. This is especially the case with two constituencies: Young professionals, who tend to commit their energy and money to the kitchen . . .

Posted: 2008-05-18

Light and bright dining

New decor trend sees desire for more inviting eating areas

Like fashion, decorating trends come in waves. One day, everyone wants a sputnik light fixture in their foyer, and the next they want a Moroccan Beni Ourain-style rug on their living room floor.If my clients’ wishes are any indication of . . .

Posted: 2017-02-04

Twice as handy

Twin brothers nail it in reality reno show

Drew and Jonathan Scott are shockingly handsome, in a Harry Connick kind of way, and they're also identical twins. And if that isn't enough to jump-start your pulse, consider that the 32-year-old Vancouver-born brothers buy, sell and renovate real estate, which . . .

Posted: 2011-04-02

10 beautiful plants to plant now

Get a head start on next year’s garden

My favourite garden of all is the late summer garden. Plants have ripened and matured, their long stems and profusion of flowers and seedheads intermingling with neighbouring plants to produce a tapestry of colour and texture. Bees, butterflies and . . .

Posted: 2025-08-23

Plastic straws offer no-waste solution to berry stems

Question: I pack strawberries in little plastic containers for school lunches. With strawberries being so expensive, it drives me crazy when kids eat a few bites around the stem and toss most of the berry into the trash. Other than . . .

Posted: 2017-08-26

DEBBIE TRAVIS: Cabinets the key

Inexpensive reno tips for tired kitchens

If you are unsatisfied with your kitchen, think first about what the challenges are. Is it lack of counter space? A storage problem? Inefficient appliances? This is the most expensive room in the house to renovate, but it isn't always necessary . . .

Posted: 2009-07-26

How to avoid freezer burn

Question: How can I avoid getting freezer burn on the meat that I buy? AmitAnswer: All food items will eventually find themselves with freezer burn, which is water molecules that have formed into ice crystals. There is a limit to . . .

Posted: 2020-02-22