MIKE HOLMES: Easements are homeowner's responsibility

WHEN most people buy a home they don't usually look into the details of the property's land. I'm not just talking about landscaping and outdoor structures, I'm talking about knowing the restrictions on the land itself: knowing what you can and . . .

Posted: 2012-01-28

DEBBIE TRAVIS: Blackboard paint great for helping kids stay organized

Dear Debbie: Our son and daughter (11 and nine years old) have both asked to have a wall in their bedrooms that they can write on. We have heard of blackboard paint and wonder if you can cover it up when . . .

Posted: 2009-08-30

MIKE HOLMES: Your kitchen can't take the heat

Your stove -- whether it's gas or electric -- needs to have an operating hood and extraction fan over it. These hoods aren't just decorative -- they are essential to help control excess moisture in your home, as well as . . .

Posted: 2009-10-18

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Furnace noise problems have many causes

QUESTION: I read your column every week in the Free Press and wonder if you could give me some suggestions for my problem. I live in a small River Heights bungalow, built in 1954. I had a new furnace installed about . . .

Posted: 2010-12-04

Palace or bungalow, she'll do your interior

Celeb designer aims for clients' happiness on her new TV reality show

Kelly Hoppen is designing the Kensington Palace apartment for William and Kate. She has designed homes for many celebrities, including the Beckhams, and spearheaded the seminal "east meets west" design style. Here, she reveals the next step in her journey. Everyone . . .

Posted: 2012-02-11

Take care with pressure-treated wood

New arsenic-free types can still cause problems if used incorrectly

OTTAWA -- Arsenic isn't an element that enjoys a good public relations image. That's why the American and Canadian lumber industries voluntarily halted consumer sales of all pressure-treated wood containing arsenic-bearing chemicals four years ago. Trouble is, the new, arsenic-free, pressure-treated . . .

Posted: 2008-05-04

Greening your house

Take steps towards better environmental practices at home

CALGARY -- One of the biggest problems we face in the quest to go greener at home is not the lack of options, it's the lack of space. "Houses ... are not built to be green, " says Sarah Franklin, co-owner . . .

Posted: 2008-05-18

SOLUTIONS: Beautiful bamboo floors easy to maintain

QUESTION: We have new bamboo floors in our home. What should we use on the floor to clean it? Different people with lots of different ideas have advised us, but no one has the right solution. Thank you in advance. Gordon, . . .

Posted: 2010-05-01

CONNIE OLIVER: Elegant features coming back into vogue

I'VE stated many times that I am partial to older homes. I take for granted the ceiling trim detail, crown moulding, wide baseboards and beefy door frames in my home. I'd miss those details if I had to move to . . .

Posted: 2010-01-23

Knowledge blossoms

Study group learns about tomatoes, peppers from a fearless experimenter

When a group of gardeners get together to talk about growing vegetables, it leads to some interesting dynamics. Curious gardeners ask many questions because they know that to be a successful food gardener, learning from one another is key. Networking . . .

Posted: 2020-08-22