ASK THE INSPECTOR: Stairway certainly doesn't lead to heaven

QUESTION: I am hoping that you may be able to provide an opinion on this problem. My house is just seven years' old and I have been trying to contact the builder over the last few weeks, but they will . . .

Posted: 2012-04-28

The challenge of small gardens

Postage-stamp-sized plot can be as tough as a big one

Be careful what you wish for. Years ago when I lived in Vancouver, I had a lot measuring 33 feet by 120 feet. It felt like a postage stamp. In less than a year, I ran out of space to garden . . .

Posted: 2009-07-19

Five simple steps to no-cost redecorating

Proper placement of art is critical

It's not what you have, it's how you use it, insists one of Canada's leading redesign gurus. "With all of this crisis in the financial markets and everything that is happening, people do not have a lot of money to throw . . .

Posted: 2008-11-02

Oriental Pearl

Quebec architect designs home in strict traditions of Japan

Nestled on the shoreline of the Lake of Two Mountains in Quebec is a property that looks as though it could have been plucked right out of Japan and placed on Ile-Bizard. The house and grounds are the dream child . . .

Posted: 2010-09-18

Why replace?

For easy update, just give space a new ‘face’

When planning a bathroom upgrade, it is sometimes easiest (in theory) to gut the space completely and remodel the entire room. However, this is often cost-prohibitive. When faced with budgetary concerns for a bathroom reno, my attention always shifts to . . .

Posted: 2025-03-08

From drab to fab

Laundry room facelift makes things lighter, brighter

An untidy, dingy or even dirty laundry area is an oxymoron — an insult to cleanliness. An uninviting laundry room can also lead to procrastination when chores demand action. During a recent gutting and remodelling of a basement, there were . . .

Posted: 2026-05-30

Stairway to HAVEN

Ingenuity needed to install flooring on steps

Sometimes the installation of new flooring “throughout the main floor” involves a few caveats. In this instance, the introduction of a vinyl plank with underpad would continue up the stairs to the second floor, as well as the second-floor . . .

Posted: 2023-06-17

Take it step by step for stairway success

Once new vinyl-plank flooring has been installed on all levels of a residence, some homeowners decide they want to extend the look onto the staircases between floors as well. This can be a tricky task, and careful attention to prep . . .

Posted: 2025-04-05

Catching problems early key to a healthy yard

Stressed trees can be a serious liability

Writing this column over the years, I have heard from many readers that they have followed my advice and now have a more informed understanding of how they can better take care of their trees and woody shrubs. I have . . .

Posted: 2016-10-08

CONNIE OLIVER: Bamboo offers variety of 'green' decor uses

Bamboo has become a popular component in many home-decor products. Because of its sustainability, it is a great substitute for items formerly made from less-renewable resources like hardwood. Bamboo is a grass that renews itself within a five- to seven-year span, . . .

Posted: 2010-06-12