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

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

Buyer prepare

Is a condo right for you? Find out before you commit

While a resale condo may provide an opportunity for a more relaxed lifestyle, getting there can be challenging. A big misconception with condominiums is that people tend to think that buying a condo is just a less expensive way of buying . . .

Posted: 2009-10-31

Form-tie-opening leakage common... but shouldn't be in a home this new

Question: Recently, I was checking the basement in our six-year-old home for water during a thunderstorm. We’ve had it happen once before, during a really bad storm, where the water came in through the window wells somehow, so I was . . .

Posted: 2019-08-31

Filling a void only a temporary solution for seepage

Question: We have lived in our 1986 two-storey home for six years. The concrete driveway extends the length of the south side of the house. There is a stuccoed chimney, as well as an air conditioning unit on that side . . .

Posted: 2019-05-11