Home work

Tailor your office to fit your needs and living space

NEW YORK -- Working from home never looked so stylish or productive. Gone are the days of cheap plywood desks and pleather chairs with wheels. Home offices now incorporate a house's style and seamlessly transform from workspace to TV room, guest . . .

Posted: 2008-08-17

Going colour crazy?

Relax. Let manufacturers' websites find the right paint hue for you

IN the world of colour, two is company but three is a 'wow' if you can pull it off. I know, I know, choosing one wall colour is difficult enough, let alone three, but being adventurous with colour is part . . .

Posted: 2008-02-24

Fill area under porch with crushed stone rather than concrete

Question: Just saw your article online about cold storage rooms in basements and was wondering if it is recommended to completely fill it in with concrete? We live in an older house, with cold storage under the front porch, which is . . .

Posted: 2021-09-11

Small improvements can have dramatic effect

Don't underestimate the difference seemingly minor updates can make

When a client requests a facelift, it is important for a contractor to determine whether it truly is only a facelift with cosmetic changes they are after, or a remodel — which typically involves much more invasive work. There’s one particular . . .

Posted: 2019-05-11

Garage adds usable space to home

Plenty of options to transform car cave into social, hobby spot

What if your home had a spare room you’d never noticed before? Your garage, even if it has one or more cars in it, can pull double-duty as a gym, a crafting room and even a place to socialize. Designers and . . .

Posted: 2019-05-11

Hidden garden may be Manitoba's best kept secret

Neepawa gardener working to uncover and restore a treasure trove of heritage plants

Nearly every day this past spring, summer, and continuing throughout fall, Leanne Dowd discovered something new and different that was blooming in her garden. Dowd has watched the story of her new garden unfold before her very eyes. In spring 2020, . . .

Posted: 2021-11-06

Doors enhance cottage inside and out

Boat-access project poses unique challenges

Working at a boat-access only cottage always presents a few challenges — the logistics of ensuring delivery of the required materials usually tops the list of hurdles. At a recent cottage upgrade, the cottage owners wished to update both . . .

Posted: 2023-08-26

Counter-culture cool

Wide variety of surfaces to consider

QUESTION: We are selecting new countertops for our kitchen and bathroom. I definitely want granite in the kitchen, but I'm thinking of a less costly option for the bathrooms (our master bath, a powder room and an upstairs full bathroom . . .

Posted: 2014-03-01

Air admittance valves usually OK if installed correctly

Question: I kept your details from an interesting plumbing article in the Free Press some time ago. Your writing dealt with under sink issues and the use of an air admittance valve. I would like to know if these devices . . .

Posted: 2020-06-06

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Patio door's sliding action an open invitation to frost

Don't let installer blame problem on humidity in home

QUESTION: I was hoping that you might be able to offer an opinion on a frost problem that has cropped up. I believe the attached photos will help you see what I am referring to. This patio door, which is a . . .

Posted: 2009-12-26