Not all wood is created equal for burning

Many of today's home renovations include a high-efficiency wood-burning fireplace or stove. One of the most common questions asked by owners of these new appliances is "What's the best wood to burn?" The short answer is seasoned wood containing 15 per cent . . .

Posted: 2014-10-04

Metamorphosis

Renovation transforms home to feel contemporary

The moment you step inside 14 Blossom Bay, you feel like you’ve walked into a home that feels contemporary, if not new. That wasn’t the case when its outgoing owner — interior designer/artist Mary-Anne Rudy — purchased the Charleswood-area home a . . .

Posted: 2017-06-03

Remodelled home shines in a spectacular new light

Designers transform living space

For the longest time, 122 Shamrock Dr. sat for sale on an oversized riverfront lot in Southdale, shrouded in the shadow created by an overabundance of mature trees. The interior of the Tudor-style, 3, 000-sq.-ft. home — which was built in . . .

Posted: 2018-06-16

It's all clear

Choosing new windows for your home

It can be difficult to decide on the best choice of window for a new or retrofitted house because window technology has become very sophisticated in the last 20 or so years. Back in the day, most windows were constructed of . . .

Posted: 2013-02-02

A true living room

Build your own garden retreat

The sounds of summer can be quite noisy -- the whirring of lawn mowers and weed trimmers, nearby road repairs, or all of the hammering and drilling that accompanies neighbourhood or our own backyard projects.The sounds we seek out, though, . . .

Posted: 2012-07-21

GARDENING: Be kind to Mother Earth

Choose sustainable gardening

Even to yoga devotees, the discipline of mindfulness doesn't come easy. How do we focus on the moment when so many things are clamouring for our attention? Like anything else, it takes a little practise. Dave Hanson applies the philosophy of . . .

Posted: 2014-03-08

Counter arguments

Pros, cons of materials, from granite to laminates

If you're remodelling or designing a kitchen from scratch, you can be sure counters will eat up a healthy chunk of your budget. There are many options, with varying price points, in the marketplace. Some are shiny, heavy and pricey, including . . .

Posted: 2010-04-17

Clearly, one big decision

The prospect of replacing the windows original to my house had always been daunting to me, for several reasons: the window units were wooden, set in the sandstone brick siding of the house, and the manner with which they . . .

Posted: 2024-11-02

FIREPLACE ADDS FLASH to backyard setting

Elevates landscape with stunning effect

For landscape designer Colleen Watson, fall is one of the most exhilarating times of the year. The same goes for many homeowners, too.What's driving them? Backyard projects that are nearing completion.On crisp fall days when temperatures are in single digits . . .

Posted: 2014-10-18

Condo board lacks common sense on furnace vent blockages

Question: I’m hoping you can help me figure out if it’s safe to plant vegetation in front of new intake and exhaust high-efficiency furnace vents. I would rather not put any potential obstructions near the vents, terminating through the side . . .

Posted: 2018-07-28