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

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

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

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

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

Great first impression

Subtle changes bring foyer in line with rest of home

When an area of a house stands out for all the wrong reasons, it is comforting when a plan comes together to remedy the unsightly situation. For years, the front foyer did not properly showcase the aesthetic consistency found in . . .

Posted: 2020-12-26

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

Respecting home's heritage by rejecting clichés

It is rare and refreshing to view a renovation that does not conform to the open-area concept that has become a modern cliché.Homes renovated in the first decades of the 21st century will be known for their conspicuous lack of . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18

Switching to energy-efficient bulbs a bright idea

Renovation time is a good time to save moolah. It's easy. Just ensure any new light fixtures you buy are equipped with Energy Star approved bulbs and, at the same time, replace existing incandescent lamps in your home with energy-efficient . . .

Posted: 2015-02-28

Managing radon risk needn't be complicated

Solutions to serious health concern can be simple

Question: Public awareness of radon, its dangers and mitigation are increasing. With some of the older housing stock we have here in Winnipeg, such radon mitigation efforts are not without their challenges. How does one mitigate radon using active soil . . .

Posted: 2018-03-17