Preserve leaves with wax paper and an iron

Question: What is an easy way to preserve leaves so that they last for many years? Jainy Answer: Place foliage between two pieces of waxed paper (waxy side against the leaves and cover the ironing board cover with a towel). Press the . . .

Posted: 2020-06-27

Time to make some beautiful music together

Classic player piano ready to rock -- and roll

This is not a cry for help, because I believe I have found the solution to my dilemma. Moving a 700-pound player piano out of a basement and onto my trailer. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Here’s the story. In response to one . . .

Posted: 2020-08-01

CONNIE OLIVER: Textiles play crucial role in decor

A room without textiles is a room without visual and tactile warmth. Yet we often consider textiles as an afterthought when planning an update to our decor. We might paint our bedroom in a fresh new colour, for instance, but . . .

Posted: 2014-01-04

A must-have in every contractor's toolbox

Digital angle levels make once-complex woodworking tasks a breeze

The workmanship of old-school woodworkers always amazes me. Angle tasks were achieved manually with great care and precision, without the use of power tools. Luckily, today’s contractor and DIYer have access to many modern tools. Advances in technology have also eased . . .

Posted: 2018-02-10

CONNIE OLIVER: Refresh your bathroom without any nightmares

Dated bathrooms are a common and bothersome home-décor problem. A complete overhaul can be expensive and inconvenient, so homeowners often put off doing any changes at all, keeping their bathrooms in the design Dark Ages. Gutting a bathroom isn't always necessary . . .

Posted: 2012-09-08

MIKE HOLMES: Home-renovate your way out of doghouse

Did Valentine's Day put you in the doghouse? Well, I have good news: You might be able to fix your way out of it. Sometimes a little lipstick and mascara of the home-reno kind -- such as hanging up those photos . . .

Posted: 2014-03-01

Most small rooms can handle high drama

What can you say about today's feature photograph except... wow! This small Kohler bathroom is teeming with drama and style. The wide horizontal bands of vivid colour make this small space feel larger but also give it tons of personality. . . .

Posted: 2013-03-02

Handmade buckwheat pillows earning fans

For five nights, I shared my bed with a cotton bag stuffed with 18, 000 buckwheat hulls. No, I wasn't on vacation at the Upper Canada Village, though I did feel like a pioneer bedding down with a sack of . . .

Posted: 2012-02-25

Here's to staying high and dry

Mustard shares some water wisdom

Please let this be the last of winter. Let’s talk water. Since I wrote this Tuesday, I have no idea how much snow will have arrived by today. I do know however, that whatever it is, it’ll be too much. It’s . . .

Posted: 2022-04-16

Just hanging around

Air plants get nutrition by absorbing water through leaves

Gotta admit, up until a few days ago I had no idea what an air plant was. Robert Plant, no problem, air guitar, sure, but air plant? When I saw Ron Paul Garden Centre was advertising them for sale, I just had . . .

Posted: 2021-03-13