CONNIE OLIVER: Walls can speak if you use your creativity

Decorating can be such a creative adventure when you expand your ideas to include the unusual. One area where you can stretch your decorating wings is on the walls of your home. There are so many possible treatment and colour-combination . . .

Posted: 2011-07-30

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Geothermal heating costly, but does pay off

QUESTION: I have a question with regards to geothermal heating. With the price of electricity and natural gas doing nothing but increasing, I am seriously considering installing geothermal heating. At present, I run a natural gas forced-air furnace that heats my . . .

Posted: 2009-05-24

Drilling is not always thrilling

Making holes in tile can be a tricky task

Installing tile in a bathroom tub or shower stall always presents a series of challenges. Once the layout is chosen and the tiling begins, constant vigilance is required to ensure the tile maintains level and plumb, and often existing . . .

Posted: 2023-12-30

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

DEBBIE TRAVIS: Checking in to the green room

London hotel focuses on eco-friendly living

Because I travel constantly for business and pleasure, I have the opportunity to view first hand the many changes taking place in the hotel industry. I have witnessed shifts in style and colour trends, and the move in popularity from the . . .

Posted: 2009-08-02

Consider removing siding to reinsulate home

Method could boost energy savings

111 I have an older house built in 1902 with wood siding. I am in the process of having the walls insulated and this will result in numerous holes being drilled into the siding and then plugged with a wooden . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28

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

Recipe for change

Kitchen shell prep includes vinyl-plank flooring

In my world, the difference between a kitchen facelift and a full kitchen renovation is whether a large percentage of the existing space remains, or the entirety is gutted and repopulated once the shell has been prepped. At a recent . . .

Posted: 2026-02-21

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

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