MIKE HOLMES: Think twice before tackling vanity job

BATHROOM vanities are a DIY nightmare. I don't know why homeowners think it's a no-brainer -- probably, they've been been watching television. Or, they might have gone into a big-box store and been told it's easy to just switch out . . .

Posted: 2010-01-09

Spa features create a luxurious bathroom

Dear Debbie: In your opinion, what would make a bathroom really luxurious and special? We are remodelling our master bath and are looking for some direction. Thanks for your help, always. PhillisDear Phillis: When you are planning a complete remodel, . . .

Posted: 2012-01-14

Batter up! Tackling split surfaces on cakes

Bigger pan, or less batter, may be the key

QUESTION: When I bake marble cake, I use a loaf pan and the middle of the cake rises high and then splits. How can I avoid this? Rose ANSWER: To prevent any cake from splitting while baking, make sure that the pan . . .

Posted: 2020-09-19

Deck finishing is much more than just stain

Key is in design and construction details

Every summer, I hear from homeowners looking for advice about finishing their new wooden deck. And every summer, I wish I could've talked to these folks a few months earlier. That's because finishing a deck really isn't about finishing a . . .

Posted: 2008-05-04

SOLUTIONS: Stuck-up kitchen soap dispenser causes woe

QUESTION: I love your column and your solutions, sure hope you can help me. I have a built-in kitchen soap dispenser by my sink and it takes 40 pumps (yes 40) to get the soap to come out. My handyman . . .

Posted: 2011-12-24

Open air, open design

Privacy, plants, lighting all come to play in personalized outdoor spaces

When professional landscape designer and horticultural consultant Lyndon Penner was a child in Saskatchewan, he asked for a playhouse to call his own. His grandmother responded by growing one for him.   Russian mammoth sunflowers which grow to a height of some . . .

Posted: 2015-05-16

SOLUTIONS: Decaying food cause of disposal-unit odour

QUESTION: I have a garbage-disposal unit connected to my kitchen sink. Lately, there has been a very strong odour coming from it. It is pretty bad, especially when we come in from the outdoors. The smell is wafting throughout the . . .

Posted: 2012-03-03

Staying on schedule with winter looming

Decision to sub out exterior finishing work ensured project was done ahead of time

A long journey from idea to fruition, and a personal Christmas gift. That’s what the completion of the exterior of my south-side addition — a full month ahead of schedule, and before the snow flew — means to me. The exterior . . .

Posted: 2017-12-23

Looks like a million bucks

Foxridge charmer combines space, elegance

Having an abundance of space to work with when designing a luxury home can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, designers have plenty of space to build in all the design features they want without . . .

Posted: 2022-12-17

Variety of tactics can be used to repel cats

QUESTION: Your "Fantastic Tip of the Week" in regards to getting rid of rodents certainly makes sense. I live in East St. Paul, and we are invaded by chipmunks and they create havoc in my garage. So I'll put your . . .

Posted: 2012-08-04