You've got questions -- he's got answers

Question: Where do your questions come from and what topics will you respond to? Answer: It may seem a little odd for me to be answering this self-posed question after more than two decades of weekly columns, but it should still . . .

Posted: 2021-09-25

Keep your friends close and your furmily closer

Mustard has a few tips to help our furry friends

Nothing beats a happy, loving, home life. Nothing. And in millions of homes all around the planet, the source of so much of that love, joy and fun is our "furmily" members, the focus for today’s column being the cats and dogs . . .

Posted: 2021-09-25

Clean stainless steel safely with olive oil and lemons

Question: What is the best method for cleaning a stainless-steel kitchen faucet? Simone Answer: Either wipe the faucet with a small amount of olive oil or cut a lemon in half and wipe fixtures to remove hard water and rust marks. This . . .

Posted: 2021-09-25

Country living in modern style

Grande Pointe Meadows bungalow bold and beautiful

Could adding 125 square feet to a proven plan take it from excellent to out of this world? According to Tony Pallone, sales representative for Randall Homes’ new show home at 431 Grande Pointe Meadows Blvd. in Grande Pointe Meadows, it . . .

Posted: 2021-09-25

Start strong in St. Vital

Stylish condo loaded with value and versatility

Starting out in life is rarely easy. Take, for example, a young professional who just landed their first job. School is finally done and they’re ready to spread their wings and get a place of their own. The corporate ladder, however, can . . .

Posted: 2021-09-25

MHBA Parade of Homes ready to shine

Three weeks from now the newest trends in home building design and the latest fashions in home decorating will be on display as Manitoba’s best home builders showcase more than 100 new show homes during the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s . . .

Posted: 2021-09-25

High-efficiency furnace blowers built to last

Question: Could you please advise on the following dilemma? I have a Keeprite high efficiency furnace and a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) installed in my home, built in 2014. The HRV is connected to the furnace and both have a . . .

Posted: 2021-09-18

Stain it BLACK

Restaurant manager's projects decorate his private and workplace gardens

The urge to decorate the garden not only with plants but also permanent structural elements dates to the earliest landscape designs. Built elements such as trellises, fences, potting benches, sheds, patios, and water features as well as creative ways to . . .

Posted: 2021-09-18

One step at a time

New front porch build loaded with hurdles

At a recent front porch upgrade project, three unexpected hurdles nearly derailed the project’s timeline. Luckily, solutions for each of these three obstacles were eventually established, tackled in a co-operative manner by three separate parties in a brilliantly co-ordinated effort, . . .

Posted: 2021-09-18

Little shack on the Prairie

Killarney couple building dreams with repurposed lumber

Gotta love it when a fantasy comes together. I speak of none other than Reg Sawatzky’s very own little house on the Prairie. According to Reg, he’s had the dream digs in his head for a long time, and it . . .

Posted: 2021-09-18