Tear through that to-do list this summer

Many of us are suffering from overexposure to our own homes. We’ve had more time to contemplate and less motivation to tackle the out-of-whack elements in our houses and apartments — the minor repairs that have seemingly taken up permanent . . .

Posted: 2021-07-03

Farms, fiddleheads, felines and FUN

Country visits always bring peace and tranquility

There’s a beautiful old farmyard I like to visit, and it’s how I wish my yard looked all year round. Maybe if global warming keeps cranking up as it has lately, it will. The yard is a river lot, and the 300 . . .

Posted: 2021-07-03

Ambience abounds in Grande Pointe Meadows

The Pritchard is a thoughful, serene design

A peaceful, inviting ambience that washes over you the moment you step inside can be challenging for new home builders to achieve. According to Bruce Gemmel, sales consultant for the 1, 595 square-foot bungalow at 464 Maconnell Lane in Grande Pointe . . .

Posted: 2021-07-03

Tuxedo landmark loaded and luxurious

Recently renovated architectural gem ready to go

For 37 years, 490 Park Boulevard has been a landmark in Tuxedo. An architectual gem, its calling card is a unique roofline with three glass-filled turrets that seem to thrust out of the roof and up into the sky. To say . . .

Posted: 2021-07-03

Create a dazzling monochromatic colour scheme

Does colour have to be bright and bold? Can neutral interiors make an impact? The answer is yes. The secret? Monochromatic colour schemes. Monochromatic colour schemes can be luxurious and elegant while they also serve as the perfect foundation for pops . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26

Stay on trend with these summertime BLUES

We’ve got the summer blues — and I couldn’t be happier about it. While we have always loved blue decor, this summer has taken our passion for blue hues to new heights. With lovely shades for every room and occasion, . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26

Grow your own goodness

Tips to successfully manage a fruit garden

As you have probably noticed, trees are in huge demand and short in supply. The strongest demand is for fruit trees. Shrub fruits — haskap, sour cherry, currant, and gooseberry, to name a few — as well as raspberry and . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26

Practical and prominent in Transcona

Welcoming two-storey has plenty of personality

Personality — a home either has it, or it doesn’t. That’s why when builders design a show home, they strive to endow it with a unique flair that will hopefully capture the imagination of prospective home buyers. But, it can be a . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26

Good as wood

Compostite decks gaining in popularity -- but they are pricey

When building a composite deck, it is only the outer sheathing that is of a composite material. The support structure below is still built using the traditional treated lumber. That being said, the approach to framing differs slightly, depending on . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26

Avoid these design trends to keep your decor fresh

Grass-green shag carpet evokes the Nixon era on the lower level of my family’s turn-of-the-century farmhouse. The wall-to-wall floor cover, like a teddy bear underfoot, was all the rage in 1974, when my grandparents left urban life to retire at . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26