Building a deck in a day

Ground-level job challenging, but quick

The ground-level deck is often thought of as the easiest of decks to build, however, it is the proximity to the ground that makes the engineering of the deck’s support system more challenging than that of a deck built with . . .

Posted: 2021-08-07

Ketchup, Mustard and a cool caboose

1905 Canadian National Railway car restoration coming along nicely

Sound the bells, drop the gate — the restoration of my cherished caboose is rolling full speed ahead. There is still work to be done, painting to be finished and rotting wood to be replaced, and I’m totally up for it, . . .

Posted: 2021-08-07

Thrifty couple finding homes for tossed items

Like many others, Kelly Pickering and Dan White went for a lot of walks during quarantine, which is where Pickering’s hobby of finding discarded items and putting them to new use began. Newly pregnant, she found a couple of highchairs, one . . .

Posted: 2021-08-07

Class and convenience converge

Stationside at Jubilee – friendly for renters and the environment

About three years ago a group of forward thinking investors found a compact parcel of land at the end of Walker Avenue in South Osborne on the west side of Lord Roberts. In their mind, because it was next to the . . .

Posted: 2021-08-07

Straight and solid in Crescentwood

Stunning infill home better than new

Infill homes can sometimes be uninspired dwellings simply erected to replace an old, tired home. That’s definitely not the case with the home at 954 Weatherdon Ave. in Crescentwood — built in 2015 — says Chris Pennycook of Royal LePage Dynamic . . .

Posted: 2021-08-07

Watering always essential for newly planted trees

Mature trees can likely use a drink too

Providing water to a newly planted tree during its establishment phase, especially during a drought, is critical to its survival. "The first two to three years are the most critical and the care has to be very good or new . . .

Posted: 2021-07-31

Building blocks of New Traditional style

The concept of New Traditional sounds a bit like an oxymoron, don’t you think? By rule, tradition itself is something that must be passed generation to generation, therefore it can’t possibly be new. Like all good things, traditional design has evolved . . .

Posted: 2021-07-31

How to pick the perfect sofa

Long or short, chaise or sectional — what are the best options when it comes to a sofa? One general rule of thumb is to pick your larger pieces first such as your sofa before making smaller selections such as chairs . . .

Posted: 2021-07-31

How to bring minimalist designs into your home

If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that less may be more. If you want to clear your home of clutter, a minimalist design can be the way to go. "Minimalism for me is about keeping a space simple, . . .

Posted: 2021-07-31

Tree HUGGER

Working around Mother Nature a growing concern

On occasion, the intended footprint of a new deck design layout is initially compromised by nature. As such, a shrub, flower bed, or the shallow root system of a nearby spruce tree must be addressed before the build can begin. How . . .

Posted: 2021-07-31