Keeping the cold at bay

DIY fix makes window area cosy through winter

Last winter while at a job site, a client had inquired whether there was a cost-effective remedy to minimize or possibly eliminate a draft that occurs in the area close to a bay window, rendering the space virtually unusable on . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

House full of surprises

Overhauling Wolseley home a labour of love

First of all, when I tripped over today’s amazing reno story, I didn’t know the Wolseley heritage home’s owners also just happen to be one of Winnipeg’s most talented music duos, Emma Cloney and Dale Brown of the New Customs. Their . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

Colourful coral bells like a dry cold

Help heuchera hibernate with a little 'insulation'

Whether you like to use the botanical name of heuchera (pronounced hew-ker-a) or prefer to call it by its common name, coral bells, this is a fantastic plant grown for its foliage that gardeners simply can’t get enough of. Most varieties . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

Ironing will help your mask look sharp

But hot water and good detergent are the real keys to sanitizing

QUESTION – Is there merit to ironing the masks? I have a routine: When I come back into my condo, I immediately wash my hands and mask. When my mask is dry, I iron to get the wrinkles out and . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

Family focused

Avanti home boasts functionality & style

It’s no secret large families need a spacious home that’s exceedingly flexible and functional. That said, they also need a home that possesses a certain flair, an intangible quality that promotes the enjoyment of day-to-day life. Avanti Custom Homes’ sparkling new 2020 . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

Shutoffs placed near outside faucets for good reason

But frost-proof outside fixtures can replace hard-to-access valves

QUESTION — As temperatures drop, and as I plan a basement renovation, I have been considering relocating the shutoff valves for my two outdoor faucets. Currently each valve, at opposite corners of the house, is buried in the ceiling a . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

Parade may be ending, but doors are still open

When this year’s Parade of Homes kicked off on Sept. 12, our weather still had a summer tinge to it. With the change in the weather also comes the official end of the 2020 Fall Parade of Homes which wraps up . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

A Crescentwood classic transformed

Fantastic fusion of character & function

Bringing a home back to its former grandeur is never an easy task. But that’s what renovator extraordinaire Scott Fisher chose to do with a grand turn-of-the-century two-storey home that has stood for over 110 years on a 50-by-128-foot lot at . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

The lowdown on ground-level decks

Lack of elevation doesn't make project simpler

There is a misconception regarding ground-level decks that often comes as a surprise to potential deck clients: "The lower the deck, the easier the build." This is rarely the case. Low-level decks lack a shared beam that keeps all the . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

Garden vox

Opera blossoms in our backyards

Beginning Saturday, Manitoba Opera debuts a new virtual experience called Opera in the Garden. So pull up the most comfortable seat in the house, take your mind off things and immerse yourself in soul-stirring performances by Manitoba Opera singers in . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03