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

West End wonder

Updated classic has character to spare

For some reason, one home often tends to stand out above others when you glimpse it walking through a neighbourhood. Then, when you stop to scrutinize it more closely, you realize why the home caught your eye. Some design detail, its . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

Getting a handle on radon gas in your home

Take some practical steps before installing remediation system

Question — Earlier this year, I received a postcard in the mail from the federal government explaining the dangers of Radon gas and suggesting doing a home test. I ordered a test kit from a company in Saskatchewan. I followed . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

Cupboard staple may resurrect damp cellphone

To keep brown sugar soft, turn to the puffy stuff

QUESTION – I dropped my cellphone in the toilet, and it is no longer working. Any solutions to fix this mess? Randy ANSWER – Turn off your phone. If the battery is removable, take it out and dry the inside with . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

There's always room for history

Wagon, bunkhouse and possibly bigger plans have place in yard

Houston, we have a problem. The forest is eating my old grain wagon. I rescued this dear old sweetie, with permission, from a collapsing barn on the Bates farm just outside of Killarney about 30 years ago. I brought it home . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

Clarity is key building block for city infill plan

Over the past few years, infill housing has increasingly become one of the biggest hot-button topics of discussion at Winnipeg’s city hall. Certainly, the state of residential infill development in Winnipeg is a cause for concern within the residential construction industry. . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

Big, bright bungalow

Raised design soars with flair and function

When you think of a raised bungalow you tend to visualize a home with everything on one level — plus a big, bright basement with high ceiling and huge windows that let in tons of natural light. The designers at Paradigm . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

SNL vet Forte's Craftsman-style Santa Monica home hits market

LOS ANGELES — Every Hollywood idea has to start somewhere, whether it’s scribbled on cocktail napkins, pecked out on a vintage typewriter or the outcome of an afternoon in the writers’ room. For the sitcom The Last Man on Earth, . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

Charcuterie a new look at appetizer night

As the hours of darkness elongate and the air becomes increasingly fresh, many Manitobans are looking forward to a season of comfort. Cozy fires, warm blankets, and bite sized bits of normalcy. With winter looming and candles the perfect accessory . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03