Attractive tile never goes out of style

Backsplash made from individual tiles a challenging task

A kitchen renovation can be very invasive. When the project calls for an entire gut and remodel, the area can be rendered non-functional for as long as eight weeks. This is why I often retain the old sink and a . . .

Posted: 2020-04-18

Home is where the work is

Mustard has no problem keeping himself busy

Need some help with your social distancing? I’m presently putting together, from various and sundry items I’ve hauled home over the years, an SDK (Social Distancing Kit), that, because I rarely go out, I may be willing to rent out from . . .

Posted: 2020-04-18

'Thank God there is the garden'

Marjorie Harris skilfully combines native plants with exotic species

When normal isn’t normal anymore and uncertainty fuels anxiety, the one constant in a gardener’s life is the garden. Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of pandemic keeps Marjorie Harris from spending time in her Toronto garden — . . .

Posted: 2020-04-18

Keep tea out of the fridge for optimum freshness

Question: How long does tea stay fresh before it goes bad? Should I refrigerate tea? — Aaron Answer: Although tea will gradually lose flavour over time, if properly stored, away from air, light and moisture, it will not go bad and . . .

Posted: 2020-04-18

Delightfully different design

Efficient and creative layout maximizes style and space

When a two-storey home is under 1, 800 square feet, it’s essential its floor plan be spot-on from start to finish. In essence, there’s no room for error. Every space must be perfectly placed, their dimensions cleverly calculated so that livability is . . .

Posted: 2020-04-18

Supreme balancing act

Immaculate two-storey offers style and function

As important as function is to families, style is equally important. Nowhere is the balance between those design elements more important than in a home’s great room, the area of the home where families typically spend most of their time. That being . . .

Posted: 2020-04-18

Get more out of life

There are plenty of reasons why people rent rather than own a home. For some, renting is less responsibility; for others, it means more freedom. More travel, less yard care, leaving more money in the pocket to invest. Recently developed by . . .

Posted: 2020-04-17

Spring bedding update guaranteed to help you rest easy

Spending a little more time than I’m used to at home, I have found myself cleaning and refreshing every corner of my space that I can reach (and for those I can’t, I’ve been taking on the role of supervisor . . .

Posted: 2020-04-11

Try these colour combinations for a retro flash

Black and mauve, red, white and black, black and gold ... sound familiar? These are some of the hottest colour combinations from the ‘80s. And now the retro combos have made a comeback. The ‘80sIn the 1980s, some of the popular . . .

Posted: 2020-04-11

Walking the plank

Quality product well worth the added expense

During a recent kitchen expansion and remodel, my clients also wanted to replace the existing flooring on the majority of their main floor. Other than the tiled bathroom, this included the new kitchen area, sunken dining room, front foyer, and . . .

Posted: 2020-04-11