Safe and sound with Bell MTS Smart Home

Revamped security system delivers peace of mind

As a young man still living at home, my parents’ house was broken into and robbed. The intruders backed their truck into our backyard in broad daylight, breached the back door and proceeded to steal audio components and a variety . . .

Posted: 2020-05-09

Exceptional value with room to grow

St. Adolphe home checks all the boxes

One of the advantages associated with building a home in a community outside the city is being able to build on a larger lot. The Polaris — a new A & S Homes show home at 5 Chimney Swift Way in . . .

Posted: 2020-05-09

Country oasis without the long commute

Spacious rural retreat loaded with amenities

If you long to feel as though you live in your own private resort, you’ll get that feeling the moment you step onto the grounds at 1540 St. Anne’s Rd., says Lori Hopfner of Royal LePage Dynamic Real Estate. "First of . . .

Posted: 2020-05-09

Vase is upper middle range Royal Bonn quality

Dear Helaine and Joe: This vase belonged to the aunt of a friend of mine. It is 13 inches tall and the gold trim on the flowers and leaves is raised like it was applied with an outlining brush. We . . .

Posted: 2020-05-02

Cook lasagna noodles in the sauce for perfect texture

Question: I often see no-boil lasagna noodles on the shelf of my grocery store. What makes these noodles different than regular lasagna noodles? Which is better? Jackie Answer: No-boil lasagna noodles are precooked noodles that don’t require boiling. However, instead of purchasing . . .

Posted: 2020-05-02

Set your sights on getting it right

Is your heart set on buying and planting a tree?

  Deciding which tree to buy and where to plant it is one of the more significant decisions you will make as a homeowner. In the overall scheme of things, the tree you choose will define your property, not only by . . .

Posted: 2020-05-02

Grave reminder from the past?

You just never know what might turn up on your daily stroll

One can only spend so much time at home. So earlier this week, after working in the house, the garage, the yard, the shed, back to the house, back to the shed, etc., I decided to go for a little solitary . . .

Posted: 2020-05-02

Let it slide

Custom barn-style doors a nice finishing touch

Nearing the completion of a total basement renovation in early 2015, my clients requested a feature I had not yet encountered up to that point — barn-style sliding doors. My clients had researched and purchased rugged hardware online, and shipped . . .

Posted: 2020-05-02

Spray-on insulation works great on interior walls

Question: I found an article you previously wrote and it seems consistent with my research. I am just wondering if you would recommend using closed cell spray foam on the exterior of our stone foundation. We are in Ottawa. The . . .

Posted: 2020-05-02

Prairie Pointe perfection

Spacious family home offers a unique design

As much as many large families would like a home that’s more than 2, 000 sq. ft. in size, such a home isn’t always financially feasible. With that in mind, the design team at Signature Homes, prompted by customer feedback they . . .

Posted: 2020-05-02