Chalky powder on concrete floors not always bad

Question: We have been in our house for 38 years. When we first moved in, we put down tiles in half the basement, under the pool table, and carpeting on the other half. In the last few years I have . . .

Posted: 2020-01-11

Endless summer

Local artist uses watercolour, pen, pencil and pastels to bring Mother Nature in from the cold

In a winter climate where colour pretty much disappears for six months each year, we have to be able to find it somewhere, and that somewhere is indoors. Not that there’s anything wrong with endless barren white snow, without a green . . .

Posted: 2020-01-11

Room with a view

Spacious design delivers great value

There are several advantages associated with building a home on a lot that’s extra-wide and deep. The first and most obvious advantage is you get a huge backyard and more space on either side of the home. The second and more . . .

Posted: 2020-01-11

Natural beauty

Wellington Crescent condo unique, functional

With its angular silhouette and cedar-clad exterior, a four-storey condominium nestled neatly into a little notch of land at the junction of Wardlaw Avenue and Wellington Crescent, catches your attention. That’s because the building, with its modern-rustic facade, looks so different . . .

Posted: 2020-01-11

Be beautiful, live well

Over the past few weeks, I have spoken with good friends, as well as family and colleagues about whether or not they’ve committed to resolve to be better in 2020. More often than not, the response has been, "I’m making . . .

Posted: 2020-01-10

Tips for keeping your baby safe at home

If you’re welcoming a new baby to the family, you may be wondering what you can do to keep the little one safe at home. Whether this is your first baby or your fifth grandchild, there are lots of things . . .

Posted: 2020-01-04

Cleaning tasks to tackle at home after the holidays

The countertops were polished and the floors all spic and span, and then came friends and family, trudging through the foyer with suitcases and gifts in tow. Or perhaps in your hurry to get out the door, you weren’t able . . .

Posted: 2020-01-04

Decor ideas that worked in 2019

Wow, it’s hard to believe 2020 is upon us! Last year was a whirlwind of excitement and change for me, starting with becoming the new steward of Nell Hill’s. We wanted to look back at some of our favourite moments from . . .

Posted: 2020-01-04

Cheese should be kept in the fridge

Question: I noticed that my local grocery store leaves blocks of cheese on the counter beside the cash register. Can I store my marble cheese block at room temperature? Thanks. — Martin Answer: Most blocks of cheese require refrigeration. Some high-quality cheeses . . .

Posted: 2020-01-04

Brighter, repurposed rooms trending

Think outside to add personality to interior design

MINNEAPOLIS — Colourful kitchen islands, mud rooms reconceived as "family entrances" and "shopping" your closets for home decor — those are some of the predictions Twin Cities interior designers are making for 2020. But these specific trends are part of two . . .

Posted: 2020-01-04