Trees make meaningful and lasting gifts

Help reforest the city while checking off names on your Christmas list

Have you thought about giving that special someone on your Christmas gift list a tree? A gift certificate for friends or family members who you know are planning to replace a tree next spring might just be the perfect and practical . . .

Posted: 2019-12-14

Tray ceiling becomes new focal point

Living room upgrade both practical and eye-catching

Four years ago, clients of mine wanted a new ceiling in their kitchen, both to rid the room of unwanted stipple and to allow for new lighting. Recently, I was back, and while the latest ceiling upgrade had those goals . . .

Posted: 2019-12-14

A sleigh ride straight to the holiday spirit

Courtesy of Santa's fleet (surely)...

Some people do a simply magnificent job of decorating their homes for Christmas. I’m not one of them... or haven’t been of late, but that has all changed, in a very big way. You see, last weekend, I bought Santa’s actual sleigh, . . .

Posted: 2019-12-14

Pre-cook sweet potatoes for easier peeling

QUESTION: Sweet potatoes are difficult to peel and, although I like the taste of them, I find that the peeler becomes dull from the tough, uneven peel. Any faster tips would be appreciated. — Terrance   Answer: The fastest and easiest trick for . . .

Posted: 2019-12-14

Asbestos complicates insulation project

Question — We have an early 1960s bungalow that was moved to our farm near Winnipeg in 1991. At the time, it had only three inches of insulation between the attic rafters, so we had a local company blow in . . .

Posted: 2019-12-14

Raised bungalow out of the ordinary

Creative design delivers style, function and plenty of character

There are times when first impressions can be misleading. A prime example is Signature Homes’ latest show home at 16 Berry Hill Rd. in Prairie Pointe. Situated between a pair of king-sized two-storey homes, the 1, 255-sq.-ft. raised bungalow looks rather ordinary . . .

Posted: 2019-12-14

'Just move in and enjoy'

There are pros and cons to buying a new home. On the positive side, you’re getting a brand-new, custom-built home that shouldn’t need much in the way of maintenance or upgrades for five years. That said, there’s a negative that many young . . .

Posted: 2019-12-14

WHAT'S IN A GIFT?

It’s easy to think of holiday shopping as a chore. This year, don’t be a Grinch about giving. Instead, decide to gift with intention. In doing so, you’ll likely save time, money and frustration by being more calculated from the . . .

Posted: 2019-12-13

Keep your garage floor clean and protected

Made-in-Manitoba mats stop the slop

We are nearing that point where, for about the next five months, slop will fall off our cars and onto the garage floor — making a huge, disgusting mess. The warmer the garage, the worse it gets. In my case, the water . . .

Posted: 2019-12-07

Upgrading entertainment unit a complex job

Look of old TV cabinet retained while making it fit new flat-screen TV

The modification of an existing built-in entertainment unit is always possible. The question becomes whether the complexity of the modification outweighs simply replacing the unit. A short while ago, a new client requested an on-site visit to discuss the options regarding . . .

Posted: 2019-12-07