Plenty of options to complete deck

Open or closed, there is usable space down below

Clients have varied reasons for wanting to close-in the area below a newly built deck with skirting, including keeping out the varmints, using the area for storage and perhaps they feel leaving it open looks unfinished. Fortunately, there are a few . . .

Posted: 2019-06-08

Teach an old piano new tunes

Antique instruments diverted from dumps, repurposed in creative ways

You may remember I’ve become the no-kill shelter for old, unwanted pianos. Well, duh. I should have picked something lighter. But again, I just can’t stand seeing all that gorgeous old wood, antique piano components, etc., going to the dump! What a . . .

Posted: 2019-06-08

Putting rice in salt shakers helps combat moisture

QUESTION: I have often noticed that restaurants have grains of rice in salt shakers. Is this for good luck or a joke that someone plays on the waitress? — Ben Answer: While some people consider the following a myth, here is the reason why . . .

Posted: 2019-06-08

Gutter guards useful but not always necessary

Best ones are easy to clean and don't require regular attention

Question: I have a two-and-a-half-storey old house in River Heights and will be getting new eavestroughs. Some companies are recommending Alu-Rex gutter guards. What are your thoughts on this? I haven’t found anyone yet who has had them installed to get . . .

Posted: 2019-06-08

Using your home to improve your well-being

Interior design experts recommend four general approaches to creating a healthy house

Can your home help you get healthier? Interior designers say clients don’t just want help creating a more beautiful home anymore. They want to create living spaces where they will cook healthier foods, breathe healthier air and improve overall wellness. Here, three . . .

Posted: 2019-06-08

A man for all seasons

Jack of all trades responsible for restoring calm and quiet to neighbourhood

Dennis Rawluk has lived his whole life in Moosehorn, a small town located in Manitoba’s Interlake Region, about 197 kilometres from Winnipeg. The hardware manager at the local Co-op, Rawluk likes to garden. There’s nothing new about a man who . . .

Posted: 2019-06-08

Unique, luxurious and practical

Lakeside Bonavista home is both upscale and sensibly designed

When it comes to homebuilding, experience counts. When Warkentin Custom Homes was presented with a prime walk-out lot at 50 Bonaventure Dr. W. in Bonavista, it knew the lakeside lot was the perfect spot for an upscale, yet sensibly designed, family . . .

Posted: 2019-06-08

Living in the best of both worlds

Home offers rustic charm in convenient location

In life, it’s rare to have everything just the way you’d like it to be. Take your home, for example. In an ideal world, you’d want it to be a quiet place that delivers peace and solitude at the end of . . .

Posted: 2019-06-08

Tips for adding black and white to your interior design

Black and white are not only versatile colours, but combined can create a luxurious yet neutral colour palette. Considered classic and timeless, a black-and-white colour combination can allow the freedom to change looks simply through the use of accent colours. . . .

Posted: 2019-06-01

Waiting to season scrambled eggs will help ensure fluffy texture

Question: I cook scrambled eggs, but they are never fluffy. They are never perfect, the way that they are at restaurants. What am I doing wrong? — Janet Answer: One of the ways to avoid making scrambled eggs that are runny is to . . .

Posted: 2019-06-01