Making the most of your fireplace

Fireplaces not only help keep us warm, they can also serve as a decorative focal point and highlight in a home. Whether you are looking to showcase an ornate mantel or create a cosy seating area, being thoughtful and purposeful with . . .

Posted: 2018-12-22

Tough times likely ahead for homebuyers, builders

Some recent reports and projections for 2019 are forecasting another challenging year ahead for Manitobans who are looking to build or buy a new home. New mortgage rules, a further projected decline in single-family housing starts for 2019 and rising costs . . .

Posted: 2018-12-22

Festive favourites

Add an eclectic variety of plants to your collection this holiday season

The poinsettia rules as the traditional plant for the holidays, wouldn’t you agree? Robert McLean, the new grower manager for Shelmerdine Garden Center, has been growing poinsettias for 41 years. This year, Shelmerdine grew more than 12, 000 poinsettia plants . . .

Posted: 2018-12-22

New home may have coverage for shallow stair fix

QUESTION: I hope you can help shed some light on the required building code standards for stairs in private dwellings in Manitoba. My son recently purchased a new house and moved in about two weeks ago. I went over, once they . . .

Posted: 2018-12-22

The gift of presence

Presents of yesteryear are often forgotten, but family memories live on

We moved from Killarney to St. James back in the fall of 1957, when I was but a tender lad of nine. I was not happy to leave my beautiful little town of Killarney, where all my friends lived, to reside . . .

Posted: 2018-12-22

No-fuss holiday table presentation

Casual place settings create laid-back feel

A freshly starched and pressed white tablecloth used to be a requisite part of any major dining occasion, especially a family-filled holiday meal. Chill, the pros say. It’s OK to be more laid-back about the whole holiday table thing. Today, there are . . .

Posted: 2018-12-22

Rona team values building good dynamic

A good rapport with suppliers can pay off as a contractor

Within most of my reno columns, the stages of a renovation are typically described briefly, in hopes I can efficiently paint a picture of the project for you. To keep things from getting too wordy, usually an individual, company or supplier . . .

Posted: 2018-12-22

Preventing gutters, downspouts from icing up helps avoid winter damage

Frozen gutters and downspouts may seem like an inevitable winter-weather concern, but those heavy icicles hanging from your rooftop after a heavy snow or cold snap need not be a foregone conclusion. You can take steps to prevent them — and . . .

Posted: 2018-12-22

Twist on traditional perfect for any family

Large or small, families will adore the space and privacy Ellington offers

Thinking about traditional two-storey homes typically brings visions of homes with layouts that offer three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and dining room. You know, standard stuff. The Ellington — Broadview Homes’ 2, 236 sq. ft., two-storey show home at 35 Skyline . . .

Posted: 2018-12-22

Go-To Gifts for People on Your Naughty List

Because let’s face it, sometimes you have a person on your list who is just naturally naughty. So much so, you don’t even really want to buy them a gift. But you do, and because you are on the Nice . . .

Posted: 2018-12-18