Consider putting your shoes on display

Want more control over your closet? Stop hiding your shoes. Instead, designers suggest taking cues from retail stores and displaying your collection — at least, the core six or eight pairs — on shelves, at eye level, where you can easily . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

DIY deck a learning, money-saving experience

You don't need to hire professionals to get a good result

What to do when the old deck dies? Here’s what Randy Swanson and his wife Chris (coach) did, and it’s turning out splendidly. The Gimli couple were tired, fed up even, of staining and re-staining their deck every year for the past . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Wooden structural floors can come with unique problems

Question: We have wooden structural basement floors in our home, which was built in 1999. We also had the home built on piles. We have noticed in one area, against the back of the house, that the floor has heaved, . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Mortgage-friendly home loaded with features

Price point helps buyers pass stress test

Over the past two years, the federal government’s mandatory stress test has stifled the plans of many new home-buyers. Prior to the stress test, a buyer may have been approved for a budget of, say, $500, 000. However, that was then. This . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Each new home has its own timeline for completion

A very common and important question most buyers ask when looking at building a new home is how long will it take for the home to be built? As you can guess, there is no standard answer to this question. The . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Newer Scotia Heights home good fit for family

Not all neighbourhood's houses are senior citizens

Most of the housing stock in the Scotia Heights area tends to fall somewhere in the 60- to 100-years-old range. "This home was actually built in 1984, which makes it quite a bit newer than most of the homes in the . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Movie, baseball Giant checks into Beverly Hills

Mid-century home purchased for US$10.05 million

LOS ANGELES — New York Giants chairman and Hollywood producer Steve Tisch has touched down in the Trousdale area of Beverly Hills, buying a Mid-century home for US$10.05 million. The seller was the estate of late music manager Jordan Feldstein. Set . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

An empty nester is on the wing

Rob Lowe's estate on market for US$47 million

LOS ANGELES — Actor Rob Lowe and wife Sheryl, a jewelry designer, are preparing for the next chapter in their empty-nest lives. The couple, whose two sons both left for college in recent years, have listed their estate in Montecito, . . .

Posted: 2018-07-07

Low-key Catmint the way to go

Short and shrubby nepeta stands tall as a no-fail garden option

Not every plant steals the spotlight with its stunningly gorgeous blooms or lustrous foliage. Some plants remain on the sidelines like wallflowers, not making a big noise, but quietly doing what they know how to do best. Catmint, or nepeta, . . .

Posted: 2018-07-07

Getting rid of ants with kitchen favourites

Question: How do I get ants to leave my yard? They seem to take over a different area each summer, and they bite. — Roberta Answer: There are many solutions for tackling ants. What works for one will not necessarily work . . .

Posted: 2018-07-07