Overwhelm unpleasant odours with ones that fade

Question: I own a cedar-lined hope chest that I purchased several years ago (second-hand), privately, from a business contact. It smells like mothballs inside, probably due to the previous owner storing something inside, with mothballs. How might I try to . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

A portion of paradise, made just for you

Bespoke garden design tailors your home's landscape

Personalize your outdoor space and turn heads with a bespoke garden design. The signature quality of bespoke garden design is that it is made to measure to the unique characteristics of your landscape and tailored to your specifications; it suits . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

Parade of Homes ends this weekend, but viewings do not

While the 2017 Fall Parade of Homes officially ends Sunday at 6 p.m., your chance to visit Manitoba’s newest show homes won’t end that afternoon. Almost all of the show homes that have been part of the Parade will remain . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

A Washington designer's top tips on decor

Designer Michele Evans, of the Georgetown neighbourhood in Washington, D.C., joined staff writer Jura Koncius on the Washington Post’s Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt. Question: Do you have any tips on installing an Ikea kitchen? Answer: When you . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

Keep your mind on your gutters

Checking eavestroughs is one of many important pre-winter tasks

G’day. Today’s column will delve into pre-winter prep for your home and garage — there’s definitely a laugh or two in that — but first, a follow-up to last week’s column on outhouses, the outdoor toilets everyone had in their . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

It's all in the details

Starlite Village two-storey brings 'outstanding value' to Fall Parade of Homes

Homebuyers tend to overlook attached homes — a.k.a. side-by-sides — as a viable housing option. There’s no reason to overlook the Melbourne, Randall Homes’ sales representative, Jay Gajjar says. "Randall has done a great job with the Melbourne’s design, " he . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

Poor airflow in upstairs vents likely a simple fix

Question: I had a new furnace and accessories replaced four years ago for my two-storey home, built in the 1980s. I’ve noticed that the basement and main floor receive a lot of heat and air conditioning, but the upstairs does not . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

These vacuums leave the rest in their dust

For houses with kids or pets, a handheld vacuum is a near-necessity for crumbs or pet-hair pickup. "This is what you’re going to reach for when your kids spill cereal in the morning or you spill coffee grounds, " said Allison . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

Breaking barriers for more access to your home

There’s no doubt about it — busting through an existing exterior wall to introduce a new entryway can be a nerve-racking renovation. It is next to impossible to predict what’s within the wall cavity — you just don’t know until . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30

Transform your yard into an enchanted garden

Many fine gardens are candidates for visiting and enjoying, but only one garden matters, and that’s your own. Yours may amount to a narrow urban yard or just a few containers on a patio. It’s not the space you have, it’s . . .

Posted: 2017-09-30