Fall is coming -- plant ahead

Savvy gardeners don't wait until the snow melts to plan their spring plots

There is a window of planting opportunity in the fall while soil temperatures are still warm. As soon as gardening catalogues begin arriving in mailboxes in August, some gardeners waste little time ordering flowering bulbs to plant in fall for . . .

Posted: 2017-09-02

Beauty and the domestic beast

Winnipeg blues musician shows off her passion project: a 1950s chateau

Two stars to talk about today. The gorgeous house you see in the background and the lovely "Lady" who owns it, none other than Lady Lee. For those who aren’t familiar with her music career, allow me to bring you up . . .

Posted: 2017-09-02

Knowing problem's source crucial to solution

Homeowners often misinterpret the root cause of an issue

Question: We did major renovations on our home in 2006-08, one of which was a new furnace, ducting and central air. The furnace is located in an enclosed closet and outside the closet is our washer and dryer. Last year . . .

Posted: 2017-09-02

Do you believe in life after larvae?

This past summer and the summer of 2016 saw the outbreak of forest tent caterpillars — referred to as larvae — on Winnipeg’s trees and likely on trees outside the city. This year and in the last few years, we . . .

Posted: 2017-09-02

Opening up your stairwell options

More often than not, initial renovation discussions with a potential client usually involve the following phrase at some point: "I’d like to open things up a bit." That is exactly what Anne Hebert mentioned to me upon describing her disdain for . . .

Posted: 2017-09-02

Designed with a family in mind

Cab-over style provides exceptional function and convenience

For several years, there was a dearth of cab-over designs in the new home market. Now, more builders are plugging them back into their lineup of homes. One of those builders is Broadview Homes. Lisa Castro, Broadview’s sales representative for 64 Eaglewood . . .

Posted: 2017-09-02

An abode filled with soul

Scotia Heights century home a spacious, naturally-lit gem

There’s something that resonates deep within you when touring one of the city’s most mature, historic neighbourhoods. In this case, the area is Scotia Heights, a residential area developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Set well back from Main . . .

Posted: 2017-09-02

Ants in your plants

These fascinating, social insects are more than just pests -- as long as they're outdoors

Legions of ants have been on the march throughout most of this summer, building their tall dirt-filled mounds or extensive underground colonies in lawns and flowerbeds as well as small crater nests between paving stones. Homeowners have varying degrees of . . .

Posted: 2017-08-26

What lies beneath

What you can't see is, at times, the best indicator of quality

When doing a remodel or upgrade that involves replacing a sink and faucets, the placement of the drain and shut-off valves for the hot and cold water often isn’t given much thought because it is beneath the sink — tucked . . .

Posted: 2017-08-26

Time to dust off those meal-planning skills

It’s that time again, when summer freedoms are swapped for structure. Late bedtimes were fun for a spell, but they lose appeal when the kids must arrive at school awake and alert. And although ice cream every afternoon sure felt . . .

Posted: 2017-08-26