Updating home wiring poses special challenges

More problematic than copper, and with rules that may be harder to navigate

Question: I was wondering what the approved methods are in Manitoba for updating devices in a home with aluminum wiring? My research took me to your response to a question in a previous article in the Winnipeg Free Press. I want . . .

Posted: 2017-05-27

Their humble abodes

Homes made by wildlife are fascinating to study

One of the absolute most memorable moments of my life: the beautiful summer day I opened the door to one of my sheds and found myself staring directly into a huge — and very active — wasp nest. I didn’t know . . .

Posted: 2017-05-27

Serving a cold salad without refrigeration

Question: I am invited to a potluck and have been asked to supply salad for a large crowd of people. I was told that there is no room in the fridge for the salad. Do you have any tips for . . .

Posted: 2017-05-27

Making a great first impression

This new porch has classy touches that set it apart

First impressions are lasting impressions. So when Rena Semenko contacted me in the summer of 2015 with concerns about her front porch, I knew exactly how she felt. When I moved into my current home, the only "porch" I had was a . . .

Posted: 2017-05-27

Take your garden from bush league to shrub supreme

In this column, I will talk about four shrubs. Choice planting stock invariably gets sold early in the planting season, which results in purchasers finding that they cannot find the shrubs they want. In most cases, spring is a better . . .

Posted: 2017-05-27

A waterfront escape

This modern Shaker-style farmhouse in Marylandwas crafted to be simple, casual and relaxing

There are two equally stunning sides to Richard and Amy Zantzinger’s modern waterfront farmhouse in Anne Arundel County, Md. When you round the bend in their gravel driveway, you’ll see a pastoral still life: a striking 21st-century version of a Shaker-style . . .

Posted: 2017-05-27

Get your mind out of the clutter

Mess tends to pile up without a place to put your things

I’m always searching for storage products and other organizational tools for my clients. Although I don’t think that bins, baskets and shelves alone can solve someone’s organizational problems, they are helpful in providing a designated place for belongings. Clutter tends to . . .

Posted: 2017-05-27

Luxury living among the clouds

Downtown condo will soar higher than 40 storeys and features a wide variety of suite sizes

Winnipeggers looking to live downtown now have the opportunity to own the sky. Or, at least their own little piece of it. That opportunity exists in the form of SkyCity Condominiums, a 40-storey-plus, cutting-edge condo project — or, vertical village, if you . . .

Posted: 2017-05-27

A stunner, inside and out

Artista Homes takes advantage of waterfront property to build a grand home

It’s something that builders relish: the space and setting required to get creative. In this case, the design team at Artista Homes was dealt a royal flush at 35 Trailside Cres. in South Pointe — a huge, waterfront lot that would . . .

Posted: 2017-05-27

Classic house with a modern touch

Character-laden River Heights home revamped to make it more livable

It seems most everyone loves classic River Heights homes. And for good reason; design features such as French doors with leaded glass (and don’t forget crystal door knobs), 10-inch-high baseboards, oak window and door casings, ornate wainscotting and hand-carved oak . . .

Posted: 2017-05-27