Five essentials for creating a lovely lavatory

The era of the trophy kitchen being the single most important room of the house appears to be fading. For Barbara Sallick, co-founder of Waterworks, bathrooms reflect a more personal style than the more industrial rooms where we roast our . . .

Posted: 2016-10-22

Flexible design a plus for families

Sky-high ceilings or extra rooms: the choice is yours

When builders speak of a home featuring a flexible design, they usually mean inside.Turns out, 3 Snowberry Circle — a.k.a. The Prairiehaven — features two levels of flexibility, according to Kensington Homes’ new home sales consultant, Rene Giroux."This home features . . .

Posted: 2016-10-22

Sold!

A look at recently sold homes in and around Winnipeg

464 Lyle St., St. James ASKING PRICE: $249, 900SOLD PRICE: $242, 500TAXES: $2, 933.79SQUARE FOOTAGE: 850BEDROOMS: 2BATHROOMS: 2LOT SIZE: 50 x 96LISTING AGENT: Shawn Sommers, Century 21 Carrie.com, 204-818-0707SELLING AGENT: Garrett Parker, Re/Max Executives, 204-987-9808  667 Balsam Crescent 667 Balsam Cres., Oakbank ASKING . . .

Posted: 2016-10-22

Striking, unique and highly functional

Three-year-old condo looks good as new

It’s something you see on occasion, and when you do, it definitely catches your attention: you know, things like a 10-year-old car that looks like it just came out of a showroom, an ancient coin that looks newly minted or, . . .

Posted: 2016-10-22

Solving a problem that doesn't exist?

On Monday, Oct. 3, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau proposed a series of changes to federal policies and legislation affecting mortgage loan insurance, mortgage lending rules and tax treatment of capital gains from principal residences for foreign buyers.Both the Canadian . . .

Posted: 2016-10-15

It's amaryllis season

While outdoor plants go dormant, these beautiful flowers bloom indoors just in time for Christmas

Now that Thanksgiving’s over, amaryllis bulb kits are making their way onto store shelves. Packaged in pretty, glossy boxes with magnified images of gorgeous blooms, the kits contain everything you need for forcing flower bulbs indoors in time for Christmas . . .

Posted: 2016-10-15

Keep an eye out for the chicken of the woods

Mushroom with interesting colouring is a strange visitor to encounter

This year, I have encountered an interesting mushroom that once you see it, you will never forget it. This mushroom is called "chicken of the woods."Technically this is a fungal gall. The scientific name of this mushroom is called Laetiporus . . .

Posted: 2016-10-15

Old brick chimney needs sweeping change

QUESTION: I have a house in the country that’s about 75 years old with a brick chimney above the roof and square cinder blocks below the roof. The house used to be heated by a wood furnace, but about 30 . . .

Posted: 2016-10-15

Autumnal decay: Let it be

What we see as 'rot' is merely a natural change in the garden's life cycle

Spring is not a moment in the garden but a sequence, a gentle unfurling of plant life that grows fuller by the day at a tempo almost out of sync with human perception. One minute perennials are peeping out of . . .

Posted: 2016-10-15

When heated floors go cold

Nothing feels better than a hint of warmth beneath your feet, especially during the winter months.When I decided to renovate my home, the plans included an extension to the existing main bathroom on the second floor. My design called for . . .

Posted: 2016-10-15