Step up your decor: decorate your stairway

It's time for a refresher course. We've covered some of these ideas before but one tends to forget, so today let's review some awesome ways to decorate a staircase.With the exception of grand windows or a fireplace a staircase might . . .

Posted: 2015-06-20

Moving basement window a task fraught with risk

Could weaken foundation, lead to cracks, damage

Question: We are planning to replace our wood-burning fireplace with a gas one. In order to do so, a gas meter would have to be placed below our kitchen window. Currently, the window for our basement bedroom is below the . . .

Posted: 2015-06-20

A love storey

Artista has fun with varied floor levels in two-storey home

Designing a new home is a tricky proposition.On the one hand, builders want to come up with a design that's striking and memorable. At the same time, however, that design must be practical, which is to say it must be . . .

Posted: 2015-06-20

118 years young

Crescentwood gem breaks the mould on what 1890s-era houses look like

Think of a two-and-a-half storey home built in 1897, and several images form in your mind.Foremost among them would be the image of a traditional-looking home, perhaps with a pillared/covered front entrance, a front porch and triangular, peaked roof. And . . .

Posted: 2015-06-20

They'll grow on you

Can't-miss attractions HIGHLIGHT GARDEN TOUR SEASON

How long does it take for a lush green lawn to recover after it is walked on by hundreds of curious visitors eagerly exploring every aspect of a pristine, well-kept garden during a single day?That question won't be uppermost in . . .

Posted: 2015-06-13

Study profiles new home buyers across Canada

The Altus Group recently published a short paper that profiled new home buyers across Canada. Admittedly, hard data are scarce, with the best information coming from major urban centres. However, the observations ring true across the country.Approximately one in 100 . . .

Posted: 2015-06-13

Devil in the details

Caring, commitment key elements to a successful reno

Details make the difference between a first-rate renovation and a disastrous one.Two obvious details that speak to the overall excellence of a reno are joinery and paint.Bevel joints for baseboards and mitre joints for window and door frames should fit . . .

Posted: 2015-06-13

Call or click before you dig

Avoid injury, legal trouble and property damage by planning ahead

How many times have you picked up a shovel and started digging because you were either landscaping, installing a deck or a fence, adding a garden, or planting a tree? Did you know you could be breaking the law?Most people . . .

Posted: 2015-06-13

Placement of insulation important in crawl space

Question:I have a question that I have not been able to answer through my extensive research and I appreciated the light you shed on heated cold crawlspaces. My situation is that I have a crawlspace below my kitchen which has . . .

Posted: 2015-06-13

Decorating for a party sets the mood

My husband and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. I wanted to share some of the decorating ideas I had for our party. These are affordable, stylish ideas that are sure to please any crowd. Our guests really enjoyed . . .

Posted: 2015-06-13