Treat yourself

An inspired landscape design — the gift that keeps on giving

Will 2015 be the year that your landscape undergoes a makeover or facelift? If you have ever declared, "Bah, humbug, " at the thought of investing in a landscape renovation, you have probably also wished at times for an attractive, functional . . .

Posted: 2014-12-13

Proposed legislation would benefit consumers, renovators

Last week, Consumer Protection Minister Ron Lemieux introduced legislation that will make renovations a more pleasant experience for consumers and contractors. Bill 14, known as the Consumer Protection Amendment Act (Home Improvement Contracts), mandates that every home renovation or improvement transaction . . .

Posted: 2014-12-13

Adequate tools essential in tree care

I give numerous courses during the year, usually in the spring and the fall, to people who are interested in the care and pruning of trees. There are specialized tools that are useful to the property owner for working with trees . . .

Posted: 2014-12-13

Glue, tile dust should do the trick

QUESTION: We live in a 1930s heritage home and there is natural tile in front of the fireplace. Unfortunately, the tile has been scraped by the bottom of a chair. We have tried to fix it but with no luck . . .

Posted: 2014-12-13

Deck the walls with new colours

We Canadians take our home entertaining seriously. According to a countrywide survey of Canadian painting habits conducted by leading brand CIL paint, living rooms and kitchens -- the most popular rooms for entertaining guests -- are second and third, respectively . . .

Posted: 2014-12-13

Bathroom exhaust fan critical to maintaining dry home

Question: My daughter and her partner bought a River Heights bungalow last November. It has a bathroom that has a window in the shower wall and no fan in the bathroom. The plan is to eventually use this as a . . .

Posted: 2014-12-13

Cottage country in the city

Elm Park beauty perfect for growing family

Buying a home tends to be an exercise in compromise. Which is to say, no home is perfect. No matter what, there's always one or two things about a home -- as good as it might be -- that you wish . . .

Posted: 2014-12-13

Sufferin' succulents!

Countless varieties lead to creative, attractive arrangements

Sometimes, the best ideas are borne from the desire to do anything other than what's on our to-do list.Can't find the motivation to get ready for the holidays? A creative boost might be all you need. Why not create a . . .

Posted: 2014-12-06

2015 paint trends head in opposite directions

Both bold hues and softer shades will fill our interiors

Colour forecasts for 2015 are starting to emerge, with trends going in opposite directions.On the one hand, there's longtime British paint maker Farrow & Ball, predicting soft, comforting tones will be popular in the coming year to keep us grounded . . .

Posted: 2014-12-06

Industrial accents can spruce up your decor

There's something so uniquely interesting about industrial accents in the decor. The rough-hewn textures and finishes add lots of visual interest and a sense of history.The awesome accessories, pictured here, can be found at Wicker World in Winnipeg. These decorative . . .

Posted: 2014-12-06