Room to grow

Stylish country home boasts plenty of space

It may be something you've been thinking of doing for quite some time. That something? Going off the grid with your family, or at least as far off the grid as they'll permit, seeing as they (the kids, mostly) want to . . .

Posted: 2014-03-29

RENOVATIONS: Bring on spring

The time to tackle outdoor projects is upon us

My wife and I were recently cross-country skiing with the family dog -- a big male retriever -- when he abruptly disappeared. He'd slipped off the trail, sinking over his head into the deep snow. A rescue was not required, . . .

Posted: 2014-03-22

Choose dining table that best suites your needs

WHETHER throwing a dinner party for close friends or sitting down for a family meal, many lasting memories are created at the dining table. Choosing the right table for your dining room will depend on many factors, including the number of . . .

Posted: 2014-03-22

It's your last weekend for Spring Parade of Homes

The formal portion of the 2014 Spring Parade of Homes ends tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. and, with the weather being so unpredictable this year, you may have not had ample time to see what these 122 new homes had to . . .

Posted: 2014-03-22

CONNIE OLIVER: Decorating a kid's room is child's play

Sending your kids to their rooms for a time out may take on a whole new meaning after a paint renovation. If the walls sport the right colours, a child may just want to stay there. "Colours can have a tremendous . . .

Posted: 2014-03-22

ASK THE INSPECTOR: More is better with drywall screws

QUESTION: I am helping my niece finish her basement. The outside walls are Logix ICF forms. The inside walls are floating two by fours, 24 inches on centre. I am getting many different opinions on how many screws to use . . .

Posted: 2014-03-22

GARDENING: Take cover

No-fail hosta varieties

One of the main reasons for selecting perennials for the garden is that they play a large role in underpinning landscape design. Hostas are long-lived, which means they save money. There is pleasure each spring in discovering the first signs of . . .

Posted: 2014-03-22

SOLUTIONS: Cleaning that dirty oven isn't so simple

QUESTION: My oven is three years old but looks as though it has been used every day non-stop for 10 years or more. It's a mess, and baking soda can't get it clean! The oven is self-cleaning, but even after . . .

Posted: 2014-03-22

Rich textures for a bathroom wall

Add colour to plaster with tints

Dear Debbie: I would like to texture a guest bathroom's walls and need some direction. The look I am after is a very thick texture, not the regular texture that can be applied with a sponge or a pressure gun. . . .

Posted: 2014-03-22

MIKE HOLMES: Skilled trades are women's work, too

March 8 was International Women's Day. I'm not a woman, but I'm a dad of two daughters, have one granddaughter, and I work with women on the job site -- one of my daughters included. So it's important to me that . . .

Posted: 2014-03-22