Reflecting on the benefits of foil insulation

What about reflective foil insulation? What are the advantages of reflective insulations? What are conduction, convection and radiation? These are three ways that heat moves from warm to cool regions. -- Conduction: Heat flows through material, i.e. from a stove element . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

Knit picking: Classic hobby influences home decor

London-based knitwear designer Melanie Porter turned her skills to home furnishings when she acquired an antique chair that needed reupholstering. "But I couldn't find a fabric I liked, so I instinctively turned to knit, " she says. Several years later, her growing . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Envelope your home in energy efficiency

QUESTION: I came across your great website and articles while doing some research on the Internet. My house is a four-level split built in 1980. Currently, it has cedar-wood siding, which I will be replacing with stucco. I plan to . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

GARDENING: Time to get the garden ready for winter

Fall cleanup It's time to close the book on what has been an exceptional summer. Still, as we work our way through the myriad chores of putting the garden to bed, the inevitable planning for the next season . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

CONNIE OLIVER: Glorious bathroom soaking in good design

Today's featured room is glorious. The unusual shape of the dormer lends itself to so many decorating possibilities. In this instance, it was used to house a beautiful soaker tub. The setting is decadent but woodsy, unique but homey. The stylish . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

Spicing up the dorm

Brighten dreary study area without breaking house rules

Necessity is the mother of creativity for university students trying to brighten their dorm rooms. Decorating takes on a whole new meaning when you're a student. The rules are strict and straightforward: The walls cannot be repainted. The curtains cannot be . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

MIKE HOLMES: Come clean

Dryer lint is hazard in your home

When you think of serious hazards in your home, I bet this one doesn't come to mind: lint. It's not a hazard to health, such as mould or asbestos, but it can light up fast, and can be a serious . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

SOLUTIONS: Making your computer screen clean again

QUESTION: I enjoy your weekly column in the Winnipeg Free Press and always look forward to seeing the tips for the week. My question is regarding how to clean a flat-screen computer monitor. Our three-year-old daughter was recently sitting at . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

Fall Parade ends today, but showhomes remain

THE formal portion of the 2011 Fall Parade of Homes ends today at 6 p.m. but not to worry, most of the show homes that have been part of the Parade will remain open for viewing well after it ends. The . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

Simply spectacular

South Pointe home has it all, including a fireplace in the bathroom!

You've worked hard, saved your money, and are now looking for a new home that's equal parts personality, functionality and location. Yet -- after looking at countless show homes across the city -- you feel uninspired. It's mostly been the same . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08