Close that ugly gap

deckALL skirting a cut above that's not limited to decks

SO you've just built a deck and have discovered that you've got something of an esthetic dilemma. Because your new deck is raised several feet above the terra firma below, a gap between the deck and ground has been formed. Upon . . .

Posted: 2011-08-27

Lighting the night with sunshine

Solar-powered outdoor fixtures are cheap and green, but don't illuminate much

It sounds like a bright idea: Let the sun, which is free, light up your summer nightlife. But are solar lights all they're cracked up to be?One thing's for sure: They're hot sellers."We're seeing a definite increase in solar-light sales, . . .

Posted: 2011-08-27

Not all flowers make the cut

Gardens don't produce the best choices for arrangements

This summer, the season for dinner parties, barbecues and patio cocktails is in high gear.Fresh flowers are a foolproof way for entertainers to ready a home for guests -- but foolproof doesn't always mean easy.Much more than throwing a bunch . . .

Posted: 2011-08-27

Sold

Weston Address: 1437 Winnipeg Ave. Asking Price: $114, 900 Sold Price: $120, 000 Taxes: $991.92 Square Footage: 711 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1 Lot Size: 40 x 106 Listing Agent: Rachel Gendron, Century 21 Jefferson & Assoc., 781-2485   Headingley West Address: 288 Trans Canada Highway Asking Price: $699, 900 Sold Price: $600, 000 Taxes: . . .

Posted: 2011-08-27

A roost for empty-nesters

Loads of space for storage and a versatile layout

In life, the line between success and mediocrity is often a fine one. The same applies to new home designs: some sell briskly, others don't. Fortunately for the fine folks at Discovery Homes, one of their newest designs -- a 1, . . .

Posted: 2011-08-27

Family-sized luxury

You're at work, it's your break (or maybe not; we're not telling) and you're daydreaming. For years, you've lived in a busy part of the city -- you know, an area where tons of traffic trundles past on your street, and . . .

Posted: 2011-08-27

Decked out

Boost your backyard with these party favours

Pass the salt Keep all the fixings in one handy spot with this five-piece condiment set from Decor Craft Inc. The set includes salt and pepper shakers, mustard and ketchup squeeze bottles and a mini-wooden picnic-table holder. $21   Turn up the heat Don't . . .

Posted: 2011-08-20

Household cleaners going green

Refill packages lessen load on landfills

TO lessen the load on landfills, some manufacturers of household cleaners are going green and offering concentrated detergents in small refill packages. These "just-add-water" cleaners are part of an eco-friendly line of detergents aimed at cutting the amount of plastic household . . .

Posted: 2011-08-20

Creativity blooms

Turn your garden into a gallery

From the beginning of time, artists have been inspired by the beauty of nature but how about all the ways that art, in turn, influences our perception of the world around us? Gardens can be places of wonder, healing, exploration and . . .

Posted: 2011-08-20

Family tree

Boy's imagination, dad's skill create one-of-a-kind playhouse

George Murray, age five, directed the design of his tree house with crayons on a napkin, in a Boston Pizza. He wanted it to be big, he wanted it to be round and he wanted it to have two levels. So it . . .

Posted: 2011-08-20