DEBBIE TRAVIS: A long shelf-life

Worn-out unit gets makeover

One of the most common purchases for us all at one time or another is the basic laminate shelving unit. This inexpensive storage solution may have already done service as a student's bookshelf, a spot for children's toys and stuffed . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

The concrete truth

Cook up a countertop that's fun and affordable

Recessions promote innovation, says the reigning master of exotic concrete counters. People have less money and more time in bad times, says Fu-Tung Cheng, a legendary expert at turning sand, crushed stone and portland cement into elegant, even sinuous counters, . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

A groovy new product HITS THE DECK

Everyone loves a wooden deck but not everyone loves the cracking and greying that can occur with untreated western red cedar or pressure-treated hemlock and fir. A product new to market has "reinvented" solid-wood decking, promising to maintain its colour and . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

CONNIE OLIVER: There's room at the top

Attic spaces are good for so much more than storage -- you can live in them, for instance

Attics can be great places to create much needed additional living space in your home. Depending upon the style of your house, you may be able to find enough usable attic space to create a bedroom, home office, media room or . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

SOLUTIONS: When cleaning wooden furniture: Don't hold the mayo

QUESTION: We have unfinished cedar chairs. Last summer they became darkened from the drippy stuff that comes off our elm tree. I used soapy water and a scrubbing brush last fall and they are a tiny bit cleaner. Do you . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Fighting moisture in addition's curtain wall

QUESTION: I helped a friend put an addition on his house and to imitate the foundation of the original, he used piles with the floor cantilevered to accommodate a pressure-treated 2x6 wall built between the bottom of the floor and . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

Sold / Offered 05-31

SOLD St. Boniface Address: 579 Archibald Asking Price: $127, 9 00 Sold Price: $126, 750 Taxes: $1, 215 Square Footage: 1, 152 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1.5 Listing Agent: Vijay Guliani, Realty Plus Inc, 897-0800 Fort Rouge Address: 772 Weatherdon Avenue Asking Price: $159, 900 Sold Price: $187, 500 Taxes: $1, 733.95 Square Footage: 963 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

Comfy condos, comfy price

Affordable new Transcona units fill a need, don't skimp on quality

When Karl Devlin drove by a lot at the corner of Regent Avenue West and Moroz Street in late 2008, he had a vision. Having grown up in the area -- Devlin is a longtime, dedicated Transcona resident -- he knew . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

Little charmer

Wolseley jewel offers old-style character and modern convenience

The restoration of this beautiful, one-and-a-half-storey home at 919 Palmerston Ave. was truly a labour of love. Believing that she would live out her life in this quiet, picturesque Wolseley neighbourhood, the young owner began an extensive renovation that spanned . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

Renovate your home now, cash in later

While it may not exactly feel like spring with the weather we've been having, spring has sprung and with it a whole host of new plans, projects and to do lists. For many, it's spring cleaning. For most, it's yard . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31