U.S. housing slump forces sellers to think landlord instead

WHEN Dave and Gina Schudi of Phoenix went house hunting last year, they knew the time was right to buy -- not sell -- a home. So when they did purchase a new one, they rented out their old home. "It all . . .

Posted: 2009-01-17

Strikingly different

Open-concept plan is one of a kind

With open-concept floor plans so pervasive these days, it's easy for one interior to look just like another. That is, unless you take the time to incorporate design features that make your floor plan unique -- and striking. Rob Swan of Huntington . . .

Posted: 2009-01-17

Old-timer gets a facelift

Loving renovation adds life to 104-year-old Sherbrook Street home

Look at 449 Sherbrook St. today, and you'd never begin to guess what a sad state of repair the 104-year-old home was in five months ago. "Let's just say it was on the ugly side and needed lots of work both . . .

Posted: 2009-01-17

Honey, I shrunk the house

Like the economy, homes and lots are shrinking

Like our investment portfolios, our homes are shrinking. Not back to the postwar shoebox bungalows that still dot some big-city neighbourhoods or the acres of 1, 200-square-foot homes that sprang up in 1950s subdivisions, but still modest when measured against the . . .

Posted: 2008-11-23

It's in your hands to prepare home for winter cold

Feel a chill? It's not just the falling temperature. It's the scary prospect of higher heating bills. Oil prices may have fallen, but the American Gas Association still is predicting that on average, bills for people who heat their homes . . .

Posted: 2008-11-23

Keep in tune with indoor plants, keep them well

It is always a joy to see plants with fresh new leaves, and blossoms unfolding. All too often though, the little gems we find that look so healthy soon look tired and slowly (or quickly) go to their demise. Indoor plants . . .

Posted: 2008-11-23

Weekend transformation

Out with gym, in with playroom

My plan was ambitious. In just two days, while my husband was out of town, I would transform his gym into a playroom for our two daughters. Operating on the theory that it's better to beg forgiveness than ask . . .

Posted: 2008-11-23

Create cosy haven to ward off chill

While the frigid temperatures have somehow been held at bay, winter is here to stay for another few months. Creating a cosy, cheerful environment at home can help fight the winter blues. Many people, including myself, suffer from SAD (seasonal affective . . .

Posted: 2008-11-23

Be sure to keep your sump pumps maintained Secondary, battery-powered pump is good safety measure

Q: I recently purchased a property, which is a side-by-side condo. The property is three years old. We have a sump pump that is automatic. A previous article of yours raises some questions for my pump. Is there . . .

Posted: 2008-11-23

Patching linoleum won't take long, and it works

Q: We have a cigarette burn on our almond coloured sheet linoleum. It is rather deep. I have tried to "shave" it clean and I have also tried bleaching, with the area with toothpaste. Any ideas? -- Celine, Lorette . . .

Posted: 2008-11-23