A mosaic of beauty

Resurgence of interest in ancient art form

A few months ago I wrote a column about mosaic tiles. There is a resurgence of interest in this ancient art form; we are seeing stunning mosaic work decorating bathrooms, kitchen backsplashes and floors. The number of enthusiastic responses I . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28

Consider removing siding to reinsulate home

Method could boost energy savings

111 I have an older house built in 1902 with wood siding. I am in the process of having the walls insulated and this will result in numerous holes being drilled into the siding and then plugged with a wooden . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28

Fall for <em>style</em>

Autumn Home Show offers tips, ideas

Just because fall -- and, inevitably, winter -- are on the way, that doesn't mean you have to shelve your home decorating or renovation plans until spring. Thanks to the Autumn Home Show -- which runs through today at the . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28

Decorating for a cure

Service helps cancer patients build a sanctuary to help in healing

When Susan Sorbie and her husband Tom moved three months ago from Victoria to Comox, about three hours north, they thought they were starting a new chapter of their lives. After 30 years of marriage, Tom retired early to spend . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28

Curb appeal now key to home sales

Primping outside just as important as the inside

A little bit of turf bisected by a sidewalk and surrounded by a laurel or pieris hedge used to be the standard landscaping a homeowner accepted when purchasing a newly constructed home. Now, a home needs to be staged inside . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28

Taking a hammer to the gender gap

Fixit Chicks teaches women to be their own handyperson

Sure, Sex and the City's trendsetting heroine Carrie Bradshaw may have had glamorous friends, a fabulous wardrobe, and a chic walk-up apartment in New York's Upper East Side. But there's a pretty good chance the fashionista didn't know the first . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28

Space -- the final, shrinking frontier

A little ingenuity and reno muscle can turn a cramped area into a cosy pad

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. -- Brave souls taking the plunge into home ownership are increasingly turning to studio apartments and smaller homes, especially in large urban centres. Their logic is rooted in efficiency. They really want to own a home -- and . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28

Tips for seniors to avoid falling on stairs

Contrasting steps, secure coverings keys to safety

When seniors fall on or from stairs, even a short distance, the consequences for their health can be both severe and long-lasting. Thankfully, many of those falls can be prevented with a little careful planning and a few simple strategies. To . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28

Beyond its means

Rear garage gives smaller home a grand facade

A grand front porch and wide-open living areas welcome visitors to this home, Plan E-1217, by Home Plans LLC, while creative angles in the floor plan add interest and make efficient use of every bit of space. Just off the entry, . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28

Sold

Southdale Address: 67 Dayton Dr Asking Price: $279, 900 Sold Price: $285, 000 Taxes: $4, 093 Square Footage: 1, 915 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Lot size: 50 x 100 Listing Agent: James Born, Newman Greenberg & Assoc. 784-3555 . . .

Posted: 2008-09-28