Taliesin showcases 'organic' architecture

Thousands visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin home

SPRING GREEN, Wis. -- Thousands come each year to the Wisconsin River valley where Frank Lloyd Wright built his home and tested his ideas about building in harmony with nature. Nestled on a hillside overlooking the river, Wright's Taliesin has the . . .

Posted: 2008-09-08

Condo boom boosts building permit stats

Multi-family dwelling permits rise in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec

TORONTO -- Building permits rebounded unexpectedly in July, rising 1.8 per cent to $6.4 billion but the story remains that the Canadian housing market is "coming off the boil, " say analysts. The surge in permits was mainly due to multi-family . . .

Posted: 2008-09-08

Decorating dorm starts with banishing clutter

Interior designer Anna Riopelle doesn't get many calls to decorate student dorms, and since her children are only five and eight, their university days are in the distant future. But like any compact living space, the key to dressing your . . .

Posted: 2008-09-07

One man's junk is another's art

Colourful ways to brighten up small space go easy on the budget

Jim Kelley admits he's a rabid recycler whose obsession involves breathing new life into tired furniture and wonky light fixtures. As co-hosts of the HGTV show Junk Brothers, Kelley and his younger brother Steve have spent three seasons combing the streets . . .

Posted: 2008-09-07

Containerized storage service launches outlet in Winnipeg

System lets you load at your pace

If you're moving -- and with Winnipeg's still-sizzling real estate market, who isn't? -- there's another option in moving and storage that's just arrived in Winnipeg. Personal on Demand Storage combines large truck containers with pickup and drop-off service and, if . . .

Posted: 2008-09-07

Food, fuel prices to bring decor down to Earth?

India Hicks, the new host of Bravo's Top Design, has style in spades. She's a model, a mother, a businesswoman and a writer. She's also a bit of a legacy: Hicks is the daughter of interior decorator David Hicks and Lady . . .

Posted: 2008-09-07

Power-smart -- and money-smart, too

Home heating and cooling alternatives to help save the planet and your bank account

Looking to wean yourself off the grid? The savings - to you and the planet -- can be astronomical. Here's how: Start by calculating how much energy your home is consuming and what you can save by changing your habits . . .

Posted: 2008-09-07

Soft hues, dramatic design

Bedroom blends best of both worlds

A great bedroom means different things to different people. Some want a soft, dark cocoon in which to escape the stresses of the world, others want a sexy room that is a fantasy escape. Somewhere in the middle are those . . .

Posted: 2008-09-07

Tract house turns into a Venetian palace

Budget-minded reno makes home a stand-out

When Blinda Bilou and Stephen Sosnick took possession of their home just outside Calgary two years ago, it sported white linoleum, white ceilings, white walls and pink-tinged, bleached oak woodwork. It was, she says, a very standard builder's special, built . . .

Posted: 2008-09-07

Don't let home office dominate your condo

Use side-wall shelves to keep working area compact

Dear Debbie -- Any tips on organizing a small corner as an office in my condo? It is part of an open living-dining area and I don't want it to take over the room. --Melani Dear Melani -- When you . . .

Posted: 2008-09-07