Kid-friendly and cool

Today's new parents combine style and storage

CALGARY -- After Erin Ryan-Walsh and her husband Rob Engelhardt moved out of their downtown apartment into a contemporary townhouse, they were thrilled to spend time decorating and adding personal touches to their new home. Relocating their old, inherited furniture into . . .

Posted: 2008-05-18

Exit, stage right

If you're selling, home staging can help you get out quickly for the best price

Home staging. It's the latest trend that real estate agents and homeowners alike are using to market houses in this very competitive real estate market. While the laws of supply and demand in today's continuing seller's market mean that you . . .

Posted: 2008-05-18

Use low-number papers for rough sanding

QUESTION -- What is meant by the term "grade of abrasive paper" and what is meant by the term "raising the grain"? ANSWER -- The "grade" (or grit) of abrasive paper refers to the size of the abrasive particles in the . . .

Posted: 2008-05-11

Help your garden grow quite contentedly

Simple choices can make a huge difference

As gardening season begins, here are 15 ways to help your garden grow quite contentedly. 1. When purchasing garden ornaments, some gardeners make the mistake of inappropriate quantity and size. Ornament selections have a tendency to be too small, too big, . . .

Posted: 2008-05-11

Swinging door, new stairs will keep Fido safe

Often-used pocket door continually falling off the rails

QUESTION -- We read with interest a previous column on old pocket doors that repeatedly fall off their tracks. We have two such doors. One is fine, but we seldom use it. The other is at the top of the . . .

Posted: 2008-05-11

Haunt flea markets to decorate mudroom

Take advantage of nostalgic mood when decorating this space

DEAR Debbie -- We have an old house, and the front door enters into a mud room/laundry room off the kitchen. How do you make an entrance like this more inviting as well as very functional? How do you make . . .

Posted: 2008-05-11

Stay cool this summer with fine-tuned air conditioner

Eight steps to maintain cooling system

You don't have to pay through the nose to keep cool this summer. Here are some steps you can take to lower your bill, improve comfort and help save the planet. Dehumidify An air conditioning system does more than just cool the . . .

Posted: 2008-05-11

170 attend MHBA renovation seminar

The Manitoba Home Builders' Association recently hosted its 3rd annual Renovation Seminar at the Norwood Hotel. More than 170 people attended. The event was free to the public and featured a number of experts addressing many topics related to home . . .

Posted: 2008-05-11

Everything old is new again

Find different uses for stuff you'd probably just throw out

I recently decided to clean out the attic and closets and get rid of some clutter by having a garage sale. In boxing up the items for sale, I was thinking about how most of us have unused items we'd . . .

Posted: 2008-05-11

Sold

A look at recently sold homes in and around Winnipeg

Sun Valley Address: 77 High Point Drive Asking Price: $229, 900 Sold Price: $245, 000 Taxes: $3, 429.59 Square Footage: 1, 620 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2.5 Lot Size: 54 x 100 Listing Agent: Roman Vera Drebot, Century 21 Advanced Realty, 781-8898 St. Vital Address: 26 Oakridge Bay Asking Price: $186, . . .

Posted: 2008-05-11