Seeing the Light
Lighting 'Light has illuminated the path of humanity' – While Einstein was probably referring to one of his mind-blowing theories, lighting has also revolutionized the home. Before incandescent and fluorescent lighting, most activities stopped...

Make a Grand Entrance of Your Front Door
You may find it difficult to believe that the days will start getting longer in the Northern Hemisphere in just four short weeks. You can find yourself this time of year coming home on dreary days, or welcoming evening visitors in the dark. It's...

How To Select Scraped//Distressed Hardwood Flooring
Hand-scraped and Distressed hardwood floors are becoming a popular choice in today’s upscale homes and commercial buildings. These floors are a newer trend but are rooted in history. Before today’s modern sanding methods, floors were hand scraped on...

Ten Things You May Not Know About Selecting Hardwood Flooring
1) Red Oak is not the only choice If you want your home to look like everyone else’s, this is a great choice. If you want your home to be unique try hickory, cherry, walnut, white oak, maple or many others. Go to flooring retailers or search the...

Home for a Gnome?
Kitsch is defined by several dictionaries as relating to poor quality or gaudy art objects that appeal to “low-brow” taste. But in the garden, kitsch categorizes folksy or commercial art that’s viewed condescendingly by some, and with irony by...

Rodent Proofing Your Home
It's that time of year where rats and mice are apt to enter our homes. Lets talk a bit about their abilities and senses first. Rats and mice cannot see very good beyond 3 or 4 feet but have a very good sense of motion up to 30 to 50 feet away...

Luau! Decorating with a Hawaiian Theme
Hawaii is a first choice travel destination with millions of people - and for good reason. Bring a little of that island feeling into your home, either indoors or in your outdoor living space. You can apply this theme to an elegant dinner party, a...

Store Your Outdoor Furnishings to Make Them Last
In many parts of North America, the end of 'porch season' has arrived. Whether you're clearing out for some oncoming bad weather, closing up the cottage for the season, beating the vandals on devil's night, or just retreating to your nest for the...

Warm Up the Night! Patio Heaters and Fire Pits
In some areas right now, the weather is ideal for sitting outside in the evening -- the bugs have gone and the sky is clear -- but the nights are chilly. Don't let the cool evenings send you inside -- extend your outdoor living season by heating...

Light Up the Night! Quick Facts about Outdoor Lighting
When the days start to get shorter, the darkness may drive us inside from our porches, patios or decks. Don’t despair – outdoor lighting can lengthen the day and dramatically extend the potential of our outdoor living spaces. The first step, as...

Art and Design
Maybe you’ve faced it before – a new house with an empty room or two. This room is just crying out for some furniture. So off you go to purchase a sofa you admire - then a chair. Or perhaps you purchase a full living room set complete with tables...

How to Decorate your Outdoor Space without Breaking the Bank
Noted English clergyman Sydney Smith (1771-1845) is quoted as saying, 'Economy in the estimation of common minds means the absence of all taste and comfort.' But finding thrifty ways to decorate your outdoor living space doesn’t mean you have to...

Gardeners: Contain Yourselves!
Whether you live in a tiny city apartment or on a large country estate, gardening in containers is a way to add colour and the beauty of nature to your surroundings. The three main elements of creating successful containers gardens are:...

Fountains of Refreshment
When hot, sticky days hit, try to use all your senses to keep cool. Sight and sound have amazing psychological effects, even when the thermometer soars. One of the most cooling and relaxing sounds I know is that of a trickling spring. It relaxes...

Dream House Can Be A Reality
(NC)—For many Canadians who have only dreamt of buying a home, it can now become a reality. While the actual dream may differ—a house with a big back yard for gardening, or a condo in the sky with a great view of the city—buying any home can be an...

Home Reno Plans: Value Added Or Value Subtracted?
(NC)—Canadians' ongoing love affair with renovating their homes is alive and well, with more than $20 billion being spent every year since the new Millennium. But how do you know what improves your home's value, and what might make it harder to...

Don't Lose Your Cool When Selecting An Air Conditioning Contractor
(NC)—The Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada advises consumers to follow these six considerations when hiring an air conditioning contractor: 1. Finding Reputable Contractors Contact neighbours, friends, relatives...

Can Your Central Air Conditioning System Handle The Summer Heat?
(NC)—Do you rely on central air conditioning to make the summer's heat and humidity more bearable? If so, now is the time to ensure that your equipment is in tip-top shape. If you fail to maintain it, your cooling system will suffer a steady decline...

Home Safety Tips: Arm Yourself Against The Threat Of A Break-In
(NC)—In 1999, Statistics Canada reported that there were approximately 92,485 break and enters reported to police, however, some of these crimes remained unreported. Property crime losses ranged from little or nothing of value to materials costing...

Home Safety Tips For Seniors
(NC)—Did you know that in Canada, every day approximately 1000 people celebrate their 50th birthday? As time goes on, more and more Canadians are staying in their homes longer. Feeling a sense of security is an important part of our decision on...

Tearing Down the House
Last year, we bought this big ol' 1887 house. We are just now coming to grips with the magnitude of the 'upgrades' planned. With a baby on the way and Little Lady all of two years old burning calories faster than pillagers burn the Amazon...

Change The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs
The style of your interior depends for a great part on the decoration on the walls. Using the right picture on the right place can make your room look bigger. I experienced this for myself when I came in this business. I do sell reproduction...

Home Of The Year
We were gathered 'round the television, where Little Lady was watching an episode of Stuart Little. The kids had entered their house for a Home Of The Year contest sponsored by some fancy magazine. I turned to my wife with yet another one of my...

How To Give Your Home More Space
Have you been wondering how to free up space in your home? Do you live in a dorm or an efficiency where every inch of space counts? Maybe you're tired of trying to come up with ideas on how to reduce the clutter? Or don't know where to start?...

New Trends in Design & Comfortable Living
For the past several years I have seen the emergence of a new trend called ‘Lifestyling’. Lifestyling encompasses many elements on gracious living, extravagant and memorable entertaining, architecture, home design, and tips on where to live...