Fall & Winter Seasonal Maintenance Guide — Northwest

Living on Vancouver Island, I cannot but suppress a giggle about the two seasons in the Pacific Northwest, being rain and not rain. While this article focuses on some of the unique aspects of…

Smart Storage – Get organized with built-ins and more

Get organized with smart built-ins, shelves, drawer organizers and more for mudrooms, basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, living rooms and more. After all, decorating with storage in…

Step inside this fairy-tale garden shed

Are you an insufferable romantic? While "cordwood masonry" sheds employ a building method of days gone by, they still have an unmistakeable charm. This cordwood shed is a particularly charming and…

Top 10 Kitchen and Bath Trends for 2010

According to According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, these trends are the hottest on the market. Shaker-style kitchen design Maple and alder cabinetry finishes Quartz countertops…

Spanish Eco-Lighting Shines

Sneak peek of some energy-efficient lighting solutions from Interior Design From Spain OUTDOOR LIGHTING We know that Spain falls on the more fortunate side of Mother Nature, but many of us have to…

LED lighting expands to Habitat for Humanity homes

Photo courtesy of Cree We are always on the prowl for news that can help save homeowners money. USA Today Article: August 10, 2010 As competition for LED lighting expands, new Habitat for Humanity…

Feng Shui Bathroom Tips

Here are some great feng shui bathroom tips that will bring prosperity and nourish your body, mind, and spirit from the best-selling author of Feng Shui Your Life, Jayme Barrett: Water, Mirrors,…

Bathrooms getting sleek for an aging population

Bathroom safety. It's a huge issue for older adults -- just watch daytime TV and all those ads for step-in bathtubs. But safe bathrooms don't have to look boring or institutional. Kohler, a kitchen…

Universal Design: 12 Tips for Designing Safe Bathrooms and Bedrooms

A friend of mine was talking about the experience of caring for her elderly mother and noted, "I never thought our family home (a two story cape, built in the early 1950s) could be so hazardous."…

Feng-shui tips for dealing with clutter

Source: Harmony Life Design - Laurie Bornstein What is clutter? Clutter refers to anything unfinished, unused, unresolved, tolerated and disorganized. Clutter consists of those items in our…

The Mudroom: Changing How the Home Functions

Source: "Kitchen Fresh" by Jan Rutgers When I first began my kitchen design career, the mudroom received no attention. In the early years as a supplier of cabinetry the only other rooms looked at…

OLEDs: The Light Idea

Source: Time Magazine -  Thomas K. Grose In the palm of my hand is a near paper-thin, rectangular glass tile with a mirror finish. It's wired to an electric switch. Flick it on and the glass…

Feng-Shui Colors

Source: decorateITonline When it comes to choosing the best colors for the rooms in your home the options can be overwhelming.  Personal preferences aside, certain colors just work better in certain…

Bath Design: Aging Gracefully

A growing number of healthy, active couples nearing retirement are making smart plans for their future—and they have the blueprints to prove it. Savvy seniors and aging baby boomers are remodeling…

Plan of the Week – “Charming single-level living!”

www.DrummondHousePlans.com - Plan # 3949-V1 This bright and cheery bungalow is surprisingly feature-rich, given its economical size. Ideal as a first home, a down-sizer for baby boomers, or a…

The History and Health Benefits of Hot Tubs

As we continue our father-inspired topics this week, we visit one of Dad’s favourite back yard features - the hot tub. It does not seem to matter whether we are vibrant zoomers, broken boomers, or…

Backyard grilling kicks it up a notch!

While many men shy away from the kitchen, the backyard grill is the primal domain that beckons them to strut their stuff. Whether it is a simple charcoal bowl or an elaborate grill-zebo, dads and…

Media Rooms – Home entertainment at its finest!

Are you new to home theatre? Don't know where to begin? Thankfully there are many resources available to help you through the many options available to you, whether you are a DIY-er or want to bring…

The Garage – Not just a dumping ground!

Whether you have a single garage or a drool-worthy 3-car space, one thing seems to inevitably happen – vehicles gradually get nudged out of the space by ever-growing piles of “stuff”. With a bit of…

Papa-Palooza For Father’s Day week!

All this week leading up to Father’s Day, we will be posting blogs and Tweets on house topics with Dad in mind. Monday: Garages – More than a dumping ground! Tuesday: Media rooms - Home…