Renovation & Design – Winnipeg Free Press

Marc LaBossiere photos / Free Press
The “Coca-Cola Bathroom,” as first showcased in a December 2016 Reno Boss column.

A toilet fail was caught in the nick of time

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Just reliving this experience sends a cold chill down my spine.

If my wife hadn’t spotted a minor issue with the handle of our main-floor toilet, there’s a good chance we would’ve endured a disastrous water breach in our house. And had that happened, the water would have flowed unrestricted for hours, likely damaging a good portion of our main floor — completely destroying our recently finished basement.

A few nights ago, my wife discovered that the main-floor toilet was no longer flushing when you pressed the handle. The two-piece had worked for two decades without faltering — part of the bathroom renovation I completed shortly after we moved to this property. As a matter of fact, in December 2016, I wrote a Reno Boss column about this bathroom, dubbed the “Coca-Cola Bathroom,” since it is adorned from top to bottom with Coke paraphernalia collected throughout the years.

After a brief inspection of the toilet, I found that the inner plastic lever had a non-reparable crack and could no longer lift the flush mechanism. It would need to be replaced.

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New book has a cornucopia of ideas for entertaining

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

New book has a cornucopia of ideas for entertaining

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Robyn Chubey’s creative ideas for decorating homes and gardens in every season, and her garden-to-table recipes to delight family and guests, are about to reach a new audience.

Chubey’s five-acre farm on the outskirts of Winnipeg — Prairie Glow Acres — is the showcase for her skills as a talented photographer, gardener, florist and decorator. Her social media followers (@life_of_glow on Instagram) are drawn by her innovative ideas and easy DIY projects for creating showstopping spaces, and she uses photography to tell engaging stories about life at home and in the garden.

Next March, she’ll launch her first book, Gather Together: Delightful Décor and Simple Recipes for Every Occasion.

“I was contacted by Quarto Publishing in spring 2024, and was asked if I had ever wanted to write a book,” says Chubey. “I’ve wanted to write a book for about 20 years. I said I would love to.”

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2:01 AM CDT

Robyn Chubey photos
Robyn Chubey uses pumpkins to create a welcoming entrance to her greenhouse.

Homegrown solution

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Homegrown solution

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

For the last two years, Dave Hanson, owner of Sage Garden Greenhouses, has been using Typha for mulching plants and improving soil quality. A sustainable product made from harvested cattail stalks, Typha holds significant potential for gardeners, says Hanson.

“The story behind Typha is incredible in so many ways,” says Hanson. “It is a Manitoba-made solution with ecosystem benefits to our lakes, but it’s not limited in its scope. As more gardeners discover Typha’s benefits as a mulch and soil amendment, it has the potential to impact the horticulture industry across Canada.”

Typha is an aquatic plant that functions as a bio accumulator. Typha plants naturally filter nutrient runoff before it makes its way downstream to freshwater lakes. Harvesting Typha plants at a critical time of its life stage has proven very effective at removing phosphorus, which is the key culprit behind excessive algae blooms in Lake Winnipeg.

Alec Massé, CEO and co-founder of Typha Co., is keen to spread the word about the many ways that Typha simplifies gardening.

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Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

Dave Hanson photo
Top-dress houseplants with Typha for a finished look. It improves moisture retention, too.

Making windows disappear

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Making windows disappear

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

It’s often the least sexy tasks during remodelling that prove to be the most important, but they tend to be overshadowed by the grandeur of a completed project. We’re talking the rough plumbing of a bathroom upgrade, the electrical required for the introduction of ceiling pot lights or building the sub-structure that supports a multi-tiered deck.

At a recent jobsite, it was phase one of a feature wall introduction that fell into the least sexy category.

The completed feature wall will be the showpiece of the home — an 18-foot-wide wall with a vaulted ceiling, including a floor-to-ceiling stack in decorative stone encasing a wall-mount fireplace, flat-screen TV and a wood-stained mantle, with cabinetry on either side.

Typically, a project like this would start with design layout to determine the exact measurements required to frame the centre stack, as well as the dimensions and elevations for the cabinetry and shelving on each side of the stack.

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Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025

Marc LaBossiere photos / Free Press
Outside, the three former window openings are covered in Tyvek and sealed with Tuck tape to protect against the weather.

Why visitors are flocking to this Winnipeg yard

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Why visitors are flocking to this Winnipeg yard

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

When Elizabeth Ochnio decided to become a member of the East Kildonan Garden Club in January, she couldn’t have imagined the new connections she would make.

Nor could she have foreseen the attention that her small urban garden would attract from individuals and other garden clubs.

“I feel amazing,” says Ochnio. “I’ve always gardened for myself, but now people come nearly every second day, and I love showing my garden.”

July is a popular month for garden tours in Manitoba because flowering plants are in their prime. But in Ochnio’s backyard, the flower show starts in spring with an abundance of allium, builds in intensity throughout the summer and reaches a crescendo of beauty in September. If mild conditions continue, Ochnio’s remarkable garden will continue to bloom well into October.

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Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

Colleen Zacharias photo
Elizabeth Ochnio with one of the many exotic Brugmansia Angel’s Trumpet plants she grows in her garden and overwinters indoors.

The proof will be in the roof

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

The proof will be in the roof

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

After upgrading the windows on the original portion of my house last fall, the prospect of incurring another major expense in the short term had me slightly concerned.

The shingles were replaced in 2005, which means they have entered the final third of their 30-year life expectancy, based on the IKO Cambridge product that was installed. I could only imagine what it would cost now to replace them, let alone in another 10 years.

To alleviate some of my worry, I began researching shingle maintenance and revitalization products.

To my delight, I stumbled across a company called Roof Revive on social media, which offers those things. I asked for an onsite visit to discuss the process, and that’s when I met Kevin Kelner, who had nothing but good things to say about the product.

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Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025

The gutters are cleared of any asphalt granules so that we can monitor the shingles’ condition over the years following the Gonano application process.

A fence postscript

Marc LaBossiere 3 minute read Preview

A fence postscript

Marc LaBossiere 3 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

During a recent backyard deck upgrade and partial fence replacement project, the homeowners forgot to include one other section of fence that needed to be replaced. Luckily it was a fairly short section and I was able to squeeze the job into my summer schedule.

To get the project done as efficiently as possible, I once again co-ordinated with a landscaping crew. I’ve learned from experience that the fence-building process is greatly expedited if the post holes are pre-drilled before my arrival. In this instance, however, I had to dismantle the section of old fence before the new post holes were dug. So, I arrived early the day the landscaping crew was scheduled to do their work, and luckily the old posts came out without issue.

Using a handheld post-hole digger and an eight-inch auger bit, the team systematically re-drilled the five post holes to a depth of roughly 42 inches. The outermost hole was a bit tricky, in that the old fence continued from that corner towards the backyard — a section that was not being replaced. So, we temporarily moved the leg of older fence away from the outermost hole. Once the holes were dug, that post was immediately set to level and secured using quarter down limestone gravel. Then we re-attached the old fence section to the new post.

Using a stringline, the elevation was marked along the top of the other new posts and the tops were cut off, except for the two set roughly 12 inches higher to create a threshold for the 36-inch-wide gate. Each post was set using limestone gravel. A 2 x 6 cap was created along the back section that pivots roughly 90-degrees toward the gate area, which also has a 2 x 6 cap at a higher elevation to ensure the gate remains rigid over time, during the swinging action of opening and closing. With the caps in place, the upper, middle and lower 2 x 4 horizontal supports were added between the posts, creating the sections upon which the 1 x 6 fence boards could be affixed. To mimic the previous fence section replacement, the 1 x 6 boards were mounted along the exterior of the fence frame, showcasing the main framework inside the fencing.

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
The L-shaped fence section, including the gate, was completed in less than a day.

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Reimagining the garden

Colleen Zacharias 5 minute read Preview

Reimagining the garden

Colleen Zacharias 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

Next week, close to 100 horticultural professionals from botanical gardens and conservatories across Canada and the U.S. will be in Winnipeg for the American Public Gardens Association’s 2025 Horticulture, Greenhouse, & Facilities Symposium, which will be hosted by Assiniboine Park Conservancy at The Leaf.

From Sept. 23 to 25, participants will explore innovative approaches to designing and operating conservatories and greenhouses and exchange ideas about reimagining public garden spaces.

Gerald Dieleman, senior director of horticulture at Assiniboine Park Conservancy, says it’s an opportunity to showcase The Leaf, one of the most significant horticultural projects in North America in the past 20 years.

One of the key conversations, he says, will be about how to enhance the garden landscape and elevate the horticultural experience for visitors.

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

JC Lemay photo
Plants are the main focus in this traditional landscape at Les Jardins de Métis in Grand-Métis, Que.

Phil Broomfield lectures on Thomas Hardy’s horticultural history

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Phil Broomfield lectures on Thomas Hardy’s horticultural history

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

It’s September, and just as the kids are back in school to gain knowledge, garden clubs and horticultural societies are planning program evenings that provide learning opportunities for their members and the gardening public.

Prior to the pandemic, few garden clubs used video conferencing services such as Zoom. But lockdown changed everything. Virtual programming not only allowed learning opportunities and networking to continue during COVID, but has since opened doors to a greater audience for both garden clubs and public speakers like Phil Broomfield.

Broomfield is a United Kingdom-based garden historian and storyteller who gives lectures to women’s institute groups, garden clubs, horticultural societies and other organizations whose members are interested in exploring the evolution of gardens, horticulture and design.

Broomfield, 44, is also a horticulturalist and owner of The Garden Doctor, a garden maintenance service in Bournemouth on the south coast of England.

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Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

Phil Broomfield photo
A traditional cottage garden frames Thomas Hardy’s birthplace cob and thatch cottage, built by his great-grandfather in 1800.

Finding a new (driveway) approach

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Finding a new (driveway) approach

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

I’ve been involved in reno projects that involve forming, pouring and finishing concrete, but those tasks have always been left to the certified professionals.

In the case of a recently proposed driveway upgrade project, the costs could have gone up substantially because of changes to city code involving a new driveway approach that ties into a right-of-way. Could we find a creative solution that would wrangle the overall project costs closer to the anticipated amount?

In replacing an entire driveway and approach, the overall square footage generally dictates the costs — the volume of concrete required can be calculated by multiplying the square footage by the average depth. When prepping the area, gravel is compacted within temporary wooden forms set along the perimeter of the driveway and rebar is strategically placed to reinforce the concrete once it’s poured. After the topside finishing is done, partial-depth lines are cut at set intervals to discourage haphazard surface cracks.

Typically, the calculated volume of concrete required also dictates the amount of rebar and the overall labour needed to complete the project. This past spring, a change in city code upended the initial quote that had been provided to the homeowner. Although the driveway is residential, it was explained to me that the city now requires all driveway approaches to meet commercial standards. In other words, the approach would require a much more invasive preparation, which of course means higher costs.

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Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025

Marc LaBossiere photos / Free Press
To avoid added costs due to recent changes in city code, the old driveway approach was retained and topped with asphalt, while the concrete driveway pad was completely replaced.

How a shady pollinator desert became a flower-filled haven

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

How a shady pollinator desert became a flower-filled haven

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

Drive through any older, established neighbourhood in Winnipeg and you will see fully grown evergreen trees that dominate small front yard landscapes, often completely blocking houses from view. Decades ago, when the trees were small, they probably seemed like a very good idea.

While the growth rate of an evergreen tree is slow initially, it picks up once the tree is established. When conditions are optimum (full sun, well-drained soil), an evergreen can reach an impressive height of 19 metres and a spread of 7.5 metres — an elegant feature on a spacious lot but not ideal for a small urban property.

When Dawn Hicks and her husband purchased their bungalow on a quiet street in south Winnipeg in 1985, they inherited three existing evergreen trees that the previous owner had planted in the front yard. Nearly 40 years later, the trees had grown into monsters, their extensive root systems sapping moisture and nutrients from nearby perennials and plunging the Hicks’ 16-metre-wide front yard into deep shade with their spreading branches.

Shaded by boulevard trees, the aging evergreens started to decline.

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Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

Terra Nova Nurseries photo
A long-lived perennial, Bergenia Vintage Rose features glossy leaves and large clusters of bright rose flowers in spring.

Porch project got a tad prickly

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Preview

Porch project got a tad prickly

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

A dilapidated front porch in need of a facelift nearly led to adventures in bushwhacking when I had to work my way through foliage that had overgrown in recent years.

Although the homeowner prepared the porch by removing the old and weathered top-decking prior to my arrival, the bushes next to the porch proved to be a considerable challenge during this exterior upgrade.

During my first visit, and while the old porch was still intact, it was obvious the top decking boards were rotting and had begun to fail in certain areas. Upon a review of the porch’s undercarriage, it was determined the main beam and joists could be salvaged, having not been subjected to the same amount of weathering as the exposed lumber. The existing railing, which consisted of old-school spindles, would be replaced by an exterior railing that better suits the upgraded look of the porch once the new deck boards were installed.

As a first step, the porch was levelled by introducing adjustable deck jacks at all three post locations. Both old staircase accesses were removed and rebuilt by creating new stringers with 2x12 treated lumber that allows a deeper tread. With the structure once again fully framed, 2x6 top-decking was installed parallel with the front face of the house and along every stair tread. These tasks were relatively easy, unlike the next few, which involved negotiating the thicket of bushes along the majority of the porch’s perimeter.

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Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025

A close examination revealed that the beam and joists could be recycled for the upgrade.

Some assembly required

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Some assembly required

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025

I don’t often take on projects that simply require assembly. Pre-fab pergolas and storage sheds usually come with a detailed set of instructions and can be assembled by virtually anyone within a day or two.

So, I initially hesitated when a good client recently solicited my involvement to erect a yard shed, but I eventually agreed, thinking it would be a relatively easy project during a hectic summer build season.

Turns out, the actual build was far more complicated than expected.

It started out well enough.

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Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025

MARC LABOSSIERE PHOTOS / FREE PRESS
This four-by-eight-foot shed is nestled in a convenient location adjacent to the family’s garage.

10 beautiful plants to plant now

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

10 beautiful plants to plant now

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025

My favourite garden of all is the late summer garden. Plants have ripened and matured, their long stems and profusion of flowers and seedheads intermingling with neighbouring plants to produce a tapestry of colour and texture. Bees, butterflies and birds revel in the abundance.

Now is a perfect time of year to plan for next year’s garden. The warm soil temperature is ideal for establishing healthy root systems. Plants also experience less heat stress at this time of year and benefit from the increased rainfall that typically occurs in late summer and early fall.

Look around: is there an area of your garden where you would like to inject more colour, texture or drama? Why not introduce something different and intriguing to your garden and at the same time get a head start on spring? The selection at garden centres right now is just too good to pass up.

Let’s start with the plant that for many gardeners is the quintessential shade plant — the hosta. It’s not the only option for a shade ground cover but do keep your eyes peeled for Hosta Silly String. It is currently making waves on both sides of the pond. A 2022 introduction from the breeding work of Hans Hansen of Walters Gardens, Hosta Silly String won second place for best plant of the year at the 2025 Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show.

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Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025

Plantipp BV
Hosta Silly String has a tidy, mophead habit and intensely wavy, blue-green leaves.

Raising the bar

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Raising the bar

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025

The backyard is often a homeowner’s sanctuary, a small getaway place that you can enjoy without having to travel. And for those who love to entertain outdoors, this personal oasis usually includes a main seating area and possibly even a fire pit.

For the longest time, good friends of mine had been dreaming of a covered deck that includes a bar — no doubt a place to demonstrate their hosting prowess. Very recently, this dream came true.

The covered deck is tantamount to a ground-level deck build, with four corner posts supporting a sloped roof. With the back shielded for privacy from deck surface to ceiling, an L-shaped bar is perfect for entertaining. Although the construction is fairly straightforward, there are a few considerations that could make or break this build.

Firstly, the backyard is sloped, roughly 15 inches over 12 feet. Therefore, is was necessary to create a level solid surface upon which the ground-level deck platform could be built. To accomplish this, the front side of the slope was excavated by 12 inches, which at level essentially met the lower side of the slope along the back. With approximately four inches of gravel laid within the cut area, flat diamond concrete pads were then installed to create the rigid, level surface upon which the deck is built. Using 2 x 8 treated lumber, the ground-level deck was framed on top. At all four corners, 6 x 6 posts were secured within the framework, intended as main supports for the subsequent roof. With the deck fully framed, 2 x 6 top decking was installed and the perimeter received 2 x 6 fascia.

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Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025

Marc LaBossiere photos / Free Press
This covered ground-level deck boasts a custom two-tiered bar.

Winnipeg’s sweet spot is still 3b

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Winnipeg’s sweet spot is still 3b

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025

In late 2023, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new version of its plant hardiness zones map for the first time in a decade, the map showed an increase of approximately 1.39 degrees Celsius warmer than the 2012 map across the 48 states.

Plant hardiness zones are divided into two halves, denoted by the letters a and b. For example, zone 3 is divided into zone 3a and 3b, with the “a” being slightly colder than the “b.” With the 2023 map, about half the country shifted to the next warmer half zone and the rest remained in the same half zone.

Gardeners in the half of the U.S. which shifted into a hardiness zone half a zone warmer were ecstatic about all the new plants they could grow.

At the time, social media in this country lit up with questions from gardeners who wanted to know when a new plant hardiness zones map for Canada would be created. After all, the last update occurred in 2014 using climate data from the 1981 to 2010 period. In November 2023, when I first reached out to Dan McKenney and John Pedlar — the Canadian Forest Service researchers and plant hardiness experts who are the collaborative minds behind the hardiness zone map updates over the past couple of decades — they were working on a refresh.

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Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025

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