Renovation & Design – Winnipeg Free Press

Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
The bulky Dimplex log-box electric fireplace is still in use within the corner entertainment cabinet shelving unit in our living room.

Old log-box electric fireplace still hot

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read 2:00 AM CST

A few days ago, something in my living room seemed slightly off. Once my focus shifted towards this oddity, I noticed our old log-box electric fireplace was no longer displaying its rolling flames, nor the lighted faux embers beneath its simulated burning logs. After nearly two decades of reliable use, this old unit had surely given enough — or had it?

In recent years, the desire to add a decorative fireplace to living spaces has become an ongoing trend. And for the most part, homeowners generally lean toward the latest and most enhanced models that offer a wide range of display options, including varied colours of “flames,” “embers” in multiple combinations, as well as adjustable “flame”-rotation speed and a wide selection of sizes.

These units are built slim and streamlined, allowing wall-mounting or inset installation options (provided the latter design includes an element that emits heat through a front-facing grill). Once prepped with the multi-faceted clear faux stones along the interior bottom of the unit, the fireplace can be mounted with ease, and simply plugs into any standard 15-amp outlet.

There are two such units in my own house — one in the basement rec-room, and another in the step-down dining room. I elected to mount these as inset installations, within fireplace stacks with mantles, and decorated with engineered stone.

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time to Plot those container gardens

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

time to Plot those container gardens

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read 2:00 AM CST

Whether you’re planning several container gardens this year or prefer to focus on one show-stopping arrangement, February is a good time for deciding what you would like to grow.

After all, garden centres throughout Manitoba are already a hive of activity with the arrival of pre-rooted seedlings for perennials and annuals combined with seed starting in preparation for spring sales.

There was a time when retailers waited until September to place their orders for plants for spring. But demand by gardeners is so strong for new and unique plants that many retailers now place their orders as early as July so they can be ready for peak spring demand.

It’s difficult not to indulge in impulse shopping at the sight of fresh new plants at garden centres. But if we take the time now to think about the types of plants that really worked for us last year in our garden spaces and the ones that didn’t — especially during hot, dry weather — it will be easier to make the best choices.

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2:00 AM CST

Ball Horticultural photo
For the richest, deepest colour, grow new Coleus Sun Sweet Paprika in full sun.

Fireplace feature wall a new focal point for home

Marc LaBossiere 7 minute read Preview

Fireplace feature wall a new focal point for home

Marc LaBossiere 7 minute read Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

The completion of this feature fireplace wall project was particularly satisfying because it stretched out over six months, in three separate and distinct phases.

As specific tasks were achieved, the design began to take shape, transforming a rather mundane room into the focal point of the house. And thanks to the homeowners’ vision for the space, I was able to quickly adapt the necessary features of the project to suit several functions, albeit conveniently concealed behind the beautifully finished esthetic.

Along the back wall of the entertainment room (which had been an addition to the house earlier on), three windows made for a sunroom-like feel in the space.

With every exterior wall of the addition windowed-up, the only opaque wall was that which adjoined the existing house. As such, the TV was facing into the room such that, upon entry, one had to turn around to watch it. It was less than desirable, and an unfortunate waste of premium space.

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Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
The feature fireplace wall spans 19 feet, and showcases a stone-clad fireplace stack, hearth and mantle, with symmetrical cabinetry and floating shelves on either side.

Field of dreams

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Field of dreams

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

Sandra Gowan is hard at work turning a new vision into a reality. Gowan is converting her Rosser-area hops operation, Prairie Gem Hops, into a U-pick flower farm.

Gowan has been growing commercial brewing hops since 2009. She started out with just three varieties of hops but by 2016 she was growing 19 different hops varieties, shipping both dried, vacuum-sealed hops and rhizomes to micro-brewers and home-brewers across Canada. “I trialed as many as 21 varieties,” she says. “I wanted to see which types could grow in our climate successfully.”

With mounting costs of production driven by a combination of rising input prices and labour needs, along with all the physical stresses of heavy lifting and packaging, Gowan decided it was time for a new direction. In 2024, she sold her last harvest of dried hops strobiles — the aromatic cone-shaped female flowers of the hops vine which are used in brewing to impart bitterness and flavour.

“My husband and I harvested the strobiles and then they were run through a hammer mill and pelletized,” says Gowan. “Breweries buy the pelleted form because it’s easier for them to work with rather than the whole cone. Most of my inventory went to Trans Canada Brewing Company which is based in Winnipeg.”

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Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

Sandra Gowan has been growing flowers alongside her hops operation for many years.

Third annual botanical show at The Leaf a truly creative Wonder

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Third annual botanical show at The Leaf a truly creative Wonder

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

This weekend is your last chance to visit Winnipeg’s biggest fresh floral experience of the year. Since Jan. 15, the third-annual Fleurs de Villes show at The Leaf in Assiniboine Park has captivated a stream of visitors with imaginative botanical displays by local floral artists at the peak of their creativity.

Founded in 2015 by Tina Barkley and Karen Marshall, Fleurs de Villes is a hugely successful Vancouver-based luxury brand which showcases awe-inspiring flower displays in cities around the world. Each exhibition has its own theme. “Wonder” is the theme of this year’s event at The Leaf.

Consider for a moment the task at hand if you were one of the florists invited to participate in this unique opportunity to showcase your skills. Using a mannequin and selecting from a list of iconic natural landmarks, diverse ecosystems, rare botanical treasures and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon, your goal would be to create a one-of-a-kind creation using the language of flowers.

How hard could it be?

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Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

Assiniboine Park Conservancy photo
Pamukkale Terraces, a stunning floral mannequin by Angela Moisey Creative, is on display this weekend at Fleurs de Villes Wonder at The Leaf.

Brighter ideas improve outdoor solar light options

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Brighter ideas improve outdoor solar light options

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

This week has been frigid, and that’s putting it mildly (excuse the play on words).

When choosing the topic for this week’s column, my thoughts drifted towards warm recollections of exterior yard upgrades that inevitably highlight the benefits of solar lighting. Although a few solar motion lights were always mounted in strategic locations around the house exterior, recent upgrades in technology have really enhanced the outdoor experience from dusk until dawn.

The first attempts at solar lighting began roughly a decade ago, when the technology was still in its infancy. Although the goal of eliminating the need to run wiring to external locations for lighting was achieved, the fixtures themselves were rudimentary.

The solar panels for each light were rather small, and over time it became apparent the batteries did not have much of a lifespan. After their first winter, the fixtures needed to be replaced.

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Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

Newer side-mount motion-activated solar lights replace older, less-reliable iterations.

Manitoba enterprise at forefront in bolstering soil structure

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Manitoba enterprise at forefront in bolstering soil structure

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

Soil health has always been important to anyone who wants to grow plants that flourish but never more so than today. Soil degradation due to drought and extreme weather is a global problem that has a direct link to agricultural productivity and food security.

The status of soil health in Canada is not a concern limited to farmers and backyard gardeners. Scientists, policy makers and researchers are recommending urgent action to protect soils to safeguard the future of our food production.

In June 2024, following an 18-month study of soil conditions in Canada, the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry released the report Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human and Social Health. The report, which is based on testimony from more than 150 experts, concluded that soil in our country is at risk, with implications for food production, climate resilience and biodiversity.

Dale Overton takes soil health and its implications for fertility and food production seriously. His company, Overton Environmental Enterprises, manufactures several microbial products for large-scale agriculture as well as for the home gardener. Overton is deeply interested in regenerative farming practices and how biological amendments can benefit soil health, carbon sequestration and soil microbiomes, and boost growth rates and crop yields.

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Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

EcoTea photo
Grown with EcoTea, this healthy potato crop needed less synthetic fertilizer while providing a higher-than-average yield.

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Kitchen facelift proves less can be more

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Kitchen facelift proves less can be more

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

Engaging in a kitchen renovation can easily become a very pricey adventure. As such, maintaining focus on only those aspects that absolutely must be updated while retaining others can help soften the financial blow.

By keeping the existing cabinetry throughout, the homeowners at my first project of 2026 slid into the new year with a reasonable kitchen-facelift price tag. And the results speak for themselves.

This kitchen had been renovated in the past, including the removal of a wall to open up the space. By doing so, the sink area remains on the inner wall, and includes an L-wing which creates a peninsula island. Along the back exterior wall, the stove is placed between two legs of another countertop area.

While this revised layout has remained functional for the subsequent years, the overall esthetic required an update. As such, a decision to replace the old Arborite countertops with quartz became the priority, along with updating the backsplash’s outdated style. To round out the reno, a new sink and faucet would also be introduced.

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Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
A new deep single tub sink replaces the old double with dish-rack extension, greatly increasing usable countertop space.

Drought-resistant plants provide perfect accents for distinctive décor

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Drought-resistant plants provide perfect accents for distinctive décor

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

Gwen Beam finds the shapes, colours and textures of succulents irresistible.

She has been growing, designing and teaching others how to get creative with succulents for over 20 years. Her gorgeous succulent designs decorate her garden in summer everywhere the eye looks — mounted on the outer walls and entrance-ways of the house where she lives in Brandon, spilling over fences and adorning luxurious and imaginative planter displays on patios, pedestals and walls that divide her garden into intimate outdoor “rooms.”

Her taste for the unique and unusual extends not only to the diverse succulent varieties she seeks out, but also to the eclectic stone representations of heads used as planters to display her elaborate creations.

An avid gardener and active member of the Brandon Garden Club, Beam needed to make some adjustments in her approach to gardening after experiencing heart issues in 2008. Succulents are among the lowest-maintenance plants, so they were an ideal choice.

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Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

Gwen Beam photo
Trailing Calico Kitten Crassula forms the ‘hair’ on this stunning sculptural stone planter decorated with tender succulents which must be overwintered indoors.

Where there’s a wall, there’s a way

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Where there’s a wall, there’s a way

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

When finalizing plans to upgrade existing flooring in homes, other smaller yet imperative tasks often tend to present themselves as well.

At a recent job site, the entire main floor of the house was to receive new vinyl-plank flooring. Once the existing floors were fully prepped, priority shifted towards the wall dividing the kitchen and dining room areas — a wall that would be removed before the new vinyl was installed.

The square footage of this dwelling was not originally large, likely the reason for an addition to the backside of the house that serves as a main seating area.

To alleviate the confinement within the kitchen, the dividing wall adjacent the dining room had been fitted with an opening at some point. While this added to an open-concept feel, the homeowners decided the wall could be removed entirely, to better suit them.

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Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
All exposed framing was sheathed with drywall, taped and mudded before being primed and painted.

Nurseryman’s Grunthal-area property a testament to passion for trees

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Nurseryman’s Grunthal-area property a testament to passion for trees

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026

Visitors to Falk Nurseries located in New Bothwell, a short drive southeast of Winnipeg, can tell at first glance that trees are a central focus at this busy family-owned nursery. Diverse tree specimens have been planted and labelled throughout the attractive landscape so customers can readily identify individual species and assess their characteristics at maturity.

Sheldon Falk, owner of Falk Nurseries, is invested in growing and studying trees as well as shrubs. Early in his career he had a wish list of trees that could grow in our cold climate. Over the years, Falk has made it his mission to visit numerous arboretums and research stations across Canada and in the northern United States. His passion for reading, coupled with friendships with notable tree breeders, has fuelled his research knowledge. Today, Falk’s collection of trees comprises over 200 varieties or species — 600-800 trees in all.

But the testing ground for this vast collection of trees is not at Falk Nurseries, but rather on his private property near Grunthal which he shares with his wife, Cynthia. It’s a stunning 15-acre property with a creek running through it. A long driveway, flanked on either side by majestic trees, at first conceals the house from view but then opens onto a broad and leafy vista over a gently rolling terrain.

A tree and shrub bed in front of Falk’s house was my first introduction last fall to the intriguing diversity of plant material Falk enjoys experimenting with. My eyes were immediately drawn to a beautiful specimen of Tea’s Weeping Mulberry with deeply lobed, dark-green foliage on cascading stems.

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Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026

PHOTOS BY Colleen Zacharias / Free Press
Sheldon Falk shows off a Siberian Fir, a hardy evergreen featuring glossy, bright-green needles that are soft to the touch.

A Milo moment

Marc LaBossiere 9 minute read Preview

A Milo moment

Marc LaBossiere 9 minute read Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026

Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, unfolded as the perfect autumn day — the temperature remained above-seasonal average, with only the hint of a mild breeze. After a long workday at a boat-access-only cottage job site, my return home included the anticipated ritual of letting out my doggo, Milo, for his late afternoon frolic in the yard.

As my wife pulled up the driveway, both Milo and I were still lying in the grass, enjoying the warmth of the evening sunshine. We then made a bonfire, and watched the sun set — just a loving dog and his humans. Little did we know this would be our last Friday together. Less than a week later, our beloved Milo crossed over the rainbow bridge.

I never had pets growing up. As such, my first puppy, Molly, revealed how novice I was as a fur-parent. No matter, after a few months it became apparent having a fur-baby is all about routine(s): when to feed the dog, how often to let the dog out, not to mention the multiple vet visits and grooming, as well as everything else that is required and expected.

Milo was an impulse buy — his bigger sisters seemed to be squishing him along the glass at one corner of his pen when I first noticed him (at a pet store, when dogs were still being offered for purchase). After a meet-and-greet, I elected to bring Milo home under the pretence that Molly’s approval was imperative. Within two weeks, Molly had clearly accepted Milo as part of the family, and Milo officially became her younger fur-brother. For nine years or so, this duo was the beating heart of the house, affectionately referred to as “M&M.”

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Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026

photos by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
The last beautiful Friday evening with Milo by the bonfire.

Extra steps ensure great stairs

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Extra steps ensure great stairs

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

When tasked with a project that involves the introduction of vinyl-plank flooring with underpad throughout the main level of a home, the endeavour usually includes a few stairs.

At a recent job site, the stairway leading to the basement had already been addressed during a previous renovation. As such, only the three stairs leading to the step-down addition required the flooring upgrade. No matter, just these three stairs still presented a few hurdles.

Most deluxe vinyl-flooring manufacturers offer “matching stair nosing” for the majority of their inventory. Instead of roaming the aisles of the big-box stores in hope of finding a close match in either PVC or aluminum, a nosing that is fabricated using the same vinyl style and colour is always the better choice. However, it’s best to inquire as to what type of nosing is available.

Although top-mount nosing can be satisfactory in some applications, the sleekest “look” derives from flush-mount nosing, as this type is simply an extension of the vinyl plank at the same elevation. However, there are a few things to consider before attempting the latter style of nosing.

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Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025

The rise of each stair is built to ensure the vinyl plank rise is installed plumb and level.

Baffling basement biffies

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Preview

Baffling basement biffies

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

I’m not often surprised anymore by what I’ll encounter when asked to update a basement bathroom. However, a recent flooring upgrade did catch me off-guard slightly.

Basement bathrooms present hurdles because their layouts are usually predetermined by the rough plumbing set within the concrete floor at the time the house was originally built. And short of spending a fortune to rearrange the sub-concrete services, adapting an upgrade to the existing layout quickly minimizes options.

This particular bathroom had been upgraded prior to the current homeowners’ purchase of the house. And although it remained functional, there were a few aspects leaving much to be desired, primarily the carpeted flooring. Although I understand the intention to keep a basement bathroom floor warm to the feet, wall-to-wall carpet does not belong in a bathroom, for what seem to me obvious reasons. No matter, the carpet was now coming out and new vinyl-plank flooring was to be installed.

Beyond the carpet, the bathroom floor in its entirety had been built up, with a sort of platform throughout for one reason or another. I suspect this could have also been to buffer the coldness of the concrete below from the space above, or maybe there were a few water leaks along the floor that are concealed by the framework. The homeowners decided to keep the platform and simply re-sheathe it with vinyl once the carpet and underlayment were removed.

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Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025

Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
A long, narrow stretch toward the toilet feels like walking down a bowling lane.

Open the door on a new look

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Preview

Open the door on a new look

Marc LaBossiere 4 minute read Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

Sometimes a main-floor update can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Other times, it may take a little more effort to create the desired look. An interior door upgrade can often change an entire esthetic — without hitting the wallet so hard.

However, swapping out old interior doors for new can be tricky, unless you go a little further, and replace the door jambs as well.

Homeowners often make the mistake of assuming installing new doors will be as simple as removing the old from their hinges and fastening on the new. Unfortunately, not all doors are tooled in the same locations. As such, this can affect hinge placement and striker locations — and if these don’t line up with the new doors, things can get ugly in a hurry.

Although it is possible to source new doors that happen to meet the location specifications of the existing hinges on the jamb, the hinges themselves may be of a different size and shape. As such, it may be best to then purchase doors slabs, un-tooled interior doors that can be fitted on site.

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Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
Removing the old door and jamb is the optimal approach to installing a new interior door, pre-fitted with a new jamb.

Great ideas for the gardeners on your list

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Great ideas for the gardeners on your list

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

The thing about gardening is that it is a constant year-round pursuit. Always, the garden beckons. A gardener could be standing in the middle of a polar vortex and still be dreaming about a plant they want to try or the backyard oasis or private haven they desire.

Just as gardening leads to endless topics to discuss or dream about, there is no shortage of useful, creative and pleasurable gift ideas for gardeners.

Let’s start with stocking-stuffers. Every gardener on your list is going to want to attend Fleurs de Villes when it returns to The Leaf at Assiniboine Park, Jan. 15-25. Fleurs de Villes Wonder will feature incomparable floral mannequins inspired by the lavender fields of Provence, France, the Great Barrier Reef, the Amazon rainforest, monarch butterfly migration and more.

One-of-a-kind botanical creations capturing the beauty of the natural world will be brought to life by Winnipeg’s talented florists. Tickets to Fleurs de Villes Wonder can be purchased online at assiniboinepark.ca or in-person at The Leaf.

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Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

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