Renovation & Design – Winnipeg Free Press

Norfolk Healthy Produce photo
The genetically modified seeds of the Purple Tomato are the first GM seeds to be marketed to home gardeners in Canada.

Seedy Saturday

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read 2:00 AM CST

Seedy Saturday is set to sprout today at the Millennium Library.

Organized in partnership with the Spence Neighbourhood Association, the event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the downtown library located at 251 Donald St.

“We have a really great mix of vendors for this year’s event,” says Stephen Kirk, environment and open spaces co-ordinator for the SNA.

“This year’s event is shaping up to be our largest one to date at Millennium Library,” says Laura Rawluk who has been involved in organizing Winnipeg Seedy Saturday events for more than 25 years.

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Composite decking is used to decoratively sheathe an existing balcony deck and staircase, with glass railings to be installed.

Never too early to start planning a new backyard hub

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Never too early to start planning a new backyard hub

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read 2:00 AM CST

After submitting my weekly Reno Boss columns for roughly one year, I asked my editor out to lunch to voice a few concerns regarding my subject-matter choices.

Over the course of that first year, I noticed similarities from column to column, especially when elaborating the step-by-step process to build a deck. Other than the actual design layout, most decks follow the same procedure. And when I’ve listed those steps, it feels like I’ve told the same story repeatedly.

My editor smirked, and simply said Reno Boss readers may not get to every week’s column, and also said completion photos of varying completed decks showcase a variety of designs, no matter the similarities they may possess beyond esthetics.

Although these comments did somewhat alleviate my worries during our lunch, I still sometimes feel my concern from back then is somewhat relevant, even today, as though déjà vu is playing a cruel joke.

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2:00 AM CST

MARC LABOSSIERE / FREE PRESS
Although the existing shell of the space dictates cupboard placement potential, design changes greatly improve functionality.

Final days of project inspire welcome awe in homeowners

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Preview

Final days of project inspire welcome awe in homeowners

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

Nothing is more satisfying than a homeowner’s smile when entering a newly remodelled space upon completion, along with the subsequent moments of silence as the desired fresh new look is taken in for the first time.

Kitchen renovations are very satisfying to a contractor, as well. Not only can you greatly improve functionality with an updated design, but the esthetics are also primarily based on the homeowners’ colour and style preferences, chosen well before the project begins.

Once a kitchen begins to show signs of wear and tear, both functionality and esthetics begin to suffer greatly. In this instance, the old Arborite countertops were ready to crumble in certain areas due to persistent water infiltration. And because the counter along the peninsula area was level to the far side, whatever was placed on the countertop had a very good chance of landing on someone’s head in the sunken TV room, while sitting on the couch adjacent to the backside of the lower cupboards.

Most of the cupboard doors were loose on hinges, and the drawer-fronts were slightly off-level. And do get me started with what was evolving below the sink area, due to a variety of minor leaks!

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Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

Photos by Niki Jabbour For
Niki Jabbour, shown here in her Halifax garden, says the drought and heat of 2025 has made resilience the biggest lesson for food gardens.

Some like it hot

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

Some like it hot

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

In more ways than one, Niki Jabbour won’t forget last year’s gardening season.

The author of four bestselling books on vegetable gardening, Jabbour lives and gardens in Halifax, N.S. In 2025, the province experienced a “one-in-50-year” drought. According to the Canadian Drought Monitor (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Halifax recorded its third-driest three-month period (July, August and September) on record.

The year 2025 was one of significant and widespread drought across Canada. Environment Canada ranked drought as the No. 2 weather story of the year, second only to the country’s record-breaking wildfire season. At one point last year, Jabbour also had to evacuate from her home for a week as wildfires threatened parts of Halifax.

Earlier this year, Environment and Climate Change Canada released its annual global temperature forecast, predicting 2026 will likely be among the four hottest years on record.

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Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
A partial wall is introduced during the shell prep stage of a kitchen reno to better suit the enhanced design layout of the new cupboards.

Kitchen shell prep includes vinyl-plank flooring

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Preview

Kitchen shell prep includes vinyl-plank flooring

Marc LaBossiere 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

In my world, the difference between a kitchen facelift and a full kitchen renovation is whether a large percentage of the existing space remains, or the entirety is gutted and repopulated once the shell has been prepped.

At a recent job site, the homeowners elected to revamp the entire space, which involved tearing out all the old to make way for the new. And in this instance, the shell prep included adding a new partial wall to the design, and installing new vinyl-plank flooring before the cupboards are set into position.

Generally, I’ve always advised clients to keep their existing upper and lower cupboards, so no great changes are required. And should the esthetics badly need an upgrade, the cupboard doors and drawer fronts can always be replaced.

Beyond the cabinetry, a facelift may then involve new quartz countertops, sink and faucet, as well as a newly tiled backsplash, all visual upgrades to enhance a tired-out space.

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Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

Peter Fuller photo
Windhover Orchard in Miami, Man., is named after the American kestrel, a small falcon found in Manitoba nicknamed ‘windhover’ for its habit of hovering in the air.

Family embraces challenges, rewards of launching a fruit orchard

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Preview

Family embraces challenges, rewards of launching a fruit orchard

Colleen Zacharias 7 minute read Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

Growing up on a farm near Boissevain taught Kelvin Hildebrandt many things. But becoming an orchardist has meant taking a comprehensive and strategic approach to acquiring a whole new set of skills.

In the process, Hildebrandt has consulted with local orchardists, including well-known growers like Betty Kehler and Bob Pizey who ran Plum Ridge Farm, a popular u-pick orchard located in the Interlake region near Teulon.

“They taught me a great deal,” says Hildebrandt.

Hildebrandt has also been influenced by Jean Spencer who owned a 150-tree apple orchard near Miami. “Jean was very welcoming and let me take care of her trees for a while,” he says.

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Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

Mavis Garrioch photo
Container-grown pansies provide a nearly endless source of fresh flowers for pressing and drying.
Mavis Garrioch photo
Container-grown pansies provide a nearly endless source of fresh flowers for pressing and drying.

The delicate art of pressing flowers

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

The delicate art of pressing flowers

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

When early explorers travelled the four corners of the world in search of botanical treasures and plant knowledge, they faced many challenges collecting and transporting live plant material. In the 19th century, the development of the Wardian case — a glazed box that held soil and water — enhanced the survival rate of live plants on long sea journeys.

But highly detailed botanical illustrations also served as a visual record for early botanists and scientists to study plants from distant parts of the world. The technique of pressing and drying all the parts of individual plants on paper made it possible to preserve plant specimens.

Today, herbariums around the world, including those at Manitoba Museum and the University of Manitoba, house extensive collections of pressed, dried plants stored in specialized, climate-controlled conditions. Scientists use these specimens to determine the rarity of species and understand environmental changes.

Enduring art form

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Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

Learn more about Advertising solutions

Marc LaBossiere / Free Press
After several attempts at restoring my HVAC system, a phone chat with the manufacturer’s customer service department expedited the control board re-programming process.

Furnace reboot: chilling for a week without forced-air heat

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Preview

Furnace reboot: chilling for a week without forced-air heat

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

In high school when I had spare time, I customized a 1952 Chevy half-ton truck. For vehicles of that era, most mechanical issues that arose could be addressed with a wrench and a screwdriver.

Nowadays, the technological advancements that heighten our driving experience often preclude those types of fixes, because new vehicles are heavily integrated with circuit boards and on-board computers. As such, when something goes wrong, a skilled technician is required to both properly diagnose and subsequently address the issue. It appears this is also true regarding most contemporary household systems, including HVAC.

Two Mondays ago, ironically while fixing the bulbs of a vintage electric fireplace, the smell of burned electronics began to permeate the room. Having just completed the fireplace repair, it occurred to me something within the box may have burned out. However, closer inspection seemed to reveal that the source of the smell was emanating from the floor vents, which could only mean one thing — the furnace.

In my house, a 19-kilowatt air-handler supplies forced-air throughout the home. Working in co-operation with a two-stage, three-tonne heat pump (tantamount to an air conditioner for cool air in the summer, that also supplies heating during the milder winter months), the air-handler behaves much like an electric furnace. When the system calls for heat during the winter, it first requests from the heat pump (provided the outside temperature is above the lock-out value of -12 C) the first heating stage to begin heating the house. If the house does not heat up rapidly enough as determined by the system, the second stage kicks in to create more heat.

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Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

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 Preview

Old log-box electric fireplace still hot

Marc LaBossiere 6 minute read Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

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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Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

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

time to Plot those container gardens

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

time to Plot those container gardens

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026

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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Saturday, Feb. 7, 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.

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

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

Field of dreams

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

Field of dreams

Colleen Zacharias 8 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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Manitoba enterprise at forefront in bolstering soil structure

Colleen Zacharias 8 minute read Preview

Manitoba enterprise at forefront in bolstering soil structure

Colleen Zacharias 8 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

March 7, 2026

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