Here’s a quick, easy DIY TV stand made from scrap wood. It took about an hour to build and is a friendly project for beginners learning basic woodworking skills. During lockdown I wanted to get our flat-screen TV off the floor but had to make do with leftover offcuts. I keep most of my scrap … Read more

Tomorrow is May Day, a long-standing spring celebration in the Northern Hemisphere and a day that, in many countries, honors workers and the labor movement. Here, though, I want to focus on the floral, folk side of May Day — the tradition of going into the fields, gathering wildflowers, and making a wreath to hang … Read more

Turn an Old Grill into a Planter for Earth Day Did you know Earth Day is this month? That one day each year when many of us take a little extra time to do something good for the planet. For my contribution this year I took an old barbecue grill and gave it a new … Read more

This guide shows how to build a simple DIY tea towel ladder that sits on a kitchen countertop. It’s an inexpensive, renter-friendly solution that doesn’t require screwing anything into a wall or cabinet end panel. The ladder is portable, leaves no marks, and keeps tea towels neat and accessible. This project includes a paid ad … Read more

Simple Mid-Century Modern Sideboard Makeover with Old Fashioned Milk Paint A few months ago I visited my sons in New York and stayed with my younger son in his apartment. Over time his place has collected a surprising number of beautiful mid-century modern pieces, and each visit seems to bring another find. On this trip … Read more

Step-by-step guide to felting a shed roof after the frame is built. This roof was installed in two sections, then felted and finished with trim. The method also works well for repairing a leaking shed roof. Recently I wrote about building a summerhouse frame and cladding it. For this project my dad — a carpenter … Read more

Repurposing a Vintage Milk Crate into a Sturdy Stool As I started to write this post I realized I seem to be constantly repurposing things—turning stools into other pieces and now turning something else into a stool. I had a perfectly good stool already, so why the urge to change it? I suppose I’m just … Read more

On Friday, my father-in-law dropped by just in time to point out that my approach to laying the third row of laminate was creating unnecessary waste. I had been trying to line up each row so the joints matched perfectly, but that strategy eats into the coverage you actually get from a pack. If you … Read more

This quick, cheesy leeks and bacon linguine is a family favourite. Traditionally rich, this version uses lower‑fat options to create a creamy leek sauce without the heaviness. When I worked retail, this bacon, leek and cheese pasta was a regular weeknight dinner — simple, speedy and deeply satisfying. Creamy leeks are effortless to prepare and … Read more

About a year ago my husband woke me at five in the morning and surprised me with a boat ride to watch the sunrise. That early-morning outing was pure magic. Recently we decided to take a more relaxed evening trip, leaving the marina around seven to watch the sun sink into the bay. The evening … Read more