Even in the thick of it, you're not too late for a winter home check-up. Harsh cold, snow, and ice can take a toll on your property, from frozen pipes to ice dams, every season brings its own challenges. Proactive maintenance now helps protect your comfort, avoid costly repairs, and preserve your home’s long-term value. This guide breaks down the top winter home maintenance tasks, offering practical tips and linking to credibleCanadian sources for deeper reading.

As the snow begins to fall and we settle in for another Niagara winter, our homes become more than just a backdrop, they’re the heart of comfort, warmth, and everyday life. While winter means tackling the essentials of home maintenance, it’s also the perfect season to start planning those dream renovations you’ve been imagining for 2026.

The holiday season is a time for gathering, celebrating, and reconnecting with loved ones. If you’re opening your home to family or friends this year, you’ve probably thought about how to make them feel welcome and comfortable. One of the best ways to do that, and add long-term value to your home, is by creating dedicated guest spaces.

Every year, residents of the Niagara Region see an influx of so many visitors from around the world eager to set eyes on the extraordinary wonder of the Falls, experience our history in Niagara on the Lake, relax at our beautiful parks and beaches, participate in our sporting events, and of course enjoy our fabulous spas, wineries, breweries and restaurants. And it wouldn’t be the Niagara Region without our fresh fruit, vegetable, and bakery stands along our roads for everyone, not just our visitors, to appreciate. If you live in Niagara, you already know what a wonderful place it truly is. But sometimes, because we live here, we forget to explore our own region. There really is something for everyone -- whether you are looking for a staycation or vacation, or just good fresh food and drinks. So, set aside the time to take a fresh look at your surroundings. People come from all over the world to see it … for good reason!

A house becomes a home by the moments and memories that are created within its walls, often with the people we care about the most. It’s a place where we surround ourselves with personal touches that make us smile. For some, those touches consist of the most sentimental belongings, perhaps with humble beginnings, which are priceless because they tell a heartwarming story and revive wonderful memories. For others, it may be more about new beginnings, a future filled with promise, and memories yet to be made. A home is where we gladly begin each day and where we rest our heads each night.

When planning a kitchen remodel or designing a new kitchen most homeowners consider everything about the look of their kitchen, except where the garbage will be stored. Garbage is certainly not the most exciting or pleasant topic when discussing your dream home or renovation, but it is necessary for effective planning. Garbage is usually strategically located near the dishwasher and sink for scraping food from dishes, but it’s also needed near the prep area. Whether the kitchen is small, large, or somewhere in between, garbage disposal is a vital component of the kitchen design. In the modern landscape of 2024, the days of a single bag tucked under the kitchen sink are gone. Municipalities, including those in the Niagara Region, require careful waste separation for collection. This entails sorting food scraps, plastic and glass for recycling, cardboard, regular garbage, and various other disposables. With the packaging of today’s food products being what they are, separating and storing our garbage in the appropriate trash compartments is no small feat, but we are certainly up to the task. So, here are a few options for garbage disposal:

It goes without saying, that it is a huge responsibility to maintain a home. Home ownership brings with it regular care and maintenance requirements that need to be done throughout the seasons. And, as tedious as they may be, the consequences of not doing these chores, could be detrimental to what is likely your biggest investment—your home. A home’s structure, efficiency, security, healthiness, curb appeal and even energy bill costs rely on proper maintenance and repairs. So, while we look forward to spring flowers, we need to address the weeds and other chores too!

We certainly hope that 2025 will bring an improvement to the high cost of living, inflation, interest rates, and global supply shortage that have been happening in many industries. But for now, it is too soon to tell what the year will bring.

Once again it is a brand-new year and a time when we discover what trends are going to remain strong and what new trends will replace the old. Just like the past few years, the biggest trend seems to be that inflation has people focusing on staying home more and using any extra funds on improving their homes…their biggest investment.

The Niagara Region experiences frigid winters, making fireplaces a cherished feature in homes. Even though they are no longer the main heat source, many homeowners still appreciate having a wood or natural gas fireplace for added warmth and as a focal point in a room. Gathering around the fireplace with loved ones on a frosty day creates a charming and romantic atmosphere that many people appreciate. Consequently, fireplaces remain in high demand. The design of the fireplace façade (the design elements surrounding the unit) is a significant draw for the fireplace, often more so than the flames themselves. With this in mind, it’s important to understand that choosing the right fireplace unit is essential, but the design of the fireplace surround can significantly impact the overall look of a room. Many homeowners have looked at their existing fireplace and found it to be an eyesore. They might have even avoided the room solely because of the fireplace. It could be the unit’s style or shape that doesn’t fit the room, the surround that doesn’t match the homeowner’s taste or the fireplace not being properly positioned within the space. The good news is that most issues with an existing fireplace can be addressed. It’s important to consider building and safety codes, as they determine what modifications can be made and where they can be done. Enhancing a room, may start with adding a fireplace or giving an existing one and its surround a facelift. With the right choices, the room can be turned into a showstopper! A fireplace should reflect the unique style of the homeowner and the home. So, picking the fireplace unit is an important starting point. There are many fireplace units to choose from so whether you’re looking for gas, wood or electric, there are many to choose from and your supplier should be able to determine where and what type of unit you can put in your room.