3 tips for designing your dream kitchen island

 From bold patterns to stand-out pieces, the kitchen is getting a lot of attention from designers this year. Whether you are planning a reno or new build, these tips may inspire you to create the perfect trendy kitchen island you've always wanted. Make it the focal point A kitchen island

The Heart of the Home

 Photos by Nelson Costa On a floor plan, the kitchen is just another piece of the puzzle, but in the eyes of Canada’s foremost kitchen cabinet manufacturer, AyA, it is the heart of the home. The company produced its first kitchen back in 2001 and despite starting off slowly it

5 Great places to have Christmas Dinner in Ottawa

 In households across Ottawa, the holiday season will be marked with tree decorating, present wrapping, and of course, plenty of good eating. For those of you who love a good Christmas dinner, but aren’t in the mood to cook, we’ve compiled a list of some great restaurants serving up festive

The Best Brine and Gravy For Your Next Turkey

 Just in time for Thanksgiving, Weber serves up another great recipe. Didn’t think a turkey could be cooked on the grill? Think again! Why not try something new this Thanksgiving and treat your loved ones to a brined and barbecued turkey? Once you taste a turkey that’s been grilled, you’ll never

From Dreary to Dramatic

 The mission: Transform a fully accessible kitchen and bathroom. The results are improvements to both form and functionality. A call to action put forth by the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation was presented to local contractors to update an older apartment unit located in the Byward Market area. The goal was to

Putting kitchen costs on the chopping block

 Save your kiss for the cook and not for bidding your money goodbye. Staying within budget is one of the most challenging parts of home improvement. Keeping costs in line, while not compromising dream renovation plans, sometimes seems impossible, especially when it comes to the kitchen. Luckily, there are ways

Health for the Holidays

 The holidays wear me down. Between the parties, rich food and cold weather, it is hard to stay on top of my to-do list. Now, I don’t want you to think I’m complaining. Just the opposite! I love the smell of freshly baked Christmas cookies and really look forward to

The Executive Mom Must-Have Kitchen List

 It’s really no secret that I am about as talented in the kitchen as the Grinch Who Stole Christmas is with his emotions. To illustrate my point, feel free to watch the kitchen segment of Daytime Ottawa where Derick and I feature the Egg Farmers of Ontario. That being said,

The Devil is in the Details

 How to finish your new build with “builder-included” finishes It’s beautiful! I love it and it’s reasonably priced, so I’ll take it. But wait…what do you mean? I have to invest an additional how much in upgraded features so it looks like this? It does come with doors right? Sound

The DIY Backsplash

 There are several affordable ways you can incorporate some design wow into your interior space. One of those ways is with the kitchen backsplash. Not only will this protect your walls and add visual appeal, but it will also add architectural depth to the space. I still remember the completion

Take a bite at Café Urban

 One year after the opening of Café Urban at Saint Paul University, the kitchen is busier than ever. Handmade sandwiches, granola and soups are flying onto the trays of hungry students and faculty. Café Urban aims to supply the university and public with locally sourced food for breakfast, lunch and

A Northern Feast

 Now that the weather is cooling down, it is time for our kitchens to heat up! Is it possible to create a delicious meal using ingredients found in our own backyard? The Boreal Gourmet’s Michele Genest knows it is. Follow Genest as she brings you The Boreal Feast — a

The New Home Build: Decisions, Decisions!

 With a very detailed DesignerDIY action plan in place and following my recent new home purchase, the hunt for the perfect post-purchase upgrades begin. Starting with the main floor, the kitchen was the first order of business. There are several cost-saving design measures you can implement into your new home

Udi’s Kid Friendly Turkey Quinoa Meatball Hoagie

 Recipe courtesy of Udi's Gluten Free. This kid-approved meal is a hit with people of all ages. Kids love the meatballs with tomato sauce and cheese – healthy items, like quinoa and mushrooms, get parents’ nutritional stamp of approval. Serves 6 Ingredients: 6 Udi’s Classic Hot Dog Buns      

Victorian Vogue — Ceiling Drama

 The ornate features of the Victoria Era included decorative elements of design such as intricate mouldings and plasterwork that would fabulously adorn the ceilings of interior spaces. However, in the late 1800s, tin ceilings were introduced as an affordable alternative. During this period, thin rolls of tin were being individually

Glowing Skin from the Inside Out

 The secret to gorgeous, glowing skin isn’t in a jar in your medicine cabinet or a compact in your makeup bag. The real secret lies in your kitchen! Along with proper skin care, a balanced diet with plenty of fresh produce and water throughout the day is the key to

Ottawa Lebanese Festival—A Scene of Cuisine

 The grounds of St. Elias Cathedral are busy this time of year—full of Lebanese festivalgoers eager to eat, enjoy music and have fun celebrating Middle Eastern culture. I went to the festival on an empty stomach so my first stop was the Tannis food tent. The tent had multiple line-ups

Udi’s Lemon Gremolata Chicken Pizza…With a Twist!

 Recipe courtesy of Udi's Gluten Free. Perfect for fueling your body for race day and for rebuilding muscles following your run, this pizza combines the classic Italian tastes of fresh parsley, garlic, Parmesan cheese with fresh lemon and chicken for a flavour explosion in every bite. Serves 6 Ingredients: 1/3 cup

DesignerDIY – 5 Minute Makeover Video Tutorial: Kitchen Faucet

 You will need: •     a fabulous new faucet •     an adjustable wrench •     a pair of pliers •     a pipe wrench •     a screwdriver   Step 1:  Prepare the area •     Since you will be working in a relatively small area, remove all items in the work space. •     Turn

Udi’s Ahi Tuna, Avocado and Mango Salsa Sandwich

 Recipe courtesy of Udi's Gluten Free. This recipe uses tender ahi tuna, creamy avocado and fresh mangos to create a sweet and salty sandwich fit to impress any guest. Serves 2-4 Ingredients: 2 Udi’s French baguettes                            

Accessible Elegance for Family Living

 From its dramatic moody dining room wall colour and modern abstract art to its light-filled, south-facing kitchen and traditional butler’s pantry, this stately three-storey centre hall brick home in the Glebe is a study in contrasts: elegant and refined, but livable and modern for today’s busy family. With a Georgian-inspired

London Calling: Classic British Style

 Showcased in the model suite is the London Classic, one of three European styled interior collections, a vision of Ottawa-born, lawyer-turned-developer, John Thomas. As a tribute to this building’s British roots (the international award-winning PLP Architecture company from London), the London Classic was the first interior collection to reflect a

Modern SIMPLICITY: A Makeover in Alta Vista

 Designed originally for city privacy in the 1960s, this Alta Vista bungalow is best suited for display of an extensive art collection with its expansive walls, high ceilings, and minimal trim work. Original owners were the late Samuel and Caroline Baylin, who were a family of artists, she a painter

2nd Annual Spaces Issue

   Premier Ottawa designer Tanya Collins shows us that we can have a beautiful home even it’s filled with kids and pets. It's all about making the  right style and function choices. Tanya shares her tricks and  her sources for beautiful fixtures and finds.   London Calling: Classic British Style

Fabritec-tastic: A Kitchen Cabinet Renovation

 By David Ginny Ever hear the story about the couple who went out for a new faucet and came home with a new kitchen? That’s what happened to us recently and are we ever glad we went with our instincts. Completely renovating a kitchen can be a major undertaking. For us,