Working from home can be a better experience for you with the right office setup. Setting up your in-home office correctly can help you stay productive and make completing essential work tasks easier.

Adding some plants to your interior setting can give your home a greener feel while promoting greater tranquility throughout your living space. Certain types of plants are especially good for homes, and many of the best houseplants are easy to take care of and are safe for people and pets.

The owners of this handsome 120-year-old home used to live in a custom-designed, ultra-modern house on the waterfront near the Chinese Cemetery on Gonzales Bay. But Dan Sharp and Pamela Russell grew tired of that chilly, windy location. When Sharp saw one day that a classic Rockland home was up for sale, his interest was piqued.

Gallery walls, also called moment walls, are one of todays hottest home decor trends. Gallery walls enable homeowners to create visually appealing groupings of photos, frames, wall art and more to dress up any room. Gallery walls can make a statement in the living room, add finesse to an entryway or showcase special items along a staircase. One need only do a quick Internet search or browse through lifestyle magazines to see examples of gallery walls for inspiration.

With a huge range of colours, patterns and finishes, modern wall coverings are as diverse as design itself

Dear Debbie: I was debating with a friend what was an “extra” piece of furniture she couldn’t do without. We agreed that a bed, a table and a light were givens. As I have an entire room lined with bookshelves, that was my choice. What would you choose? Anna

Dont go pushin Fido off that cushion

Whether you’re vacationing on the other side of the world or simply at the beach down the road, leaving your home for an extended period of time can mean an increased risk of your home becoming a target for thieves.

If you’re tired of giving the same old types of Mother’s Day gifts, treat your mom with an experience instead.

If you are worried about the health of your pet during the COVID-19 pandemic, you are not alone.

Just because you’re stuck inside due to this pesky COVID-19 outbreak, that’s no reason to go without beer. Thankfully, a number of B.C. craft breweries offer online sales, with delicious craft beer available to be delivered right to your front door. In Vancouver, you can even get Skip the Dishes to deliver beer from some of your favourite craft breweries.

A new study published May 2 has suggested there are no mental health benefits to eating your placenta. The new research was conducted by the B.C. Mental Health and Substance Use Services’ Research Institute, alongside UBC which was published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada.

My sensible wife reminds me that Valentine’s Day is only a Hallmark holiday – a day when florists are overwhelmed selling roses at the highest prices of the year and when you should have made a reservation if you wanted an intimate night out. Of course, we could never outlaw Valentine’s Day in Canada; the chocolate, floral and greeting card industries would lobby ferociously for their biggest day of the year.

We get it, parents are busy. In Vancouver at least, it’s typical that both parents work, which can make dinner time more than a little hectic. To get some ideas on how to ease some of that stress, the Courier had some questions for Trevor Bird, chef/owner of Fable Kitchen, former Top Chef contestant, spokesperson for Real Canadian Superstore and, most importantly, parent to two-year old Leonidas (Leo).

Vancouver-based Strongbody Apparel is back at it again, this time giving away men’s workout tees. Having sold out of their womenswear launch giveaway of 1,000 leggings in just days, they increased the legging giveaway to 10,000 pairs. Next on the list: menswear! Strongbody is giving away 1,000 of their best-selling Stoic mens tees. Like the women’s free legging campaign, all you have to do is pay for the cost of shipping.

While planning a vacation can be a fun and exciting exercise, it helps to know what to do, where to stay, and where to eat. Booking the travel can be an exercise in patience and persistence as you scour websites looking for the best accommodation packages and event tickets. Whistler Blackcomb has devised a way to help visitors to the Resort and Whistler Village enjoy everything the area has to offer at the best price.

The best summer hikes call for the best summer rewards… If you live in Vancouver, you’re acutely attuned to the changing of the seasons.

While skiing and snowboarding are a great deal of fun, Whistler offers a plethora of fun activities that you must try. From dog sledding to luxurious spas, delicious eats to bobsledding, this alpine destination has something for you!

I’ve been on several hiking and camping trips with dogs over the years and they have never detracted from those experiences, only added to them. Dogs notice things in a way that humans can’t. I find that by merely watching them and noticing what draws their interest another layer is added to my experience in wild places. They hear sounds that I can’t and respond to scents that are too weak for my nose to detect. A hike with a dog can be a reminder to listen to our other senses and not focus too much on only what our eyes can see, but also on what we can smell, hear and touch. Which is why I can completely understand the upset caused by the recent dog ban at Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. A decision I imagine was not made lightly but was made to keep the interests of the majority of visitors and wildlife that calls this location home at the forefront.