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.

At what age should you first introduce your child to the dentist’s chair? “As soon as their first teeth start to come in,” says Dr. Myrna Pearce of On Track Dental in Port Coquitlam. “Not only will an early visit help the child feel comfortable at an early age with the experience, dentists can obtain plenty of information about long term oral health simply by watching a child’s first teeth come in.”

Long before Dr. Myrna Pearce was a dentist, she excelled at doing detailed handiwork. Her aunt taught her how to hand sew when she was 10 and soon after, her mother taught her how to make clothing. “I started sewing my own clothes when I was in Grade 5 and basically sewed everything that I wore until I started having kids,” she says.