Brian J. McCourt

Jun 27, 2024 | hgtv.ca | Emma Yardley |Krizia Ramos |Amber Dowling |Brian J. McCourt

When you invest in a new outdoor home playground set, what you’re really buying is time. You’re giving your kids time to move their bodies, time for you to imagine and play together, and — let’s be honest — some precious time for yourself! And for us design enthusiasts, the best home playgrounds are going to be the ones that offer a variety of engaging activities and aesthetic appeal.

Jun 25, 2024 | hgtv.ca | Amber Dowling |Brian J. McCourt |Emma Yardley |Mikaila Kukurudza

Summer is here, and cottage season is in full swing. From May to October in Canada, cottages, cabins and chalets across the country fill up as friends and families head to the water and forests to take advantage of the warm weather. With so many beautiful destinations to check out, why wouldn’t you hop in the car and join them? Whether you’re planning a trip this summer or scouting out locations for a future vacation, here are some of Canada’s most popular cottage destinations. Bruce Peninsula, Ont.

Jun 24, 2024 | hgtv.ca | Brian J. McCourt |Emma Yardley |Mikaila Kukurudza |Iris Benaroia

Summer is finally here, and it’s time to get out and enjoy your patio. But this being Canada, you know there’s barely a couple of days between the last frost and the first mosquito bite. It’s natural to want to keep pests out of your garden, but how do you keep them away from your patio? With the help of Brian McCourt, contractor, design expert and co-host of HGTV Canada’s Backyard Builds, we’ve put together 15 natural repellant ideas for the most common pests plaguing your outdoor paradise.

Dec 5, 2023 | hgtv.ca | Amber Dowling |Lydia Hrycko |Lara Buchar |Brian J. McCourt

No one wants a stinky kitchen. But between cooking, hosting, eating and congregating, kitchens are the busiest rooms in a home. With that kind of action, they’re bound to rack up a few unwanted smells. Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent and eliminate unwanted odours. From cleaning hacks to actionable items, here are 14 ways to banish kitchen smells for good this year. Clean Immediately After CookingWafting smells can be enticing when you’re cooking.

Dec 5, 2023 | hgtv.ca | Lydia Hrycko |Lara Buchar |Brian J. McCourt |Doug Murray

While there’s nothing quite like the scent of a pine around the holidays, artificial Christmas trees are continuing to grow in popularity. There are so many reasons to switch to a faux tree — they’re durable, convenient and make the holiday decor setup and cleanup so much more simple. Not to mention, they’re a great choice for households with pets or loved ones who are allergen-sensitive.