Imagine waking in the middle of the night to a familiar feeling in your bladder – nature is calling. As you walk into the bathroom, a warm blue light appears near the base of the toilet, guiding you on your mission. At the same time, the seat, already preset to a comfortable temperature, senses your proximity and silently rises. One push of a button later, the built-in sound system starts playing your favourite song – Taking Care of Business by Bachman Turner Overdrive.

The town of High River, located 30 minutes south of Calgary on the banks of the Highwood River, has bounced back from the trials and tribulations of the 2013 floods with grace and determination.

If the siding on your house has seen better days, the good news is there are a wide variety of products to choose from to replace it, each with its own pros and cons. Neil MacDonald, assistant store manager with Home Depot Canada's Beacon Hill location, says it's important to remember that while material cost is a major part of the equation, people also need to consider ease of installation, or factor in the cost of a professional install, when deciding on new siding.

Here is a comparison between the most common siding products (click to expand):

Lowell Harder and Lee Edwards are longtime residents of the Bragg Creek area, and both men are quick to list the many benefits of living in this scenic, tight-knit community.

To the uninitiated, a "sun tunnel" might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie. However, for many present-day homeowners, this special type of skylight is proving to be the perfect fit.

When you're buying a new home, the last thing you need is to inherit someone else's problems. Even if you've done a walkthrough and taken a close look at plumbing fixtures, paint and ceilings, the potential for disaster might be lurking just beneath the surface – literally.

Long before Calgary culinary personality Julie Van Rosendaal fell in love with her Ramsay home, which was built in 1906, her mother declared it "Julie's House."

One morning, my tree fell over during a huge wind storm after a solid week of rain. There was no property damage, but my ego was shattered.

Mowing the lawn and trimming the trees are just a distant memory now. You are safely tucked into your new condo and all you have left to do is decorate!

Not so fast. If you want the benefits nature offers without the associated yard work, it is time to bulk up on houseplants for your new pad. Do it for your health, happiness and creativity, according to author Florence Williams.

It's important to be honest with yourself about space needs, expectations, lifestyle and budget when looking to upgrade or renovate your small kitchen.

Both Steve Francis, owner of Aspire Renovations, and Karen Allbright, owner of organizational design company Calm Order, agree homeowners must plan well to ensure changes to the kitchen improve its function.