Colourful wood can add character to any home

It goes by many names: denim pine, blue-stain pine and "beetlewood," to name a few.

No matter what you call it, this little-known wood could be the centrepiece of Calgary's next big interior design trend.

Denim pine comes from trees that have been infected by mountain pine beetles. The name stems from its distinctive blue streaks, which are caused by a fungus the beetles introduce while attacking the tree.

Tips on how to minimize your carbon footprint when moving

Between packing boxes and hauling all of your earthly possessions, moving can be a real drag – especially on the environment.

From fuel emissions to cardboard boxes, the carbon footprint that comes with moving can be tremendous, said Zach Williams, digital marketing manager at Highland Moving & Storage Ltd., which operates Calgary's eco-friendly movers Frogbox.

Luckily, Williams said green moving is a growing market thanks to the public's increased awareness of the issue of climate change.

Five tips to go net-zero without the hefty price tag

Calgarians seeking a more net-zero lifestyle don't have to rely soley on big-ticket solar panels, geothermal heating and other energy-efficient technologies, say experts.

"There are plenty of little things people can do in their homes to move toward a net-zero lifestyle that aren't necessarily costly," said Areni Kelleppan, executive director of Green Calgary, a non-profit urban environmental organization that encourages Calgarians to live greener.

Don't know where to start? No need to worry: CREB®Now asked some green experts to offer up a few low-cost ideas to walk a more net-zero path:

Celebrating the past key to enjoying the future

The definition of "home" can be summed up beautifully as, "being in one's element; at peace; a dwelling place."

Home is a small word for such an important place. For many of us, it's where we want to spend most of our downtime away from our daily grind, tasks and jobs – to begin and finish important creative ideas that we received within the daily grind. For me it's a place where I can be my authentic self, exploring the things I love to do without someone asking me why I'm doing them.

Attention to detail is the loveliest thing of all that makes a house a home. I constantly find myself curating rooms in my house. Homes for my special things continually change. Sometimes it's about grouping things that enjoy each other's company or mixing old with new.

Plants may not wear a watch, but they know what time it is

It's March and days are ripe and sunny enough for a patio lunch downtown. Other days bring wind and snow and winter boots out of the closet. Seriously, is there really anything a newbie gardener can do outside this early in the season?

Sarah found out by accident that there is plenty you can do early. She attempted to plant her spinach in May with her other garden crops a couple of years ago and then found out, by surprise, that spinach could tell time. Perhaps not time the way people measure minutes but certainly plant time, as dictated by the sun and the moon.

When the days got longer close to summer solstice on June 21, Sarah's spinach, barely four leaves old, suddenly bloomed and went to seed. She was devastated because spinach is one of her favorite foods and it was finished for the season before July.

What you should consider before listing your home

A smart seller knows that there is work to be done before listing a property. When you're up against a buyer's market, diligence is required in order to gain a competitive advantage. Curb appeal will translate value to potential buyers when they view your property.

Here are five things to consider before taking your property to market:

1. Take a look from the buyer's perspective

Give the house and yard (all things within the scope of property) an honest aesthetic assessment. Within the first few moments of viewing a property, a buyer has formed either a negative or positive biased.