It was a homeowners’ paradise this weekend as the National Home Show launched its 10-day run at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place in Toronto.
The home show—the largest and longest-running of its kind in Canada—remains true to its name, featuring over 700 exhibitors, a series of 50 celebrity workshops, home and garden specialists, and an expected attendance of 150,000 over the 10 days.
Weekend highlights included a special appearance on Friday by spokesperson Ty Pennington, host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
It was a busy day on Saturday for Elaine Hickey who came from Newfoundland to see it for the first time. “I love it. Awesome,” she said.
Hickey is building a new addition to her house, and she was particularly interested in the selection of windows and doors. But she was also impressed by the many new ideas at the show.
“There are so many different things here,” she said. Indeed, the show features everything from leather treatments to home and garden accessories and tools to three model homes.
The size of the show can be daunting at first—the gardens alone span 25,000 square feet—and it’s easy to get lost in the maze of products. For those who have something specific in mind, it’s good to plan ahead to take full advantage of what the show has to offer. Take note of the workshop schedule, the sections you want to visit, and pick up a map on your way in.
Don’t forget to check out the Dream Gardens and Dream Home. But be prepared to wait in line to see the Dream Home, this year a modular, eco-friendly model home designed by Richard Librach Architect Inc and built by Eurodale Development. The home has already been sold and will be shipped to Caledon after the show.
Even for those who don’t have something particular in mind, there is certainly never a dull moment at the show. Toronto resident Nghiep comes every second year. This year, he and his wife left with a bagful of baked goods, cleaning products, and other items. “It’s good,” he said, smiling.
Bryan Baeumler, host of the HGTV series Disaster DIY and House of Bryan, hosted a workshop on Saturday. He shared numerous useful renovation tips coloured with many of his TV show experiences.
The home show—the largest and longest-running of its kind in Canada—remains true to its name, featuring over 700 exhibitors, a series of 50 celebrity workshops, home and garden specialists, and an expected attendance of 150,000 over the 10 days.
Weekend highlights included a special appearance on Friday by spokesperson Ty Pennington, host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
It was a busy day on Saturday for Elaine Hickey who came from Newfoundland to see it for the first time. “I love it. Awesome,” she said.
Hickey is building a new addition to her house, and she was particularly interested in the selection of windows and doors. But she was also impressed by the many new ideas at the show.
“There are so many different things here,” she said. Indeed, the show features everything from leather treatments to home and garden accessories and tools to three model homes.
The size of the show can be daunting at first—the gardens alone span 25,000 square feet—and it’s easy to get lost in the maze of products. For those who have something specific in mind, it’s good to plan ahead to take full advantage of what the show has to offer. Take note of the workshop schedule, the sections you want to visit, and pick up a map on your way in.
Don’t forget to check out the Dream Gardens and Dream Home. But be prepared to wait in line to see the Dream Home, this year a modular, eco-friendly model home designed by Richard Librach Architect Inc and built by Eurodale Development. The home has already been sold and will be shipped to Caledon after the show.
Even for those who don’t have something particular in mind, there is certainly never a dull moment at the show. Toronto resident Nghiep comes every second year. This year, he and his wife left with a bagful of baked goods, cleaning products, and other items. “It’s good,” he said, smiling.
Bryan Baeumler, host of the HGTV series Disaster DIY and House of Bryan, hosted a workshop on Saturday. He shared numerous useful renovation tips coloured with many of his TV show experiences.
But he reminded the audience that there are some differences between reality and what is presented on TV—sometimes it requires a few takes to get a scene just right, while some details are left on the cutting room floor. It’s important to keep this in mind when deciding whether to do renovations yourself or hire someone, he said. Other questions to ask yourself are: Am I going to enjoy this? How long am I going to enjoy this? Do I have the time?
Mistakes also abound in the learning process, so Baeumler stressed that enjoying the project makes all the difference. He said personally he could work from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. and still want to keep on going.
MORE OF BAEUMLER’S RENOVATION TIPS:
• The most important part of a renovation project is what is not visible, for example, the structure, electrical, plumbing, insulation, and the drywall of a kitchen.
• Before using the whole budget on aesthetics, for example, a granite counter top, take care of the structure first. This will serve well in the long run. For example, if there’s an unexpected leak behind the wall, you will have to take down the granite counter top, which is expensive.
• Calculate the budget realistically. The average budget for a kitchen renovation is $15,000. Most people think it’s $5,000.
• Put away 15-20 percent as part of a contingency fund, because something unexpected always comes up in a home renovation.
• Do the renovation in stages. Don’t tackle several rooms in the house all at once.
• Negotiate with your spouse. Go through each room in the house and decide what is important for each.
• Get a building permit. This ensures the renovation job is done properly.
• Green is money. When looking at green alternatives, look for more efficient money-saving strategies. One way is to secure places with airflow, such as windows and doors, which will save money on electricity.
DREAM GARDENS
Designed by some of Toronto’s top landscape companies and designers, the Dream Gardens are one of the major attractions of the National Home Show. Walking through the gardens, gazebos, and waterfalls, freshly planted bulbs and lounge chairs will greet you in an intimate atmosphere. And if you’re lucky, you might just run into the garden’s designers, ready to share their passion and impart some gardening tips.
One such artist is Connie Cadotte, who designed a sustainable garden for Green Apple Landscaping. In the past, her garden designs have won awards at Canada Blooms, the Flower & Garden festival.
“Everyone can have a nice garden. You just have to have patience,” she said. Her top three tips for people looking to design their gardens are: plan, hire a professional, and have patience. The garden and the plants also have to suit the person and the place.
MORE GARDENING TIPS:
• A big mistake people make is that they overplant. Remember that plants spread out when given the time. “Plants are like art. You wouldn’t want to squeeze a piece of art together,” said Cadotte.
• Take your time. Make sure you have a plan and think about the space and how it connects to the house. You also have to have the right plants.
• Plan for your garden 3-6 months in advance. You can’t call a landscape artist in May and expect to have the garden ready in May.
The National Home Show runs from February 19-28. The Epoch Times is a sponsor of the National Home Show.
