Sept. 10, 2015 | Kathleen Renne

Making design easy

32nd annual Home + Design Show returns Sept 17 – 20

From blah bathrooms to cluttered kitchens, homeowners are often encouraged to channel their inner designer.

The trouble is knowing where to start.

"There are a lot of shortcuts to make it easier," said Parker Barrow's Janette Ewen who, with co-owner Jef Hancock, will be among dozens of designer gurus on hand at the BMO Centre Sept. 17-20 for the 32nd annual Home + Design Show.

CREB®Now will be presenting Ewen and Hancock when they take the Trail Appliances Main Stage Sept. 18 at 4 p.m., Sept. 19 at 4:30 p.m. and Sept. 20 at noon.

Ewen – an interior stylist, television design expert, and former magazine style editor – will be offering up a presentation titled Think Like a Designer.

Hancock, who is also a furniture designer and fabricator, will also host a presentation with Ewen titled Around the World with Parker Barrow.

"We'll talk about places we love that have inspired us and how you can take that inspiration and translate it into your space," said Ewen.

More than 30,000 people are expected to attend this year's Home + Design Show, which will feature more than 350 companies on site.

"This show is for everybody (whether) you're looking to renovate your home, looking for decorating ideas, or just for a day out with family," said assistant show manager Jenn Tait.

New this year is the interactive Accessorize Me exhibit. Using an array of decor items from HomeSense, attendees can design their own "scape" for a bed, table top or mantle. Interior decorating students from Bow Valley College will be on hand to assist people with their creations. Participants will also be eligible to enter a draw for the décor items.

Also new this year is Curate with local designer Aly Velji.

"Aly has brought in Canadian-made products he has curated. All of these items are exclusive to the Calgary Home + Design Show," said Tait.

"We like to bring a lot of new ideas and exhibits to the show each year to keep it fresh and exciting."

In addition to Ewen and Hancock, the Trail Appliances Main Stage will feature Bryan and Sarah Baeumler of HGTV's House of Bryan fame, as well as local designers such as Amanda Hamilton and David Crosson.

"We have some of the industry's top names on the main stage where you can get tips on anything from design to construction," said Tait.

Returning to the show this year is the popular Ask a Designer exhibit, presented by CREB®Now.

"We've had this for the past three years, and it's coming back by popular demand," said Tait.

Alberta designers will sit down with show attendees for free 10- to 15-minute design consultations.

"We encourage attendees to bring questions, a floor plan and some pictures to help the designer get a better idea of what they're trying to do," said Tait.

Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault, a Rust-Oleum brand spokeswoman and "DIY doyenne," will also be hand on the main stage to talk about the art of upcycling.

"Upcycling has definitely become a trend over the past year or so," said Tait. "A lot of people are looking at taking old items and doing a DIY project with them. Ever since Pinterest has become so popular, there are a lot more ideas out there."

Tait is excited about this year's Ultimate Upcycling Challenge. Ten Calgary personalities selected pre-loved chairs from Habitat for Humanity's ReStore, which they then upcycled into "swoon-worthy" seats.

The chairs will be auctioned off with proceeds benefitting Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta.

The Home + Design Show runs from Sept. 17 to 20 at the BMO Centre. Seniors' Day returns Sept. 18, and will include $7 tickets before 5 p.m.

Family Day will take place Sept. 20, featuring crafts, a kinetic sand table, kid-friendly cooking demonstrations on the Trail Appliances Cooking Stage and a special appearance by Elsa from Frozen.

Tickets are $13 for seniors, $16 for adults (13 years and older). Children 12 and under are free. Discounted tickets ($10 for seniors, $13 for adults) are available online at
www.calgaryhds.com.

Ewen's top take-home tip?

"Don't take design so seriously. If it looks right, it is right. Have fun with it," she said.

Tagged: Calgary Home + Design Show | Calgary Real Estate News | interior design | Renovations