HRG has had a great time at the 2010 National. It was the first year that we had a booth and it was great to get feedback from the attendants as well as other exhibitors about how our site HomeRenovationGuide.com is a great resource for people looking to renovate their homes. HRG is the official online sponsor of MarketPlace Events, which holds this annual trade show and HRG provides a little welcome gift for all of the exhibitors. The spring flowers by local florist Cool, Green, and Shady were lovely and really brightened up the show room with a breath of spring.

As well, it was the first time I had the opportunity to live blog from the National for spotlight.rogers.com, a Rogers Communications Inc. lifestyle site where you can catch up on the latest pop culture news.

Here are my articles, with a look at the show and lots of green tips:

http://www.spotlight.rogers.com/life/green/8289/live-national-home-show

http://www.spotlight.rogers.com/life/green/8411/dream-green

http://www.spotlight.rogers.com/life/green/8436/green-house

Now I leave with some pics of the cool Challenger Cube house as well as this year’s fab Dream Home - enjoy!

A look at this year’s Fall Home show. Enjoy!

We had a chance to meet the gregarious and gorgeous Colin and Justin (of Colin & Justin’s Home Heist on HGTV) at their booth, promoting charity auction event, “After the Heist Home Tour”, in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. Tickets were available for a VIP Home tour that included the opening VIP night mingle and nosh with the fab duo, a jaunt across town to visit 15 homes the pair had “heisted”, and a copy of the Home Heist Style Guide. The event also included a live auction for participants to bid on various prizes, including a design consult with the “makeover mavens”.

Although the event has passed, you can still make a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society via the website www.aftertheheist.ca.

For more info on C & J, visit http://www.colinandjustin.tv/.

Today is the first day of the Fall Home Show at the Better Living Center. If you’re planning on attending this weekend, it’s still not too late to save $4 off (use promo code: RENOVATION) the regular price of admission if you buy your tickets online.

Here’s a look at this year’s attractions. I’ll be posting pics of the show tomorrow so watch out for that.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2009…

THE PLANNING STAGE presented by Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse

Need help updating your look? Don’t go at it alone; look no further than the Planning Stage presented by Lowe’s for the latest in kitchen design, DIY, renovation and holiday décor and entertaining. Local experts and celebs will offer insight and advice to help with all your home improvement needs. Don’t miss Bryan Baeumler live on stage Oct. 1st at 6:30 pm

THE MODERN LIVING LOUNGE CELEBRATE IN STYLE

Get the inside dish. Join Ontario’s hottest chefs, Entertaining Experts and Beverage buffs for not-to-be-missed tips and tricks for the Holiday season. Complete with holiday décor presentations and wine and spirit samples and suggestions, this ultra modern lounge will take you from holiday hopeless to the hostess with the mostess!

TIME TO UPDATE YOUR LOOK? HGTV WORKSHOP SERIES

If your home’s look is mismatched, out-of-date or just plain hopeless, help is coming! Re-fresh, Re-love and Re-energize your space with the help from local design celebrities and experts at the Fall Home Show’s annual hands-on workshop series. Get up to the minute advice on topics ranging from redecorating in a recession and choosing the right color to buying vintage furniture and laying flooring. Please check back soon for schedules.

Tech Style with ConnectPro by Future Shop designed by HGTV’s Cheryl Torrenueva

Take a departure from shabby chic and step into the 21st century with the ConnectPro by Future Shop Tech Style gallery and showroom, showcasing the ultimate in electronics and automated accessories. This ultra-modern exhibit displays forward-thinking and seamless solutions for every room of the house.

DESTINATION RENOVATION

Don’t go it alone. If you have big renovation plans but are stumped about where to start, look no further than Destination Renovation by BILD. Meet face-to-face with renovators and builders alike for a no-nonsense, one-on-one construction consultation that will save you valuable time and money. Presented by BILD (Building Industry and Land Development).

And much much more! For more details visit www.fallhomeshow.com.

Planning on getting tickets to the Fall Home Show Oct 1-4, 2009 at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place? You can easily buy tickets online and by entering the promo code: RENOVATION, you’ll save $4 off the door price.

The Calgary Home & Interior Design Show is happening this weekend so it’s not too late to pick up some last minute tickets. Buy online and use the same promo code: RENOVATION to save $4 off the original price.

Hope to see you there!

As the economy is picking up (or so they tell us in the news), it looks like home construction and the home improvement industry are too. All perfect timing for the upcoming fall home shows across North America where hungry home enthusiasts can meet their fave TV makeover show celeb, get a first look at the latest trends & technologies and find those dream items and unexpected treasures.

In Canada

First up it’s the Calgary Home & Interior Design Show running Sept 17th-20th

Fall Home Show 2009 , Oct 01 - Oct 04, Toronto, ON

Vancouver Home + Interior Design Show, Oct 15 - Oct 18, Vancouver, BC

In the US:

Orlando Home Show, Sep 18 - Sep 20, Orlando, FL

Capital Home Show, Sep 25 - Sep 27, Washington, D.C., DC

Jacksonville Fall Home & Patio Show, Oct 01 - Oct 04, Jacksonville, FL

Deseret News Fall Home Show, Oct 09 - Oct 11, Salt Lake City, UT

If you know of any home shows in your local area please let us know!

It’s the last weekend of the National Home Show in Toronto, a massive display of Home Improvement vendors and more. From fireplaces, to kitchen counter top surfaces, luxury whirlpool spas, and smaller knicknacks, you’ll find it all.

Here’s a look of the Dream House, presented by the Toronto Star, sort of like a funhouse maze for grown-ups.

Don’t forget to watch out for the new Prius.

What? National Home Show
When? Feb. 20 - March 1, 2009!
Where? The Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd.

The largest home show in Toronto is coming up next week with a plethora of home improvement and decor products, accessories, ideas, and celebrity guest appearances.

What to Expect at the Show: (info provided by www.NationalHomeShow.com - visit the official show site for more details)

* The Dream Home – Built by Probuilt by Michael Upshall and styled by Janette Ewen.

* Toronto Star Dream Gardens

* tySTYLE presented by Toshiba

* Colin and Justin, hosts of HGTV’s Home Heist (appearance courtesy of Penguin Books)

* Carson Arthur, host of HGTV’s Green Force

* Scott McGillivray, host of HGTV’s Income Property

* Cheryl Torrenueva, host of HGTV’s Home Heist and Restaurant Makeover

* Corbin Tomaszeski, appearing on HGTV’s Restaurant Makeover

* Igor Shamraychuk, appearing on HGTV’s Restaurant Makeover

Show Date & Hours

Friday, February 20th
11 am to 9pm

Saturday, February 21st
10am to 9pm

Sunday, February 22nd
10am to 6pm

Monday, February 23rd to Friday, February 27th
11 am to 9pm

Saturday, February 28th
10am to 9pm

Sunday, March 1st
10am to 6pm

Admission

Adults: $15.00 (at the door)
Adults: $12.00 (online)
Seniors (65+): $11.00
Seniors: $8.00 (online)
Youth 13 – 17 years: $11.00
Youth 13 – 17 years: $8.00 (online)
Children 12 and under: FREE

* Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Buy online and save (use promo code:RENOVATION) !

Show Venue & Location

The Direct Energy Centre,
Exhibition Place,
100 Princes’ Blvd.
Toronto ON
416-263-3000

Website:

www.NationalHomeShow.com

This just in … a slew of home shows across North America are cropping up in your home town starting in January.

Starting today until Sunday is the 29th Annual South Bay Home & Garden Show in Santa Clara, California. Among the usual exhibitors and seminar goodies, there are some grand prizes to be won, such as the hot hot tub pictured above.

Other upcoming January Home & Garden shows are:

CAN:

Calgary HomExpo 2009, Jan 16 - Jan 18, Calgary, AB

Ottawa Home Renovations Show, Jan 23 - Jan 25, Ottawa, ON

The Edmonton Renovation Show,  Jan 30 - Feb 01, Edmonton, AB

US:

Oklahoma Home & Garden Show, Jan 16 - Jan 19, Oklahoma City, OK

Philadelphia Home Show, Jan 17 - Jan 24, Philadelphia, PA

Indianapolis Home Show,  Jan 30 - Feb 08, Indianapolis, IN

For more info, visit HRG’s Home Shows section.

If you know of an upcoming home show event in your city you’d like to share, please post your comment here.

Here’s your October Home Show update … Some of my colleagues are attending the Vancouver Home Interior Design show next weekend happening from October 16th to the 19th.  With my current foray into home decor, I would have loved to check it out - hopefully going beyond just mirrors & throw pillows.  Of course the first thing I checked out on their website was who were the celebrities.  Among those making an appearance are Janette Ewan (who I missed unfortunately last time at the Toronto Show) a great candidate to learn some fashionable decor tips from, and HGTV show hosts Kelly Deck of “Take It Outside” and Wendy Russell of “She’s Crafty”.

Another passion of mine, cooking & entertaining, is highlighted at a whole Food Stage area where some top local chefs demonstrate the gamut from Southern barbecue to Japanese fusion.  It’s not surprising since what goes better in hand with showing off your cool and modern home then via a dinner party where one can wow one’s guests with some foodie expertise. (ps. Torontonion foodists can look forward to November’s Food and Wine Show.)

There is of course, also a Green Stage which is great because we could all stand to learn about how we can make some simple switches here and there in our lifestyles, which, fingers crossed will accumulate to create a difference.

Closer to my neck of the woods is the Markham Fall Homeshow which starts this Friday at the Markham Fairgrounds. Readers of the Style at Home magazine may wish to check out their first annual show, also held this weekend at the Toronto Exhibition Place, Direct Energy Center.

For details on other shows this month, including many occurring Stateside such one in: Salt Lake City, West Palm Beach, and Atlanta visit our Home Show section for summaries and links to their websites.