I’ve attended the Calgary Home+ Garden Show every year for the past 15 years or so. It was part of my duties as the editor for a variety of new home/real estate magazines, and I always thought it was one of the best parts of the job.
It’s always fun to see all the new products, talk to local vendors, and hobnob with the home improvement TV stars that make it down to the BMO Centre. There was always something there to keep me interested. And now, after Covid cancelled the event last year, the DIY-home-improvement-gardening extravaganza is finally back. And we celebrate its return in this issue.
Noted HGTV star, Bryan Baeumler, makes his return to the main stage, bringing his inimitable style in presenting home improvement ideas to a live audience, and that isn’t all. We have the blueprint inside for the entire four-day show that begins on February 24 at the BMO Centre. Can’t wait to go back – and if the last Calgary Renovation Show held in January is any indication, it promises to be a return to good times. Hope to see you all there.
Living it up!
The living room has taken on various designations over time, but never has the word “living” been more representative of the space than in the past two years. What once was a more formal sitting room, or parlour, used primarily to receive guests, has become the heart of the home. It’s a place to relax, read, watch movies, and depending on what show you’re binging, can oftentimes be where you end up eating, and sleeping, too!
Need some pointers on how to marry function with fashion? We have 3 local designers that give us keen advice on how to achieve living room bliss while giving some major design inspiration! Rochelle Cote of RCID has found that compelling and dynamic living room design starts with the floor, and notes that the right area carpet helps to bring the room together. Check out all the details on page 52. Trisha Isabey explains the importance of size and scale in her feature on page 56, and Marie Hebson of Interiors by Design gives us the seven steps to the perfect living room on page 58.
Whether you’re planning a small project or a major home transformation, we hope we’ve given you the inspiration and information to help you every step of the way.
Happy Renovating!