SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Saratoga Home & Lifestyle Show has a lot to offer
» Vendors and visitors alike were all business when it came to having fun at the Saratoga Home & Lifestyle Show on Saturday.
The free event, which continues from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Saratoga Springs City Center, attracted a large crowd of people looking for home improvement ideas, while also enjoying a Mac ‘n Cheese Bake-Off contest and high-quality art show.
O.J. and Terri Zocco, of Gansevoort, went home with plenty of inspiration for projects, plus bags full of free goodies such as pens, rulers and candies provided by the Home Show’s 131 exhibitors.
“We call this Halloween for adults,” O.J. said, smiling. “We go around, put the bag out and say Trick or Treat! Whatever they feel like throwing in my bag I’ll take.”
“It’s something to do on a cold, snowy day,” his wife said.
She’s considering a bathroom makeover, while a fire pit and stone patio display caught O.J.’s attention.
“We like to get ideas and see what’s new,” he said. “There’s something we might have passed over around the house, so these are always good shows to come to. You never know what you’ll find.”
The show is a fundraiser for Saratoga Springs Rotary Club, which hopes to net $100,000 for worldwide and local charitable groups and causes.
“We’re grateful to all the people who come back each year,” said Rotarian Lillian Spost, the Home Show chair.
The highlight of Sunday’s activity is a Tool Demo hosted by Allerdice Building Supply and Northern Dean Inc., to help people use tools such as a drill and impact driver,
and learn how to do common household tasks such as patching and repairing drywall, hanging a picture, or installing a towel bar. The demo, from noon to 1:30 p.m., will be led by Northern Dean Inc. owner Rich Martin and Allerdice tool department Manager Kathy Desjardin.
Local business representatives on hand say the healthy economy is spurring strong consumer interest in building and homeimprovement projects.
“People are spending money this year,” said David Bagley, of Curtis Lumber Co. in Ballston Spa. “We see a lot of commercial development, homes being developed and new apartments.”
Adam Zima, of Capitol District Supply, with stores in Saratoga Springs, Albany and Schenectady, said 2018 sales are off to a good start.
“I’d say that in January and February our showroom traffic ticked up a significant amount,” he said. “When people kick tires early in the year that’s a good sign. We won’t know for a few months until everyone gets in the remodel season, but it looks promising. The difference from a few years ago is, it used to be just refreshes of a kitchen or bathroom. People would just get a counter top, back splash or new faucets. Now we’re doing full remodels of kitchens and baths.”
For example, his booth had a $2,900 Kohler bathtub on display, which some people are opting for now instead of a much less expensive, basic model.
“Why are they doing that? It’s a sign of the economy, that things are improving and people are willing to invest in quality products,” Zima said.
J.R. Mangino of Ballston Spa-based Mangino Custom Builders said, “I see a lot of home improvement renovations. I’m getting requests all the time. We mostly do kitchen remodels, garages and decks. Business is going to do very well.
His wife, Janice, said, “People want to do highend improvements to their home because that’s where they spend most of their time.”
The Home Show’s art show is located on the City Center’s second floor, with more than two dozen participants.
One of the most unique displays is sculptor Erik Johnsen’s bigger-than-lifesize hell hounds, which he makes with Lowe’s building materials. His studio, Museum Beyond Walls, is in Argyle.
“We have an armature that is made out of some type of wood,” he said. “Then we have wire stapled onto that, which builds out the lines of the creature. Next, we put a screen over the top and a thin coat of insulating foam. That gives it the body you see. Then we’ll put some type of skin over that.”
The structures are sturdy enough for kids to sit on, like they’re taking a ride.
One scary-looking black creation, with long teeth, has a rubberized silicone exterior. Johnsen named it Bella, for Dracula actor Bella Lugosi.
However, the most eyecatching sculpture practically glitters.
“The really shiny part is aluminum flashing, but I put extra treatment on it to make it extra shiny,” Johnsen said. “When the sun hits it, it shoots a galaxy of colors all around the place, so his name is Galaxy Cat.”
For Home Show information, go to www.saratogaspringsrotary.org.