ADD VALUE WITH GREAT GREEN SPACE
Designer sees gardening as an outdoor investment
Forget about those kitchen and bathroom renovations, outdoors is where the real money is, according to landscape designer Carson Arthur.
“If you can expand your living space and provide more usable space outdoors, you can increase your home’s value in a way that you can’t do it with a major kitchen renovation,” said Arthur, the celebrity headliner for the Garden Stage at next week’s Edmonton Home + Garden Show.
“We now know that when it comes to return on investment, and the best return on your money, outdoor renovations have passed large scale kitchens and bathrooms,” said Arthur. “You make more money by putting a beautiful deck in or increasing your outdoor living space than you do by spending a huge amount of money on the kitchen.
“Obviously nobody is going to buy a house that doesn’t have a kitchen, however your kitchen starts to look old and dated after just five years with the way new technology and all the new stuff constantly is flowing in. However, you put a tree in the ground, you put plants in the ground and after five years, if you’ve looked after them, they’ve doubled in size or they’ve significantly grown.”
Arthur, who will be doing two different presentations at the Home + Garden Show, focusing on protecting your outdoor investments and urban faring, said it isn’t his bias toward landscaping that is speaking. Rather, his statements are based upon research from Remodelling Magazine, and real estate companies such as Century 21 Canada and Better Homes and Garden Real Estate.
A well-liked presenter — the people behind the home show said Carson is very popular with those interested in the show’s gardening
When it comes to return on investment … outdoor renovations have passed large scale kitchens and bathrooms.
aspect — Arthur is known for his appearances on shows such as Critical Listing, Green Force, and Room to Grow. Next month, he can be seen in Home to Win 2.
“I can tell you that 30 stars (will be on Home to Win 2), all in one space,” said Arthur. “What they like to do is they like to take us out of our comfort zone. So even though I’m an outdoor guy, I wouldn’t be surprised to find me indoors in a space that would not be to my typical choosing when it comes to renovations.”
One might think there may be too many cooks — or in this case designers and builders — in the mix, but Arthur said that isn’t the case.
“What is amazing about this particular house — especially because there are so many celebrities in the space, where we’re all working together and there is sort of a common theme from room to room to room — it’s amazing how everybody is able to incorporate a personal part of themselves … But yet the harmony throughout the house — even though all these different designers and builders are bringing in a piece of themselves — the harmony throughout the house is incredible.”
Arthur, who has a new book focusing on urban farming in the works, is just one part of what gardening show attendees can expect. New this year is Hort Couture, where fashion and florals come together. Presented by West Edmonton Mall, it showcases vignettes curated by some of West Edmonton Mall’s most fashion-forward retailers, where the mannequins are dressed in floral outfits — created completely out of flowers.
This year’s home show is bringing back Backyard Wars, where local landscapers will use their design prowess and battle for the best backyard space. Also, there’s the Maple Leaf Floral Design Competition on March 24, where Canadian floral designers will compete in one of North America’s longestrunning floral design contests.
“After a long winter, Edmontonians are ready to start planning for spring, and what better way to do that but visit the Home + Garden Show for all of your garden needs and inspiration,” said assistant show manager Alison Farrell.