Show will help you plan your next reno
Kick-start your next reno with a visit to the Ottawa Home + Remodelling Show
Unless you’re lucky enough to jet off to the sunny south for the winter, Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault insists, there’s no better time than now to plan a spring renovation or summer backyard makeover.
“People underestimate the planning stage,” says Allaire Perrault, a design and do-it-yourself expert appears regularly on TV’s Cityline. “This is the absolute perfect time — we’re cooped up in our homes, cocooning — to spend time planning a big project.”
A self-described “frugalista,” Allaire Perrault will be at the Ottawa Home + Remodelling Show next weekend to share her renovation tips and budget-friendly ideas.
Bottom line: Homeowners need to hammer out the details of any home-improvement before getting started, she says.
Once you’ve decided when you want work done and how much to spend, she recommends pinpointing where you can cut costs by rolling up your sleeves and helping out.
“In my opinion, great style and taste have little to do with how much money you spend, but rather how creative you can be with the budget you have,” says the savvy mother of two, who can work magic with a simple paintbrush.
To prove her point, the home show is hosting the Ultimate Upcycle Challenge: Unhinged. Five volunteers, including Citizen Homes editor Anita Murray, were asked to breathe new life into a “pre-loved” door, which will then be auctioned off to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.
Other show highlights include presentations on the mainstage by HGTV star Bryan Baeumler on Jan. 23 and Ottawa’s Renovator of the Year Steve Barkhouse on Jan. 24. Wood Collective will also be unveiling a sleek home featuring natural wood finishes and Lowe’s will offer a tool-testing area. As a bonus, there’ll be a game den — with game tables and a bar — where visitors can relax during the show.
ALLAIRE PERRAULT’S TIPS FOR CUTTING RENO COSTS:
Elbow grease: Tearing out cabinets, carpet or fixtures, removing furniture, and painting walls and trim yourself can significantly reduce expenses. Purge: Scour the attic, basement and garage for unwanted furniture, small appliances and decor items, and sell them to offset costs. Encore: Repurpose existing belongings. Turn an old door into a headboard, replace the shade on a lamp for a new look, or turn a sideboard into a bathroom vanity. Besides cutting costs and landfill waste, upcycling “is the ultimate way add personality and uniqueness to your home,” she says.