Big world of tiny homes at Fall Home Show
Do you have a smaller living space you’d like to make the most of? You’re in good company, since many of us are downsizing these days.
At the Fall Home Show, Friday to Sunday at the Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place in Toronto, more than 300 exhibitors will inspire you to make the most of your home — no matter its size.
Start with a tour of the smallest homes out there in the Tiny Home Village and see how they tackle organization and storage. Tiny homes tend to be under 400 square feet and can be customized to fit the homeowner’s needs. Several municipalities in Ontario are looking at modifying their bylaws to allow tiny homes as permanent residences in an effort to ease the housing crunch.
Small-space living tips would also come in handy for a laneway home. Built at the backs of lots and facing onto public lanes, laneway homes are often smaller than the main house on the lot. The good news is, as of this summer, they are permitted to be built across the city of Toronto.
The panel discussion, on the Main Stage at 2 p.m. on Saturday, will focus on smaller homes with the expertise of participants Daniel Ott of True North Tiny Homes, a designer and manufacturer of tiny homes; Emmanuel Belliveau of Eva Lanes, a company laneway suites builder; and Chris Loftus of Method Home, a RenoMark renovator and custom homebuilder.
You can continue your homebased conversation with other renovators and custom homebuilders at RenoMark’s three booths in the main aisle. At the first booth, pick up a copy of the updated RenoMark Reno Guide that was created to help you pull off a successful renovation.
At the second booth, RenoMark renovators and custom homebuilders will provide you with advice about your specific renovation.
And, still on the topic of smaller spaces, if you’ve been thinking about renovating your condo, don’t miss the third RenoMark exhibit in the main aisle. It will feature a two-room condominium model suite, and you can learn all about the possibilities and restrictions that come with condo renovations. Complete a short questionnaire and enter it for a chance to win a $500 Visa gift card. For more information about condo renovations, come to the main stage at 5 p.m. on Friday or at noon on either Saturday or Sunday to hear a presentation from RenoMark members who specialize in renovating condos.
If you need a break from all that renovation planning, check out some of the more lighthearted activities at the Fall Home show, such as the Designer Pumpkin Patch or our ghost walk at the Horse Palace on Friday at 7 p.m. (tickets are limited for the ghost walk and must be purchased in advance). Proceeds from both events will benefit Habitat for Humanity.
Ready to take the first step in creating a home that’s a perfect fit for you? Get your tickets to the Fall Home Show at fallhomeshow.com.
David Wilkes is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and a contributor for the Star. Follow him on