Perennial favourites, local and other experts and everything you need to know about home improvement are on tap at the 2024 Home and Remodelling Show.
“The show will be larger this year than last year with close to 20 per pent more exhibiting companies, giving visitors a wider and deeper variety of local experts,” says show organizer Rob Johnstone of Expo Media. “The home show is the only place in Ottawa to find all of the experts under one roof.”
The 2024 Home and Remodelling Show offers visitors the chance to speak with experts face to face, nail down exclusive deals on site with some of the participants and get ideas and inspiration from the hundreds of exhibitors, workshops and presentations, he says.
Bryan Baeumler on the main stage
Main stage presenters at the show, which runs Jan. 18-21 at the EY Centre, include HGTV star Bryan Baeumler. He’s speaking on Friday and Saturday about taking the guesswork out of home ownership by learning how to spend money on your home so you get real — as opposed to merely cosmetic — value.
See five home improvement tips from Bryan below
“There are things you can do to reduce your long-term operating costs and build true value. People spend money on cosmetic things that are a liability long term because every 10 to 15 years we change the cosmetics of our home: we don’t like the look of our kitchen or granite countertops are out and marble is in.”
Instead, he says to upgrade the efficiency of your home. “If you insulate it properly, you barely need to heat it. As a consumer society, we think, ‘Well, if the boat has a hole in it, we’ll just buy a pump’ rather than, ‘Why don’t we build a boat that doesn’t have a hole in it?’
“A lot of Canadians are house poor. They have a big, beautiful home that’s eating up everything. It’s really hard for the next generation to purchase these homes and, if they do, the cost to maintain and operate them is astronomical. We need to look at what we need versus what we want. In a lot of cases, it just means smaller (homes). It’s like food: a small plate of high-quality food has more nutrients than a giant plate of cheap food.”
Baeumler has a new show launching on HGTV this spring: Bryan’s All In. In the show, he travels off the beaten path in his RV, making stops along the way to help small businesses, including an almost century-old bowling alley in Arnprior, with key building projects to open or revive their company.
Homeowners can pick up valuable tips from the show about renovating their homes, says Baeumler.
“There are lessons on how to do things the right way, to be as efficient as you can, learn new skills and get out of your comfort zone.”
Other main stage presenters include:
- Jacob Kirst from Lagois Design-Build-Renovate on how to hire the right renovator for you
- Decor Therapy Plus’ Sue Pitchforth speaking about the magic of paint and wallpaper
- Christopher Mulholland and Amy Derbyshire from Amsted Design-Build on your guide to a successful renovation
- All Things Home’s Anita Murray, who will bring audiences up to speed on 2024 trends in renovations, design, new homes and the Ottawa housing market.
More features at the 2024 Home and Remodelling Show
Along with speakers, this year’s show sees a return of Save Your Favs, which enables visitors to use their phone to scan QR codes at each booth and get an email with more information on companies after the show.
Also back is the Perth Brewery Lounge, where visitors can relax and enjoy a traditional handcrafted beer.
The indoor Backyard Oasis by Benkka Landscapes means visitors can escape the January weather beneath an indoor pergola with trees, flowers and other attractions.
And the popular Habitat for Humanity pop-up ReStore makes a return with its new and gently used home furnishings and decor, some of them upcycled, at a fraction of the original price.
For more on the 2024 Ottawa Home and Remodelling Show, visit ottawahomeandremodellingshow.com.
Five home improvement tips from Bryan Baeumler
- Focus on permanent elements of your home. If you’re redoing your kitchen, that means things like cabinets, flooring and insulation.
- Be willing to compromise on cosmetics to increase energy efficiency.
- In increasing energy efficiency, you save money every month; invest that money instead of spending it and you’ll wind up with a nice nest egg.
- If you tackle some home improvement yourself, start small with a bit of paint or a backsplash. Explore your comfort zone and learn what you’re good at.
- Stay away from structural, electrical, gas and other dangerous repairs and upgrades. Instead, hire a pro.
