Just in time to provide some inspiration for your home and garden, the Building Industries Association of Northwest Indiana (BIA) is hosting their 10th annual Home and Garden Show next weekend at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point.
"This year's BIA Spring Home & Garden Show promises to be an unforgettable escape from winter, while offering incredible ideas, inspiration and expert assistance, as well as some of the very best deals you'll find anywhere on everything imaginable for home and garden," current BIA president, Bob Hennessey of Hennessey Homes, says. "This year, we hope you bring the whole family out for an enjoyable day. Along with many things for mom and dad to see, there are a number of exciting new activities for the kids to enjoy as well."
In order to get the most out of your visit to the BIA Home and Garden Show next Saturday and/or Sunday, you may want to do a little advanced preparation this week. For example, take a few snapshots of your current home projects and bring them along. That way, when you meet people with the expertise you're looking for, they can offer more personalized advice and suggestions based on your situation.
In the same way, you can look for pictures of your dream room in magazines or other resources to bring along. Exhibitors will be able to show you step-by-step how you can make it a reality in your home.
Other suggestions include bringing along measurements for cost estimates, giving some consideration to your prospective project budget and, of course, wearing comfortable walking shoes. There are hundreds of products on display and experts to consult.
Open from 9am-7pm on Saturday and 10am-6pm on Sunday, the BIA Spring Home and Garden Show will once again offer a family pleasing menu prepared by 'Spuds 'n Moo & Hot Dogs Too.' Plus, in addition to scheduled Kids Events featuring exciting hands-on projects several times each day, kids will also enjoy the balloon artistry of 'Mr. Twister' from 11am-4pm on Saturday.
Admission to the BIA Spring Home and Garden Show is $2 for adults and $1 for children. The BIA is offering a $1 discount when you bring a canned food donation to help replenish our local food pantries. At the time of admission, adults will receive an entry blank for two grand prize drawings this year. There will also be additional opportunities to register and win a variety of useful door prizes throughout the exhibits.
Once again, one lucky winner will enjoy a $2,000 shopping spree compliments of Crown Point's Nason's Appliance Co. with the exciting opportunity to choose from a distinctive variety of state-of-the art appliances and electronics from Nason's BIA Spring Home and Garden Show display or their fully-stocked showroom. New this year, a second winner will enjoy the benefits of an installed Whole House Air-Cleaner, which meets the American Lung Association's Healthy House Guidelines , valued at $2,000.
"We're holding the show a little later in the season since there is always a great deal of garden interest," BIA Spring Home and Garden Show chairman Jerry VanDrunen, outside sales representative with Home Lumber of Crown point, says. "Over the years we have found that the public really appreciates the fact that the BIA sponsors this event where they can find a variety of information on local home improvement and meet a number of people with valuable hands-on experience. This year's greater emphasis on the garden aspect includes an impressive list of highly-informative seminars both days."
According to Lisa Ritchie, coordinator of the BIA Home and Garden Show seminar schedule and co-owner of Border Magic in Valparaiso, the seminar series was designed to show you how it's possible to achieve your overall goals by starting with one project at a time.
"Right now people are concerned with the economy and saving money," she says. "We found some very creative and very talented people who can help you think smarter and live smarter. Everybody can benefit from that."
Over the course of the BIA Home and Garden Show next weekend, you can meet the following local experts: Kent Loosemoore from Taltree Arboretum & Gardens in Valparaiso will discuss arboriculture, horticulture, restoration, conservation, ecology, landscape design, pruning, tree care and more; Wayne Gruber of Gardens on the Prairie in Lowell will share his unique gift for creating outstanding landscape and garden displays using new materials throughout the season; Interior designer Jane Leslie will share insight on the trends in interior design, with a focus on your home, office and patio; and from the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, Stanley Sims, County Extension director, will provide timely tips on preventing and controlling lawn insects and disease; while Corinne Powell, Consumer and Family Sciences educator, will offer practical money-saving tips through shopping smarter.
Chartered in 1953, the Building Industries Association of Northwest Indiana (BIA) is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Indiana Builders Association (IBA). With nearly 500 members comprised of local builders and their associates, the BIA is committed to promoting and enhancing professionalism in the local building industry.
Along with sponsoring a number of popular annual events, the BIA provides consumers with a wealth of resources they can use to make informed decisions, from choosing a builder for new home construction to finding the right products and service providers for virtually any home improvement project. Because BIA members agree to strict standards of practice and business integrity in order to maintain their membership, you can expect high-quality workmanship and dedicated professional service.
For more information, contact the BIA office, 11035 Broadway, Suite C in Crown Point, at (219) 663-4475. You can also log on to www.bianwi.org where you'll find helpful guidelines to consider when hiring a builder or remodelor plus valuable contact information for current members and a calendar of upcoming events.
