HomeStyles is Saskatoon’s largest home and lifestyle trade show, with almost 500 booths and nearly 250 exhibitors blanketing Prairieland Park.
Whether you’re looking for homebuilding or renovation advice, inspiration for your next indoor or outdoor project, or want to shop for a unique item to take home with you, HomeStyles has it all. It goes this weekend, beginning Thursday, March 8 at 3 p.m.
“We had a really great response to the local expert presentations last year, so we’ve got a jam-packed schedule this year full of presentations on everything from design trends, home technology, kitchen renos, and landscaping, to how to hire the right contractor — all topics for people looking for help or inspiration for their home projects from professionals they can trust,” said Chris Guerette, CEO of the Saskatoon and Region Home Builders’ Association (SHBA), which puts on the annual HomeStyles show.
“We’ve also got Mickey and Sebastian from HGTV on the main stage on Friday night, which is really exciting too.”
Best friends and professional contractors Sebastian Sevallo and Mickey Fabbiano have both charmed and educated the HGTV Canada audience with their new series, Worst to First, in which they take on the challenge of transforming the ugliest house on the block into a stunning and affordable new home for its lucky owner.
“Seb and I met through our siblings — my sister married his brother,” explained Fabbiano. “We kept hearing how ‘we have to meet each other’ and ‘you are so much alike,’ which made me not want to meet him and put me off, to say the least. I mean, how can anyone be just like me?”
Their siblings were right.
“Within five minutes we were finishing off each other’s sentences, had similar life experiences and stories to tell,” continued Fabbiano, laughing. “Without a doubt, spring was in the air and the bromance had blossomed.”
When asked what inspires them to transform a wreck of a house, Fabbiano reflects on his childhood in Vancouver and his Italian parents.
“Family was always number one and no matter what, it’s family first,” said Fabbiano. “The community you grew up in was an extension of you and your family, so be a part of it whether its helping or getting to know your neighbours, joining sports at the local community centre or simply maintaining your home to keep up the good appearance of the neighbourhood.
“In my case, we did them all. As I got older, due to the rising house prices in Vancouver, I kept seeing more and more people in my neighbourhood forced to move out,” he continued. “So when you ask me about what the most inspiring thing is, I would say it’s connecting the homeowner to the neighbourhood they want to live in and raise their family in, whether because they grew up there or just love the community, and to know that this family can live in the home of their dreams.”
At this year’s HomeStyles show, in their presentation titled Renovation Salvation: Can Every Home Be Saved?, the duo will start at the beginning and break down what they do when they walk through a home to decide whether to renovate or walk away.
“What to look for before purchasing the home are signs of structural issues, leaks, mould and anything else that might be a big ticket item stopping you from receiving the reno of your dreams,” said Fabbiano. “Whether you own a home or plan to buy, there will be information to help maintain your home before it gets to a point of no return. The information we plan to provide will focus on issues people can either relate to, or have not thought about.”
Fabbiano has one last piece of advice for those attending the HomeStyles show with the goal of scouting potential contractors to help make their dream home a reality.
“My father has successfully run his construction company, Fabbiano Construction, for over 30 years, and he has never needed to advertise,” explained Fabbiano. “The main reason is that 99 per cent of his work comes from word of mouth.
“When you do good work, news spreads fast; but bad work spreads even faster, which is why it’s a lot harder to build a good reputation than a bad one,” he continued. “Judge of character is a big factor; you need to be able to have a clean and clear line of communication before, during and after the work is done.”
There are also other HomeStyles presentations happening on two different stages throughout each day where you can learn from local experts or get inspiration for the kitchen by taking in the food and beverage related presentations located in Prairieland Park’s bistro area. There’s even Family Day on Sunday, where parents can bring the kids to meet the popular Disney Junior PJ Masks characters in person.
  “Home technology, like smart homes, and energy-efficient building are both becoming increasingly popular topics right now, and we’re seeing that trend reflected at the show in the form of booths and presentations,” said Guerette. “The marketplace also has more exhibitors than ever, which is great news for those who are looking to do some shopping.”
 For those wanting to skip the lineup at the door, 2018 HomeStyles tickets are available online in advance this year. Go to homestylesonline.com for the ticket purchase link. Check out the HomeStyles Facebook page for the most up-to-date promos, speaker bios, schedule, and other info about the show, or to contact show organizers directly.
HomeStyles’ hours of operation are: Thursday, March 8: 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday, March 9: 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday, March 10: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sunday, March 11: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The ticket prices are $12.50 for adults and $10 for seniors. Children 12 and under are free.