Winter months in Houston aren’t about hibernating — they’re about getting things done.
That’s when our to-do lists seem to see more action, and home shows are great places to gather ideas. A number of commercial home and garden shows are on the calendar, and a modern showcase home will open its doors to show how a very traditional home can be revamped with modern style.
Full disclosure: I’m a speaker at a couple of them. I’m a journalist who writes about interior design — not a licensed designer — but I’ve got plenty of ideas to help you get started with decorating and renovation projects for just about any room. I’ll offer free advice at a booth at the show this weekend in Sugar Land and one Feb. 16-17 in the Cy-Fair area, so bring room dimensions and photos and plenty of questions.
9th annual Sugar Land Home and Garden Show
If a home improvement project is in your future, home and garden shows are great places to gather ideas and names of potential contractors or vendors. I’ll staff a booth at this annual show from 1-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, so if you have a home decorating project and would like free advice, bring photos and room dimensions, and I’ll help you get started. Also speaking at the show is the popular Dr. Lori Verderame, who will perform her antique appraisal/comedy show at noon and 2 p.m. Verderame — who goes by Dr. Lori in her shows — has appeared on the Discovery Channel’s “Auction Kings” and the History channel’s “The Curse of Oak Island.” This show will have more than 200 vendors; other speakers include HomeShow Radio’s Tom Tynan, KTRH GardenLine’s Randy Lemmon and High Tech Texan Michael Garfield.
When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash, Stafford
Tickets: $10 general admission, $9 seniors, children age 12 and younger get in free
Information: sugarlandhomeandgarden.com
13th annual Spring Katy Home and Garden Show
Dana Tyson, a longtime and popular host on the Sunny 99.1 morning radio show, and her son Bobby Tyson, a Realtor and home builder, will talk about their own home project, the renovation and preservation of Dana Tyson’s Eastwood home, built in 1922. They’ll talk at 1 p.m. Jan. 26-27 at this annual Katy show. The show includes DIY workshops hosted by The Rustic Brush, plus a gift market and vintage market.
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 26 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 27
Where: Merrell Center and Robinson Pavilion, 6301 S. Stadium Lane, Katy
Tickets: $9 adults, children age 12 and younger get in free
Information: katyhomeandgardenshow.com
Access Design
Four great Houston interior designers will offer advice at Access Design, a quarterly event hosted by the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Design Center. At the next event, Feb. 7-8, Chase Dowell of Chase Dowell Interior Design, Lindsey Herod of Lindsey Herod Interiors, Cindy Aplanalp-Yates of the Chairma Design Group and Connie LeFevre of the Fabric House and Design House showroom and design studio will all give talks. Dowell and Herod will speak Feb. 7 in back-to-back talks; Aplanalp-Yates and LeFevre will speak Feb. 8.
When: 4-6 p.m. Feb. 7 and 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 8
Where: Houston Design Center, 7026 Old Katy Road
Tickets: Free
Information: Register by [email protected]
Modern Luxury Interiors Texas Show House
Modern design is gaining traction in Houston and will be on display in a big way in the Modern Luxury Interiors Texas Show House, created in partnership with Nina Magon’s Contour Interior Design firm. They took a nearly 11,000-square-foot traditional Piney Point home that had been in foreclosure twice and completely revamped it, modern style. On the advice of a vastu shastra expert, the kitchen, a bathroom, pool and fireplaces were all moved. Windows were added and the once dark exterior is now a bright white stucco. Ticket sales benefit Dec My Room and the new Houston branch of Dwell With Dignity.
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 8-9 and noon-6 p.m. Feb. 10
Where: 247 Hedwig
Tickets: $25 at the door
Information: modernluxury.com
Cy-Fair Home and Garden Show
You’ve likely seen Lori Verderame on the History channel, Discovery Channel or Fox Business Network with her highly entertaining antique appraisals. She also writes a syndicated column that runs in the Houston Lifestyles & Homes monthly magazine. She’ll be at this Cypress show at noon and 2 p.m. Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 to meet people who’d like her to assess the worth of their valuables. I’ll staff a booth from 1-3 p.m. both days, helping people get started on home decorating projects; bring room photos and dimensions and plenty of questions.
When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 16 and 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Feb. 17
Where: Berry Center, 8877 Barker Cypress
Tickets: $10 general admission, $9 seniors, children ages 12 and younger free
Information: cyfairhomeandgarden.com
84th Azalea Trail
Save the date: You know it’s spring in Texas when the brilliant azaleas start blooming and the always busy River Oaks Garden Club hosts its annual Azalea Trail tour. This year’s is the organization’s 84th, and it will feature four private River Oaks homes plus the gardens at Bayou Bend and Rienzi.
When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. March 1-3
Where: Four homes, Bayou Bend and Rienzi
Tickets: $10 per person or five for $30; on sale in February
Information: riveroaksgc.org
