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This spring, RENO & DECOR partnered with Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) at the National Home Show to instruct many of the 150,000 attendees on the basics of good design.

Over 20 registered design experts shared their expertise during one-on-one consultations held at the RENO & DECOR exhibit – more than 400 guests signed up for the experience.

"I wanted to achieve a different look for my living room," said Newmarket native Sandra Pikul. "I was very happy to have someone speak to me regarding my window-covering dilemma."

Designer Hilary Nesbitt consulted with Pikul to focus on the client's living room drapery to achieve a fresh take on the space. "I suggested adding panels to the living room drapery," says Nesbitt. "Since there was no space beside one of the windows for the panels, both panels would have to cover the sheers equally on both ends, and a panel down the centre to balance out the end panels."

And design options didn't end with the consultation. Visitors to the show had the opportunity to sign up for one of the many build-it-yourself workshops presented by Jim Caruk's BiY Learning Centers. The sessions covered everything from fixing a wire to building a house.

Caruk, along with celebrity designers Yanic Simard and Jackie Morra, were also on hand to answer design questions and sign copies of their articles in RENO & DECOR.

At the B Magazine and Active Adult exhibit (sister publications to RENO & DECOR), guests explored living, health and beauty needs, in partnership with Silverbeach Developments, enVy pillow and LNBF apparel.

The ever-popular "What's Your Design Dilemma?" feature will return to the Toronto Fall Home Show at the Better Living Centre, September 22 – 25. Designers will once again be on hand to help you tackle your design dilemmas.

CONTEST WINNER

Congratulations to Sandra La Selva of Toronto! Sandra won a $25,000* kitchen makeover from RENO & DECOR and Jim Caruk's BIY Learning Centers. Sandra will work alongside Jim Caruk in this unique hands-on BiY opportunity to renovate her kitchen.

RENO & DECOR is proud to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Look for the feature story on this kitchen makeover in an upcoming issue of RENO & DECOR.

We would also like to thank the generous companies who will be contributing to the kitchen makeover: Contest Winner:

• American Standard • BiY • Bosch • Cambria
• Designer Window Fashions • Dynamic Paint Products
• InSinkerator • Stanley Tools • Tiles Plus
*Approximate value

RENO & DECOR would like to thank these IDC designers for providing their invaluable service throughout the National Home Show:

CANADA BLOOMS

Canada Blooms embraced the JUNO Awards this year with lush JUNO Rocks gardens tailored to JUNO greats like Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Jully Black and Oscar Peterson. Visitors of the show also enjoyed relaxing fare at the Hard Hat Café, sponsored by HOMES Publishing Group, with free copies of RENO & DECOR, Condo Life, HOMES Magazine, B Magazine and Active Adult magazines.

"I loved it," says Maria Josephine of Halton Hills, Ont. "It was so nice to smell a fresh garden after a long winter. It was great to see all the new ideas, and I bought a few new tools for spring."

Over 90,000 visitors experienced the show, which ran at the Direct Energy Centre from March 16 - 20. The National Home Show and Canada Blooms Unite in 2012!

Talks are underway to combine the luscious gardens of Canada Blooms with the inspirational home ideas of the National Home Show. For more information, go to nationalhomeshow.com and canadablooms.com.