Canadian Debut: Miss Mustard Seed At The Toronto Fall Home Show

The inspirational Marian Parsons, a.k.a. Miss Mustard Seed, makes her Canadian debut at the Toronto Fall Home Show, September 18-21, 2014. Marian is a blogger, designer, author, and President of Miss Mustard Seed. She loves to paint and refinish old furniture and thought it would be amazing to have a line of Milk Paints in colours she loves. Thus the idea of Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint was born. What started as a small notion, exploded into a full line of products carried by over 230 retailers in five different countries. Before you see Marian at the show, please enjoy her interview with Toronto Show Manager, Tina Holmes.

MEET MARIAN PARSONS, MISS MUSTARD SEED

Toronto Show Manager, Tina Holmes (TH): What's happening in furniture painting in the upcoming 2014/2015 season?

• Marian Parsons (Marian): "I'm seeing more primitive-looking paint techniques...layering paint colours with crackled and worn finishes. I think DIY-ers are also becoming more aware of the products they are using and what ingredients are in them."

TH: What advice have you got for aspiring new DIY painters?

• Marian: "You have to start somewhere, so don't be afraid to start. Work on a piece that was free or cheap or that you just hate as it is. That way, there's no pressure!"

TH: What would you say are the biggest colours, the hottest trends for fall?

• Marian: I'm seeing a lot of shades of white on Pinterest. I think we all like how clean they look in pictures. I've also been seeing a lot of indigo, but the blues always catch my attention."

TH: With your book Inspired You: Breathing New Life into Your Heart and Home and the new "Look Book" launch, you bring to life your paint colours and furniture. Do you have a favourite Milk Paint colour?

• Marian: "I am a blue and white girl through and through, so I love Ironstone, Grain Sack, Shutter Gray, and French Enamel. It's really hard to pick though, because I like them all!"

TH: What's the most common question you're asked?

• Marian: "I get asked what to do with a piece. People will send me a picture of something they want to paint, but they don't know what colour to use or how to finish it. I can't answer all of them, but I try to give them a point in the right direction."

TH: Where do you get or go for inspiration?

• Marian: "I enjoy looking at magazines, Pinterest, other blogs and decorating books. I especially like looking at older decorating books to see what design choices have stood the test of time."

TH: Most memorable career moment to date?

• Marian: "Going on The Nate Berkus Show was a pretty special moment. I also had a pinch-me moment when I got my book contract. I never imagined my business would take me here."

TH: What famous figures inspire your career?

• Marian: "I think I get a lot more inspiration from women entrepreneurs who aren't famous, but have been a wonderful example to me of success coming from hard work, talent, and determination. I can relate to them more than someone who is really huge like Martha Stewart. Lisa Leonard, a jewelry designer, and Reni of Bliss & Tell Branding Company come to mind."

TH: What are three things nobody knows about you, but you wish they did?

• Marian: "I'm a vegetarian. I played Pluto at Disney World as my high school job. I have been all over Europe and to Russia, but this is my first time in Canada!"

TH: What's your personal mantra?

• Marian: "If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

TH: What is your favourite app on your smartphone or iPad?

• Marian: "My Fitness Pal is an amazing free app and I love looking at Sky Guide."

Miss Mustard Seed will be appearing daily on the Main Stage at the Toronto Fall Home Show, check out the complete schedule for more information. Plus she'll be be doing book signing at the Homestead House Paint Co. Booth #931. Don't miss out - grab your tickets online now. And get the inside scoop on Marian's first trip to Canada by connecting with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Special thanks to Toronto Show Manager, Tina Holmes, a.k.a. @TinaLovesPinto, for introducing us to the talented Miss Mustard Seed.

Special thanks to Homestead House Paint Co. for bringing Miss Mustard Seed to Canada.

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Sponsor Spotlight: Artemano Inspires At The Toronto Fall Home Show

We're thrilled to have Artemano joining us at the Toronto Fall Home Show, September 18-21 at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place. There will be ideas, innovations, and expert advice at every turn of the show - especially at the Main Stage, inspired by Artemano. Here's the inside scoop on what's happening at Artemano and what to expect from them at the show.

Artemano specializes in high-quality, exotic wood furniture and home decor. With stores in Montreal, Laval, Brossard, Quebec City, and now Toronto, their roots are in Canada, but their inspiration took shape in faraway lands - from the rosewood and mango wood of India to the suar and take of Thailand, to the recycled woods of Indonesia.

Artemano focuses on beautiful, handmade furniture, created mostly out of different types of wood. Many of their pieces have a one-of-a-kind silhouette and unrefined design that comes straight from nature. All distinct features, including knots, cracks, and crevices, are carefully preserved and cherished. In addition to their gorgeous creations, Artemano is committed to their clients. They offer an in-home interior design service that can be taken advantage of either before or after purchasing their pieces - you decide!

1. How did your company get started?

Years ago, founder Shimon traveled abroad where, for the first time, he set his eyes on freeform wood tables and stunning furniture made of natural, often recycled materials similar to what we see in our stores today. He instantly connected with these unique pieces and knew this style was something he would be passionate about sharing.

2. What is your company's mantra?

"Home is an escape and we love to create it." We believe that your home is the one place you should be able to go to truly relax. Incorporating organic furniture that you love is one of the best ways to achieve serenity.

Sandstone Buddha sitting in Lotus Position.

This meditating Buddha is the epitome of relaxation and serenity. Each hand crafted sandstone Buddha is unique - no two are exactly the same. 

Use nature's resources to craft your escape. As the seasons change and we begin to settle into our cozy dining rooms, the Lisa Dining Table in rosewood is on our wish list to give thanks with family and friends. Made of beautiful Indian rosewood, this modern dining table features two unique V-shaped stainless steel legs along with a one-of-a-kind wooden tabletop. 

The perfect table to transition from everyday casual to formal dinner party.

Available in three finishes (shown above in rosewood), each table bears both a wood grain pattern and colour palette that is unlike any other.

True beauty is found and reflected with light.

This perforated metal hanging lamp casts a warm, diffused glow that is sure to shine in any space.

An ambiance like no other.

The metal table lamps, when turned on, truly come to life, creating a mesmerizing light projection throughout the room.

Even technology looks good with nature! This iPad stand, hand carved of solid exotic wood, is designed with a raw appeal that will add natural charm and character to its surroundings.

The Freeform iPad Stand With Bark.

3. Anything else you think we should know?

Homeowners can win a $1,000 shopping spree at Artemano's Toronto location along with a complimentary in-home consultation with one of Artemano's designers. To enter, follow Artemano on Instagram and like Artemano on Facebook.

The Toronto Fall Home Show Main Stage, inspired by Artemano, will feature daily presentations and question and answer sessions by celebrity and industry experts. Make sure to buy your tickets to the show now so you don't miss a thing. We can't wait to see you there!

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Annie Sloan Paint Tutorial: The Stenciled Wall

We're thrilled to have Annie Sloan, one of the world's most popular experts in decorative painting, join us at both our 2013 Toronto Fall Home Show and our Vancouver Home + Design Show.

Annie has developed an incredible paint brand called Chalk Paint; this fast-drying miracle paint can be applied to wood, concrete, metal, matte pasting, earthenware, and much more indoors or out!

DIY: Stenciled Wall

To achieve this stenciled style, be random.  Overlap using several colors on top of one another, and mix the colors on the roller tray with a sponge roller (Color Recipes, 94-97).  

THE STEPS

Pour two colors into a roller tray.  Roll the roller into the pain so half is covered by one color, and the other half by another color.  
Place the stencil on the wall and roll the paint over random parts of the stencil.  Move the stencil around and continue to do this.    
Next, pour two different colors in the roller tray and stencil the wall again with the new colors randomly.  "Trust your gut feeling to make the design more overlapped and denser" - Annie Sloan
When you are done the wall, you may leave it as is, or give it a wash of Old White Chalk Paint to make the design subtler.  Wet a large brush before dipping it into the white paint. 
With a damp sponge, wipe the surface to blend and lighting the design. 
Let dry, and enjoy! 

This project and more can be found in Annie's awesome book Color Recipes for Painted Furniture.  You could WIN a copy of Colour Recipes for Painted Furniture and more. 

...Enter our Annie Sloan Giveaways now!!
Click HERE for Ontario Only
Click HERE for British Columbia Only



___________________________

For 2-for-1 tickets to either show order HERE and save today! 

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Say Good Morning: Hamilton Beach's Breakfast Sandwich Maker...*GIVEAWAY*

 

We're thrilled to have Hamilton Beach take part in our Toronto Fall Home Show (Oct. 3-6, 2013 @ Better Living Centre).  Equally exciting is what they're giving away this year at the show, their new BREAKFAST SANDWICH MAKERS!  These awesome machines are so quick and easy to use, the'll have your sandwich fully assembled in 5 minutes!  

Cook delicious breakfast sandwiches at home, use your own fresh ingredients, and keep your stomach satisfied every morning!  For more on how it works, check out the video below...

:: GIVEAWAY ::
First, follow both the Fall Home Show and Hamilton Beach on Twitter.

Follow @HomeShowsTO Follow @HBCanadaNews 

To enter you must...

Click the button below and tell us which 3 ingredients you like on your breakfast sandwich!

  Tweet to @HomeShowsTO

For example...

"@HomeShowsTO @HBCanadaNews On my breakfast sandwich I like tomatoes, eggs, and mustard!"

Giveaway ends October 6 @ 11:59 p.m. ET. 
Valid for Ontario residents only.

Don't miss MORE Hamilton Beach giveaways at our Fall Home Show (Oct. 3-6)!  

FOR 2-FOR-1 TICKETS TO THE SHOW CLICK HERE & SAVE! 

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Black's: Exciting New Ways to Personalize Your Art

This fall, Black's will be showing off some gorgeous decor options at our Fall Home Show (booth 1110); they're on a quest to show you how to turn your photos into art, simply! Their range of decor, app-produced products and photo-gift options is incredible, and they're bringing to all this to the show!


To prepare you for the show, we interviewed the experts at Black's to find out what's trending this season...

What are some advantages to decorating a wall with Black’s Wall Art?

"There are many great advantages to decorating your home with Black’s Wall Art:

1.   It’s quick and easy – simply use our online tool which walks you through the whole process.
2.  It’s unique and personal – anyone can buy a generic print but creating your very own Wall Art at Black’s allows you to create meaningful and distinctive décor for your home.
3.  Get creative – the varying styles, materials and sizes of Wall Art allows you to express your own style and taste."

Describe the process of creating Black’s Wall Art to the consumer? 

• Where does one start?  
• "The easiest way to get started is at http://photocentre.blacks.ca/wall-art.html or you can always drop into one of our 99 stores: http://www.blacks.ca/blacks/storeDirectory.jsp" 
• What should be prepared?
• "Simply have your chosen photos ready, decide on which Wall Art you want and you’re good to go! If you choose to visit us in-store, make sure your photos are on any digital device.  Remember: we have Wall Art options in various materials, sizes and resolutions. Whether you want to use a photo you took with your smartphone, point-and-shoot camera or even a DSLR; we have a Wall Art option for it all."
• Is the process lengthy? 
• "Not at all! It takes about five to ten minutes to design your Wall Art and delivery is between 1 week to 10 days."

How can www.blacks.ca help people with the design/décor process? 

"Our website is designed to assist customers at every step of the design process. Choosing a Wall-Art option is made incredibly simple as our Wall Art creator tool guides the user through each stage. Our blog frequently features great décor and design tips as well as offering advice on Black’s newest products."

We also have a ‘My Products’ section on our website which enables users to save and share their projects so they can work on their designs at their own leisure."

What’s the most common misconception about Black’s?

"That we’re still the same Black’s that has been around for over 80 years.  Sure we’re still an iconic Canadian brand but we’re making some big changes.  Our unique Wall Art is an exciting new line of products that allows you to turn your own images into your personal art. We've also launched three exciting APPs that allow you to use the photos from your SmartPhone, Facebook or even your Instagram account  in quick, easy and creative ways!  

Sure we still sell cameras, phones, frames and accessories but the Black’s as you know it has gotten a serious upgrade. We now offer new, exciting and distinctive photo services you can’t find anywhere else."

    

Black's is giving away two $100 gift cards online! Click HERE to enter.
  Don't miss them, October 3-6, 2013 at booth 1110!   



FOR 2-FOR-1 TICKETS TO THE SHOW CLICK HERE & SAVE! 

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Toronto Exhibitor Spotlight: Dave's Duct Cleaning

TORONTO EXHIBITOR SPOTLIGHT

We're excited to have Dave's Duct Cleaning at our Toronto Fall Home Show (Oct. 3-6)!

Check out our exclusive interview with this fabulous exhibitor below... 

• Company Website
• www.davesducts.com
• Location
• Whitby, ON
• Describe your services:
• DAVE'S DUCT CLEANING are CERTIFIED members of the NATIONAL AIR DUCT CLEANER'S ASSOCIATION (NADCA) and the INDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSOCIATION (IAQA). We are also an ACCREDITED BUSINESS listed with the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU (BBB). And are the OFFICIAL DUCT CLEANING PARTNERS of HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Durham. 
• We assess, maintain and restore HVAC systems in residential, commercial and industrial settings. We also perform dryer vent cleaning, central vac cleaning and install whole house HEPA filters with the goal of improving the indoor air quality of our customer's indoor environments.
• What are your best home or garden tips for this season?
• While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, school or workplace, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harbouring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions, autoimmune disorders or some environmental allergies. If you have that "stuffy" feeling, you may want to consider a proper and thorough air duct cleaning service.
• What are your featured items this season? 
• Through normal occupation in a home, we generate a great deal of contaminants and air pollutants, such as dander, dust, and chemicals. These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the duct work. Before you turn your heating on, you may want to consider a proper air duct cleaning service to ensure you remove these contaminants before they continue to recirculate in your home during the winter months.
• What are your home or garden pet peeves?
• For most contractors, finished basements pose a challenge when it comes to assessing and restoring dirty HVAC systems. Air duct cleaning is typically an afterthought for most contractors and access to ductwork becomes challenging if the ductwork isn't completely exposed, especially in homes that have ductwork that splits into multiple directions - the necessity of cutting into drywall increases in these situations in order for the cleaning process to be done properly.
• What is the strangest client request you've ever received?
• A customer that recently acquired a new home had been complaining about her tongue "tingling" and tasting "metallic" but these symptoms were only specific to them. After we recommended an IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Specialist) to perform an indoor air quality analysis the result returned was simply - an over abundance of dust. Once we performed our air duct cleaning service the situation improved but hadn't subsided. We installed a whole house HEPA filtration system and the situation again improved, but didn't subside. We took particle readings in the customer's home, before and after our service and even returned a few weeks later with major reductions but she was still feeling the same reactions. 
• She called me recently and discovered that the previous owners had fumigated the home for pests and she had an adverse reaction to the chemicals used. The lesson learned is that it's incredibly important to listen to your body and ensure you get as much information and perform as much due diligence before purchasing anything, especially a home.
• What is your favorite part about the home show?
• Meeting homeowners and having the ability to share and answer any questions related to a proper and thorough air duct cleaning service.
• What will you be demonstrating at the show?
• We'll be sharing and demonstrating the proper techniques used to assess, maintain and restore your HVAC system - so if you're curious about how the process is done, we'll be conducting FREE demonstrations!

Don't miss Dave's Duct Cleaning at our Fall Home Show (Oct. 3-6)!  

FOR 2-FOR-1 TICKETS TO THE SHOW CLICK HERE & SAVE! 

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Toronto Exhibitor Spotlight: KANDY Outdoor Flooring

TORONTO EXHIBITOR SPOTLIGHT

We're excited to have KANDY Outdoor Flooring at our Toronto Fall Home Show (Oct. 3-6)!

Check out our exclusive interview with this fabulous exhibitor below... 

• Company Website:
• www.outdoorflooring.ca
• Location:
• Toronto, Vancouver
• Describe your products:
• We expand home experiences by providing new outdoor flooring for condo balconies. Our products are interlocking, floating outdoor flooring systems that don't use glue, grout or nails and as such aren't a problem with condo rules. KANDY carries only the highest quality exotic hardwoods, granite and woodgrain composites available in North America today. KANDY is truly the sweet treat for your feet!

• What are your best home or garden tips for this season?

• Make your outdoor space as enjoyable as possible - even if you're in a condo. Add KANDY Outdoor Flooring to immediately experience additional usable square footage, warm up the look and feel and make your balcony a special place to relax, entertain, enjoy!
• What are your featured items this season? 
• We are featuring Bolivian IPE, sometimes called Ironwood. One of the hardest, densest woods in the world, Bolivian IPE provide decades of lasting beauty and enjoyment. Even without treatment, your Bolivian IPE will last 35 - 50 years. Give it a little TLC in the form of periodic UV oil and you have beautiful natural wood that can last 100 years!
• What are your home or garden pet peeves?
• It is so sad for us when we see balconies or other outdoor spaces used as a dumping ground for junk or storage.
• What is the strangest client request you've ever received?
• We had a client who simply wanted the display floor we had set up. It was a gorgeous combination of Bolivian IPE and granite, true. But he didn't even want it new - - he literally wanted exactly the flooring that he saw in the display! So, we pulled it up, cleaned it, and installed it on his condo terrace.
• What is your favorite part about the home show?
• Meeting so many great people who don't even know there are options for sprucing up their condo balcony!

Don't miss KANDY Outdoor Flooring at our Fall Home Show (Oct. 3-6)!  

FOR 2-FOR-1 TICKETS TO THE SHOW CLICK HERE & SAVE! 

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Annie Sloan Paint Tutorial: The Distressed Armoire

We're happy to announce, Annie Sloan, one of the world's most popular experts in decorative painting, join us at both our 2013 Toronto Fall Home Show and our Vancouver Home + Design Show.

Annie has developed an incredible paint brand called Chalk Paint; this fast-drying miracle paint can be applied to wood, concrete, metal, matte pasting, earthenware, and much more indoors or out!

Tutorial: The Distressed Armoire

Annie's distressed armoire is inspired by a Swedish take on French style in the 18th century.  The exterior was painted with Annie's French Linen dark gray, and a topcoat of Paris Grey and Old White.  The interior is painted a bright and bold Greek Blue.  While the interior colour is fairly bold, a bit of a punch works better than something dark and subtle (Color Recipes, 33).  

THE STEPS

Remove any drawers and paint upside down. 
Paint the entire piece until everywhere is covered.  Finish by brushing with the directions of the wood. 
Once the paint has dried, work in small sections brushing on clear wax.  Make sure the whole piece is covered, but not to thick.  Remove the excess wax with a clean cloth.  
Mix equal parts Paris Grey and Old White paint together.  Dilute it with equal parts water.  Spread the diluted mix over piece with a flat bristle brush to make a thing translucent wash.  The paint needs to be applied and wiped off immediately afterwards.  
With clean cloths, wipe off paint gently, spreading it over a larger area then you initially brushed.  Paint then wipe two areas at a time until you have achieved a beautiful dragged look.  

This project and more can be found in Annie's awesome book Color Recipes for Painted Furniture (Color Recipes, 33-35).  You could WIN a copy of Colour Recipes for Painted Furniture and more. 

WIN!! Enter our Annie Sloan Giveaways now!
Click HERE for Ontario Only
Click HERE for British Columbia Only



___________________________

For 2-for-1 tickets to either show order HERE and save today! 

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Home + Design Show Sponsor Spotlight: Scotiabank

The Calgary Home + Design Show is approaching fast and our more than 350 exhibitors are gearing up to put their wares on display in creative, interactive booths, including
 show sponsor, Scotiabank. Offering steps to make your dream renovation a reality and playing host to special visits from Canadian home improvement superstars Jonathan and Drew Scott of W Network’s Property Brothers, it’s no wonder the Scotiabank booth tops our must-see list!

Stop by the Scotiabank booth before and after the Bros Main Stage presentations (on Saturday Sept. 21 at 1PM at the Calgary Home + Design Show, on Saturday Oct. 5 at 1PM at the Toronto Fall Home Show, AND on Saturday Oct. 19 at 1PM at the Vancouver Home + Design Show) to snag their autographs and maybe snap a picture with the Dreamboat Twins. Make sure you don’t get lost searching for the boys and look for booth number #169 in Calgary, #731 in Toronto and booth #1322 in Vancouver.

When not swooning over the Bros, visitors to all three shows (Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver) will have the opportunity to kick their renovation plans into high gear by entering to win $5,000 and learning how the ScotiaLine Personal Line of Credit can make home improvement projects a breeze.

Visitors to all three shows can also stop at the Scotiabank booth to get a taste of how they’d look in their fantasy kitchen or coveted master bath, at least for a moment, by taking a photo in Scotiabank’s Dream Home Photo Zone, which allows people to pick their “dream reno” background before capturing the shot.

Don’t miss the fun, interactive Scotiabank exhibit at our Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver Home Shows this fall!  

      

For 2-for-1 tickets to any of the shows order HERE and save today! 

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Black's: Turning Memories Into Art @ Toronto's Fall Home Show

This fall, Black's will be showing off their stylish decor options at our Fall Home Show; they're on a quest to show you how to turn your photos into art in a fun and easy way!  You won't believe the range of decor, app-produced products and photo-gift options they're bringing to the show.

To prepare you for the show, we interviewed the experts at Black's to find out what's trending this season.  Check out what they had to say below!

What is trending for the home at Black’s this season?

"It’s all about bringing your photos to life by creating your very own Wall Art at Black’s– your memories, your art.  With our Wall Art category of products, your photos can be made into stylish, striking and personal artwork in a range of sizes and materials."

"Our Little Black’s Book app allows you to create a simple PhotoBook by selecting and sending us your favourite photos straight from your SmartPhone and delivered to your home!  We also offer a range of products Made just for Instagram, that take your square format, filtered photos, creating square prints, canvases, books and more!"

Does Black’s Wall Art come in various options? 
"Absolutely! Black’s Wall Art comes in various materials and sizes. Sizes ranges from 8”x12” to 20”x30”. Wall Art can be made from canvas, acrylic, aluminum and even metal! You can also choose to make your images into posters or a poster collage. Our split-panel canvas option is an impactful way to spread your photos across several canvas panels." 

What are some tips for choosing the best pictures to convert into Black’s Wall Art? 

1. "Choose the right material for your image. Black and White images look better on canvas, while bright, bold and impactful colours look great on metal or acrylic.
2. The higher the quality of the original image, the higher the quality of your Wall Art. Poor quality/resolution photographs will appear fuzzy or blurry on your Wall Art. For specific resolutions, we list the recommended resolutions on the individual wall art pages on www.blacks.ca
3. Think about the size and shape of your image. If your photograph is square, choose one of the square Wall Art options to avoid cropping your picture.
4. Choose a picture that fits with the style and décor of your home. Consider the colour scheme and space you’re trying to fill."

Why is it important for people to add art to their walls? 
"Adding art to a wall is a great way to bring your own unique style and personality to a room. A well-chosen piece of art can brighten up a room and act as a great focal point for your decorating choices. What’s more, a great piece of art produced from your own photography can inspire you or make you smile whenever you see it."

    

Black's is giving away two $100 gift cards online! Click HERE to enter.
  Don't miss them, October 3-6, 2013 at booth 1110!   

Black's will have their experts at the show, demonstrating Wall Art options, and other special products and possibilities.  Don't miss them, October 3-6, 2013 at booth 1110!   

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