ULTIMATE UPCYCLE CHALLENGE 3: CHAIRLIFT

Only one short week until the Vancouver Home + Design Show is back at BC Place Stadium. We can hardly wait! Happening October 16-19, 2014, the show is the place for interior design, renovation, culinary creations and so much more.

We’re thrilled to announce that one of our favourite features from last year’s show, the Ultimate Upcyle Challenge, is back and better than ever! This year’s incarnation, ChairLIFT, will see 10 local media personalities, designers and tastemakers give new life to a pre-loved chair from ReStore with only Rust-Oleum products, a $50 design budget and a little elbow grease, then display them for silent auction at the show!

With 100% of the proceeds benefitting Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver, it’s easy for you to help support this worthy cause. All you have to do is bid on your favourites for the chance to walk away with a unique and charitable chair (not to mention that satisfying feeling of doing good).

Before you see them at the show, here’s a sneak peek of these one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Keep scrolling for a first look at ChairLIFT.

Media personality, stylist and blogger of The Anthology, Kelsey Dundon went for gold with this chic chair.

Sit down!  Christine Friend of Friendly Decorator crafted this seat fit for a fan

Barbara Matson of Markova Design crafted this unique stool that’s equal parts comfort and style.

Stop by the Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver booth #436 at BC Place Stadium next week to see these fine chairs and much, much more. Buy your tickets now to get the best deals - right now you can get two tickets for the price of one when you like us on Facebook. Treat a friend or family member to the show, we can’t wait to see you there! 

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Calgary Home + Design Show: That's A Wrap!

All good things must come to an end, and so on September 22 we wrapped the Calgary Home + Design Show after four amazing days at the BMO Centre. From interior design to culinary creations and celebrity sightings, it all came together under one roof - complete with hundreds of local retailers, designers, experts who made it all possible! We couldn't have done it without them.

Missed out? Don't fret. We've rounded up our favourite features and the most memorable moments from the show!

Our favourite contractor, Bryan Baeumler, lit up the Trail Appliances Main Stage and had fans fawning over his renovation know-how. Leave it to Bryan to bring on the crowds!

Oi! Scottish designers Colin & Justin had everyone in stitches with their signature humour and tips for designing the perfect Canadian cottage.

It got hot up on the Samsung Cooking Challenge: Tag Team Kitchen with host and celebrity chef Corbin Tomaszeski. Congrats to Calgary's own David Pyle, who walked away with $5,000 worth of Samsung Chef's Collection appliances for his own kitchen.

Guests cherished ChairLIFT! Local media personalities and tastemakers raised over $1,000 for Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta and their affiliate ReStores thanks to their creative takes on pre-loved chairs. Congrats to Nyla Free of Nyla Free Designs for scoring the top bid of $220 for this beauty.

And, don't forget to mark your calendars! Catch even more fantastic features and celebrity guests at the Calgary Home + Garden Show, happening February 26 - March 1 at the BMO Centre & Corral. Stay tuned to our website for more details, coming soon.

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Ultimate Upcycle Challenge 2: ChairLIFT

The Calgary Home + Design Show is back at the BMO Centre, starting tomorrow. From then until Sunday, you'll find limitless inspiration for redesign and renovation - even culinary creations. With so many fantastic features it's hard to pick a favourite, but the Ultimate Upcycle Challenge 2: ChairLIFT is definitely up there!

So what is it? We've gathered a group of ten local media personalities, designers, and tastemakers to upcycle a pre-loved chair, rescued from ReStore Calgary, with only Rust-Oleum products and a $50 design budget (plus a little elbow grease), for silent auction. With 100% of the proceeds benefitting Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta, you can bid on your favourites for the chance to walk away with a one-of-a-kind masterpiece and rest easy knowing you helped support a worthy cause.

The best part? We're giving you, our loyal blog readers, an advance sneak-peek at the finished products! Eye up the goods now, nab your favourites, then get down to the show to place your bid. Don't forget to check in on its status - we have a feeling these beauties won't go without a fight.

Here's a glimpse of a few of the fine chairs you'll find:

Wanda Weston of WW Design Studio created this loveable love seat.

Ricky Zayshley of Avenue Calgary went for gold with this gorgeous chair.

Patti Pon of Calgary Arts Development was inspired to craft this pretty in pink creation.

Swing by the ChairLIFT exhibit tomorrow through Sunday to see the rest of the designs from:

• Amy Jo Espetveidt of Calgary is Awesome 
• Heather Draper of The Heather Company
• Jaelyn Molyneux of Avenue Calgary
• LeAnne Bunnell of Elle Design
• Lindsay Saunders of Cinder & Sage
• Nyla Free of Nyla Free Designs

Don't miss out - buy your tickets to the Calgary Home + Design Show online now and save $3 courtesy of HomeStars. We can't wait to see you there!

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Summer Sneak Peek at the Calgary Home + Design Show

With the sun blazing down and backyard barbeques filling up your social calendar, it’s easy to forget that fall is only a couple of months away. Though we love the ice cream, lazy Sundays at the lake and dining al fresco that summer brings, we can’t wait for fall to arrive – and with it, the Calgary Home + Design Show. What’s in store this year, you’re wondering? Short answer: lots. 

Here’s a sneak peek at our top five things to see at the Calgary Home + Design Show, happening September 18-21 at the BMO Centre.

1. Trail Appliances Cooking Stage

Stop by to meet Calgary’s best-known chefs and foodies at the Trail Appliances Cooking Stage. You’ll catch Tomo Mitsumo, owner and chef of Goro + Gun, and other top chefs from Poppy Innovations, Crave Cookies & Cupcakes, Fiasco Gelato and Downtownfood. Plus, don’t miss the Samsung Cooking Challenge: Tag Team Kitchen, featuring three home cooks partnered with three top chefs in a battle for culinary supremacy, hosted by Chef Corbin Tomaszeski. We have no doubt you’ll find inspiration for your own culinary creations!

2. ChairLIFT

If you’re going to sit, you may as well do so in style. Local media personalities, designers and tastemakers will each upcycle a pre-loved chair with Rust-Oleum products and a $50 budget (plus a little elbow grease) for silent auction, with 100% of proceeds benefitting Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta and its affiliated ReStore Calgary. Bid on your favourites for a chance to walk away with a one-of-a-kind masterpiece and the pride of knowing you helped support a worthy cause.

3. Life Hack 

If disorderly junk drawers and difficult DIYs are bringing you down, this is the place for you! Learn how to live a clutter-free life with inspiration from the students of the Bow Valley Interior Decorating program and get the down low on clever tricks, tactics and shortcuts to keep your life organized on the cheap. Like to get social? Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for the chance to share your life hack – it might be featured at the show!

4. Food Truck Alley & Eatery presented by CJAY92

You asked, we delivered. YYC Food Trucks presented by CJAY92 are back by popular demand, with delicious offerings from Calgary’s favourite driving diners. Fiasco Gelato, Subs n’ Bubbles, Bento Burrito, Waffles & Chix and more, will be on site to satiate your appetite. You’ll find this mouthwatering fare just outside the south entrance to the BMO Centre.

5. Ask a Designer

Up your style quotient, free of charge! Bring in those colour swatches, fabric samples and floor plans - now is your time to ask a designer. Alberta’s top interior designers, like Wanda Weston of WW Designs, Paige Johnston of Lux Design, Suzy Leslie of Alterior Design Inc and Nyla Free of Nyla Free Design, will be on-site to offer up no fuss, no muss design know-how in 10 minutes or less – just the right amount of time to make magic happen in your home.

Are you as excited as we are for these fine features? We have so much more in store for you this fall, be sure to buy your tickets to the Calgary Home + Design Show online early for the best deals!

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