Bryan Baeumler's Holiday Gift Guide

The stores are packed. The roads are bad. And you still have no idea what to buy for the beloved handy-person in your life.

No need to fear; you can keep your cool like Frosty. Canada's busiest handyman is here to help. Bryan Baeumler, of HGTV's Leave it to Bryan, has offered up some great gift ideas for DIY lovers.

Keeping it simple is his first piece of advice.

"You can never go wrong with tools!" Bryan says.

But his own wish list offers up some other great ideas for the home renovator on your shopping list. That includes subscriptions or book about renovation, architecture, or finish carpentry - or new tech gadgets to help with the latest projects, such as a laser distance measure.

Or you could give a gift that's hotter than a yule log on Christmas Eve and send your home renovating loved one to meet Bryan!

For more practical and innovative advice on renovations projects, don't miss Bryan as he returns to the Edmonton Renovation Show, the Ottawa Home & Remodelling Show, and the BC Home + Garden Show. He has the tried and tested advice to help you realize your home renovation dreams!

He is coming off of just wrapping up seasons of House of Bryan and Leave it to Bryan. But he and his wife Sarah continue to be one heck of a busy family with the start of their new series, Bryan Inc.

"It's a little more focused on our business and family life," explains Bryan. "Sarah has been very active in managing the Baeumler Family Foundation for the past few years, and she's now getting a little more involved in some of our other businesses with me."

Between shooting shows for HGTV and the most important thing on his holiday wish list, family time with his wife and kids, Bryan says he's looking forward to great events in January and February.

He explains that you will leave the show with new motivation and unique concepts to use in your own home!

"I always have a great time visiting Edmonton, Ottawa, and Vancouver - the people are great, and there's a lot of genuine interest in renovations and construction," Bryan says. "The shows are also jam packed with great ideas and products. I've always got my eyes peeled for ideas and inspiration."

Now that you have these great home renovation gift ideas from Bryan, the only hard part will be to not get a few gifts for yourself!

For more updates on the Edmonton Renovation Show, Ottawa Home & Remodelling Show, and BC Home + Garden Show make sure to follow @HomeShowsAB on Twitter and Instagram, @OttawaHome Show on Twitter and @HomeShows on Instagram, and @VanHomeShows on Twitter and Instagram. Sharing info about the show? Use the hashtag #ERS16 for Edmonton, #OHRS16 for Ottawa, and #BCHGS16 for BC!

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It's All About Bryan at the Winnipeg Renovation Show

The Winnipeg Renovation Show is fast approaching and the countdown is officially on for opening day: Friday, January 15. With a brand-new look and stellar talent roster, we’re itching to get the goods on all things related to home renovation and design. Lucky for us, headlining this year’s show is the man, the myth, and the contracting legend, Bryan Baeumler, who’s making his Winnipeg Renovation Show debut.

It’s now been over eight years since Bryan was first introduced to viewers across Canada and the US on Disaster DIY, and ever since, the veteran contractor has continued to dole out renovation and design advice on a series of hit HGTV shows including Leave It to Bryan, House of Bryan and Canada’s Handyman Challenge. The House of Bryan series continues to be the highest rated series on the HGTV network, breaking all viewership records.

In addition to successfully owning and operating Baeumler Quality Construction, Baeumler Approved, and the Baeumler Family Foundation, Bryan recently launched his first bestselling book called Measure Twice. He is the recipient of numerous awards including a Gemini award and was also included in the Professional Builder’s Top 40 under 40 in 2014.

In anticipation of his appearance at the Winnipeg RenovationShow (and in attempt to tide us over until then), we caught up with Bryan to ask him a few questions on home renovation and design.

Q: What was your first home design project you ever worked on?

B: Our family cottage, and it turned out great!

Q: Inspiration comes from everywhere. What’s the craziest thing that has inspired you?

B: My pool shed was actually the inspiration for our cottage.

Q: What’s one change a person can make to create the biggest design impact in a room?

B: Paint.

Q: What’s the first step for any home project?

B: Allocating a realistic budget and ensuring you have a contingency fund appropriate for the age of the home.

Q: What three items turn a house into a home?

B: The people in it, the memories and the location.

Get more from Bryan on The Lifestyle Stage at the Winnipeg Renovation Show on Friday, January 15 at 7PM and Saturday, January 16 at 2PM. If you have a question you’d like to ask Bryan, you’re in luck! Bryan will be signing autographs after both of his presentations on Friday January 15 at 8PM and Saturday January 16 at 3PM. To purchase your tickets to the show, click here and save $3!

RBC CONVENTION CENTRE
JANUARY 15-17, 2016.

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Carson Arthur's Outdoor Landscaping Basics

Outdoor landscaping projects can seem pretty daunting; after all, your yard essentially gives visitors the first impression of what kinds of design elements to expect when they walk through your front door. Thankfully there are outdoor design and lifestyle experts like HGTV's Carson Arthur, host of Critical Listing and Green Force, who are here to help guide your next project in the right direction.

Where To Start

Like every renovation project, Carson says that sticking to a budget is the absolute key to a successful landscaping project.

"Always start with useable space," he says. "Budget for that deck or the patio because this is where you will spend the majority of your time in the backyard. Having a beautiful lawn to look at is one thing, but having somewhere for the family to sit is by far the priority...and the biggest investment."

Carson really stresses the value of useable space, explaining that it is important to plan your renovation around a timeline because it can impact your budget depending on your future plans.

"Really consider how long you want to be in the home. Items like a new deck have a shorter lifespan than a patio. Maybe opting for a more expensive patio is a wiser decision than paying to replace a worn out deck."

Tips & Tricks

Often there are yard spaces that just aren't as big as we would like them to be. To maximize a smaller space, Carson has two words: go vertical!

"Adding a great pergola over a small backyard gives instant impact. Pergolas help re-enforce the concept of outdoor room by defining the space and creating overhead privacy."

Think before you act and have a plan. Carson attributes homeowners' most common mistakes to rushing a renovation without thinking of key elements. He says that there is danger in buying a bunch of garden accessories without actually having a long-term vision.

"Before anyone starts any backyard gardening, I always advise on having a real design done so that you never have to move, dig up, or cut down any of your new investments."

To avoid these potential disasters, consider bringing in an expert. Carson says that hiring a respectable designer can actually save you a lot of money by providing guidance and project knowledge.

"Too many outdoor DIY projects go horribly wrong, costing the homeowner time and money. I'm all for saving on the budget, but when installing outdoors, there is a whole new set of variables that most home builders have never worked with before."

For more helpful outdoor design hacks, check out Carson's presentation on the Main Stage at the Edmonton Home + Garden Show, March 19-22 at the Edmonton Expo Centre. Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 on Facebook and treat a friend or family member to the show. We can't wait to see you there!

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Look Who's Taking The Stage At The Calgary Home + Garden Show!

The wait is finally over, the Calgary Home + Garden Show is here! Swing by the BMO Centre & Corral from February 26th to March 1st to see Canada's most talented designers and gardening gurus on the Home + Garden Stage, presented by The Calgary Herald. Plus, don't miss out on over 650 exhibitors and features designed to whip any home or garden into shape!

As the show kicks into high gear, we'd like to shed light on this year's celebrity presenter, HGTV's Carson Arthur, gracing the Home + Garden Stage for the first time in show history.

As the co-star of HGTV Canada's Critical Listing and founder of Carson Arthur Design, Carson Arthur has become a voice of environmentally-friendly landscape design on a global scale. We're thrilled to host this curb appeal master on the Home + Garden Stage. He'll be offering tips on how to find value in your outdoor spaces and how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to landscaping. Looking to redesign or renovate your outdoor space? Carson has expert advice for you! Don't miss Carson Arthur on the Home + Garden Stage on February 28th and March 1st!

Presentation Topic: "Show Me The Money" - Landscaping has joined kitchens and bathrooms at the top of ways to improve your home's value. See how to make your gardens work for you!
Where: Home + Garden Stage presented by The Calgary Herald
When: Saturday, February 28th at 3pm and Sunday, March 1st at 12pm

Presentation Topic: "The New Low" - Why low-maintenance outdoor spaces are changing the face of outdoor living.
Where: Home + Garden Stage presented by The Calgary Herald
When: Saturday, February 28th at 7pm

Interested in attending the Calgary Home + Garden Show? To avoid box office lines (and receive a hefty discount), get 2-for-1 tickets on Facebook! For a complete list of home and garden celebrities and their stage appearances and presentation topics check out our Stage Schedule.

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Edmonton Home Show 2014: 10 Questions for HGTV's Sarah Richardson

The 2014 Edmonton Home + Garden Show is running from March 20 to the 23 at the Edmonton Expo Centre. This year, in addition to having over 750 exhibitors, we're thrilled to welcome the Sarah Richardson host, co-creator and co-producer of four celebrated HGTV series'.

Join Sarah on Sunday, March 16th at 1:00pm on the State Farm Main Stage presented by HGTV. She's an award-winning designer known for jaw-dropping transformations; we were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview her. Check it out below! 

10 Qs for Designer Sarah Richardson 

1. What three items do you always keep in your purse/pockets?
"Phone, lip gloss, credit card (I rarely have cash - just ask Tommy! he often has to loan to me)"

2. What is your favourite room in your home and why?
"Living room - it gets amazing east and west light and is an awesome place to hang out or entertain."

3. How were you discovered?
"Amoryn Engel, society reporter for the National Post and Hello! Magazine, was a segment producer for a lifestyle show on Life Network. She heard that I had a decorative art business painting floorcloths, and called to ask me if I could do a segment on the show, Real Life to teach people how to make them. At the time I was working behind the scenes on a TV show for CTV and understood the beginning/middle/end steps of illustrating a "how to" project. When I arrived for the show, they were running early, so they grabbed everything out of the car, threw it in the studio, and the cameras rolled shortly after. I literally never had a chance to get nervous, and it turned out that Barb Williams (now an executive at Shaw Media) was in the directors booth and took notice. It wasn't a rocket ride to stardom by any means, and the road to success was paved with a LOT of hard work, but by 1999 I'd been given the green light for my own show. I've hosted and co-created and co-produced 5 distinct series since then."

4. Most memorable career moment to date?
"Winning a Gemini for Best Host (for Sarah's House) was pretty memorable - it is wonderful to be honoured by your industry.

5. What famous figure(s) inspires your career?
"There are so many legendary designers to be inspired by. David Hicks, Mark Hampton, Elsie de Wolfe, Dorothy Draper all created innovative and exceptional interiors, and are still revered today. Designing interiors that stand the test of time is a huge accomplishment in the fast paced world we live in."

6. Any embarrassing on-the-job moments you’d like to share?
"I think I did a pretty good job of sharing a LOT of embarrassing moments in Design Inc and Sarah's House! I created those shows to show the human side of design and share that something always goes wrong. While 6 months pregnant with my second daughter I was concurrently shooting both Sarah's House and Sarah's Cottage, in different locations over 3 hours apart, and designing a home in England for clients. When the doors for the cottage arrived, the glass was wrong, and it was my fault because I had signed off without looking closely enough at the plans. It cost a few thousand dollars and I shared my mistake on international TV…a bit embarrassing, but honesty and accountability matter to me!"

7. Describe your design style in five words or less.
"Contemporary informed by classic perspective"

8. What are your personal mantras?

• "The only answer is Yes!"
• "Lead, follow, or get out of the way."
• "You can get it if you really want (my theme song by Jimmy Cliff)"

9. What is the most challenging part of your job?
"Managing client expectations and budgets that are comprised of after-tax dollars. Reminding everyone that renovations and homes are brought to life through a huge investment of human time and effort, mistakes happen, things take longer than anticipated, and it's important to remember that everyone is genuinely trying their best."

10. What is your favorite organizational tip?
"Edit and purge, or as William Morris said so much more eloquently "Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.""

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Special thanks to Sarah Richardson for answering our 10 questions! Don't miss her at the Edmonton Home + Garden Show on Saturday, March 22 at 1:00 p.m. on the State Farm Main Stage presented by HGTV.

MARCH 20 - 23

EDMONTON EXPO CENTRE

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