Frugal Furnishings for Every Room in Your Home

Without proper accouterments and decorative accessories, a house could hardly be called a home. Imagine empty kitchen cutlery draws and naked sofas with no pillows or throws; it’s the little things that make a home both functional and stylish.

From kitchen appliances to home décor, the culinary and design experts appearing at the Calgary Home + Design Show know how to furnish a home on a shoestring budget. With help from our experts, we compiled a list of must-have items for under $100. 

Kitchen:

The cooking and baking aficionados appearing at the Calgary Home + Design Show know how to make the kitchen the true heart of the home without spending a lot of cash.

When faced with a $100 budget, food and travel writer Dan Clapson suggests that homeowners purchase the basic cooking utensils, like a paring knife, cutting board, mortar and pestle and immersion blender.

Ask Dan what recipes he likes to whip up with these kitchen necessities at the Calgary Home + Design Show. He will appear on the Trail Appliances Cooking Stage at 5PM on Saturday Sept. 21. 

If Xavier Lacaze, chef and partner at Briggs Kitchen + Bar, needed to purchase kitchen supplies on a tight budget, he would spend it all on one key item. Xavier would blow the entire $100 on a blender or a food processor. Some of his favourite tasty treats rely completely on these appliances.

Living Room:

Create an inviting living room without spending a dime. Drew Scott, co-host of W Network’s Property Brothers, suggests homeowners simply rearrange their existing furniture to make a room feel like a brand new space. But, for those little accessories that go a long way, he suggests looking for a beautiful art piece to hang on the wall or stand on a table. Drew has even found artsy steals for less than $20.

See Drew on the Trail Appliances Main Stage when he appears with brother Jonathan Scott at the Calgary Home + Design Show at 1PM on Saturday Sept. 21. Catch the brothers at the Vancouver Home + Design Show at 1PM on Saturday Oct. 19.

Bedroom:

Interior designer Alykhan Velji suggests sprinkling small, colourful, patterned pillows on your bed. Choose between spending $100 on one extravagant pillow with luxe texture like feathers, beading and lace, or go the frugal route with an assortment of affordable throw cushions.

Learn more design tips from Alykhan when he appears on the Trail Appliances Main Stage at the Calgary Home + Design Show at 6PM on Friday Sept. 20, 2PM on Saturday Sept. 21 and 12PM on Sunday Sept. 22. Alykhan will also appear at the Vancouver Home + Design Show on the HGTV Main Stage at 4PM on Friday Oct. 18 and Sunday Oct. 20.

The Calgary Home + Design Show is just a few days away so don’t forget to purchase your tickets online and save $3 off regular adult admission.

          

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Entertaining Tips: How to throw a tasty party

What is more inviting than comfy living room furniture, the smell of fresh baked goods and a crackling fireplace? Two things are guaranteed to make people feel welcomed: home cooking and cozy home décor. 

Whether you’re planning on hosting an intimate dinner date for two or prepping a holiday feast for the entire clan, score points with tasty treats and a guest-ready home. We asked the culinary and design experts appearing at the Calgary Home + Design Show how they use tricks of the trade to delight guests at every occasion.

Prepping the Palette:

When it comes to entertaining for an impromptu soiree, Paul Rogalski, culinary director and owner of Rouge Restaurant and Bistro Rouge, suggests whipping up a risotto with whatever is in the fridge or plucked from the garden.

To really wow your guests, chef David Bohati recommends a full three-course meal showcasing seafood, his go-to ingredient group. Welcome guests David’s way with a market fresh salad to start and an entrée guaranteed to impress even the most sophisticated of foodies, such as fresh roasted miso Sablefish in a truffle dashi broth. For the grand finale, try one of David’s favourite desserts: lemon curd and classic meringue to cleanse the palette.

Xavier Lacaze, chef and partner at Briggs Kitchen + Bar, streamlines his cooking process by sticking to these three simple rules:

1.  Stay organized
2. Don’t overcomplicate your dish and waste time
3. Season properly

Cozy Curating:

Now that you’ve got the cooking basics down, our design experts appearing on the Trail Appliances and HGTV Main Stages have some words of wisdom to make your next foray into entertaining appear (and feel) effortless.

Jonathan Scott, from W Network’s Property Brothers, wouldn't dream of hosting a party without setting the appropriate mood to make his guests feel right at home. Press play on the stereo, light aromatic candles and keep the drinks flowing, and you’ll win Host with the Most in no time flat.

Hear more décor tips from Jonathan when he appears on the Trail Appliances Main Stage at the Calgary Home + Design Show with brother Drew Scott on Saturday Sept. 21 at 1PM. Vancouverites can catch the brothers at the Vancouver Home + Design Show on the HGTV Main Stage on Saturday Oct. 19 at 1PM.

Lastly, don’t forget that it’s all in the details. Marie-Claire Williams, interior designer at Cardel Renovations, recommends giving your home a quick scrub down before guests arrive (let’s face it, no one really needs to know how much dog hair is usually stuck to your furniture). For those final touches, pick up a fresh bouquet and bottle (or two) of good quality Pinot Noir, and make your guests feel truly pampered.

See Marie-Claire on the Trail Appliances Main Stage at the Calgary Home + Design Show with Clare Gardner on Saturday Sept. 21 at 4PM and on Sunday Sept. 22 at 1PM.

For more easy entertaining tricks that are sure to treat and tantalize your guests, check out more of our experts at the Calgary Home + Design Show. Purchase your tickets online today and save $3 off regular adult admission. 

     

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