Why The Old House New House Home Show will only be held once this year
Politics can have a widespread effect in an election year - even when it comes to home renovations.
The Old House New House Home Show will be a one weekend event in 2016, whereas, in the past, it has taken place over two weekends.
Event organizer Laura McNamara of Lisle-based Kennedy Productions explains the reasoning behind the schedule change: "With 2016 being an election year, sometimes we notice an impact in consumer confidence that relates to the kinds of things people are thinking about when they come to the home show," she said.
"Like the larger decision for a kitchen renovation or an addition or building a new home. Sometimes during a presidential election year, people are a little more conservative. So we decided to take a break and reassess for next year."
Which leaves just one weekend for 10,000 expected visitors to check out the 300 exhibitors, as well as speakers and workshops on decorating, kitchens and baths, landscaping and more.
The show takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Feb. 12-14, at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors, and free for children younger than 18. A portion of ticket proceeds benefits Habitat for Humanity/ReStore of the Fox Valley.
The show has grown since its debut in 1984 when only 12 exhibitors greeted homeowners.
McNamara's parents are responsible for the original 12-vendor and subsequent shows, which came about when the couple, Reese and JoAnne Kennedy, began rehabbing a home and, like many other do-it-yourselfers, quickly became overwhelmed.
"My parents were renovating a fixer-upper in Glen Ellyn," McNamara said. "They were in over their heads. Sometimes they would start projects on their own to try and save money and then realize 'this is more than we can do, let's call in an expert.'"
They soon had some contractors and knowledge to pass along.
"They had a lot of ambition and were going project by project restoring this older home and wanted to share products and resources; things they were learning," McNamara said.
They held their first home show in Crystal Lake and have been at Pheasant Run since 1987, with the goal of bringing homeowners together with reliable contractors.
"We want this to be a reliable resource for homeowners, so a challenge is making sure the companies are in good standing in the community," McNamara said. "We use the Internet and we look on The Better Business Bureau and use Angie's List and other searches. We ask for references if someone is new to us."
The show will also share knowledge by means of presentations available every day.
"Each day we have Landscaping for Curb Appeal, and that's offered by Stephen Carlin with Great Impressions Landscaping in Naperville; Beautiful Bathrooms presented by Jim Campbell of LaMantia Design in Brookfield; and Design your Dream Kitchen, presented by John Habermeier of Synergy Builders in West Chicago."
New to the presentations this year will be Deb Goetz, who has participated as a vendor in the past and will be hosting Decorating Trends. "People will learn how to do quick and easy, do-it-yourself decorating projects," Goetz said. "We'll be demonstrating up to three ideas, if we have time. We'll start with peel and stick wallpaper. It's easy to do; even a child could probably do it. We'll be creating a canvas photo and another one is how to recover dining room chairs with a staple gun and a screwdriver."
Goetz has been an interior decorator in St. Charles since 2008 and teaches a class called How to Decorate Like a Professional in Six Weeks Flat as part of her business.
"We have about 300 companies participating, everything from leading brands in the building trade, award-winning contractors, creative designers, talented craftsman and select tradesman," said McNamara. "They'll all be there with their expertise for homeowners to explore, discover and share ideas with."
"Visitors (interested in) putting in kitchens and baths, putting in garage doors, getting new windows, redecorating; they can find it all under one roof," Goetz added,
For details, visit www.kennedyproductions.com.
If you go
What: The Old House New House Home Show
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Feb. 12-14
Where: Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles
Admission: Adults $7; seniors 62 and older, $4; children younger than 18 admitted free. Visit the website for a printable coupon.
Details: Visit <a href="http://www.kennedyproductions.com">www.kennedyproductions.com</a> or call (630) 515-1160.