Sunny, gray. Sunny, gray. Northeast Ohio residents must feel particularly confused this winter as Mother Nature throws in more sunny days than normal.
Face it. We are not used to squinting in January and February.
The confusion is not just about the weather, though. Area residents have had two home-and-garden shows this year in which to experience spring and summer flowers and home-decor inspiration.
The first show just concluded at the new Great Lakes Expo Center in Euclid. Now get ready to enjoy the
at the
.
This show, which opens Saturday, Feb. 6, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 14, promises 503,000 square feet of gardens, exhibits and seminar stages.
Oh, and there's a little visit by a guy who you've probably heard of . . . Ty Pennington.
The celebrity carpenter who first gained fame on TLC's "Trading Spaces" will be joined at the nine-day show by other well-known home-decor experts such as designer Christopher Lowell, Cambria countertops spokeswoman Cheryl Tiegs and former HGTV hosts Matt Fox and Shari Hiller.
I recently reconnected with Fox, who used to make frequent appearances on Northeast Ohio's home-decor scene. In recent years, since HGTV canceled his and Hiller's show "Room by Room" after a 14-year run, the two have been exploring more low-key pursuits, such as starting and promoting their own Web site, mattandshari.com.
Fox and Hiller's show was the very first home-decor show on the fledgling and groundbreaking specialty channel in 1994, a fact of which Fox is very proud.
"We are like prehistoric bugs that won't go away," said Fox, laughing. He was in Cleveland for some businesses meetings and met me at his "office away from home," a Panera's restaurant in Rocky River.
Back when "Room by Room" was on the air, Fox split his time between his home in Fairview Park and a second home on a private lake in Malvern, Ohio. Three years ago, he sold his Fairview Park home and moved to Malvern full time.
Even though Hiller moved to Sarasota, Fla., several years ago, "we get together once a month," he said. "And we are on the phone all the time."
In addition to appearing at home shows, the two spend a lot of time on mattandshari.com, putting together tips for readers on everything from painting to latest trends. It currently has 15,000 subscribers and "is still growing," said Fox.
Their fans will be happy to know the two will be appearing at 1 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the main stage, and again at noon Sunday, Feb. 7. Their topic is "Extreme Energy Savings."
"We can teach people how to be 'green' and still be energy efficient," Fox said. "They are simple tips that can be done in one weekend and save $300-$400 a year."
The Great Big Home & Garden Expo
When: Saturday, Feb. 6-Sunday, Feb. 14.
Where: International Exposition Center, 6200 Riverside Drive, Cleveland.
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14.
Cost: $13, at door; $11, purchased online; $10, purchased at AAA or Home Depot stores; $4, children ages 6-12; free, children 5 and younger.
Parking: $8.
The sponsors of their talk are Haas Door, ProVia Door and Choose Insulated Siding.
After the weekend appearances, Fox will be making solo appearances on the stage at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, to talk about "Tips on How to Be Green."
For those of us who never tire of planning home improvements and ogling design trends, the good news is that personal appearances by celebrities aren't the only attractions to be found at the I-X Center show, which is being produced by Marketplace Events, a Solon-based company hired by the I-X Center for the first time this year. The company produces some 27 home shows annually in 18 markets in the United States and Canada.
In addition to 21 showcase gardens, the Great Big show will feature three custom-built homes. All the homes will be outfitted by Villa Collection Designs. The three "idea" homes are a 2,800-square-foot home by Bob Schmitt Homes; a 2,350-square-foot home by CMJ Development; and a "loft living experience," a 1,600-square-foot contemporary space created by Cleveland Contract Group.
The homes will feature such cool trends as an open spa shower in the master bedroom of one of the models. Other standouts included onyx sink bowls (lighted from beneath), countertops and backsplashes.
A side note: All furniture and accessories in the homes are for sale. There is a separate area near the houses in which attendees can pre-negotiate for whatever caught their attention. The items can be picked up at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14.
Plants will go on sale at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. There are no advance sales on the plants.
There will be two stages at the show, with a constant stream of expert seminars including: hot products and design trends; a rain-barrel workshop conducted by the city of Cleveland; tiling a kitchen backsplash by Home Depot experts; installing vinyl flooring, again by Home Depot; a dog flyball presentation by the Northeast Ohio Positive Dog Trainers group; creative painting ideas by Sherwin-Williams experts; and the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking demonstration of cooking scones, presented by Stefanie Paganini.
In the center of the exhibit area, there will be a giant fountain. The water will reach a height of 35 feet, said Marketplace Events CEO Tom Baugh. It will be visible at all points on the floor.
The 21 gardens have been created with themes around popular songs. All the gardens are located in the South Hall, a lower-ceiling addition to the center, creating a more intimate experience.
Visitors can vote on the "People's Choice" for the best garden throughout the show. The results will be tabulated by marketing officials at The Plain Dealer and announced Saturday, Feb. 13.
Times and all the seminar topics can be found at greatbighomeandgardenexpo.com.
Visitors will also be able to go to "Club Cambria" in The Plain Dealer Reader's Lounge, which will feature an area for enjoying a glass of wine while admiring nearby gardens.
There also will be booths, craft areas, a children's playground feature, and a lawn-and-garden outdoor area.
Visitors will be asked if they can "spare a dime" for the Jimmy Malone Scholarship Fund managed by the Cleveland Scholarship Programs. The goal is to raise some $10,000 during the course of the show. It is sponsored by WMJI FM/105.7.
Finally, somewhat logically considering the day, WNWV FM/107.3 will host a wedding ceremony in the feature gardens on Valentine's Day, Sunday, Feb. 14.
For Northeast Ohio residents, too much is not necessarily a bad thing. Bring on more home-and-garden shows!
Who cares if it's gray or sunny outside when there's so much indoors to grab our attention?