Remodeling on the Rise at Seattle Home Show 2

Remodeling is one of the hot trends in today’s housing market, as consumers opt to stay in place and improve their current homes rather than upgrade to a new residence. At Seattle Home Show 2, there are a host of contractors that can help with your remodeling needs. Here is just a sampling:

As one of the leading kitchen and bath remodelers in the region, Kitchen Plus is displaying examples of its remodeling and cabinet refacing services that have helped bring the company to the forefront of its market. Kitchen Plus offers complete remodeling services and new cabinet construction, as well as cabinet refacing. Kitchen Plus guarantees that its projects will be finished on time and on budget, or the company will pay the homeowner $200 every day the project runs past its deadline.

Gaspar’s is a design/build remodeling firm that has been serving the Northwest market for 35 years. Gaspar’s provides all aspects of the process, from design and permitting to construction. Because Gaspar’s uses the design/build approach, projects are realistically budgeted and managed throughout the process. Each project has a dedicated project manager who communicates with the homeowners and contractors.

Potter Construction is showcasing examples of its award-winning remodeling and construction services. Located in West Seattle, Potter Construction has been serving the needs of the Northwest market since 1979. Potter Construction offers complete design and building services, from initial design to permits and cleanup. Potter Construction offers a two year warranty on its projects, and includes a 180 day return visit after completion of a project for any touch ups.

Norsk Remodeling is a family owned design/build and remodeling firm that has been serving the needs of the Northwest for three generations. This award winning Eastside firm is displaying examples of its design and remodeling work for the Northwest home. Norsk remodeling services include home remodeling and additions, kitchen remodels and bath remodels.

Seattle Home Show 2 concludes Sunday, October 25. For more information, please visit the website at www.seattlehomeshow.com.

Rain gardens, production gardening among the hot new trends at Seattle Home Show 2

With the challenges of today’s economic times, Northwesterners are turning both to the home as well to the garden as a source of comfort and retreat. At Seattle Home Show 2, some of the region’s top landscape professionals are showcasing examples of the leading trends for the garden.

In Harmony is a sustainable landscaper that is showcasing examples of rain and production gardening – two of the hottest landscaping trends in the Northwest. More than just a way to reclaim rainwater, rain gardens are actually a method for managing water runoff, while production gardening is just that – growing edibles in the landscape. In Harmony has created a complete display garden that highlights both of these trends, including raised vegetable beds and water features that are both decorative and functional.

NW Bloom, an ecological landscape company, is displaying examples of its environmentally sound landscapes designed especially for the Northwest market. At Seattle Home Show 2, NW Bloom has created a display rain garden utilizing native plants. Several water features are incorporated in the display, including a rain water reclamation system and small pool with reflecting glass balls.


London Landscaping is a complete landscape design/build firm that is showcasing examples of its complete landscape renovation solutions. London-born owner Ben Middlemas comes from a multi-generation family of landscapers, designers and builders. In addition to being a qualified landscape professional, Middlemas also has a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, allowing him to combine his design capabilities with his extensive experience in construction techniques and project management.

Malone’s Landscape Design/Build is a full service landscape company offering residential design, installation and maintenance services. This Northwest landscaper has been serving the region for 17 years, and is showcasing examples of his award winning work. Among Malone’s specialties are water features and outdoor living spaces, including covered patios, outdoor kitchens and outdoor fireplaces.

Hot new products at Seattle Home Show 2

Since its inception, the Seattle Home Show/Seattle Home Show 2 has been a leader in bringing the latest products for the home to the Northwest market, and this year’s show continues the tradition. Here are just some of the hot new products being showcased at this year’s show:

Ecohaus, a supplier of green and eco friendly building products, is showcasing several new products for the Northwest market, including the Caroma. This unique water saving toilet features a sink built into the top of the tank. According to the company, the Caroma is designed as a means of space saving and is particularly suited for small spaces.

Slate Originals is featuring its line of unique exquisitely sculpted furniture for green living. Created by sculptor and artist Fred Null, whose work has appeared throughout the world, Slate Originals offers a variety of furnishings to complement any décor, including accent tables, bars, benches and fountains.

Designer’s Marble is featuring a new solid surface countertop that uses the art of photography to create the look of solid stone. Called Photofuzion, the process enables the company to embed the image of granite, marble or travertine into cultured marble for the look of natural stone but the performance of of cultured stone. Designer’s Marble has the exclusive license to manufacture the counters, called TruStone, in the Washington State.

Green Model Homes Highlighted at Seattle Home Show 2

In keeping with its emphasis on green design and building, Seattle Home Show 2 is featuring two state-of-the-art green model homes at this year's exhibition.

"The Fortino" from ideabox is a revolutionary new home that is making its debut in Seattle.

This 1,250 square foot home features a sleek contemporary design that works well in both urban and rural settings. The fortino incorporates green features both inside and out, including sustainable bamboo flooring, solid surface renewable counters, flat-finish no VOC drywall, wood passage doorways with reed glass inserts, vessel sinks and dual-flush toilets. Outside, landscaper In Harmony has created a rain garden, a popular way to manage water runoff and eliminate pollutants before the water enters local streams, lakes and groundwater.

Contrasting in design but no less environmentally friendly is the display by Coast Cabins. Highlighting a full range of renewable energy products and self-sustainabilty reusable goods in a cabin setting, the Coast Cabins display features two of the company's eco-friendly cabins. These cabins are constructed using the company's patented tongue-and-groove green technology that allows the cabins to be erected using only a rubber mallet. Outside, landscaper NW Bloom brings the concepts of rainwater harvesting, self-sustainability and the use of reusable materials into a Northwest native garden theme. Finishing off the booth is a solar array on one of the cabins and a thermal hot water tube system on the other.

Seattle Home Show 2 Set to Open Thursday

Set up is being finalized as Seattle Home Show 2, the fall version of the nation’s oldest and largest consumer home show, prepares to open its doors tomorrow for its annual four day run.

“Green” is the theme of this year’s show, which features the latest in products and services for the home from some of the region’s leading building, design and landscape professionals. Just some of the hot trends at this year’s show include:



- Residential wind power systems
- Whole house energy audits
- Rain gardens for managing water runoff and eliminating pollutants before the water enters local streams, lakes and groundwater
- Remodeling (versus new home construction)
- “Blending,” a new design trend where two different architectural styles are combined in a single home
- Anything “green” (photo from 2008 show)


Seattle Home Show 2 runs October 22 through 25 at Qwest Field Event Center. Show hours are 10 AM to 6 PM on Thursday, 10 AM to 8:30 PM on Friday, and 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday and Sunday. (Box office closes one hour prior to show closing.) Paid attendees can return a second day for free through “Too much to see, come back for free!”(Parking not included.) Valid I.D. is required. Admission prices are $9.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors (60+) and $3.00 for juniors (ages 7 - 15), under 7 free. VISA and MasterCard accepted. Tickets can be purchased online at SeattleHomeShow.com, brought to you by BECU. E-Tickets include free parking for the show.