“Red with Dragonflies,” a print from Danish painter Henrik Simonsen. His work will be among pieces exhibited at the Afforable Art Fair in New York April 4 – 7.
Home improvement plans this spring? A variety of upcoming events in New Jersey and New York can help, offering access to design ideas, expert advice and a variety of home and garden goods in one place.
In the ever-changing home design landscape, it can be difficult to keep up with all the options all the time. There is help, however, at home shows and other design-friendly events that bring together numerous experts, contractors and manufacturers.
Attending one can simplify the process of learning as much as possible about what’s available before your project starts. At events in the following list, visitors can find a variety of solutions — from making the most of space in a tiny first apartment to outfitting a grand home that requires exclusive, upscale furnishings.
The learning opportunities range from nuts-and-bolts chats with contractors at the New Jersey Home Show to zany fun and design advice at Ikea’s Bring Your Own Friends Day, to the design seminars with the showcase of fine home fashions and fixtures at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show. There also will be opportunities to learn more about antiques and their value at the Pier Antiques Show, and on selecting and displaying contemporary art at the Affordable Art Fair.
Author Joey Green, shaving with peanut butter.
• New Jersey Home Show and Interior Design Expo: Tomorrow through Sunday at the New Jersey Convention Center, 97 Sunfield Ave, Edison. More than 300 home improvement professionals will be exhibiting at this PSEG-sponsored show that promises access to the latest design trends, home remodeling ideas and energy efficiency solutions. Author Joey Green, known for his wacky ways with foods and common household products, will demonstrate his techniques each day. A few of them: using Coca-Cola to clean your toilet, polishing furniture with Spam, cleaning diamond rings with Efferdent and starting a campfire with Doritos. Show hours are 3 to 9 p.m Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m Sunday. $10 (free for children younger than 16); visit HomeShowExpo.com.
• Bring Your Own Friends Day: Saturday at Ikea stores in Elizabeth (1000 Center Drive) and Paramus (100 Ikea Drive). Home design advice will be available from staffers and in seminars. Those who pre-register on Facebook get a coupon for a free Ikea shopping bag and free breakfast before 11 a.m. Tweet a picture of yourself pretending to cook in a store kitchen display, or doing something else from the Twitter Photo Scavenger Hunt list, and be entered to win a $100 Ikea gift card. There will be giveaways and food samples throughout the day. Visit TheLifeImprovementProject.com/byof.
Bosai will be demonstrated and exhibited at Springfest.
• Springfest Garden Show: March 14 through 17 at Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta. If you’ve ever wished for a home office but don’t have the room, a backyard shed just might be the answer. One of the features of this show will be a display of three sheds turned into living spaces: the previously mentioned home office, a space to share with a pet, and a man’s space. The living garden exhibits, housed in a custom-built glass conservatory with 34-foot mahogany beams, also will feature a bonsai demonstration. Along with the garden ideas and goods, speakers will include Margaret Roach, garden writer and formerly editorial director and garden editor for Martha Stewart Living. Other show topics will address preserving garden edibles. Kid’s Zone activities will get youngsters excited about plants. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. $12 ($9 for seniors, free for those younger than 12); visit SpringFestGardenShow.org or call (973) 948-9448.
Cari Cucksey, host of the HGTV show “CashCari”
• Pier Antiques Show: March 16 and 17 at Manhattan’s Pier 94, 711 Twelfth Ave. (at 55th Street), New York. Cari Cucksey of the HGTV show “CashCari” will appear both days, sharing tips to repurpose old and found objects. Shoppers at this 500-exhibit show of furniture, fine and folk art, silver, ceramics, textiles and more also can have pieces evaluated for $5 each by “Antiques Roadshow” appraisers Gary Sohmers and Gordon Converse. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m both days. $15 (free for those younger than 16 with an adult, free for college students on March 17). Visit StellaShows.com.
• The Architectural Digest Home Design Show: open to the public March 22 to 24 at Pier 94, 711 Twelfth Ave. (at 55th Street) New York, bills itself as “a showcase of the best new ideas in the home design and luxury market.”
The Grigio chair by Wild Chairy has a sexy lace-up back. The Haddonfield company recycles classic chairs with updated designs, creating one-of-a-kind pieces. Wild Chairy will be among exhibitors at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show. This year, more than 500 premium brands will be showing kitchen and bath products, indoor and outdoor furnishings, flooring, lighting, decorative accessories and more. The show’s MADE area will offer locally produced, limited-edition and one-of-a-kind fine art, furniture, photography and lighting. In addition to the expansive display area, the show is known for its seminars led by top design professionals. Sessions will explore kitchen design, decorating with color and texture, working with art and other design topics. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 22 and 23, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 24. $30 in advance online (includes an Architectural Digest magazine subscription), $35 at the door (children younger than 12 admitted free with adult). Visit ArchDigestHomeShow.com for information about the $95 March 21 show preview.
• Affordable Art Fair: April 4 through 7 at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St. (between Sixth and Seventh avenues) in Manhattan. Original art can be a great way to freshen things up and this collector’s fair will showcase 84 galleries on two floors. At least half of the pieces will be priced under $5,000. The traveling contemporary art show visits 16 cities internationally this year. The New York stop includes original paintings, prints, sculptures and photographs, with prices ranging from $100 to $10,000. Show curators buy with an eye for the seasoned collector, as well as first-time buyers. Show hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 4 to 6, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 7. $15 ($10 for students and seniors, children younger than 12 admitted free with an adult). Visit AffordableArtFair.com/newyork for information about the $65 private preview party on April 3.
Kimberly L. Jackson may be reached by e-mail.
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