The BC Home + Garden Show 2023 took place from March 16 to 19, 2023 at BC Place in Vancouver, BC (where the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics were held!). Who doesn't love trade shows? You get lots of ideas for home and garden improvement projects. Plus, you get to see live demonstrations and talk to experts in the industry. It's like a real life version of HGTV!
Even the entrance was so stunning and inspirational!
I went on the weekend and had a great time checking out all the vendors and displays. By the end of the day, my head was spinning with so many ideas! Here are some of the highlights!
1. The Main Stage
There were multiple presentations each day on the main stage ranging from home project ideas to home organization tips. Presenters included Bryan Baeumler of HGTV Canada's #1 rated show, Island of Bryan, Graeme Huguet, owner of My House Design/Build/Team, Megan Golightly from Simplified Inc., and Kathy Yuen from Phase One Design.
These presentations were perfect for anyone looking for a refresh! I went away with ideas that I never would have thought of on my own, plus they gave me a much more realistic expectation of what I can and cannot do on my own, and what I'll need help with to create my dream home.
2. The Cooking Stage
I love baking and I love binge-watching reality shows, so imagine my excitement when I saw that the lineup included Bruno Feldeisen, a judge on The Great Canadian Baking Show! There were seminars and lives demos, and other speakers included Joanna Tymkiw, a trained chef and food journalist, and Behshad Zolnasr from C|Prime Modern Italian Steak & Wine.
Because of course, it doesn't matter how beautiful a home is without the aroma of delicious meals to fill it up!
3. HONOMOBO
Container living may now be the future, but don't think of these as just your typical shipping containers. HONOMOBO specializes in creating living spaces out of rigid steel. Some of their designs look like full-on homes, but the one that really caught my eye was a shipping container office that looks amazing and so functional. Oh well, if this work from home thing is the new normal, maybe I'll splurge one day!
4. Landscaped Luxuries
Not sure what to do with your overgrown garden and having trouble deciding what you can do with it? Yup, that was me! Landscaped Luxuries was an area where experts, including Vandenberg Landscapes and Front Yard Farms, had created a number of display gardens, providing inspiration for landscape design and space planning.
To be honest, there's no way I can realistically keep up with all the upkeep that's required for a meticulous garden with fountains (weeds are the bane of my existence), but a small area of my yard where I can have a couple of plants that'll spruce things up? I'm in!
5. Garden Retail Market
You know how after getting off a ride at Disney, you exit into the store that's themed exactly the same as the ride and because you're still on a high, you want to buy everything? That was me. I went to the Garden Retail Market, presented by Art's Nursery Garden & Home, right after visiting Landscaped Luxuries, and had to keep reminding myself to calm down. They offered a selection of annuals, seeds, buds, and greens, which admittedly, are available at most nurseries, but it was so much more fun to shop there surrounded by like-minded enthusiasts!
6. Gardeners' School
The Gardeners' School featured seminars from local experts including Brian Minter and Emma Terrell of The Urban Botanist. Topics ranged from container gardens to mindful gardening, and everything in between. Emma gave a great presentation on how to make your own terrarium, which seems like such a fun project to try out. It's basically like creating your own ecosystem!
7. Deck Daydreams
Next, a lovely deck from where you can sit and admire your garden! Deck Daydreams highlighted the newest trends in deck design. If you're fortunate enough to have the outdoor space for it, why not take advantage and create additional living space for your family? Just imagine yourself sipping on a glass of wine outside on a warm, balmy evening just as the sun is setting. Or laughter around the table as you and your family enjoy one of many summer BBQs.
8. M(art)ket
A curated collection that featured one-of-a-kind pieces of canvases, prints, and photos by local artists. Perfect for finding that finishing touch to your space. Local artists included Donna Giraud Fine Art, Mike & Jenna Fine Art, and Theresa Eaton Art.
9. Got Craft Spring Pop Up Market
And of course, what's a trade show without some shopping? Small local businesses were prominently featured. The curated market showcased independent crafters and designers and included handmade jewelry, ceramics, clothing, artisan food and drink, paper goods, and much more.
I had a great time browsing all the different booths. It was like shopping at a real-life version of Etsy! My favorite part was being able to find lots of original pieces that I can't find anywhere else, plus I love talking to the designers themselves to see where they got their inspiration from for a particular piece. There's always a great story behind each one.
As always when having a great time, the day went by in a flash. It was a day of inspiration and ideas galore. Now I just need something to scratch that itch until the next show!
