Great Big Home + Garden Show offers renovation inspiration

Perhaps nothing solves cabin fever while thinking spring quite like Cleveland’s Great Big Home + Garden Show.

This year’s affair, which returns Jan. 31 through Feb. 9 at the I-X Center, once again aims to inspire homeowners with more than 475 exhibits featuring kitchen and bath, landscaping, décor and flooring ideas.

“Many exhibitors will also be offering great show specials only available at our show, said Show Manager Rosanna Hrabnicky, in a news release, “making it the ideal event to not only find some great new ideas for your next home project but also get the best deals, too.”

Attractions include home front entrance ideas via “Doorway to Spring,” featuring ProVia Doors and vignettes designed by 10 local designers.

There are also six feature gardens from Northeast Ohio landscapers in the Garden Showcase, as well as additional exhibitors —- Mulberry Creek Herb Farm, Your Garden Specialist, The Plant Shop and Pandy’s Garden Center.

In addition to local vendors, the show always boasts guest appearances by HGTV stars.

This year’s show features “Fixer to Fabulous” co-hosts designer Jenny Marrs and her husband, Dave, an expert craftsman, builder, general contractor and all-around handyman.

They’ll make their Great Big Home + Garden Show debut on Feb. 8 and 9 on the Main Stage.

“There are so many great ideas you can get at these shows,” said Dave Marrs, calling from their home in Bentonville, Arkansas. “We work in an industry that is literally changing daily.

“You’ve got (everything) from sustainable to just new products and different lighting and different designs that are coming out. So it’s really a place where we can get ideas for our show. It’s a great place to go and meet people and just kind of learn what’s out there.”

As for “Fixer to Fabulous,” which is in its sixth season, with new episodes airing Tuesdays on HGTV, the show featuring the couple creating impressive rustic-chic designs almost didn’t happen. In fact, the Marrs twice turned down an HGTV network executive who became smitten with their hometown business.

“It definitely wasn’t something we were looking to do,” Jenny said. “The kids were little at the time, so we were busy with them and work. We had enough business on our own, but we looked at it as an opportunity to talk about one of our adopted daughters and our nonprofit work.”

Added Marrs, “We now have a national platform where we can talk about really work that we care about and work that we do every year.”

When it comes to renovations, Jenny said she recommends customers stay away from following trends and instead follow their hearts. That’s especially the case when discussing art in the home.

The designer suggested eschewing big-box retail pieces for children’s artwork or even hanging mementos on the wall.

“That’s something that really can add character, warmth and your story into the home,” she said. “It’s kind of a simple thing that’s also an easy thing.”

In terms of cost-saving tips, Jenny had a few.

“There are a lot of things you can do to save money and still have a really beautiful space,” she said. “Updating your kitchen — that’s going to be your biggest expense for renovation, of course.

“You can have less-expensive painted cabinets instead of stain-grade cabinets. Hardware is one of those things that can add up. Find a knob that you love and then try to find a dupe of that.”

Then there’s Jenny’s biggest suggestion, which erveryone shopping in stores has considered at one time or another.

“We buy scratch-and-dent appliances,” she said. “I’m looking around our kitchen, all of our appliances are dented except for our range. That’s where we spent money because that’s the focal point of our kitchen.”

As far as being considered HGTV reality stars, Dave says they don’t caught up in all of that. He pointed out the morning of this conversation consisted of using a chainsaw to cut a hole through to ice on a pond so the animals can drink, taking the kids to school and fixing a nail gun while talking about the upcoming Cleveland show.

“It doesn’t really feel much different but going to these shows is really nice because you get to meet a bunch of amazing people,” he said.

“What’s been really great is to have families come up to us and say their whole family can watch. That’s pretty humbling.”

The Great Big Home + Garden Show

When: Jan. 31 through Feb. 9 (times vary).

Where: I-X Center, One I-X Center Drive, Cleveland.

Tickets: $15 ($13 when purchased online), $11 seniors purchased at show box office (Monday through Thursday), $5 children ages 6 to 12, children 5 and under free.

Info: Greatbighomeandgarden.com.