As you wait for that last little bit of snow to melt, Heather Peterson can teach you how to add a little color to your home right now.
Peterson, owner of Audrey's Flower Shop in Gloucester, will demonstrate creative ways to force flower bulbs Saturday afternoon at the second annual Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Home & Garden Show.
"We find that a lot of people are afraid to mix and match colors," Peterson said. "The demonstration will help people bring spring into their homes. We'll be taking bulbs that have started to grow and designing them in a container. ... We'll mix in grass seeds as an accent, or use river stones. You really can make a beautiful garden."
More than 85 exhibitors will set up booths at the show, including local vendors like Precision Roofing, The Building Center, Windover Development, Andrews Plumbing and Heating Co., Costello Construction and Remodeling, Inc., and Roy Spittle Associates.
Audrey's Flower Shop and Gloucester's Classic Cooks Catering are creating a candyland-themed booth together, where they will sell visual and edible treats from fresh flower bulbs to cookies and brownies. Robert Strauss, co-owner of The Curtain Shop in Gloucester, will use his booth to display this year's window treatment trends.
"We're seeing a lot with shutters again. A lot of motorization - press a button to open and close treatments," Strauss said. "Also, people are going away from the heavy, layered look in their drapery and bringing in accent colors. We're doing a lot of accent panels on custom-designed wooden rods."
Anne Thorton, a designer at Cargo Unlimited's Manchester-by-the-Sea shop, will be on hand to show some of the company's imported furniture pieces, as well as discuss interior design services and designing trends for this season.
So what's big for spring when it comes to home decor?
"Teal-y colors - the blue and white Nantucket look is always strong in New England," Thorton said. "They're forecasting that a salmon (color) and a dark lilac will be big this season. Bringing in more patterns into a single room is also very popular. It used to be that people would use just one pattern and match colors to it. Now, people are bringing in different materials and patterns into one space."
Patrons can grab lunch at the food concession stand, manned by Scroo Cookin' of Gloucester. There also will be several speakers and workshops, including Saturday's two presentations (at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.) on "Waking Up Your Garden for Spring" by nationally syndicated radio personality Paul Parent, and Sunday's interactive lectures at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on "Extreme Garden Makeovers" by WCVB meteorologist and gardening expert David Epstein.
Peterson, owner of Audrey's Flower Shop in Gloucester, will demonstrate creative ways to force flower bulbs Saturday afternoon at the second annual Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Home & Garden Show.
"We find that a lot of people are afraid to mix and match colors," Peterson said. "The demonstration will help people bring spring into their homes. We'll be taking bulbs that have started to grow and designing them in a container. ... We'll mix in grass seeds as an accent, or use river stones. You really can make a beautiful garden."
More than 85 exhibitors will set up booths at the show, including local vendors like Precision Roofing, The Building Center, Windover Development, Andrews Plumbing and Heating Co., Costello Construction and Remodeling, Inc., and Roy Spittle Associates.
Audrey's Flower Shop and Gloucester's Classic Cooks Catering are creating a candyland-themed booth together, where they will sell visual and edible treats from fresh flower bulbs to cookies and brownies. Robert Strauss, co-owner of The Curtain Shop in Gloucester, will use his booth to display this year's window treatment trends.
"We're seeing a lot with shutters again. A lot of motorization - press a button to open and close treatments," Strauss said. "Also, people are going away from the heavy, layered look in their drapery and bringing in accent colors. We're doing a lot of accent panels on custom-designed wooden rods."
Anne Thorton, a designer at Cargo Unlimited's Manchester-by-the-Sea shop, will be on hand to show some of the company's imported furniture pieces, as well as discuss interior design services and designing trends for this season.
So what's big for spring when it comes to home decor?
"Teal-y colors - the blue and white Nantucket look is always strong in New England," Thorton said. "They're forecasting that a salmon (color) and a dark lilac will be big this season. Bringing in more patterns into a single room is also very popular. It used to be that people would use just one pattern and match colors to it. Now, people are bringing in different materials and patterns into one space."
Patrons can grab lunch at the food concession stand, manned by Scroo Cookin' of Gloucester. There also will be several speakers and workshops, including Saturday's two presentations (at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.) on "Waking Up Your Garden for Spring" by nationally syndicated radio personality Paul Parent, and Sunday's interactive lectures at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on "Extreme Garden Makeovers" by WCVB meteorologist and gardening expert David Epstein.
Roughly 3,000 patrons attended last year's event, a figure that Judy Caulkett of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce hopes the show exceeds this year.
In addition to helpful hints, programs and exhibits, there will also be giveaways at the event, including free light bulbs from Timberline Enterprises of Gloucester for the first 1,000 people at the show.
"Last year was so successful," Caulkett said. "Most of the vendors are Cape Ann businesses. There were a lot of local people, local clients, who left saying, 'I didn't know I could get this here.' You don't have to go too far from home for services."
If you go
* What: Second annual Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Home and Garden Show
* When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* Where: Gloucester High School Field House at 32 Leslie O. Johnson Road, Gloucester
* How: Admission is $5 at the door for adults (discount coupons are available) and free for children under 12. For more, check out www.capeannchamber.com/homegarden.
