Home and garden show provides insights on current trends

~ For the most part, people in this area are going for vibrant, cleaner looks, said one consultant.

The 26th annual Home and Garden show at the Show Me Center was flooded at its opening Saturday by people in the market for home upgrades, services and ideas.

Sarah Geringer, Southeast Missouri Homebuilder's Association event coordinator, said that about five of the nearly 110 vendors exhibiting were new.

Sandy Nuyt, owner/consultant for Interiorz, said that home interior trends typically change every five years.

Right now, she said, granite and quartz are in, but, like many things in the business, it varies from region to region of the country. The color trend for this area is monochromatic schemes focused on earth tones, mustard, goldenrod and rust.

For the most part, Nuyt said, the area is going for vibrant, cleaner looks.

After replacing a large picture window in his living room, David Lucas of Cape Girardeau was taking the initiative to have blinds installed where none had been before. Budget Blinds sales consultant Diana Wills signed Lucas up for the free in-home consultation.

Meanwhile, the money machine at Q Audio and Video booth featured Cheri Worth of Cape Girardeau actively gathering cash at her fastest pace in a telephone booth-sized enclosure while a leaf blower sent the bills flying.

Worth caught enough cash to pay for seven raffle tickets that were later entered in a drawing for a $1,500 home theater.

Across the way, Garage Interiors, a new vendor and business, offered solutions for organizing and creating more garage space.

Owner Bill Green said that when he wanted to purchase a franchise, research pointed him to Garage Tech, the second fastest growing franchise. He set out to develop his own version of a business that helps people regain their garage for their vehicles.

One way of doubling garage space is the loft system, a 20-by-10-foot platform lifted 6 feet from the ground, with a maximum load of up to 3,000 pounds. Overhead storage could allow homeowners to extend their vehicle's exterior life and eliminate clearing snow or ice forever.

A new service offered by Heather Gaston called "Let's Get Organized!" lured people overcome by clutter.

"Professional organizing is new to this area," Gaston said. "It's available in St. Louis and Memphis, but not here. I'm the person you call before you call a cleaning lady."

Gaston offers one-on-one help in sorting, planning and eliminating clutter.

The overflowing Kohler Sok bathtub attracted passers-by seeking a better look. An outer trough caught the overflow when the tub was filled to capacity, making it possible for tub connoisseurs to be immersed up to their necks.

Dennis O. Meyer of Meyer Supply Co. said an effervescent effect made by 11 ports aerating the water is new to the industry in the past two years. It's quiet compared to whirlpool tubs and water movement is at a minimum.

Last year, about 9,700 people attended the three-day event.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133