You might have the skills of Ty Pennington when it comes to a home makeover, but even if you don’t, the 28th Annual Fall Atlanta Home Show aims to inspire and educate homeowners and homebuyers about the latest trends and products.
“This is a great way to find ways to make their house, often inexpensively, stand out from the rest,” said Michael Schoppenhorst, the show’s director.
The show, which runs Sept. 23-25 at the Cobb Galleria Centre, will have more than 300 exhibitors and about a dozen speakers.
Here’s five fun things to see and do at the event:
1. Camera-worthy speakers
You can arrange your showroom-floor browsing around speakers such as architect and interior designer (and former model) John Gidding, host of HGTV’s “Curb Appeal: The Block” and “Designed to Sell.” He’s speaking at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Catch tips and stories from other HGTV hosts: Tonya M. Williams (from “Designed to Sell” and “Bang for Your Buck”) and former Atlanta sports anchor Joe Washington (“Ground Breakers”). They join locals such as Atlanta radio hosts Walter Reeves and Dave Baker, of 750 WSB-AM and now 95.5FM News/Talk WSB, who will be broadcasting live.
2. Steamy settings
The Ultimate Man Cave area will have typical amenities such as a massive flat screen, wine cellar and games, but one unexpected feature will be an infrared sauna for three people. Others may drool over the hot tub with a TV, which is part of an 1,000-square-foot outdoor living area adjacent to the man cave. “You can sit and watch a movie and relax in your hot tub,” Schoppenhorst said.
3. Sip and socialize
There’s a wine-tasting area, where for $5 more, attendees can sample wines provided by Total Wine & More. It benefits Hope Atlanta, the programs of Travelers Aid of Metro Atlanta.
4. Inside peeks
The SeeThru House is back, but bigger, expanded from 1,600 square feet to 2,500. Attendees can walk through the house to see the insulation, wiring, plumbing and other details inside the walls. Experts from ConsultAHomePro.com, which redesigned the home from past years, will be around to answer questions. A new two-story deck, for example, will serve to educate people about deck safety and how to prevent collapses.
5. Safe spaces
Want your own spot to hide during a storm or other threatening situations? One exhibitor -- among the 300 in attendance -- plans to bring its panic room, or storm room. “If there’s any kind of issue, you can jump into this thing and you will be safe,” Schoppenhorst said. “Given all the storms and how the weather seems to be a little funky these days, it’s a nice thing to have.”
Another returning, but popular, feature is the Fire Safety House. The interactive exhibit, manned by personnel with the Cobb County Fire Department and Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation, teaches children and other family members the safest ways to escape fires and how the fire department rescues folks from a blaze.
Atlanta Home Show
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23-24, and noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25
Where: Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta 30339
Cost: $10 adults; free 12 and under, or 65 and older
Free tickets are available at www.hometalk.com/blog/free-entrance-to-the-atlanta-home-show (register on the site before the show).
Info: 770-798-1997, www.AtlantaHomeShow.com
