Home Sweet Home at the Indianapolis Home Show
It’s no secret, I love to travel! But I also love coming home. And I’m always looking for ways to make my home an inviting space and a source of joy.
So this week I took a short daytrip to the Indiana State Fairgrounds to explore the Indianapolis Home Show.
In its 97th year, the Indianapolis Home Show spans 10 days and 3 large exhibit halls.
No matter the size of your house or your home repair budget, you are sure to find something of interest at the Indianapolis Home Show!
Centerpiece Home
When we arrived we made a beeline to the Centerpiece Home in the Expo Hall. This huge house constructed entirely onsite by Davis Homes, truly is the centerpiece of the Indianapolis Home Show.
Lines to enter the home can get long, so I recommend getting in line right away. The line moves fairly quickly and soon you will be ooo-ing and ahh-ing while walking through this 3,900 square foot home.
Both of my teenage daughters are interested in updating their bedrooms to reflect their changing styles, and the Centerpiece Home gave them plenty of ideas. Though they will need to get jobs and be able to afford mortgages of their own before they can really implement many of the high end features we saw!
The entire house is amazing, and we would love to move right in!
But our favorite spaces were the gourmet kitchen with a massive granite island,
the over-the-top back patio and pool,
and the game/theater room complete with a twinkling sky.
We are not currently in the market for a new home, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t take home some grand ideas for how to make our own home even more homey.
Celebrity Sightings and More
We did not have time to take in any of the scheduled shows or demonstrations, but there is an impressive Stage Schedule at this year’s Home Show.
Learn home renovation tips from the Indianapolis mother/daughter duo who star in HGTVs Good Bones. Or glean new decorating trends from Trading Spaces’ designer Vern Yip.
Every day of the show offers several opportunities to learn about gardening, home furnishings, saving money, and so much more.
Check out the stage schedule as you plan out your trip to the Home Show.
Practical Home Needs
No matter what your current home challenge may be, there is probably an expert at the Home Show who can help resolve it.
From windows to gutters to alarm systems to garage doors to roofing, the Indianapolis Home Show has you covered!
If you are in the market to buy a house or renovate your existing home, you can find just the right guy or gal at the Home Show to help you out.
Some of these practical home needs may not be the most exciting. But if you need these services, it is pretty helpful to find them all under one giant roof at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Fun Features for Your Home
For our visit we were a bit more interested in seeking out the over-the-top features and design elements for your home and beyond.
I mean who wouldn’t love a bed that all but disappears into the wall!
We gazed longingly at the upscale patios with high end grills and impressive bars perfect for entertaining the entire neighborhood.
And we contemplated the possibility of one day lounging in our very own hot tub or taking a steam in our personal sauna.
Home theater anyone?!
And who doesn’t need a golf cart to pitter around the neighborhood?!
While you are at it, might as well put in a putting green too!
We also took note of the décor and design elements that appealed to each of our styles.
Grey seemed to be the trendy color, providing a light and contemporary style to flooring, backsplashes, paneling, and so much more.
And you can’t forget about curb appeal!
The coloring and fragrant flowers throughout the show had us believing spring might actually be just around the corner. (Sadly, the snow still lingers outside and the temperature struggled to reach double digits today in the Hoosier state!)
Unexpected Finds
While the Home Show had just about every home related element covered, it also offered a few pleasant surprises!
I ran into “the wine lady” from PRP Wines International. She came to our house a few years ago to lead us in an in-home wine tasting party with several of our neighbors. We still talk about that epic night!
If you really want to make your house feel like a home and your neighbors to seem like family, host a wine tasting party.
The evening will likely start off refined, and end up with stories best kept between friends!
Enjoy a bit of wine tasting at the Home Show’s Wine Bar in the West Pavilion.
I also caught up with an old friend, and my former Usborne boss, Lindsey. She is still reaching new levels of success as an Independent Consultant for Usborne Books and sharing the joy of reading to thousands of children.
I was thrilled to see several new Usborne titles with travel themes and even a brand new travel journal perfect for young adventurers.
Stop by Lindsey’s Usborne Books booth in the hallway leading into the South Pavilion.
You Gotta Eat!
With all this walking and chatting with vendors, it is important to keep up your energy and stay hydrated. The Home Show offers a variety of tasty options whether you are craving a snack or a full meal.
You will find the Unilock Corner Beer Garden in the South Pavilion, and don’t miss the Boohler Remodeling Company’s Wine Bar in the West Pavilion with wine tastings from PRP Wine International.
Several cafes and concession stands can be found throughout the Home Show with options ranging from soft pretzels and ice cream to tenderloins and elephant ears.
With booths sampling Wisconsin sausage, Dave’s coffee cake, specialty popcorn, varieties of dips, wine slushies, and my personal favorite…South Bend Chocolate Company, it’s actually possible to fill up before you even open your wallet.
What To Know Before You Go
Location: Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1203 E 38th Street
Dates: January 18-27, 2019
Cost: $15 (or buy online for $13), $3 for ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and under
Parking: $8 to park at the fairgrounds and shuttles are available to drive you to the show entrance
For complete show details go to www.indianapolishomeshow.com.
If you don’t live in the Indianapolis area there are plenty of similar Home Shows all across the U.S. To find one in your area, check out Marketplace Events, the largest Home Show producer in North America.
Wherever the road takes you (even if it’s back home again!), make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya
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