Opinion: HBA Remodeling Show offers new ideas for old homes

The folks at the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield know how to put on an event – as well they should, since the organization also brings us the annual HBA Home Show and the Parade of Homes.

All are excellent, but I’m not at all hesitant to say that the HBA Remodeling Show, which will be held Oct. 21–23 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E*Plex, is my favorite.

Don’t get me wrong – new homes are beautiful, and it’s fun to see all of the exciting building styles and options that are available.

But chances are, I’ll never live in one of those brand-new homes. Not because I wouldn’t absolutely enjoy it, but because I’ve already found a home that I love – and it was built more than a century ago.

Century-old home

Suffice it to say, I’ll never build from the ground up. Someone already did that in 1897, and I count myself blessed to now call this house mine. Thus, what I need – and what the Remodeling Show offers in abundance – is ideas.

For example, part of my dilemma is that I’d love to add more modern touches – thankfully, the plumbing and electricity were taken care of long, long ago – without sacrificing too much of the old-time flavor that makes my house feel like, well, a home.

Case in point: One of my favorite rooms is the kitchen.

It’s a big kitchen, which for obvious and practical purposes has no doubt been updated in previous decades. I love the fact that the old stovepipe hole is hidden by an ornamental cover. It doesn’t really provide much other than decoration, but that’s OK with me. However, I’ve decided that my kitchen sink, which I’m guessing goes back to the 1950s at least, has got to go. It’s a metal and porcelain outfit, encased in metal cabinetry, and there’s only one big compartment in the sink, which makes the dishwashing and rinsing process a little tricky.

But I don’t want to change the layout of the kitchen.

One thing that hasn’t changed since my house was built is the type of dishwasher in the kitchen.

It comprises, primarily, the two hands of the lady of the house – in this case, me – except for those rare occasions when the children are willing to help. (By help, I mean actually WASHING the dishes, as opposed to using the dish soap to make a bubbly mess, which is what they’d prefer). If I did decide to add a dishwasher and update my sink (hey, if I’m going to dream, I might as well dream big), I’m told I’ll need to update some of the wiring in the kitchen. But what’s that going to entail?

I’m hoping to find some guidance as I make my rounds at the show. I’m especially intrigued by one of the vendors, Kitchen Solvers of Missouri, if, in fact, what the company does is what its name implies.

Vendor mix

There’s a good mix of companies participating in this year’s Remodeling Show – a map and listing for those appears on the following pages – and I’m told by my sources at HBA that the listing we have is by no means complete.

Companies included in the listing are those who registered and reserved booth space prior to the HBA’s deadline, but there are others who will join the show before it opens.

There are some companies that have been participating in the show at least since I’ve been attending, and they’re what I consider Remodeling Show regulars. American Detection Specialists, Country Home Elevators & Stair Lifts, Maschino’s Home Express and Glenstone Block Co. all are companies whose wares and offerings I’ve seen before. But I’ll still take a gander at their booths, because I’m betting they’ll have new things to show off.

Also in the mix this year are several companies with which I’m not familiar: Re-Bath of the Ozarks, Special-T Artistic Stone Design Inc. and Brushworks by Tom are a few companies that I look forward to learning more about.

Who knows what ideas they’ll inspire in me and in the countless others who will attend the show?

Just think of all the possibilities. I know I am. See you at the show!

Maria Hoover is Inside Business editor for Springfield Business Journal.