From the front yard to the back … the roof to the basement … and every room in between, homeowners and aspiring homebuyers can find tips and professionals to turn their ideas into reality at the 68th annual Southern Home & Garden Show, produced by the Home Builders Association of Greenville.
The show – Friday through Sunday, Feb. 27, Feb. 28 and March 1, at the Greenville Convention Center – will feature more than 300 exhibitors and exhibits for people of every age and every interest.
“This is truly a family-friendly show. We’ve got the Kids Make & Take. We’ve got the DIY Stage. We’ve got exhibits of interest to men, exhibits for women. We’ve got something everyone in the family will enjoy,” says Taylor Lyles, Chief Executive Officer of the HBA of Greenville.
Homeowners will find professionals to remodel their kitchens or bathrooms, repair their roofs or leaky basements, improve their outdoor spaces or redecorate their interiors.
Dreamers and renters can uncover fresh ideas and the latest innovations for their wish lists – or even find someone to build them a home.
‘Lots Of Opportunities, More Than Ever’
Lyles says this year’s show will be the biggest in years.
“This will rival the shows from the mid-1990s. We have more remodelers. We have builders – production and custom builders,” he says.
“The show is strong. We’ve got a lot of opportunities, more than ever – anything you would want to build a home, renovate a home, or upgrade something in your home. I’m super excited.”
Jeff Lynch Appliances, Electronics, Bedding and Furniture is the title sponsor of the Southern Home & Garden Show. Other sponsors are Central Electric Services, Guy Roofing, J. Callahan Concrete, Precision Landscape Management, and Blue Ridge Cabinet & Design.
Technology For The Home
Technology is a big part of the show. “Kitchen technologies are one-upping every year. Jeff Lynch has some very cool and interesting technology coming out – as do all of the vendors,” says Lyles, who has been with the HBA of Greenville for seven years.
Tech exhibits will range from the newest televisions and audio/projection systems to the latest in home security and smartphone-enabled automation.
Lyles expects a less common technology to become popular. “People are going to be looking into elevators,” he says. “People want to age in place. But most of the bedrooms are on the second floor. They need a way to get upstairs safely. I think elevators are going to come back into play pretty big. The technology of elevators has definitely gotten much better.”
An Early Start On Spring Planting
Precision Landscape Management will offer a garden center at the show.
“Consumers can take plants home and start their early spring planting. With the show being the last weekend of February, we can offer that opportunity,” Lyles says.
Home & Garden Show favorites will again be a part of the show.
Designer Showcase, Southern Kitchen
The Designer Showcase will feature the work of Jamie Bertolini of J. Bertolini Design, Jamie Bryant of Alessie Fine Furniture and Interiors, and Anastasia Siprikov of Ana’s Design. Show-goers can check out their displays and vote for a favorite.
For foodies, home cooks and the merely hungry, the Southern Kitchen on Saturday will present demonstrations from chefs at The Anchorage, Sum Bar, Curean, Rise Bakery and Augusta Street Pizza.
Dani Mathews, @healthyishdani, will emcee the Southern Kitchen. Mathews is a creator and influencer who promotes Greenville dining, events and travel. She has 135,000 followers on Instagram and 58,000 on TikTok.
On Friday, Fox Carolina will air a segment of its Access Carolina program live from the show. Sunday, a crew from HIS Radio, 89.3, will be on hand.
Outdoor Living: ‘It’ Project This Year
Lyles predicts that exhibits showcasing outdoor living will be especially popular.
“Landscape lighting has definitely improved. I think you’re going to see a big uptick in outdoor lighting accessories, from permanent lights on your soffits to different ways to light the front of your house,” he says.
“Outdoor grilling areas with pergolas – some that automatically close when the weather’s turning bad. There are a lot of new things on the market.”
Fire pits, built-in grills and outdoor kitchens. Pools and spas. Raised garden beds and sustainable planting tips.
“A lot of people are hyper-focused on maximizing their outside space,” Lyles says.
After a tough winter, he also expects guests to check out roofing, new siding and windows, gutters, screened porches and whole-home generators.
Not Moving; Improving Homes Instead
A seventh-generation Upstate native, Lyles says he hears from vendors at the show and members of the HBA that many people aren’t able to move to a new home or don’t want a new home.
“People are making their current homes into exactly what they want. Homeowners have never seen the equity in their houses that they have right now. People can pull cash out of their houses to make $50,000, $60,000, $100,000 remodels,” Lyles says.
“They’re happy with their community. They’re happy with their homes and just want to add a bedroom or a pool. People are saying, ‘I’m going to stay put for another five to seven years, and I’m putting my money back into this house.’”
One-Stop-Shop
Regardless of the motivation or goal, the home show is a “one-stop shop.”
“The biggest benefit of the Home and Garden Show is that you can find everything you need under one roof,” Lyles says.
“Why search online for hours when you can come into the convention center and talk to someone who can fix your problem or build your house or redesign your backyard.”
And if a homeowner isn’t quite ready to start a project immediately, they can collect information and business cards from a host of professionals.
“It might be something on your six-month project list. You have time to investigate and learn exactly what you want,” Lyles says.
“There are a lot of variables. But the vetted professionals on the Home Show floor … That’s what they do. They help people make those decisions. They guide you down the pathway to exactly what you want.”
When You Go
The Southern Home & Garden Show is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 27 and Feb. 28; and noon to 5 p.m. March 1. Admission is $8 for adults; $5 for senior citizens; and children under 12 are free. For tickets, go to the Home Show website. Parking at the Greenville Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive, is $10; no cash is accepted for parking.
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