Idea Center
The Idea Center is packed full of a wide variety of experts ready to answer your home and garden questions. At the "Ask a Pro" booth in the Idea Center, architects, landscape architects, and interior designers provide free, no-obligation advice, and people are encouraged to bring photos, sketches and questions.
All Day in the Idea Center
Ask the Pro
Architects, master gardeners, interior designers, arborists, aging in placing specialists, and landscape designers will be on hand all day to talk with you about your remodeling, decorating, or landscaping ideas at no charge or obligation. Bring photos of your existing space and any plans or sketches you’ve developed.
Volunteers include:
- architects Andre Latondresse (JAL Architects), Charles Levin (Charles Levin Architects), Gene Nicolelli, Jr. (Architect), and Marie Parish (The Foundation Architects)
- landscape architects Judie Erickson (Portals and Pathways) and Richard Woldorsky (Bachman's)
- interior designer Paulette Goodno (Transformations Interior Design)
- arborist Manuel Jordan (Heritage Shade Tree Consultants)
- aging in place specialist Charlie Braun (Equal Access Homes)
- Master Gardeners from the Hennepin County Master Gardener program
Remodeling Plan Books
Remodeling Planbooks featuring remodeling ideas for Cape Cods and split entries will be available at the fair for $5. These books show existing floor plans and three-dimensional sketches of the remodeled space. The books also offer tips to ensure the finished remodeling project fits with the original architecture. These books are a joint project of the 14 Twin Cities suburbs.
Remodeling Financing and Home Maintenance Tips
A representative from CAPSH will be on hand to give a variety of homeownership information including, Pre-Purchase Home Buyer Program, Home Maintenance, Repair and Rehab, Foreclosure Prevention, Reverse Mortgage Counseling and the Energy Assistance Program as well as evaluating your finance options. For more information on CAPSH, visit www.cashenn.org.
Radon, Lead, & Indoor Air Pollution
Environmental Health Specialists will staff an Indoor Air Pollution booth in the Idea Center and answer questions on radon and mitigation, lead hazards and other common indoor air pollutants like mold. Radon detection test kits will be available for $7.
Lowering Your Energy Costs
A representative will be on hand from the Center for Energy and Environment to answer your questions about lowering energy costs, including: reducing energy bills / Minnesota Energy Challenge; insulation and ice dams; carbon monoxide and backdraft problems; indoor air quality; moisture problems; ventilation system options; and new furnace options.
Plumbing Repair Basics for the Home
Learn how to save “big dollars” on home plumbing repairs as well as how to keep from wasting water as a result of leaky faucets and toilets.
The City of Hopkins Plumbing Inspector
will demonstrate how to make simple repairs to toilets and kitchen/bathroom faucets.
Green Remodeling Advice
A representative will be on hand from Minnesota GreenStar will be on hand to discuss how you can make your home more resource- and energy-efficient, healthy, beautiful, and sustainable. Come learn how to affordably “green” your renovation project inside and out.
Ecologically Friendly Gardening
A representative will be on hand from Metro Blooms to discuss how you can beautify your community and to help heal and protect our environment by creating beautiful, ecological gardens. Metro Blooms is a private non-profit volunteer-based educational organization.
Planting for Clean Water
A representative will be on hand from the Blue Thumb program to discuss how the Planting for Clean Water™ program makes it easy for residents interested in doing their part to protect water quality to plan, purchase and plant native gardens, raingardens and shorelines with native plants.