Thinking about that home-improvement project you've been putting off?
Looking for fresh decorating ideas?
Or are you interested in the latest landscaping trends that will make your home the envy of your neighborhood?
Chances are you can find the answers at the Erie Home & Garden Expo, which begins today at 2 p.m. at the Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier.
Attendance for the four-day show, which concludes Sunday, averages 8,000 to 10,000, according to show organizer Mark Concilla, of Erie Promotions and Expos.
One of the show's centerpiece attractions is the installation inside the Bayfront Convention Center of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom manufactured home.
Hawk Homes, of Youngsville, will unveil a 1,456-square-foot newly designed home built by Commodore Homes, of Shippenville.
The home's 28-by-52-foot floor plan includes a kitchen, living room and utility room. It's priced at $69,900, but show goers can purchase it for $67,900.
"It's more of an educational thing at these shows,'' said Shawn Finefrock, sales manager of Hawk Homes. "When people think of manufactured homes, they think of the 1970s and the trailers their grandparents or parents had. It's nice to show them a few of the features and the style that we offer.''
Finefrock said his company sells a lot of manufactured homes to "young couples just starting out and older folks who are looking to downsize.''
"The interest is huge,'' Finefrock said. "I don't think there is a person who goes to the show who doesn't peek inside the home and take a look at it.''
The home includes a custom-built deck and landscaping.
Randall Farabaugh, an interior designer with Arthur F. Schultz Co., of Erie, incorporated a nautical theme into the home's interior d?cor.
"I got the Erie Maritime Museum involved, and they've given me a lot of artwork, accessories and pieces,'' he said. "I'm using driftwood furniture and all blue tones and yellow and sea foam green to create a nautical theme. They've given me some amazing pieces to commemorate the 200th anniversary of (Commodore Oliver Hazard) Perry.''
The home is called Perry's Landing, Farabaugh said.
Farabaugh said Arthur F. Schultz Co. is providing about $20,000 of furniture for the home.
"Everybody comes to see the house,'' Farabaugh said. "They can't believe they've actually put a house inside the convention center and that it's going to be transformed in 24 hours. They brought it in Monday. By 5 p.m. that day, the house was assembled and put together.''
The home's entire interior was painted Tuesday, and landscaping work was ongoing.
All furniture, window treatments, art and accessories were taken care of Wednesday, Farabaugh said.
"We were running ragged trying to pull it all together,'' Farabaugh said. "It works. Most people do work best under pressure. The fact that it's a completed home inside the convention center is a huge draw, and people just want to come and see it.''
Hawk Homes crews began the home's installation on Monday morning.
"By the show's opening, it will be completely done and ready to go,'' Concilla said. "They have to get a special permit to pull the house. It came here in two pieces. It just barely makes it into the convention center's big overhead doors.''
"The front piece has a bay window, and there were inches to spare to get it inside,'' Finefrock said.
Nearly 200 exhibitors are scheduled to display their products, Concilla said.
The show features displays of landscaping and new home construction, home improvement, do-it-yourself clinics, gardening seminars, interior decorating, a handyman's contest, interactive exhibits, celebrity appearances and children's activities.
Also on the show agenda are cooking seminars, landscaping demonstrations and appearances by the Penn State Erie County Master Gardeners.
Celebrity appearances include Charles Frattini, who stars on the A&E television show, "Sell This House: Extreme.''
Interior designer Debra Lesinski, owner of Interior Style in Clarence, N.Y., will present seminars on outside curb appeal.
Frattini and Lesinski will present seminars Friday through Sunday.
A new show feature is the state Department of Environmental Protection's interactive "DEP At Home'' exhibit.
The exhibit, which is 30 feet by 20 feet, is fashioned into a home that features practices and products promoting energy efficiency, sustainable building materials and environmentally friendly, Pennsylvania-produced home products, Concilla said.
The exhibit features a bathroom/laundry area, kitchen and living room, showcasing appliances, building materials and d?cor to improve energy efficiency, radon awareness, water conservation, air quality and other environmental features.
RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.
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