[UPDATE 1/21: The Home + Remodeling Show was canceled due to inclement weather.]
DIY's Rescue Renovation host Kayleen McCabe is used to offering a helping hand to homeowners in need of some direction with their renovation projects. This weekend in Chantilly, Virginia, local homeowners will be able to meet her face-to-face and have any decorating and renovating questions of their own answered. At the Home + Remodeling Show in the Dulles Expo Center, McCabe will co-host the event along with Bravo's Flipping Out host Jeff Lewis. The three-day event will feature over 300 exhibitors, seminars, and home remodeling products, all focused on home remodeling, renovation, and home décor. McCabe was able to take some time out of her day to answer Curbed's questions on what she will be speaking about at the Home + Remodeling Show. If interested in attending the event, be sure to check out all the details here.
What interested you in co-hosting the Home + Remodeling Show?
Being able to spread the word about construction and remodeling trends with homeowners.
So, what are some trends that you will be speaking about?
You know, a variety of things, but not necessarily specific trends. I think it's the value of construction … My big push right now is I'm trying to convince teenagers to consider going into the trades. So, I will be discussing home remodeling, but then also encouraging maybe questions or participation from the audience.
Why do you hope to convince teenagers into going into construction?
Because in my adventures I have now met so many contractors in businesses who are screaming that they do not have employees, and I'm looking around and contractors are a dying breed of people. We need craftsmen to maintain the infrastructure and continue to grow this country, and we don't have that interest, which is silly because right now it is a great job opportunity. People can make a ton of money without any sort of college debt.
Any helpful tips that you think homeowners should know about?
Yes, planning is the number one always, but I'm going to talk about it a little bit more about what you need to plan, and what are you looking for, and some realistic expectations for a construction or remodeling project. So, what should you tackle and what shouldn't you touch.
What shouldn't you tackle?
I'm going to say major plumbing work, doing any sort of remodeling with loads like a load baring wall that needs to be moved. A lot of homeowners will get in over their heads, trying to tackle projects that they've seen on TV and think they can do it in a weekend. So, there are a lot of trades that licensed professionals need to be doing.
Are there any common mistakes that homeowners often make when designing or renovating their homes?
I think it's an unrealistic time budgeted in as well as finances, not being realistic on where their money is going or how to spend it properly.
Is that what often causes home renovations to go off the deep end? Or are there other causes?
I think so. I think that's one of the major ones. I don't think a lot of folks understand that being a great general contractor means you are the conductor of an orchestra and you need all of your instruments in tune and everybody on the same page of music so stuff sounds great, and it's that coordination, and if you don't have it well coordinated, it's not a smooth process.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
If you have any other questions about the Home + Remodeling Show, you can find answers here.
· Home + Remodeling Show [Official Website]
· Curbed Interviews archive [Curbed DC]