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AHBA Home, Garden and Lifestyle Show

Bring your blueprints or building plans and get all your questions answered on the spot.

Whether you are building, remodeling or just updating your interior or landscaping, the annual home show in Lafayette is the place to find information and inspiration.

Acadian Home Builders Association has been giving homeowners a yearly blueprint of the best home services and products available in our area for almost 50 years. Once known as "Blueprints," the annual event is now called the "Home, Garden and Lifestyle Show-Your Blueprint for Better Living."

Don Pippin Jr., owner Fast Signs, and chairman of this year's show, says the name change serves two purposes. It helps celebrate the AHBA's 50th year, and it better reflects the wide range of the show, as it has grown to include all aspects of outdoor living, construction and interior décor. This year over 175 local exhibitors will fill the Cajundome Convention Center to showcase what they can offer Acadiana homeowners. Exhibits include interior décor and furnishings, outdoor furnishings, appliances, flooring, health and fitness, finance, builders and developers, cabinetry and much more.

"We've maximized the space we have available," says Pippin, "and we're putting up a pavilion in the lobby for vendors who promote healthy living and lifestyles. Outside we're creating an outdoor living environment that you can register to win at the show." AHBA is partnering with the Regional Medical Center of Acadiana in the Healthy Living Pavilion, and it will include opportunities for quick, medical screening tests and healthy eating tips. The outdoor living prize showcases the things that enhance outdoor living spaces, including a grill, stone patio and furniture.

"The show is very good for the consumer," says Denise Domingue, Coburn's Supply Co. "They get an idea of trends and get to see all the new things available. We're always trying to make our display new and better. We have appliances and plumbing, and visitors will get to see all of that, but we're also going to have a beautiful candy apple red range on display." The exhibit will allow an up close view of the new colors and features available in kitchen and laundry appliances and bath fixtures.

Coburn's Supply Co. is a Gold Sponsor, along with LUS Fiber, and has been participating in the show since its early years. Domingue has noticed that compared to last year, when many home projects were put on hold, this year there is already more interest in building and remodeling. "I think this show will be one of the biggest," she says.

The show is all about helping homeowners make dreams come true. Exhibitors will display their wares and explain the benefits of the latest in environmentally friendly building materials, floor treatments, energy saving appliances and new trends in landscaping. Visitors to the show are invited to bring house plans, pictures and questions with them and get answers and helpful tips from the seminar staff on hand each day. In addition, there will be cooking demonstrations by area chefs from favorite restaurants, educational seminars led by AHBA members and fingerprinting for children from the Lafayette Sheriff's Dept.

AHBA serves as a consumer information agency to residents looking for a licensed builder or subcontractor. The annual Home, Garden and Lifestyle Show provides a showcase for members to interact with the public and give information on new products and services. For more information, visit www.ahbaonline.com or call 337-981-3053.