The Ottawa Home and Remodelling at the EY Centre, drew thousands of homeowners over the weekend, all looking for ideas and carefully checking their budgets. With economic uncertainty and the rising cost of living top of mind, many shoppers were asking the same question: is now the time to spend, or is it better to hold back? The show floor was busy throughout the weekend. On Sunday, the event’s final day, some attendees were just browsing, while others arrived with active renovation projects already underway. Either way, many were focused on deciding what upgrades are really worth the money. “I’m looking at doing a remodelling of our kitchen,” says Peter Latimer, who was walking the aisles comparing options and prices. Latimer says cost is a major consideration, but he’s still determined to find the right balance between style and value. “We’re always looking for the best deal,” he says. “Everything is expensive, and the vendors are understanding of what the market is like out there, they understand how expensive everything is.” Jeff Hurdis, lead designer at Lagois Design Build and Renovations, said economic pressures have changed how both companies and consumers operate, but have not necessarily stopped renovations altogether. “A lot of products that we never worked with before have kind of come to the forefront as Canadian-made and supplied,” Hurdis says. “But consumer spending has definitely created a bit of a challenge in pricing later-scale projects.” Latimer says that shift toward Canadian-made products is part of what keeps him coming back to the show each year. “It’s really nice to come in here and know that there’s people caring,” he says. “When you talk Canadian, they’re even more passionate.” For him, the experience goes beyond just finding the lowest price. “The passion of the vendors here — they really know that money is tight for people and they’re trying to make that money go a long way,” Latimer says. “That’s the cost, and we’re happy to do it.” According to vendors, while consumer spending has dipped compared to previous years, this weekend’s turnout suggests interest in home upgrades remains strong. Kitchen renovations, once again, appear to be at the top of many homeowners’ lists.
