Excitement Over The 2011 Showhome

The new Princess Margaret Hospital Welcome Home Sweepstakes showhome in Oakville opened for viewing this past Saturday, and the feedback has been wonderful! Numerous families snapped their portrait in the study — already imagining themselves settled in. You can see the photos over on the Help Conquer Cancer Facebook page. (Plus, see some snaps from the media event.) Many design bloggers also had lovely things to say:

“Every year they manage to create absolutely gorgeous-yet-liveable, current-yet-timeless showhomes that I adore. Last year […] it was perfection. This year is no exception,” says Karla, from Kerrisdale Design. (That’s the great room on our October issue cover.)

From the moment people walked in, many commented on the classic, chevron floors. “I love the chevron wood floors and the Montauk sofa [in the great room],” says Vanessa Francis, over at the Decor Happy blog. Christine Dovey from Bijou & Boheme felt similarly: “The house is a total fantasy dream home…the herringbone floors throughout were enough to send my brain into ‘I want it/life’s not fair/I deserve that’ mode.”

Other big hits? “I also was insanely in love with the plaster wall treatment, yellow kitchen, Barcelona clad entryway, ginormous basement area with full sized windows and a laundry room that took my heart rate up by a few notches, [a] vintage ‘Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’ wardrobe and most importantly…the wine room,” she says on her blog.

The lower level also impressed with its media room, dreamy laundry room (yes, a laundry room can be dreamy!), guest bedroom and more. Vitania from the Verdigris Vie blog found, “The most impressive architectural feature [in the basement] were the windows which were huge […] It made a huge difference to the overall feel of this basement.”

This year we also have our exciting Style Saturday events held right in the showhome! Registration has been busy, but there are still spots available for two of the events. On September 24th you can meet design editor Cameron MacNeil as he shares a fabulous DIY project, co-presented by Ikea. Busy that weekend? Meet Suzanne Dimma and Trish Johnston as they discuss decorating tricks and ideas inspired by the showhome on October 22nd. Both events are free, but space is limited so RSVP today!

For your chance to win this beautiful showhome, order your tickets now by phone, online or in-person at the showhome. Tickets are $100 each or $250 for three, and there are lots of other prizes to be won, including a lakefront cottage, two condos in Toronto and numerous trips, cars and cash prizes.

Keep track of all the showhome buzz! Plus, for an in-depth look at the home, visit the showhome in Oakville or watch our six online TV segments.

Photo credits:
1, 4. House & Home October 2011 issue, photography by Michael Graydon
2. Sarah Hartill
3. Verdigris Vie