PARTNERS IN LOVE, LIFE, BUSINESS & TELEVISION
Stars of popular HGTV series will be headliners at Edmonton Renovation Show
Welcome to Sarah Inc? Well, not quite.
The hit HGTV show featuring the Baeumler family still goes by the name Bryan Inc. — at least for now. But Sarah Baeumler, who has taken on an increasingly larger role in husband Bryan’s residential and commercial construction company, is quickly finding herself busier than ever.
She will be one of two star attractions at next week’s Edmonton Renovation Show at the Edmonton Expo Centre — the other being Bryan Baeumler himself.
“Bryan is just a massive crowd pleaser in Edmonton,” said Alison Farrell, assistant show manager for the Edmonton Renovation Show, referring to his previous stints as the renovation show headliner in 2015 and 2016. “But we wanted to change it up slightly by bringing in Sarah.”
In addition to taking on the highpressure role of project manager in Bryan’s contracting business, Sarah not only has her own website — sarahbaeumler.com — where she searches out the best in décor, beauty and fashion accessories, she is also a key force behind the Baeumler Family Foundation, which provides renovations for children and families in need of accessibility, safety, and security in order to create a nurturing and positive environment in the home. If that’s not enough, she recently launched a new venture, Sarah Delivered, a subscription box offering that includes selected products from the areas of beauty, fashion, design, home and wellness.
“Some days I don’t find any time,” said Sarah, when asked how she manages all her responsibilities in addition to raising four young kids.
“We always said — Bryan is of the same mentality as me — if you love what you do it doesn’t feel like work. We don’t look at ourselves as actors. We’re just people who opened up a piece of our lives to give other people a chance to see what we do.”
At the renovation show, the Baeumlers will discuss Bryan Inc. and the ins and outs of combining love and construction.
“More often than not, when one of us has an idea we think will work well, it’s best to trust the other person instead of arguing or trying to prove that your way is best,” added Sarah. “That being said, of course we have had our fair share of disagreements. Over the years we’ve learned to work incredibly well together, it just takes a little bit of practice.”
“We’ll talk about the dynamic of working together and raising kids together and renovating together, and how to navigate that with your partner: the rules of engagement,” said Bryan, who added that he has noticed that homeowners are spending their renovation dollars more cautiously of late. “I think the economy across the country is down in general and people are more aware of their spending. People are more tuned in to where they should be spending their money.”
Local renovator Scott Connolly said he has been seeing the same thing in the Edmonton area.
“It’s not that people are necessarily doing more or less renovations — maybe they’re doing slightly more — but what we’ve noticed is that people are much more cautious in spending their money on the projects they’re doing,” said Connolly. “As a contractor, I’ve had to sharpen my numbers and be more competitive. Prices are being driven down. We’re seeing clients that are very wise and going with the more affordable options. There’s an added caution with spending money that we hadn’t seen when times were booming.”
Connolly, whose Spruce Grovebased company, North Elm, specializes in renovations that are best described as outside the box. One client, for example, wanted an industrial-themed renovation for a downtown Edmonton loft that showcased plenty of steel and metal.
Connolly will be at the renovation show as part of the popular Ask an Expert feature, where attendees get a complimentary one-on-one 15-minute consultation.
“We also do some commercial work,” added Connolly.
“We’re seeing an increase in our commercial side. But it’s the same process on the commercial side. Clients are very cautious with their money. Before, we would focus on what we can create in a space. Now it’s more how you use that space.”
In addition to Ask an Expert and the Baeumlers, more than 275 exhibitors will be present at the renovation show, providing ideas for every room in the house.
New show features include Head-bored, which will focus on ditching your sleepy bedroom decor and replacing it with something more stylish, while The Green Scene will highlight some of Edmonton’s ecofriendly initiatives and services.
Food Truck Alley returns for 2017, along with Renovation Runway, where Rosalyn Lazaruk of Wicket Blue Interiors will feature the latest renovation trends.
“There’s something for everyone at the Edmonton Renovation Show,” said Farrell.