By Frances Morton
Katie Meyer needs a fireplace - and found plenty to choose from at the Bay of Plenty Times Home Show.
The Te Puke nurse was on the lookout for a fireplace to keep her and 18-month-old son, Jacob, cosy this winter.
Mrs Meyer was one of hundreds of Bay residents
flocking to the Bay of Plenty Times Home Show at the Mount Action Centre yesterday seeking information about the latest innovative ideas in home design and improvement.
The Home Show is on for the rest of today and opens again tomorrow at 10am. Although she came to look at fireplaces, Mrs Meyer was impressed and tempted by the large variety of homeware goods on display.
"I actually wasn't going to buy much but I've seen a lot of good things," she said.
"It is really good looking here because you get the whole range."
There are more than 170 stalls at the home show, displaying everything from insulation, flooring and air-conditioning to interior decor and furniture.
There are also luxurious items on show, such as a robotic lawnmower that tends to your lawns while you relax, a motorised massage chair and home sauna.
The food corner offers free samples of delicacies such as gourmet condiments, specialty breads, deli sausages, coffee, chocolate and wine. Visitors can even check out the state of your health with a blood pressure and pulse check from St John Ambulance and find out your blood type from the New Zealand Blood Service.
Mike Ogier, owner of 4 Seasons Home and Leisure, said exhibiting at the Home Show was a great way to expose products to a wide audience.
"There are a lot of people moving through," said Mr Ogier. "They're not here to waste the day. People who are designing and building are here to make the right choices. They are looking for information."
Mr Ogier was delighted with the opportunity to demonstrate his latest gas fire to customers.
