The Capital Home Show returns to the Dulles Expo Center with celebrity guests including Kourtney and Dave Wilson, Kevin O'Connor, and Kelly Millspaugh Thompson. Kourtney and Dave are the stars of HGTV's Masters of Flip. Before you see the duo on stage, check out our interview and learn more about them. 

Q. What was the last TV show you binge watched?
"I didn't get to watching as many series this summer as I had on my list but about 3 months ago, I pretty much didn't eat or sleep until I finished all of the episodes of Madam Secretary. LOVED IT!"

Q. What is your favorite paint color?
"For someone who loves bright colors as much as I do, my most favorite and most used paint is 'Delicate White' by Porter. Who knew there were so many shades of white but it seems to work in almost any room, on almost any trim and in almost any light.   I also love Sherwin William's 'Iron Ore'.  It's the deepest shade of great (coming up on black) but it looks amazing on the exterior. I also love Sherwin William's Iron Ore.  It's the deepest shade of great (coming up on black) but it looks amazing on the exterior."

Q. What are your best tips to help homeowners with curb appeal year-round?
"Buy perennials. Things that are going to come back year after year ,that may also bloom.  Pay attention to how tall they will get because they grow at different speeds and make sure the tallest are closest to the house, leaving things that are medium, layered in between, and either annuals or smaller plants to line the beds.  Give your door a fresh coat of paint or stain the minute it needs it and consider paying closer attention to the detail of the hardware on the door.  Some of the new key less options are best and very slim an attractive."

Q. What’s one simple thing homeowners can do to improve their landscape or garden?
"Keep everything trimmed back.  It's such a simple tip but if you let everything grow out of control, it can distract from the home itself.  Landscaping should complement it, not distract. Put a calendar together to remind you to have a  family landscaping hour once a month to address weeds and anything that is overgrown."

Q. What’s the best way for homeowners to incorporate the latest trends into their décor? How can you tell what has staying power and what doesn’t?
"Trends are an amazing thing but it can also be expensive so unless you have bottomless pockets, stick with more classic design elements when building and then buy trending accents. Pillows, lamps, blankets with fun patterns. They are less costly than your bigger ticket items like tile or even a sofa.  It also may be fun to experiment with painting an accent wall in a trendy color. When you bore of it, paint it back."

Q. What’s your least favorite chore?
"I despise folding laundry. I will unload the dishwasher, put the laundry in, clean stains off the couch, but I will trade anything for folding the laundry.  What's funny is that I am a little Type A (ya, me) and so I have been known to RE-FOLD the laundry when it gets to me, but even that is better than sort through 5 people's stuff."

Q. Name one person in your field that you admire and why?
"I am a big fan of Gen Sohr, Co-founder of Pencil & Paper Co.  She loves color as much as I do and does a fabulous job of incorporating it in ways that appeal to the masses.  There's simplicity in her designs and although on trend and on point, still feel somewhat classic."

Q. What should homeowners look for when it comes to working with a contractor or interior designer?
"Someone who shares in your vision and your time frame is key.  It's wonderful to admire someone’s work, but will you get along?  You will be married together for the duration of the project. Understanding that some things are out of everyone's control.  Find a designer and a contractor who will budget on the front end for some unforeseen mistakes or finds that could cost you.  And of course, do your due diligence and make certain you get references. A lot of people are wowed by the first person who walks through the door and they tend to skip this step."

Q. What’s one thing we wouldn’t guess about you?
"If given the chance to eat anything amazing OR raw cookie dough, I will almost always choose the cookie dough.  I'm a vegetarian, I do my best to work out(um, occasionally) and I'm fairly healthy but cookie dough is my weakness."

Q. What is one home improvement project you wouldn’t recommend someone trying to do on their own?
"Refinishing hardwood floors is a doozie.  I've known people to rent the sanders themselves to save some money but in the end, I don't think it's worth it.  There is a lot of room for error and the floors, although a huge financial investment", will last a long time if done the correct way."

The Capital Home Show will be taking over the Dulles Expo Center September 23-25, 2016. With hundreds of local home improvement professionals ready to help with your next project, it's a must-attend for Northern Virginia homeowners. Get your tickets NOW!

The Capital Home Show returns to the Dulles Expo Center with celebrity guests including Kourtney and Dave Wilson, Kevin O'Connor, and Kelly Millspaugh Thompson. Kourtney and Dave are the stars of HGTV's Masters of Flip. Before you see the duo on stage, check out our interview and learn more about them. 

Q. What was the last TV show you binge watched?
"I didn't get to watching as many series this summer as I had on my list but about 3 months ago, I pretty much didn't eat or sleep until I finished all of the episodes of Madam Secretary. LOVED IT!"

Q. What is your favorite paint color?
"For someone who loves bright colors as much as I do, my most favorite and most used paint is 'Delicate White' by Porter. Who knew there were so many shades of white but it seems to work in almost any room, on almost any trim and in almost any light.   I also love Sherwin William's 'Iron Ore'.  It's the deepest shade of great (coming up on black) but it looks amazing on the exterior. I also love Sherwin William's Iron Ore.  It's the deepest shade of great (coming up on black) but it looks amazing on the exterior."

Q. What are your best tips to help homeowners with curb appeal year-round?
"Buy perennials. Things that are going to come back year after year ,that may also bloom.  Pay attention to how tall they will get because they grow at different speeds and make sure the tallest are closest to the house, leaving things that are medium, layered in between, and either annuals or smaller plants to line the beds.  Give your door a fresh coat of paint or stain the minute it needs it and consider paying closer attention to the detail of the hardware on the door.  Some of the new key less options are best and very slim an attractive."

Q. What’s one simple thing homeowners can do to improve their landscape or garden?
"Keep everything trimmed back.  It's such a simple tip but if you let everything grow out of control, it can distract from the home itself.  Landscaping should complement it, not distract. Put a calendar together to remind you to have a  family landscaping hour once a month to address weeds and anything that is overgrown."

Q. What’s the best way for homeowners to incorporate the latest trends into their décor? How can you tell what has staying power and what doesn’t?
"Trends are an amazing thing but it can also be expensive so unless you have bottomless pockets, stick with more classic design elements when building and then buy trending accents. Pillows, lamps, blankets with fun patterns. They are less costly than your bigger ticket items like tile or even a sofa.  It also may be fun to experiment with painting an accent wall in a trendy color. When you bore of it, paint it back."

Q. What’s your least favorite chore?
"I despise folding laundry. I will unload the dishwasher, put the laundry in, clean stains off the couch, but I will trade anything for folding the laundry.  What's funny is that I am a little Type A (ya, me) and so I have been known to RE-FOLD the laundry when it gets to me, but even that is better than sort through 5 people's stuff."

Q. Name one person in your field that you admire and why?
"I am a big fan of Gen Sohr, Co-founder of Pencil & Paper Co.  She loves color as much as I do and does a fabulous job of incorporating it in ways that appeal to the masses.  There's simplicity in her designs and although on trend and on point, still feel somewhat classic."

Q. What should homeowners look for when it comes to working with a contractor or interior designer?
"Someone who shares in your vision and your time frame is key.  It's wonderful to admire someone’s work, but will you get along?  You will be married together for the duration of the project. Understanding that some things are out of everyone's control.  Find a designer and a contractor who will budget on the front end for some unforeseen mistakes or finds that could cost you.  And of course, do your due diligence and make certain you get references. A lot of people are wowed by the first person who walks through the door and they tend to skip this step."

Q. What’s one thing we wouldn’t guess about you?
"If given the chance to eat anything amazing OR raw cookie dough, I will almost always choose the cookie dough.  I'm a vegetarian, I do my best to work out(um, occasionally) and I'm fairly healthy but cookie dough is my weakness."

Q. What is one home improvement project you wouldn’t recommend someone trying to do on their own?
"Refinishing hardwood floors is a doozie.  I've known people to rent the sanders themselves to save some money but in the end, I don't think it's worth it.  There is a lot of room for error and the floors, although a huge financial investment", will last a long time if done the correct way."

The Capital Home Show will be taking over the Dulles Expo Center September 23-25, 2016. With hundreds of local home improvement professionals ready to help with your next project, it's a must-attend for Northern Virginia homeowners. Get your tickets NOW!