NARI Milwaukee Hosts 63rd Annual Spring Home Improvement Show

MILWAUKEE (January 2025) – Most homeowners have a wish list of things they’d like to update, improve or alter in their home. It might be time to remodel the kitchen, expand a bathroom or spruce up the exterior. Whatever the list includes, a visit to the 63^rd annual NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show is one of easiest and most efficient ways to talk with experts and get the ball rolling on a home improvement project.

The NARI Milwaukee show runs Feb. 14 – 16 at State Fair Park in the Exposition Center, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, and is packed with qualified, trusted, local professionals who can help homeowners update or transform their indoor or outdoor space.

The Show includes approximately 150 NARI Milwaukee members who provide remodeling and home improvement services and products – from design/build firms to specialized contractors for all areas of the home, including roofing, gutters, windows, doors, HVAC, electrical, painting and more.

The 2025 NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show features:

• 150 NARI Milwaukee members – Talk with trusted, local experts who are ready and willing to answer any and all questions, no matter how big or small they might be. These experts can also make recommendations and provide homeowners with guidance, solutions and creative suggestions.
• Greenhouse Grove – The NARI Milwaukee Foundation is debuting its first-ever NextGen Trades Challenge for local students. This year’s themed project is Greenhouse Grove. A collection of eight greenhouses designed and built by area high school students will be on display in a beautiful landscape created by LandCrafters. (more details on page 3)
• Biophilic Interior Design Challenge – Biophilic design is the practice of incorporating nature into indoor spaces to create a calming environment that can improve health, well-being and productivity. Students from Mount Mary University and WCTC will each create a room around the biophilic theme.
• “The Plant Doctor” Melinda Myers – Each day at 12:30 p.m., Melinda Myers will share her knowledge of all things green and growing. On Feb. 14, she’ll cover “Growing Indoor Plants to Brighten Your Home and Relieve Stress;” Feb. 15 she’ll share “Fragrant Plants to Elevate your Mood;” and Feb. 16 the topic turns to “Creating an Oasis on a Deck, Patio or Balcony.”
• Park Chats – Throughout the show, NARI members will cover a variety of topics ranging from indoor air quality to creating a dream outdoor living space (more details on page 3).
• NARI Milwaukee Foundation – Learn more about the NARI Milwaukee Foundation, which focuses on growing the trades by offering scholarships and supporting trade professionals as they pursue continuing education.

Greenhouse Grove Details
The NextGen Trades Challenge, hosted by the NARI Milwaukee Foundation, is an opportunity for high school students to practice and improve their skills by constructing a 6 ‘ x 8’ greenhouse.

Eight area high schools are participating and each has a NARI Milwaukee member mentor who, along with their instructors, guided them through the months-long process. The NextGen Trades Challenge is designed to provide a “real-world” trades related project and create connections between students, schools and local area contractors. The goal is to inspire the next generation to consider a career in the trades industry.

The Greenhouse Grove project kicked off in August when students received basic plans from NARI. While they must adhere to the guidelines and parameters of the plans, the teams have complete creative control to add elements, such as plumbing, electrical and design elements that set them apart from the other competitors.

“The challenge is a great way for students to get ‘hands-on’ experience and participate in a project from start to finish,” says Tom Gies, NARI Milwaukee president and co-owner of MKE Design Build. “They have to follow all of the steps that are part of a construction project – from preparing drawings to creating a construction schedule to working together as a team to complete the project on time.”

Each greenhouse will be judged by a panel of design and construction professionals appointed by the NARI Milwaukee Foundation. Judges will evaluate the structures based on overall form and technical execution; functionality; creativity; and any extra elements, such as plumbing or electrical, that the greenhouse includes. There will be a trophy given to the school with the “best technical execution” as determined by the judges.

There will also be a “fan-favorite” award given out to the school that receives the most votes from the spring show attendees.

Participating high schools include Franklin, Greendale, Mukwonago, Muskego, Oak Creek, St. Francis, South Milwaukee and Whitnall.

Park Chats
The show will feature chats with a number of NARI members who will cover a variety of topics.

• “Creating a ‘Forever Home’ with Universal Design” – February 14, 11:30 a.m., Susie Feia of Feia Construction
• “Indoor Air Quality and Your Home” – February 14, 2:00 p.m., Levi Oxford of Everdry Waterproofing of Wisconsin
• “How Does Solar Power Work in Wisconsin?” – February 15, 11:30 a.m., Adam Cocker of Watt’s Up Engineering
• “Exploring LED Technology” – February 15, 2 p.m., Kevin Ester of IQ Automation
• “Creating Your Dream Outdoor Living Space” – February 16, 11:30 a.m., Rob McDonald of Excel Custom Contractors

Spring Home Improvement Show Hours, Tickets & Parking
Fri., Feb. 14, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 15, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 16, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

$10 in advance (online only at narimilwaukee.org/springshow); $14 at the door; Adults 60+ are $12 at the door; children age 17 and younger, veterans and active-duty military personnel and front-line workers and medical personnel (with I.D.) are free.

$10 for parking at State Fair; ample street parking is also available

For more information on the NARI Spring Home Improvement Show or to receive a free copy of “Renovate,” the consumer magazine and membership directory, visit NARImilwaukee.org or call 414-771-4071.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.