“Create Your Dream Home” with tips and trends at the 12th Annual Fall Home & Garden Show The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – One of the hottest trends in residential living is to take all the ingredients for a great meal outdoors to the porch, patio or deck − a back-to-nature movement that is both fun and functional.

Learn about the latest in outdoor kitchen design, techniques and technology at the 12th Annual Fall Home & Garden Show The Woodlands, taking place Aug. 23 and 24 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.

Throughout the two-day show, lifestyle entrepreneur Cheryl Najafi and award-winning Executive Chef Austin Simmons will be cooking and sharing their recipes at the Cunningham Outdoor Cooking Stage to demonstrate the new grills, ovens and kitchen appliances now available for outdoor use.

Najafi is CEO of CherylStyle.com, an online resource that provides dependable recipes, lifestyle tips and crafts for busy families. The author of "Mother Daughter Dishes" -- a collection of classic family recipes and new meals she has created – also will spend some time autographing her book, which will be available for sale at the show.

Simmons, executive chef in charge of upscale dining at Hubbell & Hudson in The Woodlands, received his culinary degree from the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and has worked at some of the finest restaurants in Texas.

"The technology for outdoor kitchens has advanced substantially in recent years," said Jeff Cunningham, owner of Cunningham Gas Products. "Anything you can do in a traditional kitchen can now be done in an outdoor kitchen − keeping excess heat and odors out of the house."

Show attendees can take advantage of the expertise of the Cunningham design and installation team as well as receive significant discounts on outdoor cooking products on display at the show. Additional information is available at CunninghamLiving.com.

Other outdoor living exhibits at the Home & Garden Show include Stewart Land Designs, featuring award-winning designs and lifestyle recommendations that add style and function to any home. Nature's Way Resources will have an in-show garden center offering great prices on fruit trees, veggies, perennials, heirlooms and native plants, perfect for fall planting. In addition, Randy Lemmon, host of KTRH's GardenLine Radio Show will be broadcasting live from the show.

Organizing consultant Ellen Delap, one of the many popular speakers at the show, will be joined by nationally acclaimed green architect LaVerne Williams; Joann Ontiveros with Carol's Lighting; solar energy specialist Cal Morton, and organic gardening experts John Ferguson and Mark Bowen; and sharing tips on low-water landscapes, "The Lazy Gardener" Brenda Beust Smith.

The craft beer tent so popular at last year's event is being expanded to include wine this year. Llano Estacado Winery, the best-selling premium winery in Texas joins Cyclers Brewing Craft Beer to provide a great place to rest and relax at the show − and sample some unique and flavorful beverages.

Those attendees wishing to transform the inside of their homes will find a plethora of experts available to guide them on their quest. Among them is Mary Scalli, an expert in home décor and staging and founder of Simple Elegance in Houston, who will feature Hunter Douglas window fashions in the "Fashion in Motion" exhibit, and lead a presentation on the latest trends in window fashions and treatments. She will talk about the exciting new home-automation options which allow homeowners to program window coverings to automatically open and close and to make other adjustments while at home or away.

Joining her at the "Fashion in Motion" exhibit will be Brian Crandall, Cypress-based district sales manager of Hunter Douglas, who will address the expanding options in home automation and demonstrate the company’s latest products.

Back as the nonprofit partner for the show, The Woodlands Children's Museum will offer a fun activity for children in attendance, and as part of its annual Wreath Whimsy fundraiser, museum representatives will be taking pre-orders for its popular fresh Christmas wreaths, embellished with decorative bows made by museum staff.

There will be more than 200 exhibitors featured at the 12th Annual Fall Home & Garden Show The Woodlands. Mark your calendars for Aug. 23 and 24 make the drive to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. Tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and free for children under 12. Parking is free in the parking garage behind the Convention Center next to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Six Pines and Lake Robbins, with a covered walkway to the Convention Center.

For more information about the 12th Annual Fall Home & Garden Show The Woodlands, visit the website link provided below, where a discount coupon for $1 off show admission, along with special offers from exhibitors, will be available.