Edward Walker, known for his design savvy on TV’s Trading Spaces, is famous for turning next-to-nothing into something special. To help support one of his favorite charities, Habitat for Humanity, he’s passing along that reuse-it knowhow to budding Meredith College design students in order to create some special interior pieces. The results of this latest Walker-inspired project will be on display at the upcoming Southern Ideal Home Show, April 9-11 at the NC State Fairgrounds.

Walker’s plan is to help the Meredith students transform recycled bi-fold doors collected from the Habitat Wake ReStore. When finished, these doors will become headboards, room dividers, decorative screens and a host of other creative home accessories. Walker will be there in person to show off the projects at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 10.

“Their shoestring decorating ideas are sure to inspire your own fun projects,” said Kerry Celestini, Habitat Wake’s media and marketing manager. Show guests also will find great deals on lights, cabinetry, fixtures, flooring, furniture and more brought directly from Habitat Wake’s ReStore. Proceeds help fund the nonprofit’s home-building mission. Habitat Wake’s ReStore area at this year’s show is sponsored by Triangle Home Improvement magazine.

The Designer Attic Sale is another show staple that guests return to year after year. Sponsored by the Triangle Chapter of the Interior Design Society (IDS), the sale is located in the Exposition Center’s Interior Showplace and is known for exceptional buys on decorator over-stock, antiques, art and one-of-a-kind finds. IDS members also will be on hand to provide free consultations to show guests seeking design advice, according to co-chairs KathyLynn Gariboldi and Marie Martin. Proceeds from this year’s sale will again go to Habitat for Humanity in Orange County.

The Habitat for Humanity exhibits are just one of dozens of happenings at this year’s show. If you’re creativity is more of the green-thumb variety, you’ll want to visit Dorton Arena’s Garden Stage for gardening programs by local and national experts. Sponsored by Triangle Gardener, presentations will include information on a variety of landscape and flower topics. For details, visit www.SouthernIdealHomeShow.com.

About the show:

• The Triangle’s largest annual exposition for homeowners interested in building, remodeling, decorating, landscaping, and home improvement, the show fills the three major exhibit halls at the NC State Fairgrounds and features professionally landscaped gardens and hundreds of exhibitors featuring everything for the home.

• When and where: April 9-11; Friday, noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh.

• Admission: Adults $9 at the door; children (under 15) free with paying adult; Friday: $8 for seniors (55+, no coupons); Friday and Saturday: Costco Nights ($5 after 5 p.m. with Costco card); Sunday: Verizon customers get $5 off entry with phone; $1-off coupons available online at www.SouthernIdealHomeShow.com; unlimited free parking. The first 100 guests to arrive each day will receive a free evergreen seedling from the NC Department of Forestry.

• Sponsors: The Home Builders Association of Raleigh/Wake County, and the News & Observer.

About Southern Shows:

Southern Shows Inc. has produced high-quality consumer shows for more than 50 years. Family-owned and operated, Charlotte-based Southern Shows currently produces 18 separate events with a combined audited attendance of more than 600,000. Raleigh shows are all held at the NC State Fairgrounds and include fall and spring editions of the Southern Ideal Home Show in September and April; the Southern Women’s Show in April; and the Southern Farm Show in February. For more information about attending or exhibiting at Southern Shows Inc. events in Raleigh and other markets, visit www.SouthernShows.com or call 800-849-0248.