Calgary Home and Garden Show: Sunrooms showcase nature's vibes
The Greenhouse Effect explores how to make the most of a sunroom.

With 333 days of sunshine every year, Calgary is truly the Blue Sky City. That’s 2,396 hours of sunbeams. Considering the six or so months of winter that Calgarians must endure, everyone should have an indoor space in which to enjoy this amazing volume of natural light.
Exploring the transformative potential of sunrooms is the theme of a new feature at the 2025 Calgary Home and Garden Show called The Greenhouse Effect. Three glass greenhouse structures, supplied by Canadian Factory Direct Sunrooms, will be styled as three unique living spaces to illustrate how sunrooms can be utilized to their full potential.
Interior designer Abby Richards, owner of White House on the Prairie Designs, will curate each 143-square-foot space in her signature way. Her personal esthetic and design philosophy is all about embracing nature and bringing the outdoor vibe of Southern Alberta into the home, which made her the ideal stylist for the sunroom feature.
“I love neutrals, but I’m definitely inspired by our landscape. You’ll be seeing greens, taupes and wood tones, and because it’s spring, I’ll bring in fresher, lighter colours indicative of a season of new life,” she says.
One sunroom scenario will feature a dining area with a stunning tablescape. The next will be a lounging area, perfect for curling up with a book or journalling while basking in the sun. The third will be styled as a home office.
“So many people work from home. Being surrounded by natural light will make work a bit more fun and who doesn’t want this?” Richards asks rhetorically.
Florals will be the theme of her tablescape while the other two will feature natural materials like wood, wicker, marble, terra cotta and living plants. These elements are a focus of her design practice in Calgary and make people feel more grounded with more clarity of mind.
While each sunroom scenario is set up in a greenhouse, which Canadian Factory Direct Sunrooms supplies, a true sunroom or solarium is often an addition to the home. There are three- and four-season sunrooms, many of which are energy efficient with insulated glass and heat sources. That extra space can be a cozy retreat or a functional part of the home, depending on its design.
For those who would love a sunroom to take advantage of those naturally therapeutic rays, Richards says an interior designer can help homeowners examine their lifestyles so they can decide on the best use for it.
“Be introspective on how you and your family are going to benefit from this space. Houses should serve the people that live in them. If you don’t need an extra sitting room, make it an amazing office. If you don’t need another TV room, maybe use it as a place to disconnect from screens and make a beautiful library or sitting area,” she says.
The Greenhouse Effect is just one exciting feature at the Calgary Home and Garden Show running Feb. 27 to March 2 at Stampede Park. Save $2 per ticket by purchasing in advance online.
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