Foster Remodeling Solutions will launch its new 3,270-square-foot Home Design and Selection Center in Lorton with an open house on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event will include seminars on a variety of topics ranging from kitchen and bath design to “How to Plan a Successful Remodeling,” to steps entailed in introducing “Aging-in-Place” modifications into the home. Seminar presenters are recognized experts in their respective specialties. Representatives from top manufacturers will also be on hand to answer questions about specific products, appliances and emerging technologies. Several manufacturers also will be contributing new products as raffle items.

Visitors can arrive as early as 10 a.m. and browse the newly-expanded Design and Selection Center. Chef-prepared hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served throughout the day.

There will be several full-sized kitchen and bathroom designs on view, vignettes featuring cabinets, vanities, flooring and lighting, even a full-sized outdoor courtyard which spotlights break-through materials and styles being applied to roofing and siding.

“Our goal is to make it easy for attendees to find answers to an array of home improvement questions in a single day,” said David Foster, who has operated Foster Remodeling Solution for over 34 years. “We encourage attendees to come prepared with questions, drawings and photos, and to bring interested friends and neighbors. All of the offerings are free and open to the public.”

Design and Selection

There are three design consultation rooms that allow homeowners to review in-progress design details of a home improvement on a flat screen television.

“Home improvement is a very dynamic industry,” Foster said. “You have to stay ahead of changing technologies and evolving practices. We're expanding methods for bringing ideas to homeowners that have already proven successful. … This Open House will be more of an exposition than we've offered in the past; we're building on what we've learned about local homeowner interests.”

The three one-hour seminars will be held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. so that interested parties can attend all three without conflict.

• Design consultant Sean McLarty, a veteran remodeler with 33 years of professional experience, will provide tips on “Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling” at 11 a.m.;

• Dory Clemens, a space planning specialist, will conduct a seminar at 1 p.m. on “Aging-In-Place” applications. The session will focus how to assess which modifications to your home are most appropriate for near-term and foreseeable needs;

• At 3 p.m., Chris Arnold, whose 25 years of remodeling experience embraces every facet of the industry, will discuss “How to Plan a Successful Remodel,” including best options for financing a project.

Interested parties can register for the show room opening and for individual seminars online at www.fosterremodeling.com, or by calling 703-350-1371.

John Byrd (byrdmatx@gmaill.com) has been writing about home improvement for 30 years.