The 41st annual Home and Garden show opens its doors at noon today at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

The show put on by the North Idaho Building Contractors Association is all about how to improve living space, both indoor and outdoor. It features project ideas ranging from landscaping and masonry to bathroom remodels and home design.

Larry Taylor of Taylor Made Landscaping in Rathdrum oversaw the construction of the show's featured display, an exhibit filling the space of four booths.

It was half complete by late morning Thursday and already featured a running fountain, three young trees and patio paving, giving the effects of standing in someone's backyard.

Taylor said building the display had so far taken three days with more work to go. He said the display cost about $7,000, but it is worth the price.

"The NIBCA, I feel, has given us a really good opportunity for some exposure," Taylor said. "I think it's good for the community. This is a good show. There are a lot of quality vendors here, besides myself. I just think this is a neat deal."

Area professionals are presenting goods and services to assist homeowners, potential homeowners and weekend warriors in creating and maintaining their dream homes.

The show is being held in the Jacklin Building, rather than splitting into multiple buildings as in previous years.

"The biggest thing is our change of venue this year," said Lisa Gwaltney, Home and Garden chair for the NIBCA, as she checked participants in Thursday. "We decided to get everybody under one roof this year because the fair put in heat, upgraded all the lighting and put in electric for us."

Gwaltney has been affiliated with the Home and Garden Show for about eight years. She said the Home and Garden Committee has been working to organize the show, the main fundraiser for the NICBCA, since about November.

Between 2,000 and 4,000 people usually attend the show, and committee members are hoping to see at least that many people again this year.

Kris Owens, administrative manager for the NICBCA, walked the premises as vendors set up their displays. She kept a watchful eye to ensure that everyone had filed their paperwork, and, more importantly, that everyone was happy.

Owens said she is looking forward to "a great attendance, helping the exhibitors promote their businesses, and just having a nice show."

The new building is a positive change because, according to Owens, the buildings where the show was previously housed would sometimes leak and "it was hard for people to kind of weave their way through," she said. "We're hoping that this will flow really nice."

The show will be introducing some new food vendors, as well. Owens said the "Taste of Spring" portion of the show will help create a comfortable atmosphere for people to munch, mingle and stay a while.

Taylor said the show is a good opportunity even for competitors to check out what other businesses are doing.

Taylor Made Landscaping and Mutual Materials are sponsoring a scavenger hunt where one lucky winner will receive a "Home Spruce-Up Package" valued at $2,250.

Taylor is also raffling off three subalpine fir trees, including installation, and donating all proceeds to the Panhandle Autism Society.

An abundance of vendors, displays, booths and inspiration will be present at the Home and Garden Show this weekend. It is open until 6 tonight.

The show is sponsored by Frontier Communications.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5.