Seasonal decorating

If you're looking for ways to freshen up your decor for spring, check out the Bachman's Spring Ideas House opening Thursday. This season's theme is "The Gathering Place," and Bachman's design team will be offering "a hip take on ideas for spring entertaining and home decor."

Expect to see a mixture of grays and yellows infused with crisp whites and natural elements. Many rooms will be themed around unique gatherings, designed to give you ideas for the upcoming party season.

With the fairy-garden trend in full bloom this year, the sunroom will be devoted to miniatures, featuring the latest in fairy furniture, petite plants and a tiny water feature.

The Spring Ideas House will be open April 4-28, seven days a week, in the Bachman family's historic home at 5936 Lyndale Av. S. in Minneapolis. Cost is $5, with 20 percent of ticket proceeds benefiting Art in Bloom.

Fairy-garden workshop

If seeing the fairy garden at the Bachman's Spring Ideas House inspires you to try your hand at this garden trend, you can pick up pointers at a workshop Saturday. Kristen Peterson of Bachman's will lead Miniature Garden Building from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Design Room at Bachman's on Lyndale. She'll demonstrate the latest in miniature garden products and accessories, then lead participants through the process of creating a miniature garden, from appropriate plant use and care to personalizing the fairy garden. Cost for the workshop is $50. Register at www.bachmans.com.

Antiques and more

Also at Bachman's next week is A Gathering of Friends Antiques Market, a twice-yearly event with 18 dealers featuring primitives, architectural pieces, pine and oak furniture, cottage decor, vintage wares, accessories and collectibles.

Market hours will be 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. next Sunday, April 7. The market will be held at Bachman's on Lyndale, 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls.

Spring cleaning with meaning

If you're planning to do some cleaning and decluttering in the coming weeks, consider donating your surplus home goods to Bridging. The nonprofit, which provides furniture and household goods to families and individuals in need, is looking to replenish its warehouse with new and gently used pieces.

To donate, visit www.bridging.org for a full list of accepted donation items. Bridging warehouses are located at 201 W. 87th St. in Bloomington and 1633 Terrace Drive in Rose­ville. Drop-off hours for both locations are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Fee-based furniture pickups also are available; for information, visit www.bridging.org or call 952-888-1105.

Sale Room tent sale

Looking for a deal on designer furniture? The Sale Room at International Market Square and the Francis King Showroom are presenting their first warehouse sale this week to clear out inventory and make room for fresh items coming from the spring Furniture Market in High Point, N.C.

At the sale, you'll find designer furniture and accessories at up to 80 percent off retail. Sale hours will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Suite 185 in International Market Square, 275 Market St., Mpls.

Northwest remodeling fair

If you live in the northwest 'burbs and are thinking about remodeling your home in the near future, there's a free resource fair in your area next weekend.

The Northwest Suburban Remodeling Fair in Crystal will feature more than 85 exhibitors, displaying the latest in home-remodeling products, services and design. You can bring your remodeling plans and questions to the "Ask the Experts" booth, staffed by registered architects. There will also be 15 do-it-yourself workshops on a wide range of remodeling projects, from installing tile flooring to kitchen remodeling ideas to storage options for organizing closets.

Local garden expert Bobby Jensen will share "Secrets of Successful Vegetable Gardening" in presentations at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Jensen will have a booth at the event, where he will answer questions. University of Minnesota master gardeners also will be on hand to answer lawn, garden and landscape questions.

Remodeling Fair hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Crystal Community Center, 4800 Douglas Dr., Crystal. For more information, visit www.nwremodelingfair.com.

KIM PALMER