Bringing together expert décor insights and exclusive savings, the penultimate day of Design Week Ja 2026 lit up Ashley Furniture Homestore at its 117 Hope Road location on Saturday, October 10.

Under the theme ‘Build Your Space, Design Your Style’, attendees picked up valuable tips from Ashley Furniture and design partners Tile City & Home Centre, Berger Paints, ARC Manufacturing, and the National Housing Trust (NHT).

Shoppers benefited from significant discounts, including 30 per cent off select items, 20 per cent off special financing terms, and 10 per cent off cash transactions.

Laying the foundation for the day, Tile City & Home Centre hosted a tile design and selection workshop led by Casa Tropicana founder Karina Matalon, who walked shoppers through key design principles for their personal spaces, using an active project to demonstrate her approach to tile selection.

ARC Manufacturing CEO Conroy Rose (right) and Business Unit Director Collin Wallace shared top considerations for building an ideal home.

National Housing Trust (NHT) Corporate Communications Manager Danielle Edwards emphasised the importance of smart home design.

“Two practical tips I like to offer when choosing tiles is to first look at the undertone and second, always look at your samples in the actual space, in your own light.

Tiles can look very different in a showroom than in your intended space.

Additionally, choosing the right finish for the right place is the key to making your finished project practical and safe,” Matalon explained.

Berger Paints kept the momentum going with an interactive painting session led by Marketing Manager Asheaka James.

Guests were invited to bring colour to life first-hand by repainting a dining room space using Berger 303 paints.

Next, guests received expert-led insights from ARC Manufacturing Chief Executive Officer Conroy Rose and Business Unit Director Collin Wallace who guided them through the fundamentals of structural building and the vital role of advance planning — emphasising how careful consideration of materials and hidden variables can prevent costly budget overruns.

Cozy Home by Sham principal Shamika Hemmings-Gordon shared options to consider
when planning interior renovations.

Tile City & Home Centre Marketing Manager Donnielle Robe (left) and Ashley Furniture Homestore Brand Manager Sherilla Gordon Mowatt were hard at work bringing their dining room space to life at the Berger Paints sip and paint studio.

“The most important thing that you have to consider even before you think about designing the lights and the windows, and everything else that you need, is building the structure,” Rose cautioned. “Even if you’re going to renovate, you also need to plan.

Because when you don’t have a plan, you are going to be in debt because you didn’t budget properly.” Wallace meanwhile explained that location consideration is crucial for building with weather elements in mind and minimising costs.

“Using the right material and knowing where exactly you’re building on [is important].

If you’re building by the sea, even something as simple as the grill work needs to be considered. Ensure you use galvanised materials (steel or iron items coated with a protective layer of zinc) to prevent rust.

Additionally, make sure that the lumbers purchased are treated (infused with chemical preservatives to avoid rot). It’s very important for you to get the required information from the contractor, as it keeps you from unnecessary spend further down the line,” Wallace said.

Building on the discussions of structural integrity, Danielle Edwards, corporate communications manager at the NHT, presented on the topic ‘Reimagining Home: Designing for Today, Thinking Beyond Tomorrow’. Edwards highlighted how smart design today can establish lasting security for future generations.

“Before we erect a nice-looking house, we have to consider not just how the house is going to serve us, but how it’s going to serve generations to come. Because if you look around us, houses are going up fastpaced, and we have to meet the demand.

Assisted by Ashley Furniture Homestore Sales Manager Andrea Johnson (right), Valerie Levy and Associates Broker Associate Tanya Sue Brice Harris was delighted with her purchase of an Abyss Arrow-shaped metal vase. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)

But we must ask ourselves how do we meet the demand safety, sustainably, and efficiently?” Edwards pointed out.

Cozy Home by Sham principal Shamika Hemmings-Gordon next outlined essential home renovation options and considerations, stressing that thoughtful design must balance appeal with functional living.

“When we think about creating our dream homes, we often focus on the final reveal, the beautiful kitchen, the new bathroom, the furniture, the paint refresh.

Those things are all wonderful. But the true value of a well-designed home is what happens after the reveal.

A beautiful home should impress you when you walk in, but a well-designed home should improve your life every single day,” Hemmings-Gordon summarised.

Ashley Furniture Homestore then hosted a home design masterclass led by style strategist Tanecia Wolfe, who shared actionable techniques for transforming ordinary rooms into stylish sanctuaries that embody distinct personal identity through the use of colour, contrast, comfort, character, and decluttering.

Injecting a lively element into the session, she divided volunteers into two teams, giving them 10 minutes to style a living room space in the showroom that best reflected their personalities.

Photographer: Naphtali Junior