Thinking of remodeling your home – or buying a new one – but aren’t sure where to begin or what style suits you best?

If you’re in the market for a little inspiration, plan to attend the 32nd annual Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association’s Parade of Homes, set for April 21-22 and 28-29 across the tri-county region.

There, you’ll see the best the local residential community has to offer – and get a glimpse of some of Markraft Cabinets’ finest and latest designs.

“A lot of people can’t or don’t make it to our showroom, so this is almost an extension of our showroom,” said Markraft’s director of marketing Bryan Sartin.

Last year, well over half of the nearly 100 homes featured kitchens and bathrooms by Markraft.

Beyond opening up the showroom doors, so to speak, to the community, Markraft also embraces Parade of Homes as a way to support area builders, Bryan added.

“Without the builders, we wouldn’t be around,” he noted.

The Parade of Homes is the local residential construction industry’s largest annual event, showcasing outstanding designs. A panel of judges, brought in from outside the region, evaluate the entries and award top builders in categories based on price range – from around $200,000 up to more than $1 million.

All homes entered in the Parade must have been built within the last year and remain unoccupied.

That’s a win-win for homeowners, who are likely going to see the most up-to-date trends, trimmings and technology during the event. And you’re guaranteed not to see any homes from prior years.

With so many homes on display throughout New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties, it can be difficult to hit every stop on the self-guided tour. Some strategies for getting the most out of the Parade of Homes include sticking to one price range and/or location or simply taking a quick peek in as many homes as possible to at least get a look inside.

But it’s always fun to take a walk-through at least one of the higher-end homes, if only to take notes.

“Most people are not going on the tour to buy a house,” Bryan said. “A lot of people are there to get ideas.”

And for those unfamiliar with Markraft’s work, the Parade of Homes is a great way to get an idea of the quality craftsmanship and eye for detail inherent in every piece… no bells and whistles put on for the event. The company doesn’t know which homes will be featured, so what Parade participants see is what Markfraft has delivered daily for three decades.

Check out Markraft’s work during the Parade of Homes, then visit them at their showroom. Markraft’s professional kitchen and bath designers consult by appointment but drop-in visitors are always welcome to browse the Design Center, open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, at 2705 Castle Creek Lane, just off Castle Hayne Road.