Swing To Residential Design Creates New Market Of Design-Conscious Individuals For The Interior Design Show

Furniture World Magazine

Visitors to the Interior Design Show this January may very well have to pinch themselves to determine if they are awake or dreaming. After all, inspiring design can only be seen in Paris or New York, can't it? Not since Steven Levy, creator of the renowned and highly successful One of a Kind Show in Toronto, dreamt up his own premiere design event exclusively for the residential market. That dream -- to bring design closer to people -- has become a reality, now that an impressive array of today's leading designers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers of fine furniture, finishes, lighting and household accessories have confirmed their participation. "People tell us the time is right. The growth in urban residential building has created an expanding market of discriminating consumers looking for sources and resources which reflect and enhance their creative lifestyles. We have had an overwhelming response from the residential design trade who cater to this individual, either directly or through the trade, and they now have a venue in Canada to showcase their work, share information and ideas, and do business," said Shauna Levy, associate director of the Interior Design Show. A sample of confirmed top-name exhibitors 'includes: Wallpaper Magazine and Club Monaco, teaming together to launch Club Monaco's all-new furniture line. Trade showrooms Telio & Cie presenting Donghia, Fendi Casa at Joan Eiley & Associates, and new lines from Primavera Interior Furnishings, Perfection, Woven Art and JAB Anstoetz. The city's leading-edge design retailers, from Kmg Street West's Nienkamper, Montauk, UpCountry, Abitare and Studio Luce; Av and Dav designer shops Powell and Bonnell and Ciparis Lennox; and Yorkville's Souleiado/En Provence and Diane Watts. Eaton's presenting Ralph Lauren Home, Tommy Hilfiger Home and Eddie Bauer Home. Bang & Olufsen, with the latest in 'wowtronics'. Kitchen and bathroom design by Kohler, Canac and Style at Home Magazine. American furniture manufacturers Pace Collection and John Kelly testing the Canadian market. Quality Custom Upholstery presenting Roots Furniture. "The Interior Design Show, featuring high quality products and designs for the residential market, is long overdue in Toronto. Finally, we have a venue which gives us an opportunity to show our residential furniture designs to the public and to professional designers. An educated consumer is always the best client and this show will help us to provide the information they are looking for," said Klaus Nienkamper, president, Nienkamper. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to indulge themselves and their passion for good design by exploring over 125,000 square feet of inspiring designs from industry leaders, special seminars, renowned speakers, stimulating features and new collections never before seen in Canada. The first day of the show, open to design industry professionals only, will feature such renowned speakers as American furniture designer and manufacturer Dakota Jackson, and Gijs Bakker, director of Droog Design in Amsterdam. On Saturday and Sunday, Canadian House & Home Magazine and Para Paints will present a series of public seminars on such topics as colour trends and directions for the new millenium, the elements of serenity at home, and trends in urban living and residential design. Armchair Athlete Re-defined: Innovative special features and events designed to educate and inform professionals and consumers alike are planned throughout the 3-day show. The Design Exchange, for example, will present a dynamic interactive exhibit, the "World Cup of Design", in which Canadian-designed chairs will 'compete' with Italian chairs arranged in soccer-like positions. Sleek, agile stacking chairs will from the offense, while powerful solid armchairs will guard the defense zone. Visitors to the show will determine the winners as they go through the exhibit and appreciate, consider and evaluate chair design. A 'Lofty' Challenge: In addition, four renowned design firms -- Gluckstein Design, Cecconi Simone, Powell and Bonnell and Terrelonge Design -- have accepted the 'lofty' challenge of pushing the boundaries of compact urban design. Each has agreed to produce a 600-foot living space from design concept to walkthrough reality. The only criteria: to create design values for the 21" century. Show visitors will have the rare opportunity to see the work of these top design firms unencumbered by any external influences or tastes. The Interior Design Show runs Friday, January 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.(trade-only day). Public and trade are welcome Saturday, January 23 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, January 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto. Admission, including taxes, is $12.