What are the highlights of the 2015 Interior Design Show, which kicks off today? Vv Magazine hit this year’s IDS preview to find out…
Always a night to remember, the opening night of the Interior Design Show never disappoints. Every year design companies put their best foot forward to create installations that wow the thousands of people that attend the show. For the 2015 edition of the event, IDS is taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) from today until Sunday, January 25.
From what we saw last night, creativity is not lacking, with big brands like Caesarstone creating a “swing circle” that had thousands of people literally swinging the night away. Located at the entrance of the show, the installation had guests joyfully thinking back to their childhood, which ultimately is a great way to start the show.
Miele also never disappoints and is always major eye candy for foodies. The beloved brand is on site showcasing their latest and greatest culinary appliances, and feeding hors d’oeuvres to all the guests passing through. A new Miele highlight this year is their “Chef’s Table,” located on the second floor of the booth (yes, their booth is two floors). Beginning today at 11am and taking place every hour, 10 lucky people will get to enjoy a four-course mini menu created by Chef de Cuisine Jonathan Collins using the brand’s all-new Miele Range. The menu includes gougeres, beet salad, braised beef short ribs, and a Lindt chocolate “pot de crème” with a warm sea salt caramel sauce. We predict a line up for this one, but it’s likely worth the wait.
While the big brands always wow their audiences, we actually fell in love with many of the smaller designers and companies. Every corner of the massive room was filled with captivating innovations and creative masterpieces, from bathtubs worthy of galleries to futuristic fireplaces.
If you’re a shower junkie, Pierdeco is showcasing the coolest shower columns we’ve seen. With jets coming out at every angle, the columns also feature creative designs — such as images of NYC buildings — proving even the bathroom is capable of upping its art game. Very cool.
At every corner, there are bathtubs in every shape possible — that incorporate every thinkable material and accessory that will make your bath time that much better. Victoria & Albert impressed us with their volcanic limestone bath that comes with some awesome accessories including a wooden bath rack specifically made to hold your wine glass. Those South Africans certainly know how to create a perfect bath experience.
Another small designer that we loved was Atelier by Alex Jowetti. A simple yet eclectic booth inspired by love (think repetitive quotes and modern-minimalist decor accents), we could picture the same set up in our Vv offices.
Andrew Richard Designs went a little smaller this year but did not fail to impress. With a jungle theme and a model propped on a wooden bed, it was a booth that we lounged in for a while dreaming of summer days to come.
IKEA, while certainly not a brand we thought we’d be wowed by, went all out with three kitchen installations that made us dream of living in a big house where we could enjoy one of these grand kitchens. Our favourite of the three was the one titled “House & Home,” which was a stunning country-style kitchen, fit for a family of foodies.
While the show was heavily modern, we did see some impressive international antique pieces as well. A new company on the Toronto scene is Dala Décor, created by a darling Indian couple that love to travel and bring back beautiful furniture from South East Asia. They started this company thinking Torontonians would enjoy some of the gems they found. They were not wrong, as people flocked to their booth to see the stunning pieces, including a large handmade wood door with intricate details that we would only find overseas. Definitely a must-see.
Overall, the show is ideal for design lovers and those who may be looking to renovate or move into a new space. The last booth that we loved was from the National Bank. No, they’re not designers, but they partnered with some great talents and created a consulting booth called “What’s Your Design Dilemma?” Apparently, a lot of people are redesigning because their booth was packed with visitors looking for some free advice. In our books, that’s reason enough to get over there this weekend.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2015 Interior Design Show? Let Vv Magazine know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.