31 Jan Natalie Talks Trends From This Year’s Interior Design Show!
As decorating and design lovers, we eagerly anticipate Toronto’s annual Interior Design Show, or IDS. Last week’s Interior Design Show 2014 (Jan. 23-26) was – as always – worth the wait! If you weren’t able to make it out this year, here are our top trend highlights from the show.
Interior Design Show trend #1: Cool Canadiana
The Studio North exhibit functioned as a show-within-a-show, highlighting the brightest of Canada’s emerging design talent. The focus was on independent ateliers and studios producing custom work, and we saw gorgeous examples of furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles and other accessories, in a cool gallery setting.
Trend takeaway:
Add a bespoke edge to your home with a just-for-you custom piece made in your own province. It’s cool and supports our homegrown talent.
Interior Design Show trend #2: Rule-breaking
The Globe & Mail’s style section sponsored a speaker’s series on Saturday, featuring not one but three leading international luminaries known for their innovative, eclectic take on design. The topic up for discussion were how social trends drive the design trends that impact our homes and communities. Much food for thought, but the thing that was of particular interest to us was the fact that all three “influencers” (legendary interior designer Muriel Brandolini; Marimekko creative director Sami Ruotsalainen; and ex-special effects cum design/architecture whiz Rafael de Cardenas) are known for their eclectic, rule-breaking take on design.
Trend takeaway:
Design is constantly evolving and so are the rules. Think: utility and style; they go hand in hand.
Interior Design Show trend #3: Mixing old and new family traditions
From mega-adorbs nurseries to super-fun kids’ rooms, playrooms and family rec rooms, this contemporary-design exhibit space offered stylish design solutions for families with kids of all ages. As you’re probably aware, there’s a boom in cool-kid design for the younger set; the IDS2014 Modern Kid exhibit set itself apart with the inclusion of many locally made and organic/non-toxic products.
Trend takeaway:
It’s easy and always on-trend to combine contemporary baby and kids’ furniture pieces with family heirlooms and traditional, transitional or flea-market style. Mix, don’t match!
Interior Design Show trend #4: Collecting unique pieces like art
Back by popular demand, the designboom mart, or “design bazaar” made its debut at last year’s show and was a similar hit at IDS2014. Featuring small furniture, lighting, accessories and other objets from independent designers and artisans from Canada and around the world, designboom mart gave us a chance to buy directly from up-and-comers…before their pieces hit the mainstream!
Trend takeaway:
As art collectors know, there’s caché attached to discovering new talent before everyone else does.
