CDECA AGM

Last Week I attended the CDECA Annual General Meeting of Members and Awards Celebration at The

Estates of Sunnybrook - The Vaughan Estate, on Bayview Avenue in Toronto.  What a beautiful venue!

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast, fabulous lunch and enlightened workshops.  The first workshop was presented by PPG Pittsburgh Paints on "Colour Trends 2010/2011"  followed by "Designing Reality - Change your Perspective - Change the World" with keynote speaker Dan Trommater courtesy of Hunter Douglas.  Great presentations by both speakers.

Following the presentations we had a very special Tribute to

one of our decorators who we recently lost to cancer -

Ingrid Kyranis.  Ingrid is missed by all those who have

known  and worked with her.  The entire room did the

"pink gloves" dance in honour of Ingrid and there was a slide

presentation of many events in which Ingrid was involved.

Our table decor was "pink" with many pink gloves

surrounding a floral arrangement like a wreath!  How clever!

Once we had been treated to some desert, we got down to the business of our Awards Presentations.  Our Decorators/Designers are incredibly talented and should be really proud of themselves!

Decorators on a Field Trip!

This past week a group of GTA West CDECA decorators were off to tour the showrooms at SOFA -

Source of Furniture and Accessories) at the International Centre. (formerly the Furniture Mart)

We had a short business meeting prior to our tour, where Shelley Levy from the Resource Centre gave us an update on SOFA happenings.  Currently Bobby Wertman, director of Leasing and Tenant Relations, SOFA  is at the High Point International Home Furnishings Market checking out what is new and exciting as well as looking for new showrooms to join SOFA.

SOFA has been working on their branding and  have been trying to have consistent hours of operation for all of the showrooms.  This can only make sourcing easier for us.  They welcomed us by providing yummy refreshments and gave us some updated information on what we can expect in the coming months.  They are planning on introducing some "perks" for those who do business with them.  Information on these "perks" will be coming in the near future.

We enjoyed a tour directed by Taline, a student from Sheridan who will be graduating this May, who is on her 3 week placement at SOFA. We were well received by the many showrooms we visited.  SOFA is definitely a place to consider when sourcing beautiful and Canadian made pieces for our clients. 

                             First stop was Chair-Tech Inc 

                     

  

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Korson has something for everybody.  Fabulous furniture & accessories

 

Marcantonio Designs have fabulous leather and other fabrics on many different styles.  They also do custom so you can take a piece and change it to suit your needs 

Here is our little group browsing Sunset Lamp Inc.

 West Bros Furniture

Bailey Street with our wonderful tour guide - Taline

 

  

Karen enjoying a little rest at Villageois Inc. 

We visited many other wonderful showrooms and appreciated the wonderful reception we were given at each one.!  Thank you SOFA

"Back to School"

Last week I had the opportunity and pleasure to visit some of the Interior Decorating Students in their final year at Sheridan College, http://www.sheridaninstitute.ca/ and view their portfolios.  Sheridan has a great reputation for superior education and the students in Audrey Macdonald's Business class are keeping this reputation going.  They presented their portfolios and "sales pitch" to Interior Decorators from CDECA who acted as "potential clients" for the upcoming graduates.  What a fantastic idea and learning tool for them to gain a little practice and feedback in order to prepare them for the outside world of design and decor.  "Hats Off" to their instructor Audrey for arranging this special event as well as to the students who have worked so hard.  Great job!

Audrey Macdonald & students