The Decorating Centre Annual Trade Show

It came, it was great and it offered many new product lines from suppliers at the 

Annual Decorating Centre Trade Show.

Every year the owners and staff provide Designers and Decorators with a Trade Show featuring their suppliers who in turn promote their newest and beautiful Interior Decor and Design products.  I look forward to this event every year because it is a chance to meet up with colleagues we may not have seen throughout the summer months and of course to see what is available for my clients.  In addition to the suppliers, there are also guest speakers from the industry and they are always informative and entertaining.

This year Bryan Baeumler, known from his presence on "HGTV's House of Bryan and Leave it to Bryan", as well as being a great Contractor, was one of the speakers.  He spoke about his business and his program "Baeumler Approved" which includes the trades he has worked with and formed relationships which allows him to feel comfortable recommending them to those who are visiting his website and looking for a trades person. This fall he opened his program to include Interior Decorators and Designers which is great and I am proud to say I am one of the first few Decorators to join this group.


Our other speaker was Sharon Grech from Benjamin Moore and known as a regular design expert on "CityLine".  She spoke about Colour and Design and some of the Key Influences and Emerging Colour effects.  I will elaborate in a future post.

 If that was not enough we also had a wonderful lunch and during it, we were shown the newest fabrics from JF Fabrics (also known as Joanne Fabrics) which introduced the new Studio J Fabrics Line and really offered inspiration for future projects. I love fabric!

What a great day, checking out the suppliers, listening to great speakers, enjoying a lovely lunch and then to top it all off there were tons of great door prizes given out.

Below are just a very few of the suppliers that attended the Trade Show

 

GTA West Chapter Annual Spring/Summer Luncheon

It is that time again..... time for our annual luncheon and once again we selected Il Fornello's in Oakville.  They have amazing food and a variety that suits every taste.  We all met on Monday and were joined by several of our great affiliates.  Affiliates presented some information on their products and new connections were made.  All in all a fabulous time was had by all.

Dundas Valley School of Art Annual Auction

For anybody into original art including painting, watercolours, drawing, photography, jewellery sculpture, and pottery this will be one show not to miss.  The Dundas Valley School of Art is hosting it's 43rd Annual Auction and it is a great place to obtain those one-of-a-kind items at great price points.  I have been and seen these works in the past and they are not to be missed!  Check it out yourself.  Details Below.

Dundas Valley School of Art

presents it's 43rd Annual Art Auction, 

Saturday April 13, 2013 at 7 pm.  

Over 1200 original works of art from established and new artists and estate items.

Oils, Pastels, Watercolours, Sculpture, Pottery, Jewellery.

FREE PREVIEWS:

Thursday, April 11 & Friday April 12 - 9 am - 9 pm and

Saturday April 13 from 9 am - 4 pm

Silent Auction bids accepted during these hours.

Admission is $25 in advance and $30 at the door

21 Ogilvie Street, Dundas, Ontario

905·628·6357

National Home Show, Part 1

As mentioned in an earlier post, I was on hand in the Homes Publishing Booth, representing Reno &Decor Magazine, by offering consultations to "Design Dilemmas" this past Tuesday.  Met a lot of nice people and was able to help with their design issues.  It is always exciting to get involved in design and decor projects and have the opportunity to see the projects people are planning.  I never tire of it.  There was even an outdoor dilemma and I love creating good design in outdoor spaces.  I think the outside space is just another room in your home and it should flow as such.

Plan on attending the show to kick start your decorating and design projects and start thinking of any renovations you would like to undertake this year.  We all like to freshen up our homes in spring and then think about entertaining during the summer months so head down to the show.  You will be inspired by all there is to see and come away with some great ideas & advice as well as be knowledgeable about all of the newest products for both inside and outside your home.  Many great experts will be on hand on both the IDEA Stage and the Main Stage.  Don't forget to visit Canada Blooms for even more inspiration for your outdoor space.

 

This service is being offered throughout the home show and depending on when you plan to be there, you may even have the chance to meet the celebrity designers, like Glen Peloso, Evelyn Eshun, etc

While strolling through the show, I made my way to the Dream Home and the 4 spaces designed by local designers using furniture and accessories supplied by Urban Barn.

Below are the four designer spaces.  Which do you like best?

MODERN ROMANCE BEDROOM by Modern Staging Modern Spaces

RETRO URBAN BOHEMIAN by Evelyn Eshun

A ROOM WITH A VIEW (travel themed ) by Nella Casa  Bella Staging Solutions

A DINING ROOM by Catherine & Davis

And now we have the Dream Home furnished by Casa Life.... Welcoming us with Purple and White Tulips

The entrance  

Great Room

Love this Area Rug

This Dining space is something any guy would love - a pool table that converts to a dining table

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Master Ensuite

Love this shower with its curved wall

A second bedroom used as an office/den

Bedroom for guests

Main Washroom

A dream Garage

I am returning to the show on Sunday so I can finish my browsing and check out Canada Blooms.

CDECA Professional Development Boot Camp

Last week I attended the annual PD Day for CDECA which was held this year at the Westin Prince Hotel.
What a line up...

• Catherine Mitchel, One Voice Productions Inc
• Ryan Connelly, WSIB Info
• Neil Felder, LMS Prolink Ltd on Insurance
• Sourcing Panel
• Andrew Thomas, Project Management Consultant

We ate well, learned a lot and had a great day networking.  Many thanks to those who arranged this day and to our great affiliates who took part and offered fab prizes!!

Hamilton Home Show

This past weekend brought together many exhibitors for the Hamilton Home Show, located in the Hamilton Convention Centre.  Once again a few CDECA Interior Decorators participated in the "Ask a CDECArator" Booth providing free design and decor consultations to visitors to the show.

In addition to this, Pamela deVries and myself were given a one hour spot on the Main Stage on Saturday.  Our presentation talked about the common decorating mistakes people make and how to fix them.  A video may be coming soon courtesy of my daughter Megan and her boyfriend James.  Thanks guys!!

Here we are during our presentation

Here are some of the products I found...Baby and Children's furnishings by Natart

We had a great presentation, unfortunately the photos were barely visible as the lights could not be turned down... oh well

 This would be for a little princess, all in a silver shade

and a matching dresser of course 

 Furnishings by Lofty Ambitions

Live Edge Table from 100 Mile Home & Design Centre

  

 Outdoor entertaining by landscaping with style