styleNorth

When I’m prowling a show like IDS I’m always on the lookout for great displays and vignettes; the more eye candy I can give you, dear readers, the more likely you’ll be to keep coming back. So here’s a selection of beautifully styled booths and spaces that beckoned and said, “Take my picture!”

Up Country did a particularly good job, above and below, and was working the hell out of its Down Home Collection featuring the Union Jack. And it was not alone; Elte also featured the British flag on a distressed, patchwork rug that was combining three trends into one.

Montauk splurged on an extra-large space that had a Beautiful Mind vibe thanks to the blackboard design schematics. Also XL were the two coffee tables pushed together to create one behemoth, another trend for those lucky enough to have enormous living spaces.

And how could I not admire the gorgeous display below from BC-based importer/distributor 18 Karat? The suspended white, test tube vases and yellow tulips were one of the freshest displays on the floor.

IKEA also relied on the concept of multiples, in this case paper light shades, to draw attention to its exhibit, which was perpetually crowded.

I’m an unabashed fan of Toronto’s SNOB, which always does a stellar job of pulling together a booth with full-force panache. Effervescent shop owner Denise Zidel told me business is good enough to justify a move to a larger space in the Carlaw Avenue complex where SNOB has been dealing since 2007.

Denise imports exclusively from Africa and there was no shortage of top-drawer furnishings and accessories in her booth, including the gorgeous, reticulated brass pendant lights from Egypt, also available in silver-plated copper.

The cascade of twinkling light strands, above left, had nothing whatsoever to do with kitchen and bath designer  Hansgrohe‘s core business but the lights certainly made a statement and pulled you into the central display area. Similarly, the laser-cut wall panels framing Julien Armand’s large display area made it a can’t-miss stop on the tour. The giant white wire light fixtures are French and come in a variety of colours.

But scale isn’t everything as Tolie Design Club and Rouge Concept proved with their small but beautifully styled booths.

And finally, there’s no arguing that colour can make the biggest statement of all. The New Caribbean Design display featuring flourescent cane chairs from Guyana’s Liana Cane had a great position at the front of the show and set up visitors with the promise of WOW, something IDS 11 delivered in spades!

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