This is my first year attending the International Design Show in Vancouver. In all of my years of living I have never really put attention into design or decorating my home. Like my parents and how I grew up, I just saw a home as a place to house all your stuff. So a lot of my possessions are scattered and gathered. Everything is everywhere and out on display. This is even despite me having formal merchandise training and experience in designing window displays for retail stores.
However, I have recently begun cultivating peace through my space, and really looking at what I can bring into it, and how it sets the tone and defines my mood. Therefore, this invitation to the International Design Show came at the right time, when my headspace was at the right place.
I was lucky enough to get tickets to the opening night, where the showcase is more of a free flow, and the festivities feel like a party to mingle at. Especially as the evening started off with a reception with catered small bites and mixed cocktails, alongside pours of beer and/or wine.
For food there was grilled chicken on skewers, rolls of California sushi, and spring rolls with plum sauce. A few Individual booths and set ups also had their own selection of bites and drinks for guest stopping by to chat.
And VIP and media guest were given special access into the VIP lounge. This was constructed from wood and fake foliage, and it included places to sit and glasses of sparkling wine to sip.
All guests were given the ability to roam the convention floor freely, pausing at points of interest, engaging in free activations, and even shopping. Majority of the displays were luxury art pieces that you were meant to get up close to and take in, like interactive art at a gallery. They were also smaller booths where you can shop for more every day available decorative pieces like lamps, vases, candles, and jewelry.
Points of interest and the unexpected included colour of the year nail polish made by Cloverdale Paint. They even brought in nail techs to give quickie manicures using said nail polish colour.
At Hush, they invited you to make your own coasters to take home out. This was customized by using your choice of felt rings and placing one into another. Each colour a different spirit, fruit, or mixer.
There was even cooking demos at Fotile, a luxury appliance brand from China. This was their way of demonstrating the efficacy of their ovens, but sadly this was all for show as we didn’t get a chance to sample anything. They also showed us their high-tech dishwasher and new four and one appliance said to replace and steamer, dehydrator, air fryer, and oven. I would get it for the first two appliances alone.
Not available on the opening night, but during the subsequent days guests could also sign up for seminars covering a wide variety of topics. From lighting to building.
Overall, this convention was a visual treat and definitely something to help ignite your imagination and passion of crafting your own space. This was definitely aspirational. I enjoyed it like I would, roaming a museum or art gallery. I would attend again and look forward to doing so next year.
