
Installation by Pascale Girardin
This past Sunday was supposed to be my "design" weekend. I had all intentions of going to the Interior Design Show, Come Up to My Room at the Gladstone and the Radiant Dark curated by Made at the Burroughes Building. I think 3 shows trekking around Queen West was a bit ambitious on my part, even sans daughter in tow.
We made it to IDS. My favourite areas were the 10 Innovative Canadian Designers area, which included a very cool sauna/ shed structure by Castor Design and this installation by ceramicist, Pascale Girardin, pictured above. Other notables were the fantastic exhibits by students of the University of Alberta and the Studio North area. (My pictures did not turn out, hence the lack of pics. I take them so hastily because I feel like some sort of fake reporter ;) For more detailed info. visit the IDS site.
I also enjoyed Sarah Richardson's showcase room. I first caught wind of Ms. Richardson, oh, about 10 years ago when she was set-designing and way before I caught the decorating bug. Her style was so refreshing and a lot of her appeal was the D.I.Y. This exhibit was a more evolved, grown-up version of her earlier style. The layers of colourful fabrics on the upholstery, cushions - the whole coziness of the cottage lent by the piles of books everywhere. Included in that pile, Kevin found one entitled something along the lines of: How to live like a WASP - inspiration comes from everywhere, I guess.
It would have been nice to hear Tom Dixon speak, but that seminar was for Trade only, sadly. I know much of the appeal of the show is as a consumer show, but it would have been nice to see more "styled" booths, other than those of large corporations who can afford the booth space. It's nice to see the innovation in products and design but I see an incongruity in the availability of the raw materials to the finished product of the furnished room. As noted, there is a wealth of Canadian talent who would have been up for the job if given the chance. It would be nice to see something fresh. I don't know, is no one tired of the "loft" or "hotel chic" look?













