ΔΙΕΘΝΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΗ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΠΟΙΚΙΛΗΣ ΥΛΗΣ - ΕΔΡΑ: ΑΘΗΝΑ

Ει βούλει καλώς ακούειν, μάθε καλώς λέγειν, μαθών δε καλώς λέγειν, πειρώ καλώς πράττειν, και ούτω καρπώση το καλώς ακούειν. (Επίκτητος)

(Αν θέλεις να σε επαινούν, μάθε πρώτα να λες καλά λόγια, και αφού μάθεις να λες καλά λόγια, να κάνεις καλές πράξεις, και τότε θα ακούς καλά λόγια για εσένα).

Πέμπτη 27 Μαρτίου 2014

Reed Exhibition : Decorex Durban Post Show Release

Decorex Durban 2014 drew to a close on Sunday, with visitors across the board agreeing that, once more, the Decorex team had put together the most comprehensive and stylish décor, design and lifestyle exhibition.

Decorex Durban took place at the Durban Exhibition Centre from 20 to 23 March and played host to more than 17 000 décor savvy visitors.

The show saw the launch of the 2014 Decorex SA theme of Design Your Life – inviting visitors to find their own style instead of slavishly following the latest trends. We live in an era where there is a new trend under the spotlight every day, making it almost impossible to keep up with the latest fashions. The modern mantra is therefore to design your own life, taking from the trends, that which works for your own lifestyle and taste.

Setting the scene on the 20th March was the first in the Decorex series of trend talks by leading trend analyst Dion Chang and made possible by Caesarstone. The 2014 Design & Trend Forecast series is running alongside the Durban, Cape Town and Joburg exhibitions and also features a report back from Eurocucina by FranklinTill.

Durban design duo Urban Lace were invited to interpret the show theme of Design Your Life, with an entrance feature that would reflect contemporary trends and how to make sense of them. Chantelle Moss and Sarah Reynolds said their answer was always to be mindful of the context we live in and the surfboards, hats and a bicycle on their installation created a laid back and relaxed, truly Durban-styled space.

Helen Byloo, of Sudawest, was in the Decorex Designer Spotlight – invited to showcase her own style as an inspiration for visitors. In collaboration with fabric house St Leger & Viney, Helen created a strikingly modern but relaxed lounge setting with plenty of orange, turquoise and yellow evoking a sense of retro style. As Helen said: “I think everyone’s tired of seeing grey houses; I wanted to evoke a reaction from the Decorex Durban visitors.”

It was a veritable feast of design at Decorex Durban this year, with interior designers and landscapers taking part in two of the group design installations. At the Belgotex Trend House, five local design stars created rooms showcasing their own style but also the very latest in flooring trends. It was a true “World of Choice” as Paige Waplington from Redesign Interiors, David Malcomess from Oyster Furniture, Vinesh Maharaj from Kitchen Spectrum, Di Hirshowitz from Brushwood Basics and Bianca Shaw from Slinx collaborated with Belgotex to create the house that dreams are made of.

This year Decorex SA launched the tongue in cheek “Manscape” project at Decorex Durban. Inspired by the success of the Mancaves feature in 2012 where some of South Africa’s most popular male personalities and designers created the ultimate Mancave. South Africa’s premier décor, design and lifestyle exhibition invited the boys back again this year – only this time they were sent outside and created an outdoor living space that any South African man would aspire to and want to recreate.

Decorex Durban Manscape participants included professional surfer Daniel Redman, East Coast Radio personality Gabriel Sithole and former professional cricket player Russel Symcox. The aim of the project was also to raise funds for the personalities chosen charities with a competition encouraging visitors to vote for and donate to their favourite Manscape.

As proven by their best stand award, co-headline sponsor of Decorex Durban, Plascon once more wowed the crowds with a beautifully styled stand to showcase their 2014 Colour Forecast, Colour Nation. There were also paint effect demonstrations on the stand every day, making for an interactive, informative experience for visitors.

Visitors who needed some time off their feet, enjoyed the interactive cooking and entertaining demonstrations at the Design Your Life Theatre, exploring new ideas for their own kitchen. Country Kitchens was responsible for the beautiful installed kitchen used by demonstrators.

One of the stars at the Theatre was Craig Charity from Lineage Coffee, who won the South African Barista Competition and will represent SA at the Worlds Barista Championship in Italy in 2014. We were delighted to have Craig on board at Decorex Durban 2014 and everyone seemed to enjoy his secrets to great home coffee making, plus we could all sample his coffee at the KWV Gourmet Market.

MasterChef South Africa finalist Joani Mitchell, Chef Eric Edwards from Eat Greek Caterers and head chef Greg Clelland from Stretta Café also strutted their stuff at the Design Your Life Theatre.

The KWV Gourmet Market offered visitors a huge variety of delicious speciality foods, paired with KWV’s popular classic wine range as well as some of KWV’s easy-drinking drinks like JimmiJagga, a fusion wine spritzer, and Ciao, the premium mixed cocktails blended with real fruit juice. The adults only Unwined Bar was a hit with exhibition-goers who were in no mood to rush home, but opted instead to stick around for a drink or two to discuss what they’d seen and enjoyed.

Always a great day out, Decorex Durban pulled together a wide variety of the most exciting designers, manufacturers and service providers under one roof and no-one went home without at least one idea to improve their living or working space.

DECOREX DURBAN BEST STAND AWARDS
Decorex Durban held their stand awards and exhibitor function on Thursday 20 March, where the best of the best stands, products and interaction were highlighted and celebrated.

A judging panel consisting of award-winning jewellery designer Kirsten Goss, Greg Dry from Egg Designs and interior designer Lisa Walters who was in the Decorex Durban Designer Spotlight in 2013 as well as East Coast Radio DJ Abi Ray, combined their collective expertise to identify the best stands at this year’s Decorex Durban (20 – 23 March). With over 180 exhibitors and 9 feature installations, as well as gourmet food offering at the KWV Fresh Market and pop up restaurants and bars, the 12th edition of one of the regions mostly eagerly anticipated décor, design, lifestyle and home living exhibitions was a massive hit with KwaZulu Natal’s many décor devotees and home owners.


Best stand awards were awarded to:
‘Best Overall Stand’ – Plascon
‘Most Interactive Stand’ – Afrox
‘Best Newcomer’ – Suda West
‘Best Kitchen & bathroom’ – Caesarstone
‘Best Green product’ – ADA26
‘Best Decor’ – Urban Lace
‘Best Use of Colour’ – Jennifer Jones Interiors
‘Best Build and Plan’ – Neolith
‘Best Small Stand’ – Good Wood
‘Most Innovative product’ – Wood Trends
‘Exhibitor Marketing Award’ – Real Natural Stone

The judges also gave ‘Excellence’ awards to a number of other high-end exhibitors, credited with setting the scene for trend-forward South Africans. These include: Niemann, Coverland, SEDA, Nespresso, Slinx, Re-Design & Uber Haus, Crestwood Kitchens, ACDC, Sutherlands and Homewood.


Decorex Durban forms part of the Decorex SA portfolio and is owned by Thebe Reed Exhibitions.