Interior Design Show Gala - Toronto 2011

A few weeks ago I stood outside Sarah Richardson's house and took photos (which you can see here) and last night I stood right near her and watched her talk to some of her friends.  Yes I am definitely getting closer to her.

Now I'm sure you're wondering how I came to rub shoulders with Sarah, well it was because I won tickets at the Blogger Meet-up (thanks to Jennifer from Rambling Renovators) to attend the gala opening night of the Interior Design Show in Toronto.  I invited my friend Tara, from the blog Cinnamon Post, to come with me and we had so much fun.  


Here we are holding our entrance tickets in front of the sea of black-clad visitors. 

 I even had my name in lights (just kidding - it was a coincidence).

There were so many big names in the design field there, that I have to say I was impressed.   


There was Alfred Sung at the display of his new line of patio furniture,

Peter Fallico from Home to Flip and other HGTV shows (on the right) being interviewed by Mark Challen from House and Home (on the left),

 Suzanne Dimma, editor of Canadian House and Home magazine,

Chris Hyndman from the Designer Guys (many apologies Chris for how horrible the photo is, but it is the only one I got of you),
 

Erin McLaughlin, editor of Style at Home magazine (a blur on the left) and Tamara Robins Griffith, managing editor of Style at Home (third from the right).

Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe,

Photo taken by Tara (Cinnamon Post)

I overhead Tommy telling some visitors that the American TV stations don't like the fact that he swears so much and they have to bleep it out.

I was also pleased as punch to meet up with Jennifer from Rambling Renovators and her adorable, charming husband aka the Handyman.

Tara from The Cinnamon Post, Jennifer from Rambling Renovators, and me.  Photo taken by the Handyman.

There were so many amazing booths at the IDS, but my favourites were the Style at Home booth and the Sibling Revelry rooms.  Since this post is already so long, I'm going to put my photos of the Sibling Revelry together into a separate post.  You're going to love Sarah's rooms.

Here are some of the booths I enjoyed:



Montauk sofas against a blackboard covered in furniture design sketches.

Gorgeous lights from the SNOB booth.

Alfred Sung's black watch plaid outdoor patio furniture.

The gorgeous Up Country mix of industrial table, jadeite dishes, and sparkly chandelier.

The cheerful patio furniture from New Caribbean Design which also appealed to me because it is fair trade.

The industrial, steampunk look (I think it is, anyway) at the Metropolis Living booth.

The very charming, and might I add handsome, Andrew Metrick (whose great grandfather founded Elte) and their new line of colourful over-dyed antique carpets.

The quilted carpets at the Elte booth made from over-dyed remnants of antique carpets.

A touch of spring with these hanging vases filled with yellow tulips.

Ikea's booth with paper lanterns overhead,

and a sophisticated dark kitchen.

There were other smaller booths that had things like unique Canadian pillows,

a beautiful piece of rustic wooden wall art,

and two gorgeous, I-totally-want-these paintings by San Murata

And finally the amazing Style at Home booth.  Isn't this an ingenious use of paint can lids.

I loved the free-spirited mural done by Alanna Cavanagh,

 the painted striped floor,

the bright, cheerful table decorations,

 and who doesn't love overhead lights made out of paint cans.

Coming soon - some photos of the three rooms designed by Sarah Richarson.