Decorex,​ a great   exhibition!

Every year I make a turn at one of the biggest decor exhibitions, Decorex, to identify new trends in use of materials, patterns and design.

Again this year the Gallagher convention centre was buzzing with designers, suppliers and visitors. I started with hall 2 and 3 which contained the kitchen and bathroom displays and furniture. The kitchen displays had a common trend with use of stone finishes, marble and natural stones used in curves and sleek polished finish. The new colour combination mainly dark and masculine with use of charcoals and black combined with copper and bold colours like bright red and yellow.

I noticed the use of darker woods and high tech equipment from fancy mixers and toasters to intelligent fridges and dishwashers.

The furniture expo again showed a lot of dark greys, black combined with dark wood, copper and stone with a splash of bold colours or very sparkly light fittings. I loved the simple retro designs with an almost sixties feel. Some suppliers had also focused on sustainability in terms of use of materials and African and floral patterns.

My favourite expo hall was definitely hall 1 which housed the 100% African items. The hall was full of colours, patterns and beautiful art pieces. I love the use of art from paintings to sculptures and beadings in our interiors to make a real statement and I am very excited to see so much wonderful art from our very talented local artists. The African patterns and colours were a must see and have given me a lot of inspiration for my designs for this year. I also loved the street food space which connected hall 1 back to the entrance. There were outside tables and chairs with umbrellas where people from all walks of life were gathering for a bite of delicious local food. The best part of the space was the fact that it was actually outside for a much needed break from all the hustle and buzzle from inside.

Overall a great exhibition of new colours and trends, I will be back next year.

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