Retro kitchens, hippie chic and other big trends at this year’s Interior Design Show
By Jean Grant |
By Jean Grant |

Toronto’s Interior Design Show, which kicked off Thursday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, is a great place to gawk at cool furniture and products. It’s also a good way to figure out what trends are lurking on the home-decor horizon. Amid the displays of sleek furniture, modern art and LED lighting at this year’s show, we noticed a few themes. Retro kitchen appliances were everywhere, as were outdoorsy embellishments (decorative honeycomb!) and ultra-refined wooden furniture—a relief, really, after years of barnboard-covered everything. More than a few displays gave off a funky ’60s and ’70s vibe with colourful geometric patterns and art deco details. And, of course, there were lots of clever designs for extremely small spaces, which should come in handy at a time when new condo units are barely breaking 300 square feet. Here, the five big decor trends at this year’s show.
To Sunday, January 25. Metro Toronto Convention Centre (North Building), 255 Front St. W., 416-585-8000, interiordesignshow.com
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- At last year's show, the hottest kitchens were <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/style/toronto-homes/2014/01/24/25-best-products-interior-design-show-2014/slide/toronto-interior-design-show-2014-04/">super-sleek and almost invisible</a>. This year, we spotted a lot of colourful, retro appliances, like these 1950s-style fridges from Italian manufacturer <strong>Smeg</strong>. $1,000
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- Trend: Retro Kitchens
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- Longstanding British cooking brand <strong>Aga</strong> has reintroduced its five-oven model (it comes with five ovens, two hot plates and a warming plate), which comes in pretty pastel colours. The exterior may appear retro, but the oven comes with touchscreen controls and a remote.
- Trend: Retro Kitchens
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- The biggest architectural feat of the show was this compact, livable cube (called “Cubitat”) designed by <strong>Urban Capital</strong> and <strong>Nichetto Studios</strong>. It fits everything you need in a very small space: four customizable sides hold a kitchen, bedroom and fully functional bathroom. So far it's just a prototype, but if it went into production it would probably cost around $60,000.
- Trend: Functional Simplicity
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- Here's the bedroom side of the cube. The bed rolls in underneath the television during the day.
- Trend: Functional Simplicity
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- More aesthetically pleasing (and space saving) than a plate, Montreal designer <strong>Tat Chao</strong> makes these simple, hanging keychain holders.
- Trend: Functional Simplicity
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- This modern “origami” chair, which was actually funded by a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/around/cut-and-fold-fun-modern-furniture" target="_blank">Kickstarter campaign</a>, can be completely flattened. (That's actually the chair hanging on the wall). $700
- Trend: Functional Simplicity
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- Trend: Functional Simplicity
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- Outdoorsy decor, or objects inspired by the natural world, was also popular this year. These are recycled slate chalkboards from Quebec designer <strong>Kino-Guerin</strong>.
- Trend: Outdoorsy Decor
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- To show off its collection of quartz countertops, this year <strong>Ceasarstone</strong> collaborated with designer <strong>Philippe Malouin</strong> to design a gigantic circular swing-set, with each seat displaying a different shade. And yes, you're allowed to swing on them: “It allows people to be a part of the installation without forcing it,” explained Malouin.
- Trend: Outdoorsy Decor
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- These petrified wood sinks, which are essentially made from fossilized trees, are all unique. From $250
- Trend: Outdoorsy Decor
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- <strong>Object Interface</strong>, a Toronto-based design firm, makes light fixtures that let you plant hanging flowers and greenery. $590
- Trend: Outdoorsy Decor
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- The company also makes a glass-topped table called “the everything,” which can be filled with plants, bottles, or anything you like. $799
- Trend: Outdoorsy Decor
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- This unique wall hanging from Canadian artist <strong>Cheryl Wilson Smith</strong> is actually made up of honeycomb pieces.
- Trend: Outdoorsy Decor
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- For 2015, instead of being rustic and rugged, wooden furniture and accessories were immaculately finished and refined. <strong>Coolican and Company</strong>, a new Toronto-based design firm that specializes in small-batch furniture, makes these minimalist barstools ($490) and benches ($880) out of Ontario woods like maple.
- Trend: Refined Wood
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- Contemporary wooden products even showed up in the bathroom, like with this tub designed by Waterloo company <strong>Tomlin Group</strong>.
- Trend: Refined Wood
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- New York studio <strong>Miles and May</strong> handmakes 90 per cent of its furniture from reclaimed or recycled wood. The armchairs sell for $4,800 each.
- Trend: Refined Wood
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- And here's one of the brand's simply designed lamps.
- Trend: Refined Wood
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- Chic hippie ornaments also made a comeback at the Interior Design Show. These intricate wall fixtures by <strong>Carl and Rose</strong> are right at home next to hanging plants.
- Trend: Hippie Chic
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- Kinder Ground uses geometric patterns to create puzzle-like children's carpets. Customizable pieces are available in funky hexagons, triangles and diamonds.
- Trend: Hippie Chic
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- Gold accents and bold embellishments from Toronto firm <strong>Netthaus</strong> give this room a luxe, retro vibe.
- Trend: Hippie Chic
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- North York brand <strong>Tusch Seating</strong> creates this hanging interpretation of the egg chair.
- Trend: Hippie Chic
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- <strong>Missoni</strong>'s always done stripes (in fact, when the fashion brand started, its machine could <em>only</em> make stripes), but this colour combination—especially the avocado green carpet—screams '70s chic.
- Trend: Hippie Chic
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The design are so nice