The Best 2018 International Home Design Shows Open to the Public

Some of the best home design ideas are only available to industry experts. Trade fairs are conducted secretly and away from view from most of us. By the time we find out about the latest trend, it may be when it’s on the store shelves. But there’s good news! There are plenty of home design shows open to the public around the world and they’re a lot of fun.

Here’s a calendar of some of the best home design shows open to the public for 2018:

Bahrain 8 in 1 Expo | January 11-13

The Kingdom of Bahrain hosts this show, which includes Bahrain International Modern House, Health and Beauty International Expo, Fashion Time Exhibition and Perfume Expo, all in one place.

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) Orlando, Florida | January 9-11

This show is normally open only to the trade. But if you’re a student, you can access the most important remodeling, kitchen and bath design show in the United States. KBIS hosts this show in conjunction with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and runs alongside alongside the NAHB International Builders’ Show. You’ll find attendees like designers, retailers, builders and architects who specialize in kitchen and bath design.

Austin Spring Home & Garden Show, Texas | January 12-14

A display at the Austin Home & Garden Show.

The three-day event in Austin will celebrate its 20th year. Thousands of square feet of exhibits feature products and services from designers, builders and contractors. You’ll find decks, pools, spas, landscape supplies, kitchenware and more. If you can’t make the Spring edition, there’s also a Fall Home & Garden show, although no dates are set for 2018.

Stockholm Design Week, Sweden | February 5-11

An Eero Saarinen retrospective during Stockholm Design Week.

This is THE Scandinavian design show to attend and most of the exhibitions are open to the public. The show takes place throughout the city in some of the coolest galleries and showrooms. Plenty of activities including hip dinner parties, vernissage cocktails and museum nights keep attendees entertained.

Great Big Home and Garden Show Cleveland, Ohio | February 2-11

According to the show organizers, “renew, refresh and restore your home” with 600 exhibits and more than 1,000 experts to help you with your remodeling ideas. HGTV celebrities will be on hand. And the show promises that if you’re not pleased with what you find, they’ll refund your show ticket fees.

Philly Home and Garden Show, Pennsylvania | February 16-18

The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, home show features landscaping companies, remodeling contractors and interior design companies all in one place.

National Home Show Toronto, Canada | March 9-18

Sponsored by RE/MAX, it’s the largest of the North American home design shows open to the public and features home and garden products. Over 800 retailers and industry experts are there to help consumers make educated decisions on the best products for a home improvement project or remodel.

DesignMarch Iceland | March 15-18

The Icelandic phrase, spelled out in plywood, for DesignMarch.

Set in downtown Reykjavik, DesignMarch showcases the best of the hot and innovative Icelandic design scene. The show is intimate and open to everyone. Hundreds of events, exhibitions and parties mean you’ll get up close to the local design superstars that are making Iceland a design destination.

Architectural Digest Design Show, New York City | March 22-25

One of the designer displays at the Architectural Digest Design Show.

Piers 92 and 94 come to life with rooms designed by the world’s design superstars. It’s open to the public and the perfect place to see and imagine what your dream home would look like, as well as getting a chance to meet your favorite design stars. There are plenty of seminars and even a boutique where you can pick up a few favorite home objects.

Dwell on Design Los Angeles, California | April 5-7

Presented in partnership with Dwell Magazine, this is a great show for modern design lovers. Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, you’ll find the latest modern design furniture, materials and accessories for kitchen, bath, interiors and the outdoors.

Design Miami/, Florida | June 12-17

This fair is a little different than the others because it’s a big draw for art collectors and curators. Occurring alongside the Art Basel fair in Basel, Switzerland, Design Miami/ is where art and contemporary design collectors go to see, buy and network about everything to do with contemporary collecting.

Knoxville Fall Home, Design & Remodeling Show, Tennessee | August (dates to be announced)

Held at the Knoxville Convention Center, it connects homeowners with quality home improvement, landscaping and interior design providers.

London Design Festival, England | September 20-23

Art installations are a big component of the London Design Festival.

London does something extraordinary every September. It creates a design festival with access to both trade people and the general public. Hundreds of events and art installations are scheduled through the week with famous London neighborhoods and landmarks as the backdrop.

Dutch Design Week Eindhoven, the Netherlands | October 20-28

For nine days the city is buzzing with creative energy as it showcases why the Netherlands is a top design destination. Design Routes can guide you to explore the best of Dutch design throughout the city on foot, by bicycle or by a special Volvo Design Ride.

What are your favorite home design shows open to the public?

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Best of 2017: Think Pieces for the New Year

Happy New Year everyone! It’s 2018, and before we step into the new year with brand new posts (tomorrow), I wanted to share our favorite think pieces from 2017. From discussions about design and disability to thoughts on buying your first home, these essays and articles were all about digging deeper into the ways design affects our lives, and vice versa. This year we tackled the State of the 2017 Blogosphere, lessons learned from battling cancer, how to respond to negative comments online, how to source fabrics ethically, the importance of representation in design, the ways design is political, how to support refugees, and so much more. Read on for this year’s Top 15 pieces that made us stop, think, listen and learn. Hopefully we can carry these lessons with us into the new year. –Grace

Image above: Our most commented post of the year, our annual State of the Blog Union, where I break down how the blogging world has changed (for better or worse). 

Garrett focused on disability and design this year, connecting with some incredible families and experts who shared tips, ideas and guidelines for designing homes that are accessible for everyone. These 10 Tips for making a home wheelchair-friendly were great.

Speaking of our guy Gar, after kicking cancer to the curb, Garrett shared an amazing piece about what he learned from cancer. (We are all overjoyed that he’s healthy and in remission!)

I shared my thoughts on what I wish I’d known before buying our first (and very, very old) home. So many lessons and mistakes to avoid…

Our etiquette column came back this fall, starting with a discussion about how to handle offensive conversations and comments online (and IRL).

While we focused mainly on showcasing homes that tipped the needle back toward “more is more” (in terms of color, pattern and texture) this year, we also looked into the ways Minimalism has affected our community. These 10 Tips for Living Minimally Longterm were a BIG hit.

Artist Grace D. Chin broke down all of the ways that art and design are inherently political and discussed whether or not designers have a responsibility to discuss politics and social issues in their work.

Writer, educator, and activist Rebekah Taussig discussed the intersection of design and disability this year.

With textiles from around the globe rising in popularity and popping up in shops everywhere, we discussed how to source and buy them ethically.

What do I wish I’d known before starting Design*Sponge? Here are the main 7 things.

Together with Libby VanderPloeg and help from the International Refugee Coalition, we created a short, helpful video that shared ways to be an active ally to immigrants and refugees.

Where do art and activism intersect? We talked to one artist who wasn’t afraid to speak up and explain why she feels it’s so important.

Visibility is one of the most important steps toward greater equality in the creative community. Paige Ricks shared a great post with us about why this representation matters so much in branding.

Lastly, I looked at how it took me 36 years to ease into and accept my personal style — which turned out to be a lot different than the style I’ve been known for here at DS.

from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2018/01/best-of-2017-think-pieces-for-the-new-year.html

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Home Stagers Tell Us Their Best Tricks for Making a Home Resale Ready

We asked home stagers to share their best tips for a quick resale. Image: Widell + Boschetti

Home staging can be tricky to wrap your head around. Most of time, it’s about taking your home as-is and making a few, small changes. Yet, somehow, those tiny changes can make a huge difference when it comes to attracting buyers. Sometimes it can even mean the difference between selling your home and having it sit on the market.

If you’re about to put your home on the market, this post is for you. We reached out to professional home stagers and asked them to share their favorite tips for getting a home resale ready. Read them over and do your best to implement them in your own home. Once you’re done, we’re sure the impact will be well worth the effort.

Staging your exterior is just as important as the interior. Image: Shapiro/Didway

Start at the front door

“Curb appeal is key. It’s the first impression your home gives, so make it welcoming! Invest in some inexpensive, flowering plants. (Boxwoods are great for the job.) If there’s room, you could add a couple of colorful Adirondack chairs to your front porch. If your front door looks old or shows wear, a fresh coat of paint and some new house numbers can also make a big difference,” suggests Jeffrey Weldler, an interior decorating expert at Vänt Wall Panels.

Remember that staging isn’t just for your interiors. When you go to sell your home, also make sure the outside looks its very best. While the front door is certainly important as the initial point of entry, be sure to apply Weldler’s advice to the rest of your exterior, as well. Cut and weed your lawn regularly, add plantings where appropriate, and put out a patio set if possible to help potential buyers envision easy outdoor entertaining.

Keep personal items to a minimum. Image: Arent & Pyke

Pack up personal items

“I tell my clients to pack up their ‘territory markers’ as soon as possible. These are things like family photos, shoes by the front door, toiletries and refrigerator magnets. They tell you the story of the person who lives there. Instead, you want buyers to think, ‘I have no idea who lives here, but it needs to be me,’ ” says Justin M. Riordan, the founder of Spade and Archer Design Agency.

The goal of staging your home is to appeal to as many buyers as possible. While depersonalization may be a hard pill to swallow it’s essential in helping your home be accessible to individuals with vastly different lifestyles and backgrounds than your own. That said, be sure to leave a few neutral accessories in place. They will keep your home from feeling stark.

Use furniture to show a room’s function. Image: Andrea Swan – Swan Architecture

Return rooms to their original use

“Arrange rooms the way they’re supposed to be used. I’ve seen a formal dining room turned into a TV room, and that’s fine for some; it may be a turn-off for buyers who don’t intend to use the room in the same way,” advises Ana Cummings, the founder of ANA Interiors Ltd.

Furniture plays an important role in staging your home. Not only will it give buyers a sense of how the room should be used, but it may also give them an idea of scale and help them  envision themselves living in the space. It’s much harder to grasp these same concepts when a room is empty. Your goal as the seller should be to make the buyer’s showing experience as pleasant as possible, so do your best to provide them with a usable framework.

Designate an area for kid’s belongings. Image: Aries Construction Co. Inc.

Designate areas for kids and pets

“If you have kids, keep a playroom. Keep it organized and make this the designated area for all toys. Before showings, do a loop around the house and move any runaway toys to their assigned space,” recommends Alison Bernstein, the founder and president of Suburban Jungle Realty.

This tip is also about depersonalization. Everyone understands that moving with kids is difficult, but parents and non-parents alike are more likely to respond well to your home if all your kid stuff is contained in one designated area. It will also be much easier to clean up for showings if you know that all the toys should be brought to the same place. In the same vein, pet owners may want to consider following a similar principle with their animals’ accessories.

Ask a trusted friend for their opinion on your staging. Image: White Orchid Interiors

Get a second opinion

“Have a neutral third party take a critical eye to your home. Living somewhere daily reduces your ability to notice the things that might be a problem for buyers. Dirty walls, scuffs, scrapes, leaks, or even odors might be present, but odds are, you have become accustomed to them over time,” says Marty Basher, home organization expert for Modular Closets.

Hearing less-than-steller reviews of your home can be hard, but remember that it’s for a good cause. If you decide to follow this tip, choose someone you know has your best interest at heart. Then, the hard part: Actually follow their advice. When all is said and done, you’ll be glad you did.

Follow these staging tips to get your home ready for resale. Image: The Woodlands Home Staging℠ | Got Staging LLC

Staging your home is an important part of getting it ready for the real estate market. Even if you don’t have enough money to reach out to the pros, we’ve got you covered. We asked real home stagers to share the best tips for getting a home resale ready. Give them a try and you should be pleasantly surprised at the results.

Did you stage your home before resale? Did you hire a pro or go the DIY route? Share your experience with us in the comments.

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Happy 2018! Desktop Wallpaper: January 2018

In 2017 we decided to focus our Designer Desktop series on wallpaper, textile and pattern brands for a whole year. This year we decided that a year was just too short so we’re continuing the theme for 2018! Artist Aimée Wilder is kicking off the new year with her new Bun Voyage collection. Debuted during December’s Art Basel week, the collection illustrates flora, fauna and the adventures taken from a bunny’s perspective. It’s a whimsical, playful pattern that was inspired by Aimée’s trips to the Scottish Highlands. We thought it was a perfectly fitting reminder to start the new year with an adventurous spirit.

Top left: Herbario Sprout, Top right: Mystic Lagoon Summer, bottom left: Mystic Lagoon Algae, bottom right: Mushroom City Chalk

DESKTOP: 1024×768 \\ 1280×1024 \\ 1680×1050 \\
1900×1200 \\ 2560×1440

MOBILE: iPhone 6/7 \\ iPhone 6/7 Plus \\ 

See more wallpapers by Aimée Wilder here.

View and download past Designer Desktops here.

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Handmade Herringbone Objects by Phil Cuttance

At first glance, these objects might appear to be made via 3D printing or CNC technology, as many are these days. Instead, the Herringbone series, by designer Phil Cuttance, are handmade in his London studio. Each piece is made of eco-friendly, cement-like Jesmonite using a process that he developed.

Herringbone Bud Vase

After creating a paper pattern, he cuts and pleats a plastic sheet to follow the pattern, which results in the Herringbone relief. That relief is then used to produce a prototype before making the pieces by hand in colors like: White marble (sparkles), Grey marble (sparkles), Granite (white with speckle), Dark Blue, Brick Red, Taupe, Sage Green, and Yellow. Each piece has a laser etched cork base with the object’s name and piece number. The new objects are available for purchase here.

Herringbone Pen Pot

Herringbone Tray

Photos by Martina Lang.

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2017 World Rankings from A’ Design Award

The following post is brought to you by A’ Design Award and Competition. Our partners are hand-picked by the Design Milk team because they represent the best in design.

A’ Design Award and Competition, the international organization that hands out the most prestigious design award competition, has revealed their World Design Rankings (WDR).

The United States led the 97 represented countries nabbing a whopping 584 awards (woah!), followed by China, Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, Great Britain and Turkey, who took the top positions in 2017. The top 10 changed significantly this year because the world rankings are now based on Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron awards won by designers from represented countries instead of aggregate number of awards won by each country. Nine new countries joined the competition this year – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Luxembourg, Kenya, Tanzania, Liechtenstein, Armenia, Cameroon and Swaziland.

If you visit the World Rankings “Design Business Insights” section, you can read about the awards in more detail and see which countries were named top in specific categories—like Interior Design, Architecture, and Industrial Design. These business insights provide a glimpse of the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in a particular country, which can also be used to help policy makers determine which design sectors could use additional education or exposure.

Click image to see larger

For designer-specific details, you can also visit designerrankings.com, which provides an overall score and ranking of all designers based on the number of design awards won. You can look in 100+ creative disciplines like product design, graphic design, architecture, interior design, and even fashion design.

The Design Classifications platform, which can classify designers into specific categories, so you can find a great designer in any location, in any discipline.

To enter the 2018 A’ Design Award & Competition, register here.

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5 New Year’s Design Resolutions to Ring in a Stylish Home for 2018

Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? As 2017 goes out, so do some outdated styles and old trends. After careful review of what the international furnishings shows, top interior designers and home magazines all have to say, here are the latest modern home design trends of what’s in store for 2018 — and why you should add them to your design to-do list for 2018.

Design resolution 1: I will add more color to my home

Adding bright-color decor to your neutral room is a quick and easy way to create a vibrant space. Image: JRP Design and Remodel

Designers and magazines across the board are calling for more color for 2018 and beyond. Although monochromatic white and grey spaces will always have a place in contemporary design, adding splashes of color by using accessories or paint is an easy and quick way to modernize a home.

Design resolution 2: I will do something about that blank wall

A trio of colorful wall panels fill up an empty white wall. Image: Alan Design Studio

Minimalism is cool, but cold, blank walls with no personality aren’t. With all the new options in removable wallpaper, even a renter can do something new and different. Besides wallpaper and paint, here are some other ways you can liven up a blank wall:

• Hang large-scale wall art.
• Create a gallery wall of objects or art.
• Lean a large floor mirror against a blank wall.
• Add low-profile, modern bookcases to create a large wall unit.

Design resolution 3: I will simplify the bedroom

An understated modern bedroom with minimal furniture and clutter makes it restful and relaxing. Image: Ambience Home Design

Traditional is no longer the most popular design style — contemporary design is. The clean lines and uncluttered feeling is more peaceful and relaxing. Try to make your bedroom more contemporary — the new look will feel inviting and you may even get better rest without all the distractions from clutter, objects and furniture around you.

Ways you can make use of contemporary design principles and simplify the bedroom include:

• Keep only essential furniture in your bedroom like a bed, nightstand or two and a bench or daybed.
• Move the dresser into the closet or hallway.
• Move the TV and other electronics to another room.
• Keep decor and personal objects on display in the bedroom to a minimum.

Design resolution 4: I will upgrade my lighting

This living room features table lamps and a dramatic ceiling lamp. Image: Marie Flanigan Interiors

Modern, energy-efficient lighting is more affordable than ever. And in most cases, with the help of someone with electrical knowledge, replacing old and outdated lighting fixtures is an easy DIY project. Ways you can upgrade your lighting include:

• Replace old light bulbs with modern LED or fluorescent versions. Choose light bulbs that replicate natural sunlight by looking for their color temperature rating. At or above 4,500 is closest to daylight.
• Make sure all rooms you use regularly have two lighting options: overhead and a table or floor lamp.
• Replace old light fixtures with modern LED styles.

Design resolution 5: I will cozy up my home

A plush velvet in a rich indigo, paired with the throw blanket, pillows and rug create a high-end and incredibly comfortable living room. Image: Cassoni

The international furniture fairs featured the return of soft, inviting fabrics like velvet, microsuede and more. Sparse is out and luxuriously cozy is in, so add soft throws, a silky rug, a new accent chair in a plush fabric or splurge on luxurious microfiber bedding that’s soft to the touch.

The team at Freshome wishes you a Happy New Year! Share your design resolutions with us here or on our Facebook page.

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