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On with the show

Interior Design Show

The Concept: Called Canada’s Largest Contemporary Design Fair, IDS mixes the international design establishment with Canada’s best furniture markers, housewares developers and architects.

Look for: Design Docs, an on-site film festival featuring flicks on subjects like mid-century architecture in Palm Springs, and icons Charles and Ray Eames. Offsite Onsite presents 10,000 square feet of experimental installations by Kathryn Walter, Commute Home and students from the country’s top design schools, while Studio North is where names like Brothers Dressler and Mushaboom Design unveil new work.

The Party: Tonight’s (Thursday, January 26) industry mega-mixer is the place to spot everyone from HGTV personalities to indie design stars. And check out ONEXONE’s charity auction featuring 20 Julian chairs gussied up by the likes of Arthur Mendonça, Debbie Travis and Yabu Pushelberg.

When and where: Thursday to Sunday (January 26 to 29, professional trade day Friday) at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (255 Front West). Opening-night tickets $60 at the door. General admission tickets Saturday and Sunday $22. interiordesignshow.com.

Come Up To My Room

The Concept: Like one big surprise house party for interior aficionados, the Gladstone’s annual alt-design event unveils suites and public space installations that vary from covetable to conceptual to completely kooky.

Look for: 2012’s room designer lineup, including uphoarders Fugitive Glue, the hotel’s artist-in-residence, Bruno Billio, and Gareth Bate, who installs hundreds of hand-painted portraits on plastic discs in his space. On Saturday (January 28), the annual Design Talks session zones in on the theme of disposability between 11 am and 1 pm.

The Party: Last year it seemed like everyone doing Design Week descended on the Gladstone’s sweaty ballroom to dance under a ceiling hung with giant red balloons. This year, Junction-based Metropolis Living brings its salvaged aesthetic to the party, Saturday at 10 pm.

When and where: Friday to Sunday (January 27 to 29) at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen West). General admission $10. Free admission for Design Talks and the Love Design Party.

Radiant Dark

The Concept: Every year Shaun Moore and Julie Nicholson hunt for a new home for their product-focused show. This year the city’s design community will discover new names and the covetable things they make in an abandoned convenience store a few doors east of Moore and Nicholson’s shop, MADE.

Look for: We’ve sneaked a peek at Jean Willoughby and Lizz Aston’s wine-stained table (see designer profile, page 26), Jade Rude’s acrylic trophy series featuring brass plates printed with Bad Religion lyrics, and Evan Bare’s slipper-style Töffel chair. On Sunday, the show’s designers gather at the space to dish on the inspiration and process behind their work.

The Party: Stop by the reception on Saturday (January 28) between 3 and 7 pm and then wander Dundas West checking out Do Design’s window installations (see Don’t Miss, below).

When and where: Thursday to Sunday (January 26 to 29) at 859 Dundas West. Free.

Don’t miss…

ASSOCIATES To January 29 at Cooper Cole Gallery (1161 Dundas West). Preview new design pieces by Derek McLeod, Dylan McKinnon, Zoë Mowat, The Practice of Everyday Design (see designer profile, page 26) and more. associatestoronto.com.

DESIGN ICONS To January 29 in front of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Five iconic design pieces, including Eero Saarinen’s Womb Chair and Established & Sons’ Stacked shelving, are represented as oversized ice sculptures outside IDS. interiordesignshow.com.

DO DESIGN 2012 to January 29 in storefronts along Dundas West between Bathurst and Grace. Trinity Bellwoods businesses including Barbarella, Ella’s Uncle and R.A.D. exhibit fresh furniture and home accessories by local makers. dowest.ca.

NOT FORKCHOPS to January 29 at The Department (1389 Dundas West). Attendees vote by sticky note for their favourite kitchen, tabletop or wall decor piece. The winning design may be distributed globally by show producer imm Living. imm-living.com.

PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION FOR 40 OAKS to January 29 at 40 Oak. Designers fill this community space with over 100 sustainable pieces. publicdisplaysofaffection.ca.

For more design events this week and beyond, check out todesignoffsite.com.

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