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Style sticks and stones: Design night

The Interior Design Show has come a long way babies. A major part of its draw continues to be standard home reno fare and talks by TV décor gurus but the representation of contemporary, Toronto-based designers and product makers is larger than ever.

Even the most snooty, cynical and/or queeny design types roaming the Direct Energy Centre at last night’s opening Decadence gala found it hard not to lust for some chic booth. Design students were spotted sliding down an inclined table in KPMB’s space, a collaboration with Tron-X and its bamboo plywood product. In the student installation, Laura Henneberry impressed with her metal bench stacked with strips of red, white and black felt. Technophiles drooled over a space by the Precipice Studios Designer Guys which featured a computer screen wall where you can access recipes or read a volume from the virtual bookshelf.

Dekla debuted its sleek collection of Scavolini kitchens and promoted the opening of its new Rosedale store at 1220 Yonge in mid March. An aisle of ten designer vignettes abstractly incorporated housewares by Massie Office, Loyal Loot Collective and Kerr & Co.

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Up at the Burroughes Building (639 Queen West), just a few storefronts away from the massive fire that burned up a block of Queen West on Wednesday morning, Radiant Dark made its belated debut. A lofty space is loaded with products and prototypes by emerging names like Standard Issue and Joe & Josephine and established local design heroes including Brothers Dressler and Bev Hisey.

Favourites from this indie pack included Andrew Ooi’s cluster of origami lights, Katherine Morley’s split iceberg bookends and Dieter Janssen’s Y-light featuring fluorescent bulbs wrapped in colourfully striped acetate sleeves.

You’d think organizers and MADE owners Shaun Moore and Julie Nicholson would take a night off after their big bash but they’ll be playing host again this evening at the store for the opening Greg Ball and Shoko Cesar’s Shotgun Approach installation.

Public days for IDS are Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $16 online or $18 at the door.

Admission to Radiant Dark is free. The show runs daily until February 27.

P.S. Design Within Reach within reach

I started my day at the new Design Within Reach at King and Spadina. The shop is the company’s first Canadian outlet and their 68th North American store which means they’re buying volume and that translates into savings on Eames chairs and Saarinen tables for high design home shoppers. The public opening is tomorrow. Our full Store of the Week report will appear in March 6’s NOW.

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