Rooms on view 2007

Rooms on View, South Africa ‘s finest decor show in association with Conde Nast House & Garden and Home Fabrics took place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 24 – 27 May, proving to be a huge success. Thousands of visitors visited the show seeking inspiration for their homes from the 100 exhibitors, to see the latest trends, colours and design ideas … they were not disappointed.

“The standard of this year’s show is the highest yet and the response has been overwhelming . South Africa ‘s decor industry has really become a force to be reckoned with and I want to congratulate all the exhibitors who took part in this year’s show – they should be very proud ,” says Sumari Krige managing director of Rooms on View.

“Rooms on View 2007 showcased the fresh exuberant style which South African interiors are becoming renowned for. There was an extraordinary attention to presentation and layering of the ‘rooms’ on view with highly creative applications and settings. This year reached a level of sophistication of decoration while also bringing to light a wealth of indigenously designed products from emerging talents , craftsmen and artisans as well as established interior designers who all produced something uniquely their own. It was a year of stylish interpretations of ways to live and decorate,” adds Liz Morris, editor Conde Nast House & Garden.

It was a great honour to have American South African born Geoffrey Bradfield to officially open this year’s exhibition. Geoffrey’s workshop was inspiring and a visual feast, giving
insight into the homes and lives of some of the world ‘s rich and famous.

“Rooms on View was a great way to release our new products to both our customers and the consumer. The standard of the stands at the show just seems to get better and better. Then show is a huge credit to our industry. Geoffrey Bradfield was an inspiration. How fortunate we were to attract this calibre of person,” adds Julian Gelb, CEO Home Fabrics.

At the stylish awards and official opening of Rooms on View 2007, attended by over 1 000 guests, South Africa House took top honours, winning the Gold Condé Nast House & Garden and Home Fabrics Best Stand Award. South Africa House was curated by Trevyn McGowan. The 100m2 stanc titled A Garden of Earthly Delights/A Celebration of South African Designers brought together over 50 South African designers, artists, crafters and manufacturers.

“We wanted to celebrate South African heritage, the richness of the country and the vibrancy of now. Our designers have arrived. They are no longer isolated but are taking their place on the world stage and giving a feeling , a flavour, to the market place that can ‘t be achieved with anything else. We think this the most exciting time to be part of the South African design community. We are no longer ‘the next big thing rather a place to watch for ‘what will they do next?” says Trevyn.

In second place , with the Silver Award for a second year running, was Generation Furniture. Owner Julia Day and her team created a beautiful glass room with shades of greens
and plums – her stand titled ‘a room with a view’.

The Bronze award was shared amongst five designers – Adele van der Merwe Interior Design, Antoni Associates Interior Design by Jacket, David Muirhead and Associates and White on White Interior Design – whose ‘rooms’, as of the Dulux Designers’ Pavilion , each represented a city in the world . The unanimous decision of the six judges (top décor and design magazine editors) was that each room represented the best of South African design.

“I am so very proud of all five companies and what they a e achieved at Rooms on View this year. Their stands have surpassed anything I could have imagined and Dulux is to have been able to sponsor and be associated with such amazing talent,” says Dustine Tobler, Dulux, sponsor of the Designers Pavilion.