SPOGA 2009

Cathedral of Cologne

Kölner Dom– This photo was taken right before boarding the train to Amsterdam. It was undergoing some preservation works, it being really old and being named a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 1996. For more information on this magnificent piece of architecture, click here.

So what brought us to Cologne? It was the venue of SPOGA  2009 (and SPOGA Horse, that was staged simultaneously). Trends? In this show, there were still a lot of wicker furniture.

So it was not surprising to see Viro as an exhibitor. For colors, earth colors like beige and cappuccino abound. Lilac, green and orange provide just the right kind of bright pops of colors. In fact, it was a surprise to see the Sunbrella booth all done in lilac and gray. We also found two exhibitors from the Philippines. One of them was Agile Stone, a manufacturer based in Cebu using stonecasting for furniture and accessories. Check out their website for more information on their products.

Maison et Objet Indoor_Outdoor 2009

Color Trends: Orange and Feiry Pink

The color purple? As seen at the Exhibition grounds. "Nomadic chic"-- this is how the trend is described.

It was Sept 5. The weather was “perfect” as the Europeans described it. It was sunny and cool at the same time. Paris Nord Villepinte was packed. After a few international trade shows this year, this was a pleasant surprise. The exhibition was huge and vibrant, with brands like Gloster, Kettal,  and (surprise!) Fendi. A lot of whites traditionally used for the indoors but in this show, on many outdoor furniture and accessories. The theme was bringing the indoors–the comfort and style—to the outdoors!

Later, went to Lamorlaye, a darn pretty village in northern France. It was a short drive from Radisson SAS (near the Charles de Gaulle) about 30 minutes. The drive was leisurely, with tall, slender trees far and near. Really lovely!

Modern apartments of Lamorlaye at daybreak

 

P.S. This is totally unrelated to Paris but Pauline just gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, 7.11 lb bundle of joy. Congratulations to Serge and Pauline.

Apologies and Updates

We apologize for the silence of the blog for the past few weeks. Everyone has been juggling roles at home and work that posting (specially when one has a very slow connection) has become more tedious than it used to be.

We thank those who continue to visit the site. In return, we promise to post at least once a week.

Last 20 July 2009, we attended a cocktail party sponsored by B van Zuiden (BVZ) Philippines, an authorized distributor of Sunbrella fabrics for  key people from Glen Raven, Inc., the manufacturers of the Sunbrella brand. This formally announced the presence of BVZ in the Philippines and was a good venue for design professionals and those in the contracts business to network. Architects, interior designers and landscape architects came to Dusit Thani for the event. Thanks guys for the nice evening!

We also received several product updates during the time of our “silence” like this one:

You can find more information on these outdoor sofas here.

Outdoor Furniture Sale

Suniture Philippines sent us an invite for their year-end sale. We thought of sharing it with you. Happy shopping everyone!

For more information on Suniture and their products, click here.

What now, Macau?

Despite the economic situation, life goes on. It may be tougher for some of the players in the design-related industries like the hospitality businesses but for those that focus on craftsmanship and quality, the future is not too dim. Exhibitions are set in key cities of the world and this month, Macau opens its doors.

Hong Kong International Furniture Fair

Eco Expo Asia – International Trade Fair on Environmental Protection
Eco Expo Asia is Hong Kong’s only international trade fair on environmental protection. With environmental awareness growing rapidly, the industry continues to expand. The third Eco Expo Asia is the ideal platform for sourcing environmental products, services and solutions. About 130 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions are taking part this year including, for the first time, Sweden, whose pavilion showcases the country’s environmental expertise in waste management and emissions control. The fair will open to the public on the last day (31 Oct), with a public day forum to enhance awareness of environmental protection. Representatives from the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Green Council, Greenpeace and Kelcroft E&M Ltd will share their knowledge on such topics as eco-design, the green label scheme, how to choose ancient forest-friendly paper and energy efficiency.

BVZ Asia's booth showcases Suniture wicker furniture

Hong Kong International Furniture Fair
This year’s Hong Kong International Furniture Fair gathers more than 170 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions, including first-time exhibitors from the Netherlands and Vietnam. The fair showcases a wide selection of designer furniture for contract business, indoor and outdoor furniture, office furniture, as well as parts and accessories. The Hong Kong International Furniture Fair will open to the public for the first time, on the last day, 31 October, offering the public the latest information regarding environmental protection and furniture trends. The public can also purchase designer furniture.

Kingsford booth also has outdoor sofas designed by Klaus Klummer

Visit the booths of Kingsford (Hong Kong) Ltd. and BVZ Asia for wicker furniture that are made in Cebu.