Did you know that furniture is big business for Quebec? Well it is. A significant chunk of all furniture that gets produced in Canada is produced in Quebec, which is why the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers' Association puts on what is considered the most comprehensive home furnishings show in the country. Every year -- for 36 years now -- hundreds of exhibitors gather for a to-the-trade-only show in Toronto, to showcase their latest offerings.
The Canadian Home Furnishings Market (TCHFM) kicked off today (on till this Tuesday), and one thing to remember about it is, it's not geared at impressing consumers with wow factor. This is an industry show targeting retailers, and retailers know that wow factor tends to entertain more than it does sell. I say this because I had to adjust my hungry eye to look closer for updated details and subtle improvements rather than elaborate decor displays we the public are used to at such shows as the Interior Design Show (IDS10), open to all.
Actually, I ran into designer Glen Peloso of Restaurant Makeover, and he seconded; "what we see here are what people are buying. I once went to a furniture trade show in Milan [Italy] to help a friend out with buying for his shop, and I remember having to reign him in when he found something really cool. "That'll sit in your show room forever", is what I told him. We're much more conservative in Canada. A lot of trends take their time filtering down to us not because industry buyers don't know about them but because consumers are not asking for them." Having said that, Glen was excited to check out the show and set course for the 600,000 square feet of space with enthusiasm.
All things considered, it was great to see what the buyers and manufacturers in the home furnishings industry predict we consumers want to spend our money on, in the current atmosphere of 'economic recovery'. After all, they spend lots of resources trying to figure us and our buying habits out.
Here are some of the key trends that I noticed from my initial peruse, but stay tuned for a photo gallery of my favourite finds in the next few days! Also, for a gallery preview, check out our Twitter feed @hgtvcanada - I tweeted up a storm!
Emerging Trends
- Oversized upholstered dining chairs - most every dining chair exhibited was upholstered, and very roomy.
- Contrast piping on occasional chairs and clean-lined sectionals
- Textured, cube coffee tables - emphasis on material and texture (stainless, bamboo swirl, rustic wood) rather than shape.
- Two-toned dining tables
- Red and mauves as accent colours (not a shred of turquoise in sight!)
Prevailing Trends
- Dark wood
- Low, modern sectionals
- Grecian/classical fabric patterns and neutrals for upholstery
- Two-tone sofa upholstery
- Crystal, sparkly pendant lighting and chandeliers
- Green apples everywhere!
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