DECOREX
All things bright and
beautiful
Decorex Cape Town 2012 kept things real
Words Catherine Riley Photographs Tim Lake
D
ecorex Cape Town 2012 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre was an eclectic mix of colours, textures and creative concepts as the ‘Real’ theme encouraged exhibitors to consider urban design and rustic elements and to either upcycle existing decor or simply refurbish it. Interior architect Susan Tait of Urban Spaces, under the guidance of Stuart Allan and Reinhard Kretzen, was the lead designer of the stand, which resembled a modern living room combined with hints of a newsroom, with plenty of white, splashes of grey, and of course, The Property Magazine’s signature red. Stuart and Reinhard were inspired by the mag’s contemporary and sleek appearance. ‘It was about designing a unique feature point in the stand, which explains what the magazine is all about and complements the brand,’ they explain. ‘The stand was designed to be eyecatching, clean-cut and sophisticated, modern yet still inviting.’ Interesting features included swivel boxes displaying photographs taken from the publication and pigeonholes for storing copies of the mag. Urban Spaces’ sister company, Fusion Architecture, assisted with the technical specifications and logistical elements of the project. Quality shopfittings designer and manufacturer, Smart Space, was involved in assembling the stand and the signage was courtesy of Design-A-Sign. ‘Smart Space is our first choice for an inventive project, and Design-A-Sign have a work ethic like no other – always on time and a “can-deliver” attitude,’ say Stuart and Reinhard. For furniture, they sought out Créma Design for select pieces. The beautiful grey-and-red Malena armchair begged to be sat upon, while the cream Adelta Parabel Table and Foscarini Diesel Rock Floor Lamp made a stylish statement. ‘Créma Design always has very creative and luxurious pieces that designers and the public love.They are a quality brand and we enjoy working with them,’ say Stuart and Reinhard. Jack Black and Jack White stackable lighting fixtures from Tom Dixon added the final touch to the compelling space. Créma Design, +27 (0)21 434 0661, cremadesign.co.za Design-A-Sign, +27 (0)21 595 2259, design-a-sign.co.za Fusion Architecture, 086 111 2154, pdagroup.co.za Smart Space, +27 (0)21 704 3089, smart-space.co.za Urban Spaces, 086 111 2154, urbanspaces.co.za
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