Melbourne’s home and interiors event, the Housing Industry Association Home Ideas Show, celebrates 30 years this April 7 -15 and visitors are sure to have an experience that will leave them brimming with ideas and handy hintsfrom the industry’s best design, building and renovation experts - just in time for the cooler month’s nesting season.
Taking place at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, Southbank, this year’s event delivers on what visitors want – a show that will entertain, inspire and surprise. It’s sure to get home lovers in the mood for decoration, renovation… and everything in between.
In addition to a compelling mix of features, experts and advice, the HIA Home Ideas Show displays the latest products and services for the home from more than 200 exhibitors. From big name brands to boutique labels, the show aisles hold an array of must-haves, from big-ticket items to smaller pieces that add that special finishing touch for in and outside the home.
Navigating the show is easier than ever, with clearly labelled aisles and easy to identify staff dotted throughout the venue. When it’s time to take a break, ample rest points offer the perfect opportunity to sit back and survey the action!
Must-see features at the HIA Home Ideas Show include:
As part of the Home Beautiful Design Precinct, Melbourne’s best interior designers showcase their skills in the Designer Room Series II where ten full-scale rooms will be on display for visitors to peruse and be inspired by the latest trends. Visitors can instantly get the designer look from the nearby Designer Retail Precinct where items incorporated into the Designer Room Series II will be available for purchase. Theneighbouring Designer Forum is the perfect place to take in daily seminars on interior forecasts, renovation and decoration projects, while the Design Drinks Bar offers a luxurious surround for visitors to enjoy a beverage and delight in the lush atmosphere.
The new HIA Kitchen Showcase is the place to be for all kitchen questions – whether it be to get up to date with the latest kitchen mod cons, discover ways to maximise space in the kitchen or to speak to a HIA professional on any other kitchen related building or renovation jobs. Twelve of the best kitchens from a range of designers will certainly impress even the fussiest of kitchen lovers.
Back for another year is the ever-popular Ask the Experts advice pavilion where visitors can have one on one consultations with a selection of building, design and renovation experts – and it’s free. Visitors are encouraged to bring along their plans, samples, sketches and everything in between to get the most out of their consultation. Get in early, this feature fills up quick.
A strong trend for 2007 is green living solutions – and the HIA Home Ideas Show has an array of sustainable features on show to ensure visitors are informed about this important issue. For the first time at the show the HIA will present the GreenSmart Building Zone where the latest green building materials and products will be on display. Co-located with this feature will be the WaterSmart Display where visitors can improve their knowledge of water conservation. The nearby Solar Solutions Sustainable LivingStage will offer interactive seminars on eco-friendly solutions for every element of the home, presented bysome of the industry’s best eco-experts.
Always a favourite, the Electrolux Gourmet Kitchen returns to the show, revitalised to tantalise thesenses. Melbourne’s top chefs will cook up a storm in hourly cooking demonstrations where meals to match the time of day will be made. Be sure to catch Melbourne’s best mixologists shake and stir cocktails that are sure to be the envy of even the best dinner party host!
Another fresh new feature of this year’s event is the Building and Business Show, co-located with the HIA Home Ideas Show for two days only, 12 and 13 April. Catering to trade professionals the Building and Business show presents the latest trends, innovations, products and services – anything and everything that will be the talk of the trade in 2007.