It was a pleasurable show with lots of fun elements and sophisticated local talent. The 265 stands were of highest quality and offered the visitors a generous selection of home lifestyle and home improvement products. Congratulations to all our award winning exhibitors! Top accolades went to Stretford Space who won the Overall Award for Exhibitors. Other Gold Certificate winners: a combined stand with Crossways Farm Village, The Rhino Group and Shield Homes; Old Mutual; Telkom and Trish Strydom Interiors. Silver Certificate winners: American Shutters, Eskom, Gypsy Rose, House of York, Hullabaloo, Maywood Panel Company, Plantation Shutters, Plumblink, Websters Flooring. Bronze Certificate winners: All Weather Awnings, Chique Marble & Granite, Coricraft, Colonial Antiques, CWI Kitchens, Easi Turf, Herman Brink, Homebase, Laser Logix, Ledz Lights and Ryb Art.
Niël Stemmet, creative director for Pierre Cronje, was an absolute crowd pleaser in the Speaker's Corner and entertained the guests with his comprehensive knowledge of design and flair! Prof. Des Laubscher, president of the SA Institute for the Interior Design professions (IID), shared his insights on the design world on an international level.
The Institute of Interior Design (IID) has teamed up with top decorators to showcase how style doesn't need to break the bank in Decorators Challenge. There were five designers and five rooms. Each designer had to design and set up a room to the value of a maximum of R35 000, using furniture, wallpaper, paint, fabrics, flooring, lighting and accessories. Each "room" was 3m wide x 2m deep x 2.5m high and the displays were magnificent. They have done a tremendously successful job!
The Eastern Cape's top Barista's battled it out for the regional title in the Barista Coffee Competition. Well done to our top achievers, who will represent the Eastern Cape at the National Barista Championships in Gauteng and if they go through to the next round, they will represent South Africa in Australia and Nice - France next year for the world titles.
And for every pair of tired feet, there was a seat in the Gourmet Garage where you could fill those tummies with the most delicious gourmet food and treats!
And last but not least, thank you to our dear friends and clients who helped the PE HOMEMAKERS Expo project, the children's home Coega Door of Hope with Mama Gladys Panda, who desperately needed to fix their leaking roof. Niël Stemmet is our hero who will fix the leak in their roof and Trish from Trish Strydom Interiors is our heroine who will be improving the children's bedrooms!
Be sure not to miss the Cape HOMAKERS Expo, on from 23 - 26 August at the CTICC and the Durban HOMEMAKERS Expo, on from 4-7 October at the Durban Exhibition Centre.
Visit www.homemakersonline.co.za for more info.
