Boy it's nice to be back in Toronto

Image via

I am in Toronto and just back from the Interior Design Show's opening night gala. I have a couple of things to say. First, it's really great to be back in Toronto. I visited here a bunch of times over the years and I cannot get over how much it's changed over the last 30 years. That's all change for the better. Toronto's more a world city than ever and it's incredible to see this many people from this many diverse backgrounds work together to make a cohesive place.

Second, I can't thank Blanco enough for showing me yet another amazing place, another amazing trade show and another amazing operation center.

via Wikimedia commons

And third, I have been coming to Canada since I was about six and I never had poutine until tonight. My life will never be the same.

Oh Canada

I'm leaving for Toronto in the morning and I'll be there as the guest of my friends at Blanco. As grateful as I am to them, my gratitude pales in comparison to the level of hospitality and generosity they've extended to me over the last couple of weeks. I learned more than I thought there was to know about sinks with them in Germany last week and I'll be touring another sink factory with them tomorrow afternoon.

While I'm in Toronto, I'll be at the IDS gala tomorrow night so come find me if you're there. My sources tell me that there will be big contingent of Canadian design bloggers at the gala tomorrow night and since I know most of you virtually already, let's meet up in person.

Furniture recap from IMM

Here's the furniture trend report I wrote for Houzz.com. It went live on Houzz this morning and I have a kitchen design trend report coming later today or tomorrow.

Special Report: Interior Design News From Cologne

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More»

Browse by Space and Style- For Example:

Modern Kitchen · Modern Bathroom · Modern Living Room · Eclectic Bedroom · Traditional Dining Room · Mediterranean Homes · Contemporary Patio · Modern Landscaping ·

I know this was real

I know this was real because I was there. But still. Last week in Germany feels like something I imagined.

There's a recap coming, I promise.

This is how they see us

This sign was hanging on a display by Gorenje, a Slovenian appliance manufacturer I've blogged about here frequently. If you don't know, the rest of the world calls full-size, side-by-side refrigerators American refrigerators.

This is the model that sign was promoting.