This past weekend, the Vancouver Home + Design Show was held at BC Place Stadium, offering a space where all sorts of vendors could show off all kinds of products and innovations as it relates to the home. While many of these were related to home improvement projects, to be sure, there were also vendors with all-natural health products, ways to keep food fresh longer and even some fashionable jewelry for the ladies in the audience.
Not surprisingly, some of the exhibitors also attended in previous years, but I also saw many new companies, new faces and new products.
Battle Chocolate
The Savour Thursday Dessert Duel was held on opening night. The competitors were Thomas Haas (and his assistant) from Thomas Haas Fine Chocolates + Pasteries, Chef Bruno Feldestein from YEW Restaurant + Bar, and Curtis Luk of Top Chef Canada fame (he’s now with Fable). They each prepared a chocolate mousse, following by a plated chocolate dessert that had to utilize the two secret ingredients: pears and feuilletine, the latter of which is essentially really thin, crushed up waffle cone bits.
The panel of celebrity judges, which included CTV’s Coleen Christie, selected Thomas Haas as the eventual winner. His dessert dish was by far the most complex.
Furnishing a Micro-Condo
Real estate is increasingly expensive in Vancouver, but that doesn’t mean you can’t shoehorn a complete home in your tiny condo. In fact, a special exhibit called Close Quarters was at the show, put together by interior designer Alykhan Velji. The display suite was a mere 300 square feet, but it had a complete kitchen, two beds, a couch, a dining table and more. These wall beds, which can integrate additional seating or tables, can get quite pricey though.
The couch at the top of this post also has a fold-down Murphy bed behind it and I was told that unit was roughly in the $14,000 range.
Heritage Beds and Mattress had a different solution called the Ca-BED-Za. It’s effectively a waist-high cabinet that converts into a queen-sized bed, complete with underbed storage. The memory foam mattress folds in thirds to fit into the tight confines of the cabinet.
Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
Although it wasn’t branded as such, I loved the section of the show dedicated to surviving the zombie apocalypse. For instance, shown above are the contents of an “earthquake kit” from Custom Safety. You get a food grade plastic tub, water purification packets, freeze-dried food, protective masks, first aid kits, gloves, tape, a waterproof tarp, a hand-crank flashlight and radio, and more. A 72-hour personal emergency kit for four people sells for $230.
The appropriately named InCaseOf is a company that offers “solutions for self-reliance.” They had buckets of food that could last years, portable power generators and even a “sun oven” that could reach temperatures as high as 400F. The sun oven kit retails for about $350.
Food for Thought
And yes, Erin Ireland was there giving out free samples of her “To Die For” banana bread. It was pretty tasty!
Here are a few more photos from the 2012 Vancouver Home + Design Show, including the Parallel 49 Schadenfreude Pumpkin Oktoberfest beer, Solatube super skylights and J.R. Watkins all-natural products.
Seems like a very nice event! I am a fan of design ideas. I love the creativity of transforming furniture depending on the function you want for it!
Excellent information about Vancouver home and design show. I will be sure to check the site periodically.
The sun oven seems an interesting concept, but it’s way too pricey.
Thank you for the great post! Keep in touch!
That is really cool, I am going to have to check out the site and see all that I missed, i wonder if there are any youtube videos from it.
Sounds are good! I like this photos very much and its so cool also.