12 things I loved at the Interior Design Show

The weekly micro-decorating newsletter * Issue 2 of 13, W26 * Subscribe free *

It felt appropriate that this year's Interior Design Show landed on the weekend of a record-breaking blizzard. As snow accumulated on the slanting glass planes of the Convention Centre, wandering the aisles of home furnishings took on a meditative tone. Our attempts at bringing beauty to our homes feel poignant next to the raw force of the elements.

Just like last year, I went looking for the smaller items that make our environments more human and personal – and once again, the show delivered. So, here's a quick tour of twelve things that moved me, inspired me, or otherwise tickled my imagination.

A new Canadian furniture brand made an impressive debut at the entranceway to the exhibition hall:

Ourse has a tightly focused product line, all of which is designed and built in Canada. The company's confidence feels exactly right for this moment:

I was particularly struck by Jake Oliveira's Tortue mirror, which references a traditional watch design while also recalling a ship's porthole:

The design's fusion of reflection with a timekeeping motif is provocative, as we're always seeing a new moment in the mirror.

Looking at a designer's work can be like watching a suspenseful Netflix episode. With an exciting talent, you just don't know where the plot will lead next. Take Michelle Organ's ceramic works. Last year, we admired her colourful array of vases – and this year, to my surprise, her creations have evolved into lamps:

Like a plot twist in a good series, it feels absolutely logical. I enjoy the way the lampshades bring out the figurative quality of these forms:

Last year, we met the furniture of Le Tenon & La Mortaise as well, and there's an unfolding story here too. The Robie dining table is new to the product family, and its Arts-and-Crafts-inspired design pairs well with the rest of the lineup:

But the piece that took my breath away is a stool so new it doesn't even have a name yet:

The contrast between the octagonal base and circular top is appealing, as is the dramatic Douglas fir grain.

In the show's Prototype section, I took a liking to Sean Dempsey's Batten chair, with its clever foldable construction. You can collapse the backrest and arms so that the cushions are protected from bad weather:

It combines the traditional form of a Muskoka chair with the modern attribute of being made from recycled milk jugs.

Outdoor furniture gets reinvented by the exhibitor Créations Oasis as well. Their undulating benches take public seating into whimsical terrain:

Having written about Montreal's inventive street furniture, it didn't surprise me that this is the company's home. Their full-scale benches stood ready to test drive...

...and were accompanied by a table full of miniatures so enticing I wanted to take them home:

Back in the world of lighting, I was drawn to Harry Angellotti's curvy 3d-printed pendants. Their thoughtful placement made sublime use of negative space...

...and their daunting height made sense of the company's name, Giraffe. They were well worth craning one's neck to appreciate. I got a kick of finding out the name actually refers to that oddball giraffe-patterned building at Dundas and Bloor that Torontonians know and love.

While showcasing Canadian design to the world, IDS also brings the world to Canada. The Furniture Forecast pavilion was a brilliantly curated showcase that had me returning several times to appreciate pieces anew. The central exhibit was the modular Peaks sofa by Yves Béhar:

Designed with Béhar's kids in mind, this cushioned landscape is enough to ignite a playful spirit in any viewer. The components are attached by fabric hinges that offer all kinds of experimental arrangements.

The Ancora table was another highlight with flexibility as its mission. These concrete side tables can exist independently or in varying degrees of proximity:

The name Ancora is derived from the anchor-shaped base. Like all of Ronan Bouroullec's designs, the attention to detail is outstanding, in this case the juxtaposition of rough sides with polished tops creating understated impact.

Surface detail also got my attention in the Pavos coffee table, designed by Gordon Guillaumier. As you walk past this beauty, it resembles a body of water with sunlight bouncing from its surface:

The entire pavilion had reflection at its core, a mirrored panel mounted from above allowing us to see furniture as if it were suspended from the ceiling:

Kudos to Valerie Cardozo of Carv Projects, Eric Mutrie of Azure, and Will Sorrell of IDS for making this venture a showstopper.

Over in The District, I browsed through ready-to-buy items by artists and entrepreneurs. I'd seen and admired Aikshah Ng's 3d-printed vases before at Swipe Design, so it was great to come across them again here, this time embedded in a wider selection of work:

The catch-all tray with the striations of a topographical map was my favourite piece of the bunch:

Viviana Michaud's pillows also won my affection, with their graphic lines playing against solid rectangles:

As someone with a number fixation – ask me why this newsletter comes out at 12:12 p.m. – I could appreciate Viviana's personal attachment to the number 31. It's in the company name – Interior 31 – and she also releases designs in editions of exactly 31.

The textiles at Pomp & Sass caught my attention and my touch as well. Nikky Starrett designs cotton towels and has them made in Turkey, offering them both to resorts and spas, and to individual customers:

The patterns get extra oomph when they're stacked up:

Nikky explained that some customers with mobility issues or arthritis aren't able to use terry towels because of their weight. They're grateful that the lightness yet absorbency of these Turkish towels makes it possible for them to bathe independently.

It's a fitting reminder that while it may have its flashy excesses, design is about bodily comforts. Whether we're seeking shelter from a snowstorm or soft towels after a shower, design – and all the human care behind it – will be there for us.

Thank you for reading.