Sub-zero temperatures. Standing-room-only events. Thoughtful conversations about the future of design. That pretty much sums up my week at the Interior Design Show (IDS) Toronto.
We began with a multi-brand evening in collaboration with Arclinea and Fisher & Paykel Appliances at Nathaniel Garcia's Founded by Garcia’s showroom at 340 King Street East. A beautifully curated dinner brought together brand ambassadors and clients, setting the tone for what turned out to be an energizing IDS opening party afterward at the convention centre.
Despite the cold, thousands showed up—not only for IDS, but also for the hundreds of DesignTO events across the city. Proof that a strong design community will always show up when it matters.
What stood out most was the importance of brands like GROHE showing up in spaces like IDS. Trade shows aren’t just about visibility—they’re about connection. Being on the floor, hosting conversations, and engaging directly with the A&D community creates real dialogue, trust, and shared understanding. These moments—face to face, curious, and unscripted—are where meaningful partnerships begin.
GROHE Canada sponsored the two trade days, and on Friday I had the pleasure of delivering a CEU talk on Personalization and Sustainability. The Q&A that followed was smart, engaged, and refreshingly honest—exactly the kind of dialogue our industry needs right now.
The week wrapped with DesignTO’s opening night at the Museum of Contemporary Art, where art and design intersected alongside a striking photographic exhibition by Jeff Wall.
A special shout-out to Will Sorrell and Catia Varricchio, the driving force behind IDS—thank you for continuing to raise the bar year after year!
And huge appreciation to Sophia Benalcazar at GROHE, who flawlessly coordinated the brand’s participation and sponsorship across all these events. Sophia—hats off to you. 👏
Grateful for the conversations, the connections, and the inspiration that make weeks like this so meaningful.