Expo offers latest trends to homeowners

HOMEDEC is celebrating its 10th successful year with more attractive offerings for visitors.

The exhibition that gathers all renovation-related needs under one roof will be held over two consecutive weekends at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

The first part themed Design and Renovation is from Oct 18 to 21 while the second part on Furnish and Decorate will be from Oct 25 to 28.

It features 1,500 exhibition booths set up by over 430 leading companies in the home industry, the exhibition space is spread over six halls.

Homedec organiser, C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd president Vincent Lim said the exhibition had further boosted awareness on interior design among Malaysians.

“When we started the exhibition 10 years ago, our study showed that less than 50% of homeowners would engage interior designers when they needed to renovate their homes. However, our latest study showed more than 70% of homeowners would do that now,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur recently.

“Homedec is the platform to meet face-to-face with industry experts or to gather the know-hows about renovating and decorating your homes. The industry players are all here,” he said.

He added that this year Homedec had been pushed a notch up with the introduction of the Urban Loft concept exemplified by a show house designed by award-winning interior designer Lai Siew Hong and his team from Blu Water Studio.

“Homedec also plays a role to introduce future trends and new lifestyles to homeowners. With that, we also hope to stimulate the industry to come out with better designs and products,” he added.

Lai was the winner of the Malaysia Interior Design Awards (MIDA 2011) the Residential Category of by the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID). He and his team also won the Design Excellence for Show Units (Residential) Category in MIDA 2011.

“Loft is a concept popularised in New York and London where warehouse space was converted into residential units. Moving on, Urban Loft is a space where function and aesthetics merge, we hope it will become the foundation for the future of the urban community,” Lai said.

“The 600 sq ft show house constructed on-site is a seamless open space. It is small but compact, and it meets all living needs,” he said, adding that the Urban Loft will sport a night ambience in the second part of the exhibition.

Lim said they were partnering with MIID for MIDA where the Homedec award will be bestowed to the winner of the Residential Category. The award comes with an air ticket to Milan.

Part 1 of the exhibition features the ID Showhome where 10 interior design firms showcase their works, while Part 2 provides the opportunity for visitors to experience sights and sounds in a custom-built home cinema.

The Homedec Quality Award and the Good Design Award are also at stake to reward products of excellence in an effort to raise the standard.

The underprivileged are not forgotten, too. The Homedec Care Programme will bring better and improved living condition to the Shelter Home for Children (3).

Visitors also stand a chance to walk away with cash prizes with a minimum purchase of RM100 in single receipt. A total of RM80,000 is up for grabs, RM10,000 will be given away daily.

The exhibition is open to public for free. The opening hours are from 10am to 8pm. For details, call 03-7982 4668 or visit www.homedec.com.my or www.facebook.com/homedec.exhibition.

By The Star