An impressive line-up of the world’s leading interiors authorities are in Sydney next month for the International Industry Seminar Series at Decoration + Design and the Australian International Furniture Fair. Experts in design, decoration, lighting and style direction will share their tips on the hottest trends for the coming seasons over the three-day program, from 1-3 February at the Sydney Exhibition Centre.
On his first visit to Australia, US designer to the stars Martyn Lawrence Bullard will headline the series, talking about Creating a Super Star Interior. A celebrity in his own right with his reality TV show Million Dollar Decorators (aired in Australia on Foxtel), his clientele includes Sir Elton John and David Furnish, Cher, Edward Norton, Christina Aguillera and Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne.
Celebrated style and decoration authority Melinda Ashton-Turner will lead a panel discussion on Creating Luxury in Interiors. A former Ikea stylist, Ashton-Turner went on to become Style Editor for Vogue Living (Australia), decoration editor of Homes & Gardens UK and style director of Inside Out (UK) before venturing into advertising as a style director.
UK interiors expert, furniture designer, author and curator Suzanne Trocmé will share her take on timeless style in her seminar Classic Chic – defining the little black dress in interior design. Curator for the London Design Festival since 2008 and Special Projects Editor for Wallpaper* magazine, Trocmé’s furniture can be seen in American football stadiums, Hilton Hotels and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon.
Also speaking in the series is lighting expert Petra Kleegraefe, founder of Sydney’s Architectural Lighting Design, which has completed a large range of projects in Australia, Europe and Asia. And finally, Decoration + Design’s resident trend forecaster Genty Marshall will give a seminar on The Collector, The Creator and The Connoisseur.
I’ve got five tickets (worth $44 each) to give away to Ashton-Turner’s talk, where she’ll be joined by interior designers Chelsea Hing and Sarah Davison. To enter, you must be a bona fide member of the interiors industry. Simply comment below, telling us which interior designer or stylist inspires you and why. Five winners will be picked on Thursday 26th January. You have until midnight on Wednesday 25th to enter.
All seminar tickets are $44 and are available online at www.decorationdesign.com.au or www.aiff.net.au, where you can find more information on times. Pre-booking is essential.
Melinda Ashton-Turner