2014 News

15th December 2014

Estate living launches issue 9 of their magazine

Estate Living is proud to announce the latest digital versions of Estate Living magazine Edition 9. The printed copies have recently arrived at all of the estates and to all clients.

You will note 2 x digital versions. Essentially, the printed copy has been split in 2 to give you both publications rich with user experience including added photo galleries, video clips, YouTube links and audio.In this manner, the reader gets a true ‘experience’ when reading your review or profile or an advert. I have decided to deliver a digital publication every month, which compliments the printed copy every 2 months.

See the KSA article on pages 39 & 40 of edition 9.1.

http://www.estate-living.co.za/publication/issue-9-1/
http://www.estate-living.co.za/publication/issue-9-2/

4th December 2014

KSA offices holiday shut-down dates

Please note that the KSA offices will be closed as follows:

JHB - 12 Dec - 12 Jan - should you need any help from 12-23 Dec please contact Stephanie@ ksa.co.za or call 0827878806

KZN - 19 Dec - 12 Jan - Should you need any help from 19-23 Dec please contact Stephanie@ ksa.co.za or call 0827878806

CT - 23 Dec - 20 Jan - Should you need any help from 12 - 20 Jan please contact kzn@ ksa.co.za or call 0828018878

28th November 2014

DECOREX SA TAKES TOP HONOURS AT ANNUAL EXHBITION INDUSTRY AWARDS

The Decorex SA Portfolio walked away at the Exhibition and Event Association of South Africa’s
(EXSA) annual awards last night (26th November), with two of the Best Trade and Consumer
Exhibition awards.

Decorex Cape Town won Best Trade & Consumer Award in the 6000m² and over category and 100% Design South Africa won Best Trade & Consumer Award in the under 6000m² category.

Decorex Cape Town, and the world renowned international design exhibition 100% Design
South Africa fall part of the impressive Decorex SA portfolio, and are widely acclaimed as
Africa’s premier exhibitions, and this year received particular praise for its overall layout and functionality, beautifully curated features and installations and an overall enjoyable visitor and exhibitor experience.

Sian Steyn, General Manager of the Decorex SA Portfolio, said “We are immensely proud to
have received two awards in the trade and consumer category, to be recognised in the
exhibition Industry is an honour with our team’s efforts to bring international standards to the
local market”

"As Decorex Cape Town has shown tremendous growth in recent years and the city’s position
as one of the world's design capitals, the exhibition will play an integral part in showcasing local and global decor and design brands. We believe this award is only the beginning of an importantera in the life of Decorex Cape Town." said Sian.

“We are delighted with this industry recognition for the launch of a new and exciting global
exhibition in South Africa.” said Creative Director for 100% Design South Africa, Laurence Brick.“We set out to ensure that 100% Design SA was unlike any other design exhibition in South
Africa. The award of best trade and consumer exhibition in our category means a great deal to
us, and we look forward to creating an even better show in 2015.”

Sian said the relationship between Decorex SA & 100% Design South Africa team and its
exhibitors was key to the shows’ success. "We strive to refresh and innovate every year and we
encourage our exhibitors to do the same. It is this consistent drive and innovation that has
culminated in award winning exhibitions”

"We live in uncertain economic times, and it is these moments of excellence that assure us and
our partners that Decorex SA continues to be an important part of our exhibitors marketing mix
and visitors buying and sourcing plans."
EXSA is a non-profit organisation representing venues, organisers, exhibition designers, stand
builders, service companies and associate organisations. EXSA, via collective representation,
provides a forum for all participants across the spectrum of the exhibition industry.

Decorex SA 2015 details:
Decorex Durban: 19 – 22 March 2015
Durban Exhibition Centre

Decorex Cape Town: 24 – 27 April 2015
Cape Town International Convention Centre

Decorex Joburg: 6 – 10 August 2015
Gallagher Convention Centre

For more information e-mail decorexsa@ThebeReed.co.za

26th November 2014

DECOREX JOBURG & 100% DESIGN SOUTH AFRICA LAUNCH TRADE PROGRAM

A dynamic shift is about to happen in the interior decoration and design industry with the launch
of a new extensive trade programme especially created for the powerhouse exhibition portfolio of
Decorex SA and 100% Design South Africa.

Cairey Baxter-Bruce, Head of New Business Development for Decorex SA says “the trade
programme’s main purpose will be to maximise return on investment for exhibitors, sponsors and
partners by generating trade leads, increasing orders and promotion of products and brands to a
targeted trade audience.”

Professionals in industry sectors related to the interior decoration and design world are being
invited to take part in a two-day programme specially created for Decorex Joburg and 100%
Design South Africa. The programme includes a targeted business-to-business matchmaking
service, a networking cocktail function and the new All Africa Design Forum. This trade
programme, targeting both local and international delegates, is taking place on the 6th and 7th
August 2015.

Decorex Joburg and 100% Design South Africa take place alongside one another at Gallagher
Convention Centre in Midrand, from 6th to 10th August 2015. Both shows are managed by Thebe
Reed Exhbitions and 2014 saw the shows jointly attract more than 50 000 consumer and trade
visitors.

Cairey explains, “We did extensive research after Decorex Joburg and 100% Design South Africa
this year (2014) and we found that a large percentage of our exhibitors want to do business with both consumers and relevant trade clients. The introduction of this formal trade programme will mean that these exhibitions will be taking engagement between exhibitors and the two worlds of
trade and consumer, to an entirely new level.”

Laurence Brick, Creative Director of 100% Design South Africa, said that “South African companies still require networking across the board from local business-to-business, to the huge potential of the emerging African market and to the established international markets. South Africa
has proved that we are major players in the design and interior design industry and our exhibitors
understand the value of exposure to the relevant trade - we know this programme is going to work
for them.”

Cairey said that, “for the first time, Decorex Joburg and 100% Design SA would host a trade only
preview morning on 6th August from 10h00 to 13h00, providing a platform for exhibitors to engage
with key industry players, VIP’s and media in a professional and focussed environment. Guests
will be invited to the official opening of both exhibitions at 10am and exhibitors will also have the opportunity to invite and entertain key clients during this exclusive morning. Decorex Joburg and 100% Design South Africa will then open to the public at 1pm on Thursday 6th August 2015.”

On the afternoon of the 6th August, trade delegates can attend the All Africa Design forum: a series of talks that will continue on the morning of the 7th August where the focus will be on all aspects of design including interior design, architecture, curation and craft related to the African continent. Industry leaders, interior designers and architects, both international and local, will be part of a line-up aimed at inspiring design excellence and promoting trade for the continent.

Cairey noted that one of the key aspects of the trade programme was the Business Matchmaking Programme and was aimed at assisting exhibitors to establish sustainable and profitable connections and relationships with trade visitors, hosted buyers and conference delegates.“We are setting up an online profiling and scheduling system to facilitate a process of smooth matchmaking but we will also have systems on the ground to support all our exhibitors and visitors as we roll out this innovation,” she said.

Cairey said the following industry sectors would be invited to form part of the trade program:
• Architecture
• Building Contracting and Specification
• Furniture Supply and Manufacture
• Hospitality Buying
• Interior Decoration and Design
• Landscaping
• Online Retail
• Product Design
• Property Development
• Retail Buying
• Spatial Planning
• Tradesman and Installers
• Visual Merchandising and Styling

“With development in Africa booming, having buyers and décor and building professionals from Africa at these exhibitions is particularly important to all of our exhibitors.” Said Cairey. “Our campaign will be to invite important retailers and hospitality groups operating and developing in Africa to see all that is on offer at Decorex Joburg and 100% Design South Africa. The key African countries that we will be focusing on are Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania.”

To apply to exhibit contact: Angela Chatfield, General Manager: Sales, 011 549 8300, Angela@ThebeReed.co.za.

25th November 2014

KSA CT's action cricket event a huge success for all

KSA CT held an awesome year end action cricket evening on Thursday night. It was super to see members from diverse companies all pulling together to make the evening such a success. We had eight teams playing in a round robin style play off and boy, the competition was stiff.

Congratulations to the overall winners the 'Chippendales' otherwise known as PG Bison and Chipbase. The final between them and Hirsch's 'Go 4 it' team was something to behold and had us all on the edge of our seats. As winners they go the honour of cutting the stunning KSA cricket champs cake.

The team spirit award went to Franke's 'Frankelicious' team who displayed their usual sense of humour by dressing very inappropriately for the evening (as the pictures will show). Their captain, Nico Claase, showed ultimate dedication to his team by trying to get the sympathy vote when he tore his Achilles tendon (we wish you a speedy recovery Nico!)

We were surprised at how vicious action cricket could be as Nico's trip to hospital was followed closely by Lou-Ann spraining her ankle and Ezaad getting severe cramp. We have to admire our members dedication to the sport and their teams.

Congratulations must also go to the four players who were identified by the organisers as players of the series:
Fabien from Larson Lions
'V6' from Hirsch's Go 4 it
Marco from Joos Joiners / Grass (G-Stars)
Charles from Frankelicious

The evening was made extra special when a member made comment on how much they enjoyed these KSA events and how they not only build relationships between member companies but also helped give those involved that last bite of energy to finish off the year.

A huge thanks for all who supported the evening and to Claremont Action Sport for all their help in the preparations and on the evening.

17th November 2014

Inspire Trade Show newsletter

Read up on the latest news from Inspire Trade show in their latest newsletter

17th November 2014

Homemakers Faire now available on-line

Homemakers Faire is now available on line....have a read by following this link: http://homemakersonline.digizine.co.za/

17th November 2014

Decorex JHB launches B2B trade project

Decorex will be making an addition to their JHB 2015 show in the form of a B2B trade program designed and enhancing the networking between businesses here in SA and from elsewhere in Africa.

This new program will be part of Decorex JHB taking place from 6-10 August 2015 and will include a networking cocktail function and a trade only preview morning from 10am - 1pm on the 6 August.

5th November 2014

New platforms to market your brand through Decorex

Decorex have just launched some exciting new platforms for KSA members to promote their year end deals. Don't miss this chance for extra exposure. If you book before the 14 November you will get 10% off. The deal give you a banner advert on the Decorex web site, a branded mailer to Decorex's 79 000 strong database, your choice of an advert in their blog or being blogged about as well as exposure on all of Decorex's social media platforms. Contact DecorexOnline@ThebeReed.co.za for more information.

28th October 2014

Join KSA CT for some action cricket

KSA CT are holding their year end function on Thursday 20th November. We invite all KSA members to come and 'bowl us over' for a fun evening of action cricket. This is a perfect opportunity to do some bonding with your staff or team up with an industry colleague. We are looking for team spirit, some hot bowling and some Jonty style fielding.

Date: Thurs 20 November
Time: 6pm
Venue: Stadium on Main, Claremont
Cost: see the booking sheet that has been uploaded onto the pics.

We hope you can join us

27th October 2014

Hirsch's Silverlakes now open

The opening of the Hirsch’s 11th branch – situated at Silverlakes in Pretoria, will have the locals talking for a long time. Guests at the opening that tookplace on the 23rd October were treated to great entertainment and wonderful demonstrations from suppliers, and the wonderful atmosphere continued on the 24th when the branch officially opened its doors to customers.

The new branch complements the Hirsch group in this thriving Pretoria East suburb. They expect Silverlakes to be one of their top 4 branches by the end of this year.

Hirsch Suppliers are extremely enthusiastic about having their latest international displays in the new branch to make it a world class operation.

The team of well trained Hirsch staff will make this branch one of the most exciting, different, and environmentally friendly stores in Pretoria.

23rd October 2014

KSA CT has a super last product evening for 2014

KSA CT held their last product evening for 2014 on Tuesday evening. Our hosts were Electrical Industries, Caesarstone and Granite Projects. This was the first time both Electrical Industries and Granite Projects have hosted a product evening so the guests were very enthusiastic to hear about their products.

The evening started out with Stephanie reminding KSA members about the 2015 KSA brochure and to look out for the invitation to the upcoming KSA CT year-end action cricket evening. She also reminded guests that Jamie-Lee from Estate Living was at the event and encouraged them to see the editions of the publications she had brought with her, all of which showcase articles by the KSA. Sue from Decorex was also in attendance and Stephanie reminded guests about the extra early bird discount members could get on top of their special KSA floor space discount.

Caesarstone were first to present with Nola reminding guests of their new range as well as their student design and kitchen designers competitions.

Bernie from Electrical Industries followed and showcased both their range of stunning domestic appliances and their extensive range of industrial appliance. She then handed over to their special guest and new supplier Andre Muntingh from Ultimate Water.

Granite Projects brought the presentations to a close with his very informative revue of stone fabrication. Shawn covered some very important facts about selling stone as a surfacing option.

The stunning food was topped of by Electrical Industries' super coffee which they supplied to showcase their new range of coffee machines and as an extra treat soft serve was offered from one of their industrial ice-cream machines.

22nd October 2014

Winner Viewer app now with three months trial Winner Cloud

In March 2014 Compusoft released their new mobile presentation solution Winner Viewer via the Winner Cloud platform.

Winner Viewer is a FREE app available on iOS and Android Platform, and gives you the flexibility to present your design via our Cloud Service to your customer. The customer simply downloads the FREE app on his mobile device (Phone, Tablet, etc.), then logon and view their future kitchen in 3D model. You can also add attachments, such as Photo’s, Plan Views, or quotations.

You can now activate Winner Cloud for FREE for 3 months, and then only pay R150pm after the 3months trial and be able to store 100 projects in the Cloud. You can also publish changes to the cloud as many times as you want… The cost per month is per Main license (per shop)

If you wish to cancel after the 3 months, you can just send us a written cancellation…no fixed terms contracts.

You can simply click on the Winner Messenger message at the top right of Winner Design to activate the Winner Cloud.

Please feel free to contact the Compusoft Helpdesk us if you need assistance…

Success to flexible mobile presentations!

Rayno Hattingh - Rayno Hattingh <rayno@compusoft.co.za>

22nd October 2014

Invitation to Hirsch's hospitality evening

Calling all CT KSA Members ...

You’re Invited to attend Hirsch’s - Hospitality Evening

EMERGING TRENDS IN THE INDUSTRY

Guest Speaker “Chef Peter” - Peter Ayub
Head Chef and Owner of Sense of Taste, one of South Africa’s most distinguished catering companies.

Thursday, 06th November 2014
17:00 till 19:00
Hirsch’s Milnerton - Corner Koeberg & Bridle Road, Milnerton

LIVE – Cooking Demonstration, Creative Inspiration & Tastings. In collaboration with Sense of Taste, Kitchen.Net Online Magazine, Zwilling J.A Henkels, Miele & so much more.

Kindly respond to milnerton@hirschs.co.za for attendance.

16th October 2014

Bookings open for Homemakers CT 2015

HOMEMAKERS are delighted to advise that bookings open for their 2015 Cape HOMEMAKERS EXPO on 5 November.

As we have opted to do a digital launch this year, we will email to all previous exhibitors & prospects, the layout, general info brochure (rates) and stand application form next week Wednesday 22 October.Stand application forms must be sent back to us by 31 October - we will notify exhibitors of their stand allocations on 5 November.

They have a NEW LOOK LAYOUT - you will note that they have changed the orientation back to the very successful formula used in previous years - both entrances are now on the gallery side - foyer 2 & 4. This makes for a more interesting & fresh show for exhibitors & visitors alike - especially as they have now been able to position their feature areas and restaurants in such a way that most stands have an equal opportunity of being situated close to an attraction!

They have again allocated a stunning PRIME area to KSA exhibitors on their 2015 layout - at the entrance in Hall 4.KSA stands can be configured to suit each exhibitors requirements in terms of size etc.

They are pleased to once again be able to offer KSA exhibitors the following benefits:

• A dedicated feature in the 2015 Show Guide featuring all KSA exhibitors – including company logo and a brief product/service description – 50 000 distributed pre-show & 15 000 distributed to visitors at the Expo
• A dedicated page on www.homemakersonline.co.za featuring all KSA exhibitors, hyperlinked to exhibitors websites
• The KSA logo will be included on the Expo double page spread in the August issues of HOMEMAKERSfair & RENOVATE – all participating KSA exhibitors will be listed.
• Complimentary tickets to the show will be sent electronically to all KSA members, affiliates and prospective KSA members not exhibiting
• KSA to be featured in HOMEMAKERS Expo press releases where possible
• Opportunity for KSA exhibitors to sponsor competition prizes as part of our marketing and PR campaign
• 15% KSA discount on floor space if stand is paid in full at launch – deadline 14 Nov 2014
• 10 % KSA early bird discount on floor space if stand is paid in full by 27 March 2015
• Payment plan for KSA exhibitors – 25% deposit secures stand - balance payable monthly, in equal installments, over the remainder of the contract period – date for last payment is 26 June 2015.


Why should KSA members exhibit @ the Cape HOMEMAKERS Expo?

• KSA has a 14 year relationship with HOMEMAKERS nationally and has a dedicated KSA feature area at the Cape HOMEMAKERS Expo
• HOMEMAKERS presents 5 Expos nationally – JHB, PTA, CT, Durban and PE
• The Cape HOMEMAKERS Expo 2014 contracted over 380 stands, covering 10 000sqm and attracted 37 500 targeted LSM 8, 9, 10 visitors.
• The Cape HOMEMAKERS Expo is supported by a high profile PR campaign and a multi-million rand marketing spend including newspaper, outdoor, magazine, radio, social media and online advertising .
• Exclusive backing of more than 1 million home lifestyle/improvement magazines nationally – HOMEMAKERSfair & renovate
• Over 3000 complimentary trade tickets were issued to W.Cape based architects, property developers, interior designers, MBA and similar professional associations in 2014.
• HOMEMAKERS Expo has nationally been awarded EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR by EXSA from 2007 to date!


HOMEMAKERS are very excited to welcome the KSA members/exhibitors on board again in 2015.

16th October 2014

KSA CT members invite to Inspire Road Show talk on 'The Future of Business'

KSA CT members are invited to the Inspire Cape Town Roadshow on 29th October 2014 for a presentation by Trend-Forward Dave Nemeth on 'The Future of Business'. Inspire is the only B2B design trade expo that currently exists in SA and is a KSA industry partner. They held their first expo in JHB this year and are hoping to meet with CT based KSA members as part of the roadshow.

We hope to see you there.
Date: 29 October 2014
Time: 1pm -4pm
Venue: CCDI, 2nd floor, Harrington House, 37 Barrack St, CT
RSVP: by 21 October to info@inspiretradeexpo.co.za

16th October 2014

Inspire Trade Expo open for booking for 2015 show

Inspire - Africa's only dedicated furniture + décor + design trade expo continues to innovate.

Since the launch of the inaugural expo in July this year at Gallagher Convention Centre, the positive response both locally as well as internationally has been remarkable, with some large partnerships and new initiatives being revealed within the next few months. The Expo's biggest strength lies in the realisation that you cannot be everything to everyone. It has been proven internationally that you cannot be both a consumer show as well as a trade expo, due to an entirely different mix of exhibitors. After many months of research, both locally as well as internationally feedback showed dominantly, that Africa and particularly South Africa was in desperate need of a Trademark only expo.

Rina Fortmann, CEO of Inspire Trade Expo, is regarded by many as being a leading exponent within the exhibition industry in South Africa and emphasises the need for such an expo on the African continent to boost locally produced exports. We have a great design culture in South Africa and finally found our own design aesthetic. We are now able to compete with top designers around the globe and Inspire Trade Expo will be the platform for these "new"designers explains Fortmann. Launching a brand new expo is extremely difficult under current economic conditions as first time exhibitors want to see proof that an event is worth investing in. Many thought it would be impossible, but through a dedicated team and focusing on every detail, Inspire Trade Expo not only successfully launched but also raised the bar within the exhibition arena.

There is something to be said about being first, says trend consultant to the expo, Dave Nemeth, and however risky it is, success will mean other players seeing a gap and trying to capitalise on it. Our strength lies in the fact that we are focused and relevant. We are not governed by large corporate structures, meaning we can adapt business and manipulate our models as we see fit, without trying to convince an entire board of shareholders. The expo has already been noticed by some very large industry players both locally and internationally that want to collaborate and partner with us. This year’s expo realised the start of a relationship with Samsung, which will continue to grow and develop.

Further to the highly anticipated Trend forecast, this will again be launched at the expo, and 2015 will host Africa's very first 'Design Thinking' conference. It is no longer good enough to simply empower designers, we need to be educating big corporate business in the relevance of designers and more specifically the process of 'Design Thinking' within corporate structures. The role of the designer needs to change just as we see all other industries adapting and changing to gain all important market share. Details of the two day conference as well as booking details will be made available at the beginning of 2015.

Inspire Trade Expo Africa's first and largest 'B2B' trade expo focused on design will continue to grow and innovate. We will continue to focus on growing local design and manufacture as well as stimulating foreign investment and trade within this sector. We are constantly questioned about adding on a consumer element to the expo and the answer is NO, says Fortmann. In order to continue our growth as the leading design trade expo, it is essential to remain focused and concentrate on 'B2B' development. Most businesses that try to be everything to everyone fail within a short period of time. We are here for the long haul!

Bookings are opened for 2015. Interested parties can contact our Sales & Marketing Director Claire Fortmann (claire@inspiretradeexpo.co.za) or visit our website www.inspiretradexpo.co.za
Inspire Trade Expo 2015 Details:
Wednesday, 10 June - Friday 12 June 2015
Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Johannesburg
9am-5pm Daily
No charge for pre-registered trade buyers.

PLEASE NOTE this is a strictly trade Exhibition and only TRADE buyers are welcome. NO members of the public will be allowed into the Exhibition. NO under 16’s allowed - proof of age must be provided on request (ID document). NO infants (carried or in prams) will be allowed into the Exhibition Halls as this is a TRADE Exhibition. A creche for children & feeding room will be available for the duration of the Exhibition.

13th October 2014

Join us at the last KSA CT product evening for 2014

KSA CT would like to invite you to our last product evening for 2014. Our hosts will be Electrical Industries, Granite Projects and Caesarstone. This is the first time Electrical Industries and Granite Projects are hosting an evening so I hope you will support them by bringing your team to learn more about what they do.

We appreciate that this is a very hectic time of year but a few hours away from the rat race to network with your industry colleagues may be just what you need. We hope to see you there.

Date: Tues 21 Oct 2014
Time: 6pm
Venue: Electrical Industries - 24 Section St, Paarden Eiland
RSVP: capetown@ksa.co.za

Please follow the link below for direction to the venue
http://www.elecind.co.za/contact_us.html

8th October 2014

Exciting news for Decorex JHB 2015

A new networking platform, an African-based design forum and an online ‘match-making programme’ connecting exhibitors with traders are just some of the new features that Decorex Joburg will be launching to attract an ever-growing audience of trade visitors in 2015.

Decorex SA is Africa’s largest decor, design and lifestyle exhibition portfolio and takes place annually in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg in March, April and August respectively. The Joburg exhibition features more than 700 brands, products and designers under one roof for five days.

Next year, in addition to the existing two trade-focused days, Decorex Joburg will be introducing a trade-only morning on Thursday 6th August 2015, giving exhibitors the opportunity to personally invite and exclusively entertain their industry guests.

The networking and business opportunities do not end here. An additional meeting platform will be set up to connect visitors and buyers with the exhibitors most relevant to their trade, with the option of using the exclusive trade lounge at Decorex Joburg as a meeting venue. For those who like to plan in advance, Decorex Joburg will also be setting up an online platform allowing members of the trade to book appointments with specific exhibitors ahead of time.

Decorex has always enjoyed a unique visitor mix of both trade and consumers. This has meant that exhibitors have been able to reach all segments of the decor and design audience, in one show.

According to Sian Steyn, General Manager of the Decorex SA portfolio, “Decorex Joburg happens over five days, which means both trade professionals as well as home makers have ample time to browse the largest gathering of décor, design and lifestyle products and services in Africa.”

Cairey Baxter-Bruce, head of Business Development for Decorex SA, said that an increased trade focus in 2015 would be particularly important to 100% Design South Africa, the global design exhibition that launched alongside Decorex Joburg in August 2014.
“For South African designers, being able to reach the decor and design trade across Africa is an incredibly important part of their business model going forward. We are confident that by attracting more trade visitors to Decorex Joburg and 100% Design South Africa, we will be contributing to the growth and success of our local design industry.”

To this end, the Decorex team will also host a number of international and African buyers at next year’s Joburg exhibition. A new two-day African design forum will take place alongside the main event on 6th and 7th August. The forum will host an important series of talks by local and international industry leaders with a focus on all aspects of design, architecture, curation and craft related to the African continent.

Carol Weaving, Managing Director of Thebe Reed Exhibitions who owns Decorex SA, emphasises the importance of trade professionals visiting the show: “We would like to encourage the increasing presence of architects, spatial planners, interior designers and decorators, specifiers, developers and retail buyers that attend Decorex Joburg. In order to do this, we will be significantly increasing investment in this area for 2015.”

Decorex Joburg details:
6-10 August 2015
Gallagher Convention Centre
10am – 6pm daily.
Ticket prices: No charge to trade professionals who pre-register online
Non trade: Adults R100, Students/pensioners R85 and Children under 12 R15
Facebook: Decorex SA
Twitter: @decorexSA

7th October 2014

New EZ Waste catalogue now available on Winner

Compusoft are pleased to announce that the updated EZ Waste (2014-1) catalogue can now be downloaded via Winner Design. For more information on this great product click on www.ezwaste.co.za
Please note that one must be subscribed as a SA Supplier range user to have access to this catalogue. To become a member you can contact André Becker on catalogues@compusoft.co.za.

1st October 2014

KSA in issue 7 of Estate Living

Issue 7 of Estate Living is out. View the KSA's article on 'what the future holds if you are planning for a new kitchen'.

http://www.estate-living.co.za/publication/issue-7/

1st October 2014

Booking open for Decorex 2014

Booking is open for Decorex CT 2015. If you book before 31 October 2014 there is an Early Bird Special. Don't forget your special KSA member pricing. Contact Angela@ThebeReed.co.za to take up the Early Bird Special.

25th September 2014

Winners of the Caesarstone student designer competition announced

Caesarstone announced the top three winners of the Caesarstone Student Designer 2014 competition on Thursday 18 September in Cape Town.

An official World Design Capital 2014 event, the exciting evening kicked off with a dazzling performance by AnecNote – a local acapella group from the Cape, who wowed guests with their sultry harmonies. The 9 finalists’ designs were on display for the evening, allowing guests to engage with their responses to the Re_Charge brief, conceptualized by Cape Town architect and competition judge, Greg Wright. “The brief was a difficult one, and some students struggled to interpret it, but on the whole we were pleased with the level of design we saw across the competition finalists’ entries,” says Greg.

MC and a member of the judging panel, Stefan Antoni of SAOTA, congratulated all the finalists for their excellent submissions and encouraged design institutions to continue engaging in the Caesarstone student competition. “This is a really fantastic competition and I would encourage all of South Africa’s design institutions to be part of it for the design challenge, and the exposure for the students and their institutions,” says Stefan.

The audience was treated to a behind-the-scenes video of the judging process, where the full judging panel was interviewed for feedback on the entries and a deeper understanding of how the finalists were selected. The 2014 judging panel included: Greg Wright of Greg Wright Architects, Lisa Younger of Activate Architects, Dorothy van’t Riet of Dorothy van’t Riet Décor & Design, Jonathan Anstey of Jonathan Anstey Architects and Stefan Antoni of SAOTA.

Trevor King, marketing director of Caesarstone South Africa, thanked the students, their lecturers and the judges for their commitment to excellence in design and for entering the competition before the 9 finalists were awarded their certificates. Kim Penman of The Home Channel attended the awards evening, saying, “It was amazing to see the work and investment Caesarstone had made to future designers”.

The top 3 student designers were announced:
1st Place:
James Mayer, Tshwane University of Technology, Department of Interior Design, Lecturer: Rene van der Merwe
2nd Place:
Ian Winfield, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Department of Architecture, Lecturer: Donald Flint
3rd Place:
Dayle Wener, BHC School of Design, Department of Interior Design, Lecturer: Donna Fergus

The winning student and their lecturer will enjoy a trip to an international design fair of their choice worth R80,000, courtesy of Caesarstone. The runner up won R10,000 cash ,while the 2nd runner up won R5,000 cash.

All the competition videos, including the judges’ discussions on the top 3 designs, as well as the 2015 promotional video can be viewed at www.youtube.com/MyCaesarstoneSA.

9th September 2014

Social media Workshop for KSA members

Hirsch's and KSA CT would like to invite KSA members to a social media workshop. This workshop is designed for business owners to help you determine if you are getting the best out of your social media platform. It is the perfect opportunity to develop your business platform or to see if the company running the platform on your behalf is doing a good job. This is a workshop members cannot afford to miss.
Date: 17 September 2014
Time: 6.00 - 7.30pm
Venue: Hirsch's Milnerton
Please RSVP to capetown@ksa.co.za

9th September 2014

Homemakers Expo CT a success for KSA members

KSA CT wound up a successful Homemakers Expo after breakdown yesterday. The show was a great opportunity for us to reach out and educate the general public about the benefits and protection that is afforded to them if they opt to deal with a KSA member.

Special thanks to Eclipse, KDMax and Joos Joiners for their assistance with the KSA stand.

Congratulations to the KSA members that won awards for their stand. Joos Joiners took the KSA award for best KSA member stand and were also awarded a gold certificate from Homemakers. Easylife kitchens also excelled with a gold award from Homemakers. As always the members did us proud with an array of beautiful stands

30th August 2014

KSA CT invites the kitchen industry to a Q&A session

KSA CT will be holding an open Q&A session linked to the opening of the CT Homemakers Expo. We would like to invite all members of the kitchen industry who are not sure what the KSA stands for or who would like to know more about the association, what we are doing and what our plans are to join us. This is also your opportunity to give us feedback as to what you would like to see the KSA doing for the industry. Date: Thurs 4 Time: 9.00 -10.00 Venue: CTICC boardroom 1.30 If you would like to join us rsvp to capetown@ksa.co.za

29th August 2014

KSA bids farewell to Alecia Andrews

KSA bids farewell to Alecia Andrews today. Alecia has been a dedicated member of the KSA team for seven years and will be missed. We wish her all the best on her new adventure.

29th August 2014

Win at Homemakers CT with KSA and Hirsch's

KSA and Hirsch's will be holding a competition at Homemakers Expo CT taking place from the 4-7 September at the CTICC. Stand a chance to win a different small appliance every day of the show. Get your entry form from the KSA (stand F32) and post it on the Hirsch stand. Winners will be announced at the end of the show each day. Come and try your luck. We look forward to seeing you at the show.

27th August 2014

KSA now offers site inspections and reports on work done by non-KSA members.

In order to offer a better consumer service the KSA will now be offering an inspection and report service on work done by non-KSA members. Consumers may now enlist the KSA to inspect work and draw up an objective report on the quality based on industry norms and the quote and drawings provided. For the cost of this service contact your local KSA offices

27th August 2014

KDMax V5 to be released soon!

KD Max V 5 will be out in South Africa in September 201. Book your copy today and get the cutting list FREE. Booking Price R 17995.00 + Vat. For more information contact Steve Walford on info@kdmax.co.za.

26th August 2014

Pretoria HOMEMAKERS Expo has found a new home: Parkview Shopping Centre, Pretoria East! 18 to 21 September 2014

HOMEMAKERS has found the perfect space for SA’s leading home lifestyle Exhibition to be presented to the Pretoria market; at the Parkview Shopping Centre on Garsfontein Road in Pretoria East! This popular event, part of the national HOMEMAKERS Expo stable, will offer discerning visitors from Pretoria East, Centurion, Midrand and surrounds, the very latest home improvement, décor, furniture and home lifestyle trends and products. A diverse and representative local and national exhibitor line up on 250 stands will range from basic and essential home improvement products to beautiful décor accessories and sublime furnishings. Not to mention sleek bathroom fittings and kitchen designs and accessories!
Food lovers will not be disappointed as a range of deli goodies will be available to taste and enjoy at the Expo, or purchase to take home.
It is with pleasure and excitement that the event is brought back to Pretoria. Ray Abrahamse, MD of HOMEMAKERS notes that since inception in 1997 Pretoria have hosted 11 in Pretoria and co-hosted 7 together with the Johannesburg team as the Gauteng HOMEMAKERS Expo, making it 18 successful Pretoria Expos! Gerrie Van Rensburg of Weathermaster, stalwart and valued HOMEMAKERS Exhibitor of 21 years wholeheartedly agrees: “We were really excited about the news that Pretoria HOMEMAKERS Expo is to re-launch in Pretoria in September. The timing and location are perfect to ensure a well attended and successful Expo!”
Similar to the Port Elizabeth HOMEMAKERS Expo the event will be hosted within the covered parking level 2 on 6000m². “We, at Parkview Shopping Centre look forward to hosting the market leading Pretoria HOMEMAKERS Expo at our state of the art home lifestyle shopping centre. Residents from Pretoria East and further afield know and appreciate the unique setting and conveniently located centre where they are accustomed to finding treasured household items.
Pretoria East suburbia is well known as an extremely affluent residential area. Our restaurants cater for a wide variety of tastes suited to sit down and take out patrons. The centre also provides ample safe and secure parking.” says Demitri Christodoulou, Centre Owner.
The South African Institute of the Interior Design Professions (IID Professions) are excited that the Pretoria HOMEMAKERS Expo is back once again
“We feel that a show such as HOMEMAKERS Expo, being so representative of the home market in Pretoria and part of such a strong national brand, will be welcomed by our members and bring them face to face with the discerning Pretoria market of upper LSM home owners - a good business generating opportunity not to be missed!” says Fehmida Jordaan, Executive Manager of the iid.

Show Details: Dates: Thursday 18 September to Sunday 21 September 2014

Venue: Parkview Shopping Centre, covered parking Level 2, Garsfontein Rd, Pretoria East. (Opposite Pretoria East hospital) GPS: 25.49.10.23S 28.18.16.30E.

Times: Thursday & Friday, 10:00 – 19:00 Saturday & Sunday, 09:00 – 18:00

Entrance: Adults – R50 | Pensioners – R30 | Children under 12 – Free

22nd August 2014

KSA CT host job opporunities workshop

KSA CT held a job opportunities workshop for third year interior design students yesterday. The aim was to encourage students to consider a career in the kitchen industry in the hopes of bringing new talent into the industry.

The afternoon started with a 'speed dating' session with the three participating kitchen design software companies: Articad, Compusoft and KDMax. This was followed by a talk by Warren Franken of Andy de Klerk Cabinet Works on what is required to be a kitchen designer and what opportunities exist in the industry. Warren got all the students to make paper aeroplanes to showcase to them how each job in unique despite being in the same discipline.

This was followed my an address by John Autard of Interior Placements on the do's and don'ts of applying for a job and compiling a CV. Then Monica di Ruvo, chairperson of the CT IID, spoke about the IID's student membership.

The day was brought to a close with the students getting to interact with the KSA members that were showcasing themselves as potential employers and suppliers. Thanks to Joos Joiners, Caesarstone, Loubser Wood, Easylife, Eclipse, Quantum Leap Designs, Spotlight Kitchens and Cabinet Works for giving up their afternoon to meet with the students.

A final thanks to Bernie Latimer and Electrical Industries for supporting the event by ensuring both the students and guests had a supply of good coffee for the afternoon with their new coffee machine.

20th August 2014

Caesarstone announce the the finalists in their kitchen design competition

After half a day of hotly debating 78 kitchen design entries, Caesarstone's esteemed judging panel was able to select the top three finalists for the Comfort and Luxury categories in the Caesarstone kitchen design competition.

Bringing a wealth of expertise to the panel were Nico van der Meulen of Nico van der Meulen Architects, Liz Morris of House & Garden magazine and Bradley van den Berg of Top Billing and Expresso. “It was quite an easy process to identify the finalists,” says Liz Morris, editor of one of South Africa’s leading décor magazines. “The top designs really jumped out at us,” she continues.

Caesarstone is proud to announce the six finalists, who will attend the Cape Town awards in October an at intimate awards ceremony held at The Test Kitchen.

Luxury Category:
• Shelley West, AA Interiors, Cape Town
• Beth Gillitt, Kitchen Classics, Durban
• Murray Loder, Country Kitchens, Ballito

Comfort Category:
• Vince Muir, Holly Wood Kitchens, Cape Town
• Nicola Mansfield, The Design Department, Cape Town
• Kim Hansen, Kitchen Classics, Durban

View the finalists online now at http://www.caesarstone.co.za/en/Design_Competition/kitchen-design-competition/Pages/container.aspx

Congratulations to all the finalists! We look forward to announcing the two winners live at the awards.

19th August 2014

Easylife CT assist with Groote Schuur world design project

Easylife Kitchens Cape renovated the cabinets and desks in the Acute Care Surgery Unit Ward F25 at Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital this weekend (16 and 17 August). This is a World Design capital project (#WDC323) and Easylife are proud to have been involved.

Apart from the factory workers and management team; ELK franchisees, design consultants and installers all donated their time to assist with the transformation of the cabinetry to improve the working conditions of the doctors and nurses in the ward. All the board used was sponsored by PG Bison and hardware was donated by Larson Industries and Eclipse

14th August 2014

KSA members invited to Cape Homemakers Expo

KSA are happy to invite members of the kitchen industry to join us at the 2014 Homemakers Expo. Please visit the site below to register for your free trade ticket as a guest of the KSA. If your registration is successful you should receive your e-ticket within 24hours. Trade tickets are only valid for Thursday 4th and Friday 5th September. The KSA look forward to seeing you at the show.

http://www.homemakersonline.co.za/blog/post/623/2014-cape-homemakers-expo-e-ticket-registration

12th August 2014

Estate Living launch issue 7

KSA industry partner Estate Living magazine are pleased to release the digital version of their 7th edition. Follow the link below to read the online edition and the KSA's article on what the future holds if you are planning a new kitchen. http://www.estate-living.co.za/publication/issue-7/

11th August 2014

Electrical Industries have just unpacked new stock

Electrical Industries is proud to showcase the new range of cookers they have just unpacked. For more information please contact Bernie Latimer on Bernie@elecind.co.za or contact Electrical Industries at: 24 Section Street, Paarden Eiland, 7405, Cape Town, South Africa P.O.Box 284, Paarden Eiland, 7420 Tel: +2721 511 8177

8th August 2014

Grass and Franke hold succesful product evening

KSA CT held a product evening last night hosted by Grass and Franke at Grass in Montague Gardens. We had 100 guests join us from the kitchen industry. Nico Claase took centre stage first and gave an overview of Franke as a company and them introduced their new undermount sink and mixer. Wayne Nabal followed showcasing the amazing array of new hardware Grass has added to their range.

Both Franke and Grass sponsored prizes for a lucky drawer. Congratulations to Sean Ransden and Dewald Lourens who took home the prizes.

A huge thank you to those who attended and to Franke and Grass for hosting the evening.

6th August 2014

Great Smeg course in CT

KSA held the CT leg of the appliance installation course hosted by Smeg today. What a great success. With almost forty installers and designers attending over the day both Smeg and KSA felt a great sense of achievement. A huge thank you to the companies that participated for investing in their staff's on-going education.

5th August 2014

KSA CT members invite to attend MBA JBCC seminar

KSA CT members have been invited to attend a seminar hosted by the MBA on the JBCC contract. We would encourage all members working with the contract to attend.

4th August 2014

Job opportuinity at the KSA

The Kitchen Specialists Association is looking for a self motivated person to take the reigns at their Gauteng offices as the Regional Manager. The candidate should be able to interact well with people, work well in a team dynamic & have good multi-tasking and organisational skills. Knowledge of the kitchen industry is preferable but not essential. A valid drivers licence and reliable vehicle is an essential.
The job, based out of Randburg, will require the candidate to coordinate and implement the running, growth and financial stability of the Gauteng region and to ensure the smooth operation of all regional tasks and activities.
Tasks will include :
Administration and budget work / marketing, event coordination & trade shows / member relations, management & growth / dealing with complaints & mediations / income generation & development of member value-add / allocated national projects

This is an exciting opportunity for a candidate who likes a challenge and would like to develop and master a multitude of skills.
CV’s should be submitted to capetown@ksa.co.za

2nd August 2014

Caesarstone launches 5131 Calacatta Nuvo

Caesarstone is extremely proud to announce that the much-anticipated 5131 Calacatta Nuvo™ will join our existing Supernatural designs within the Classico collection from 1 August 2014.

As Caesarstone's interpretation of natural Calacatta marble, Calacatta Nuvo™ brings you wide, elegant, cascading, grey veins on a light grey base. Calacatta Nuvo™ makes an unforgettable impression and enhances any interior with a touch of high-end indulgence. This latest design from Caesarstone offers the look of luxurious natural stone with the durability and ease of maintenance that Caesarstone quartz surfaces are renowned for.

Available in 20mm thickness, Calacatta Nuvo™ is perfect for kitchen countertops and splashbacks while its luxurious design also make it ideal for kitchen feature islands and cabinet cladding.
Calacatta Nuvo™ is especially suited to commercial applications in hotels, restaurants, bars and retail interiors.

Calacatta Nuvo™ slabs will be available from 1 August 2014. Normal samples are not available for this top-end design, however, limited edition sample books may be available on request.

Please contact your preferred fabricator for pricing.

www.caesarstone.co.za

1st August 2014

Closing date for Caesarstone kitchen design competition extended

Still hankering after the chance to win R50,000 for your kitchen design? Caesarstone is extending the deadline for entries to their kitchen design competition! Submit your entry online before midnight on 7 August for two chances to win R50,000 and amazing media exposure.

1st August 2014

Habitat special

Habitat once again have a special offer for KSA members. Take a full or half page advert in their Sept/Oct bumper kitchen feature edition for only R18500-00 ex VAT for a full page or R10500-00 ex VAT for a ½ page. On top of this Habitat will give you a hi res image in the feature to showcase your work.

Material deadline for finished material is 7Th August.

To book contact gary.graham@telkomsa.net

29th July 2014

Easylife PE take gold at Homemakers Expo

Congratulations to Easylife Kitchens in Port Elizabeth who were awarded gold for the stunning stand they put together for the Homemakers Expo that took place in PE recently. Well done to Pierre and his team.

23rd July 2014

Join KSA CT, Grass & Franke for a winter product evening

The KSA in CT like would like to invite you to join us at our winter product evening. Come join Grass and Franke as they showcase their wonderful new products. Bring your staff and come ward off the winter chill with your industry colleagues.
Date: 7 August
Venue: Grass
Time: 6pm RSVP: by Monday 4th August to capetown@ksa.co.za

22nd July 2014

KSA proud ABSA 1 Call partner

The KSA is very proud to be an ABSA 1 Call partner and has been featured in their recent brochure as well as on their web site. Members interested in receiving leads from ABSA 1 Call should contact their regional manager.

21st July 2014

Not too late to enter the Caesarstone kitchen design competition

Attention kitchen designers!!!! You still have time to enter your favourite kitchen designs into the Caesarstone Kitchen Designers 2014 competition!

The competition closes at midnight on 31 July 2014, so be sure to enter before the deadline and you could win amazing media exposure, a trip to Cape Town for an unforgettable awards ceremony and R50,000 cash!

Congratulations to Julie Burke of Easylife Kitchens Tableview for winning the early entry draw prize of R5,000!

Enter online at www.caesarstone.co.za

17th July 2014

Hirsch's supports 'reach for your slippers' campaign

This year KSA member Hirsch’s has come on board with the Reach for your Slippers Campaign. By buying a R10 Sticker and wearing your slippers Reach for a Dream supports the hopes of Children Fighting a life – threatening illness. Hirsch’s is selling stickers and we would like to make you all aware of the campaign and encourage you to purchase x1 Sticker from Hirsch's to support Reach for a dream.

10th July 2014

SMEG Installation Supplier Workshop

WELL TRAINED AND HIGHLY SKILLED STAFF ARE KEY ELEMENTS TO SETTING YOUR COMPANY ASIDE FROM THE REST !!!

10th July 2014

Visit the KSA at the Inspire Trade Expo at Gallagher Estate 10 - 12 July and stand a chance to win!

All you need to do is leave your details with us to be entered into a lucky draw!

The is also a Kitchen Design Competition, 1st Prize to the Value of R41 000. Visit our Facebook page for more details and the Room Layout.

10th July 2014

KZN East Coast House & Garden Show 2014

KZN KSA Celebrates another successful show - with 7 of our KSA Members winning Gold Awards for their amazing stands!
Congratulations to:
Afrormosia
Amazing Interiors
Ashcraft (Ashstone)
Exotic
Kitchen Studio
Rudi's Choice (ISS)
Woodtrends

The show was once again a huge success, as people filled the aisles with arms full of shopping bags and exciting purchases.
The demo kitchen, kindly sponsored by two of our generous KSA members -Defy and Kitchen Studio, a
was a constant buzz of activity and delicious smells.
May all our KSA Exhibitors do lots of god business as a reward for their sterling efforts.

7th July 2014

KSA @ Inspire Trade Expo bring you an Exciting Competition

The KSA together with Competition partners: Inspire Trade Expo, Eclipse Furniture Fittings, Franke, Italian Life Style, Maxima Software, PG Bison, ProQuartz and Sariga Designer Kitchens bring you a 2014 Kitchen Design Competition.

Send your design using the predefined room layout to comp@ksa.co.za before the 18th July to stand a chance to win magnificent prizes.

Please see below for terms & conditions

Terms & Conditions
1. Name, contact number , email address & company details must be visible and legible on your entry / design.
2. The KSA , partners & members may use your contact details when deemed necessary to send you industry related information & invitations.
3. This promotional competition is conducted by the Kitchen Specialists Association (KSA) and Competition Partners - “the Organisers” - and is open to persons over the age of 18 in the republic of South Africa.
4. By entering this competition all participants and winners agree to be bound by these rules. In the event of a dispute the Organisers decision is final and binding.
5. Contestant entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges from various disciplines within the KSA.
6. Designs will be critiqued on the brief available on our website and Facebook pages, which is in the format of a Pre-defined Room
7. Participants may only submit ONE entry and may not win more than one prize.
8. Each kitchen must feature one or more of the sponsors products.
9. Only designs that meet the brief will be considered.
10. All Designs must be in a CAD (Computer Aided Design), both the plan and rendered view must be submitted.
11. Entries that do not meet the criteria will be disqualified.
12. Entry is FREE. Entries can be submitted one of the following ways:
- By Email - comp@ksa.co.za , emails must not be bigger than 5MB.
- By appointment at the KSA offices (with Maxima Software) 14th July to 18th July.
13. Competition Opens 7 July 2014.
14. Competition closes 18 July 2014, no late entries will be considered.
15. The judges decision is final. Winners will be notified telephonically or by email by the organisers.
16. The KSA has the right to use all designs/ pictures submitted as part of the competition in future marketing.
17. The KSA has the right to use a photograph of any entrant and mention their name in any marketing.
18. Delivery of prizes is to be arranged with sponsors, however is limited to Gauteng area only. Collection can be arranged by the winner if preferable.
19. All participants and winners indemnify the organisers, their advertising agents, advisors, nominated agents & suppliers, their affiliate or associated companies against any and all claims arising, howsoever (including willful misconduct or negligent act or omission) from their participation in any way howsoever in this competition.
20. Winner’s names will be available on request.
21. Prizes are not transferrable and cannot be exchanged for cash or an alternate product.

6th July 2014

Appliance Installation workshop in CT

KSA CT invites you to join their appliance installation workshop hosted by Smeg. This course, suitable for both designers and installers, covers all the vital information about the correct placement and installation of all appliances from built-in to free standing, extraction and integrated. At the KSA we see a lot of problems coming from incorrect appliance installation and would strongly recommend that you all send your design and installation teams. If you deal with integrated appliances this course IS A MUST.

We have 2 sessions planned. Please indicate whether you would prefer the morning or afternoon session when you book. We will try and accommodate you in your chosen session. If this session is too full we will allocate you the alternate session.

Date: 6 August 2014
Time: 9am or 1pm
Venue: Smeg CT
Cost: R100 p/p for KSA members & R200 p/p for non-members.
Book: capetown@ksa.co.za

4th July 2014

Stone fabricators invited to engage with KSA CT

KSA CT would like to invite all granite and stone fabricators to hear about the exciting changes we are planning to better engage with the stone industry and to offer better value to fabricating businesses. We hope all in the industry will attend. Date: 24 July 2014 Time: 5.00pm Venue: Durbanville tennis club RSVP: capetown@ksa.co.za

3rd July 2014

Book your Decorex Joburg stand NOW!

Decorex Joburg 2014: 90% booked!!!! Book your stand now, KSA members receive 5% discount on floor space. Follow the link to apply to exhibit: http://www.thebereed.co.za/decorex/exhibitor-application/

With the co-located exhibition, 100% Design South Africa, taking place alongside Decorex Joburg this year, it is certain to be the décor and design event of the year!

1st July 2014

KSA student job opportunties workshop

KSA CT is working with the IID on a job opportunities workshop for 3rd year interior design students.

We will be talking to students about what opportunities there are in the kitchen industry and what skills are required.

KSA software suppliers have been invited to showcase their products and offer students an opportunity to try out their software. Other KSA members have also been invited to showcase their companies as potential employers. We encourage all members to participate and get to know the talent coming onto the job market.

Date: 21 August 2014
Time: from 2.30pm
Venue: Selections Warehouse

If you are interested in participating contact capetown@ksa.co.za

27th June 2014

BOOK NOW FOR GLOBAL TREND UPDATE AT DECOREX JOBURG 2014

The retirement age is not what it used to be, cronuts are the new cupcake and we’re moving towards a gender-free world.

These are just a few of the lifestyle trends to be picked up on by Dion Chang of Flux Trends at the Caesarstone Design and Trend Forecast at Decorex Joburg in August this year. Dion, one of South Africa’s leading trend analysts, is first on the lineup that includes a global décor trend report as well as a report back from EuroCucina.

Decorex Joburg takes place from 6th to 10th August kicking off with the Design and Trend Forecast as well as the first ever 100% Design South Africa taking place alongside the exhibition, this promises to be the most exciting Decorex Joburg ever. Surface designer Caesarstone, a global leader in lifestyle design, will be bringing the trend forecast to Decorex Joburg. Bookings have opened for the event that will take place on the 7th August.

“We are delighted that Caesarstone has chosen to present the Design and Trend Forecast at Decorex Joburg,” said Sian Steyn, General Manager of the Decorex SA Portfolio. “Our vision is to continue to grow Decorex Joburg into an unmissable event on the décor diary – with all the products, ideas, know-how and now trend updates possible, under one roof. An event of this calibre certainly makes a trip to Decorex Joburg even more important.”

Dion Chang presented his talk recently at Decorex Cape Town, where he touched upon various lifestyle subjects, predicting radical changes in media and communication in coming years.
Visual and video mediums continue to be the most important form of communication, although he also forecasts a renewed popularity of print magazines and books when individuals tire of working and socialising on screens and feel the need to “unplug”.

Caesarstone will be dishing up a taste of the very latest kitchen design trends as seen at Eurocucina earlier this year. Communications Manager Lisa Aspeling was there and will report back on how open plan kitchens have resulted in more linear designs and that surfaces are more matte and textured than the high gloss of previous years. Lisa’s Eurocucina report will also include a stunning video content for some exciting inspiration.

Book your tickets now for the Caesarstone Design and Trend Forecast at Decorex Joburg

26th June 2014

Be part of Habitat's Sept/Oct kitchen feature

Habitat magazine are doing a kitchen and bathroom feature in their Sep/Oct issue. They would like to offer KSA members a 25% discount on all double, full and half page adverts.

Any KSA member booking advertising as part of this feature will also be given editorial coverage in the feature.

It is a super offer and we are very grateful to Habitat for their continued support of the KSA and our members.

Should you be interested in taking part in this offer please contact Gary Graham on gary.graham@telkomsa.net

25th June 2014

Cabinet Works feature in Gilmour Macnamara home

This sophisticated home on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, was transformed by the formidable partnership between interior designer Ashleigh Gilmour and building contractor Peter Macnamara. They selected KSA member Andy de Klerk Cabinet Works to assist them with the project.

The Cabinet Works kitchen includes: duco sprayed door, and drawer, fronts (satin white); a solid oak breakfast counter and wall mounted cabinet (grey-mist wash); working countertops made from Neolith (arctic white), and Grass hardware throughout.

Arguably the pièce de résistance of the home, the wine cellar, featuring solid ceder beautifully handled by Cabinet Works, is something to behold.

To view further images please visit http://www.
cabinetworks.co.za.

24th June 2014

Decorex Joburg - KSA Design Inspiration wall

After being a Huge Success at the CT Decorex show, KSA would like to offer the opportunity to Gauteng members to be part of the KSA Design Inspiration wall at Decorex Joburg. Only 6 spaces available ... To avoid disappointment book your space now!

24th June 2014

Inspire Trade Expo 2014 - Competition

23rd June 2014

Margaret Hirsch to be guest speaker at Mindful abundance seminar

Margaret Hirsch will be the guest speaker at the Mindful abundance seminar taking place in CT on 25 June 2014.

She will join Sharon Sinclair CEO of Chandramala and Vision Board facilitator; Linda Smith Harvey an acclaimed speaker, coach, workshop facilitator, writer and founder of Financial Abundance Coaching and creator of Linda’s Abundance Diary; and Mandla Moyo CEO of Biotic Health Corporation and non executive director of the Western Cape Health Foundation. These great speakers will take you on their journey to wealth and success through mind-set.

Venue: Atlantic Imbizo Conference Centre, Wednesday 25 June 2014, 10 am - 12 noon. Refreshments: tea/coffee
Registration: 9:00 am — 9:30 am with tea/coffee and little treats
Only 40 Seats available for this very special Showcase. RSVP: by 22 June 2014 to sharon@chandramala.com

12th June 2014

Roco bids farewell to John Koller and Rob Liddell

It is always sad to say goodbye to colleagues and friends. It is even more sad when those colleagues and friends are your leaders.

Roco Fittings bid farewell to two incredible leaders in John Koller and Rob Liddell. Both men were responsible for the creation and growth of the Roco brand into the company it is today. John and Rob are both very well known and respected and losing people of their calibre will leave a massive void in the industry.

John Koller will be entering retirement and Rob Liddell has decided to venture into new waters. We wish them both luck in their future endeavours.

The real meanings of motivation and inspiration, along with other words like commitment and determination, cannot be learnt in books. They can only be learnt by working under a tough boss who keeps pushing you to try harder. The team at Roco have all benefited from the knowledge and wisdom imparted by these two gentlemen over the years and we all realise that this influence is invaluable.

We will continue to strive to give the very best service and care to our customers, as we have done for the past 23 years under the leadership of these great ambassadors.

Regards
The Roco Team

11th June 2014

Be aware of false membership claims

The KSA would like the public to be aware that there are companies in the market place falsely claiming to be members of the KSA.

KSA received information from a member of the public that a company in Gauteng called KL Projects
had assured him they were members of the KSA when they are not.

We urge the public to inform us should they encounter this or any other company making false claims of KSA membership.

10th June 2014

Estate Living offers special advertising rates to KSA members

The latest edition of the Estate Living publication is now available.

Estate Living are proud to say that they have succesfully delivered the publication to 300 estates nationally.

Estate Living only promotes credible suppliers within this industry, hence their partnership with the KSA.

Estate Living is now offering all KSA members a 20% discount on any advertising / advertorials in order to ensure your participation in this lucrative industry.

Please click on the link to read the latest edition, and gain insight into the lucrative residential estate market place.
http://issuu.com/estateliving/docs/estate_living_issue_6

Contact us now for any further information.
www.estate-living.co.za

4th June 2014

It's not too late to enter the Caesarstone Kitchen Designers competition

Caesarstone would like to remind designers that it’s not too late to enter the Caesarstone Kitchen Designers competition for a chance to win R50,000 and brilliant media exposure! In October 6 finalists will jet off to Cape Town for an unforgettable awards ceremony – will you be among them? Enter by 15 July and stand a chance to win R5,000 cash! Enter online by visiting www.caesarstone.co.za

4th June 2014

Electrical Industries showcase their built in hobs and island extractors

Electrical Industries are pleased to showcase their range of built-in hobs and island extractors. For more information about the range please contact Bernie Latimer on Bernie@elecind.co.za.

2nd June 2014

GRAND DESIGNS LIVE - KSA post show information

It is soul feeding when you receive an above normal number of comments and enquiries at any show. It is proof that the hard work the KSA has been putting into public awareness is paying off. Many members of the public came to find the KSA stand looking for the annual Consumer Guide, some even mentioned hearing the interview with Alecia and ….. on Kaya FM in 2013. It is clear that consumers are more aware of the KSA than ever before.

Grand Designs Live, which took place this past weekend, had a lot to offer. The Kitchen & Bathroom area was filled with fabulous designer stands all manned by enthusiastic representatives. Certain things made great impression:
• Totem Kitchen’s play on colours
• Easylife Kitchen’s two option stand appealed to the country & modern consumer
• The new Eclipse Legrabox drawer runners
• The Whirlpool induction range as well as a stove with TV, the tool to convert any cookware to work on induction and as an induction oven
• Smeg’modern art – A bar fridge made from the bonnet of a Fiat


The following KSA members exhibited at the show:
• Designer Kitchens PTA
• Dezign-a-Door
• Easylife Kitchens
• Eclipse Furniture Fittings
• Eurofit Kitchens
• International Slab Sales: Caesar Stone / Neolith
• Larson Industries: Hettich & Blanco brands
• Niemann SA
• Smeg
• Totem Kitchen
• Whirlpool

The show also showcased KSA industry partners Absa 1 Call and Home Inspirations who assisted with stand judging. KSA Grand Design stand awards were given to Eurofit Kitchens and Dezign-a-Door. Judges were asked to assess the following criteria when judging the stands:

1. does the exhibit satisfy the basic pre-requisite of brand identification, ie is the branding clearly visible from all available approaches?
2. can the visitor move freely and logically through the exhibit architecture enabling them to fully ‘engage’ with the brand?
3. is it immediately clear what the exhibitor is selling?
4. does the design leave an indelible impression at every touch-point?
5. has the designer successfully leveraged the intrinsic power of colour in a focused, refined and strategic manner?
6. has the designer exploited lighting successfully in the creation of a memorable experience for their client?
7. have they sought to explore new and interesting materials or possibly determined to use traditional materials in a more imaginative and interesting way?
8. is the stand ’fit for purpose’?
9. are the representatives knowledgeable
10. do the representatives mention the KSA at all?
11. does the stand have an X factor

Feedback from the judges was that they would encourage all the stands to use more lighting. Not only does this make the stand warmer and more inviting but it assists in illuminating the product better.

Visit our facebook page to have a look at some pictures: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kitchen-Specialists-Association-KSA/553855848000951

2nd June 2014

MUST SEE DÉCOR AND DESIGN UPDATE AT DECOREX JOBURG

Decorex Joburg celebrates 21 years as Africa’s largest décor, design and lifestyle exhibition this year with some exciting new features that will ensure visitors stay up to date on the very latest décor and design trends and happenings both in South Africa and around the world.

The exhibition takes place over the Women’s Day weekend (between 6th and 10th August) at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.

One of the biggest draw cards to this year’s show is certain to be the arrival of 100% Design South Africa, sponsored by Dauphin HumanDesign Group, and one of the world’s most important design shows, now in South Africa and taking place alongside Decorex Joburg at the Gallagher Convention Centre.

Kicking off Decorex Joburg is the Design and Trend Forecast conference featuring leading trend analyst Dion Chang on the 7th August. Sponsored by Caesarstone, the event will also feature a report back from EuroCucina on the latest kitchen trends.

Plascon will once more use the popular platform of Decorex Joburg to launch their 2015 colour palette – visitors’ first glimpse of the most popular paint colours for next year and their professionals will be demonstrating exactly how to use these colours in your home or project.

Sian Steyn, General Manager of the Decorex SA Portfolio, says Decorex Joburg has, over the past 21 years, become one of the most important events on the South African décor calendar, offering visitors the most comprehensive exposure to the very latest in décor, design and lifestyle trends.
“We live in an era where time is the most precious of commodities and we like to think Decorex Joburg offers visitors a convenient and enjoyable opportunity to see products and make contacts – all under one roof,” she said. “Now that we’ve added 100% Design South Africa and our annual trend updates to the mix, Decorex Joburg is simply unmissable!”

Decorex Joburg will again be inviting some of South Africa’s leading designers to create inspiring installations and spaces within the show. This year leading Cape Town interior designer Sam Lurie will travel north to collaborate with fabric house St Leger & Viney in the prestigious Decorex Designer Spotlight, showcasing Sam’s new fabric collection as well as her unique, layered interior style.

With flooring products offering homeowners an increasing number of options, Dexcorex SA has invited a group of designers to create a space that showcases their style using the very latest Belgotex flooring products and execute this within the Belgotex Trend House. The spaces include a kitchen, dining room, lounge, patio, bathroom, bedroom and a child’s room. Look out for work by DDL Design and Décor Lab, Antiques and Heritage, Paper Space, Anitas Interiors, Interior Motives and Living Divani Interiors.

Look out for South Africa’s barista champion Craig Charity, who will be showcasing ideas for perfect home coffee brewing. MasterChef South Africa contestant Joani Mitchell will also be showcasing her talent in the kitchen, so don’t miss the opportunity to see some of the country’s leading foodies in action, at the DionWired Design Your Life theatre. The KWV Gourmet Market will feature delicious market-style fare, paired with wine and easy drinking pre-mixed cocktails from KWV.

Café Chic by My Furniture will be the perfect spot to enjoy a light meal like quiche and salad while the Graham Beck Wine Bar, by Concreate and Forest Collection, will be the adults-only chill out area where you can enjoy the Sushi Bar while sipping on a glass of bubbly or two.

With more than 750 exhibits offering visitors a comprehensive selection of ideas and inspiration all under one roof for five days, Decorex Joburg is set to be one of August’s diary highlights.
Decorex Joburg details:
6-10 August
Gallagher Convention Centre
10am – 7pm daily. 10am to 6pm on Sunday
Ticket prices:
Adults R100, Students/pensioners R85 and Children under 12 R15
Visit www.decorex.co.za for more info

29th May 2014

Smeg launch new CT showroom

Smeg launched their new CT showroom this month. Located on the corner of Strand and Buitengracht st. the new location offers a luxurious setting to view the Smeg range of appliances.

The launch was hosted by Smeg SA's MD Steve Brooks and his team with special guest Vittorio Bertazzoni, Smeg's CEO, who was visiting from Italy for the occasion.

During the launch Smeg's contribution to the World Design Capitol - a yellow Fiat bar fridge by Smeg, was unveiled.

The Smeg team invite all industry and kitchen professionals as well as consumers to visit the new showroom.

27th May 2014

NEW RECRUITS FOR ARTICAD SOUTH AFRICA

Leading CAD software specialist for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and shopfitting industry, announces the appointment of three new members of staff, joining the company’s headquarters in Johannesburg.

Tanya Spies is a new Regional Sales Manager for the Western Cape. Responsible for ArtiCAD’s entire portfolio of products and services, she joins the company with good previous experience of the sector.

Brendon Hill and Joe Janson have both joined as Graphics Developers, and will be focused mainly on producing highly detailed graphics models for the ArtiCAD-Pro software.

ArtiCAD software, for the design of kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices, is a powerful, flexible, fast and easy to learn computer-aided design solution. It produces working plans which automatically generate elevations, multiple 3D perspectives, photorealistic impressions, detailed parts lists and costings. A comprehensive kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or study design presentation, including detailed dimensioned plans plus stunning visualisations, can be produced in less than ten minutes.

Founded in 1992, ArtiCAD has been, and continues to be, solely focused on the development and marketing of innovative, robust CAD software for the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom industry. The company has more than 1,000 users of ArtiCAD in South Africa alone, from where it services all territories in sub Saharan Africa. ArtiCAD Africa has offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

Building 803 Hammets Crossing Office Park
Selborne Rd, Johannesburg North
Gauteng
2153

Tel: 011 704 5400
Fax: 011 704 5401

27th May 2014

Austro Show 4th to 7th June 2014

26th May 2014

Franke launches new undermount sink

Franke are pleased to announce the launch of their new undermount sink called Stella. This stunning imported sink will be a valuable addition to the Franke range.

26th May 2014

Decorex announce the details for the 2015 CT expo

After a successful 2014 Cape Town expo Decorex are pleased to be able to announce the details of their 2015 Cape show.

23rd May 2014

First ever KSA / IID function a success in Cape Town

The first ever joint KSA IID event took place last night in Cape Town at The Bank in Harrington St. With seventy one members of the kitchen and design industries in attendance the evening was a great success.

The evening kicked off with Stephanie Forbes from the KSA introducing Monica Di Ruvo the new IID representative to the guests. This was followed by a presentation on Blum's Dynamic Space by Tania Koen of Eclipse. Eclipse also showcased their range of stylish chairs and stools.

Steven Harris then took the stage to bring everyone up to speed on what is happening with the World Design Capitol. He also explained the concept of Third Thursday which is now in its fourth rotation in the area. He closed by running through the range of design software available through Furnspace 3D all of which were being demonstrated during the evening.

Heath Nash brought things to a close by explaining the concept of the British Council Maker Library (a World Design Capitol project). KSA members were reminded of the call for their off cuts, old samples and unused materials for the Library's craft projects. Heath then invited guests to get active in the library and try their hand at making a new and innovative martini.

22nd May 2014

Easylife Cape Town hold their Top Achiever awards

ELK Management Cape Town hosted their inaugural regional top performer’s gala dinner on the 15th of May.

The function was held at Kolping Guest house in Durbanville and Mark Berger was the MC. Jean De Villiers, the Easylife brand ambassador was also on hand to hand out the awards.

Easylife strategic suppliers, as well as the Cape franchisees and a large number of the design consultants attended the evening.

The event honoured and recognized the 2 top performers for the Cape Region for 2013/2014. Caroline Flynn from Easylife Tokai and Ryno Uys previously from Easylife City Bowl and now the franchisee of the new Easylife Stellenbosch achieved the accolade.

During the evening the winner of the KSA Wall of Design competition was announced. Marissa Geyser from Easylife Table View won the prize.

One of the highlights of the evening was the draw of the winner of the Easylife Sprint Incentive competition. Jean De Villiers did the lucky draw and Heino Wessels from Easylife Tokai was the lucky winner of a R30 000 trip for 2 people to Mauritius. .

21st May 2014

Bookings open for Decorex Durban

Bookings are now open to be part of Decorex Durban. Don't miss the chance to be part of this great show.

20th May 2014

Easylife kitchens Stellenbosch celebrates it's opening

Easylife Kitchens celebrated the opening of it's new Stellenbosch franchise on Friday. The new store owned by Werner Uys who also owns the franchise in the City Bowl will be run by his brother Ryno Uys.

The stunning new showroom is in a prime location - 20 Plein Street with fantastic road frontage.

We wish the team the very best of success with the new store.

20th May 2014

Donate your unused materials to a World Design Capital project

KSA members in CT have an opportunity to assist a World Design Capital 2014 project called the British Council Maker Library. This project makes interactive think and work spaces where people can read and create. The project which is being curated by Heath Nash and is situated at The Bank in Harrington St CT is engaging with underprivileged students and needs materials for their interactive programmes. We are appealing to you to donate your unused materials to this project whether it be material off cuts, old stock or old samples of edging, paint, hardware or doors. The library will be able to make use of all these in a variety of ways to sustain their program.

If you are interested please contact capetown@ksa.co.za and we will put you in contact with Heath. Your donation can be deliver to him at the Maker Library on arrangement so he can expect you.

We really hope the industry can rally to support this project and make good use of your reject and unwanted offcuts and samples.

20th May 2014

DESIGN YOUR LIFE AT DECOREX JOBURG

Don’t miss Decorex Joburg, set to take place over the Women’s Day weekend (between 6th and 10th August) and a must-visit for anyone with plans on the home décor and design front.

This year, Decorex Joburg is themed “Design your Life” and with the widest variety of exhibitors of all South African lifestyle exhibitions it promises ideas and information to inspire. We live in a time where the individual’s needs are paramount and Decorex Joburg will showcase an array of décor solutions to suit everyone.
South Africa’s most comprehensive décor, design and lifestyle exhibition, Decorex Joburg will include everything from fine home finishes to beautiful décor accessories, bathroom, appliance, garden and kitchen findings all under one roof.

This year’s exhibition features some exciting additions, including the world renowned international design exhibition 100% Design South Africa which will take place alongside Decorex Joburg for the first time this year, plus the Design and Trend Forecast, presented by Dion Chang sponsored by Caesarstone.

A line up which includes interactive demo’s, designer pop up restaurants and bars plus the ever popular 2015 Plascon Colour Forecast, all mean a visit to Decorex Joburg will arm you with all you need to design your life.

Decorex Joburg details:
6-10 August
Gallagher Convention Centre
10am – 7pm daily. 10am to 6pm on Sunday
Ticket prices:
Adults R100, Students/pensioners R85 and Children under12 R15
Visit www.decorex.co.za for more info

14th May 2014

Eurocucina 2014 – top kitchen design trends from Caesarstone.

The highly anticipated Eurocucina 2014 – widely considered to be the foremost kitchen design show in the world – definitely did not disappoint. With more visitors than ever before, kitchen companies and product developers were more than pleased with the increased turnout of local Italian and foreign visitors to their stands.

Held in Milan every two years, the fair takes place during the Salone del Mobile design week at the Rho fairgrounds, which can accommodate over 350,000 visitors at a time. The kitchen fair alone would require more than 5 Decorex spaces in order to accommodate all the kitchen exhibition stands!

Although encompassing a fair representation of traditional Italian kitchens, the majority of designers challenged the trends of the past with fresh takes on layout, lighting, colour and texture, offering consumers and homeowners striking sources of inspiration and brand new innovations to bring into the kitchen this year.

While 2012 showcased an ultra-modern kitchen experience that seemed to cater to a niche market, 2014’s showcase seemed to demonstrate a maturity and level-headedness, revealing a deeper sensitivity to consumer needs not seen to such an extent in years gone by.

To check out these exciting top twelve trends, fresh from Eurocucina 2014 visit:
http://www.caesarstone.co.za/en/News/articles/Pages/Top-12-Kitchen-Design-Trends-from-Eurocucina-2014.aspx

14th May 2014

Hirsch's at Eurocucina

The International Kitchen furniture exhibition, EuroCucina, is held in Milan every two years and runs concurrently with the International Bathroom Exhibition. Both bring together the top Italian and foreign manufacturers from throughout Europe.

Allan and Margaret Hirsch and Hirsch buyer, Paul Brown attended the show in April, and were blown away with the size of the exhibition and the quality of the stands. Said Margaret “There were 25 halls which were all huge and they showcased everything for the home from lighting, to bathrooms, furniture and a wide variety of home appliances. The concentration on detail and “thinking out the box” also really appealed to Margaret “one of the main features on the Smeg stand, for instance, was the gas hob. Instead of cast iron grids it has lovely little birds!!’

A new and very popular decorating idea was to have wallpaper backlit like in the bedroom. The Hirsch’s also attended a cocktail party at the Dolce and Gabbana Restaurant in Milan where Smeg launched their range of small appliances (kettles, toasters mixers and liquidisers) The SMEG small appliance range will be in South Africa later in the year.

12th May 2014

Something to look forward to in September - Homemakers Expo CT

2014 CAPE HOMEMAKERS EXPO TO TAKE PLACE FROM 4 to 7 SEPTEMBER

CAPE HOMEMAKERS PROMISES BOLD, BRIGHT AND INDIVIDUAL IDEAS IN HOME IMPROVEMENT AND DESIGN

The Cape’s trendiest home, décor and lifestyle exhibition, the Cape HOMEMAKERS EXPO, will be taking place from 4 to 7 September 2014 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in the Mother City.

Themed ‘Bold, Bright and Individual’ this years HOMEMAKERS EXPO boasts seven exciting feature areas for visitors to engage with specialists and industry leaders in home improvement and design.

Celebrate stylish living at inVOGUE – once again showcasing a cameo collection of the latest interior décor trends and ideas.


Tantalise your taste buds in d’VINE life, with the most distinctive tastes the Cape has to offer - from the finest boutique wines to delicious cheeses, tapenades and other gourmet goodies.

Explore gorgeous homegrown creativity at an ARTISANaffair - the hottest curated collection of unique, locally handmade craft and design by local artisans and craft entrepreneurs.

Now in its second year, alfresco living teems with the most inspiring trends in outdoor living, outdoor spaces and exterior living trends. Think alfresco dining, azure pools, pergolas, designer decks, terraced herb gardens and patio glamour.

Turn your dream kitchen into a reality. From kitchen appliances, to work surfaces, sinks and taps, the KSA Pavilion will enthuse visitors with the latest in kitchen and functional design.

HOMEMAKERS Expo, in association with Home and Tuis magazines, will once again host the ever-popular DIY Workshop series. Visitors will be given the opportunity to get up close and personal with DIY professionals to learn practical ‘tricks of the trade’, while putting their personal signature touches to various novel home and décor projects.

The Design Project 2014 will celebrate South Africa’s most cutting edge and innovative design in interior, furniture and textile design.



Says Sandy Edwards, Expo Organiser: “This year’s Cape Homemakers Expo promises to be the most exciting to date, with feature areas to suit everyone’s interests and desires. We aim to offer both exhibitors and visitors an unparalleled experience.”

Entrance for adults is R70, pensioners pay R50 and children younger than 12 enter free of charge. Expo Times: Thursday – Saturday, 10:00 – 20:00 and Sunday, 10:00 - 18:00.

For further information, contact: (021) 511 2800 or expocape@homemakers-sa.co.za. Also visit www.homemakersonline.co.za.

10th May 2014

KSA, IID joint event in Cape Town

Members of the KSA and IID in the Western Cape are invited to join us for our first ever joint event. We are very excited to be working together on this event which will showcase a talk by Eclipse on Blum's 'Dynamic Space' as well as opportunities to view their range or chairs and stools, a variety of interior and kitchen design software from Furnspace 3D, the British Council Maker Library and the World Design Capital 2014 design wall. Date: 22 May 2014 Time: 5.30pm Venue: The Bank, 71 Harrington St, CT RSVP: Capetown@ksa.co.za

10th May 2014

KSA call on kitchen companies to offer work placement for interior design students

The KSA are calling on the kitchen industry to offer work placement to second and third year interior design students in the Western Cape. The kitchen industry has a desperate need for kitchen designers and unless we get students interest in a career in our industry we will continue to experience these problems. The KSA is working with several interior design schools in the Western Cape to find work placement posts among the kitchen industry in the hope of encouraging the students to look to a career in kitchen design. If you would be interested in offering a 6 week work placement to a student please contact Stephanie on capetown@ksa.co.za

9th May 2014

Furnspace 3D introduce Teowin

KSA member Furnspace 3D are pleased to announce the addition of Teowin to their range of kitchen design software. For more information on the new software contact Steve Walford on steve@teowin.co.za

9th May 2014

Electrical Industries introduce their new range from Lofra

Electrical Industries are pleased to announce the arrival of their new range of appliances from Lofra. The range is fully imported with a two year guarantee.

For more information on the range contact Bernie Latimer on Bernie Latimer on Bernie@elecind.co.za

6th May 2014

Inspire Trade Expo - Press Release

With little over two months to go to what promises to be the most exciting trade show the country has seen, things keep gaining momentum. The Inspire trade show, which will be showcasing: Furniture, décor and design as well as up and coming manufacturers and forward thinking retail solutions, like touch screen technology. This show is a must for the retail, hospitality as well as design sector, including architects and designers, to come and source new and interesting products. Although the focus is on local supply and manufacture there will be some specialised agents with world-class international products also exhibiting.
There are still a few stands left, across the various categories for manufacturers that would like to exhibit, but these too are filling up quickly. The show will boast high-end home grown design talent with the likes of Backyard Studio, Studio Number 19, Meyer von Wielligh, Emerging Creative’s, Head On Design and the incredible SNAPP Designs. The show also boasts some South African legends such as Carrol Boyes and Ronel Jordaan Designs, both of which have had huge success internationally and have also been great ambassadors for SA design.
A huge focus of the show, as the name suggests will be to inspire the trade to find new and amazing products as we often see the continual use of the same products when there is so much new and fresh design currently happening. This is according to Dave Nemeth, who is regarded by many as a leader in trend forecasting and innovative business and retail consulting, he is currently consulting to the Inspire group. Nemeth believes that the Show will be the launchpad for businesses wanting to expand into Africa, which in itself is one of the largest global initiatives at the moment. The response from these key players in these African countries registering to visit has been phenomenal.
The show will also feature some excellent talks by leading professionals, which will be very relevant to the current state of business as well as consumers current attitudes.

Further collaborations with the likes of SAA, has insured discounted rates for people outside of Gauteng's borders to visit the show, with their buying and design teams.

Register as Trade Buyer or Apply to Exhibit

6th May 2014

Grand Designs Live Complimentary ticket for members!

Grand Designs Live Complimentary ticket for members!Valid for Friday 23 May 2014. Please click the link below:

6th May 2014

Pretoria HOMEMAKERS Expo has found a new home: Parkview Shopping Centre, Pretoria East! 18 to 21 September 2014

HOMEMAKERS has found the perfect space for SA’s leading home lifestyle Exhibition to be presented to the Pretoria market; at the Parkview Shopping Centre on Garsfontein Road in Pretoria East! This popular event, part of the national HOMEMAKERS Expo stable, will offer discerning visitors from Pretoria East, Centurion, Midrand and surrounds, the very latest home improvement, décor, furniture and home lifestyle trends and products. A diverse and representative local and national exhibitor line up on 250 stands will range from basic and essential home improvement products to beautiful décor accessories and sublime furnishings. Not to mention sleek bathroom fittings and kitchen designs and accessories!

Food lovers will not be disappointed as a range of deli goodies will be available to taste and enjoy at the Expo, or purchase to take home.
It is with pleasure and excitement that the event is brought back to Pretoria. Ray Abrahamse, MD of HOMEMAKERS notes that since inception in 1997 Pretoria have hosted 11 in Pretoria and co-hosted 7 together with the Johannesburg team as the Gauteng HOMEMAKERS Expo, making it 18 successful Pretoria Expos! Gerrie Van Rensburg of Weathermaster, stalwart and valued HOMEMAKERS Exhibitor of 21 years wholeheartedly agrees: “We were really excited about the news that Pretoria HOMEMAKERS Expo is to re-launch in Pretoria in September. The timing and location are perfect to ensure a well attended and successful Expo!”

Similar to the Port Elizabeth HOMEMAKERS Expo the event will be hosted within the covered parking level 2 on 6000m². “We, at Parkview Shopping Centre look forward to hosting the market leading Pretoria HOMEMAKERS Expo at our state of the art home lifestyle shopping centre. Residents from Pretoria East and further afield know and appreciate the unique setting and conveniently located centre where they are accustomed to finding treasured household items.

Pretoria East suburbia is well known as an extremely affluent residential area. Our restaurants cater for a wide variety of tastes suited to sit down and take out patrons. The centre also provides ample safe and secure parking.” says Demitri Christodoulou, Centre Owner.
The South African Institute of the Interior Design Professions (IID Professions) are excited that the Pretoria HOMEMAKERS Expo is back once again
“We feel that a show such as HOMEMAKERS Expo, being so representative of the home market in Pretoria and part of such a strong national brand, will be welcomed by our members and bring them face to face with the discerning Pretoria market of upper LSM home owners - a good business generating opportunity not to be missed!” says Fehmida Jordaan, Executive Manager of the iid.


Show Details: Dates: Thursday 18 September to Sunday 21 September 2014

Venue: Parkview Shopping Centre, covered parking Level 2, Garsfontein Rd, Pretoria East. (Opposite Pretoria East hospital) GPS: 25.49.10.23S 28.18.16.30E.

Times: Thursday & Friday, 10:00 – 19:00 Saturday & Sunday, 09:00 – 18:00


Entrance: Adults – R50 | Pensioners – R30 | Children under 12 – Free

2nd May 2014

KSA CT enjoys a successful Decorex

KSA CT and our members had a super Decorex this past week. The show really pulled out all the stops with some beautiful exhibits. There were 15 stands showcasing the work of KSA members. We haven't see participation like that at a show for quite some time in Cape Town.

The KSA's Kitchen Design Inspiration wall was a hit with consumers and enhanced our ability to interact with visitors at the show. It also enabled us to give better and more detailed advice and guidance. Thanks must go to the participants: Top Living, Unique Kitchens, Joos Joiners, Kitchen & Cupboard Factory and Easylife Kitchens. Special thanks must go to Lansdowne Boards who sponsored and manufactured the wall and without whom it would not have been possible. We are looking forward to bringing the wall to Decorex JHB in August.

27th April 2014

Caesarstone flashmob at Decorex CT

Caesarstone delighted guests and exhibitors at Decorex CT with a flash mob dedicated to their 'Celebrating Life' campaign.

To view footage of the event scan the QR code or visit www.caesarstone.co.za. If you don't have a QR reader download the I-nigma app from your app store. The app is suitable for all smart phones.

22nd April 2014

Franke launch their specifications app

Franke are excited to lead the way by being one of the first to introduce a specifications app for their SA consumers. The Franke Kitchen Systems app is designed to give home users and professionals all the latest information on all Franke products, including photo images and technical information.

Download the free app today to view Franke's latest range.

22nd April 2014

Hirsch's Milnerton invite you to their business networking breakfast

Hirsch's Milnerton would like to invite all KSA CT members to a business networking breakfast. The breakfast will showcase a talk by Oscar Frank Gmetuei on 'How to shift your business into high growth mode'.

Don't miss this networking and educational opportunity.

Date: 24 April 2014
Time: 8.00-10.00am
Venue: Hirsch's Milnerton - Koeberg Rd Montague Gardens

16th April 2014

Caesarstone invites you to their Design & Trends Forecast

Caesarstone would like to invite members of the kitchen industry to join them at their Design and Trends Forecast taking place at Decorex CT at the CTICC on the 25 April 9.00am.

The Forecast will feature talks by Deon Chang of Flux Trends, Natsai Chieza of Franklin Till and Lisa Aspeling of Caesarstone who will be reporting back on the trends seen at Eurocucina this year.

Don't miss it.

15th April 2014

Hirschs and Bedroom Boutique invite KSA CT members to their social media workshop

Hirsch's and Bedroom Boutique in CT invite KSA members to join them for a series of free course on social media. This is a fantastic opportunity to ensure you are getting the very best out of your social media marketing so don't miss it.

Time: 11.00-12.30
Dates:
15 April - Facebook & Google
27 May - Twitter
17 June - LinkedIn
15 July - You Tube
19 Aug - Pinterest & Graduation

RSVP: Stacey van Rensburg 021 528-6700

14th April 2014

KSA members rally to revamp the U-turn homless soup kitchen in Calaremont

Members of the Kitchen Specialists Association rallied to answer a call for help from U-turn Homeless Ministries (www.homeless.org.za) to give their soup kitchen in Claremont, round the corner from Stadium on Main, a new lease of life.

When Stephanie Forbes, national coordinator of the Kitchen Specialists Association (KSA), received the request for help from U-turn she put word out amongst the membership. ‘I was amazed at the speed the responses came in’ says Forbes.

Work commenced late in 2013 and was completed in April 2014. The space was transformed from a desolate heartless environment into a warm and functional one. Volunteers now have a proper kitchen space designed to be adaptable with the units on wheels so they can be relocated if necessary. Proper washing and cooking facilities are now in place meaning food can be safely and hygienically prepared and served.

‘We are extremely grateful for the wonderful support and assistance shown by the members of the KSA.’ says Sam Vos, director of U-turn. ‘You can imagine the ongoing difficulty it caused for us to have freezers located at one site, and having a stove and kitchen at another site that is 2 kilometres away. We harboured the dream of having a kitchen situated in the same space as the freezers and serving space. The sad fact was that we knew that our finances could not support the installation of a new kitchen! We approached the KSA with a simple request to see if they could help us replace our dilapidated cooker – we ended up with our dream kitchen!’

Responses to the call came from a variety of KSA members. Spotlight Kitchens, based in Lansdowne, offered to coordinate the job and build the units. Materials were donated by Lansdowne Boards. Caesarstone and Granite Projects together ensured the units had hygienic and durable engineered stone tops. Roco Fittings provided all the fixtures and fittings while Franke donated a wash trough and sink mixer. The dilapidated stove was replaced by a beautiful new Smeg cooker and Rulan Projects in Plettenberg bay donated a dishwasher so that the hard working volunteers didn’t have to do all the washing up.

‘Companies choose to be part of the KSA’. says Forbes. It is a reflection of a company’s character when they choose to be held accountable by a third party and work to a code of ethics. We are all so pleased at the impact this small gesture will make.’

Says Vos, ‘It has completely changed our daily experience of cooking and serving the homeless. We can now spend so much more time serving those that turn to us for help! Having a lively kitchen with everything in one place means there is atmosphere and improved security for our staff and visitors. We are extremely grateful to all the KSA members who played a part in this transformation and generously assisted us to turn this dream into a reality. Thank you very, very much.’

10th April 2014

Roco Fittings announces New Catalogue

Roco fittings are pleased to announce that their exciting new catalogue is now available.

Be sure to ask your rep for a copy

In the meantime, you can access their new catalogue on Roco's new-look web site which was launched last week - www.roco.co.za

4th April 2014

Hirsch's Milnerton 2nd birthday sale

Hirsch's Milnerton are celebrating their second birthday. After opening their first store in the Western Cape two years ago Hirsch's have gone from strength to strength and re able to offer their customers a series of amazing deals for to celebrate their second birthday. Don't miss out on the savings. Visit Hirsch's today.

1st April 2014

KSA Kitchen Design Inspiration wall at Decorex CT 2014

To showcase kitchen design while Cape Town is design capitol of the world the KSA will be presenting a wall of inspirational kitchen design at Decorex CT taking place at the CTICC from 25 - 28 April 2014.

KSA kitchen manufacturing members in the Western and Eastern Cape are invited to participate in this project and showcase an inspirational kitchen.

For more information of to book at spot on the wall contact Stephanie at capetown@ksa.co.za

31st March 2014

Decorex KZN - KSA members excel

Decorex Durban 2014 drew to a close with visitors across the board agreeing that, once more, the Decorex team had put together the most comprehensive and stylish décor, design and lifestyle exhibition.

Decorex Durban took place at the Durban Exhibition Centre from 20 to 23 March and played host to more than 17 000 décor savvy visitors.

The show saw the launch of the 2014 Decorex SA theme of Design Your Life – inviting visitors to find their own style instead of slavishly following the latest trends. Setting the scene on the 20th March was the first in the Decorex series of trend talks by leading trend analyst Dion Chang and made possible by KSA member Caesarstone. The 2014 Design & Trend Forecast series is running alongside the Durban, Cape Town and Joburg exhibitions and also features a report back from Eurocucina by Franklin Till.

Durban design duo Urban Lace were invited to interpret the show theme of Design Your Life, with an entrance feature that would reflect contemporary trends and how to make sense of them. Chantelle Moss and Sarah Reynolds said their answer was always to be mindful of the context we live in and the surfboards, hats and a bicycle on their installation created a laid back and relaxed, truly Durban-styled space.

Helen Byloo, of Sudawest, was in the Decorex Designer Spotlight – invited to showcase her own style as an inspiration for visitors. In collaboration with fabric house St Leger & Viney, Helen created a strikingly modern but relaxed lounge setting with plenty of orange, turquoise and yellow evoking a sense of retro style. As Helen said: “I think everyone’s tired of seeing grey houses; I wanted to evoke a reaction from the Decorex Durban visitors.”

It was a veritable feast of design at Decorex Durban this year, with interior designers and landscapers taking part in two of the group design installations. At the Belgotex Trend House, five local design stars created rooms showcasing their own style but also the very latest in flooring trends. It was a true “World of Choice” as Paige Waplington from Redesign Interiors, David Malcomess from Oyster Furniture, Vinesh Maharaj from Kitchen Spectrum (a KSA member), Di Hirshowitz from Brushwood Basics and Bianca Shaw from Slinx collaborated with Belgotex to create the house that dreams are made of.

KSA members excelled in the stand awards with every member exhibiting receiving a mention. Special mention must go to Crestwood Kitchens who received an excellence award for their elegant stand.

31st March 2014

KSA CT Building regulations seminar

24 people attended KSA CT's workshop on the new building regulations that came into effect in February 2014. The seminar was presented by Rudy Maritz of Cygma consulting. He ran through the basics of the new regulations and what changes had been made from the old regulations. The main changes will affect the health and safety requirements for fitters on site on all new domestic double story dwellings and all mass projects. Those who attended requested a follow up seminar with more details on the new regulations and how they pertain to member’s factories and sub-contractors. Please keep your eye on your email for dates of this follow up meeting. For those who were unable to attend a recording of the meeting and a copy of the presentation are available at a cost of R100.00.

28th March 2014

CT product evening a huge success

The KSA CT held their first product evening for 2014 on the 27 March and what a superb evening it was. Hosted by Italian Lifestyle, PG Bison and Roco Fittings at Italian Lifestyle’s showrooms at the Foundry in Greenpoint we had phenomenal turnout of 115 guests.

The evening was kicked off with Stephanie welcoming everyone and reminding guests to visit the KSA at Decorex which is just around the corner. Dewald from Italian Lifestyle then took the guests through their stunning range of coffee machine, smalls and knives. He informed guests that there was a special offer of a 10% discount to KSA members and that Mother’s day is in May and their products would make a perfect gift. The Italian Lifestyle luck drawer was won by Steven Baum of WOMAG.

This was followed by Chris from Roco Fittings who gave an overview of Roco as a company and their new branding as well as their lines. Chris announced that the new Roco catalogue would be available from next week. Rob Liddell then awarded the lucky drawer prize to Jared Wasley of Smeg.

The formal proceedings were wrapped up by a presentation by Jason Wells from PG Bison who showed a fantastic video about PG Bison and their products. He then unveiled the three new PG Bison colours which were greeted with great interest. Guests were invited to take samples home with them.
The evening drew to a close with guests taking the time to network and socialise with one another. A great evening was had by all and thanks must be extended to all who joined us as well as to the hosts for all their effort.

25th March 2014

What a great golf day

KSA CT held their annual golf day on the 13 March 2014 and what an amazing day – the clouds parted and everyone enjoyed a glorious day. Once again the support was amazing from both players and sponsors.

Fun and crazy antics were under-way as the golfers passed the sponsored holes by Smeg, Sonea, Dynamic Surfacing / Granite Projects, Grass and Easylife. Golfers were spoilt with everything from Grappa and imported parmigiana cheese to espresso shooters and delicious biltong.

A huge thank you to all sponsors for making the day fun and assuring we had an array of superb prizes. Thanks must also go to Lisa Mackenzie of the SA Golf Institute for her invaluable help and the Riverclub for hosting us.

Congratulations to the winners on the day:
Closest to the Pin on the 1st hole – Colin Hind of Rock on Wood
Closest to the Pin on the 3rd hole – Andy Paige of Panda Bamboo
Closest to the Pin on the 5th hole – Cobus Maritz of Granite Connection
Closest to the Pin on the 7th hole – Ryan Belgrave playing with Davidsons Boards
1st Place – Mixed 4-ball: Martin Holtzhausen of Maxima Software, Hannes Loubser of Loubser Wood, Andy Paige of Panda Bamboo and Erik Mekel of Cupboards & Kitchens / Letreau
2nd Place – Davidsons Boards
3rd Place – PG Bison and their guests from Illiad
4th Place – Grass and their guests from Rock on Wood and The Kitchen & Cupboard Factory
5th Place – Sonae Novobord and their guests from Davidsons Boards

We hope you will join us in March 2015 for our next golf day.

20th March 2014

KSA & Inspire Trade Expo form Industry Partnership

We are proud to announce that the KSA have partnered with Inspire Furniture, Décor & Design Trade Exhibition to held at Gallagher Convention Centre from 10-12 July 2014. We hereby wish to invite you to exhibit! Kindly Note that KSA members will receive a 5% discount on floor space!

The expo has been created due to a lack of good quality trade shows in Africa. Their exhibitors are showcasing the very best, good quality, high end, decor & design that will provide a one-stop platform for our buyers and provide them with latest in the market.

Inspire is the only exclusive Trade Exhibition to focus purely on Furniture, Décor and Design and our exhibitors artists, designers, ceramicists, wholesalers, importers, exporters, manufacturers, exclusive agents and distributors of furniture (indoor & outdoor), décor (indoor & outdoor), fabrics, wall & floor coverings, linens, kitchens, bathrooms, office furniture as well as unique shop fixtures, technology, software and POS (Point Of Sale).

Buyers visiting the exhibition are a good mix of Retailers, Architects, Interior Decorators and Designers, Specifiers, Hotels, Game Lodges, B&Bs and Corporate Procurement within the industry, with the emphasis being strictly trade only and in order to keep it a trade ONLY exhibition, we have an audited verification process in place to ensure that the buyers visiting the exhibition are genuine trade customers placing orders and networking with potential suppliers exhibiting at the exhibition.

http://www.inspiretradeexpo.co.za/for-visitors/register-as-trade-buyer

We are also focused on bringing in buyers from South and Sub-Sahara Africa - looking to invest in large projects.

19th March 2014

Invitation to KSACT's first product evening of 2014

KSA CT would like to invite all industry players to our first product evening of 2014. This evening is proudly hosted by Italian Lifestyle, PG Bison and Roco Fittings.

Bring your staff and come and learn more about Italian Lifestyle's special offers, PG Bison's new colours and Roco's new range.

Date: 27 March 2014
Time: 6pm
Venue: Italian Lifestyles / Saeco - The Foundry, Prestwich St, Cape Town
RSVP: capetown@ksa.co.za

7th March 2014

Cabinet Works flies the KSA flag at Design Indaba CT

Last weekend saw Design Indaba hit Cape Town. Andy de Klerk Cabinet Works were there proudly representing the kitchen industry and the KSA.

We asked Cabinet Works for some feedback on the expo:

'We first exhibited at Design Indaba Expo in 2010 after visiting the show the year before. What struck us about the show was the unwavering commitment to local innovative design. This resonated powerfully with our company mission to persistently raise the bar for South African furniture and kitchen design, and the organisers have stayed true to this ethos since we joined. Testament to this was the strict application process they introduced for 2014 to ensure that only home-grown, cutting-edge, design would make its way onto the show floor.'

'We were very proud to be a part of the Design Indaba Expo 2014 and made every effort to ensure that our stand stood out even in such an inspiring environment.' said Kirsti Meyer.

We must congratulate the Cabinet Works team for their stunning stand which displayed great attention to detail and thought.

4th March 2014

Rudi's choice wins gold at JHB Homemakers

The revamped Rudi’s Choice brand stand won ‘Gold’ last week at the Johannesburg Homemakers’ Expo.

Judges and visitors alike were enthralled by the new-look Rudi’s Choice expo stand at the first 2014 Homemakers’ Expo held in Joburg. The stand was given a coveted Gold award for excellence amongst hundreds of exhibitors.

The urban, edgy, industrial flavours expressed through the stand’s graffiti wall, swanky, back-lit bar and neon lights created an inviting and intriguing space for visitors to experience Rudi’s Choice like never before.

The stand featured semi-precious onyx, granite and marble from each of the Rudi’s Choice collections: Affordable, Select and Exotic, allowing individuals to discover the beauty of the different types of natural stone.

"I’m very chuffed with the new look for Rudi’s Choice – it’s really elevated the brand and made the public aware of new and exciting uses and designs that are possible with natural stone,“ says brand namesake and CEO, Rudi Eggers.

Juxtaposing the ethereal beauty of onyx with the raw and rough textures of concrete, graffiti and wood is what creates the fresh appeal, according to marketing director, Trevor King. “We wanted something fresh to revitalise the Rudi’s Choice brand, and it was combining the most unlikely elements that helped to create an eye-catching and entertaining stand,” he says.

The Rudi’s Choice expo stand will go on to Cape Town Decorex from 25 - 28 April at the CTICC.

28th February 2014

New Building regulations seminar

KSA CT invites you to attend a seminar in the new building regulations that came into effect in February. These new regulations will alter the industry's responsibilities when working on site. The seminar will ensure you are up to speed on the requirements and the repercussions for non-compliance.

Date: 17 March 2014
Time: 3.00 - 5.00pm
Venue: Easylife Kitchens, Steele Park, Off Symphony Way, Bellville.

Cost: R150 for KSA members and R290 for non-members

To book contact capetown@ksa.co.za

21st February 2014

Caesarstone 2014 kitchen design competition

Caesarstone announce their 2014 kitchen design competition.

This year two brilliant designers will win R50,000 each and the six finalists will jet to Cape Town for an amazing awards evening in the World Design Capital of the year during November.

Visit http://www.caesarstone.co.za or follow the link below to their YouTube video for more information.

21st February 2014

Home Channel aligns with Decorex SA

One of South Africa’s most popular lifestyle television channels, The Home Channel, confirms it will be partner with Decorex SA for the exhibitions taking place in Durban, Cape Town and Joburg this year.

Decorex SA, Africa’s largest décor, design and lifestyle exhibition and takes place in the three cities in March, April and August, respectively. The Home Channel – which delivers decor, design, home improvement and property television programs, mixing the best of local and international content – will use this opportunity to film unique content at the Decorex SA exhibitions.

Michelle Arnold, General Manager of Sales at The Home Channel says that the decision to partner with Decorex SA is because it is “the perfect fit”. “The synergy between the two brands offers viewers and consumers the very best in décor, design and lifestyle. Our viewers are the exact people that attend the Decorex SA exhibitions!”
She added that The Home Channel’s involvement at each of the three Decorex SA exhibitions will create awareness for the channel and this would hopefully result in “more eyeballs on screen”.

Arnold added that The Home Channel has found that there is an increasing consumer appetite for decor, design and lifestyle inspiration; “Our viewers are extremely house proud, their home is their castle and they take the time, effort and money to improve their lifestyles. They tune into The Home Channel for local and international trends and they love the ‘how to’ factor, how to decorate, how to DIY, how to cook, how to entertain. It’s all about you and your home.

Sian Steyn, Decorex SA Portfolio Manager says she is delighted to welcome The Home Channel as official media partner to Decorex SA.
“We to believe that the tie-up is a perfect fit and we look forward to this relationship going from strength to strength.”

With this year’s theme for Decorex SA exhibitions being Design Your Life, Steyn said the wide variety of exhibitors as well as the array of décor and lifestyle shows on Home Channel meant that South Africans will be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting décor looks to suit their lifestyles.

Don’t miss a Decorex SA exhibition in your region next year:
Decorex Durban: 20 - 23 March 2014
Decorex Cape Town: 25 - 28 April 2014
Decorex Joburg: 6 - 10 August 2014
Facebook: Decorex SA
Twitter: @decorexSA
For more info visit: www.decorex.co.za

14th February 2014

KSA Masterchef competition in conjunction with HIRSCHS, SMEG and LG

Every year the KSA arranges 3 or 4 supplier product evenings where members showcase their products or services. On Valentine's Day the KSA, in conjunction with Hirsch's, Smeg and LG invited members to take part in a Masterchef challenge and pit themselves against their industry colleagues.

The Hirsch’s store was a-BUZZ with lucky draws, product dashes, wine tasting and many other activities including additional suppliers like Whirlpool and Liebherr. The teams, representing 9 countries, took on the challenge fighting to be the overall winner.

Amongst the prizes were: Hirsch’s vouchers, a bed sponsored by Rest Assured & a pressure cooker awarded to the best “dressed” team. The judges found it difficult to select the over-all winner as all teams showed such spirit as well has delicious dishes. The overall scores only differed by 1 or 2 points.

Congratulations to Sariga Designer Kitchens who took 1st place with their mouth-watering 3 course: chicken nachos, bean buritos with guacamole & salsa & and the quick thinking dessert which took the form of a pressure test - cinnamon & nut-brittle pastries.

What a HUGE success with more than 40 contestants and equally as many spectators!

Thank you to Norman Brassel, Lesley Oates and their team at Hirsch's who thought outside the box and offered to host this Masterchef competition and for allowing contestant use their products.

Visit the Facebook page to see the photos!

7th February 2014

KSA launches new Facebook page

This week saw the launch of the KSA's new Facebook page. Please feel free to visit the page and like us, post a comment or give us feedback. You will find the page on: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kitchen-Specialists-Association-KSA/553855848000951?ref=stream

7th February 2014

Booking open for KSA CT golf day

Bookings are now open for the KSA CT annual golf day. This fun event is designed for golfers of all levels and will only keep you out of the office for the afternoon. Don't miss this great opportunity to network with the industry while having a little fun. There are opportunities to play, sponsor a hole or sponsor prizes.

Date: 13 March 2014
Time: From 1pm
Venue: Riverclub mashie course

Costs:
per player:R290.00
per 4-ball:R1160.00
to sponsor a hole:R980.00
package deal - sponsor a hole & book a 4-ball:R1940.00

To book contact Stephanie - capetown@ksa.co.za

4th February 2014

Caesarstone's top 10 Kitchen Design Trends for 2014

So you’re renovating or building your new kitchen in 2014 and you want to make 100% sure that your kitchen design is ‘spot on’ and that it won’t leave you feeling like you’ve walked onto a dicey, B-grade soap opera set a few years down the line... You are not alone.

Ironically, with the likes of Pinterest, houzz.com and thousands of other design inspiration resources out there it’s never been more confusing to try and pull together a kitchen design that works. More and more, homeowners are resisting the simplicity of mass produced carbon copy kitchen designs that may tick the functionality box, but don’t meet every item on ‘the list’. Let’s be honest, we’re all looking for a kitchen that will give us that blissful, ‘contented sigh’, all-is-well-with-the-world feeling – we want a kitchen that makes us feel special. Not unlike many a woman’s search for Mr Right…

As homeowners we’re increasingly drawn to create living spaces that embody our intangible personality characteristics, as well as create an atmosphere that resonates with our core beliefs and personal values. We’re at a bizarre crossroads of ages: we find ourselves caught up at an intersection of self-actualisation, individualism, limitless options and the obsessed-with-being-special, Generation Y worldview, leaving us overwhelmed with choices – yet seeking an end result that is almost spiritual in its significance to us personally.

Successful kitchen designers don’t just design kitchens. They create artworks: visual interpretations that must reflect multiple aspects of their clients’ identities or personas. A client’s satisfaction will depend on how much of themselves they can recognise in their kitchen. If you’re redoing your kitchen on a solo mission, you are probably attempting to do the same thing. There is something in each of us that delights in seeing our own image reflected in our creations – it generates a pleasurable resonance within us.

Excellent kitchen design is a balancing act between design and colour longevity, functionality and personal touch. A good kitchen designer will get a sense of what kind of person you are before putting pencil to sketchpad, or index finger to mouse. Your job is to communicate to your designer the kind of spaces you feel most comfortable in. Are you an outdoorsy, spunky entertainer, or an artistic, moody hipster? Do you desperately need a neon pink kitchen, or are you just in love with the idea of having a neon pink kitchen? Work out whether you just appreciate a funky, ‘out there’ design or if you can live in that bright, psychedelic space for a decade or two.

Make sure your design choices are serving you and not constraining you. It may help to ask yourself some questions. Which restaurants do you feel most at home in, and why? Are you an urban, contemporary, concrete and lights kind of person, or is your happy place in a log cabin on the mountains? Do you like structured, clean lines or more of an organic look and feel? It’s often a good idea to measure how certain spaces make you feel and then identify the elements that stand out for you to achieve a design that recaptures that feeling that you’re after.

Unfortunately, budget is always an issue, as well as your predicted tenure in your current home. It’s no good designing your perfect kitchen if you’re selling up and moving to Perth next year. They say (whoever “They” are) if you’re going to be in your house for longer than five years then it’s ok to treat yourself when it comes to the wants versus the needs of your kitchen design. You would probably be over-capitalising if you succumbed to your wants otherwise. Check out Your dream kitchen on a budget… without sacrificing your Caesarstone tops for hints on how to save money to keep the finishes you really want.

We’ve put together a list of kitchen design trends for 2014 that will help you navigate the choppy waters of contemporary or country style kitchen design to help you create your dream kitchen interior with ease, and a little bit of flair.

1. Monotones are here to stay

Let’s face it, you can never go wrong with whites and neutrals and this year proves no exception. With world economic growth inching forward at a sluggish pace, many of us need to plan kitchens that will work for at least ten years, if not twenty. And we haven’t even started talking about reselling. Monotone colours and whites offer the most versatility as base colour concepts as they don’t demand visual attention in the way that brights do, nor do they overstimulate the eyes. If you’re still not convinced, take a cue from the wedding dress: classic colour and design will never let you down!

2. Keep Calm And Add A Splash of Colour

Just like your former biker, druggie crush from high school, an eccentric kitchen has an exceptionally short novelty period – for you and your family and friends. Resist the urge to express your mid-life crisis in colour and rather add colour to kitchen elements that are inexpensive to update, such as glass backsplashes, small appliances, display pieces or wallpaper. Marita Smuts from Future Classics, the co-winner of the Judges’ Choice award from the Caesarstone Kitchen Designers 2013 competition says, “We advise our clients to add splashes of colour with splashbacks, accessories and even wallpaper so they can change it at a later stage. There’s nothing worse than sitting with a red kitchen for twenty years – even if you are adventurous!”

One of the winners of the Caesarstone Kitchen Designers 2013 competition, Santa Eksteen from Sterlings predicts, “The use of monotones and earthy colours will still be used overall with just a splash of colour in well thought-out spaces.”

A double category winner of the Caesarstone Kitchen Designers 2013 competition, Charlotte van der Haer from Kitchen Classics in Durban confirms this prediction: “I see the trend moving towards using more bold areas of colour, not in the actual colour of the cupboards themselves but rather in feature areas in the kitchen. Possibly a glass splashback, bright feature wall or bold décor”. And now there’s no excuse – you’ve heard it from the experts!

3. Back to the Future: A New Old-World Look

This year homeowners and designers will break free from the shackles of one-style-fits-all thinking. Contemporary, country, farm style, shabby chic or industrial – whatever style revs your motor has the thumbs up this year. What is cropping up again is the inclusion of old-world metals such as copper, rose gold and brass in reaction to the stainless steel coup which has besieged the kitchen design world these past few years. These gorgeous – and yes, expensive – materials can be incorporated into your kitchen as accessories. Think light fittings, cookware, trivets or other kitchen odds and ends. Some high-end, foreign retailers offer specialist ovens with copper finishes: true masterpieces for the kitchen!

Contemporary designs aside, there are some stunning reinventions of designs and styles from times gone by that designers can help you incorporate into your new kitchen design. The fifties and sixties fascination that continues to grip some industries has certainly left its mark on our homes. A cursory look at SMEG appliances reveals an expression of popular culture’s continuing reminiscence of these eras. According to Santa this obsession with the past will continue in 2014, “We will also see personal eleme

3rd February 2014

TASTY FOOD AND DRINK PAIRINGS IN STORE AT KWV GOURMET MARKET AT DECOREX DURBAN

Visitors to Decorex Durban are in for a treat at the KWV Gourmet Market where there’s sure to be something delicious to suit everyone’s taste.
Decorex Durban takes place over the Human Rights Day weekend, from 20 to 23 March 2014, at the Durban Exhibition Centre and promises to be a great day out for the whole family.

The KWV Gourmet Market will be the perfect setting to take a break from exploring all that Kwa-Zulu Natal’s most stylish décor, design and lifestyle exhibition has to offer. A variety of refreshments will be on offer, with organisers cleverly suggesting food and drink pairings for visitors.
Nadia Reynders, Brand Activation Manager at KWV, said her team looked forward to introducing the Decorex Durban visitors to both the KWV classic wine range as well as some of KWV’s easy-drinking drinks like JimmiJagga, a fusion wine spritzer, and Ciao, the premium mixed cocktails blended with real fruit juice.

KWV wines are classic and elegant, each with their own timeless character, she said. “The KWV Classic Collection brings out the best in local fruit, creating a sophisticated range of vintage wines that stay true to its South African heart.”

“We hope that visitors will enjoy a delicious experience at the KWV Gourmet Market and that everyone will have a taste of the KWV Classic wines as well as our innovative ready to drink brands,” said Nadia. She added that the suggested food and drink pairings would make for a fun new approach to market-style dining.

On the food menu at the KWV Gourmet Market will be a meze, tapas and salad harvest-style table, a Greek lamb and seafood spread courtesy of Eat Greek, gourmet hot dogs, venison burgers as well as delicious Halaal meals by Jellyfish and Vrushiks’ vegetarian fare.

Visitors to Decorex Durban last year raved about Afro’s Chicken, who will be back again with their trendy food truck. For dessert, look out for exquisite confectionaries by Daniella’s or have frozen yoghurt from Bella and Boo. You can round off a perfect meal with a delicious cup of coffee made by the recently crowned SA Coffee Barista Champion, Craig Charity. Craig will be selling his award-winning coffee at the KWV Gourmet Market, and you can catch him demonstrating how to brew the perfect cup at the Design Your Life theatre.

Durban’s popular The Food Market, is coordinating the food vendors for the KWV Gourmet Market, and
are inviting food specialists to create the delicious spread on offer, ensuring visitors a delightful dining experience at Decorex Durban.
Sian Steyn, General Manager of Decorex SA says, “We’re going to create a night market experience,complete with fairy lights, stylish communal seating and menu info on chalk boards. I don’t think anyone’s going to want to leave!”

Decorex Durban stays open until 8pm daily and until 6pm on Sunday, which means there’s a good
chance the KWV Gourmet Market is likely to be one of the most popular exhibits at the show.

Exhibition details
Decorex Durban
20 - 23 March 2014
Durban Exhibition Centre
10am – 8pm (closing at 6pm on the Sunday)
Visit www.decorex.co.za for more info

31st January 2014

KSA CT AGM

KSA Western Cape help their AGM this week at The Bank in Harrington St. Cape Town. The AGM gave the Western Cape Committee an opportunity to report back to the membership on the activities of 2013 and plans for 2014.

Anton Roelofse of Business partners was invited to address the members on the state of SME's in the South African and global economies. Although there were areas of concern it was encouraging to see his talk end by urging members to step out of their conform zones. He explained that companies cannot survive purely by cutting expenditure. He stressed that growth in this economic climate can only be achieved with a combination of expenditure management, marketing and business investment.

Congratulations to the following kitchen members for being awarded certificates of excellence for having no registered complaints or site inspections during 2013:
Alpine German Kitchens
Barco / Unique kitchens
Andy de Klerk Cabinet Works
Easylife City Bowl
Easylife East London
Easylife George
Easylife Kenilworth
Easylife Langebaan
Easylife Management
Easylife Somerset West
Easylife Table View
Easylife Tokai
Espresso Design
Franco & Son
Home Concept East London
Home Concept Port Elizabeth
Joos Joiners
New Line Kitchens
Nexus Interiors
Quantum Leap Designs
Spotlight Kitchens
Kitchen & Cupboard Factory
Top Living

Special mention must also go to the supplier members who received certificates of excellence for being voted as the top five suppliers by the membership in terms of service and product. We hope they continue to maintain the excellent levels of service to the industry.
Eclipse Furniture fittings
Granite Projects
Grass
Loubser Wood Components
Roco Fittings

Special thanks to The Bank, Furnspace and KDMax for hosting the AGM and Business Partners for sponsoring the catering. Also to the Western Cape Executive Committee for all their hard work during 2013.

31st January 2014

GLOBAL TIE-UP A BOOST FOR DECOREX SA

Decorex SA is set to take its place on the international exhibition calendar next year, with a new ownership structure involving the world’s leading exhibition groups plus the launch of 100% Design South Africa.

New shareholder, FTSE-listed Reed Exhibitions owns the license of some of the most popular international décor and design exhibition brands globally, including 100% Design as well as Maison & Objet. In a move that will place Decorex SA at the forefront of South Africa’s décor and lifestyle exhibitions, 100% Design South Africa will be held at the same time and alongside Decorex Joburg in August next year and a launch pavilion will be included in Decorex Cape Town in April 2014.

South Africa will make its mark by offering one of the most exclusive design showcases when Johannesburg becomes the fourth city in the world to host the trend forward 100% Design exhibition from 6 – 10 August 2014.

Reed Exhibitions announced that it had signed a joint venture agreement to acquire a majority share in Thebe Exhibitions and Projects Group, the owners of Decorex SA, which will now be known as Thebe Reed Exhibitions. Thebe MD Carol Weaving remains in her post and she says that the group is delighted with the transaction.
“Not only will it give us access to some of the leading brands in the world, but will it will help us to grow the footprint of our group across the continent. Reed is the leading global player in the world of exhibitions and its credibility speaks for itself,” she said.

The world-renowned design exhibition, 100% Design is being staged in South Africa by Thebe Reed Exhibitions, under the Decorex SA portfolio. With the creative forces of Laurence Brick, Cathy O’Clery and Julian Gelb together with sponsor Dauphin HumanDesign® Group and media partner Conde Nast House & Garden magazine, 100% Design South Africa will showcase the very best residential, hospitality, office and product design that the country has to offer.

Over one hundred of the South Africa’s most on-trend designers are expected to showcase their work at the official 100% Design South Africa launch in August 2014 at Decorex Joburg.

Sian Steyn, General Manager of the Decorex SA Portfolio, says that while Decorex Joburg and 100%
Design South Africa will take place at the same time and under the same roof at Gallagher Convention Centre (a new hall is being opened specifically for the new show), the two shows will have distinct differences.
“Decorex SA has always offered our visitors the widest selection of décor, design and lifestyle furniture,appliances and accessories, as well as the latest in décor and design inspiration. The Decorex SA exhibitions are always a great day out and we have something for everyone wanting to make some changes or even build from scratch. 100% Design South Africa will add to the Decorex SA bouquet, with a visual feast and interactive, specially commissioned exhibits that will push the boundaries of creative
design.”

“We are delighted to be able to extend the offering of Decorex Cape Town and Joburg and we are certain that the number of local and international trade visitors will show a significant increase as a result of
100% Design South Africa joining us as a sister show.”Andrew Fowles, Regional President of Reed Exhibitions, said: “We are delighted to have forged this partnership with Thebe and look forward to working with the team. Their knowledge and experience will be a great asset to us. We are excited about re-entering the market in Africa and combining Thebe’s success in the region with Reed’s global brands and extensive sales network.”

For more information on Thebe Reed Exhibitions visit: http://www.thebereed.co.za

29th January 2014

DESIGN YOUR LIFE AT DECOREX CAPE TOWN

Don’t miss Decorex Cape Town, set to take place over the Freedom Day long weekend (between 25th and 28th April), a must-visit for anyone with plans on the home décor and design front.

This year, Decorex Cape Town is themed “Design your Life” and the widest variety of exhibitors of all South African lifestyle exhibitions it promises ideas and information to inspire. We live in a time where the individual’s needs are paramount and Decorex Cape Town will showcase an array of décor solutions to suit everyone.

South Africa’s most comprehensive décor, design and lifestyle exhibition, Decorex Cape Town will include everything from fine home finishes to beautiful décor accessories, bathroom, appliance, garden and kitchen findings all under one roof.
This year’s exhibition has exciting additions which include the popular Craft Collective pavilion as well as introducing the world renowned international design exhibition 100% Design South Africa.

A line up which includes interactive demo’s, designer pop up restaurants and bars plus the ever popular Plascon Colour Forecast, all mean a visit to Decorex Cape Town will arm you with all you need to design your life.

Don’t miss Decorex Cape Town, the mother city’s premier décor, design and lifestyle expo and proud supporter of WDC Cape Town 2014.
Decorex Cape Town details:
25 - 28 April 2014
CTICC
10am – 7pm
Visit www.decorex.co.za for more info
Facebook: Decorex SA
Twitter: @decorexSA

28th January 2014

KSA members get 50% discount

List with us on Home Inspirations through the KSA and get 50% discount on your annual subscription. Normal price R1600 per year but for KSA installers its only R 800 a year

All contractors and installers are listed on our directory and lead generation service on the following platforms
1. Home Inspirations website
2. Builders’ Space website
3. Home Inspirations App (launching February 2014)

Paid contractors/installers receive the following benefits
• Rated according to our 5 Star rating system
• Featured above all other contractors in your section
• Featured on the home pages of websites
• Filter through to ‘Find a contractor’ on the Home Inspirations app

Websites

Contractors/installers can also take up our offer of an entry level Microsoft website starting from R 2500 once off cost and receive a free installers listing as above.

Terms and conditions apply. Subject to a monthly hosting subscription paid directly to Microsoft R56 http://office.microsoft.com/en-za/business/compare-office-365-for-business-plans-FX102918419.aspx

24th January 2014

Caesarstone ‘Best Modern Kitchen Design Trends 2015’ Youtube Video Hits 50,000 Views

Caesarstone’s Youtube video Best Modern Kitchen Design Trends 2015 reached 50,000 views this week with the number of views still climbing steadily.
With excellence in design a key value for the luxury Caesarstone quartz surfaces brand, it comes as no surprise that they now produce video content for Youtube, focusing on inspiring, beautiful kitchens.

In April 2014, Caesarstone took a film crew to Milan, Italy to attend Eurocucina – widely considered to be the ultimate kitchen design fair in the world – in order to bring the hottest kitchen design trends back to South Africans.

Because kitchen design trends shift gradually, Eurocucina is only held every second year. This explains why the April 2014 content is still relevant for 2015 kitchen design inspiration.

“While we’re expecting to see some shifts in colour and popular materials for high-end kitchens, the top kitchen design trends we spotted at Eurocucina 2014 will still remain hugely relevant to homeowners and designers in 2015,” says Caesarstone presenter and communications manager, Lisa Aspeling.

She continues, “Now more than ever, homeowners are taking control of major design elements in their homes with the help of creative idea sharing platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest and websites such as Houzz.com. Homeowners want to see what’s out there in terms of high quality products and design ideas.”

Caesarstone’s penchant for kitchen design extends beyond Youtube. The past 5 years have seen the brand hosting a national kitchen design competition, where kitchen designers, architects and interior designers are invited to enter their most stunning kitchen designs installed during the past year.

“We want to celebrate beautiful kitchen design in South Africa, and provide a platform for excellent designers to be recognised,” says Caesarstone marketing director, Trevor King.

Caesarstone will begin calling for entries to their annual kitchen design competition in the coming weeks, when they will also release their popular annual article on forthcoming kitchen design trends for the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7mCqQnlohM

15th January 2014

Know your JBCC rights as a sub contractor

The Master Builders Association Western Cape have invited KSA members to attend their latest JBCC workshop. The workshop, entitled 'Know your JBCC rights as a sub-contractor' presented by Jonathan Mitchell will be addressing the ways in which the JBCC contract protects the sub-contractor and the difference between being a nominated and appointed sub-contractor.

The course will take place on Monday 28 October 2013 from 17.00 till 18.30 at Belmont Square Conference centre in Ronderbosch.

The cost is R50 for MBA members and R100 for non-MBA members.

To book contact margot@mbawc.org.za

15th January 2014

Habitat’s March/April kitchen feature for 2014

Habitat magazine will be doing a special kitchen feature in their March/April 2014 edition and would like to offer all KSA members a massive 20% saving on any full and half page adverts booked for this edition.

Participating members will also be considered for coverage in their new e-magazine which will be launched in 2014.

For more information contact gary@habitat-mag.com.

14th January 2014

Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms now available for Android

The prestigious publication Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms has finally launched for Android!

2013 saw the launch of the digital version of the magazine for iPad and the publishers are now pleased to announce that the app is now available for download onto Android devices as well.

From 20th January they will be making the February 2014 issue available for free on both Android and iPad.

The publishers were overwhelmed by the response from the South African kitchen industry when they launched on iPad and hope that their launch on Android will have a similar success.

13th January 2014

BRUCE FYFE AND ST LEGER & VINEY IN THE DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT AT DECOREX DURBAN

Leading interior designer, Bruce Fyfe, is invited to design and curate the annual Decorex Designer Spotlight at Decorex Durban in March this year.

Decorex Durban takes place over the Human Rights Day weekend from 20 to 23 March, at the Durban Exhibition Centre and Bruce Fyfe’s collaboration with fabric house St Leger and Viney is certain to be one of the highlights of the exhibition.
“I’m really looking forward to being part of Decorex Durban again; our presence in previous years has always brought us more business,” he said.

Speaking about the inspiration for his installation at Decorex Durban, Bruce said he would be creating a plantation-style verandah with white columns and flooring “We’re going to create a typical American deep south-style porch.”
“We have found a beautiful contemporary swing seat and we will have sheer curtains moving in a breeze created by fans plus plenty of greenery to complete the plantation feel,” he said.

Bruce said that while he believes the stand décor will be something unexpected, it is also perfectly suited to the Durban lifestyle.
“We are all changing the way we decorate our verandahs – our outdoor entertainment area is now regarded as an extension of the home and that means we can decorate it like the rest of our home.”

The colour palette for Bruce’s stand is shades of citrus orange and light grey and he said he was looking forward to working with the team from St Leger and Viney.

Marc Shotland, Marketing Manager of St Leger & Viney, said the most prominent fabric trends are towards bold and bright colours “There are vast selections of beautifully designed fabrics with gorgeous bright colours.” These are coming through in outdoor collections now so one should take advantage of the colour ways that are on offer.”
St Leger & Viney stocks various fabric lines that specialise in outdoor fabrics Schumacher, Christopher Farr, Ralph Lauren, Kravet and their own, eponymous, fabric brand.

Marc said the St Leger &Viney team had picked up on a new mood in outdoor décor and they were enjoying working with their clients to create their dream outdoor spaces.

“To create a seamless flow, I would suggest your outdoor areas have a representation of your home inside. We are fortunate in South Africa to have an amazing climate that allows us to spend time outdoors. For this reason people are spending more time outside, indoor furniture is moving onto covered patios, televisions are going onto exterior walls and bespoke fabrics are being produced with UV specifications.”

Marc shared a valuable piece of advice rule for achieving effective results when it came to outdoor space décor: “Take a colour from your natural surroundings and use it in your fabric selections for your outdoor patio. By doing this, a synergy is created between your home and nature. A bright blue to match your swimming pool or a bold emerald green mixed with neutrals looks gorgeous and creates a consistent flow.”

Sian Steyn, Decorex SA General Manager, said she is delighted to have two leading décor names such as Bruce Fyfe and St Leger & Viney collaborating at Decorex Durban 2014.
“Our visitors come to Decorex looking for ideas and inspiration and I know Bruce and the team from St Leger are going to deliver beyond our expectations”

Don’t miss Bruce and St Leger and Viney in the Decorex Designer at Spotlight at Decorex Durban

Exhibition details:
Decorex Durban 2014
20 - 23 March 2014 (Durban Exhibition Centre 10am – 8pm daily)

Visit www.decorex.co.za for more info
Facebook: Decorex SA Twitter: @decorexSA