DECOREX AND FRANKE REDEFINE THE HEART OF THE HOME
Few would deny that, when it comes to kitchens, a new era has dawned. No longer relegated a purely utilitarian role where food storage and preparation take place, kitchens have become the spaces in the home where friends and family gather and memories are made. It is fitting, then, that the theme for this year’s Franke Kitchen Design Project at the Decorex SA Exhibitions is “Heart of the Home”.
Presented and sponsored for the second year running by Franke, one of the world’s leading kitchen-systems suppliers, the refined culinary zones on show at Decorex SA 2016 will showcase the very latest in visionary kitchen design and materials. “We are pleased to be affiliated with Decorex for a second year,” says Clinton Soutter, National Sales Manager for Franke South Africa, who describes the trio of shows as “a designers’ hub, offering the homeowner an array of inspiring new ideas and the latest in trends.” He adds, “The Decorex SA platforms enables the consumer, interior designer and architect to engage with both the Franke brand and its customers in one place.”
“Focussed on giving kitchen companies a platform by which to demonstrate to these key players – the consumer, interior decorator and architect – what is possible in modern-day kitchen design, the Franke sponsorship and its partnership with other large industry suppliers allows kitchen companies to participate in and experience the tremendous draw of the show and the awareness it brings for one’s brand,” Soutter continues.
Visitors to the exhibitions, which kicks off with the Durban leg on 18 March, will also be treated to the very latest product ranges from Franke. “This year we will be launching our new Specialist Range,” says Soutter, who explains: “Each sink has been carefully selected, covering everything from the latest trends, to traditional favourites, ensuring that customers find the best fit for their cooking styles, personal styles and lifestyles. The reinvented new Fragranite range, for instance, is available in both Onyx and Polar White, and offers unique properties such as resistance to germs, scratches, stains and heat. The new range includes a number of sinks which have multiple installation fixing methods, from inset and flush-mount to slim-top and under-mount, giving one the freedom to select the option best suited to his or her specific kitchen design and tastes.”
Images Courtesy of Franke Kitchen Systems As for kitchen trends we can expect to be big in 2016, Soutter says: “A base of neutral and soft colour palettes are a very popular choice this year as they allow the individual to experiment with his or her own individual expression of complementary colour.”
Open-plan kitchens that allow for seamless interaction between living and prep areas will remain key, he adds, as will the need to “maximise cupboard usage to increase storage through functional design, without compromising organisation and access.” Finally, an increased awareness of technology in the kitchen will see kitchen designers “incorporate a tech perspective in the kitchen cabinet”, predicts Soutter, who says we can expect to see Jetson-like add-ons such as built-in charging stations, hands-free functionality and tablet holders.
The Kitchen Specialist Association (KSA), too, will partner exclusively in a nationwide collaboration with Decorex SA providing visitors a one stop resource for all things kitchen. Don’t miss these and other groundbreaking kitchen trends at the Franke Kitchen Design Project at Decorex 2016. For more information, visit www.decorex.co.za.
Decorex SA details: Decorex Durban: 18 – 21 March 2016 Time: 18 – 20 March, 10am to 8pm; 21 March, 10am to 6pm Trade days: 18 and 19 March Ticket prices: R75 for adults; R65 for trade, pensioners and students; R20 for kids under 12 Venue: Durban Exhibition Centre
Decorex Cape Town: 29 April – 2 May 2016 Time: 10am to 7pm daily (6pm Monday) Trade Day: 29 April Ticket prices: R85 for adults; R75 for trade, pensioners and students; R20 for kids under 12 Venue: CTICC
Decorex Joburg: 5 – 9 August 2016 Time: 10am to 6pm daily Trade day: 5 August Ticket prices: R110 for adults; R90 for pensioners and students; R80 for trade; R20 for kids under 12 Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre
For more information, e-mail decorexsa@ThebeReed.co.za Visit: www.decorex.co.za Facebook: Decorex SA Twitter: @decorexSA
